Trip of a Lifetime

When I signed up for Germany History of Medicine I pictured seeing new cities, trying new food and learning new things. However I never imagined how this trip would change me. I had never taken public transportation before this trip but now I have taken metros, buses, trams, and trains. I have also missed or been late to all those forms of transportation. Before this trip I would have been incredibly irritated after missing something or being late but this trip taught me a lot of flexibility. Buses run late and stops are missed but that just means more memories are made than originally planned. The memories I have made on this trip will stay with me for a lifetime. I’m inspired to travel more and try new things. It’s hard to think of how this trip has affected me since I’ve been home because it feels like only yesterday I was asking a Bonn native how to get to the Mozart statue. I now know that it was the Beethoven statue and that the best gelato in Bonn was right in front of the statue. I’ve gained a new appreciation for the German culture and hope to one day be able to immerse myself in other cultures like I was able to on this trip. I hope when I’m older I’ll be able to go back to Germany and remember all the great times I had in the country. After being home for a while I have grown to miss some of the things I did in Germany. The public transportation is probably what I miss the most. It was so nice to not have to drive and be able to go to so many places so quickly. I never thought I would say this, but I miss the walking. I loved the convenience of walking being able to walk to so many places. It allowed for me to find so many things I normally wouldn’t have seen. This is something I can’t bring back to Texas due to the terrible heat that makes me even walking to and from my car a bad experience. While I can’t walk to a bakery and buy literally the best pastries I’ve ever had in my life, I do have Mexican food and I missed that more than anything while I was gone. I didn’t miss as many things from home as I expected I would while on the trip. I was being exposed to so many new and exciting things that I didn’t have time to miss home. I found myself getting excited over finding a new gelato place or finding new side streets to explore. I have continued getting excited while I have been at home. Sometimes its hard to get excited over new things during the school year when there are so many tests and lab reports, but I want to try to be able to learn as many things in and out of the classroom as I did in this program. In my first blog post I wrote about being afraid to get lost. I got lost quite a few times and would have gotten more lost if it weren’t for friends I made. I’m not scared of getting lost anymore. I know that if I get lost that I can end up at an even better destination or make new memories in the downtime. I once missed the bus I meant to go home and that’s how I found out Professor Waltz took the same bus as me. I was running late on day and ended up discovering that the Bonn HBF had some pretty decent wine.

I hope to continue discovering new things now that I am home and cannot be more thankful for the things this trip has taught me.

Until next time Germany,

Trip oAnne-Marie Metersky

Let's All Go Back

     While the heroes journey is coming to an end, the first thought that comes to mind when looking back on this trip is the fact that I would do anything to go back and relive the adventure of a lifetime. Furthermore, there isn't a single thing I would have changed about the trip except the fact that it should've been longer. Having conversations with people about this trip triggers a feeling of nostalgia and sadness, but also feelings of gratitude and growth.
     Coming back to America after being in Europe for 6 weeks was a strange, but delightful experience. There were a few things I had missed such as driving, free water, air-conditioning, and open spaces, however I realized that the absence of these everyday commodities was the key to getting out of my comfort zone and getting the most of my experience in Europe. Despite being out of my comfort zone, there were a few significant things I learned on this trip that I will hold on to for a lifetime.
     The first main thing I have learned from going to Europe was to be patient. There were countless instances when things didn't go our way. Missing trains, delayed transportation, getting mugged, and the list goes on. It's all part of the adventure and experience. Instead of panicking in times of trouble, I learned to actually enjoy it, learn from it, and make it a memory worth talking about. Furthermore, the people weren't always the kindest, especially in restaurants, and I had to be patient with them knowing that we come from different cultures and different backgrounds. What is socially acceptable in my culture may be an abomination in another, so being patient and learning from mistakes was a huge lesson learned.
     Another important lesson learned was to be more curious and always seek out knowledge and wisdom. This trip gave me the desire to explore books I've never read before, not for the purpose of entertainment, but for the purpose of learning. Furthermore, it helped me realize that curiosity is key to getting the most out of the experience. The curiosity of different cultures, languages, and beliefs opens the door to your mind to be filled with all this new knowledge that you can pass on to others.
     Furthermore, another thing I learned is to find beauty in the little things. Watching the sunset on the North Sea, riding in a train overcrowded with people from all different backgrounds, tasting new foods you thought you would never have. These little things add up to form a collage of memories and lessons you can look back on and cherish.
     The last, but most important thing I learned over this journey is that we are all one people. Yes, we may be separated by thousands of miles and hundreds of millions of gallons in the oceans, but we are still on the same earth. Yes, we may behave differently, have different cultures and customs, and speak completely different languages, but we all look at the same moon at night and are burned by the same sun. We all have needs, we all have emotions, we all have strengths and weaknesses, we all have influence, and we all have a purpose.
     With the knowledge and wisdom that I have gained from this study abroad, my life in America will be much more fruitful, and I will get the most out of every situation. I have a greater appreciation for the life that I have been given and overall, I am just eternally thankful that I had this opportunity that not many people get. Let's all go back.

