Reflection

School has come back around... that means summer is over. I have been talking with class mates a good bit about their summers and I hear from many people, "My summer was:" relaxing, boring, laid back, even long. Then I think about my summer... I can truthfully say the only one of that list that fits is long and that is only because I managed to do so much. The trip to Germany was one of the most cram packed trips I have ever been on and I loved it!! When people ask about the trip I always start off describing it with, "We went to a lot of places, in fact, we stayed at 14 different places and that is not including the number of trains we slept in as an overnight. Again though, this trip was a stimulation to every fiber in my being.

It would be difficult for me now to say what I gained, and how I grew, from this trip. It would probably be better to ask those around me to give their opinion. Regardless, the connections I made and those bonds will forever last. That is what I wanted most in this trip, an understanding and the connections. Both of which would be difficult to leave this program without.

A Look Back

So, school starts...tomorrow. On the one hand, I'm always disappointed to see summer go, and this one is no exception (except for this heat...ready for fall, please!). On the other hand, I'll get to recount stories of Germany to all my friends that I haven't talked to all summer, and relive the experience!

Looking back on the five weeks I spent abroad (I stayed one week after), I can definitely say it was a Life Experience (yes, capital letters). You always hear about people backpacking through Europe, and it goes on a lot of people's bucket list, but for me it was one of those things I wasn't sure I'd ever get around to actually doing. And while it wasn't a 2-month hitchhiking trek across the continent, I did live out of a backpack for 5 weeks, so I count it close enough. The advantage of such a long trip is that you get to completely immerse yourself into a different culture. I loved that we spent nearly an entire week at TiHo and Utrecht, allowing us to really get to know the students and realize that, yes, where and how they grew up and how they went down to road towards becoming a veterinarian may be completely different from anything I know, but they really are so much like us (although I think the internet helped out with that).

It truly was a "live for the moment" kind of trip. My family believes in packing as much as possible into a day of vacation, so that when you're done, you kind of need a vacation from your vacation. That was exactly how I'd describe this trip. It was phenomenal- I saw and learned so much from it- but I felt that there were times where you don't really have a chance to just stop and appreciate what exactly it is that you're seeing. If you're reading this as advice for next year, I urge to do just that. Take a moment and step away from the learning, come out from behind the camera, and just stop and look around. There are so many things to see and do in Europe that just take your breath away, and sometimes it seems that they speed by you like one of the bullet trains. It's those snapshots that I remember the most...for the rest, I have my travel journal (I also highly recommend keeping one of these- trust me, despite the hectic-ness I've just described, you spend a lot of time on trains- perfect for recording your adventures!).

I don't really have a final statement that can sum up this whole trip. All I can say is that the memories will stay with me forever and I'll probably still be looking at the pictures and telling stories years from now (hence the capital letters earlier)...and that I can't wait to go back!

Looking Back on My Summer Abroad

It’s funny; it feels like we went on the trip years ago when I think about how much I’ve done since I returned to America. But when I start going through the pictures and telling then retelling stories about our trip abroad it feels like it was just yesterday! I can’t say how much this trip has impacted my life. Going on this trip taught me so much more than any classroom or textbook could have. It taught me how to be more open to trying new things, foods, and drinks and has created an excitement in me to say yes to new adventures! And I know it sounds silly to say, but I feel so much more cultured having traveled in countries most people can only dream about visiting. For example, after returning home, I watched a German movie I had been wanting to see for quite some time, Goodbye Lenin!, and I actually recognized places and German words in the movie! I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited to see the Berlin TV tower or hear the word “Alexanderplatz” before! This trip really was amazing; getting to see so many historical places, both veterinary medicine related and not, all over Europe made me really appreciative of the opportunity most don’t even have the luck to consider!

As previous posts have already said, GO ON THIS TRIP!! You will not regret it! It is amazing, exciting, and life changing!! I’m already starting to save money so that I can visit Europe again sometime in the future!

Looking back on Germany....

It's been a couple of months since I have been back from Germany and I have to say that I really, really enjoyed my first trip to Europe this summer. I'm still trying to speak German, but it is only limited to a few words and phrases, and no one around me knows what I am saying. I have been trying to plan a trip back with my husband - I think he is tired of me talking about it all the time, so we are looking at going to Spain in a couple of years with a couple of excursion to Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands - hopefullly!

I learned a lot - not only about Europe, but things about myself as well. I really enjoyed everyone on the trip - Dr. Wassar & Lena made the trip even more exciting. I couldn't imagine the trip without them.

