Prospective Post

I have visited a lot of different places of the world. I have lived in different countries in different continents. I have visited all sorts of areas on the globe. I know which airports have great floors for sleeping (Amsterdam is great for that). I have become very comfortable with other cultures and adapting quickly to my surroundings. I don't think that serious culture shock will be a problem for me. If I can go from Canada to Texas, I'm sure that I can handle Germany. My host family seems very nice and very capable of making my stay as smooth as possible. But one thing that was always constant throughout my travels is my family. I have never visited a country before without a family member, may it be my brother or my parents. This will be the first time that I'll have to travel by myself, and that has me concerned. What if I lose something? What if I forget something? How will I deal with spontaneous problems while my family is not even in the same time zone as me? I keep getting worried that I might lose my passport while also getting rid of any possible way of getting a new one. But I think this is part of the process of the "Hero's Journey." While on the my trip to Germany, I want to get over my fears of travelling without my family.

Travelling has always been one of my favorite hobbies. But a problem I keep facing is my need to use technology. Wherever I go, I need to have my cellphone by my side. I need to make sure I am going the right direction with Google Maps. I need to make sure I am seeing the recommended sites on TripAdvisor. Too many times while traveling, I just go from point A to point B. While studying abroad, I want to try having a few days "off the grid." While I don't mean not having any way of communicating with people if I need to, I want to stop looking at technology to dictate my travels. I want to just explore an area and discover something to see by myself. I want to find an incredible restaurant without relying on recommendations from Yelp. I want to find a way to live in the present instead of constantly planning for the future.

I know that this trip will be very different for me. My lifetime of travelling has not prepared me to go to a completely new area without any family close by. Also, since this is a school trip, I should probably focus on getting good grades. But I know this is a necessary experience, one that will prepare me for my own future travels.

Is This Really Happening?

In exactly one week, I will boarding a plane and leaving my friends and family to spend over four months in a foreign country with people that I have never met. Wow, that is one crazy sentence!

I have always dreamed of traveling the world, so study abroad just made sense to me. Not only would I get to see the world, but I would also earn college credit. When I first got that email from Dr. Wasser about this study abroad experience my freshman year, I knew this was the trip I wanted to take. The more I researched it, the more sure I was. All of the Biomedical Science graduates I talked to either went on this trip with Dr. Wasser and loved it, or they regretted not going, so there was no doubt in my mind that I was going to Germany for an entire semester.

With the trip so close, my family and friends keep asking the same questions. Am I nervous? Yes! Very much so! Am I excited? Yes! I am probably equal parts excited and nervous. I think what I am most nervous about is being away from my home and my family. I grew up in Snook, meaning that College Station was only 12 miles from home. So while I "moved away" for college, it was not really moving away. My parents have always been close to me and I could see them whenever I wanted. And to add to things, I have actually been living back at home with them for the past year! (Best decision of my life, just saying!) So the thought of not being able to call my mom for a spontaneous lunch date, or have my dad bring me my calculator when I forgot it before my final (true story), or just sitting down and watching a movie with them a week I don't have a test, this scares me. This makes me nervous. But it is ok. You know why? Because I am going to have experiences that I never could've had if I decided to stay home instead. I am going to grow into a different person and experience the world in a whole new way. And that is what I am excited about. I am excited to meet new people and have new experiences. I am excited to be able to grow as a person and learn things that will help with my future career goals. I am excited to travel around Europe and learn the languages and the culture! Do I know anyone else going on the trip? No, or should I say not yet. While this also adds to the whole anxiety of going to Europe seemingly alone, it also opens doors to make new friends and get out of my comfort zone. Have I packed? No! Although this is usually answered in a quiet voice and head down because I leave in 7 days and I have an empty suitcase. I will probably have an empty suitcase until after Christmas, which leaves me with about 2 days to pack. Oops!

Everyone keeps telling me that I am going to come back a different person. Is that a good thing? I think so. This experience will help me to the see the world from a different perspective. Being in the medical field, it is important to understand the world through others eyes, and that is what I hope to accomplish from this journey. I hope to acquire experiences of a lifetime and a better understanding of the cultures and people around me.

So am I ready for this journey? Am I ready to leave my life in College Station for 4+ months? Am I ready and willing to let myself be changed by this experience? I guess we will find out. . .

{Bonn}afide Europeans

            “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” OKAY OKAY. It was ALMOST always the best of times. It’s been a little over two months (maybe 3..I’ve taken way too long to write this) since I left Europe, and in short, I MISS EUROPE SO MUCH!! When I got back, I spent time with my family and traveled to College Station and Austin to catch up with some of my friends that I hadn’t seen all semester. I loved seeing all of them, and of course, they all asked me how my trip was. Naturally, I responded with “Europe was great; I loved it SO much!” They would ask me what my favorite country was, my craziest and most memorable experiences were, and how many times I ate gelato! I would try my best to give a good answer, but just as Dr. Wasser said at our first orientation for the study abroad program, it was impossible to fully describe the semester with words. I mean, seriously! I had traveled to over 25 cities and 11 countries all in the span of four months!

