For most people in Poznan , Friday, June 6 th 2003 was certainly not an unusual day. Many people probably considered it simply as the beginning of another spring weekend. However, for the graduating Class of 2003 at Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Sciences, this was a very special day. It was a day that marked the ending of one chapter in the Book of Life and the beginning of another chapter. My fellow colleagues and I would receive our medical diplomas, thus earning the title of “Physician,” and completing a journey we had started several years before.

On the morning of our graduation, I arrived at the Aula Uniwersytecka a few minutes past nine o'clock. It was difficult to believe that this day had finally arrived. After speaking with several of my classmates, I realized that they, too, felt the same way. The last few months of our fourth year had passed by so quickly. Had we really finished? It seemed as if it were only a few months ago when our journey to Poland had begun.

I, myself, first learned of the Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Sciences in Poznan after reading a newspaper article in the “Chicago Tribune.” The article told about American students who chose to study medicine overseas by enrolling in the University's four-year English program, in Poland . At the time I had read the article, I was nineteen years old and had just finished my first year of college. I put the article aside and quickly forgot about it. I did not realize, at the time, that a few years later, my desire to study medicine would bring me also to Poznan .

Studying medicine in Poznan was certainly one of the most difficult decisions I would make, yet that decision provided some of the most defining moments of my life. I would have to leave my family and friends, along with the comforts of my home in the United States ; all that was familiar to me. I knew that moving to a foreign country without having prior knowledge of its language or its customs would be a challenge in itself. The difficulty of this move was greatly increased by adding the task of studying medicine at the same time. Even though I had some doubts, I knew that this was a great opportunity for me and I had to try. The prospects of studying medicine and living abroad in another country were two goals that I had set for myself, so I accepted the offer to come to Poznan .

So what did I really know about Poland ? Like many other uninformed Americans, I knew that Poland was famous for its culinary specialties, such as kielbasa, pierogi, nalesniki, vodka, and, of course, Polka music. I also knew about some famous Poles such as, Casimir Pulaski, Nicholas Copernicus, and Pope John Paul II. However, this knowledge would not greatly assist me. I knew just a few Polish phrases at the time like, “tak”, “daj mi buzi”, and “jak sie masz”, which may impress some Polish girls, but would not be very beneficial otherwise. The only pictures I had ever seen of Poland were mostly from documentary films of World War II. Seeing that the Second World War had ended over fifty years ago, this was also not much help. So in the months before I came to Poznan to begin my studies, I began to prepare myself to adapt to the Polish culture. I purchased a Polish phrase book and also a travel book about Poland . I read up on some Polish history and also tried to familiarize myself with some Polish traditions. Even though these things had given me more insight about Poland , I realized that I still did not have a firm idea of what to expect from everyday life in Poland . I was curious as to what the buildings and the Polish homes would look like? What kind of cars did people drive? Would many people speak English? What kind of entertainment would be available? Were Poles friendly to Americans? Would I be able to buy the same products as in the US ? These were only a few of the hundreds of questions about Poland that I had in my mind.

Soon the time came for me to leave the US and I said my goodbyes to family and friends. Armed with my limited Polish vocabulary, two suitcases of my most valuable possessions, and a sense of adventure, I boarded a plane and flew across the ocean from Chicago to Poznan .

My first impressions of Poland and Poznan were not as I had imagined. Upon arriving, I noticed the warmth of the Polish people and especially, the beauty of the Polish women (one would have to be blind not to notice!). What a pleasant and reassuring revelation this was, as it made me feel that I had made the right decision to study in Poznan , without even having been to a single lecture! Another strong impression made was the dark and graying color of many of the buildings. This was surprisingly reminiscent of the black and white World War II films I had seen. However, the historical sense of my new surroundings impacted me significantly, as many of the city's buildings and streets were older than my own country was. I was also impressed by the extent and convenience of the public transportation system. Having the possibility to travel throughout the city for sightseeing, shopping, and entertainment without having an automobile was wonderful. Often, I learned even to walk to my destination. A much more healthier way of travel, which many Americans seem to neglect, thanks to convenience provided by their automobiles. In the shops, after a while, I realized that the concept of customer service was not widely accepted. Many shopkeepers often appeared to be annoyed and disturbed by a customer asking for assistance. In addition, a person going to the bank to receive a wire transfer could be gone for an entire afternoon. Only after showing my passport three times, receiving twenty-two stamps, signing five different papers, and waiting for the manager to verify everything, could I obtain my money! This was very different to what I was used to in the United States . As time passed and my understanding grew, I realized that many of these non-pleasant differences were the result of oppression and economic deprivation that Poles faced under years communist rule.

