Howdy!
Yesterday was our last day of the program. We all said our goodbyes and went our own ways. Some people went back to America and some to other European countries. It is so surreal that this was the end of the program. I never thought the day would actually come that we would be forced to say goodbye to Germany and all the people in it.
I think I have changed in many ways throughout this program. From an academic standpoint, I have gained vastly more knowledge on the history of Germany and medicine as a whole. The content we learned has helped build my foundation in medicine and deepen my understanding of medicine as a whole. But beyond the purely academic side, I have seen changes in my confidence and abilities. I have noticed that I am not as nervous to do things on my own in a new country. I have gained confidence in my abilities to travel around new areas (especially with public transportation). These are things that I know I will bring back to America and will change my everyday life.
If I could give any advice to the me that wrote my first blog post, I would say to embrace the new fully. Take every opportunity to learn. Take risks and be bold. Don't be afraid to ask questions, people want to help you. Do everything, even when you don't feel like it. All of these things will help you to get the most out of this trip, but honestly the rest of your life too. These helped me learn about Germany, myself, and those around me in a way I have never done before.
A piece of advice I wish I had before coming on this trip would be don't be afraid to ask strangers questions, especially on the trains. Coming into this trip, I had the idea that all Europeans hated Americans and that I would just be an inconvenience for them. While, I definitely came across some grouchy people, majority of them were happy to help me navigate the new culture. In fact, a lot of the people I encountered thought it was cool to meet a "real-life American." Europeans are not as scary as we make them out to be.
This was an experience that I will never forget. I will take the things I have learned from this trip and use them for the rest of my life. I feel very blessed to have been able to participate in such a wonderful trip with such wonderful people. I truly could not have asked for a better trip. Thank you to all who made this trip unforgettable.
Thanks & Gig'em,
Rebekah Bledsoe
Hey Bekah!! I cannot believe the trip has come to an end and that we have parted ways! I definitely would have been beneficial for me to hear this advice pre- departure. I love how you talked about not being scared to ask questions to the Europeans. I also thought that they would be annoyed with the “dumb American” but I learned that that was not true. They were all very willing to help and point me in the right direction. What a wonderful trip we had! So glad I got to have the adventure of a lifetime with you!
ReplyDeleteHi Bekah! This is such a great response! I loved how you talked about the dichotomy between what you thought the European perspective of us would be vs how they actually responded to our presence (most of the time with such a kind presence). When you said "real life American," you so made me laugh because all I could think about was our Australian friend lol!
ReplyDeleteHello Bekah! I am so thankful for you as a companion on this study abroad. You were always someone for me talk to and have good discussions with. I think you really embraced the "new" fully. I loved that story that you told when you helped a guy find his train station (a little bit on accident) and he gave you a thumbs up! I hope you have a wonderful time with your exchange family in Hamburg!
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