Best 6 weeks of my life

After coming back to the states after 6 weeks of Europe was something I thought I would never say.  It was the most amazing experience I have ever had.  Everything I do now reminds me of Europe and how amazing it was.  I seriously can not wait to go back and experience it again, but now with more confidence.  Going to Europe made me into the whole new person that is excited to try so many new things.  Whenever I am hesitant to try something new,  I think about a time in Europe that was new to me and the confidence I had while doing it.  I have been able to keep up with people that I met in Europe and every time I see something like pictures of Vienna, it makes me wish I was there again.  It made me appreciate things that I would've never appreciated before.  I never knew how much I would miss something like normal bottled water or even driving to a place whenever I wanted.  These were things that I took for granted here in the states but even so, I would trade them so that I could go back to Europe.  The people, the culture, the cities are all so different from what I am used to and to be able to experience something like this was once in a lifetime.  I had the ability to visit 4 different countries and over 15 different cities.  It was absolutely amazing to be able to experience so many different types of culture varying from Germany to Amsterdam.  Every where had something completely different than the place before it ranging from the way people treated me to the way the buildings looked.  Whenever I talk to someone new the topic of Europe always somehow comes up and I love the fact that I can talk so confidently about traveling, studying, and adapting to a new culture.  I was able to come back to America feeling different in multiple different ways.  It made me more open minded about different topics.  After going to Europe for 6 weeks I look forward to going back next summer.  Europe is my new favorite place to go and it is something that I will always look forward to.

Bonn in Retrospect

It's been 8 weeks since I left Germany, my home away from home, to return to the United States. Now, as I sit in my room in College Station amidst the heavy rain from the remnants of hurricane Harvey, there are few things I long for more than to go back to Bonn. Sure, I've had the glorious dining experience that is Whataburger, and I've enjoyed finally having ice in my drink and not having to pay for water, but I still long for the cool, historic air of Germany. To say it was the best trip and best summer of my life would be the smallest compliment I could give. I know that's something that seems to be reiterated over and over again by me if you've read any of my previous blog posts, but that's just the best way to describe it. Hopefully, this post can help explain what made that trip, that experience, such an unforgettable one.

This trip was filled with incredible sights that I know I've already spent some time talking about in previous posts, but it doesn't mean they weren't amazing. Norderney, in particular, will always hold a special place in my heart. Dr. Wasser had told us how great a place it was, but I had my doubts going into the trip about how nice an island in the North Sea could be, but I was dead wrong. It's a place that seems so relatively untouched by people, and so free from other worries and issues that you hear about on the mainland, all while being just miles off the shore. It was a strange feeling of being as free as you could possibly be, all compounded by the fact that I was in this beautiful place with amazing friends having a once in a lifetime experience. I promise I will go back there one day, and hopefully whoever goes with me will get to experience the most pure sensations of joy that I got to feel during our time in Norderney.

Luckily, Norderney wasn't the only place where I got to experience some introspective thought that I carried home with me from the trip. In Paris, as I think I talked about in a previous post, I got to go to the Eiffel tower for the second time in my life, and I spent some time at the top just reflecting on the time I was getting to spend there and in Europe as a whole. For some reason, it took me until the moment I was on top of the Eiffel tower looking out over Paris at sunset to fully realize how lucky I am, and what an amazing thing it was that I was getting to experience this. Not just that it was my second time in Paris (as I went over in my blog about that trip), but that I was getting to roam Europe as a college student surrounded by friends. Some people go their entire lives looking at icons like the Eiffel tower, the Cologne cathedral, or the Brandenburg Gates, all without ever getting the chance to see them, and here I was at 21 seeing all three of those for the second time. It's a difficult thing to word this part of my post without coming off as arrogant or entitled, but I try because I think it was such an important feeling for me on this trip. The realization that I was getting to experience so much in my life at such a young age was incredibly humbling as I realized how little of it would be possible without the enormous support cast around me that guides me and walks with me throughout all of my journeys. I think about the fact that I could never have been there if my grandmother, who worked at the post office sorting mail, hadn't pulled together enough money to barely help my mom through college, who then paid her own way through medical school, and is now supporting me in everything I do. I don't know, maybe this still doesn't read well, maybe it still doesn't come across the way I mean it to, or maybe it's not a sensation that can be experienced reading words on a screen. The important thing is that I know I felt the immense gratitude and humbling joy that I felt, and it left a lasting impression in my memory.

Places like Palma de Mallorca and Bussels will always have a special place in my heart, and they too offered similar sensations as the ones I described above, albeit they weren't the same as those momentous occasions where I felt as though a light had gone off in my head. It's a bit of a strange concept, this trip, in that you do so much in such a short time that you have to be careful or it can start to overwhelm you to the point that you start taking things for granted. If anyone for the next trip looks back on these and reads them, don't take any of it for granted. You may be exhausted, you may want to sleep till 10 just once on your weekend trip, you may want to skip that one sightseeing walk, but don't. Miss those, and you miss the whole point of going abroad. You'll see things you can never see at home and may never have a chance to see again, all for a little more sleep. I'm unbelievably happy I was with a group that was so willing to push ourselves to make sure we saw everything we could in each city, or else I know I would be looking back now with a great deal more regrets than I have (which I can honestly say I only have one or two regrets at most). Add this all to the list of lessons I learned and brought back from this trip.

