Bonn/Cologne – 12/30

Yesterday we visited the Kölner Dom, which is the tour I have looked forward to most during this trip. I am a devout Catholic and have never visited a cathedral with such a history, much less in a different country. I felt extremely lucky to attend mass there and was even luckier to know a decent amount of German to understand some parts. I was disappointed that the order of the mass was not in the hymnal, so I couldn’t say the common prayers, but I was able to sing along with the hymns. On top of it, yesterday was the Feast of the Holy Family, a holy day that is extremely important to me, and I was surprised to see that the Kölner Dom contained many images of Saint Anne, the mother of the Virgin Mary, patron saint of pregnancy, mothers, and grandmothers, and my personal patron saint. Having the opportunity to receive communion on this trip definitely made it that much more awesome!

On our city tour of Cologne, we were able to see many Roman ruins and also some preserved artwork, my first exposure to anything so old. I was shocked to hear the story about refugees sleeping in the old Roman coffins on display outside in the city center… I am glad to be hearing such small stories otherwise not shared in books! Learning about Agrippina and the gnomes that supposedly lived under the city in the old days gave us an idea of how deeply rooted tradition and stories are in the culture of this area. Learning about Tünnes and Schäl gave us a good idea of the dynamic between the East- and West-Rhine regions, mainly consisting of a competition. At the same time seeing the Love Lock bridge between the two regions (also an extremely busy train crossing) was a poignant indication of universal understanding of some kind.

Today we visited the University Clinics in Bonn, and I was ecstatic to have the opportunity to see an open-heart surgery. I have never technically been in surgery before but only cardiac catheterization labs; I was pleased to be able to extrapolate some of my knowledge from those experiences to this one. In addition I learned about the process of cracking open a chest cavity, prevention of blood loss, and the heart lung machine. I had a chance to talk more personally with the doctors in the break room, mostly about the difference between ‘stay and play’ and ‘scoop and run’ emergency medical care and which countries practice each. Megan and I were given some practical jobs, like sanitizing the patient’s skin and hooking up monitors, which was an opportunity impossible to have in the states. I wish that we could have seen more about the actual patient care in Germany, for instance how hospital stays are conducted and how doctors interact with nurses and their respective responsibilities. All in all, though, this was a fantastic experience, not to be topped by our New Year’s celebration in Berlin tomorrow ;)

Bonn – 12/28

Since arriving in Bonn, we have had a lecture over different healthcare models from the federal level. Although I have heard this lecture before at A&M, there is always more to learn and remember! Although just the basics, the information presented in this lecture is essential for us to build an understanding of our own healthcare system as healthcare practitioners. Learning about the origins and logistics of healthcare in other countries allows us to compare our own system in America; these are the beginnings of the tools we need to examine the pitfalls and advantages in our system and improve any problems, especially since America lags behind other industrialized countries in many health statistics. Other stats that surprised me are the huge amount of money America spends on health care annually in addition to the fact that America is the only developed country that has not adopted guaranteed issue and individual mandate policies. These are clearly areas that we do need to reexamine in the immediate future, if not work to change in the future.

We have also visited the House of German History Museum and had a guided tour by Dr. Wasser. The social impacts of the Holocaust have always fascinated me, and we tend to study this topic a lot in literature and history in high school. The visit to this museum was beneficial because it showed me the modern Germany as it is influenced but does not revolve around its past. This will help me frame our further studies over the next weeks in a more comprehensive Germany, not the Nazi Germany we hear so much about. I enjoyed seeing the cabinets full of missing persons identification cards, which demonstrated that the victims of the war summed much greater than those of the Holocaust. I also loved to learn about the dynamics of the relationship between East and West Germany after the war, especially the Luftbrücke. It was funny to see that POM, the easy-bake mashed potatoes, was so greatly represented, since my German teacher from high school always complained about growing up eating POM every day! The movie night at AIB summed our exploration of the East-West relationship perfectly since we watched Good Bye Lenin!, which represented the ideology so prevalent in East Germany in an identifiable way through the character of the mother.

Auf Wiedersehen

            Well, it is now the night before we depart back to the U.S., and it has been quite the experience.  Being in Europe for two and a half weeks has been a blast, and though I’m excited to see my friends and family, I will be sad to leave.  Besides gaining a better grasp of the history of medicine, there are several more topics about which I have learned and from which I have benefited.

