Copenhagen Clinics

Tuesday- I was lucky enough live with a host within walking distance from campus.  It took me 15 minutes to get there.  I was in internal medicine.  The students pair up and each take a patient in the morning.  After that they write up their soap until the next patient gets there.  The owners are allowed to hold animals while treatment is being done.  Chemical castration, abortion injections. We learned that in Denmark at the small animal clinic the students call the doctors by their first name and do everything with the clients and patients.  But at the large animal clinic they are not allowed to talk to the clients.  It is strange the similarities and differences in each country and the US.


Wednesday- I was on the surgery service today.  There were 2 dental patients and multiple surgeries.  I first observed a routine dental on a westie.  They had a camera that was a live feed of the mouth while the student was doing the dental and that way the veterinarian could see what was going on without looking over the students shoulder.  There was a tumor that looked like a histiocytoma on the leg of a frenchie. The owners did not want to do initial cytology, so they just removed it.  The vet did not take wide margins, so if it is a mast cell tumor, hopefully it is all gone.  They had a funny looking device that looked like a tube attached to an upside down bowl near the animals face.  I asked what it was for and they said from the isoflourine escaping from the animal even though it was intubated and had a cuff.  They said it was very dangerous gas to be breathing in.  However, there were people with open toed shoes in the surgery area.  This would have been a big NO-NO at Texas A&M.  There was a ferret that needed a CT and radiographs.  They wheeled him to the CT room, intubated, without a gas machine.  They are also not "allowed" to be in the room when radiographs are taken so every animal has to be sedated.  Well the ferrets legs were not cooperating so they had to gown up.  But the gloves they used were open at the bottom, so they got the scatter radiation from the plate.  The Copenhagen hospital is in the process of getting its AVMA accreditation.  I do not understand why, because we have enough vets in the US and their standards are not the same as ours.  We got the see a few echocardiograms and a frenchie with astrongylus vasorum which is the French heartworm.  They drew for blood gasses on a Rottweiler.  He had exercise intolerance and a low pO2.  The plan is to do a bronchiogram  next.  It will be interesting to see how clinics are run in Texas vs here in Copenhagen.

Leipzig the city that never sleeps

Headed to Leipzig! This was the first time for me on a train! It was so much fun to get to see the beautiful landscape on the way. It  was such a long train ride so a few of us decided to work on our German! Didnt take long before we were all laughing at our Texas German accents. When we first arrived in Leipzig the hosts were waiting for us at the train station. My hosts name was Lena. She was such a sweet host. I loved hearing about what university was like for her and i couldn't believe how cheap it was for them to attend school! The first night we headed to the university for the unveiling of the mascot. We walked out of her apartment to head there and to my surprise she had two bikes waiting for us! I have not been on a bike since freshman year in undergrad and i have only used mountain bikes so i was not sure how riding these bikes was going to go. Especially since the seat was a lot higher than what I am used to. I made it to the university in one piece but im sure i looked hilarious! Bergfest was alot of fun! I really got a kick out of their mascot the buck and the dances they had for all of the class years. I hope that we can bring something like bergfest to Texas A&M. When I got back to Lena apartment we opened up a pull out bed for me to sleep on. The way it was made it had the wheels and supports in the middle of the bed with nothing on each end so when laying down u have to be careful not to flip it. Apparently while sleeping i shifted my weight too far to one side and the entire bed flipped over and i was catapulted onto the ground! It was so funny! Luckily no one saw it hahaha 

It was an early day for us the next day since we were all so tired from being up the night before for bergfest. We started the day off at the city center for a tour of the city. After a quick lunch we made our way to the university for an hour and a half of anatomy lab with some of the first year vet students. They were all so young! There were even some that were only 17 years old! I loved their anatomy lab. Each table had a computer with a large screen with notes,im ages, and study aids that they could use while going through the dissections. I think that would be a great study aid especially for a group of people in laboratories. We were going over nerve blocks in the horse limbs most of the lab, man did i forget a lot.... After lab we made our way to a research building where we got to feed marmosets! After a long day a few of us walked around city center and enjoyed some local food before calling it a night. Lena and i had a movie night to end the long day :) 

Our last full day in Leipzig we got to see the historical collection of the university. They had so many instruments, documents and books from Pre and post World War Two. They even had a Manuel centrifuge! I also got kisses from baby cows cutest thing ever! After lunch we made our way to the Leipzig zoo. My favorite part of the zoo was getting to practice with the dart gun. My first try ended up in the chair cushion but by the fourth try i finally hit the lion! It was so funny watching all of us shoot the dart gun. The zoo was massive. We spent 4 hours walking around and learning about the animals and i think we could have easily stayed there longer. I thought it was really interesting when Dr. Bernhard Talked about the elephant exhibit. The zookeepers have 100 % access to the elephants. I have never seen that before since the only other zoos i have been to have either fence or glass between the zoo keepers and the elephants. We ended the day with our hosts at bergfest and danced the night away! The next morning we toured the large animal facilities at the vet school. It amazes me how much modern equipment they are able to incorporate into those historical buildings. They don't let it slow them down! Before catching the train to Prague we were able to watch the clinical games with the professors and it was so fun seeing them having fun and laughing with the students. I really enjoyed Leipzig and im really excited to spend the weekend in Prague :)

Week One

Probably my favorite thing at this point is getting to know the students that live and study in Europe.  So far, we have met Leipzig students and next week we will live with Copenhagen students.  My host was extremely helpful in showing me how to get around and very interested in America and what I do in school.  I’ve enjoyed every city, Basel, Leipzig and especially Budapest.  I visited Budapest with Brittney over our free weekend and we absolutely loved it! It’s definitely a place that I recommend for everyone to visit and really want to see again. 