How could I explain to them what it was like to live with a new family for 4 months, or get lost in Bonn on the first day, or climb the tallest cathedral in Germany, or even winning the most legend…wait for it………...snowball fight in Vienna? I mean, are words enough to describe what it’s like to visit Cinderella’s castle? How do you explain why getting candy thrown at you is a fun way to spend an entire weekend? Maybe I could start off by telling them about the Eiffel Tower? After all, almost every person knows what that is; yet, the surreal experience of looking over the City of Lights from 1000 feet above ground is indescribable. The Mona Lisa was truly a 500-year-old masterpiece, but the Cliffs of Moher were just as beautiful. And just when I thought that I had seen it all, I stumbled upon an 800-year-old Irish pub. I even spent 3 hours on a chilly Friday morning hiking up a 4,000-foot mountain! What else could I possibly ask for? I found a new love that was there for me everyday (LITERALLY!) and never let me down: Gelato! Of course, staying faithful to Gelato was one of the most difficult things I had to do all semester. The 5 Euro currywurst and 3 Euro Pom Döner called to me everyday, and how could I possibly resist?? Among my many firsts, I ran a half marathon and participated in an International Big Event; I also had the opportunity to visit a couple of concentration camps, which really opened my eyes to one of the most devastating events of human history. As the semester progressed, travels only became more frequent; I visited the amazing city of Amsterdam, a mix of history, religion, and fun. Switzerland was as everyone says, beautiful and expensive! Luckily, I was able to paraglide for the first time (and hopefully not last) in my life and admire the beautiful, snowcapped peaks of Mont Blanc; on that Easter weekend, I lost some of my fear of heights and a whole lotta money, but it was all worth it! And just when I thought that I had seen it all, I traveled to the city of Budapest where I ate tasty Hungarian dishes, spelunked in a cave several hundred feet underground, and bathed in the infamous Szénchenyi thermal baths! Among all of my weekly adventures, I became the best of friends with all of the other students studying abroad; I slept an average of about 5 hours a week for the entirety of April. By offering assistance to move a table, I even befriended the nicest German lady that I had ever met. There was just so much that I had done and seen, how could I accurately describe this all in words? Even in this very moment, I wish I could say more about every one of my adventures/experiences I listed above. Of course, among all of the fun, there was a lot to be learned this semester. As an engineer, I learned about differential equations, signals and systems, the history of medicine, physiology of several organ systems, and how to design an oxygenator for a German medical devices company. As a person, I learned how to be more independent on a daily basis. Of course, that’s what college is all about, but living independently in College Station and in Bonn, Germany is a completely different experience. In my time back in the states, I have found that I am a lot less dependent on others when making a decision. Now, I absolutely love traveling! However, as I initially stated, it was both the best and worst of times this semester. Of course, you can see why it was the best of times, but with good, there’s bad. At times, I found that I could do everything right, I could overachieve, but it would not ensure success/happiness. I went out of my way to make things perfect for so many people, classroom assignments, and weekend adventures, but many times, it would hurt me more than it helped. In fact, it seemed that if had done the bare minimum to get by, I would have lived a stress free semester and benefited more. Many people would tell me, “Do less. It’s less stress for you. Perfection isn’t worth it.” And I wish I could have done that, but it just wasn’t like me to put in minimal effort. At one point in time during the semester, I could not wrap my mind around this. I asked my close friends and family, “What’s the point of trying your best if it never works out? Why try so hard to get hurt?” Everyone would say, “It’ll make you a better person. You’ll learn so much more even if things don’t go as how you expected.” To this day, that’s the best answer that I’ve stumbled upon. Just do your best and whatever happens, happens. I guess that’s the best anyone can really hope for! Enough with this depressed topic though! All in all, my semester abroad in Europe was one for the books. On paper, the experiences and memories I’ve made this semester cost about 25 grand, but in reality, it was priceless. I could spend 10 times that, and it would never be the same. In a few years, I could redo every weekend and every city, and I’m sure it’ll be a great time. I’ll have a lot of fun, but it would never compare to this past spring semester. The people I got to know and travel with this past semester really made the trip unique. Being able to explore another continent with 25 other students for the first time over the course of 4 months is truly something special. I wouldn’t have had it any other way, and I couldn’t have asked for anything more. I’m so incredibly grateful to be able to go on this trip. When I talk to other people who were on the trip with me, we joke about the past semester; we joke about when so and so did this and that. And other people just look at us and ask, “Why’s that so funny?” And honestly, we can’t explain why. You really had to be there! It’s just something that none of us will ever forget, it’s something that we’ll reminisce about when we graduate, when we make our first paycheck, when we have our own families, when we meet back up in 30 years. They say a picture is worth 1000 words; I’ve never really understood this saying, but now, I think it’s worth even more. When I look back at the numerous adventures captured in photos, all of the memories from that moment flood my mind. I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world. Thank you, Europe.

First night out in Bonn

SUPERGEIL!!

DOM, DOM DOM, DOM DOMMM!

Legen.....

Bayer visit!

Alaaf!

Hey, bud.

I want Moher

Lisbon life!

 International Big Event

 OUCH!

 Pull-Out Game Strong!

 Roomie love, okay? okay.

 Oxygenator: DONE!

Spelunk-a-doodle doooooo

Much love to this group of people

BMEN forever.

Kendrick, If You're Reading This, Write Your Blog Post

Twenty five students. Eight countries. Four months. One program.