            Most importantly, I think I have gained, a better understanding of how different health care systems work, how they differ from each other, and what problems each system faces.  Additionally, it has been fascinating talking to German health care professionals and medical students and seeing how their schooling system is different from ours.  Though I loved the educational aspects of the trip, I think the most memorable encounters came from our free time and cultural experiences.

            My favorite place to visit during the trip was the Spanish Riding School of Vienna.  I have always loved horses and riding and I toyed with the idea of applying to the school several times.  Ultimately, I decided to pursue medicine and am happy with my decision, but it was still a surreal experience for me to see the Lipizzaner stallions, the stables, and the famous show arena.

            Above all, and I know it is sort of cliché (but it’s true), the most memorable experience has been meeting and becoming friends with the study abroad group. I’m glad that we became comfortable with each other so quickly.  I loved hanging out with the people on the trip and have met some wonderful friends over the course of the past couple of weeks.  I will miss everyone and I’m sad to be leaving Europe.  Tomorrow, however, I think I will be glad to be home. 

Vienna

For the past few days, we have been in Vienna, and one difference to our time in Germany was that we have had quite a bit of free time to wander the city.  Austria has been my favorite place to visit so far mostly because I got to visit the Spanish Riding School of Vienna during our free time.  However, our trip to Pfizer was the most memorable educational experience in Austria.

            Pfizer is a pharmaceutical company that has branches all over the world.  Besides describing what they do as a company, the representatives described how the Austrian health care system works.  I think the most beneficial thing I have gleaned from the trip is a better understanding of different health care systems.  Additionally, the Pfizer representatives described how drugs go from beginning stages, to clinical trials, to on the market, as well as the role medical doctors can play in pharmaceutical companies.

            I had a very basic view of the job opportunities open to M.Ds.  I never thought about a place for doctors in the corporate world, but there are many more job opportunities than just clinical or hospital settings.  The presentation at Pfizer presented prospects that I thought would be unavailable, and I am excited to explore them in the coming years. 

Hannover

   Our quick trip to Hannover was well worth the stay. The town seemed rather sleepy at times, yet there were many opportunities available while we were there. The Hannover Medical School allowed us to visit with their Nephrology and Cardiology departments, and it was intriguing to hear from the German doctors themselves. Another very interesting thing we were able to see was the ECMO machine at work,  artificially oxygenating the patient's blood and keeping her alive. This machine as well as the cardiac assist device showed how medicine is always evolving and the newest technologies are ever-changing.
   Hannover was the blessed city where we were finally able to do laundry! After asking random people on the street, we were able to locate the laundromat and enjoyed some of the best Chinese food as our clothes were washing. There's nothing quite like clean clothes and good food to revitalize the soul.
   Our  final day in Hannover was all about animals and their application to the field  of medicine. The Axolotl Research Center's focus on regenerative qualities of the axolotl was fascinating, and their room of spiders allowed me to conquer my fears of the creepy crawlies. The center reminded me of a Marvel comic book, as they were working on spider web material and regeneration.  The axolotls were adorable little things and if we could learn regeneration from them then the world would be much better off.  The Hannover Zoo was a fun last  excursion, and I do not think any of us will forget the baby Chimpanzee or the gorilla. Germany exceeded my expectations and it will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Prague Blog and Hannover

When we arrived in Prague and stepped of the train, it was noticeable that we were not longer in Germany. The signs were confusing and we were just lucky that numbers were still numbers in Czech. The first thing we did was exchange currency, which was really weird because 1 US Dollar is about 20 Korunas. With a little help from the GPS we were able to arrive at the hotel. It was of course different not being told where to go by Olaf or Dr. Wasser. Prague is a beautiful city and I was glad that our hotel was about 10 minutes away from the Charlies Bridge. The bridge was very beautiful along with its surrounding environment. We then walked around “Old Town” and gathered a few souvenirs. Prague was great and I definitely will plan to visit again.