The architecture and history of the cities are something that I find most interesting and I always look forward to the city tours.  It’s absolutely breathtaking and beautiful but with such a sad history, especially in East Germany.  Learning about its past was tragic, yet fascinating. I’m looking forward to learning more about it, in Berlin.

For me, going to Novartis was perfect because I am interested in research.  However, it would have been great if we were able to get on the main campus and take a tour of the entire facility.  Basel, itself, is gorgeous and very clean, plus the transportation system is right on time.  I also really enjoyed the train ride to Leipzig, the country side is stunning and it’s a pretty comfortable ride.  Leipzig was a wonderful place to visit and the city center was very enjoyable to walk around.  Visiting during Bergfest was such an experience and it was a great way to meet Leipzig students. 

Overall, the first week was a great experience and only made me more excited to visit other European countries and learn about their history and culture.              

Day one

The beginning of the trip started with a whirlwind of events! The girls luckily met me at the train station to help me find my way to hotel Alfa in Basel Switzerland. I had a feeling it would have taken me alot longer to find my way there if i had to do it alone. We had a great dinner with nils after our introduction meeting. 

Day 1 started off the day with a lecture and tour of Novartis facilities. They showed us everything that goes into the process of creating and marketing prescription drugs. I found the packaging portion of the tour really interesting because i didn't realize all of the time and thought that has to go into the packaging.  Not only do u have to put it in something for transport but you have to think about the degradation of the drug due to light and temperature and remember that the package not only protects the drug but protects you when handling the drugs. In the afternoon we had a tour of the city of Basel. It was amazing! The Rhine was beautiful and we all enjoyed a beer sitting on the wall and chatting. im pretty sure we were the loudest group there. After only a day i already feel like we are all so close :) 

Leipzig, Germany

Leipzig was exciting even before we got there. Our train ride there was my first experience with a train and I have decided its much more stressful to ride on a train than fly to where ever you need to go. It is crazy to me that the trains are only there for five minutes and then you have to find you car number and seat number. But even though I found part of it to be stressful it was really cool to be able to see the scenery while we were traveling. Also on the train we were working on learning German in order to be able to say some things to our German hosts in their language. I'm pretty sure Nils got a pretty good kick at some of our pronunciations but said we sounded pretty good. Once we got to Leipzig I met my sweet host Meica and her puppy, Nutella. Meica was so sweet the whole time and introduced me to her friends at Bergfest. I couldn't believe everything she was doing with and for me because she had 3 tests while I was staying with her. Bergfest was also a great experience. I wish we were able to have a week that helped us blow off steam and celebrate all we have accomplished. Also it was great to see how close it seemed their classes were to each other and how much fun they could all have together. One of the funniest things to me was that during the DJ was playing a lot of oldies music that you would never really hear at a party back home but it was so much fun to dance and sing with everyone on the trip to songs we all knew but had not heard in years. Although we didn't have as much free time in Leipzig, Kellen, Stacie and I found some time to sit in the town center for dinner and dessert just to enjoy and relax in such a beautiful city. But don't worry I still had an embarrassing moment while there. The first night I left Bergfest probably around one and my host walked me back to her building and then headed back to the party. I got to her room and tried to lock and open the door when I realized the door knob didn't turn and I had no idea how to get into her apartment. Little did I know German door knobs work different than the ones in the states. She was so sweet and came back and waited until I figured out how to open the door on my own. Seeing the campus was beautiful and I love that all of their buildings are so old and beautiful. Also visiting the monkeys and being able to feed them and see how they draw blood from them was an amazing probably once in a lifetime experience. The zoo was also beautiful and the types of enclosures the animals were in was absolutely awesome. I have never been to a zoo with so many baby animals. The baby animals were so fun to watch. The momma gorillas were carrying their babies around in blankets just like a person would. The baby orangutans were showing off their swinging skills or sticking close to momma. But I think the cutest of all was the baby rhino who was trying to climb onto a rock and got stuck. He made the cutest but most pathetic sound I think I have ever heard. At the zoo I also learned I will probably never be able to dart an animal with a blow gun because I only hit the target once. On the last day it was really cool to see the professors and clinicians participating in silly games for everyone to watch. It was sad to say good bye to Meica and Nutella but hopefully I will see her again one day and I can't wait to hear about her Bergfest next year. Next stop Prague for a free weekend! 

Defenestration (Blame autocorrect.)

I arrived in Basel only 10 days ago, and we have done so much since then. We traveled from Basel to Leipzig and to Prague for our free weekend to Berlin in less than a week. I have been trying to take notes to remember everything we have seen, but even a mind tailored for vet school practices selective recall. Basel is a beautiful city, and I enjoyed our city tour. All the fun quirks and stories about the city's history enriched the sights around us. I particularly enjoyed the New Year's tradition of letting wine flow through one of the main fountains. The tour of Novartis was interesting as well. We learned about research and development in pharmacology this past fall semester, and it was nice to see how that is applied in the pharmaceutical industry. Our last in Basel we dipped our toes in the Rhine and enjoyed the beautiful sights around us. The tours of the pharmaceutical and cultures museum jam packed the next morning, but the busy morning was with it to learn that adorned enteroliths can be used to detect poison and walk through the make-up exhibit.