When people ask what my favorite part of the trip was, I often hesitate.  How can I select a single moment when I have so many fantastic memories to choose from? I usually end up describing something big, such as hiking past numerous "Proceed at Your Own Risk" signs, trying to get the best view of Neuschwanstein Castle; or our time biking around Paris, surviving by the grace of God; or strolling through the Roman Forum, mixing our dust with that of one of the most fabled civilizations of our world; or weaving through rows of the most beautiful tulips in the internationally renowned Keukenhof gardens. Yet there were so many more underlying moments that bound the trip together in a way that only those who went on it will fully appreciate.  It takes too long to describe the daily trips to Rewe (the local grocery store) for the salad bar and 59 cent espressos (much needed most days), or the endless games of concentration waiting for buses in Heidelberg, or freezing our toes off in Cologne while admiring the city's incredible cathedral, or ice skating in what has to be the greatest rink ever, or running a half marathon along the Rhine River and throughout the city of Bonn, or participating in the International Big Event, or watching a seven-hour surgery in a German clinic, or seeing an American movie in a bread-factory-turned-movie-theater.  There are thousands of things I wish I could convey to people about the trip to make them understand how much of an impact it has had on me, but instead I just smile and say I had the most amazing time.  

Briefly above, I mentioned traveling with friends. I had made some of these friends the semester prior to our trip, but most were made during our time in Germany.  I could not have asked for a better group of people to spend four months in a foreign country with. Take, for instance, our bus ride from the Frankfurt Airport: I distinctly remember Kendrick got us practicing the German numbers 1-10, and while I'm not sure we ever even made it to ten or if any of said numbers were correctly pronounced, we sure did have a lot of fun trying. In a similar fashion, our engineering classes strengthened our relationships. Defying the common assumption that studying abroad guarantees you a 4.0, we put a lot of effort into our classwork and also our design project for a German biotech company.  Many days started at 8am and would end just in time to catch the last bus home for the night, usually around midnight.  Yet through it all, we were able to maintain the thrill of living in a foreign country, our sense of humor and, surprisingly, our grades. 

The more I talk about the program and all we were able to do, see, and experience during our four months abroad, the more I realize how much of the program relied on the incredible expertise of Dr. Jeremy Wasser, who headed the Germany Biosciences Program.  Some might argue he had occasional help from a certain Dr. Schnoebel, but regardless this trip truly would not have been the same without him. If there ever was an honorary German, it would be Dr. Wasser; he has a complete grasp of the German customs, songs of old, and style.  More importantly, he loves what he teaches and he did a phenomenal job of presenting it to us students. Some of the best trips of the program, those to Vienna and Paris (ft. slight deviations to Beaune and Colmar), drew heavily on information presented by Dr. Wasser in lecture. He taught from the textbook, from experience, and from his own personal studies - a combination which provided a robust learning environment for all. Dr. Wasser is hands-down one of the best professors I've ever had, and I could not imagine the program without him.

At the beginning of this post, I described a few highlights from many of our trips. The more obvious experiences of the trip can be found detailed in previous blog posts and seen in pictures; however, the more subtle reminders of my time abroad have evolved since I have returned. My sense of direction has improved, and I am more likely to strike out on my own; my understanding, though still quite basic, of European languages has increased; my ability to plan trips thoroughly and research modes/routes of transportation used in other places has gotten dramatically better; my awareness of cultural similarities and differences has increased, as well as the history contributing to many countries' perspectives on a host of issues; last but certainly not least, I have developed a sincere appreciation for German meats and pastries, French bread and wine, and Italian coffee and gelato.

One of the most interesting aspects of my trip centered around the US elections that had just taken place.  Since the news was fresh on everyone's minds, I came to hear many opinions from Europeans of various nationalities on the state of not only American politics, but European politics and the relations between the two. Traveling throughout the continent, I also came to appreciate the size of the United States compared to that of its European counterparts. Many of the most prominent countries in the world fit inside the great state of Texas. I believe this is often lost on many Americans. Yes, our country has problems but, in my humble opinion, we tend to overlook how incredible it is that our country is made up of so many cultures and how that has become our strength rather than our weakness. 

Twenty five students. Eight countries. Four months. One program.

Countless memories.

A Dream that Became Reality - A Retrospective View

I could start with the typically cliché, I miss Germany and there's not a day that goes by that I don't think about something that occurred during the time I spent there, which of course is all true, or I could tell you about the dream I had that became reality.

Every since my first taste of Europe back during my sophomore year of high school, I knew I would find myself across the ocean again. And I ended up venturing back twice before I started college, but my biggest dream was to be able to truly study abroad for a semester. This dream became a reality with the journey I just took to Germany for four months.

It's not everyday you can turn your dreams into reality and be able to live and experience them full heartedly. Germany is a part of my life that I will never forget, despite the fact that having been back for about two months now, it feels as though the whole trip was a dream. But then I see a picture, or remember a moment and know, it was not a dream. It was my reality.

From this trip I learned a great deal about the world and the people who live in it. I took the path down the hero's journey and prevailed. Sure I brought back many trinkets and photographs of my experiences but the greatest treasure had to be the people, the experiences, and the memories I get to cherish. Each person I met along the way has taught me something, either small or large, positive or negative. One of the most influential people, besides my professors, who I saw practically everyday all day, was my host mother. From her I learned to find joy in the small things in life. For her, she loved nature, birds, and plants and the joy that would radiate from her when she saw new flower bloom in her garden, or when we went on runs, and she got to show me a new plant or bird species, was contagious. I couldn't help but always smile and also find the joy in the little things. She was someone I could talk to and connect with, and I am extremely thankful for having her as my host mother. No one else could have compared.