                Although we were only in Hannover for about a day or two, it was still a rather large city. Being able to learn about the healthcare system by a physician that is a part of it, was quite interesting. We were able to learn what works and what doesn't by a physician’s perspective. I think being able to get different perspectives is a great part of this program. We were able to talk to a patient with an “artificial heart” and get his opinions about the extra weight he has to carry around with him. Being able to visit the research center of the Medical School was very interesting. The Axolotls are an amazing animal with incredible capabilities. I really hope that the research team gets to do clinical trials and that their research goes on to help numerous people.

Berlin Blog

New Year’s Eve/ New Year’s in Berlin was the most amazing New Year’s I have ever had. I had never been in a big city for New Year’s, so being able to experience the excitement and joy of a million other people around me was definitely a new and unique experience. The firecrackers that people were popping sounded more like gun shots and not like the firecrackers back at home. It was somewhat scary yet exciting at the same time. The walk back to the hotel was just as creepy as you could hear the yells, laughter, cracking of glass, and of course that unforgettable popping of the firecrackers.

The Charite Museum was quite different compared to the other museums we have visited. The most interesting of the course was the abnormal specimens that were something that I had never seen before. It was quite a shock to see that some of the complications that the specimens had are now somewhat curable. The fetus aisle was a real eye opener as to what the doctors or midwifes must have been thinking when the babies were either born or removed from the mother.

The Ottobock building was a great look into the technology that is available for people without limbs. It is amazing how far the technology has come and how it can be “connected” to the human body and function almost as a normal limb.

Hanover!

Although Hamburg was my favorite city (I know I'm biased!), Hanover comes in a close second. Our first day in Hanover was yet another day that I was given the privilege to explore the medical field again! We went to the Medical University of Hanover (MHH), and explored the nephrology department and learned about devices for the heart used by cardiovascular surgeons. Unfortunately, I don't remember the physician's name who showed us the nephrology department. He continuously told us to persevere, and although it may seem like common sense, it was what I needed at that time. Sometimes the more and more I explore the health field, the more and more I want to give into something else, because it seems too challenging. I guess it's more of a psychological battle with myself.

Our second day was INCREDIBLE. It was basically animal day, but it was finally something that correlated with my major: Molecular and Cell Biology! We went to the MHH research facility that was working with Axolotls, and it was AWESOME. Their purpose was to determine regeneration at the molecular level in amphibians. It was so interesting to learn about their findings because it was actually in a language that I could relate to, theoretically speaking. This just made me want to pursue my major even more, and hopefully even get involved with research back at TAMU. And the little Axolotls were so damn cute! After this adventurous and education "excursion", we ventured off to the zoo, which was just as fun! The animals always mesmerize me, and I don't think I personally give them enough credit for how intelligent they are. This was definitely my favorite thing we have done in any of the cities (except possibly for NYE in Berlin). And I just realized that I have been saying that for almost every city. Oops. And just to toot my own horn, I got some FANTASTIC pictures that I cannot wait to upload!

Flying out of Germany was bittersweet. On one note, I was sad to leave that journey behind, and it made the thought of saying goodbye to my uncle that much harder. I've come to love that country and I loved saying "tschüss" after every place I walked out of. But I was so excited to come to Vienna, especially because it was somewhere my family hasn't been before (thankfully it's similar to Germany, it's definitely not another culture shock). But no worries, I'll be back, Germany, VERY soon!

In and Out of Hannover

On Wednesday, we left Germany for Austria, though it seemed at the time as though we had just gotten to Hannover.  We only spent one night in Hannover; however, the medical school hospital and research center have left lasting impressions.  Two presentations we heard were especially motivating and memorable.

            On Tuesday afternoon, we heard from the chief cardiology resident about a specific type of cardiac implant to assist the heart’s pumping.  Since I am planning on specializing in cardiology after medical school, being able to see a patient and hearing exactly how the procedure was performed was fascinating.  Moreover, she made me think about other types of cardiac surgery other than heart transplants, and honestly, it made more excited to get to residency.

            Then, on Wednesday morning, we heard a presentation from a research team working with axolotls and spiders.  When working with the axolotls, they research the biology behind limb regrowth and regeneration.  However, even more fascinating to me was their research with spiders.  The group harvests spider silk, which is surprisingly strong for its diameter.  The aim of their research is to repair nerve damage.  In one trial, the patient was unable to move his arm due to nerve damage.  Spider silk was used to connect the nerve ends and provided physical scaffolding for nerve cells to follow in order to repair the nerve.  Nerve cells can divide just like other cells, but cannot reconnect separated ends if the damage is too extensive.  Now, the patient has regained some functional use of his arm and hand.  I am excited to see whether research like this will be applicable to spinal cord injuries in the future.