We arrived in Leipzig later that night and met our hosts at the train station. I was able to grab a quick bite to eat before we went to Bergfest. Nicole, my host, is in her sixth semester, and therefore it was her Bergfest. That night at midnight they revealed their animal to be the kirshe - or stag - and performed their class dance and songs. It was so much fun, and the party continued on for the next few nights. On our first day, we took a tour of Leipzig in the morning and saw the beautiful church of St. Nicholas. That afternoon, we attended an anatomy lab (where I actually remembered some of the canine hind limb) and visited a research facility on campus and got to feed marmosets! They were so adorable, and it was definitely an exciting experience. The next day we toured the historical collections, which featured unique medical artifacts like a horse gas mask, a crank centrifuge, and a chicken anesthesia table. (It was so tiny!) Later Dr. Bernard took us around the Leipzig zoo, which impressed me with it's breeding program. Of all the baby animals we saw, the baby black rhino was definitely the cutest. She got stuck on a rock and made the sweetest sound trying to call out to her mom. Our last day in Leipzig we toured parts of the large animal clinic - surgery and internal med The equipment in the large animal hospital was amazing - they had every kind of imaging machinery and were definitely a high tech hospital compared to the historical outside of the building. It was fun to walk through internal med and talk through some do the cases they had in true clinic as well. We ended our day at the clinic games before jetting off to our free weekend. I loved that everyone was in on it - professors, clinicians, and students. It was quite entertaining, and the dogs running across the games made it even better. I really loved Leipzig and staying with Nicole, and I'm looking forward to staying with the host stay dents in Coppenhagen.

On our free weekend, we toured Prague castle and the city itself and walked through the zoo. The history of Prague is incredible. The city has gone through so much in the past century alone, and it is still standing strong (and apparently is featured in many Hollywood films - note to self: rewatch Vin Diesel's XXX). The zoo was spectacular! The exhibits were so lush and vibrant, and we got there in time to see the big cats fed and see a trio of baby leopards playing. They were the absolute cutest!

We are in Berlin to start another week of the program. I am looking forward to shadowing a private clinic this week. It should be exciting!

Basel, Switzerland

Basel is a beautiful city and was a great way to start this trip. I'm glad I was able to arrive a day early and that some of the girls who were already there met me at the train station. It made what could have been a stressful situation much easier and made my first day amazing. The city tour was full of fun facts and information you would never know just by looking at building and our tour guide made everything sound like it was the most interesting thing you had ever heard. Visiting Novartis was also a very interesting trip and I really enjoyed learning about the reasoning behind the way medication is packaged. I will now be less angry when I'm trying to open my dogs heart worm medication because now I know that its is the only way to be sure they get the correct dosage of medication. We were also able to see the city on our own and get lots of pictures. One of the nights we were going to have a beer and snacks on the steps by the Rhine river to have a local experience. As we were going the grocery store I hopped on an escalator and was just about to get off when I realized my skirt was caught in the elevator. Immediately scenes from movies where clothes get pulled off by escalators poured into my mind and all I could do was yell, "Oh my god Kellen my skirt is caught!" Luckily I was able to pull it away just in time and was not skirt less in the middle of a crowded grocery store. We also had to learn how to use the tram system which sometimes didn't go so well. We did have one time where we couldn't figure out which direction we were supposed to be going and got on and off the train 4 times. But these experiences have helped us learn how to use and read the tram systems. One thing I won't miss about Switzerland is how expensive everything was so bring on Germany!!

1st week in review- mainly my notes, so there are a lot of typos

Monday- we went to Novartis.  We had a lecture on their financial cutbacks and why they are going to merge with elanco.  We got a history of how they came to be in basel and how they are all over the world.  Basel is on the Rhine and in Switzerland and next to Germany and France.  We talked about packaging, making the pill, and analytical gas chromatography.  It was amazing to see how much goes into packaging a product.  We even got to see things that are not on the market yet like a pouch for drenching sheep and soft tip applicators for ear medicine.
we were free for a few hours to get lunch and we activated our Eurail passes.  We met nils at 3.  Well we were are the bus stop at 3, but he was nowhere to be found.  None of our phones worked.  We tried texting and calling.  We then just started walking around the square and finally found him.  He said we were not at the bus stop at 2:45, but we were.

 He red church is Munster.  Sir George slaying the dragon.  There is a woman and a man on the right side of the church.  The woman is flirting with the man.  The man is flirting back and seducing her so she takes her clothes off.  But he is really the devil or "evil", and he has snakes and toads coming out of his back.  It shows that you can never really trust someone when you first meet them.  The statue of the man on the horse is one of the first bishops of the church and he cloaked the poor.  The seat of the church was called "shut your trap".  In Catholic Churches you have to stand a lot, they have a small little sets to sit on to rest.  If you fell asleep while sitting on the little seat the big sets will fall and make a crashing noise.  So the guy next to you would say, "shut your trap".  There was also a whispering door. Your whispered into one side and could hear on the other.  Spy box. ..... 2 steps for getting on horse
Basel wasn't named after a Basilisk. City hall has statutes that don't like each other but they have to be together to get decisions made.  Elizabethan church. All the fountains you could drink out of.  They came from a natural spring under the ground and the water was really good.  The executioner was not allowed to touch food and put it back in the market because he was considered unclean.