The new friends I made on this trip are irreplaceable. We will forever be connected by this experience, and maybe not all of us got along at times, but I feel this trip brought us together, creating a small family. It saddens me to know, we all now have to follow or own paths and won't be spending every waking moment with one another, but that won't stop us from rekindling the bond we have created through our study abroad experiences. Each person had taught me a lesson on the trip and I will remember each and every person without a doubt.

As for the traveling I got to do, there is nothing like being able to hop on a bus, train, tram, or subway and go anywhere. There's a certain freedom you feel when the world is your limit and all it takes is a couple of train rides to get there. Sadly, the US has failed in the department of public transportation and cross country transportation. Today I spent thirty minutes waiting in the heat for a bus to take me home from the grocery store. I don't own a car so getting around had become a real struggle in College Station. I no longer have the freedom to travel where I want, when I want. I am limited to my own two feet and the occasional bus. While in Germany I was free. I ended up traveling to seven countries and twenty-four cities, something that could have been possible here in Texas if there was a system in place that would allow me to do so.

I have to say, as of lately I've been craving German food. I could really use a currywurst or pom doner at times. At some point this summer, I plan on replicating currywurst. Wish me luck. The food I got to try has influenced me in the kitchen. I've learned about new ways to prepare certain meals either from my host mother or from the various foods I tried while traveling all around. I truly miss European food.

My dream had become a reality and now feels as though it was a dream. I'm back in College Station trying to survive through summer school and part me feels like this is the break and I will be returning to Germany again, but then I realize, come this fall, I won't be going back. I will be here at Texas A&M for the rest of my undergrad years. It saddens me to think about this, fore I want to travel more and experience what else this world has to offer. Eventually, I'll make my way across the water again, either for vacation, a job, or medical school. Through this experience I have learned more about myself and feel as though it has changed me in a way. I can't explain fully how this so, but there is something that feels different. Only time will tell what this transformation truly is.

I know for a fact, that traveling is a part of me I can't abandon that. I am back in reality and am ready to push forward so that one day, I may return to Europe again, but sometimes I can't help but think, was that the reality and this is the dream? Who knows.

nicht zuletzt

Time flies pretty fast. If you were to ask me a year ago or that in college that I would be studying abroad and that Bonn is my favorite city in the world. I would have severely doubted you. I thought college was just a bunch of steps you take to move on and go with life. Studying abroad in Germany was definitely my favorite semester in college, and I would repeat it again infinitely. It gave me a new mindset on how to view the world and how the world is becoming interconnected. America is known to be an economic superpower and cultural superpower and don't seem to pay attention as much as people pay attention to American politics. But events in other countries especially in Europe changes our outlook. In a integrated economy a economic/ political event in Europe will affect what happens in the United States and the world. How Germany handles healthcare and education policy has some elements the United States can adopt. I loved going into the hospital and shadowing doctors and asking them about healthcare delivery in Germany. It was quite interesting to understand how medical malpractice insurance worked in Germany vs the United States. I also liked how they tackled energy and environmental policy. I enjoyed the recycling system and their investment in public transportation. That was something i really missed when I was in Germany. I enjoyed the vibe of a European city also. Being able to walk around the city in Bonn compared to college station. I enjoyed walking around Freidensplatz and Munsterplatz near all the food trucks and food vendors. I brought a new world view and solutions i think we can use to address issues that are facing the United States and the world. I think we need a more sophisticated recycling policy like the Germans. I think we need a form of Krankenkasse in the United States. Germany has got it right with non-profit insurance companies and a universal mandate for health insurance coverage. It showed a good balance between competition in the marketplace and having equity in health insurance coverage. I miss the turkish food especially the falafel I had in Berlin. I never thought of Germany as a place to permanently settle and live. But my study abroad experience is making me being a resident of Deutschland.
I also enjoyed the classes that I took especially the history of medicine. It was awesome to have visiting Vienna and France as part of our class. It enhances the curriculum of classes with hands on experience. I hope we can bring this approach to college classes in the United States. With all that said I am signing off for the last time.

Tschüss

Raju Rebbapragada 

Retrospective Blog

Well it's been two months, a week, and four days since I've come back from Germany and I have a constant mix of emotions about being back. I'm glad to be reunited with family and friends and I'm glad to have my car back so I can come and go as I please (instead of always checking on tram times) but most of all I am extremely sad that my study abroad experience is over. Living in Germany was a dream of mine that I had no idea I'd have the opportunity to take and right about now I'd do just about anything to rewind time and go back to January 11th to when it all began.

Often times, I go through all of the pictures I took while abroad with friends of mine and am soon overcome by a sense of nostalgia. From Karneval, to the Vienna and Paris Excursions, and all the little mini weekend trips we took to different cities, I can honestly say that those will probably be the best five months of my life. I'd like to also add that I was extremely fortunate to have been surrounded by such a great group of people while abroad, without whom I would have never been able to make some of the greatest memories ever. I remember showing up to Bonn on the first day, and walking for what seemed like half an hour (I was still a lazy American at the time) to the AIB and my only friend at the time was Angelica. Before taking this hero's journey, I was somewhat of an introvert and overall a pretty shy person. I was extremely lucky to have Angelica by my side because I honestly didn't know if I was capable of moving across the globe on my own but now that I have, I'm confident that I can. Also, I'm really glad that I decided to put myself out there to try and make new friends because it paid off! Ever since my first trip to Köln with Claire, Maggie, Rachel, James, Nathan, Kanci, and Kenneth, I have gotten better at talking to new people which was a huge obstacle I had to overcome.