As a bit of a side note, since this isn't really one of those profound lessons I learned in Germany but more of some literal ones, I'd like to take a short segment just to thank everyone once again. To my host family, a huge thank you for making me feel so welcome from the moment you picked me up at AIB and then took me to your friend's concert later that evening. The experience would not have been the same if I hadn't lived with Aenne, Andreas and Johanna, and I truly hope that if I'm ever there again or they ever find themselves in Texas that we can get together. To Henning, thank you for making us all laugh so often throughout this trip, and for helping to keep everyone safe. You're kind of a big teddy bear once you get past that hard rock outer theme, and I hope we didn't disappoint as your first group. To Professor Waltz, thank you for always being willing to move down to my lame end of the table and chat with us about anything, never failing to inject some sass into our conversation. You really do know your stuff about music too, and I've been working through the playlist you gave me since I got back. I'll see you soon. Finally, to Dr. Wasser, thank you for getting us all to come on this trip with your excitement and genuine interest in us developing into better people. You contain a wealth of knowledge I don't think I've ever seen before and most importantly have an unending drive to share as much of it as you can with all of us. As much as the trip taught me about myself and as many of these lessons I learned for myself as I traveled around, I know that none of it would have been possible or even the same without you there leading the way. I hope we get to see you again in College Station, because I could always use some more German phrases in my life.

I remember in my first post that I talked about having some level of anxiety about going on this trip, partially stemming from the total freedom we would have without really possessing a strong grasp on the country's transport systems or language. Luckily this fear was put to rest quickly after arriving. There seems to be a common misconception about the German people that portrays them as these cold, calculating, unwelcoming individuals when in reality everyone I spoke to was kind and willing to help if you looked like you couldn't figure out what was going on. I think this first experience describes a theme I found throughout my time in Germany: nothing was ever as scary as I made it out to be in my head. When I got back, I told everyone that asked that it was a life changing experience in part because it forced me to do things that I would never have to be put through here in the United States. Sure, eventually I'll travel alone or with friends here, but even that is easier when working with an American airline through a website based in English than when trying to navigate a German website translated to English. Even still, it seemed as though everything always worked out the way it needed to. I had hoped that this trip would force me to step outside of my comfort zone in some ways in an effort to make myself more mature and more confident, and I think it did much more than I had hoped for. I came back with more confidence in myself than I had ever had before, especially in making decisions quickly and dealing with new people. I feel like it instilled that sense in me that things will work out as long as you're willing to work through whatever problems arise, and I feel like that lesson is one I wouldn't trade for anything. I learned about things that we do as Americans that could use some work, from simple annoyances like the volume of our voice (why do we talk so loud?) to bigger issues like our complete disregard for the environment when it comes to recycling and scaling back. While I know I may not have the power to change policy for the rest of the country, it has made me change some of the ways I do things, and I spread the word to anyone who is willing to hear about it. It was also reinforced to me that it isn't always about having the nicest things or staying in the nicest places but being with fun people. This really became more apparent after I met up with my mom to continue our travels together. Clearly as students we didn't stay in the nicest places (nor the worst) when we traveled on our own for the weekends. That being said, I had so much fun with everyone around me that it never seemed to matter, and in some cases gave me better memories from the trip. Once my mom arrived, we stayed in nicer hotels and went out to eat for meals, but I noticed that it wasn't those things that made me have any more or less fun. To be fair, it was nice to stay in great hotels, but I also loved staying in the Airbnb in Prague with only freezing cold water, because I was surrounded by other great people.

Despite all of these great lessons I feel like I learned from the trip, I still think the most important lesson may have come from just choosing to go in the first place. Beforehand, I would have been terrified about the concept of going off on my own for this length of time, and while I would've thought it was cool, I probably would have chickened out and not signed up. Somehow, I stuck with it and didn't back out of the process, and I embarked on a life-changing 6 weeks of my life where I learned more about myself than I had in the past few years combined. Now I know; if there's ever an opportunity that is this exceptional, this rare, or even just one that might be worth it, I need to do it. The worst that can happen is I don't enjoy it as much as I thought, or it could go better than I could have ever imagined and led to the greatest trip of my life. To anyone who is thinking about going on this study abroad trip, stop thinking and just do it. I promise you won't regret a thing.

Until next time, Bonn.

Gabe

Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time, I traveled throughout Europe and had amazing adventures with wonderful new friends. When my time abroad came to an end, I didn't want to leave; but now that I am back home, it almost feels like my time across the Atlantic was a dream. I tell people stories from my weeks in Germany, but I sometimes have to remind myself that they really happened... I really traveled around Europe, having incredible experiences and learning so much.
I thought that adjusting back to my life here in Texas would be difficult, but it proved to be easier than I originally thought. I didn't want to leave Germany, but I was also glad to be home.
I came back as a changed person. I had learned more about myself in 6 weeks than I have in years. I found a new sense of independence and a stronger desire to explore this beautiful planet.
Before leaving for this trip, I was nervous and unsure what to expect. I didn't know how the classes would be, and I honestly didn't think that I'd be doing as much traveling as I did. I had no idea that I would be changed in the way that I was, or that I would end up leaving part of my heart in Germany. This trip ended up being one of the most incredible experiences I have ever had. It surpassed any and every expectation I had, and I was honestly surprised at how incredible it was.
I learned more about a beautiful part of the world which I had never been to, and I learned about the fascinating history of medicine. I saw so many incredible places full of history and had many unparalleled experiences. Even though I was able to learn more about science and history, the most important takeaway from this study abroad was everything I learned about myself. I decided to go across the world and live there for 6 weeks without knowing anyone else going on the trip... because of this, I found a new sense of independence and a new strength. I am proud of the person growth I've gone through, and I feel like I am a better person because of it.
So thank you, Dr. Wasser and Professor Waltz, for fostering an incredible learning environment and for teaching us so many wonderful things. I can't put into words how amazing this trip was and what an impact it has had in my life. I will forever cherish the memories I made, and I cannot wait for the day I get to go back to the places I visited.