I would highly recommend this trip to anyone and everyone! And for those that have any hesistation - just read everyone's posts on this blog! I don't believe anyone has had anything negative to say about it. You will miss home while you are there, but you will miss Europe when you get back. Take the adventure!

Reflections (sort of...)

Well, summer is coming to a close, just 2 weeks before school starts, and I am still telling people about my trip. I have way too many pictures (I learned this when it took me 4 hours to go through all of them with my parents), but they are a cheap way to keep memories, so I do not regret it. As I refect back on my trip, it really was not all that different in Germany, etc. Lots of little things…like trying to obtain water (for free), paying for public toilets, of course the train system, trying to use another language (I really need to learn Spanish, I hate that I only know one language), and travelling with a group of people that is not your family. I have nothing but good memories, and continue to love to tell other of my exploits. I think a lot of what I learned abroad cannot be expressed in words, because I learned things without realizing it. I have a greater appreciation for having a different way to go about things and hope that reflections on my trip with aid me in future endeavors, in whatever way that may be.

Musings, reflections and memories

Well, I'm back now. When I first left for Europe it seemed like we were going to be there for such a long time. Now that I'm back though, it seems like it was only a moment in time. I have learned so much about myself and the world around around me, seen magnificent scenery, touched history, made new friends and added so many things to my list of things to do in the future. I know I will make it back to many of the places we visited someday and I know that many of the friends I made along the way will be lifelong friends. All that's left now is to see how these experiences have changed my outlook and to see how they will help me in my future life and career.

Home and Lessons Learned while Away

Things I learned with Texas A&M Veterinary Students Abroad:

1. The sun wakes up at 5am and doesn’t go to bed 10:30pm.
2. Sleeper trains can be fun.
3. Best country to read a menu is Italy.
4. A liter of beer is serious business, as are jumping pictures afterwards.
5. Don’t ask men to take pictures in any country, unless you want no background and want to guess which country you were in when you took the picture.
6. Bike tours have the potential to be both emotionally and physically strenuous.
7. I am not a nature girl.
8. Germans and the Dutch are not subtle.
9. Men can sleep anywhere, in any position on a train.
10. Keyboards change with every country and language.
11. You cannot take a picture outside of Louis Voutton. If one dares to do so you run the risk of getting yelled at, by a very unattractive sales woman with a bad hair cut.
12. In reference to number 11, French people aren’t as rude as they say.
13. Creepy old men are the same in every country.
14. A glass of wine is usually cheaper or the same price as a cola. So grab a local glass of beer or wine; you’re just being fiscally responsible.
15. You don’t need to pack your scrubs.
16. You will learn to love breakfast again.
17. Walking shoes are a must.
18. Washing the “train” off of you always makes the world better for you, and puts you in a much better mood.
19. Please and thank you go a long way; the rest of the different languages, well good luck.
20. The Europeans love their public transportation, with the exception of the Czechs and Italians that decided to go on strike when we needed to catch a train.
21. Always get a sleeper train, not a sleeper seat.
22. GERMAN SUMMER = TEXAS WINTER
23. When it rains, it’s a monsoon or a tease; really its all up in the air.
24. If ever stressed (which you will be): 1st do something about it, 2nd solve the problem, 3rd get a scoop of ice cream or a glass of wine or beer.
25. If you have a television, and it has a channel in English, it will most likely be a news channel, but you will be so informed on what is going on in the world when you get home.
26. It’s not a rumor, the Dutch like to party.
27. You can walk past the huge Ramada in Basel and not notice.
28. Most of the time you don’t really know what you’re eating, but as long as you aren’t allergic to anything or a vegetarian, dig in, it’s probably really good.
29. Don’t let money get in the way of your fun, but do be aware of what is important for you to do abroad, not what everyone else wants to do.
30. Hand sanitizer should be a must.
31. Munich is a must see!!!
32. So is Prague!!!
33. Jumping pictures are awesome!
34. All people have the potential to be rude, suck it up and don’t stoop to their level. But if you do choose to do so, make it count.
35. Tip isn’t the usual, but most of them really appreciate it.
36. REMEMBER THE WAY YOU ACT AND TREAT PEOPLE ARE NOT ONLY A REFLECTION OF YOU, BUT ALSO THE U.S., TEXAS A&M, AND VET STUDENTS. So please have good manners.
37. You will get home sick more than you think, but take a moment and realize how fortunate you are to have this opportunity and how many great stories you will have that last a lifetime.
38. Nine hours in Milan, is 9 hours too many.
39. If you are a woman; start practicing preventative peeing.
40. Battling orchestras: AWESOME! Food, well not so much; just get a coffee or glass of wine.
41. Vet School inter-romances are a bad idea in every country.
42. The Germans like everything in order, but all bets are off when it comes to flying.
43. Facial expressions have no language barrier (good and bad).
44. Boys don’t like to ask for directions in any country or language.
45. Free Wifi doesn’t guarantee it’s working all the time.
46. I may get lost, but I can always find my way home on any metro system in any language.
47. Stand clear of red lights unless you want dinner and a show.
48. Not having a good raincoat, sucks.
49. Tex-Mex is a must before and after your trip.
50. Bring something to read, listen to, and/or watch, because you will be spending a lot of time on trains, buses, trains stations, airplanes, trains, airports, trams, and did I mention trains?

