Hello! Welcome!
I would assume that most people reading this are friends and family that want to make sure I haven't been captured as a political prisoner - or at the very least, want to know that I am still alive - but in case you haven't had the one in seven billion chance of meeting me, I ought to tell you a little bit about myself.
My name is Joel. I am a fourth (and a half) year nursing student at the University of British Columbia: Okanagan. I enroled into nursing on a whim and I have never looked back. These last four years have been a whirlwind of unexpected chance and opportunity and I have grown more and more accustomed to taking those opportunities as they have arisen. On another whim, I decided that, somehow, I was going to go to Africa.
Each year, a group of UBCO nursing students takes a step into the unknown and travels to Ghana or Zambia. Much of our earlier education dealt with growing comfortable with ambiguity and taking solace in 'knowing what you know'. I can shout out nursing buzz-words all I want but, honestly, I am terrified!
If there is one thing that I have learned from this program, it is how to avoid feeling stressed and anxious. Exam coming up? Go shopping and eat brownies! Assignment due? Watch copious amounts of Netflix! That is my Zambia preparation experience in a nutshell thus far. I have freed up money to buy luggage, a hiking backpack, an Africa-proof camera, and enough vaccinations and medications to knock out a whale. While my things are gradually making their way into a suitcase, my mind has decided to go play in the park.
The idea of flying to Zambia is innately romantic. Traveling to a foreign country, riding elephants, and bungee jumping off Victoria Falls. The real experience is lurking under the surface. No Wifi. Yes, I just said that. I am a hopeless technology junkie and the thought of unreliable internet and electricity is almost too much to bear. Hopefully the withdrawal passes quickly. Less resources. I expect that we are going to encounter many people that would be easy to diagnose and treat in Canada but may go without in Zambia. Critical thinking. I bet that we are all nervous about that. We are going to be working with people in an entirely different environment with surprises around every corner. Sensible Joel says, 'everything that you need to know is inside you.. somewhere'. Freaking-out Joel says, 'I'll believe that when I see it'.
But really, the freaking out and worrying can wait. There is an entire month until I leave. One whole month. And in that month I need to travel around the province, celebrate winter holidays, and exchange gifts.
If you'll excuse me, I have to go shopping, eat brownies, and watch Netflix.
I would assume that most people reading this are friends and family that want to make sure I haven't been captured as a political prisoner - or at the very least, want to know that I am still alive - but in case you haven't had the one in seven billion chance of meeting me, I ought to tell you a little bit about myself.
My name is Joel. I am a fourth (and a half) year nursing student at the University of British Columbia: Okanagan. I enroled into nursing on a whim and I have never looked back. These last four years have been a whirlwind of unexpected chance and opportunity and I have grown more and more accustomed to taking those opportunities as they have arisen. On another whim, I decided that, somehow, I was going to go to Africa.
Each year, a group of UBCO nursing students takes a step into the unknown and travels to Ghana or Zambia. Much of our earlier education dealt with growing comfortable with ambiguity and taking solace in 'knowing what you know'. I can shout out nursing buzz-words all I want but, honestly, I am terrified!
If there is one thing that I have learned from this program, it is how to avoid feeling stressed and anxious. Exam coming up? Go shopping and eat brownies! Assignment due? Watch copious amounts of Netflix! That is my Zambia preparation experience in a nutshell thus far. I have freed up money to buy luggage, a hiking backpack, an Africa-proof camera, and enough vaccinations and medications to knock out a whale. While my things are gradually making their way into a suitcase, my mind has decided to go play in the park.
The idea of flying to Zambia is innately romantic. Traveling to a foreign country, riding elephants, and bungee jumping off Victoria Falls. The real experience is lurking under the surface. No Wifi. Yes, I just said that. I am a hopeless technology junkie and the thought of unreliable internet and electricity is almost too much to bear. Hopefully the withdrawal passes quickly. Less resources. I expect that we are going to encounter many people that would be easy to diagnose and treat in Canada but may go without in Zambia. Critical thinking. I bet that we are all nervous about that. We are going to be working with people in an entirely different environment with surprises around every corner. Sensible Joel says, 'everything that you need to know is inside you.. somewhere'. Freaking-out Joel says, 'I'll believe that when I see it'.
But really, the freaking out and worrying can wait. There is an entire month until I leave. One whole month. And in that month I need to travel around the province, celebrate winter holidays, and exchange gifts.
If you'll excuse me, I have to go shopping, eat brownies, and watch Netflix.