Best six weeks

It's been almost two months since I left Germany. It honestly feels like it was last summer. The first thing anyone asks me when I see them is "how was being abroad?" They can see by all my pictures that it was the best six weeks of my life. I tell them in great detail about my adventures in Amsterdam, Brussels, Florence, Vienna, Berlin, Norderney, Paris, Zurich, and of course my second home, Bonn. It's insane to think that a place that'-s miles and miles away once felt like home. The people I was surrounded with made my trip perfect. It's sad to hear my friends talk about their study abroad groups because they didn't get along. I was truly blessed to meet 26 amazing people.

My expectations were completely blown out of the water. My boyfriend and friends had studied abroad summers before and their experiences were different. At first I was upset because having host families meant that all of us students wouldn't get to spend a lot of time together in Bonn. Wow was I wrong. Yes, we didn't really hang out once we were back home for the night; however, we hung out after class, on holidays, and bonded on weekends. Bonn was like a small home to a lot of us. We got a hang of the transportation systems, found our favorite restaurants, and truly felt like locals. Washing some of my laundry in the shower and living without air conditioning probably doesn't seem ideal to most college students, but I embraced the whole experience. It was a one of a kind summer. I loved living with my host mom and learned so much from her. We are friends on Facebook and instagram so we can stay in touch (:

I was honestly surprised that I wasn't homesick much at all. I got homesick a little at the beginning but that's of course because it was a new, strange environment. But, the people I met slowly became my friends then my family. It felt normal to wake up and take the bus to school then have crazy adventures on the weekend. I'm not gonna lie, I started feeling ready to go home around week 4 or 5. It's not that I wasn't enjoying myself, living abroad is expensive and you miss the people you love the most. Even though I was excited to get back, it never really felt like it would end. Our last night was filled with tears, on my end, of course. I was crying because those past 6 weeks were nothing I could've dreamt of. They were perfect to say the least.

Now I'm back in America about to start my senior year. College has flown by but I wouldn't change a single moment. I'm so glad I took a chance and stepped out of my comfort zone to go abroad. It's a story I will have forever. It's a story I will tell my children. Those past 6 weeks made me thankful for everything I have and the amazing opportunity I had. The experiences made me realize my goal is 100% vet school and at some point I really would love to study abroad again. I came back with a strength in remembering to never let the little things get me down. There are way bigger problems in the world and this trip opened my eyes wider to that.

To the people I met, the places I explored, and the memories I could never forget, thank you for making me the person I am today.

Until next time Europe,
Sarah

what an adventure.

While typing this last and final blog post, it is raining like cats and dogs outside due to Hurricane Harvey hitting Texas. As I think back on my trip, this heavy rainfall reminds me of one of the last days on our program. We were in Berlin, and a few of us decided to go to the museum and see the Ishtar Gates. It was raining hard, I was cold, and I remember almost deciding to leave the group and head back to the hotel. In fact, I remember trying to catch the group that was going back to the hotel, but they already left- and since I am very poor with directions, I decided to just go with the other group to the museum. And man, if I would have decided not to go I would have regretted that for the rest of my life. The rain was heavy, but how often do you get the chance to see the Ancient Babylonian Gates and eat gelato in the freezing cold rain?? I am just reminded of the wonderful opportunities that I was presented with going on this trip. In that six week period I did more than I ever thought possible, and honestly at times it still doesn't seem real. 

When I got home, the original plan was to eat pappasito's for dinner. However, since I was delayed ~5 hours and didn't get home until roughly 11PM, I "settled" for whataburger that night and had pappasito's the next day. Drinking iced, sweet tea was so wonderful and very missed. I really enjoyed all of the food Europe had to offer, but we have some mighty fine food here in Texas, too! I was also so excited to just hop into my car and drive wherever I wanted at my own convenience, and order water and know that it wouldn't be carbonated. However, since I have been here there are things that I have missed, such as the sun being out later, the quietness of the neighborhood my host mom lived in, the constant adventure, no humidity, and pastries everywhere! Of course, I was excited to see my family and friends when I got home as well. I loved sharing stories with them, and teaching them all that I learned and experienced abroad. 

For the remaining part of my summer, I have been shadowing an oncologist in College Station. He has a patient named Lisa Mona (like Mona Lisa) and so he began to tell the patient about when he went to the Louvre and saw the painting. I was so proud and excited to share my story of visiting, and show my pictures as well. And there's another patient who is German, and then I later found out he was born and raised in Dusseldorf and was headed back there in a week. I thought it was so awesome that it's such a big, but small world, and from this trip I got to experience so much of it.

