Hello! This is week two of my reminiscing of my times abroad in Austria as apart of the Comparative Healthcare in Graz program!
Week two was filled with a lot of travel and class. In class, we learn about the History of Austria and the History of Medicine. For the former, we learned about the history of Austria from when the first settlers arrived to the end of World War II. For the latter, we learned about how the concept of medicine was first actualized by philosophers such as Plato and Socrates and traversed through its development in America such as Medicare, Medicaid, health insurance, etc..
As for our expeditions, on the first day we visited the Gesundheitsdrehscheibe and Elisabethinen. The Gesundheitsdrehscheibe serves as a hub that provides free health advice and support to the vulnerable populations of Graz. Their team consisted of nurses, social workers, physical therapists, and much more. The Elisabethinen is a non-profit hospital that is rich in history. We had a nun, named Elisabeth, teach us about the history of how the Elisabethinen as an organization came to be in Austria. The hospital focuses on palliative care, geriatric health, and pain intervention. What I thought was interesting about this hospital and many of the hospitals in Graz, was the focus on building an environment that promotes the happiness of the patient. Most people would describe hospitals in America as cold, sterile, uninviting, and overstimulating. However, the Elisabethinen expressed their focus on bringing nature indoors, serenity, and ambulation of the patients. These aspects were evident in every aspect of the hospital: the interior of the building primarily being made of wood, the beautifully maintained garden that had age appropriate exercise equipment, the peacefulness walking through the hallways with the absence of constant beeping to name a few. The building was made to be a sanctuary for rehabilitation and passing into the next life with dignity. It gave me ideas on how we can best build an environment that can efficiently optimize patient recovery and satisfaction.
On the next day, we did a full day field trip. On our first stop, we went to the Piber. The Piber breeding and training ground for the Lipizzaner horses that have importance dating back to the Hapsburg’s rule. The horses are known for their white coats, easy temperament, and strong build. After the Piber, we visited the Castle Ruins Krems that dates back to the 12th century. Walking the same halls as people from centuries ago is an incredible feeling!
On Thursday, we went to the Marienambulanz by Caritas. They provide free medical care, food, and clothing to the unhoused, uninsured, and those who have trouble accessing the Austrian healthcare system such as immigrant populations, the disabled, and impoverished families. It is a part of their philosophy that they do not reject those who come to them for help.This institution particularly piqued my interest because I want to work with nonprofits who serve marginalized communities, so I asked many questions about how they operate, how they receive funding, and the communities they serve. It was so inspiring to know that there are facilities like this and that they have the ability to serve such a large population.
Later that day, we went to debate club with a couple of students at the University of Graz. It was eye opening to listen to their experiences being an Austrian citizens. We mainly talked about their schooling system, but also talked about their healthcare system and such.
For my free weekend, my friend and I visited Venice, Italy. My main reasoning was that I wanted to experience the area before it sank. We stayed in a smaller town that was an hour bus ride away from the island called Mira. It was a very quaint town that seemed to have a tight knit community. On the days that we went onto the island, we went to St.Marks Basilica and the architecture of the church was so beautiful! We walked around through the several shops and tried the restaurants. One night, we also got gelato in the town that we stayed in, and I discovered I love the flavor Stracciatella! In all honesty, I did not enjoy my time in Venice because of how crowded it was for such a small space. However, we also went to Murano, and I thought it was much more my vibe! The buildings were beautiful and there were much less people. I felt like the ambience was much calmer. I also enjoyed the boat ride to and from because it was so relaxing. We also went to the Acqua Alta Library where I got to see so many adorable cats!
With that, week two came to a close! I will be back soon to update you all on my adventures during the third week of this experience.