On top of all of the trips and vacations I got to partake in while overseas, I'd say that another great aspect that I wouldn't trade for the world is being able to experience a classroom environment where the student to teacher ratio was so small. It also helped that Dr. Wasser and Madeleine were AWESOME. They honestly made learning fun again which is an aspect of education that kind of gets lost when a person reaches the university level. Other people who have studied abroad normally say "There's not much study in study abroad" but let me be the first to say, as a biomedical engineer, this just simply isn't true!! It took a lot of time management to plan everything out from an academic point and still be able to squeeze in trips and although sometimes the stress was REAL, I wouldn't have changed it for the world!

Since being back, without any exaggeration, I have convinced two other friends to study abroad in the fall! One of them was extremely scared to do so especially with some of the events that took place recently in the UK, but I convinced them that this is a journey everyone should take and to say no in the face of terrorism would give those terrorists more power than they already have.

I have also kept in touch with my host family whom I miss dearly. My host sister and her boyfriend have had several concerts (they are singers--on the rise!!) since I've been away and I wish I could have been there to support them. Most of all I miss my host parents who I can say, with confidence, are some of the nicest people in the world. It takes alot of courage to open up your house to a new group of students every year and they do it so well! I can't wait for the day when I save up enough money to go back and visit them again!

Growing up, I was always convinced that I was going to just stay in Texas and grow old here (even though it is so dang hot) . However as great as Texas is, my study abroad experience has taught me that there is SO much more the world has to offer. I have become a travel fanatic and am constantly looking for my next escape. I will say that I seriously can't wait to go back to college station this fall and be reunited with all of my friends that I made while abroad and I'm excited to see how the new and improved Austin makes it through his junior year of college!

I want to give a great big THANK YOU to everyone that went on the trip, as well as the faculty,  because each and every one of you has seriously changed my life for the better. You guys ROCK!!!

Retrospective Post-Germany

It's been over two months since I've been back in America, and I still miss Europe every single day. This blog post is definitely the most difficult to write because I have so much to say, and I feel like once I post this, my study abroad experience will actually be over.  It's hard to describe how much I learned, experienced, and grew while living in Europe.  My time there was unbelievable, and I would go back in a second if I could.  Before I started to write this, I reread my very first blog post.  This was my concluding paragraph:

"Some of my goals this semester are to become comfortable traveling in foreign countries, become more independent, succeed in my classes, make new friends, try new food and other cultural activities, and learn some German.  I am sure this semester will be my favorite semester of college, so I am going to make the most of my time in Germany.  Next blog post I write I'll be there!"

Let's see if I reached those goals: Become comfortable traveling in foreign countries?  Definitely.  Over the course of the four months I spent in Europe, I visited nine different countries: Germany (obviously), Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands.  Thinking back, I am blown away by how much of Europe I was able to see.  I have so many amazing memories from this past semester of college, and all of them are in foreign countries!  I am also astonished that when I remember Germany, I don't feel like it was one of the "foreign countries" I visited.  It felt like home.  Hopping from country to country and then returning to Bonn felt like coming home.  I love that I can say there is a city which is not in America that feels like home to me.  So I would say, yes, I do feel comfortable traveling in foreign countries now.

Become more independent?  For sure.  When I describe my travels to family and friends who ask, I am sometimes taken aback when I remember - wait - we planned all of those trips by ourselves.  A bunch of college students.  Booking trains, buses, and planes in foreign countries.  As weekend trips, no less!  When I first signed up for this study abroad, I assumed that the coordinators would help us or give direction on how to get around Europe - and don't get me wrong, everyone was very helpful - but the thing is, we didn't really need it.  We decided where we wanted to go, searched Hostelworld and GoEuro, booked everything we needed for a weekend, and went!  It didn't take long at all to realize, hey, we can do this.  It registered for me after I got back to America how independent I really was in Europe and how much I've grown.

Succeed in my classes?  Well, for the most part... I suppose it depends on how you define "succeed."  Did I get a 4.0?  No.  Did I learn more than I have any other semester of college so far?  Yes.  The out-of-the-classroom experiences I had, such as watching surgeries at the Bonn Uniklinik and working on the enmodes biomedical design project, were once in a lifetime college learning experiences.  Figuring out how to travel and live in a foreign country gave me more confidence and experience and real-world learning than a classroom ever could.  Did I form bonds with my instructors that enabled me to learn more and easier than in College Station?  Yes.  I am so grateful to Dr. Wasser and Madeleine for the academic and emotional support they gave all of us.  If there was ever a problem with anything - classes, enmodes project, host-family, traveling, you get sick and can't read the German on the medicine you just bought - they were ready and willing to help.  So, did I succeed in my classes?  Yes. I made decent grades and learned more about the world and myself than I have to date.

