This summer, I was blessed with the opportunity to study in Leipzig, Germany, with a Pre-Health group from ACU. I didn’t really know anyone in my group leading into the trip, so I was a bit nervous about living with strangers for two months. I quickly learned that I had nothing to worry about, and we would get along swimmingly. Drs. Powell and Austin traveled with us to teach classes and lead chapel. It was great getting to know the professors on a more personal basis.
The villa in Leipzig was wonderful. Living in community introduced a number of challenges and lessons that encourage personal growth. Leipzig is full of music, culture, and life. I loved hopping on the tram and exploring the city. I particularly enjoyed the unique food and architecture that Europe had to offer. The classes were engaging, and we got to learn right in the villa.
Global Healthcare has equipped me with rhetoric pertaining to medical care in the U.S. and abroad. It consisted of a discussion of particular healthcare systems and an exploration of specific case studies. Christianity in Culture dove into topics that are somewhat contentious in today’s church. Subjects like immigration called for some informed back-and-forth. I feel that I learned a lot from both classes and will be able to apply the content to my life.
Study abroad isn’t all about studying, though! Besides exploring Leipzig, our group got to do and see a number of amazing things. We went to a great zoo, shadowed German doctors, and traveled all around Europe. I went to Copenhagen for one of the free travel weekends. Denmark is an incredible place that I did not know much about. I now am aware of its’ rich history and efficient infrastructure. We also went on weekend excursions as a group. The visits to Berlin and Wittenberg were quite fun and educational. Berlin was bustling with energy, history, and life. It is a place that I would love to visit again. We might not have even been there if Martin Luther hadn’t nailed his theses to the Castle Church door in Wittenberg.
I was especially touched by our trip to Buchenwald. We stayed in the quaint town of Weimar, just a few miles from this concentration camp. The sobering history of those grounds was amplified by the startling beauty of the forest that surrounded them. This is coupled with the realization that God is with us in the great times and is still present in the absolute worst of times. Such a fact has really helped me move through the reality of Crohn’s disease and its’ inherent difficulties.
The second travel weekend saw me stay in Leipzig in order to save money. I did, however, go on a day trip to Sachsen-Switzerland, confusing nomenclature for a region of eastern Germany. We hiked through the woods and up to a striking stone bridge. Our trip culminated with one last group excursion. Prague was amazing and teeming with medieval architecture and history.
I wouldn’t trade the sights, tastes, and experiences of Summer 2018 for anything. I would go back and it all again if I had access to a time machine. God is great. People are pretty much the same everywhere if you get to know them.