Monday night we bought chocolate for our families and wine for ourselves to sit on the steps of the Rhine and drink and talk.  It was a lot of fun.  It is an aide venture to find a bathroom in Europe.  Your just have to walk into the restaurant like you know what you are doing.

Tuesday we went to the pharmacy museum.  It was neat to see all the things people have believed have worked for healing over the years.  Everything in Switzerland is expensive and we could not find magnets for souvenirs. Valerie and I decided to first class to leipzig since we already paid for it with our eurail.  We bought more wine and drank 2 bottles on the train.  Joy and I stayed with a girl named Joana in leipzig.  She has a 2 story apartment with a roof that we could climb on and see the city.  She is from the Black Forest, so she made us a traditional Black Forest soup.  It was so good.  We went to a festival called bergfest.  It is a celebration in which the second year students celebrate being half way done with veterinary study.   It is really cool because we are also half way done.  The class revealed their animal and did a dance and a song.  It is all so organized and there is nothing like it in the states.

Wednesday- we were supposed to take a city tour at 10.  The tour guide did not show up until 11:15.  St nick- protest on Monday in the church.  Bach is burried in a church in leipzig.  Music notes on the street.   Went to anatomy class.  They do it different where they look at the dog muscles and then look at a horse leg before moving on to nerves.  I like it the way we did it better.  They had early cool tables that had drains in them and the drains leg to a trash bucket, so you didn't have to throw it down and hope you get the bucket.  It seems like it would be easier to clean too.   We also went to a non human primate house of marmosets.   They monitor estrus and breed the marmosets.  We got to feed them out of a syringe and feed them apples. They were so cute.

Thursday- we went to an old farm that is part of the university.  The students in leipzig have to do a 2 week internship there dealing with farm animals and learning the history of veterinary medicine in Germany.  It is one of the oldest veterinary colleges in the world behind the ones in France.  During the GDR, the school kept changing names and did not have a lot of funding so the buildings are not as nice.  It was interesting to see books from as early as the 15th century.  Also, I loved the WW1, and WW2 history, and veterinary school history.  It is interfering in talking to the german students, as they do not find it as fascinating as we do.  I guess they grew up learning about it so it must be boring to them.
We went to the zoo and got to blow dart a picture of a lion.  I Hit the chest on the first try.  We got a personal guide from the director at the zoo.  One interesting fact I learned was that African elephants catch herpes virus easier than Asian elephants, so they only have Asian elephants at the zoo.  I thought there was a lot of cool information, but it was really hot and the fact about the elephants is the only thing I remember.  It was interesting to see the difference between zoos in America and zoos in Germany.  The enclosures in the leipzig zoo were much larger than the ones in America.  I loved seeing the baby primates.

Friday- surgery tours. Internal med tours.  Pretty much the same as the US.  They have a 3tesla MRI.  They also have nuclear sintigraphy and portable X-ray. We had a 2 hour break and I got my first sunburn of the trip.  It wasn't even hot outside.  It was close to 90 yesterday and I didn't get burned.  I wish I could have gone to more of the games in bergfest.  Our host lived almost 40 min by walking and trams.  This was the most disappointing part of leipzig.

Well I had my adventure on the train.  We were on our way to prague and we had to change trains in Dresden. Valerie, gaylon and I are in 1st class.  There was a sign that said Dresden.  But it didn't say Dresden HBF. We all got off and the girls in 2nd class stayed on.  I didn't know this and Valerie and gaylon were yelling at me to try to get back on.  I looked back and they were gone.  I was all alone.  I looked for the others from second class...someone waved, but it wasn't at me.  My phone rings, it is Jen. She just tells me to look at the board and ask if someone speaks English that can help me.  I am looking at a tram that says Dresden right next to the platform I am standing on.  I don't know if I should get on it or not.  I don't. I look at the sign and First Lady I ask does not know English.  She points to a group of younger girls for me to ask.  They say platform 8. I am on 4.  I have to run down stairs with my 50lb suitcase and back up the stairs.  I make it with a few minutes to spare.  I get on and don't know where to get off the tram.  Someone tells me.  I arrive on platform 14 and need to make it to 1.  I get to 1 and 2, and there is 1,1a, 1b.  I am pretty sure it is 1.   I have to make it up the flight of stairs.  I am exhausted, but still running on adrenaline.  I make it 3/4 of the way and a lady comes and helps me.  I see valarie's green scarf and I feel like a weight is taken off my shoulders. I make it with 15 min to spare.  We walk up to a first class car and he doors close on us.  WTF. It's not supposed to leave for another 10 min.  An attendant comes by and says the train is not leaving for another 10 min so we are ok.  We all make it on the train.  Dresden and the area is beautiful.  There are amazing castles on the train route and the forests are beautiful. We also saw some vineyards.

Week one

 This week went flying by and completely wiped me out. The Bergfest at the Leipzig University was incredible. It is nothing that I could ever explain to someone without actually being there. It was almost like the Aggie saying, "From the outside looking it, you can't understand it, from the inside looking out, you can't explain it." The first night staying with the hosts was really fun. The two hosts that I stayed with were so hospitable. They gave me their room, made space for me in the bathroom, and were very helpful when showing me how to get around places. They even laundered my clothes for me which I was very appreciative of.