Make new friends?  Wow, yes.  I already miss everyone so much.  The people on this trip were all so unique, kind, and fun to be around.  By the end, I formed true friendships.  Living with Claire was great.  I reminisce on the dinners we had together at home and masses we went to in our neighborhood.  I'm so glad we ended up living with the same host family!  The engineers got incredibly close - getting to AIB as soon as it opened and staying until midnight studying.  I loved having a tight-knit friend group in my major to study with - it made the intense stresses of school bearable!  I also cherish the friendships I made with the BIMS (and biology, you too Ethan) students.  One of my favorite parts of the entire trip was getting to know the girls I went on Spring Break with.  Clare, Sarahi, and I went to mass at Fatima together.  Stephanie brought me water when I was throwing up in Barcelona from a stomach bug.  We all made tacos together at our Airbnb and couldn't decide if the meat was cooked or not because it wasn't like American ground beef and then talked for hours.  I am surprised by how close I got with so many of the wonderful people on this trip.

Try new food, cultural activities, and learn some German?  Food: of course.  One of my favorite parts of traveling is trying new food!  Cultural activities: I don't think I realized when I wrote that particular goal that this whole experience was one giant immersion of culture.  Living with a host family, being surrounded by foreign languages, visiting countless museums, interacting with people from around the world - all of this contributed to a culture-filled semester abroad.  Learning German, or lack thereof I should say, is probably my biggest regret of the trip.  I learned a handful of phrases, but I never really gave it my all to learning German because I was focused on my other classes, and almost everyone in big European cities speaks English so well.  This was probably my only regret of the trip.  I am happy with the balance of prioritizing school and travel I did, and I wouldn't really change anything.

Some final thoughts before I end this novel of a blog post:  First of all, I love Europe, and I could see myself living there again short-term in the future.  My time living in another country did make me appreciate America more, though.  I kept a running tally of points for Europe vs. America during my study abroad.  The total came out to be 5-6, America.  (I mean America had to win; I'm a patriot.)  Europe is much older, which lends itself to incredible history, art, and cobblestone streets (1).  It has widespread public transportation, which I found to be hugely convenient (2).  The architecture of Europe is stunning (3).  While in Bonn, after the first couple weeks of novelty wore off, I tried to remind myself to look up at the buildings and not just hurry to AIB and to look out the bus window as I rode over the Rhine twice a day, everyday, for four months.  Europe as a continent is so easy to travel because of the proximity of countries (4).  Europe is so Catholic (5).  Being Catholic, I appreciated this because I got to go to mass in five different languages and visit dozens of breath-taking cathedrals - another one of my favorite parts of traveling.  America has - get this - FREE WATER (1).  Which leads to my next point, free bathrooms (2)!  I still do not understand why every restaurant in Europe charge 3 euros for a tiny bottle of water or why I had to spare change to go to a bathroom while traveling.  America has bigger kitchens and, well, everything (3).  Although a tiny kitchen with a tiny refrigerator hidden as a cabinet is cute, it is not conducive to cooking or storing food in a refrigerator...good thing it's cold enough in Germany not to need to.  America has microwaves and dryers (4).  I never realized I took these appliances for granted.  America does not have a smoking culture like Europe (5).  I mean for being "healthy" people they sure do smoke a lot.  Finally, America has good ol' democracy and capitalism (6).  While there are certain benefits to the German/European government systems, I'm still a fan of America's.  So, America narrowly beats out Europe.

These are just a couple of the things I learned and experiences I had during my life-changing study abroad.  None of them would have been possible if my parent hadn't have said yes and paid for this trip.  I sincerely thank you Mom and Dad for allowing me to leave for four months to live in a foreign country and experience the world.  I am forever grateful.

I was completely correct when I assumed this would be my favorite semester of college, because it was.  This trip changed me.  For the better.

Am I a Hero Yet?

Before I get started, I want to say if you are reading this and have the option of going on this trip! GO, It was by far one of the best decisions of my life, if not then the best. Now on another note:

Well guys,

It's over. An let me tell you I have made some friends that I will remember for a lifetime! And I have a few stories that my family and my kids will definitely appreciate for a laugh. It was ALL an adventure, looking back, I wish I could go back!

From the chipping of teeth in N8schidt, to the not so nice cab stories in Rome, to the crying as I look at my taxi pull up in front of me to go to the airport, it was all so different.

I cannot believe its over, I cant believe there's no more Backwerk and AIB, no more catching trains in the middle of the night! HAHA I am just really at a loss for words!

I'm not sure of what to say, or how to end this, it was a 15 week long journey that ended too soon. Too soon for me to come back to an actual scholastic semester that is slowly driving me crazy. Too soon to leave vacation, and new friends, and one euro gelato cones, and snowball fights, and endless traveling.

I thank everyone who actually liked me enough to put up with me, even more so those who still put up with me now that they don't have to anymore

It was a nice run guys, it was amazing! I wish I had more to say, or could think of more to say. The Bonn Voyage was a nice one, but we're all still heroes in our own stories.

You made it through a semester over seas with all new things, and new people, and for that you were brave. You laughed with people and talked with people you had never known and for that you're silly and charismatic. You learned to love people you may never see again, or well some of us did anyways and that means you have a big heart. You were a big boy or a big girl and handled your own problems on your own, and for that you're forgiving. In my book that makes you a hero, and if you ever have a down day,  you remember that.

Even if you weren't your own hero to you, you embarked on this heroes journey and you finished it, so to me you're a hero, one of the 30+ heroes that I met in four months, and I will never ever forget you friend, maybe just your last name LOL.




  
Don't count yourself out just yet, you made it, you may just have a little more growing to do is all, but believe in yourself, because I always will! 