I like to think that I will always remember every memory and every moment of this trip, but of course as we get older and time goes on, we will slowly forget some details. This is one reason why I am glad that blogging was required for the course- so I can always come back and reflect. I was convinced that I was going to print all of my pictures and make a scrapbook of my journey abroad before classes started, but that hasn't followed through yet. But everyday I am reminded of the trip in some way or another- like wearing my Birks, seeing Henning's CD in my car console, looking at a map, or finding random euro coins on the bottom of my purse and backpack. Just the other day I was looking around World Market and found 

leibniz keks cookies and was SO EXCITED because I can always have a little bit of sweet, German goodness here in College Station. I also bought some gnocchi was well, and I'm excited to incorporate part of the German culture here in my Texas lifestyle of living. 

Since I have been home from the trip I have been trying to be more okay with going with the flow. I have always been such a scheduler. As we know, when you're abroad, you have to be willing to just go with things. It's literally impossible to plan and coordinate everything, especially far in advance. In the beginning of the trip I really struggled with this idea and felt out of the loop. But it's just a part of life, and I think it is important for me to realize it. I truly have been trying to be better at it, and this study abroad trip really opened my eyes to that concept. 

I'm sure this post seemed very "all of the place" but I hope that one main point can be concluded- Life is full of many experiences, we just have to take advantage of them. I am forever thankful that when I heard about this program, I took the opportunity. (Thank you again, parents, for funding my trip!) Accepting the Hero's Journey was something I never expected, but wow- what an amazing time. 

Auf Wiedersehen!

Emily Shaw

Reflection

After weeks away from Europe, it is interesting to see the differences between America and Europe. There is always good and bad facts about both places. I missed free water in American restaurants, but now, I missed the wonderful bakeries that litter every town we went to in Europe. I personally realized that I liked walking everywhere so I missed doing that in Europe all the time. It was wonderful to see the small differences between different places and this trip made my love for traveling higher than I could ever imagine. By taking a study abroad and by incorporating the environment with the classes, I felt that I was able to related to the material so well. One funny thing during the rest of my summer was when I went to a spa during my family vacation. My mother wanted to treat me for my birthday so she made an appointment for us. I felt bad for my mom since I kinda gave her a lecture on spas and sauna rooms during our use. However, my mom enjoyed it and it made me realize how much I liked the sauna.
I felt this study abroad let me experience so many things that I didn't think was possible. I know was going to do trips and go to classes. But, I didn't expect to be making smores with my host family or forming sushi/kimbap during the weekends or even dancing to despacito or teaching an adele song to my host sister. I saw so much of the German culture that itself made my study abroad worth it. And to think that we also went on trips to explore and learn more fantastic knowledge. This trip opens your mind on many levels. On a side note, I do seriously want to take my family to Vienna because I think everyone would enjoy it.
When I first came back, I was happy to be home because I never went out of the country for such a long period of time. I missed my free water and A/C, but I didn't missed the hot weather. But, after being in Texas for a while, I realize I want to go traveling and go see other places and experience new journeys. I still will hold a part of my heart for Texas, that is a fact, but I also want to see other parts of the world. I think it would be fascinating to see how the world handles health care and to see their point of view. All in all, I felt that I was about to expand my view of the world during my study abroad and I can reflect on my personal experience to form my opinion or view of our world.

There and Back Again: A Pre-Meds Tale by Alexander Drake Huggins

Upon arriving back in the states, I had forgotten how much I missed home. I was happy to be back, I was excited to tell my tale to all who would listen, but mostly I was tired from the 10 hour plane ride back. As the days drifted by, eventually turning to weeks, I couldn't help but realize I had been changed by this adventure. As I would drift off to sleep at night, I would remember the truly unique experiences like the Josephinum in Austria or traveling along the dunes of Norderney. I would wake in the mornings and realize I had been dreaming about the activities I did with others from the trip like visiting at the café outside Freud's house or seeing the Ishtar gate at the Pergamon museum in Berlin. I would watch the faces of those I told my tale (which took about an hour every single time if I did it justice) and see them brighten with fascination and wonder. Truly, I was blessed to have gone.

 As I look back about what I wrote in my pre-program statement, I see how far I have come. I remember just how excited I was to be leaving for a new land. I wrote about how Germany would be a foreign land (and it is) but I see now that though the culture is different and it operates differently, there were so many things I found similar that it made a clear point just how much we all have in common. I wrote about how excited I was to learn new things, and looking back on it I had no idea what all I was going to learn. I learned about new cultures, new languages, new ways of thinking. I learned about how the medical field has evolved since the days of old, from the teachings of the ancient Egyptians and Galen himself. I learned about Leonardo Da Vinci, a genius in many a field. I learned more about health care around the world, comparing and contrasting their risks and rewards. I learned about Nazi Germany, the dark stain on an otherwise bright history, and just how horrible people can be. I even learned about the physiological response a sauna has on the human body for crying out loud! I was in no way prepared for the sheer quantity of what I learned, and that's ignoring the quality of the information I was given. From Dr. Wasser alone I couldn't believe what I was being handed, and add Professor Waltz, Hilde, Dr. Schnabel, and Shaun and Ryan from Berlin I was truly blessed to have such great teachers deliver some truly fascinating information that I hope to find some way to apply in life later on. That is why you learn, after all.