As far as daytime activities go, I'm going to attempt to describe what I got out of the tours and things that we did. At our welcome dinner in a tiny little Swiss restaurant, I think everyone knew that we were Americans. The whole table was so loud trying to talk to everyone and figure out how to know each other better. The wait staff of the restaurant spoke very little English and it was interesting to see how they viewed us. The next day we went on the Novartis meeting, and it was absolutely amazing! It was sad to see that they are closing down the animal production unit of the company, but it was nice to see what the reasoning was behind the change. Talking to Dr. Horn was an irreplaceable experience that helped me to appreciate the pharmaceutical industry of vet med. After that we had a nice tour of the city of Basel, lead by a very nice lady, who was quite a great speaker and very knowledgable. The next day we went and toured the pharmaceutical museum of Basel, and that was very nice to see. It was quite interesting to see how the history of medicine has evolved and how even some of the products we use today have come from the very early times of veterinary medicine. After that we arrived in Leipzig, and that is where I started out this blog. The next day we had a tour of Leipzig, and it was interesting to follow along with the music walk that was there. Then we got to go to the anatomy lesson, and it was very good because I got to see in a different perspective how the students at Leipzig learn anatomy. I think it was almost better than the way we learn here at A&M because they had both the dog and horse limbs out, and not only had the cadavers, but also bone models. They had a large projector screen in the middle of the room, and then smaller monitors where you could see the lectures as well that were on the sides of the walls. I think A&M should teach this way because I think it would help to reinforce the curriculum better. Later, we got a tour of the research facility, which was quite fun. I got to see the vet pull blood from a marmoset! That is talent. The next day we went to tour the historical museum, which was amazing. It showed how all the materials and collections of various veterinary tools was accumulated throughout the years, and it was interesting to see how all the tools especially have evolved through the years, and how even back almost 100 years that people have used the basic tools that we still use today. It's amazing to think how clever people are and how we can improve the things that we have been using for so long.
After that, we went on a tour of the zoo, and there are no words to describe that. It is bigger than any of the other zoos I have been to, and the set up is just surreal. We rode on the boat through the simulated cinema of the time periods when the world was just 2 continents. We got to hear the experienced insight of Dr. Bernhard talk about each of the exhibits and what they are doing with each of the animals. The next day we got to tour the large animal sugury and internal medicine departments. This was really interesting because we got to see how they practice vet med in Leipzig, and how it compares with A&M. It's quite similar which is not surprising. We got to hear about the cases of the patients that were at the hospital at that time, and that was neat because we got to talk with the vets about what was wrong with them and why they got to be in that state. After that, we got to watch the Bergfest games, which was really entertaining. I wish they would do something at A&M that was similar to Bergfest. It really brings a new light to my appreciation of student activities and being a student in general. This trip so far has been eye opening for me in terms of lots of things. I never imagined I could walk so much in one day! But it's good exercise. I also have gained an appreciation for how big my house is! I loved my host house, but I could never live in anything so small! I have also never been so constantly sleep deprived, ha! It's a once in a lifetime experience, so I'll make it count.
We arrived in Prague for our first free weekend. We went to the Terezin Concentration camp today, and it was really eye opening into seeing what these people had to go through. It was a camp that was used as a "front" for the rest of the world to see, and the prisoners there were forced to live as if they were in their own town, and paint pictures and write about how it was such a nice town. Nevertheless, it was just a "Propoganda" to cover up what was really happening. I cannot imagine the sheer terror that so many people had to go through, especially the children. It was really an incredible experience that everyone should try to visit at some point. I'm getting ready for bed now, only to get up and tour Prague for the day and then head back to Berlin!

Week One

Basel

Being in Basel was an awesome way to start. I am glad I was able to get in early to acclimate to the time change. The city was amazing. One afternoon for lunch waiting of Sam to get in, we were in a park and a little boy kept slowing walking up to us to see what we were doing, he eventually asked is for our numbers. He was too funny and his parents were really nice. The first day of the program we saw Novartis and I never realized how much work goes into the packaging of their products. Every month I just use a knife to cut open a pill for my dog. The city tour was also really good. I loved walking around a medieval town. It is impressive how they were able to do things like that without technology.

Leipzig

The train was pretty cool but long and hot. It was my first time on one and being able to see the countryside was so amazing. We got in a little late to Leipzig but met Kathrin, my host. She was so sweet and hosted Courtney last year. After dropping off my stuff, I experienced Bergfest's first night. It was pretty impressive and a really cool thing. This years class was the deer. On Wednesday, we started our first full day. In the morning we went on a tour of the city center and saw different things. It was interesting to learn how big an influence Leipzig had on the Baroque era of music. We then did an anatomy lab with the students, which was interesting because the facility was very nice. I really liked the tables with individual drains on them for easy clean up. We then took a tour of the non-human primate facility where I got to feed a marmoset!! Talk about the coolest thing ever! I loved how they reached our their hands to grab mine closer for the food. After that, Kellen, Sam, and I had a relaxing evening in the city center getting lost. First we got on the wrong tram back to main station because I wanted to see the Russian Orthodox Church by the school. But, we made it. We had dinner and some wine and beer. The next day was the zoo. I thought it was pretty nest to learn that their primary objective was breeding. The baby gorillas were adorable! We also saw the Leipzig veterinary history collection, which was very interesting. It was so neat to see the hundreds of years of history. Last day in Leipzig was nice and laid back. The large animal facility was really cool. To be so modern in a hundred year old building was impressive. Then came our first trip on the train by ourselves to Prague. Everything went well until we get to Dressden and get off at the first train. Thank goodness a man sitting with us told us we were at the wrong one and were able to hop back on with no problem. Until next time... The fun never stops.

