Monday, May 28, 2012

Happy Memorial Day!

After spending two nights in beautiful Geneva, we headed to Strasbourg, France which is right on the boarder of Germany.  We're staying in an old Chateau that is magnificant.  We vistied a public hospital in Strasbourg and got to talk to nursing students-which was awesome.  They were very much like us and were interested in our lives as Americans.  I can't believe how different the nursing profession is in Europe- unfortuantely it isnt highly respected by the public and the education is much different too.  Besides the "studying" part, we went on wine tour, had a spa day in Baden Baden, went to a castle, and on a bike ride today.  We have been constantly going and going.  Tmrw morning we leave for Heidelburg Germany for the day to visit a psych hospital and pharmacy museum and then its back to the home front on Wednesday.  The group as a whole is ready to go home.  It's been such an awesome time but we're all exhaused.  Its funny that the thing we miss most is ICE, strangely enough.  Here, they drink room temperature water and juices.  You never get ice in your water at a restaurant and its been driving us crazy.  One thing I've though about is how I am really fortunate for all of the French classes I've had from 2nd to 12th grade-it has helped me so much and I'm so thankful for that.  No one else in our group can remotely speak it and here the locals really appreciate if you try.  The German and French students here can speak about 3-4 languages and it almost makes me feel dumb as an American-since they don't push the foreign language programs in the states.  Coming to other countries its really embarassing if you "scream America" by how loud you are and how you dress.  Its made me really appreciate other cultures and respect them.  Ive had an incredible time, see you in America!

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