NOW, ENOUGH of that sappy bull, when are we all hitting up NORTHGATE TOGETHER, when is everybody legal, man we have to get the gang back together, its time for a reunion! I need a date to mark on my calendar!

Kidding, nah I am serious, if you have my number don't hesitate to use it for anything, no matter what or when! From one hero to another, now I am flying away! 

All Said & Done

Ich liebe dich, Deutschland

All said & done... taking the leap in going on a journey that took to me across the world was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

My experience last semester was time I will always treasure. It feels like it was yesterday I received Dr. Wasser's email about prospects for a Germany trip in the spring semester. I can't believe that was a year ago! I remember I was so nervous because I didn't know anyone, I didn't know any German, and it would be so far away from my family. But all of the awesome memories and experiences I got definitely outweighed the bad. Who gets to say that they were emerged into an entirely different culture for five months? (& I'm still in awe that it went by so fast)

I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who wants the best opportunity of a lifetime!

(To this day, I find myself saying "Entschuldigen" when I bump into someone.)

Final Blog

            Life is definitely a lot different after coming back. A week after returning, I got to walk the stage for my bachelor’s degree with Alexa. It’s amazing to think that I’ve been friends with people in different countries. This trip has made it easier to expand my horizons and now I’m even considering graduate schools outside of Texas (which I would have never done before).

It feels like we got back a long time ago, but it’s only been two months back. I can’t believe I used to walk around Germany like it wasn’t a big deal. I always had a fear of being abroad because I didn’t know if I’d be able to adapt, but I feel like it took me longer to adjust being back to the US than it did to be over there. I don’t remember everything that happened while abroad, but some stuff comes back to me in pieces.

I remember:

• Getting a pretzel from BackWerk every day.
• Taking a boat tour and eating giant pancakes in Amsterdam.
• Getting sick in Vienna and staying sick for three weeks.
• Struggling to get up the hundreds of steps in Prague because I felt like I had the knees of an elderly woman.
• Walking through a small local market square in Luxembourg with Michelle.
• Seeing Big Ben from the top of the London Eye.
• Falling off my bike in Paris and getting a new scar on my right knee.
• Throwing pennies in the fountain behind St. Patrick’s Cathedral with Clare and Stephenie.
• Singing 500 miles with Rachel in Lisbon.
• Laying on a beach in Barcelona during spring break.
• Bike riding through Brugge and drinking some of the best hot chocolate in the world there.
• Playing concentration in the museums in Berlin.
•  Attending mass in the Koln Dom.

            Europe used to feel so far away, but when I hear about it in the news I feel more connected and more involved. I got the chance to visit 11 countries and now I know a little more about life outside of the United States.

                        I am so grateful to Dr. Wasser for being there for us the entire semester and being the best professor that we could have possibly had. We had several lectures with him every single day and they never got boring. This was an incredible opportunity and I’m grateful to have gotten this chance. It was truly the best way to finish my undergraduate career and I am definitely missing everybody right now.         

Tldr; save the bees.

The Hero's Journey Still Continues

    While I was in Germany I felt myself changing. I became more confident, and proud of who I am. I learned what kind of people I want in my life, and who I want to be. I experienced so many new things everyday. I now have a favorite kind of cheese, tea, and pastry. I had gained an independence that I hadn't had before, but I also developed an need for a strong support system as well. My week of solo travel after the program was over really showed me that I capable of taking care of myself, and talking with strangers. I made friends with people even if it was only for a day. I saw so many wonderful places I never thought I would get to see. I even gained new skills, and knowledge that aren't related to school but help make my life interesting. I became comfortable enough to tease an anesthesiologist while shadowing at the hospital. I also began overcoming my fear of heights.

    When people ask what I did in Germany besides travel I start telling them about my classes. Honestly, I could just talk about that for just as long as my travels. I have never been as impressed with how much someone cared about my education. I have learned so much important history that I never knew was important. Dr. Wasser really brought to life so many things for us. There will always be Dr. Schnabel, Brother Jeremy, and so many more memories with me. I now have a very deep interest in Physiology, which has led me to sign up for more classes on the subject. The fact that we got to work on our design project is an opportunity I will always treasure. I would have never done anything like that in a million years. I am so incredibly proud of the work that we did, and how each of us grew in some way while working on it. I became comfortable enough to tease an anesthesiologist while shadowing at the hospital. My experience at the hospital was absolutely amazing and made me rethink my wish to become a veterinarian.    
 
  I miss Germany so much. I miss stopping at a bakery on my way to class. I miss so many special things about Germany. I also miss seeing the same wonderful people everyday. They always had a way to make me smile everyday, which for me is very special. Since I have been back from Germany I have had a number of really difficult things happen to me. A portion of my support system collapsed and crushed me. I am fighting everyday to climb out from underneath the rubble. What helps is remembering how much for the better I have changed while in Germany, all the wonderful things I saw and did, and all the truly amazing people I came to know. Our Journeys are not over yet, the challenges are merely different.

Retrospective: Fragile Bones, Enduring Experiences

            I have been back in the States for two months and five days and yet it still feels like I just came home. Sometimes the monotony of being back in El Paso will make it feel like I dreamed the whole spring semester but then I just look at my leg and my scar reminds me it all really happened! I have had time to tell family and friends all about my last semester which, in turn, allows me to relive all of my experiences. I wouldn’t say I’m stuck in the past though, if anything I use the memories and knowledge I gained in Germany to work harder and be better as a whole.