Germany Day 4

It's day 4 of our wonderful Germany trip. I have seen many beautiful places and met many beautiful people. It's hard to believe I have traveled within and between so many countries in the past four days considering that a week ago I had never traveled over seas. 

So far, my favorite part of the trip was our city tour of Basal and our interactions with the Leipzig University students. Basal seemed to be a city full of history, especially in terms of pharmaceuticals. I enjoyed learning how the city came to be a major center for pharmaceutical research and its role in animal health. Additionally, I have loved spending time with the Leipzig students. They are so wonderful and welcoming. Today, we participated in their anatomy lab. I enjoyed getting to compare how they are required to learn veterinary medicine and how we are required to learn it. There were very many similiarities in terms of classes and terminology but there were also many differences. I noticed there were some discrepancies on the terms we used to describe certain anatomical parts, but we very easily understood each other after a little bit of explaining, describing, and pointing.  I also really enjoyed the tour of the University's experimental monkey research facility. I have never been in that close of contact with monkeys, so it was interesting to see how they interacted with us as well as their environment. I really enjoyed listening to the students and veterinarians speak of their role in research and the medial advancements they are working towards. I specifically was interested in the research involving the offspring of mother's who were injected with dexamethasone. These offsprings were found to have difficulty with lipid metabolism. I know we're on a tight time schedule, but I definitely would have loved to learn more about that!

Tomorrow, we are visiting the Leipzig historical collection of Veterinary Medicine and the zoo. Also, there is another Bergfest celebration tomorrow night that the students have spoke wonders about, so I am SUPER excited. 

Study Abroad Trip Eve!!

It is the night before our departure for our study abroad trip overseas!!  Stormie, Brenna, and I are leaving out of Houston tomorrow, headed for London for a couple of days before joining the rest of our class in Basel, Switzerland.  I have never been out of the United States (with the exception of the Bahamas for 4 days), and I am beyond excited!  I will admit that I am a bit nervous, but the idea of being in a different country is much more exciting to me than scary.  Learning about different cultures and seeing the way other people live their lives will be very interesting, and learning more about veterinary medicine will be icing on the cake.  I honestly have no idea what to expect, but I picture beautiful buildings and countryside, menus I cannot read, people who will probably be frustrated with me because I cannot read/speak the language, and also people who will be more than helpful to help me learn about their culture.  I realize that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I plan to make the most of it.  If I leave this trip with more of an understanding of European history, culture, and veterinary practices, then it will have been a success.  Visiting Europe is something I have wanted to do since undergrad, and I am not only finally getting to do it, but I'm also able to share it with some of my best friends.  I am really looking forward to it!

Pre-Abroad Excitement

I am incredibly excited about this opportunity and can't wait to visit the various countries listed on our schedule.  I have always wanted to visit Germany. I've heard its beautiful, the people are very nice, and the architecture is breathtaking. I've been to Rome and Paris, and after that I definitely caught the travel bug and have wanted to visit other European countries ever since.  I'm very happy that Auburn has been given the chance to tag along and the fact that it's a veterinary related excursion is an incredible bonus.  I'm looking forward to experiencing veterinary practices over seas and how they run there businesses.  Plus, it's going to be great to see how veterinary medicine is taught in Europe and be able to meet students abroad. Of course, I'm a little nervous heading into the trip. I hope I don't get lost and I'm able to get to trains and airports in a timely fashion.  I think the actual traveling part is going to be the most difficult.  However, sometimes it's the most difficult parts of the journey where you learn the most and get the best stories.

Once in a Lifetime

This trip is one I have always dreamed of going on since I was a little girl. My father was born in Frankfurt, Germany and I have become obsessed with the country, culture and people. I have been wanting to visit but never had the opportunity. When I first learned of Dr. Wasser's study abroad opportunity last year, I knew it was the one designed for me. I was unable to go last summer and since this is my last summer of freedom I wanted to take advantage of every opportunity possible. I am so excited that my two best friends are joining me in this journey, and I am sure I will make many more. With all the women going on this trip and not a single man to offset our estrogen I'm sure it will get interesting! We started our quest in London to see the sights and get acclimated to the time difference. It was a blast!! I hope that the rest of the trip is just as exciting and smooth sailing. I am pretty good with a map as long as there are street signs and a person I can ask directions if I take a wrong turn. So hopefully I will not wind up in a different city. I look forward to learning a lot about veterinary medicine, cultures and myself. I know this experience will change my outlook on life and I cannot wait. This is truly a once in a lifetime experience!

Very glad I decided to go on this trip!