My reason for going on this Hero's Journey was to learn about the history of medicine, experience the unique aspects of the lands I traveled to, and return home with a boon that would benefit my people. I can say with confidence that I definitely learned and experienced, but as the summer began to draw to a close, I found myself wondering about what I brought with me. What was my boon that I would share to benefit my people? As the weeks went on, I began to fear that I actually didn't have one. Did I accidently leave it in my host family's house in Germany? Did I leave it in the cave of my ordeal? Did it get separated from my luggage and lost by the airport? Did I even find a boon to begin with? After we received the email from Dr. Wasser that our last post was due, I feared I would have to tell him that I seemed to have lost my boon, that I had nothing to bring my people.

As the week went by, it seemed that was not the case. That week, however, was a dismal one. It began with the marching of white supremacists in Charlottesville, followed by protests and the eventual ramming of a car into a crowd. This example of hate and anger darkened the news long after, and even several days later as I sat in a pub with my father we still saw the TVs showing news related to the incidents. Eventually fed up, and also wanting to partake in a cigar, my father wanted to sit outside and finish our beers. We left, and made to sit at a table next to an Indian student who was working on some things for a job interview he had tomorrow morning. The weather was threatening us with rain, and the table we had chosen had an umbrella that couldn't be held open. The Indian man, Jaiman, offered us seating at his table, and we accepted and started conversation. Later, after the ice had been broken substantially, we were joined by an Arabic friend of Jaiman, who I now realized never said his name. Regardless, we sat and had conversation that ranged from work to school to home to alcohol preference, quickly progressing into politics, religion, and everything else that could instigate a debate or an argument. However, the four of us were very amiable, despite the fact we were treading all over areas where we were different. Of the four men, there were two white Americans, a native Indian, and a native from Iran. Of the four of us, there were two catholic Christians, a Muslin, and a Hindi. The four of us all had different ways of thinking and beliefs, yet shared and deliberated affably, laughing and toasting in light of our differences in a week where people had only hate in their hearts for different people just days before. At that moment, I realized my boon. I had always had an understanding way to my thinking, always seeing differences in people as positive quirks and unique experiences I never felt threatened by. Thanks to my time in Germany, this thinking was now on a global level, allowing me to see and understand the ways of thinking of people with vastly different views on life. If everyone else could do what the four of us did in that tiny little pub, this world would be a better place by far.

As always, I am so glad that I pushed away my hesitant thoughts about going on the trip and explored what was once new. I truly feel I am a different man after my several weeks and Germany, and now I just hope he is a better one. Thanks again to Dr. Wasser, for the program wouldn't be half of what it is without you.

This is a collection of my last thoughts on the History of Medicine Summer Program, a testament to how great it really is.

                                                                                              Auf Wiedersehen,
                                                                                                          Alexander Drake Huggins

Looking Back

As I write this post summer is coming to a close and I am prepping for my senior year of college.  I have been back in the U.S. for a while now and I have not been able to stop talking about Europe since I got back.  My journey back to America actually felt a bit rushed.  Rather than having time to slowly adjust to life back in the states it felt like I was just immediately thrown back in.  As soon as I landed in America my mom picked me up and we headed to Galveston for the day.  One of my favorite things about this was seeing my mom’s reaction to my hair.

 

During the last week of the program I decided to bleach my hair, but I kept this a secret from everyone in the states.  As I walked up to the car my mom had her mouth hung open in bewilderment the entire time.  I had wanted to bleach my hair for a while and for whatever reason I decided that Europe was the appropriate place to go through with it.  I am not sure exactly how, but I think going to Europe helped boost my confidence to be my own person.  If I had to guess there are probably two factors that played a role in this.  For one, Europe is a much more open-minded place than America.  This is a bit of a blanket statement, but I think it holds true for the most part.  That being said, I just gained a better perspective on how to be myself.  At the end of the day there is no point in trying to dress or act like someone you are not.  This is not to say that I came back from Europe a completely different person, I just feel a little more comfortable doing my own thing now.  The other factor in this change would have to be the amazing friends that I made while in Europe.  I managed to find some truly amazing people who I really clicked with.  I feel like I really got to be myself around these people and I was rewarded by making friends that I think will last a lifetime. 

Going to Europe helped me meet some truly amazing people.  This would have to be one of the things that I was the most surprised about.  I knew I would meet all kinds of amazing people but I never thought I would leave Europe having made as good of friends as I did.  I became closer with some of the people on the trip than I am with people I have known for a few years now.  I had just heard so many stories of people going on study abroad trips and making friends but then once they were back in the states they barely kept in contact.  Since returning from Europe I have seen almost every single person that I became close with while in Europe.  They have visited me in Houston and I have visited them in their hometowns.  I am so thankful for the knowledge I gained on this trip but I think I am most thankful for the friends that I gained. 

