My friends and I were walking along the streets when suddenly one of them shouted, “You can’t step on that!” We all jumped a little and stared at the one who yelled. “The golden plaques, you shouldn’t step on those.” We looked down at the ground at a collection of small golden plaques, and in very small letters you could see a name, a residence, a date, and… a concentration camp name. “This is a memorial for those who were forcibly taken from their homes to go to the camps. They’re placed all around the city, right where the victims used to live.” From then on out, we all placed great importance on where we were stepping, out of respect for both the memorial and the victims.

My experience in Berlin gave me a chance to explore education in a different city’s lights. In Berlin, I was surprised to see how openly the city embraces all aspects of its past. You could trace the bricks on the ground that once laid the foundation of the Berlin wall, see golden plaques on the ground, and walk past numerous monuments that acknowledged those who suffered in this past. While you can learn all the history in a textbook, being right where it happened allowed me to connect with history and realize just how surreal it was. Although I know not everyone is interested in history or medicine, but just being in a new country and learning about its culture is more than enough reason to study abroad, in my opinion. I’ve always yearned to study abroad, after hearing stories from my parents’ many journeys abroad, and I can confidently say it's worth every moment. I never once had a thought of how I wanted to go home and didn’t want to stay in Berlin. Rather, I was sulking at the idea of going home, and I wanted to continue staying in the city indefinitely.

In Berlin, I was almost a whole new person, and I was so shocked that I felt like I could barely recognize myself. This is all a good thing, of course. It was my first time going to a place where I knew nobody, and at first, I felt very nervous, overwhelmed, and honestly a bit scared. I didn’t know what to expect, but I kept telling myself that this was something I wanted and that I should make the most of this opportunity. And very quickly I made friends in the program, locals, and even other travelers who made their way to Berlin. All my fears disappeared, and Berlin became my new home. If I had the chance to do the program again, I’d do it in a heartbeat.

Name: Lisa Stuckman
Status: Senior
Major: Neuroscience
Hometown: New Haven, Michigan
Program: History of Medicine: Eugenics in Germany