The closer this trip came up, the more nervous that I got. I'm still not 100% comfortable flying on airplanes, and being in places where I don't know where anything is at is very nervewracking for me. I flew in a few days early to visit London with some friends, and I'm so glad I did. At first the Victoria station was overwhelming because there was so many people and they were all in such a hurry. But once you get away from the station, it mellows out and the scenery is just amazing. We rode the London eye and then went to the Tower Bridge and Tower of London. We were supposed to get the Thames river cruise back to our hotel, but it was over sold! So we ended up having to take a taxi back, which was actually very pleasant. We arrived in Basel this morning, and after riding several different trams, we finally made it to our hotel. While I miss my family back home, it's really hard to get extremely homesick when there is so much going on around here. It helps to pass the time quickly. I am looking forward to the rest of our journey, and I'm sure time will fly by.

Watch out Germany, here we come!

I'm normally a last minute packer but for this trip I was done packing 2 days in advance which if you ask anyone is pretty incredible. Also the fact that I was able to get everything I needed for 5 weeks into one 24 inch suitcase was pretty much a miracle. In all the craziness of being prepared ahead of time I never really got the chance to get nervous and it wasn't until I was saying goodbye to my mom and husband at the airport security line that I realized how nervous I actually was. Along with being nervous, I'm also beyond excited to get such a great opportunity. As I'm sitting at the gate I'm still constantly going over mental checklists because I always feel like I'm forgetting something even though I know I went over my checklists, my husband went over my checklists and my mom went over my checklists before I finally shut my suitcase.
Some of the big things I'm excited for are learning more about veterinary medicine, especially in the international setting. I'm also excited I get to share this experience with two of my best friends and make some new ones! I went to Germany with my mom when I was 12 and can't wait to get back and experience it in a whole other way. This will also be the first time I really travel on my own where it's my responsibility to make sure I get where I need to be with everything I need and while this is very exciting it's also what I'm most nervous about.
I'm definitely sad to be leaving my family, especially my husband because this will be the longest we have ever been apart. I couldn't be more thankful for such a sweet and encouraging husband who took the last 3 days off of work just to help me prepare for this trip. I will also miss all my animals but since my mom and husband are babysitting them I know they will have a blast and are in great hands. Hopefully we will be able to keep in touch despite the time difference while I'm gone so we can stay updated but thanks to Facebook that probably won't be a problem.
Other than that I'm ready to go, so goodbye America and hello Europe!!!

Backpacking adventure

  I can't beleive In 2 days I will be in Switzerland! I remember first hearing about the Germany study abroad program and I knew that I was going to do anything I could to save up enough money to make it on this trip. The day is finally here! I have such mixed feelings. I am so excited to travel and see what veterinary medicine is like in Europe and I am anxious at the same time. This will be the first time I have traveled this far away from my family on my own. I have been to England twice with my family so I do have a little experience traveling outside the US. I just know there will be so much culture and history over there and I can't wait! 

   I think the thing I am most excited about with this program is getting to visit and meet the host students. I'm interested to see how similar our interests are and how similar our vet school programs are. I know there will be times I miss home, my family and especially my boxer lexie but I know that I will get to see so many amazing things. I think this trip will be a great experience and I'm hoping to get even closer to some of my classmates :) 

Flying Across the Pond

I'm currently trying to cram in the last three episodes of Game of Thrones before our flight leaves tomorrow. Hence the late night post. I finished packing earlier this afternoon, but it still hasn't hit me I’m leaving for Europe - tomorrow. I spent the previous summer recovering from knee surgery, and I wanted to do something amazing and different for my last summer. A study abroad trip to Germany that involved veterinary medicine, culture, and classmates sounded perfect. The program dates were months away when I applied, and I couldn't even picture myself finishing the semester at that point. There were so many exams and deadlines to hit before then. Now I am finally leaving. 

This will be my second time in Europe, and actually my second time at an airport in Germany (only a layover), but this will be my first time without my family and without culinary convenience. I’m excited and nervous and all kinds of worried I’m going to hop on the wrong bus and end up back at the airport instead of the hotel. Luckily, I’m traveling with three of the other girls early to Basel, and I know one of us will figure it out.

I’m looking forward to experiencing veterinary medicine in an international setting (shadowing the vets in Denmark sounds amazing!) as well as the life and culture of the places we visit, meeting and staying with current veterinary students in universities across Europe, and traveling with friends. I have heard only good things about this trip from students who have gone on it the past two years, and I am eager to have good memories of my own to share back with them.

I’m going to miss my cats and my family like crazy, but that’s why they invented Facetime and Skype, right? After all, you should always “do one thing every day that scares you.” Well, Eleanor, let’s make this a two day thing, okay?

Before Germany.....

The last few days have been a whirlwind with all of the preparations for this trip. I think that I am more nervous about traveling such a long distance for such a long time than I am about having everything I need. This is my first trip out of the United States and not only that the longest amount of time that I have been out of Texas. Makes me sound kind of hokey but this is home and I love it here and can not see myself anywhere else.
So, What I am excited about on the Germany trip?
I am excited to see the cultures of the different areas and how this older country has been affected by it inhabitants. Having the opportunity to work with some local practitioners and have the chance to meet some locals will be interesting too.
I just hope that I am able to keep up and take in as much as possible while I am in Germany as well as the surrounding countries so that I can continue to expand my horizons.

Let's Get Our German On!

