Monday, October 29, 2012

... and now to Sweden?

So Saturday I went with my friends to Malmo, Sweden!  It's a short half hour train ride across the bridge, and we figured it would be fun to wander aimlessly around the town exploring, especially because much of DIS was still traveling.  We had a lot of fun and just saw a park (where we experienced our first "fall leaves" of the year) and the castle, the Turning Torso, and we grabbed some lunch in a cafe.  We then came back to Copenhagen and cooked dinner together and watched the Sound of Music as a tribute to our stay in Austria!

fall leaves!

random statues in Malmo



windmills

the old castle

The Turning Torso!

Dinner with the friends!

Sunday was a work day, and it ended with me cooking Chicken Pot Pie for Sigrun and her sister.
Today I had my cooking class again and we made soups and porridges, which was very appropriate because it was cold, wet, and windy.  I am finally beginning to understand all the "warnings" about going abroad to a country like Denmark.  the wet, cold, and rain, I can handle, but I'm going to have the most difficulty adjusting to the fact that it was 4:45 and I was sitting in class, starting out the window, watching it get dark.  By 5:00 it was completely dark, and when I got out at 5:30 if streetlights didn't exist you wouldn't be able to see anything.... So... I guess it might take a little bit of time getting used to! This week I'm volunteering at Studenterhuset and writing a million group papers!

Til imorgen!

Friday, October 26, 2012

So now we're in Pest.. wait, no.. Buda... what???

Hi everyone!
First thing's first.. PICTURES FROM VIENNA!!
The drawbridge to the oldest park of Haufberg Palace 

Our awesome bike tour!

The City Hall.. way too big by Austrian standards 

Dinner our first night!

The oldest functional ferris wheel in the world!

St. Stephen's cathedral

Wienerschnitzel (fake though because I got chicken instead of pork)

One of the many Haufberg museums

The famous torte!

Schobrunn Palace!




So now I am home safe and sound from my wonderful trip to Eastern Europe! Budapest was such an amazing, eye-opening experience in so many ways.  The point of the second half of the trip being in Budapest was to see the status of a post-communist country, and contrast it with Denmark and Austria. Even on the train ride across the Hungarian countryside you could see the difference:  it looked almost as if I had traveled back a few decades in time.  There were loudspeakers and cameras from times of the Cold War and the train stations looked as if they had been around forever.  We got into the Pest (yes- the city was actually once Buda and Pest- something I hadn't known to begin with), and it was even evident then.  All the public transportation vehicles looked so old, and it was just a completely different appearance.
The metro

Don't get me wrong, Budapest is an awesome city.  You can see the huge gorgeous buildings that have been around for years.  We arrived and immediately did an academic visit to the cardiac ward of the local medical school.  It was here that I finally got a glimpse of the struggle between funding and providing adequate medical treatment.  They have, however developed the first pacemaker that works compatible with MRI machines.  We got a tour of the huge complex and saw some pretty awesome equipment and procedures.  That night, we went on a dinner cruise on the Danube river, which was one of the coolest things: the view is the best because all the major buildings are located along the river and they light them up for everyone to see!  That night, the whole class went to the #2 bar in the world. It was located in the old ruins and was two levels and was just a relaxed fun way to hang out with everyone outside of the typical academic setting.



The inside of part of the bar looking out over the lower level

The next day, we went to two very different academic visits: the Spinal Institute of Budapest and Saint Laszlo Hospital.  It was this day that really opened my eyes to how much still needs to be done for so many health systems around the world (and Hungary isn't even considered to be in that bad of a position).  The first place we went was both a public and private hospital.  Basically, 99% of Hungarians get covered with public healthcare, but this healthcare is full of corruption; the patients tip their doctors in order to receive the best treatment and get moved up on waiting lists.  If you pay for private insurance however, you get access to amazing treatment and facilities.  We then went to the second hospital which is completely public, and the doctor we spoke with treats primarily pediatric patients who receive bone marrow transplants.  Here he related to us the frustrations he faces all the time because the government only provides funding for 'x' number of treatments every month, and the patients have to wait until they are able to receive this treatment.

After that visit, we got free time in Budapest, and I met up with my cousin Russell, who's studying there!  It was great being able to see him and he definitely gave us the insider tour around the city!  We saw Hero's Square, St. Stephen's Basilica, The Citadel, and Buda Castle.  We then hung out in a coffee shop for a while and then actually went to sleep early because we had to be up early to present our research and then fly home.  my host mom and I then just had dinner and tomorrow my friends and I are making a day trip into Malmo, Sweden!

my class after a visit

Russell!

