England and Netherlands: Benjamin Wiest (Learning on Excursions)

Now that some time has passed since my study abroad experience, one field trip still stands out — the excursion focused on the history of sanitation. At the time, it was hilarious. We were laughing about toilets for most of the field visit. But looking back, I realize how meaningful and relevant that trip was to what I study and care about: public health, innovation, and accessibility.

Learning how the curved pipe — yes, the humble plumbing bend — completely changed how society approached sanitation was eye-opening. That small design shift made indoor toilets feasible by solving the smell issue. It wasn’t just about health; it was about human preference. That moment stuck with me. So often, we focus on the science — disease prevention, function, clinical impact — but overlook the sensory and emotional factors that influence real-world use.

It reminds me of tools like the Yuka app, which I mentioned more than once during the course. Nutritional research is everywhere, but what makes the information usable is convenience. Yuka does the heavy lifting. Just like odorless toilets, it turns tedious research into an easy, accessible experience — and that’s what sparks widespread adoption.

What also lingers in my memory is the design of the sanitation facility itself — ornate, gothic, poetic. I’d never seen public infrastructure treated with such artistic care. That attention to atmosphere, which I found all over England, reshaped how I think about the built environment and mental health. In the U.S., and even parts of Indonesia where I’ve spent time, utility often replaces beauty. But in England, it seems like the two coexist.

Reflecting now, I see how much this trip shaped my thinking — not just about toilets, but about how we bring public health ideas to life.

Benjamin Wiest

Hometown: Madison, Wisconsin

Major: Human Development & Family Studies

Program: CIEE Summer Comparative Public Health Systems [London & Amsterdam]

I look forward to learning about the culture and the way of life in both of my program cities! One goal I have is to make international connections and open up potential opportunities I could never imagine here at home.