What made you choose your study abroad program?
Medical based coursework
What was your favorite course and why?
Precision Medicine – We explored the future advances into targeted therapies and individualized medicine in treating illnesses more effectively based on a patient’s own physiology and disease pathology.
What was your favorite local food or drink?
Semla, a Swedish cardamom pastry
What was the most important thing that you learned?
It is so important to be adaptable. I went abroad during a (very) unusual time in which Germany was having a number of transportation strikes. Being that my host family’s home was further away, these strikes hit us a little harder. Because of this, clear communication, quick thinking, and planning ahead really came in handy when getting myself to and from class.
When you travel, expect things never to go as planned, especially when traveling for the first time, like I did. Nothing in life is perfect, so it’s important to expect change: trains may get delayed, a certain location may be closed, etc. As long as you are confident in yourself and aren’t afraid to adapt to life, everything will work out.
How did you interact with the local community and culture?
Fika (a Swedish social coffee break with snacks) and spending time with friends to enjoy breaks from work, as well as connecting with my visiting host family and partaking in some local traditions.
What tips do you have for students interested in going abroad?
Don’t be afraid to try new experiences. You will only have one opportunity to be abroad for such a long interrupted period, and even small things can become some of the best memories from your time abroad.
How did you grow as an individual while studying abroad?
I began to look at a lot of things within healthcare from a more methodical approach. Given my interest in a career in medicine, I feel learning about the way in which different elements from multiple fields are being integrated in patient care is so critical. Thus, I think I have become more accustomed to thinking more broadly in the context of how multiple systems are being implemented in the treatment of patients, and not so much a narrow interaction simply between a healthcare provider and patient.
What is your most cherished memory of your abroad experience?
Weekly trips to a local karaoke spot with all of my newfound friends and acquaintances from DIS. Not only was it fun to watch everyone sing everything from Billy Joel to ABBA, but having so many people together in one place from our program spending time together after classes was amazing. Many of my greatest laughs and friendships, along with so many conversations with locals, made it one of the best parts of my abroad experience.