            Overall, our time in Hannover has solidified my desire to become a physician.  Research and medical treatments are advancing by leaps and bounds, and I cannot wait to become a part of it in the coming years! 

There's Something About Austria

   It felt so strange to fly out of Germany yesterday and not head home. Instead, our little group of world travelers landed in Vienna, Austria. I am a little homesick, but with only 2 days left I am determined to power through my craving for family time and nostalgia for pop tarts!
   Vienna is really a spectacular city. The architecture is breathtaking, and it looks as though it is still Christmas in Vienna. There are long strings of twinkling lights strewn from building to building, lighting the way down cobblestone streets. Fully-decorated Christmas trees mark the entrances to all the various shops and cafes. Hot chocolate and cappuccinos are easy to come by. It's like my own personal winter wonderland, sans-snow. Vienna is a grand city, but it certainly lacks the hustle-and-bustle feeling of Berlin; everyone seems to be shopping or eating or traveling to do one of the previous.
   I'm not sure I have a clear impression of Austrians as a collective group. Olaf has plenty of opinions to share, but he is German and therefore disinclined to give compliments to his neighboring nation ;) On the street and the subway, the Viennese seem slow to smile. In this way they could be compared to the Germans, who tend to show a neutral facial expression, except for what Olaf calls "Austrian face". Essentially, the default facial expression in Austria is the frown. From what I've seen, this is not an unfair stereotype. There does not seem to be any reason for me to smile at passersby because my nonverbal greeting is almost never returned. That said, Vienna does not seem to be a young city in the sense that many of its people appear to be, well, old... and I guess old people frown more :P
   The funny thing is that aside from small details like facial expression, and even there I'm reeaally grasping for a common characteristic, I often feel as though I could still be in Germany. The dialects may differ, but both Germans and Austrians speak German, so I understand about the same amount of what strangers around me are saying. That is, I understand very little :P Since we have only had time to explore one Austrian city, it is difficult to glean many cultural differences between Germans and Austrians, although I'm sure if I ask Olaf he could come up with about fifty.
 

Let the good times roll in........Praha and Hannover!!

I am not combining these cities because they are anything alike in fact I am combining them because they are complete opposites.
Our free weekend was spent in Prague at a 4 star hotel, and it was probably the most amazing place I have visited to this day!! The city is gorgeous it is the perfect mix of old and new.  The streets are cobblestone and the buildings are as old as the city itself, while there is still concrete and new buildings all around.  On our first day we were able to get all the way to Prague with no problems, when we got there that was a whole other story, without Michael's phone we probably would have ended up staying at the subway station for the night; Once we got to the hotel we checked in and went to have an amazing dinner.  The next morning we slept for quite a while and then just went and walked around the city.  It was really nice not having to be anywhere at a certain time, it allowed us to see the city for what it truly was.......beautiful. After having a great night on the town we had to say goodbye to Prague and move on to Hannover.
Hannover while it looks nothing like Prague has its own sort of beauty.  The city is a whole lot newer then any of the cities we have been to including Vienna which we will leave for tomorrow.  While we did not see as much of the city as I would have liked we were able to visit the hospital and see the nephrology and cardiology departments.  This was actually a whole lot more fun then I thought it was gonna be because we were able to meet a patient who had a LVAD, and get his perspective on the whole procedure.  We then were able to go to the zoo the next day, which I would have to say was just so amazing. It allowed us to unwind and get a little out of the whole learning vibe, I will say it was a well needed break.
While it has been fun in Germany I look forward to seeing what Austria has in store for us, but most of all at this point in my European adventure I am most looking forward to going home and being able to sleep in my own bed! Until next time let the good times roll!

YOPO!

Excitement and anxiety overwhelmed me as I looked out my train car window on the journey to Prague. The graffiti on the walls quickly reminded me that I do not know German, but I really do not know Czech. As we finally arrived to the train station a sigh of relief eased my nerves, but at this point we've only completed half the battle. We found our way to the hotel by way of Michael's handy dandy smart phone. Without him, or rather his phone, we would probably still be in the train station to this day.