Buda Castle

Til imorgen!

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Wien!!

Hi everyone!

Just a quick post to update...

I've now had three amazing days in Vienna.  When we got here Sunday, we grabbed lunch and then went for a bike tour of the whole city where we saw some absolutely amazing sights such as the Hofburg Imperial Palace (which can fit the entire Vatican City inside of it- it's that huge), St. Stephan's Cathedral, Prater Park, Albertina, the Parliament building, City Hall, and so many other sights.  It was awesome to do the bike tour because we saw so much and covered so much ground in just three hours. The tour ended at dinner with our group, and then we just had the rest of the night to explore.

Monday we had two academic visits: the Austrain Red Cross and The Vienna University Medical Hospital.  The Austrian Red Cross was awesome for two reasons: the first because we they actually play a huge part in the Austrian health care system, and the second because we got the behind the scenes tour of all the blood bank stuff- the actual donating part, the labs, the storage, everything!  They took us to Naschmarkt, this awesome open-air market for lunch where I got this random viennese pastry sandwich thing which was amazing. We then went to the Vienna University Medical Hospital and talked with the head of surgery who does specifically Bariatric surgery which i actually really cool to learn about, especially with all the diabetes and obesity we have in the US.  He explained all the different surgeries and it was pretty cool to hear something other that just the generic cardio or pulmonary doctors.  We then got the rest of the day to explore which we did, and got the classic Viennese dish of wienerschnitzel, basically fried meat (traditionally veal)- I got chicken.  It was good, but too fried for my liking.  We spent the rest of the night exploring and we got the Original Schauer-Torte (basically this amazing chocolate cake with unsweetened whipped cream) famous in Vienna.  We decided to come back early and call it a night because we had to be ready to leave and have eaten breakfast at 7:30 today because we had another early academic visit.


The Academic visit today was at The Orthopedic Hospital Vienna-Speising.  I really enjoyed this visit because it's a semi-private hospital, and talking to them, I pretty much discovered how ridiculously dysfunctional the American Health Care System is, regardless of who's president and what legislation is in place.  It even makes Denmark look bad (which is really saying something).  It also has this cool section of the hospital called "Gait Analysis Lab" where they hook all these trackers to you and you walk down a twenty meter path with hidden pressure panels and all these cameras that make a three dimensional image of your gait and the force panels can detect where you put pressure when you walk, high or low arches, and can then make the necessary adjustments in physical therapy and with orthotics.  In addition to that, they have a treadmill with all those cameras and pressure points built into it for gait analysis of runners to get the perfect information for buying the right shoes.  They even use this technology for something as simple as analyzing golf swings!  We had the rest of the day free, but DIS paid for us to visit the Schonbrunn Palace which is so ridiculously huge and gorgeous it took us three hours to go through without even being able to see everything.  It has a labyrinth of hedges, huge statues, gardens, a zoo, everything you can imagine.  After that we went back and got changed for dinner and went to the ORCHESTRA!  It was a great combination of Mozart and Schauss, and it was even better because for some pieces they had dancers or opera singers on the stage so it was even more than just an orchestra.  After that, our group all went to get the best gelato I've ever tasted and then we all explored the city which was fun with us all being together.  


Sorry I'm having problems uploading pictures, but they'll come with the Budapest post!



Til imorgen!!!

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Suitcase packed? Ready to go!

Hej everyone!

Just a quick update...

Nothing too crazy has happened since I last posted in here.  Thursday was a typical school day but I (luckily) had my last class cancelled, so I didn't have to travel all the way to the Hospital and then back to Copenhagen for wine tasting.  Instead, I took advantage of my time and decided to work on my final paper for European Storytelling.  It was nice being able to sit in Studenterhuset and sip on a Chai Latte while trying my hardest to be productive (and ultimately failing)!  Wine tasting was great- we moved on to German and Austrian wines (lucky for me since in exactly 12 hours I'll be in Austria).  Ian, my instructor also brought a "Wine Essence Kit" which holds concentrated aromas of the different smells in wine that helps you hone your olfactory senses.  It was so interesting using them to help understand the different identifications of some smells.

