So Long, Farewell

It's been two months since I've returned from my European adventure, and I can't even begin to describe what an impact this experience has had on my life. I've thought about some aspect of the trip pretty much every day since I've gotten back. Within the first few days of being back at work, a professor had me read research papers written by veterinarians from Utrecht, and a lot of people I worked with over the summer attended vet school at some of the universities we got to visit. That really put into perspective how truly interconnected everyone is and how important it is to understand and appreciate other cultures.

I miss a lot of things about Europe. I miss being able to walk everywhere, I miss hopping from one train to the next, the weather, the history, seeing/hearing different languages, and eating either gelato or stroop wafels every day. I love that Europe truly has an appreciation for their history. Instead of moving on to the latest and greatest, they take the time to preserve their past for future generations. It seemed like every time we turned around we saw something of historical significance, and that is not always the case in the United States. I also miss going to a new place every few days, and believe it or not, I miss living out of my backpack and having just the essentials with me.

At a restaurant on the last evening of the trip

One of the biggest differences I noticed after arriving home was just how much we use our cars. It's one of those things that I've never thought twice about, but after walking upwards of six miles per day for four weeks, that really stood out when I got back. It seemed almost silly to have to drive myself everywhere, even if it was just around the corner! We spend a lot of time sitting in the US! I also really appreciated being able to have water (with ice!) for FREE anywhere, and being able to just swipe a credit card at stores.

Besides those small cultural details, the similarities and differences in the education of veterinarians really stood out to me. The main difference being that here in the US, we go to an undergraduate college for four years, and then attend veterinary school for four years. Over in Europe, they get accepted into veterinary school straight out of high school, and attend for six years minimum. Both forms of education definitely have their pros and cons, but in the end, the product is very competent doctors.

I really loved my time in Europe. There is no way I could pick a favorite place. I got to visit Germany, Belgium, France, the Czech Republic, Denmark, and the Netherlands and I enjoyed each country for different reasons. They were all unique, whether it be because it was beautiful, historic, cultural, or just plain interesting. All the people we met were very welcoming to us and were proud to show us where they were from. I had such a great experience, and I hope I make it back one day!

The End

One month ago, as my plane was landing in Chicago and I listened to a girl behind me tell a European that Michigan was "so hilly" (nice sentiment, but not true), I could hardly believe that I had just spent nearly two months in Europe. Where had the time gone? It felt like yesterday that I had showed up in Germany and followed a tall blonde woman around everywhere. Today, it still feels like a dream as random memories keep coming back and I think, Oh yeah, I was actually there. Bonn, Cologne, Paris, Hannover, Berlin, Prague, Büsum, Copenhagen, Utrecht, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, London, Gießen, Marburg. 6 countries in 7 weeks. It sounds like a long time, and towards the end, I was indeed looking at my "turtle shell" backpack with disdain and starting to miss home. The last night in Germany was 100 degrees, on a top floor apartment with no AC or even fans (why, Europe? Why??), so I did not sleep at all as I lay in a pool of my own sweat. I was ready to get on that plane - by myself, this time - and make the long, nearly 15 hour trip back to Michigan.

My connecting flight from Sweden to Chicago took about 9 hours, during which I had a broken TV and was sitting next to a family with 3 infants/toddlers that threw things (food, shoes, whatever) in my general direction and made some noise. So, I read an entire book, listened to music, and slept 0 hours. After one final flight to Detroit, I was relieved to be done traveling. Except I wasn't! My mom picked me up and drove me 4 hours to our lake house for the holiday. I chattered about my trip in a sleep-deprived delirium. My friends and relatives were all very interested in my travels, and I did my best to provide them with interesting stories and my experiences. The question I seem to get the most is, "What was your favorite place?" It's difficult to answer because I liked different things about each place - Germany was the most interesting, Scotland was beautiful, the Dutch students were so accommodating, Prague was very vibrant. I honestly did not feel much of an adjustment or weird about coming back to American society; it just felt like home.

My insights about the differences between American and European society are probably not anything new or inspired, but I do think that veterinary students offer a somewhat unique position. We are a little bit older than our European counterparts, a bit more educated and very much in debt, yet all of us are driven by the same desire/passion/calling to be veterinarians. As I've mentioned, vet school is different in every country, but they all start after high school and finish after 5-6 years, with or without a DVM depending on the school. And, of course, education is free. On the flip side, taxes are higher and incomes are lower in Europe. Americans are so driven by a need to succeed, work hard and earn what we deserve, which is a great ideal I share. However, I'm going to be drowning in hundreds of thousands of student loans for the rest of my life because of it. I do feel like I'm getting a better secondary education in the US, but I'm going to pay for it. Literally.

Something else I loved about Europe that is a bit obvious was all of the history right in front of your face. I felt like I was constantly learning something interesting in every place I visited. Giessen was a small and sleepy town, its Bavarian architecture destroyed in WWII, but it has one of the oldest vet schools in Europe (200 years) and invented the method of plastination for arteries and veins. Marburg is the home of the University where the Brothers Grimm studied. It's pretty interesting that a 3 hour train ride in any direction will land you in a different country with a different language, culture, and landscape. I miss living in the moment, getting lost in a new place, walking everywhere, and interacting with my international peers. I do not miss living out of a backpack and being at the mercy of public transportation. I fell back into my life with ease, but I won't ever forget my experiences abroad. I can't wait to go back someday.

Auf Wiedersehen to Germany and my new friends from Texas, and of course Mira with her yoga posing for these group photos

Farewell,

~Andrea