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!