All in all I really enjoyed my time spent abroad. I got closer to people I didn’t even know before this trip and had acquaintances turn into best friends. There are many things I have brought home from this trip that I never would have thought; like buying a bike, enjoying walks, and appreciating home. We had our ups and downs, but this trip was amazing, it gave me not only a different perspective on veterinary medicine, but also on world policy, politics, and history. I think it was best said at the beginning of the trip, “Texans think a 100 years is a long time, and Europeans think 100 miles is long way.”

Thank you for letting me participate in this trip and I look forward to seeing everyone around the vet school this fall semester!

Long Reflection

I remember when I first heard about this trip the ideas that came to me and the “what if’s” that I was drawing up in my head. Reflecting back to before the trip, I was excited and a bit nervous. It would not be the first time I had meet Europeans right? True but, never before had I meet and spent time with Europeans in association with my field of study. That was a bit nerve racking. However, as it turned out, my nervousness was a bit over exaggerated because turns out they are just like us… well a younger version of us sometimes. So yes I did get to know them on a professional, veterinary student to veterinary student, level. There was so much more to our interactions. It really was a beautiful thing. This is what I enjoyed most about our trip.

For me that relationship is what is important. I will be working with the students in the future; frankly, because our industry is not all that big. That does bring me to an interesting point. Their classes are huge! Interestingly though, their overall class structures are very similar. Take basics first, then your more detailed classes, then learn diseases, then medicine and last learn about clinics. The structure of classes is similar as well, the large sum of students are split into many smaller groups which then take different aspects of different classes. Not once did someone mention huge classrooms and classroom sizes which is impressive with class totals reaching above 300 per year and they have 6 years. That is another big difference. There it seemed there was a whole lot more students teaching students. I imagine that is because the students outnumber the faculty to a much larger degree than here in the states.

The other difference I would like to mention is their lack of organizations. They do not have all these organizations like we do, they have a few but even they are not the same. Their main one is like SCAVMA for us. They give them a room at the school to relax in and things like that. But, to be frank, it seemed more like a fraternity than a school organization. Don’t get me wrong, what they did sounded awesome and a huge deal of fun… but not academic related. I am not saying this is a bad thing, much the opposite; this was kind of a structured outlet for the students. It is fantastic idea in fact. However, I did notice that the biggest complaint the students had was their lack of actual hands on experience. They may get to see many things and read many books about those things but, they seldom actually get to do them. This is similar at schools here in the states, it is simply a liability issue. The hospitals have clients and have to make some money to keep the doors open, students cause a certain liability that can be a problem at times. However, here we solve this problem by providing the students with countless out of class activities to make up for this. The clubs we have set these events up, run them and often fund them all separate for the school administration. To me this is the most substantial difference between our two education systems.

Looking back

June 27^th 2011

After the program ended I stayed over in Europe until the 20^th. A group of us stayed in Berlin through the weekend before all heading our separate ways on Monday. On Saturday we went back to the Berlin Zoo and wandered around. This time we also got to see the Aquarium, which was interesting (the reptiles and amphibians are also in there). Sunday was spent at the cultural festival that was occurring in Berlin. It was full of vendors from around the world selling food, clothes, jewelry, and more. Sunday night we all had one last dinner together which was a lot of fun.

