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.