Every time we go to another city I think it is prettier than the last, but Prague is absolutely gorgeous! There was so much to do, but so little time.  It was the greatest destination decision for a free weekend. Very tourist, but not wallet friendly as there were numerous souvenirs to buy and food to eat. Luckily the Christmas Market was still open so we were able to get a glimpse of what we missed in Germany. It was marvelous to see so many different types of people at different stages in their life all commence in a central location.  This is something I am envious of as the only thing even comparable to this in the United States is Black Friday.  It holds the same purpose, but they contrast just a little in some aspects. 

All in all Prague was a magnificent trip where my peers and I bonded more than we have the whole time we've been abroad. We learned more about ourselves, each other, and even matured more as young adults. As we were in a foreign city with only our classmates to rely on it taught us to be resourceful, dependable, and leaders. I absolutely loved Prague and this a weekend that none of us will forget.   

Schnell, Schnell, SCHNELL,,'

Berlin was fun, fast, cool, exciting, basically it was a plethora of emotions. But in all I absolutely loved Berlin. This city defines Germany! Brandenburg Gate on New Year's Eve was a night to remember. Well even the treacherous journey to the gate was enough excitement for me. The streets of Berlin were comparable to a war zone, but instead of AK-47s there were fireworks rocketing from every able bodied, but not necessarily able minded person. Ducking and dodging, but still gazing in awe made this event a night to remember, as we shared this experience with thousands of our closest friends. This by far was one of my favorite nights in Germany!

There are so many beautiful cities so close to Berlin! The German transit system is every young travelers dream. Dresden was beautiful, so much history and culture in a town that often goes unnoticed. Yet, it was the Hygiene Museum that was the highlight of the day. Rather than a museum on how one must brush his or her teeth, it was a compilation of the science behind human life and all the variables that often affects it. It was a very exciting and innovative way to learn science outside of classroom or textbook. 

Otto Bock Science Center resembled a scene from back to the future or maybe even Artificial Intelligence. The prosthetic limbs that were built and designed were far more advanced than devices that were developed a decade ago. I respect engineers far more now because doctors hold the knowledge of how to use tools, but without engineers to invent the tools doctors are knowledgeable carpenters with an empty toolbox. I'm intrigued by orthopedic surgery so maybe if I'm lucky in a decade, or two, I could be apart of an innovative research that will change the way of prosthetic limbs.  

I gotta hand it over to Hannover

As I sit now in the Vienna hotel, I have begun to reflect on my experiences in Hannover. It was such a quick visit.

Since we got in late, the first night we were there, a couple other students and I walked around the town to try to find something to eat at 10:20 pm. Little did we know, Hannover is a small town where everything is closed at 10.  After coming off huge metropolitan cities such as Prague and Berlin, I wasn't expecting a town to be this "sleepy."

The next day was spent at the University Clinics at the Hannover Medical School. I really enjoyed listening to the doctor speak about the new cardiac device that is serving as a temporary therapy for patients waiting for a heart transplant. As an engineer, I love seeing the effects of medical devices on patients and I enjoy seeing patients who were terribly ill now be able to live their lives almost as fully as they once could.

Today was an interesting one too. Today was all about animals, and deemed by the students "Meghan's Day" as Meghan Wanstrath is the only vet student on the trip for the wintermester.  I enjoyed learning about regenerative biology in the Axolotl Research Center and to understand a creature that has different properties than humans was really intriguing. The axolotls were so cute, and I was so close to wanting to take one home as a pet! The zoo was a blast too. I haven't been to the zoo in a long time, so it was fun to see the baby orangoutang and a baby elephant that was born only 6 days ago! 

For now, it's out of Germany and off to Austria!
So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye!

Went to Prague: Czech

How to describe Prague: Beautiful. That's really the only word that comes to mind when I think about the few short hours I got to spend in Prague.

It was interesting waking up on the train ride and seeing a completely different language on the screen. To go from somewhat finally minimally understanding German to looking at a language similar to Russian was one of the weirdest experiences. To cross in borders in few short hours blew my mind. We got into the train station, and honestly I wasn't sure if we were going to ever get out. I imagined Olaf asking us on Monday how the weekend went and all we would be able to say is, "The train station bench made a good bed." We finally figured it out and to the Eurostar David Hotel we went.