One thing that surprised me about the trip was how close I ended up getting with my host family.  I think a lot of this had to do with how loving my host family was.  The very first night we were there they had arranged a huge spread of food for Dae and me.  It felt like they were welcoming back a part of their family that had been out of the country for a long time.  During the first night we were there they also made it very clear that from then on out were a part of their family.  We were to help ourselves to anything in the house and should we need anything we just had to ask.  I felt kind of bad that I was unable to spend more time with my host family.  It seemed like I was constantly coming home late or only seeing them for dinner.  The time we had together though was awesome and I learned a lot from living with them.  We touched on many things including the dreaded topic of politics.  They were always very open with me about their ideas and had a lot of wisdom to share.  While their views differed from mine from time to time they were never rude.  They wanted to learn about America as much as I wanted to learn about Germany.  Talking with my host family helped give me a new perspective on a lot of things.  In living with my host family and just from being in Europe I learned just how important it is that people learn from each other.  We have so much to learn from each other and if people could learn to be a little more open-minded I think the world would be a better place. 

In going to Europe I gained a different perspective on nationality.  Up until this trip I had only ever left the country to go to Canada and I had gone when I was much younger.  After being in Europe for a few weeks though I truly felt labeled as an American.  That may sound weird but I had just never put much thought into it.  I have been surrounded by Americans constantly for a majority of my life so I did not put a lot of thought into nationality.  While I was in Europe so many different races of people surrounded me and I knew that when they looked at me they saw an American.  I was not just another face in the crowd.  We as a group definitely stood out at times because of where we are from.  I think this experience gave me valuable insight into what it feels like to be a foreigner in a country.  For the most part everyone was very hospitable in Europe, but there were times where people said some very rude things because they knew I was an American.  At a time where there is a lot of racial tension in America, and around the world, I think it was really healthy for me to know what it feels like to be a foreigner and to not be accepted by the people around me.  Becoming aware of my nationality also made me want to be on my best behavior while I was in Europe.  I know that there are a lot of negative stereotypes about Americans so I wanted to prove that we are better than how we are presented at times.  I had a true sense that I was representing my country and my university while I was in Europe and I tried to act as such. 

Going to Europe with this program was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.  Over the course of six weeks I visited six different countries, learned about European culture and the history of medicine, and made friends that will last a lifetime.

 

Blog 11: Reflection

Its officially been over a week since I left Europe. I got to spend some extra time in London with family where I got to visit Westminster Abby, Waterloo station, Big Ben, the Churchill war rooms, Kew gardens, Buckingham palace, saint johns park, and more. I'm thankful that visit came after the program. My aunt likes to walk very fast and encouraged me to go explore the city in the evenings. I cant imagine trying to navigate the city or the transportation system by myself before. I'm sure I would of managed somehow. I had to start somewhere…

Now that I'm back in the states I have this weird feeling that it never happened. That I was just in a coma and it was all a dream. I have pictures and memories but it really went by so fast. I think it also helped that my culture shock when I arrived and reverse culture shock returning was very minimal if not nonexistent. I think the most stressful part about the first week was navigating the public transportation and the bathrooms. Not necessarily that you had to pay for some of them( I didn’t encounter those until Koblenz), but the fact that the toilets were buttons instead of flushable handles seems to really freak me out for some reason. That and the fact that I got locked in a stall in Frankfurt not 3 hours after we arrived. I do feel like a different person. 7 weeks isn’t a significantly long amount of time, and I'm a firm believer any permanent changes take time and practice and patience to achieve, but I do feel different. I went in with an open mind, ready to meet people and learn about the world and myself  and I did come back with some new self discoveries. First off, although I loved to travel and explore and meet people, I learned that down time is a very important thing for me. I like to give 110 percent of myself in everything I do(what's the point of doing something if your not going to really commit to it), but when the social activities and learning opportunities come in a non-stop stream it can be overwhelming. I really wanted to do it all, which is why I think I got sick twice. I was pushing myself to hard to do everything, when realistically I should of just done my research and really committed to a few experiences and allotted myself more time to rest and reflect. I found on the days where I had to stay home because of a migraine or bronchitis that I felt like I was missing out, where as if I had planned time for myself i likely would of been more content with the alone time. The second major lesson that I learned is that I can(for the most part) take care of myself. AIB really wanted us to have all the resources we needed in the case of an emergency(primarily phone numbers and German cellphones), but in reality I really spent most of the free time on the trip relying on the people I just met at the beginning of the program or myself. In general we had a really amazing group of people, but there were several occasions that reminded me that ultimately I'm the only one responsible for myself. I don’t feel bad that I cant drink like some of the people I met in the program or some of the locals. I learned the value of knowing your own limits and how important that is. In Prague I got too intoxicated for my own good and could have had an especially bad night if I didn’t spot some fellow ags on the way home. That was my fault, and I think about it often. Another outcome of this trip is I have absolutely no money left. I really did not budget like I should have. That's been fairly stressful, but it was also a wake up call. I start working again in August.

A lot of people ask me what my favorite place is and its really hard to pick one. There's so much history and culture everywhere we went. I really appreciated having Dr. Wasser as a professor. He really opened my 20 year old American eyes to some amazing things. There's no way that I would think to research a random plaque on a building or on the ground, but with his guidance it was a regular thing to find stories in the most unexpected places. These past few weeks have been non-stop new experiences, and I think overall a very successful first exposure to travel and European culture. You can bet ill be back. 