Monday morning I headed off to Ireland for the next week J After a 4 hour plane delay I finally made it to Dublin and met up with one of my friends. The next week was packed full of travel, but a ton of fun! We rented a car and drove all over Ireland. It was very weird driving on the wrong side of the car and the wrong side of the road! In one of the cities we stayed at a B&B and the house was on a farm. I told the owner I was a veterinary student and he showed me their farm! I got to see all their cows and sheep and he told me all about their animals and some of the diseases they have had to deal with in the past. It was AMAZING! I definitely recommend staying longer after the program ends to see more of the world. It was worth it J

I’ve now been back in the US for a week and it still hasn’t fully set in all the things I got to see and experience. The class definitely gave me some insight to the differences in Veterinary Medicine in the US and Europe. I’ve always thought that international medicine would be fun and the trip helped me to understand a little better what it would be like to practice outside the US. Throughout the trip I got the opportunity to meet people from all over the world. I hope to stay in touch with several in the years to come.

All-in-all this trip is a trip of a lifetime! It’s something I’ll never forget J

It's been 4 weeks already?!?!

June 11^th 2011

Yeah, today we didn’t need to be at the school until 10:30 so we got to sleep in a little. We also rode bikes to school versus taking the bus because by the time we were heading home that night the busses wouldn’t be running. Miki and Anne rode the bikes and I got to experience sitting on the back of a bike for 35 minutes. Needless to say it’s very Dutch and my butt hurt a lot when we arrived! We started the day with a tour of the equine animal clinic. The lady who gave the tour was very animated and made the two hours go by very quickly. Then it was time for a quick lunch and then we were off to our tour of the small animal clinic (companion animals in the Netherlands). In the small animal clinic we got to go change into scrubs and go into the surgery suite! It was fun seeing everyone dressed up in green with our blue hats J After the tours ended Anne picked Miki and I up and we headed to one of her friends house nearby for dinner before the soccer games. The soccer games were a form of intermurals. All the students playing were vet students and the games were the finals for the season. The team that Anne played on was the “blood factor 13” and all of the players were a different factor number! For the first game both Catherine and Diana played. However, the blood factors lost. The second game Diana played and she scored the only goal for the game! The students were so excited when she scored! After the games were over there was a party right near the soccer fields. It was a lot of fun, but the Dutch music was very interesting. There was a lot of techno and they played a lot of songs that the crowd would sing along with- it was a lot of fun! Anne’s twin sister joined us for the soccer game and the party. Her name was also Laura, which I found hilarious since my sisters name is Anne! When we headed home that evening Anne and Laura rode the bikes and Miki and I got to sit on the back. We rode home through the city center of Utrecht which was really pretty at night. Just past the center of the city there was a massive windmill! Again, when we had arrived my butt hurt after sitting on a bike for 30 minutes.

Friday morning we said goodbye to Anne in the morning and took all our stuff to the school for the day. Today was the first day I felt semi okay! We started the day with a lecture on public health in veterinary medicine. The guy who gave the lecture was very entertaining and I felt I learned a lot about veterinary medicine in Europe/ the world. Afterwards was lunch then another lecture on animals in science and society. This lecture was a bunch of short lectures and overviews of the different areas in the research departments of the university. After the lectures they showed us a few of the rats, hamsters, and mice that they use for teaching in the university. Their mice were definitely more behaved than some of the mice I’ve worked with before! Then it was time to head off to Berlin. We grabbed our bags and headed to the train station. When we got there we said our goodbyes to Dr. Wasser and gave him a gift as a thank you for the past 4 weeks. The train was packed when we got on- luckily we had reservations! One guy refused to move until he could see the reservation card and even then was slow to move from the seat. It all worked out in the end. We arrived to Berlin and made our way to the hotel. At the hotel we said goodbye to everyone who was leaving early in the morning to head back to the US. It was very surreal that the class was finished, we had been traveling all over Europe, and all the things that we got to experience. I think Dr. Wasser put it the best when he said right now we don’t realize all we did, but once we get a chance to think about it all and reflect we will realize how much we got to see and accomplish!

