This summer I traveled to Aberdeen, Scotland, for a seven-week study abroad to study bacteria, specifically Salmonella and how different serovars of Salmonella can cause diseases, including gastrointestinal disorders and Typhoid Fever. I wanted to study abroad to experience different healthcare systems and to see how other medical facilities operate. One of the most fascinating things that I learned is that in the UK, right after students graduate from high school, if they wish to pursue the medical field, they start medical school right after high school. Also, healthcare in Scotland is completely free! This was shocking to me. I cannot imagine America having free healthcare. Experiencing what it is like for patients to go to the hospital, wait for a short time and be discharged without being hassled about insurance is something that any American would wish for.

Something different in Scotland than in the United States are the grocery stores. You have to buy the bags to put your food in or many people had a backpack to carry their groceries in. People from Scotland do not buy a lot of groceries at one time because many of them walk to the store, so they have to carry their groceries home, which can be a 30-minute walk. This is very different from how we live in America because normally we can buy whatever groceries we need and put them all in our car, but in Scotland a lot of people walk or take the bus.

I have never been to Europe before, so travelling half way across the world with a group of people that I have never met before was something that made me quite nervous. My first thought along with my family was, “How safe is this new city”? Once I got to Aberdeen, I realized that I fit right into the town. There were no language barrier and the people there were very welcoming to us Americans. It is true that Americans stick out like a sore thumb anywhere in the UK because of our accents, but I found this to be a good thing because everyone was willing to help when I looked confused. 

Looking back, this study abroad was one of the best experiences of my life; not only did I get the opportunity to conduct research with some of the top professors in Scotland, but I also had the chance to travel around Scotland and see many castles and different types of architecture that is not in America. I would not trade this opportunity for anything! 

Name: Summer Richardson
Status: Junior
Major: Physiology
Hometown: South Lyon, Michigan
Program: Arcadia University Summer STEM Research-UK (Aberdeen)