Tschuss!

Blog 10: Exploring Berlin

The final day in Bonn really did not feel like the final day. I found myself on the tram home realizing that would be my last tram ride home from AIB. Forever. Then I flashback to all the lasts I've had and realize how I went about my business without really trying to savor the moment. I'm not sure I necessarily regret this. I do wonder if I would of tried to savor those moments more if I realized the end was so near. Ultimately my last night in the city is uneventful, just a relaxing evening with the host family.

Of course it’s the last day and I miss my bus. I end up arriving at HBF right on time though. When we were all together, the catching and missing of trains on the way to Berlin came naturally. I know if that were our first week I would have been more stressed out, but after missing upwards of 30 connections(I'm guessing, but that number doesn’t sound unreasonable.) missing one train because the one we were on was late, was just a fact of life and easy to not worry about. We found another train and had to sit in free, unreserved seats. There were many stops between Bonn and Berlin, and at every one of these stops more people would enter the train, kicking out some people in our group and forcing them to relocate. When we finally made it to Berlin the trip to the hotel seemed to take forever. Its always exhausting to walk somewhere new because you don't know how much farther there is to walk. Of course dragging over 50 pounds of luggage didn't help.

We didn't have much time to relax in our new hotel rooms, as we had a bike tour to get to. On the bike tour we got to see many different places of significance in Berlin, including a set of stairs where Hitler gave a speech, the Berlin wall, and the Holocaust memorial. The Holocaust memorial really did an excellent job of making those who walk through it feel small and alone. also i can definitely say the bike ride in Berlin was much easier than the one in Norderney, the helmets were weird to adjust to but considering we were weaving in and out of traffic and around pedestrians i understand why we were required to wear them.

The next day was our trip to the concentration camp. It was more than half an hour(or so it felt) on the tram and the 15 min of walking. We got brief lessons before entering each part of the camp. Learning about Nazi Germany in a classroom is one thing but actually being at the same place it all happened is a totally different experience. I couldn't help imagining my classmates and I as prisoners at the camp. After all we were the prime working aged. the accounts of what happened on those grounds really is an excellent example of how how evil exists in our world. What really got to me was the sign that translated to "work will set you free". First off the fact that these words were on the gate that physically kept the people inside from being free was  crazy.  Then you have the fact that the real freedom for those sent here was death. They didn't know when the war would end or if they would ever be rescued or released so in the end it was work till you die...then and only then you were finally free. Thinking about it still gives me chills.

That evening we were supposed to have lunch at the potato basement(I don't recall the actual name, but it was underground and they served potato almost exclusively). However as soon as the waiter heads off to start on our drink order, I'm summoned by Henning and we learn we have to leave without our food to get to my doctors appointment. The sick feeling I described in earlier blogs had only worsened. We make it to the clinic right on time and do the typical check in and filling out a bit of paper work. With Hennings translation assistance we get it all filled out with no problems. After about 10 min I'm called in to see the doctor. I don't sit on a bed with a white sheet on it, I just sit across from him at his desks and he asks me about my symptoms. I describe the coughing, the difficulty breathing, and sore throat that have been bugging me for the past few days with no signs of improvement. After examining my breathing with a stethoscope he determines I have a simple case of bronchitis, and gives my some prescription medicine to help fight it off, and sleep better. The final bill for the appointment was around 30 euros with no insurance, and the medicine was about 20. This seemed significantly cheaper than if I were to have the same appointment and medicine prescribed in the US. That didn't surprise me. After picking up the medicine we learn that our lunch with the rest of the group had come and gone so we stop at a Greek food place on the way back to the hotel. That night I really wanted to go out but ultimately my body was not having it so I stayed home with Emily for the rest of the evening. Which might not have been a bad choice considering the purse snatchers and aggressive club goers that seemed to find the group of students that went out that night.

Our third full day in Berlin and I start feeling a little better. We got to the alchemy museum and it's a beautiful collection of art, history, and science. For lunch most everyone went to this restaurant in a covered plaza to avoid the rain while found a Starbucks and worked on my paper by myself. I knew I wasn't going to want to do it after the blink 182 concert. but i met up with them later to get gelato and walk to the ottobock. I didn't realize there were going to be so many interactive displays. The whole place was filled with learning opportunities. I had just completed A&P 1 at A&M before this program so i was quite familiar with bones muscles ligaments tendons and joints.  We had some free time after the prosthetic place, but i was too tired to go out. instead i took a nap before the concert that.  Getting to see blink 182 live was truly awesome. There was so much angst in the air and everyone was having a good time. I couldn't really have more than one beer considering my health status so i was noticeably more sober than my friends but i still had a good time. 

That night we went to the same place Henning and I stopped at the other day and got Doner and Falafels. I got back to the hotel and fell straight asleep trying to recharge as much as I could before our last full day in Germany. The last day in Germany felt very similar to the last day in Bonn, like it couldn't possibly be the last. The Hero's Journey was coming to a close and I wasn't ready to stop traveling. Luckily I had a new adventure waiting for me just 3 hours away in London...