The next day we walked around the town and had a nice sit down lunch. It was wonderful to be able to look at the architecture and just enjoy the beauty of the city. The day was so relaxed as we traveled throughout and we even found a Christmas Market! Even though it was rainy, the colors of Prague still came through.

That next day was beautiful. It was incredibly to look across the St. Charles Bridge at the colors and the river. I even am now sporting a new profile picture from that very day! Prague was incredible, even if it was only for 36 hours, but I hope to return some day.

A Quick Hallo from Hannover

   Hallo! We only got one and a half days in Hannover, so this will be a petit post! I found Hannover charming yet busy; the romantic architecture of the apartments surrounding our hotel as well as the general lack of urban noise makes the city similar to Bonn. Yet, like Bonn, Hannover is well connected by its metro system and contains a quality medical school/hospital (we visited each!). I really enjoyed spending time in the nephrology and cardiovascular departments. In both cases, we were able to have a Q & A with one of the doctors and kind of explore the corresponding hospital wing. 

   We also had a longer lunch break between these excursions. I was pleased to be able to sit down with some fellow Aggies at a little cafe inside the train station and just enjoy the beautiful day! I have decided German cappuccinos are made with some kind of addictive drug because I seem to need one at least once a day. Coffee is given the attention it deserves in Germany, and that's all I'm going to say about that!

   Tomorrow we travel to Vienna via plane. It occurs to me that just under two weeks I have visited six European cities, and in less than one week I will be back in College Station, waking myself up for CHEM lab. Time is moving so quickly, I'm having a wonderful time, and I'm learning so much, but at the same time I am beginning to really feel homesick. It's so difficult to be separated from family and my boyfriend for a long period of time, and by such a long distance. Never in my life have I been this far from home...

   On the one hand, I am so grateful for this incredible experience. Traveling to Europe is the bravest thing I've ever done. On the other hand, home is where my loved ones are, and I am beginning to count the days until I can come home.

Czech Please

   The free weekend possibilities seemed endless, with the option of trips to almost any part of Europe. Would it be Spain? London? Amsterdam? We deliberated and finally decided on Prague because we had heard how beautiful the city was and it's convenient proximity. After saying goodbye to Berlin, we somehow managed to navigate the train and city and settled into our hotel.
   The second we stepped off the train it was quite apparent we were no longer in Germany. The station was almost empty, there were strange words everywhere, and English was not everyone's second language. Another big surprise was the use of the Koruna, which is roughly 20 per one US dollar. I never did get used to spending 100 Kc on a bottle of water.
   Our first glimpse of the city the following day was of the Prague Castle along the river. It was as if I was walking in a postcard, minus the rain of course. We explored the old town shops and visited the Christmas market located in the square with the  famous clock tower and the Church of Our Lady. The giant Christmas tree was lit across from a stage of traditional Czeck band, and the  trdrlnik was so amazing I think we each ate two.  We  experienced the Prague nightlife  and met people from Italy, Germany, Russia, and the good ole USA.
   Prague is a city I will hopefully visit again and I wish we were able to spend more time there. However, I  am thankful we  were able to enjoy the town and get some rest. The Czech Republic did us well and I will never forget the memories we made!

Let the good times roll in............Berlin!!

Our arrival in Berlin was pretty amazing!! We had our first lesson in the breakfast room, which was probably not the most practical but it got the job done, from there we left for the biggest party in the world NEW YEAR’S EVE!!! The amount of people who were there and the all around atmosphere was one of the wildest things I have ever experienced! Our walk back was a little scary because it felt like we were walking through a post apocalyptic world where anarchy ran rampant, this apparently is a very normal New Year’s Eve and will be one that I will never forget. Over the next few days we went to many different places and experienced many different things.  My most favorite of them all would have to be the Charite Museum  and the Deutsches Hygiene Museum.  The Charite Museum was very interesting and made me kinda queasy, we were able to see an awesome medical collection with lost of very different specimens.  Not only were we able to see the collection, but we also got a tour of their skills lab and I did my very first intubation !!!!The Deutsches Hygiene Museum was also very cool because we had to tach ourselves we were split up into groups and then gave a small lecture about what we learned about in our room.  This was a very interesting technique but one that i enjoyed quite a bit because it allowed us to be able to decide what we found the most interesting and spend a lot more time on those individual items.  Though my time here in Berlin has been a very special one I look forward to what is going to come next in our adventure. Until next time let the good times roll!