The Netherlands

June 8^th 2011

June 8^th 2011

Tuesday started off with us taking our bags back to the train station and storing them for the day. We then took a bus to the Arnhem zoo and had a tour of their Bush and Ocean exhibits. The tour was nice, but again, I would have enjoyed a shorter tour with more time to explore the zoo on our own. After the tour we only had about an hour to have lunch and explore on our own L I did get the chance to see a Blue Duiker walking around an exhibit! The Duikers I used to work with usually hid in the underbrush of their exhibit, so it was really cool to see. After the zoo we walked and took a bus to the De Hoge National Park. There we grabbed a bike (a famous white bike!) and rode to the museum located in the park. The ride was nice, but long when you aren’t feeling well and having trouble breathing! I was so happy when finished the 10+ km ride. The museum was interesting. The building is set back in the woods a bit, which was nice. However, the artist that they had on exhibit was disturbing. He was definitely a modern artist and his choices of materials to use were bizarre! I can say I’d never pay to go back and see his works in the future. The permanent works of art were nice to see- all the Monet and Van Gogh’s J After the museum we headed back to the station and took a quick train to Utrecht. There we met up with the veterinary students who would be hosting us for the next few days. Miki and I ended up staying with Anne (pronounced Anna). She told us that on Tuesday nights she was part of a painting group and asked us if we wanted to go. I’m so glad we went! The group is a group of veterinary students in their farm animal club (sort of like our BP and SRP) and they were painting pictures of animals that they would auction off in the fall. All the money they get from their paintings will go towards funding for vaccinations in Uganda! Their paintings were very good and ranged from cows and pigs to tigers and peacocks J While we were there Anne took us on a tour of the farm. We got to see the sheep and the cows- and even got to pet a few, including Mona (the students favorite). We then took the bus back to her apartment that was on the other side of the city. By the time we got back I crashed for the night.

Wednesday morning Anne introduced Miki and I to a typical Dutch breakfast topping- chocolate sprinkles! They are fantastic on toast with peanut butter J Our morning at the university started off with two lectures about Utrecht University faculty of veterinary medicine and the history of veterinary medicine in the Netherlands. Both lectures were interesting. After the lectures we went on a quick walk around the campus grounds- a lot of what we got to see was what Anne had showed us the night before. Following the tour was lunch then off to another lecture about the history of veterinary medicine and a tour of the museums that are located throughout the different buildings on the campus. Unfortunately, I spent most of the day not feeling all that well so I just wanted to make it through the day. After the day was over all the host students made us a Dutch dinner of mashed potatoes, endive, and bacon. It was really good- I’m going to attempt to make it when I get home. We then watched Wall-E and headed home for the night.

Ciao Bella

June 6^th 2011

There were seven of us traveling to Italy, but heading towards two different towns. We had some issues trying to get to each of our cities because they were smaller locations. So we ended up heading to Milan, Italy on Thursday night and staying there. We got in after 1:00 AM and had to leave by 8:30 in the morning to get to our destinations. Bill and I had some time to kill before our train left so our original plan was to walk around the city. However, it turns out there isn’t a whole lot to do in Milan other than shopping. So we hung out at the train station, which was very impressive, for a while. Our train to Riomaggiore was beautiful- The area around the train stop in Genova was beautiful and would like to return there sometime in the future! After leaving Genova the train drove along the coast which is absolutely breathtaking J When we arrived to Riomaggiore we headed to our hostel and checked in. After dropping off our stuff we headed out to explore the city some- the last time I visited I stayed in one of the other cities. About 10 minutes into our walk it started to rain some, but luckily it cleared out relatively quickly. The cities were as amazing as I remembered and it was great to see places that I’d seen 4 years ago still around. After walking around it was time for dinner- gnocchi and a glass of wine was perfect. Dessert was gelato- yumm J We headed back to the hostel and met our roommates for the next few days. They were two girls from Australia who are traveling around Europe for the next 4 months- later we also had a guy from France join us (he had missed the last train back to Genova- where he was staying). It was a relatively early night for me since it had been a long day traveling and tomorrow was time for the hike!

Saturday morning we headed out bright and early. First we took a train up to Monterosso (the first of the five cities). There we walked around and grabbed a bite to eat at a café that had freshly baked croissants and bread. Then we bought our tickets for the hike and headed off. For everyone who doesn’t know Cinque Terre is a nature preserve located along the northwest coast of Italy. It is best known for it’s costal hike that you take between the 5 cities- it is about 11 km, takes around 5 hours, and costs 5 euros and is 100% worth everything! If you start in Monterosso and head to Riomaggiore the hike starts off hard and then gets easier as you progress through the different cities- so that’s what we did. When we bought our tickets we found out that overnight there were two landslides that occurred and closed down the parts between Vernazza and Corniglia (the 2^nd and 3^rd cities) and Corniglia to Manarola (the 3^rd and 4^th cities). I was glad that the first section was not affected. Though the hike is the hardest, the views I feel are the best! The hike starts off with a TON of stairs heading up the side of the cliff then you outskirt the cliffs for a while until you reach the next city. My favorite part is when you round the last part of the cliff and there before you is Vernazza- it’s absolutely beautiful after an hour plus of hiking. After reaching Vernazza we walked around the city some and explored before deciding to head back to Monterosso and go to the beach since the other paths were closed. In Monterosso I bought a beach towel and clamed a place on the beach. The weather was perfect, the water was clear and cool, and it was perfect to just unwind! Following the beach I headed back to Riomaggiore to do some laundry, shopping, and just relax. The day was absolutely perfect and a great way to re-energize for the upcoming week. That evening we gained two new roommates (in addition to the Australian girls)- they were two guys from Ohio. There were also people staying in a room just below us from Washington DC, Canada, and Dallas! It was fun to all hangout and talk about everyone’s travels.