Friday and today were very productive days.  Friday I went into Copenhagen early and went to the DIS library to get some work done.  Embarassingly enough, I got there before the library even opened.  I'm still trying to decide whether that's a good or bad thing.  I met with my professor about my paper, and then worked a shift at Studenterhuset.  That shift was fun because I got to train some new volunteers how things work behind the bar.  Today, I woke up and legitimately did work alllll day long.  Good news: I've completed all the readings for two of my classes for the rest of my semester.  Bad news: even with the readings done, I still have three final papers that will need to be handed in, in addition to the Final Exam.  Luckily, two of those three papers are group papers, so they should be relatively easy.  I spent the rest of the day packing for VIENNA AND BUDAPEST! and then just relaxing and watching some TV with Sigrun after dinner.  It's early to bed for me tonight- I have a plane to catch in the morning!

Til imorgen!

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Ian's Visit!

Hi everyone!  Sorry I've been so bad with keeping this up to date, but I've been so busy because IAN CAME TO VISIT for a long weekend!  He flew in Friday morning and stayed until Tuesday.  We spent the weekend exploring the city, and we even did touristy things that I'd been meaning to do all semester but hadn't gotten the chance yet.

Friday night was culture night in Copenhagen where the museums and public buildings are all open to the public free of charge with just a $15 ticket for the whole night.  Saturday we explored for the first half of the day (Rosenberg Slot, The Little Mermaid, Nyhavn, Danish pancakes, and walked along the harbor), and then went to Tivoli at night because they're open for Halloween.  Sunday was a little more rainy - I knew the atypical nice weather wouldn't last long - but we still managed to explore Christianshavn and do a canal tour which was pretty cool: it's definitely a different perspective seeing the city from the water.  Monday, unfortunately, I had to go to class and take a midterm in my medical ethics class, but after I got home we went to a reaaaaallly nice restaurant called Saint Gertrude's Cloister for our last dinner before Ian had to fly home.  It was definitely the most amazing food combinations I have ever eaten in my life.  Overall, it was an awesome weekend, being able to see Ian and show him what my life's been about for the past two months.
At the top of the Round Tower, overlooking Copenhagen

The Changing of the Guards at Amalienborg Palace 

Along the harbor - Rainbow in the background!

The Little Mermaid!

Hot apple cider in Tivoli!

Canal Tour

An amazing burger (at Tight, not St. Gertrude's)
Dessert at Saint Gertrude's

Yesterday I spent all day trying to get a research paper done before my next study tour week (which is Sunday) and then a few of us went over Alison's house for a girls night/sleepover where I taught them how to make chicken pot pie/chicken and dumplings and Danish roulade, and then we watched Harry Potter!  Today will be a day spent with me writing this paper and trying to get my work done so I don't have any stress while I'm in Vienna and Budapest!

Chicken and Dumplings!

Alison and Rebecca

Roulade

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Getting back into the swing of things... again!

After getting back to Copehagen, I had to once again get into the swing of things.  Monday I had class again, and then went to my Danish cooking class.  In class we had an awesome Danish birthday dinner, where basically all the ingredients are sugar, flour, chocolate, and more sugar.  It was a great time because, if you haven't figured it out yet, I have the biggest sweet tooth ever!

Tuesday was a really busy day for me.  I went into the city and volunteered at Studenterhuset, and was having so much fun I stayed an extra hour.  The rest of the day was pretty uneventful, I just did work and met with my group for a group paper.

Today was also another typical day.  I had a field study but it was pouring so we actually went into a classroom and watched "The thief of Baghdad" a movie that Disney actually based Aladin off of.  It was nice because my professor also brought some pastries and coffee to get us through the morning!  I then experienced the Danish Royal Library for the first time.  Their system is definitely so much more confusing than anything in the US system.  I was so frustrated when I finally figured out how to work the search engine (all in Danish of course) and found the call number, only to be told that I'm not allowed to go get it and I have to put in a request for the book and come back for it tomorrow.

On a good note, I had my long study tour orientation where I learned some details about the trip with my program to Budapest and Vienna! The most exciting part (I personally believe) is that we're getting to go to hear the Vienna orchestra perform (which is the second best in the whole world).  I leave a week from Sunday for that trip, so I'm definitely so excited!  I just have to get through two midterms in the meantime!

Til imorgen!

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Deutschland, España, and Morocco!

