Student blog: Looking back on "History of Medicine"-Program 2009/2010
by Daniel Grunden
When it snowed a few weeks ago, all the Germany memories just flowed into my head, and I can indeed say that I feel changed. I had more experiences on the study abroad than I had throughout the rest of my college career. Actually, my friends are tired of hearing all my Germany Stories. Now, whenever I tell a story, they will ask, "did that happen in Germany?"
The responsibility that the trip spits in your face in retrospect taught me how to live. The drastic dynamic between Germany and the United States and even the drastic dynamic between the big city of Berlin and a rural village like College Station was mind boggling. Now that I'm back, I just want to get out! I miss the late night adventures trying to locate the hotel, asking random people on the street for directions when they don't speak English. I miss the bitter cold where ears will freeze even if a hat is worn. I miss actually being required to wear shoes.
The material learned on the trip inside the hospitals has been much more helpful to my current studies than I ever expected. To be able to visualize a working clinical dialysis machine when learning about it in class forces the material to stick better. I find myself not being grossed out by smells anymore either. Nothing is worse than a necropsy or rectal exam! It's nice to see the faces of patients with recently implanted heart pumps and know that my field of study will make a difference in someone's life.
Now, I never see a pug now without thinking of Olaf. His obsession with dogs is like nothing I've ever seen in America, and the strange thing is that most Germans are just like him!
Isn't this the CUTEST?
One of the biggest things I miss about Germany is the public transportation system. I'll be driving the 2 hour drive to my mother's house thinking, "If I lived in Germany, I could be sleeping on the train right now!" I can't imagine why passenger trains aren't as big here as they are in Europe. Train stations are so convenient. If I need some soap, I could just pick it up at the train station on my way to school. It's amazing how little elementary school kids ride the tram like it's no big deal.
Some things I am happy to return to are: free water, waiter tips (a simple doubling of the tax), free refills, flip flops, shorts, the SUN
Some things I miss from Germany are: Snow, Snowballs, Snowball fights, Snowmen, Snowgirls, friendly Germans, Olaf, city life, Foreign Girls, free healthcare, no sales tax, German food.