Sunday was the start of a long 48 hours of traveling. When I woke up that morning my throat was very sore and it hurt to talk L I hoped it wouldn’t be too bad of a day! We left Cinque Terre around 9:00 am to catch a few trains over to Venice. In Venice we would meet up with the other group that had been in Sacile, Italy for the weekend. After close to 5 hours of trains we made it to Venice, dropped off our bags, and walked around Venice. I’d been to Venice the last time I was in Italy as well, so again, it was a lot of fun to see the city and the places I’d been to in the past. I went to my favorite glass shop and bought a gift there J After shopping we meet up with everyone else before dinner and of course gelato! We then picked up our bags and took a train to the other station in Venice where our night train would leave to take us to Munich. When we were waiting in the train station it began to pour rain!! There was thunder and lightening going on all around us and the wind began to blow so hard that the rain was reaching us in the center of the platform. We all decided we’d had enough and went to take cover in the underground where you switch trains. Not long after getting down there and finding a place out of the way to place our bags a huge “waterfall” came pouring down the stairs next to where we were sitting. Luckily, the underground was slightly tilted the other direction and the water flowed away from our bags! By the time our train was to depart the rain had stopped, but little did we know that the rain was just the start of the adventures we were about to face! Our train arrived a few minutes late and when it arrived it was PACKED. We were all confused because we believed that the train started at our stop, so we didn’t know why there were so many people on the train. When we tried to get on the train- which we had reservations for- no one would move to let us on. The train conductor was trying to get people to move, the other people on the platform were pushing to get on, and the whole thing was a mess. Finally, after a lot of pushing, shoving, and force we all made it on to the train. We made it to our “room” and found the car packed full. We explained to the people in the room that we had reservations for the seats, they also explained to us that there was a strike going on and that there were 3 trains crammed on to one little car of the train. The other cars of the train were 1^st class sleeper cars and the doors to the cars were locked. So we made the best of the situation and tried to get to know everyone. In the room I was in there was a couple that was very unhappy and didn’t talk to anyone (they got off at the first stop), there was a family visiting their daughter (originally from NYC but now lives in Verona, Italy), and a family (mom, dad, and 4 children) that had been on vacation but took the train instead of driving to avoid traffic! Everyone was very nice, the people outside the room started singing at one point, and the best was made of a bad situation. Everyone, except those with reservations to Munich, got off in Verona to head home. At that point we were able to sit down and attempt to get some sleep. We also realized in Verona that half of our train disappeared! The train connected with a train from Rome to make one train to head to Germany. The train departed from Verona around 1:30 am or so. Sleep was off and on at best through the night. Around 4:00 am we were woken up by boarder patrol to check our passports, an hour later we were woken up to have our tickets checked. When we had our tickets checked the checker informed us that we needed a ticket for Austria- we were very confused because we had checked when booking the ticket that the train did not go through Austria since our Eurail’s did not include Austria. After a little bit of a scare we were able to buy the ticket for Austria on the train and luckily it only ended up costing 23.60 Euros. Somehow, after all the issues the night before, our train arrived in Munich on time at 6:30am. We quickly transferred trains to head to Dusseldorf. Again, sleep on that train was off and on. At this point, the sore throat I had was just getting worse and I really needed sleep! In Dusseldorf we grabbed a bite to eat, I grabbed some throat lozenges, and we headed off to Arnhem! When we arrived in Arnhem we took a bus out to near our hotel. When we got off at the bus stop there wasn’t a whole lot around- we found a sign for the hotel and it said 400 meters away. Not bad we all thought, until we realized it was a mostly uphill walk! When we arrived we checked in, I took a shower and then crashed for a much needed nap. Dinner that night was in the hotel since we were located outside the city almost in the middle of nowhere. I had some soup, took some medication, and got a goodnight sleep in hopes of feeling better the next morning.

Munich

June 2^nd 2011

What can I say about Munich? I love it!!