Multiculti Berlin

   The first impression of Berlin I experienced during the festmile on New Years was that it was a culturally diverse and vibrant city, and throughout our stay this remained true. "Multiculti" Berlin offered so many opportunities to learn about history and the German's past. On our tour of the city it was surreal that we were standing over the very spot where Hitler took his last breaths, or where the first victim of the Berlin Wall was killed.  History lessons pale in comparison to experiencing and learning  simultaneously.
   Dreaden was our destination for one day and it was quite beautiful. The street musicians played  classical music as we walked along the old buildings and enjoyed Turkish cuisine.  The treasury housed some of the most incredible and intricate objects from centuries  ago as well as the world's largest green diamond. We visited the Hygiene Museum and acted as our own tour guides, which was quite a  feat  considering  all of the captions were in German.
   Our last  full day in Berlin we visited the Charite  Hospital and  learned about the old and somewhat barbaric practices of medicine. The museum housed a collection of preserved diseased or misshapen body parts, and it was fascinating to see conjoined twins or the brain of a Syphilis patient. We also had the opportunity to visit a practical training center of the medical school and speak with German medical students. Getting  their perspective on medicine and learning the steps to becoming a German physician was interesting, and they even taught us how to intibate a training dummy. There are many similarities between the United States path towards becoming a physician, however it shocked me that the only basis of being selected for medical school was grade point average.
    Before leaving for the free weekend, we made a visit to the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp. This was extremely humbling and brought the Holocaust into reality for me. At that very  location, thousands were murdered and their bodies burned. Such a horrific camp now seemed so peaceful and it served as a reminder to be thankful for all the blessings I have.  As we rushed to make our train to Prague , I hoped for the best since we had absolutely nothing planned. As the train rolled away, Berlin became a memory and I will never forget my New Years spent there.

HAMBURG

I don't think my free weekend could have been any better. It started off with our last day in Berlin as we went it the Sachenhausen Concentration Camp. I've never been so emotional on a historical site tour. It's one thing when you learn about the treacherous things people underwent at the camps. It's a completely different story when you place your feet and you are in the actual presence of a place where thousands of people suffered. Understanding their suffering made me count my blessings even more.

Emotions changed when the free weekend began. My uncle picked me up from the Berlin HBF with Kendra, and we drove about 3 hours to Hamburg. After dropping off the Kendra, and dropping off my suitcase at his house, the first thing on the list of things to do was simple: eat of course! We went to a Persian restaurant and took care of my homemade meal cravings. It was SO GOOOD! That night we drove around the city, and being the "cool" uncle that he is, he took me to Reeperbahn, the street with a million strip clubs. A million is an exaggeration, but you get the point. We obviously didn't go in, but I did get to learn the purpose as why it is located where it is, which is because it's right next to the harbor!

After Reeperbahn, I was exhausted, and I rebooted myself with 10 hours of sleep that night. The next day, breakfast was exquisite, with my uncle's famous eggs. And later I was even surprised by my other uncle, whom I thought was Iran. Seeing him was probably the cherry on top to this fantastic weekend, even though it was only for a few hours. That day we completely relaxed, played card games, and cooked a delicious dinner. The following day I was fortunate enough to be able to stay an extra night. I don't know how else to describe it other than it was AMAZING. We explored Hamburg, my uncles old undergrad university, and we did a bit of shopping, but it was more important for me because we did so much bonding. I got some fantastic pictures and surprisingly even learned about the city.

We arrived to Hannover early morning the next day. I didn't think saying goodbye to my uncle would be so hard.

There is one thing I learned about myself this weekend. It may not be related to the German culture, but it's related to my Persian culture regarding family. Nothing in life is worth it without family. Family makes all the difference in the world, and they make life enjoyable. And in the future, when I do begin to travel and explore more, I'll make sure that they are with me. Having a family that provides so much love is hard to find these days, and I am beyond blessed to have mine.