Wednesday, June 8th ~ Final Thoughts

Our fantastic study abroad is officially over. For our last posting, each of us bloggers (pictured above) will take some time to share our thoughts on the experience and talk about what we gained from this study abroad.

Andie

Sadly our time in Croatia has come to an end. We have spent the last three weeks traveling the country learning so many new things. We were able to see how things differ from each region of the country, and also how things differ with the United States.

Along our travels we experienced how the cuisine changed based on the region. While we were in and around Zagreb, we ate heavy meals. Each meal included multiple courses, including an appetizer of salted meats and cheeses, a salad made of cabbage and vinegar, followed by soup, and an entrée which was a combination of chicken, cevapi, and lamb and potatoes, and then followed by dessert. In Istria and the coastal regions the fare became lighter, based more on a Mediterranean diet. We had lots of fish and bread with olive oil, which was delicious. No matter where we went there were multiple courses, and not enough ice cubes. It was always a special treat to get ice with our beverages.

Another interesting thing we learned was related to the transitioning health care system in Croatia. The country is currently shifting from Socialism to Capitalism, and so is their health care. We learned that everyone is covered by health insurance in Croatia, but due to high demand of medical services and inadequate funding, state-run institutions experience many problems. There is a shortage of trained physicians, equipment was outdated, and the waits were long for medical appointments. We were able to witness this first-hand when we visited a state-run hospital which had been built over 40 years ago. The equipment was old, the building could have used some work, and the rooms the patients were staying in were crowded with multiple beds. We also visited a state of the art private clinic which boasted new, expensive equipment and had minimum to no waiting. Many on the trip did not like the idea of having to wait for medical services, nor did they like the older facilities offered by the state run hospitals. They were willing to pay separately to acquire the “better” services. Others felt that it is better that everyone have access to some sort of coverage even if it means having to wait to see a physician. Perhaps the U.S. could learn something from Croatia about how to take care of their nation’s health. Overall, it was an interesting contrast between public and private medical services.

I could go on and on about the differences I witnessed while in Croatia. Overall it was an amazing experience with a great group of people, pictured above. It was clear from day one that a lot of planning and organization went into making this trip happen. The faculty were amazing, always full of enthusiasm and interesting facts to share. They were there when we needed encouragement, when we were homesick, or when we needed an ear to bend.  The two TA’s, Anja and Marijan were absolutely fantastic. They acted as our translators and facilitators, always ensuring we were comfortable, enjoying ourselves and on time to our next stop.  We were very fortunate to have them as our guiding light on this trip. We were also fortunate to have Franjo, the world’s best bus driver. He kept us safe and comfortable all over Croatia. Overall this was a trip of a lifetime and I am so glad that I had the opportunity to take part in this experience.

Katherine

Today is our last day in Croatia before we all leave to go back home or to travel other places. It is amazing to me how much we have accomplished in a relative short amount of time. The fourteen hour days and long bus rides were worth every minute. As I sit and reflect on this study abroad program, I am amazed at how much I have learned and how much I have grown confident in my decision to major in public health. I have gained knowledge to form opinions about health issues that I did not have and have new passions about public issues that I did not care about before. This trip has motivated me in a way I was not expecting and I am looking forward to continuing my studies back in Athens. We were so fortunate to have a great group to travel and work with. It made the experience that more enjoyable.

I hope that you have been able to learn some new things about Croatia and their health care through our blog. I also hope you can tell how much we have fallen in love with this country! Thanks for reading! It has been wonderful to share with you during this time.

Morgan

I have never identified with the phrase “time flies when you’re having fun” more in my entire life. It is truly hard to believe that we have been in Croatia for nearly three weeks and that today was our last day. As we stepped off of Franjo’s luxury accommodations, our stint as students on a Maymester study abroad came to an abrupt and bittersweet end. Aching for Chick-fil-a, free and accessible wireless internet and the comfort of home, my feelings are contradictory to say the least.

As the bus rolled in to Zagreb I felt eerily at peace, like I had lived there for so long and was returning from a short vacation to the Coast. I have grown accustom to the trams rumbling by and the café culture and perhaps most importantly, the feeling of comfort and safety this state provides. In addition to the daily culture shock, my experience here has been one of recognizing and appreciating the differences and variety the world has to offer. With the current situation surrounding American healthcare, I believe the exposure to Croatian nationalized healthcare has had an immeasurable impact on my perspective. Observing the authentic execution of such a system has opened my eyes to the reality of our situation and the necessity for change. I think the biggest hurdle that stands in front of our progress in America is the perspective of our people and because of this, it would be impossible, and downright disastrous to implement a healthcare system too similar to what is currently in Croatia. So where does the balance lie?

Looking back on the last 21 days, what stands out the most in my memories are the people we encountered along the way. From all of our passionate guides, to Franjo, Anja, Marijan and finally each other, I could not have imagined a better group of people to share this experience with. From Jeff’s unintentional (or perhaps intentional? We may never know) humor, to Marijan’s endless ninja references and Ashton’s endless optimism (and might I add outrageous culinary skills), this was truly a trip of a lifetime. Obvious shout outs to everyone who put time, effort and love into making the past three weeks unforgettable. Dr. Cotton, Dr. Reap and Dr. Workman there are not words to tell you how grateful I am. Hvala, Hvala, Hvala. And to Katherine and Andie for the team effort that made this blog possible. (Special shout out to Andie for editing and posting pictures and just being awesome!)

I’m glad you could all come along on this journey with us via our blog! I hope you guys enjoyed it even a fraction as much as we did! Until next May…?