Welcome back!

I’ve been in Graz, Austria for a little over three weeks now, and it’s hard to believe that this program is almost over! The past couple of weeks have been filled with a blend of medical and cultural-related activities, providing a unique opportunity to learn, while also having a lot of fun. I am so excited to share my experiences with you!

We have not wasted any time since getting here, and we often go from one activity straight into the next. Given the healthcare theme of this program, a majority of our time has been spent exploring various disciplines of medicine. We have visited several medical centers throughout Austria including, but not limited to, LKH Hospital and Medical University, Albert-Schweitzer Institute for Geriatric Medicine, University of Applied Science, Marienambulanz (homeless and refugee center), Vinzi Dorf (homeless center for those with substance-use disorders), Mosaik Disability Center, and the Red Cross. Often, the best way to learn something is to experience it firsthand, and tours of these sites, in combination with our lectures centered around the history of healthcare in the United State, has certainly given me an appreciation for healthcare delivery. While there are many similarities, I have found the differences to be the most fascinating.

Our first tour was of the LKH Hospital and Medical University, and I remember being so surprised when first beginning the tour. Unlike American hospitals, which are usually a singular, tall building, this hospital felt more like a college campus. The individual specialties were broken up into separate buildings and spread out over a large area, connected by a complex network of underground tunnels. These tunnels, which we were fortunate enough to tour, are used to transport patients and materials between the different buildings. Another major difference that I’ve enjoyed learning about are the pharmacies. In Austria, pharmacists have more flexibility when it comes to patients’ medications. When you walk into an Austrian pharmacy, it feels very different than in the US. You immediately walk straight to the counter; there is very little you can buy over the counter. Then, you tell the pharmacists your symptoms (or provide a prescription), and they make the medication on the spot. It is really interesting how different aspects of healthcare delivery can vary so much between two countries. Check out some pictures from the LKH Hospital and the pharmacy we visited below.

While a majority of our time has been spent learning about the Austrian healthcare system, we have still had plenty of time to learn about the culture and explore some other cities (even finding time to venture to Croatia). While in Graz, we’ve attended in opera (Venus in Seide) and visited many cultural sites like churches and museum. One of my favorite activities has been attending an English class at the University of Graz to participate in a discussion over a piece for their class. It was fun seeing how their classes run and getting to learn about their lives as an Austrian university student. It’s also been exciting to practice my German! I am a German minor, and I am always looking for ways to improve. Whether it be ordering in a restaurant or reading billboards, it has been rewarding to apply my language skills while combining it with my other interests.

During the weekends, we have traveled to Salzburg, Zagreb, and Vienna. Each of the cities has offered something unique; in fact, I think it’s impossible to pick a favorite! In Salzburg, we spent a portion of the day hiking Untersberg in the Alps. Despite making the hike in a dress and bad walking shoes, it was one of the most incredible views I’ve ever seen and absolutely worth it (check out a picture below)! For this program, we have one free weekend, so we decided to travel to Zagreb, Croatia. Wow! Admittedly, this was somewhere I never thought I would travel, but I am so happy I did. It was so fun exploring a new place and navigating the language barriers. Like the rest of the trip, we filled our time there, but my favorite was a visit to the Plitvice National Park. I’ve never seen water that blue in my life. Finally, we just got back from Vienna. Once again, I loved exploring a new city. We spent most of our time walking around and stumbled upon local events like a Skateboarding competition.

Of course there have been challenges along the way, whether it be struggling with the language or getting lost, but, overall, the past couple of weeks have been incredible. I am sad that this program is coming to an end, but I am grateful for the people and memories it’s given me so far. I’m headed to Maribor, Slovenia for our last week, then I am spending time in London and Paris with my family.

Thanks for checking back in. Until next time!