Officially back in good old Copenhagen!  I started off my travel break in Munich, Germany at Oktoberfest, which was quite an experience that you can't even use words to describe.  There are huge "tents" for each of the major beer producers and they basically sell food and "steins" of beer (which are huge mugs). If you want to get into the tents, you have to wake up and be in line at 7:30 in the morning on Saturday because it is so unbelievably packed.  Once you get inside the tent, you try to find a table and then get served, and the whole time people are cheering and singing songs, and there's live music.  Everyone is dressed in these ridiculous outfits (yes, I actually broke and bought one to wear too) but its completely normal because everyone is wearing them!   The girls have on the German dresses with cookie hearts around their necks with German phrases on it (mine said dreamer), while the guys wear lederhosen.  Outside of the beer tents, it's a huge festival with all this food, arcade games, and crazy rides.  It was also an amazing time because it gave me the chance to meet up with all my Muhlenberg friends who are studying abroad.

Inside a beer tent (Hofbräuhaus)
 
Our German Dresses!

The outside of a beer "tent"

Muhlenberg Reunion!

Oktoberfest by night (Yes, I went on the crazy spinning ride)!

From Munich I flew to Barcelona (with my connecting flight getting cancelled and three flight delays- I ended up in three other cities before Barcelona).  I must say, Barcelona is my favorite part of Spain.  When we were there, we went to all these beautiful places, but two of my favorites were La Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell.  They were both designed by the architect Gaudi, and La Sagrada Familia is actually still under construction (but is already absolutely breathtaking).  Barcelona as a city is amazing, and you can't walk more than a few blocks without seeing an awesome statue or museum or cathedral.  We also went into this cool market called La Boqueria, that reminded me of an indoor Spanish version of the Italian market in Philadelphia.  Pretty much the coolest place ever with cheap prices and great food (perfect for us traveling on a budget).
La Sagrada Familia



Parc Guell and Gaudi's famous lizard statue

View of La Sagrada Familia from Parc Guell

Peace to the world from the top of Parc Guell

Inside the market!

We took an overnight train to Madrid, and from Madrid did day trips to Toledo (which was once the capital of Spain) and a ferry to Morocco.  

Toledo is this old city on top of a hill surrounded by a huge stone wall overlooking the Spanish countryside.  It has the most amazing history and architecture, and is known by its history of the three religions: Catholicism, Islam, and Judaism.  You can see the churches that used to be mosques and synagogues that were remodeled around the time of the Spanish inquisition.  In addition, there are ruins of Roman baths from the time when Toledo was part of the Roman empire.  Definitely a pretty cool not as well known city.


Looking out over "Old City" Toledo

The Roman Baths


Morocco was definitely a very special experience: it was one that I really am appreciative to been able to have done, but is something I think you only have to experience once.  Our ferry arrived (so yes, I went to AFRICA)! and we went to the Medina and then walked around the old marketplace and discovered some awesome shops, and really discovered the Moroccan culture.  We were only there for a few hours, because we didn't want to risk being there anytime other than in the middle of the day.  It was an awesome trip, but I don't have pictures to show because I didn't want to worry about my camera!
View from the road of The Strait of Gibraltar looking at Tangier, Morocco in the distance

The rest of the trip was spent exploring Madrid which, although it is a huge Spanish city (and the capital of Spain), is so different from Barcelona.  We went to El Prado and El Museo de La Reina Sofia which are both art museums.  It was awesome being able to see the real-life paintings that famous Spanish artists such as Picasso and Goya did right there in front of you.  We also spent a lot of time walking around discovering the city.  The Parque de Retiro was a lot of fun and we boated around a lake in the middle, and we went for a free walking tour all over the city with people from our hostel.  We made fun little picnic lunches from just going into a grocery store and buying a baguette and some lunch meat or cheese and spreading out in one of the many parks.  We experienced tapas and paellas and even got to have some Sangria!

Churros con Chocolate!  The most popular snack in Madrid!

..... it was verrrry good!

Outside the Royal Palace

Sunset in the Botanical Jardines de Sabatini and near the Royal Palace

A band in the middle of Puerta de Sol!

Standing in the most middle part of Spain

Our 3 € picnic lunch!

Rowing the boat in Parque de Retiro


Overall, this trip was an absolutely amazing experience in which I met people from all over the world, learned all about different cultures, and seriously understood the meaning of expanding your horizons.  It was fun to dust off my Spanish (although it was still pretty rough), and just learned to take everything in! 

Til imorgen!