So, I finished packing roughly 5 days ago (I started 5 days ago too so, that’s pretty good and everything fit in a carry on *pat on back*), left College Station and headed home. I thought I was good to go but now as my flight approaches (t-minus 8.5 hrs) I am starting to stress out and can’t sleep. I have back-packed across parts of Europe and I have studied abroad but for some reason I think this is the most stressed I have been prior to a trip…ever! Yes, I feel like there are probably things I have forgotten and I am definitely going to miss my two furry punkins but, I think my biggest stressor is the fact that this program costs a butt load and I am beyond broke! Aside from that I am super pumped! Some of my closest friends, from school, went on this trip last summer and their stories were amazing! I can’t wait to do some of the things they did and go to all the places they did, plus we have an awesome group this time around!!!!

I really hope that I get to learn a lot about veterinary medicine from a different perspective, but I also want to learn about the culture and history of Germany. Each time I go to Europe I leave with a new appreciation for its’ historical beauty and now that I am going with a focus on the thing I am most passionate about I can’t wait to see what is in store for us! I am definitely tracking small animal and hopefully there will be an MPH somewhere in my future but I am super super hopeful that we will get to do surgery on a cow- like they did last summer :)…..hopefully the stories I have heard haven’t led me to have too high of expectations (that is impossible when one is going to Europe with friends, right?). I can’t wait to see the European vet schools and meet more students from ‘across the pond’; it is going to be a blast!

Anywho, I don’t think I am making a whole lot of sense and I am not entirely sure I completed this accurately but that is what happens when it is way past your bedtime. BTW I am excited that Dr. Pine is joining us and I am super excited about getting to travel around using the rails (I wish there were more metros/subways around here as they are very very very convenient and cost effective).

Pre-Germany Jitters

As the day approaches, my nerves are escalating. I have finally finished packing and am hoping that all is there. I am ready to get on that plane and just be in Basel already. It's going to be an amazing experience!
I am nervous because it is the first time I have done something like this on my own. Sure I have been to Italy and Greece but those were with family and a high school trip. Never going anywhere on my own.  I can't wait to be able to travel through Europe on my own! It is going to be the best. Germany has always been a place I have wanted to visit, partly because of  WWII. There is also the musical aspects, as well, that I am interested in. The thing I think I am looking forward to the most is the chance to work with clinicians in Denmark. That is going to be the best thing besides seeing the sites and trying the local food. :) Got to enjoy food always!
I am also a little sad. I don't know what I'm going to do without my dogs for that long. I will miss them a lot. I will also miss my family, but will get to talk to them so it won't be as bad as the dogs. However, our fast pace moving around will hopefully help me to forget about missing them so much.
Until next time, I will be getting some last minute sleeping, cuddling, and family time in. Soon I will be on the plane and the next stop will be Basel!

Before Auburn Takes Germany

So, I leave. For Germany. In 5 days. That is so crazy to even think about. I can't even begin to describe how I'm feeling. I've never been overseas, so it's definitely a mix-up of emotion: EXCITED, scared, eager, tentative. I've actually never really traveled anywhere, so this is a big stepping stone in and of itself. Secretly, I've always wanted to study abroad but have just never had an opportunity. So, naturally, I have a lot of expectations from the trip but at the same time, I literally have no idea what to expect. Confusing? Yes, I know. Basically, I am hoping to learn more about the veterinarian profession but also learn more about myself. I hope to expand my knowledge in the field of medicine but also of different cultures and people. I want this trip to give me a different, more understanding and knowledgeable outlook on what it means to be a veterinarian and be a part of that community. 

This trip is literally so out of the box for me. I've always been somewhat of a home body with a small part of me that wanted to travel. When Dr. Wasser offered this opportunity to Auburn, I had to jump on it. I decided within minutes of hearing his presentation that I just had to be a part. I had to see another part of the country and another part of our profession. I want to be a well-rounded doctor, and I believe this trip will be an incredible and valuable part of my journey to do so. It'll be a total adventure, and I couldn't be more ready to hop on the plane come Saturday.

Pre-Germany Nervousness

There is a little over one week until we leave for Germany.  I am excited, scared, happy, sad, and a bunch of other emotions all rolled into one.  The only other country I have been to is Mexico.  That doesn't really count, because it was spring break, and it was just a big party in another country, and everyone spoke English.  I am excited for all the learning opportunities this trip presents itself with.  Knowing classmates that went last year, I have an idea of how the program goes.  I am exited about meeting Veterinary students from other countries, working in clinics in Copenhagen, taking weekend trips, and having the opportunity to stay after and travel to Paris and London.  I am a little nervous about the weekend trips, being in a different country, with only a small group of girls.  I am scared for Nils, because there are 13 girls going on this trip, and frankly, that is A LOT of estrogen.  I am hoping that by the end of the trip we become closer and not want to kill each other.  I am sad that I am leaving my family.  I have a 1 yr old son and will miss him every hour of every day.  Just thinking about leaving is making me tear up.  I am worried he will forget me when I come back.  I am worried that I will not get to talk or see him as often as I would like.  I am worried that I will cry myself to sleep at night because all I want to do is hold my little boy.  I know this trip is the opportunity of a lifetime and he will not remember that I was gone for 6 weeks, but it is gonna be my biggest struggle of the trip.  I am also scared about the language barrier and the food.  Being a vegetarian, I am hoping I do not have to eat too much meat to survive over there.  Right now, I am thinking of the immediate future of packing and not having enough, or having too much.