In the final week of my study abroad, we moved to Slovenia! I was pleasantly surprised by how much fun I had in Slovenia. I did not know much about the country, and the experience left me feeling even more fulfilled.
It was much more of a jam packed week because we visited so many places in so little time. On the first day, we had two lecture, a delicious lunch at a nearby restaurant, visited a aesthetician, saw the world’s oldest grape vine, and did a train tour of Maribor.
On the next day, we went to a nursing home, a bee farm, visited a medical herb garden, and travelled to Ljubljana.
I think the most fulfilling part of this entire trip was our stop at the nursing home. It really solidified why I want to go into the healthcare field and the fact that I am going down the right path. Seeing people in the last stages of their life is always so special to me because it is so interesting to know that they are filled with wisdom, stories, and experiences that I could never even imagine as I am currently. It was so special talking to the residents of the nursing home and seeing that they are living the final stage of their life with dignity. In Ljubljana, we went to the Community Health Center, Lake Bled, and Postojna Cave!
I really enjoyed my time at the Community Health Center because we did a CPR/Emergency simulation and learned about what to do in the case a child suffers a heart attack. I enjoyed this experience because I want to work in Emergency Medicine in my future. It was interesting seeing the supplies they had in their emergency rooms and also learning how they do basic life support procedures.
On the next day, we went to the hospital of Maribor with a focus on critical care medicine– the emergency room and intensive care units. We took a tour of the hospital and saw inside one of the ICUs. I was observing how differently the hospital was designed, what they prioritized, and how they operated as compared to UPMC Presby! I asked questions that allowed me to better understand how this hospital differs from those in America. After that, we did outdoor survival simulation where we had to save Orin–our program teacher– after he “broke” his leg!
Finally, on Friday–the last day of the trip– we we had a lecture about dementia and how it is portrayed in media, experienced VR CPR training, went to a puppet theatre, and ended with a tour of the Maribor Castle!
I am so grateful for this opportunity because it has provided me with unique insights and experiences that I will carry with me far into my future. I am so grateful for the friends I made, the people I met, and the knowledge I gained. Study abroad is so important because it provides us with a more worldly viewpoint, and reminds us that there is so much more to life than the bubble we have built for ourselves. This experience has further assured me in my path in life, and I can’t wait to travel more, use the information I gain from my travels, and improve the world for better!
Thank you for following along with me!