by Noah Higgins| Summer 2024 |
This summer, I studied abroad with the Global Healthcare in Leipzig program. In Leipzig, I found beautiful architecture, great public transportation, and delicious food. While there, I spent a weekend in Prague, Rome, and a small town in Belgium called Oostende. Of course, we spent plenty of time in Germany, too; I made day trips to several German cities and even went on an impromptu cliff diving trip. Food was a huge theme for the summer; I’m torn between the Bavarian food in Prague and the pasta in Rome, but those are definitely the best food I’ve ever had (don’t tell my mom).
In Prague, we took a guided tour of the city as a class, and the view of Prague Castle from the Charles Bridge was beautiful. Walking all the way up the hill to the castle was not as good. We also tried chimney cake, a local favorite, and went to an amazing Bavarian restaurant called U Pivrnce. Later, some of us went out to experience the nightlife in Prague and visited some spots recommended by a friend who had been there last spring. We didn’t realize until we were done for the night that the city trams didn’t run all night, so we had to make the walk up the hill to our hotel again.
In Rome, we visited the Pantheon, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Vatican. This one wasn’t a class trip; there were only three of us. The Pantheon was disappointing as most of the statues had been removed and put in museums, but the day we spent at the Colosseum and Roman Forum was incredible. There was so much to see that we didn’t even get to all of it that day. The Vatican was really surprising because it was less of a religious place and more museums than I had expected. We spent so much money on food that weekend, and it was so worth it that I would go back to Italy just to eat there for a week.
Oostende was unique among my trips; I went with a friend to attend a Rammstein concert, which is a German metal band. They were having their Europe stadium tour but wouldn’t be playing in Germany until the week after we came back to the States, so we found a date that would work with classes and took the 10-hour train ride there. That was easily the most chaotic weekend of the summer, during which I slept in a parking garage, but it was a lot of fun. Rammstein’s venue and pyrotechnics were amazing, and their stage was way bigger than I had expected.
To anyone else who is going on a study abroad trip, I have tips. Do everything and stay busy; you don’t want to miss out on anything, and you’ll have the rest of the summer to sit around. Wear a fanny pack or some other small bag, it’s way easier than managing everything in your pockets. Learn how to read the train schedules. Missing a train can wreck your travel plan. Don’t talk to random people on the street; I had someone try to steal my bag during a conversation at a train stop, and another person approached me outside of a convenience store to sell me tickets to a cabaret bar, and when I declined, drugs out of his pocket. Most of all, plan ahead because travel is way cheaper a month in advance than it will be the week of your travel time.
