Final Reflections Berlin -> D.C.
Over the course of this 2 week trip I have learned a lot not only about Berlin and Europe but about many topics within Global Public Health. When I first arrived I had high expectations regarding the material and the experience in general and those have largely been met. The course was filled with a plethora of information on the definition and different facets of the topic of global health. The approach to making sure everyone is cared for in the world requires an interdisciplinary approach. The problem of inequity in the world has to be looked at from several different viewpoints.
One of the ways to view the problem from different viewpoints is to include intercultural communication in the solution. We were exposed to articles and journals detailing the importance of developing an adequate system of intercultural communication. Developing this allows people from disadvantaged communities and marginalized people to get the care they need. This process all starts at the “front desk” and people employed in the healthcare system need to be well versed in dealing with situations with marginalized people.
This aspect seemed like an important factor in achieving equity but after several encounters and examples here in Berlin I was sure that it needed to be rectified. When my friends and I were at a restaurant the waiter walked up and some time in the conversation he said, “You all are from Africa right”. This may be slight but it sheds light on the larger issue of stereotypes and generalizations. At frequent points in time in the healthcare system people work off assumptions and those assumptions often times anger and discourage people from coming back to receive care. At another point in time I was on the subway and a man started to talk to me in English. I did not understand all what he was saying but I got a few things from our conversation. He assumed I was from Africa, said we were exotic looking people and even said the N-word. This rubbed me the wrong way and possibly formed a perception in me of German people that may not necessarily be true. These encounters and exchanges from our perceptions of people and a culture in general. Those encounters are crucial and those preconceived notions are what needs to change in the global health industry.
On the path to improving global health intercultural communication plays a crucial role. My time in Berlin has reinforced that idea in my mind and I will take that with me back to US. This trip was a good experience and I am glad that I came because it has taught me many things about Europe and the topic of global health.