Welcome!

Hello friends!

In just a few months I will be traveling to Africa for an incredible clinical opportunity through the College of Nursing. I am hopeful that I will have access to the internet while abroad, so that I can share my stories with you. Right now, our tentative travel dates are May 20-June 16, 2010. Traveling with me are 13 of my fellow nursing students and 2 clinical professors. We will be spending time in hospitals, schools, and orphanages as well as partnering with the Nursing Program at Bugosa University in Uganda. We will be traveling to four different areas of varied size and development: the town of Iganga and the city of Jinja are two of the areas we will be working in. Mostly, we will be staying close to villages and cities in the neighborhood of Lake Victoria and the Nile River. I intend on dipping at least one toe in the Nile-just so that I can say I've been in the Nile River!

The purpose of our trip is to observe differences in healthcare and also to provide care for some of the neediest and most vulnerable groups: women, children and newborns. Uganda remains one of the poorest contries in the world. I think the average salary of a nurse in Uganda is around $70/month.

The clinical experience satisfies the OB/Pediatric/Community Nursing clinical requirement, that we would otherwise have during the spring semester. I am hoping to deliver lots of babies, make new friends with the children in the schools and orphanages, and learn about the differences in healthcare abroad. I am fortunate to have this opportunity and can't wait to share my experience with all of you!

Right now, I am a little nervous becuase I typically like planning far in advance and it seems like there is a lot that hasn't been finalized. We have a tentative schedule of course, but there is a significant discrepancy in the dates of travel. I hope to know final plans soon! I have to schedule an appointment with a physician who specializes in travel medicine-most likely I'll be getting several vaccines in preparation for travel. Our estimated cost for travel is close to $4,000 per person...so I am working very hard to save up money for this once-in-a-lifetime trip! More to come, as the details are worked out!