We arrived to Munich bright and early Sunday morning after taking an overnight train. After dropping our stuff off at the hostel and grabbing a quick bite to eat we took a train out to Dachau to visit one of the concentration camps from World War II. The best way to describe the visit was disturbingly peaceful. It was surreal to see the barracks, the crematorium, and where the prisoners lived. There were signs up all over the place showing what life was like for the prisoners during the war. I was amazed to find out that the barracks where the prisoners lived were meant to hold 200 people, but towards the end of the war each one held over 2,000 people! I’m glad we took the time to go. It will definitely be something I won’t forget.

Monday- another bike tour! Today we attended Mike’s Bike Tour of Munich- 5 hours of riding around the city. We met our tour guide, James, under the Old Town Square Tower and it was immediately apparent that the tour was going to be very informative and fun! The tour took us to some of the major tourist areas including the Hofbäuhaus, the Hofgarten, the Chinesischer Turm Biergarten, Munich’s surfers, and the Friedensengel (peace angel). Our tour guide provided us with a lot of information and kept the tour light and funny. It was definitely worth the time and money- I would highly recommend the tour to anyone going to visit the city. After the tour we walked around the city and did a little souvenir shopping before a few of us headed off to check out the Olympic Park from the summer Olympics that were held in Munich. The Olympic park was amazing- the architecture of the arenas was very impressive considering it was designed in the 70’s. It was neat to see what they have done with the buildings so they are still in use today. The old swim hall is currently open to the public as a gym. If we were staying longer it would have been fun to go work out in the Olympic swimming pool J That night we went out to dinner at an Italian restaurant near a family friends home of Katy. The food was fantastic and it was nice to be outside the hustle and bustle of the city for a little while.

Tuesday morning we had a little while to explore before heading off to Basel, Switzerland. Bill and I took a train just outside the city to go to Alliance Arena where some of The World Cup soccer games were held last year. The arena is also where the FC Bayron Munchen team currently plays. We were able to walk around the stadium some and see a little bit of the field. There was also a youth soccer camp occurring down on the field. It was cute to see three little groups of kids practicing! Upstairs they were doing a lot of construction and remodeling of the arena so unfortunately a lot of it was blocked off. They do offer tours of the arena daily. However, there is only one tour a day that is in English and unfortunately it was after we needed to leave to head to Basel. The rest of the day was spent on trains going to Basel. We arrived to Basel and checked into our hotel. It was freezing and raining outside- no more nice, warm, sunny weather L Dinner was a quick bite to eat at a pizza place and then off to bed. The hotel is amazing! We are very fortunate to have Novartis paying for us to come and stay in Basel!

I thought Wednesday was a lot of fun and very interesting! We spent the day on Novartis’ campus. The first location was right near our hotel so we walked over and got name badges to wear for the day. The first lecture we had was about the company itself- where it started, what it’s become, and where it is looking to make advances in the future. I had no idea about all the large animal options available from Novartis. They also talked about some of the new products that Novartis has developed and brought into the European market over the last few years. Two products are set to be released in the US in the next few years- which is very exciting! I was especially excited about the Onsior- finally a good NSAID for cats J We then learned about the different areas of testing a product goes through to get approved and toured the labs in the building. I thought the temperature and humidity set chambers in the basement was very interesting. I would have never thought a product had to go through so many tests to be proven safe and effective during all situations! It was amazing to see! After our tours we took a long bus ride out to Novartis’ location outside the city where they test their products on animals. At first I wasn’t very sure how I would feel about seeing the facilities, but Switzerland has very strict animal welfare laws and the animals are treated well despite being tested on. Afterwards we headed back to Basel and had the evening off to relax J

Thursday was a catholic holiday so a lot of the city was shut down. We started the day off with a walking tour of the old part of the city. The city itself was surprisingly beautiful- and the weather cooperated too which made it even better! After grabbing some lunch we went to the Museum of Natural History and explored around inside. All of the signs were in German, which made understanding everything difficult at times, but for the most part I was able to get a basic understanding. As we were about to leave the beekeeper for the museum came to remove the honey from the hive. It was interesting to see what he did, but I stayed towards the back so I missed out on a lot of it- not sure if I’m allergic to bees or not and didn’t want to risk it! After leaving the museum we headed back to the hotel to pick up our bags then it was off to Italy for a nice long weekend! I can’t wait to be back in Cinque Terre again J

Last Blog

So Im still in Germany on vacation with my dad after the program, it has been wonderful.  This program has been a whirl wind experience and I have learned a great many things about cultural differences as well as medical differences from school to school. The were so many interesting people that we have met and I hope to keep in touch with a few of them.  I think I have learned alot about myself and also alot about traveling.  This being said the next time will hopefully be easier and smoother (when it comes to train reservations).  Other than minor hiccups the class went off without a hitch.  I have seen so many different places and learned alot of history as well.  I hope to incorporate my learning experiences into everyday life!  I'm not sure what that will entail yet but time will tell.  Thanks to everyone on the trip, everyone was fun and helpful and it made the trip special!  Tschuss, bye, see you soon!

