Never Stop Learning

My God redeems everything. I love seeing how He weaves the crap that we've made of life into a beautiful tapestry of glory. It's fascinating really when you look for it. And today, I see it once again.

Today I went back to school.

And I was excited about it.

Brief backstory... I went to an amazing high school, but mix the fact that it was a academically rigorous college prep school with highly passionate and demanding professors (all good and appreciated elements when pursuing quality education) with my unhealthy perfectionist drive and fear of being a disappointment (to ....anyone) and after four years of overachieving you're left with....not much. My English teacher got it right when she said, "You are all wound up so tightly, you're just going to SNAP!" Yeaaahh, balance is a good thing. And giving yourself permission to relax and not "do it all" is good. Even though I was running on fumes after graduation I decided to still go on to college. I knew if I took a break it would be next to impossible to make myself go back. So I started university already "done" with school but in order to eek out a little more motivation I promise myself to finish in three years, which I did...with two majors. I mean if I'm going to it, I want to do it well... or at least more, cuz "more" = "well" right? Meh, may still have some of that "perfectionist thing" to work out. 

So yeah, with all that junk, it was super exciting to be done with school though I knew at some point I would go back. There's always the Masters or PhD or something. At heart, I am a student. I love learning. I love discovering new things. I want to know everything. And today, I got to experience something new.

Obviously, as a tourist in Europe I am not enrolled in a study program at the moment (though some friends along the way have strongly encouraged/tempted me to consider doing just that), but my friend, Malte, is currently studying European Health at the University of Maastricht and because we didn't have any touristy plans today, he invited me to sit in on the lecture of the day. So yes, I voluntarily woke up early on my holiday to go to school and sit in on a two hour lecture. #nerdalert 

Today's topic: Values in the European Healthcare Systems. The professor is an ethicist and challenged the class to really consider: what are values? how are value systems established? are healthcare value systems universal? and do different systems/countries value similar or different things?

It gets my brain spinning. What do we value? And how is that different from what I feel we should value? Because we can spend all day writing policy and creating affluent sounding values but until there is action behind them they still aren't really a part of our culture.

While assessing the four values the European Commission has decided should be at the crux of the EU healthcare system one finds them great on paper but incredibly empty without implementation. This happens in more than just the healthcare sector; there are some truly innovative ideas and beneficial policies but without the proper implementation it all falls flat...and sometimes (sadly) makes more of a mess than there was to start.

So, see a problem and have a solution? Or have a great idea that will make something better? Great. Please, don't just stand on a mountain and preach it, sending those inspirational words over the edge without a parachute. Instead, go build a team and sweat it out together. Take the dream and give it wings. Words demand action, and we need each other.

Carpe diem.

Guten Tag

Don't worry, Mom, we are not starving.

Staying with friends is the whole point of this trip and has been incredible thus far. Everyone has blessed us so much and one consequence of that is that there is a definite non-lack of food. lol. We might just stay here for the food. European cheese. I mean that's really all I should have to say, but there's the bread, and gelato, and just.... everything!!!! 

A couple days ago we were surprised by a SOM friend we weren't expecting to see and she so graciously took us around on Thursday which meant visiting the Ritter Sport chocolate factory. They have an exhibition where you can learn about their chocolate-making processes and the history of the company. And of course there is a gift shop downstairs. At first I was thinking it was like other specialty shops where it would be more expensive than your neighborhood Müller shop, but we were corrected. This was more of an outlet and they even had broken or tester products for even cheaper. Aaaahhhh, what is a chocolate-loving tourist to do when there is limited luggage weight and space?!?!?!!!! Ok, fine I'll just get the ones that look good to me. Haha, it was ridiculous, but I got to the counter and the lady said it was 5.22euros. Whhaaaaaa?! OMG, wait a second, I think I must buy more. Just kidding, I really don't have that much space in my case, but wow, what a deal. Next time I think I'll leave the clothes at home so I can fill my bags with goodies. I guess that's what real/smart tourists do but w/e. Some of my clothes may not be making the return trip. Either that our my backpack will weigh 100lbs. Probably the latter.

So yeah, it's been a delicious trip. Everyone, travel to Europe at some point, it's amazing and not just for the food. The culture and the beauty and seeing Roman things everywhere; it's all fantastic...and typically, all really old. 

Today we're going to explore a bit more nature, the oldest and newest art piece of all. And it's my favorite. :)

Auf Wiedersehen!