Reflection
What'd I learn?
My time in Europe, while fast-paced and often tiring, gave me plenty to think about and take in as we traveled from country to country. Probably the most obvious learning experiences that I received during the study abroad program were the moments we spent at every museum, university, and workshop. As a microbiology major, a MPH student, and a pre-med undergraduate, nearly every planned excursion on this trip was highly relevant to my course of study! Visits to microbiology labs allowed me to contextualize everything that I've learned in classes back at Gainesville, and seeing cutting-edge microbiological technology at work in various clinical, translational, and preclinical labs.
Living in urban Europe for three weeks allowed for me to understand how different practices in transportation, nutrition, and personal health join together to form an effective yet novel (to me!) approach to public health. A highlight of my trip was a visit to the World Health Organization, where thousands of public health professionals come together to solve humanity's most pressing medical issues. Seeing so many people who truly care about what they do at work was a poignant and rewarding experience.
Finally, our countless trips to medical museums and universities gave me poignant insight into how medicine has evolved over time. It was also informative to learn how much more of an emphasis Europe places on preventative medicine, exercise, and nutrition compared to the US, where medication and overdiagnosis reign supreme.
But the most impactful, memorable, and enjoyable learning I did on this program happened outside of the classroom, lab, and museum. It happened in conversations with locals, small cafes, and in clubs late at night! Learning about the different countries that we went to through the people who have grown up and lived there was by far the most fun part of the trip, and it'll likely be what I remember the most!
Here vs. there
During my three-week stay in Europe, I noticed several differences in
Europe places so much more emphasis on connectivity, both physically and emotionally. It was commonplace to walk down a boulevard late at night and see groups of people getting dinner together and chatting. It was a breeze to use the metro, tram, or bus to get from one end of the city to another, even as as a foreigner. After returning to the United States, I remember talking to one of my friends about how convenient public transport was to use throughout the countries I visited; he mentioned how having a car in the United States gave him freedom and allowed him to visit the places he wanted. I think that if he came along, my roommate would be able to understand that one can still have ample freedom of movement without needing to worry about parking!
Something that was also quite different between Europe and the United States was how political life was there. Many of my European peers were well-read and highly opinionated about politics and current affairs, with many people having pointed opinions about our administration
I did miss the availability of free water and public bathrooms!