What I really found in Poznan was that the Poles were friendly, family oriented and good-natured people. And, of course, excellent cooks! They were quite curious about many things at times, too. People often had a difficult time understanding why I would leave a wealthy country like the US to come to Poland to study. I would answer them that this is what I had wanted to do – to study medicine and experience a country different from my own. During my time in Poland , I met many people who went out of their way to make me feel comfortable and took the time to introduce me to various Polish traditions. In some instances, people whom I had known for only a few hours would invite me to their home for dinner! I was greatly impressed by this sincere sense of hospitality and goodwill.

During my first year of studies, I lived in the Eskulap dormitory. Not knowing the language or much about the city and its laws, it was a comfortable, safe place to live and study, while becoming accustomed to life in Poland . One unique aspect of Eskulap was that it was a virtual, cultural melting pot. In addition to Poles, Americans, and Canadians, there were many other students living there from Europe and different regions of the world. In addition to learning about Polish culture, I was able to learn about many additional cultures that I might not have otherwise had the opportunity to experience. Interacting with such a diverse group of people has given me greater insight and understanding about people, and broadened my perspective of the world we live in.

After the first year I decided to rent an apartment in the city's center with a Swedish student, who was studying in the six-year English program. Our landlord was a generous man and the apartment we rented from him was many times larger than a dorm room and only slightly more expensive. In addition to this, the apartment was located only minutes away from many stores, markets, cafes and restaurants, providing a great opportunity for us to interact with the Polish environment. There are many great memories from the years we lived there. I feel that renting this apartment greatly enhanced my cultural experience in Poland , as I was able to experience “real life” as resident of Poznan .

My cultural experience in Poland has not simply been an addendum to my medical education, but has directly contributed to it. Leaving the comforts of home for the first time and living in a country where I was familiar with neither the language nor the culture posed as much of a challenge as it did an adventure. In rising to that challenge, I discovered many qualities about myself that I believe are essential to becoming a good physician. I have found that I have the ability to easily adapt to new situations, often with great enthusiasm. Despite the fact that I am now conversational in Polish, early in my clinical clerkships I had to find ways to communicate with patients through a language barrier. This was not an easy task, but determination lead to creativity and this culminated in the refinement of my clinical skills.  Additionally, this exposure has made me sensitive to the cultural differences that exist across the human race and how, by influencing the perception of disease and treatment, those differences can affect the relationships between physicians and patients. This, in particular, is essential to physicians practicing in countries such as the United States that are rich in cultural diversity. Furthermore, I am grateful that I had the opportunity to study at the best medical school in Poland with some of the most talented people in Polish medicine. Apart from being taught the elementary principles of medicine, our program enabled me to experience the classical European approach to medicine combined with that of the clinically based American ideology. This unique hybrid has given me a solid medical foundation, equipped me with the tools to become an adept clinician and proficient researcher, and prepared me for future success in my medical career in the United States .

Reflecting back to these times on graduation day brought to me the realization that indeed our time in Poznan had come to a finish. Although, I would deeply miss those experiences that I had, this was a time for celebration and not sadness. All of my hard work and sacrifice had finally paid off and I had accomplished some truly magnificent things. During the graduation ceremony, when my name was read to receive my medical diploma, the smile on my face and happiness in my eyes were from the depths of my soul. I was truly joyous for what I had learned during my time in Poland .

Many people have asked if I had the chance to do it again, would I make the same decision to come to Poznan ? I most certainly would. For it was in Poznan that I was given the opportunity to achieve my dream of becoming a physician. In addition, I was able to grow significantly, not only with the knowledge that I gained from my studies, but from the experiences of living in a different culture. Through the course of my studies, I had the opportunity to meet interesting people from all around the world and have made many deep friendships. I have countless fond memories of my time here, which will surely last me a lifetime. I even managed to find love in Poznan , and became engaged to a wonderful Polish girl.

I would like to say thank you to the Administration of the University, for giving me the chance to fulfill my dreams. To the Faculty, thank you for your patience, dedication, and desire to teach us medicine. Thank you to Dean's Office for all the assistance with our problems and personal matters. Although my time there has already come and gone, the University and Poland will always hold special places in my heart. The time I spent in Poznan was truly an amazing opportunity of a lifetime and for this I am eternally grateful.