The end

Actually I am happy to say that I am currently still in Germany. I am fortunate enough to complete an internship at the University in Leipzig at one of the veterinary clinics this summer. I would like to say that I learned much more on this trip than I would have ever expected!

I think that the mark of a great program is the ability to teach students no matter what there level. I have improved my language skills, my knowledge of European and German culture, and my understanding of veterinarians in Europe even after already completing a year abroad and two internships in Germany.

I just can’t really explain how grateful I am to have been able to come on this trip. I really believe that the people putting this together did such an excellent job and I just consider myself very lucky to have been able to take part.

Follow Up Post

June 16, 2011

I have been home for several days now, and I feel I have recuperated from all of my sleep deprivation. I finished unpacking my big backpack today, and I started to do my laundry from the trip. My first few days at home were filled with drinks with lots of ice, visiting with and seeing my family and animals, and catching up on new news. It feels nice to be home, but, after a few days of rest, I actually miss traveling and seeing new, exciting things and places. I also have been craving croissants with honey, which I have prevented myself from buying for the time being, and I have found it hard to transition from days filled with activities to days with hardly anything planned. I also keep forgetting that it gets so dark much earlier here, and I miss seeing everyone every day, including Lena and her helpfulness.

I feel I have taken so much away from this trip, including being a more experienced traveler, understanding more about Europe, and learning about veterinary medicine in places outside the US. During the program, I was surprised at how many people knew English everywhere we went, even though it was not their first language, and it made me want to learn a second language. I also plan to go to the San Antonio Zoo soon to compare it to the many I visited in Europe, and , after visiting Norderney, I also want to visit Sea World to see the marine life there.

I am so glad I traveled with this program, and I feel it has given me many priceless memories as well as new friends. I look forward to seeing how this experience will impact/benefit my future role in the veterinary profession.

Last Day

June 10, 2011

Today is the last day of the program. As I am hurriedly packing my things for our flight out tomorrow, I am looking back on the day. The most interesting aspect was when we learned about the handling of laboratory animals and when we watched the hamsters fill their cheek pockets with food. Though I have seen hamsters do this many times before, I did not realize this was a separate compartment from their oral cavity.

Our last tram to Berlin was also a nice part of the day as well. I enjoyed looking at the scenery out the window and talking to friends, and the time went by much faster than I expected.

Antibiotics

June 9, 2011

Today, during the tour of the small animal clinic, our guide explained that soon veterinarians in Holland would no longer be able to prescribe antibiotics in their practice. This surprised me since antibiotic prescriptions are such a staple in all of the clinics where I have worked, and it made me wonder how the veterinary profession will have to adapt to this new challenge in this country.

Our last bike ride on the trip

June 7, 2011

Today we had our last bike ride of the trip. At first, I was apprehensive about doing another bike ride since I am not the best at biking, but I actually enjoyed this trip. It was a nice temperature outside, and the forests provided a nice landscape to bike through. There also were a lot of hills to coast down (and it didn't seem like too many hills to bike up) which was fun because the momentum from downhill carried the bike a long way. The pace was very easygoing, and it seemed like a nice bike ride with which to end the trip.

Burger's Zoo

June 7, 2011

Today we went to the zoo in Arnhem. I enjoyed our guide and there were many aspects about the tour and day that are worth remembering. First, I was so surprised and excited to see the manatees in the rainforest. I had not ever seen one before, although I have learned/read so much about them, and I thought it was interesting when our guide explained that they were actually the most expensive animal to keep at the zoo because of their slow digestive system and the quantity of lettuce/other food that they eat.

I was also amazed at the extensive aquarium the zoo had, especially the tunnel aquarium located near the exit. It was awesome to watch the fish, sting rays, and sharks swim next to, over, and above me, and I tried to take as many pictures as possible. I was also surprised to learn the sharks of the zoo were hand fed with a stick and that the hammerhead sharks were the slowest to learn how to feed from this method.