   

When I got back on the 9^th of May, I was too tired from the flight to talk much about my experiences. My mom, her fiancée, and I left to College Station the next day and on that 11 hour drive I pretty much talked the whole way, telling them about how exactly I broke my leg and all the adventures I had and all the things I had learned. I was able to reunite with old friends and coworkers in College Station and even better, I got to graduate alongside Sarahi. The whole time we were together, Germany constantly came up as did different memories. We celebrated that night and ran into Clare which made it feel like we were back in Europe. Unfortunately, my time in College Station was soon over and after stopping in Austin for a couple of days, I returned to El Paso with a diploma but still feeling like the exact same person. I spent the next couple of weeks relaxing, trying to adjust to the scorching dry heat of the desert, and visiting family. I grew really restless and decided I needed to find something to do with my time and hopefully earn money to replenish my severely depleted bank account. I soon started volunteering at a veterinary clinic I had volunteered at a couple of years ago and found two small jobs working for United States Customs and Border Protection and babysitting the kids of one of the veterinarians at the clinic. It has kept me busy but in between all the bustle, I’ve had time to really think about everything I experienced abroad.

The first of many graduations!

             The main thing that surprised me about my semester abroad was the realization that breaking my leg was the best thing that could have possibly happened to me. If I hadn’t broken my leg, I never would’ve gotten to truly experience Bonn. A lot of people traveled whenever they could but since I couldn’t travel solo I stayed in Bonn and got to appreciate just how beautiful it was. My numerous trips to the hospital allowed me to grow quite familiar with the area along the route and I always noticed new things. It was on one of these trips back to my apartment from the hospital that the thought, “I could see myself living here one day”, popped into my head while I was looking out the window. I was totally caught off guard. I had never even considered that idea and for it to be so prominent in my mind after only being in Bonn for about a month was eye opening. I also got to form friendships with so many people. I got to know a lot of the student workers since they took me to some of my hospital appointments and they were all kind, funny, and just great people. I got to know Nick and realized how lucky I was to be surrounded by people who cared. I got to know Dr. Burger, my amazing surgeon, and to me he became my German grandpa. I got to know some of the other hospital staff like the receptionist, x-ray technicians, nurses, and the kind lady who brought me my meals when I was in the hospital. Even though I left my host parents about a month into the trip, I have stayed in touch with them and miss them dearly. I also became really close with my classmates and TAs and saw what wonderful people they were. I consider myself incredibly lucky to have been able to form so many relationships with people. This event changed me in more ways than one and knowing I have a network of support and friends in Bonn as well as in College Station was the best thing that could’ve happened to me and I owe all of that to my leg.

What my cool scar looks like now

My leg is back to normal....kind of

The main and most obvious transformation is of course my leg. It still looks different to me and I feel like the shadows of all the bruising I had are still there. The most important transformations I experienced though were not physical. I believe my overall experience abroad cemented the idea I always had of myself of being able to deal with adversity. The first real night in Bonn I got lost on the bus and had to figure out my way back without the use of my phone since it was close to dying. I didn’t freak out though and after wandering around while it was snowing I eventually found my way back on the bus and got home. I think I also did a pretty good job of handling the whole broken leg situation which was probably the most challenging experience I’ve ever faced. I had to learn how to use crutches and do everyday activities using one leg and the limited use of my hands since they were always holding the crutches. I am pretty independent and had to learn how to ask for help. I realize now though that it’s okay to ask for help and that there are times when not asking for help is actually the weaker decision. This trip also increased confidence in myself and made me truly appreciate my positive outlook on things. I’ve always known that shit happens but I know now that I can deal with anything because of my personality and the innate kindness in people which I experienced through my classmates, professors, and AIB.

The “boon” I brought back with me varies. I of course have my awesome scar from surgery but also have the less pleasant side effects of my injury. My leg occasionally hurts especially on the opposite side of the injury site. I still can’t run very well but I have managed to do some easy hikes. I can now stand for long periods of time but when I get home from the clinic I usually need to rest my leg. I still have physical therapy with my uncle so it’ll only get better.  The other boon I came back with were the amazing friendships I made on the trip. I also brought back a lifetime of memories and experiences that influence the way I see and interact with the world. I have learned to appreciate the big exciting moments in life but also the smaller moments of spending time with family and friends. I also brought back with me a newfound appreciation for the human body. It was crazy that I had to essentially learn how to walk again once I got off the crutches. I had to rebuild all the muscle in my leg that had atrophied and I feel like it’s back to normal. I’ll never take walking or being able to stand for granted again and I wake up every day happy and thankful that I don’t need those crutches for the rest of my life.

First hike on my new leg!

                Not only was a semester abroad the best way to finish my undergraduate degree, it was, to this day, the best thing I’ve ever done in my life. I’m incredibly grateful I got to see and experience so much. Even with my injury I was able to travel to 8 different countries, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, France, Belgium, Ireland, England, and Italy, and countless cities. I formed friendships I truly believe will last a lifetime and got the motivation to one day live in Germany. None of that would’ve been possible without the amazing people on the trip. I can never say it enough, but a million thanks to AIB, my classmates, Kristin, Dr. Wasser, the student workers, and Nick. They all took such great care of me and I’m forever indebted to them for working with me and allowing me to partake on the incredible journey that it was. Vielen Dank!

The best group of people in the world!!