Ten Days

Tomorrow, Monday 5/10, there will be a mere ten days separating me from a jet plane headed to Uganda. My suitcase is overflowing on the floor of my bedroom...clothes, sandals, sunscreen, bugspray, enough medications to run a small pharmacy (haha!)...I don't know how I'm ever going to fit everything in only ONE suitcase! I bought several inexpensive skirts from my favorite boutique, GW and solid colors of tank tops to go with, since the culture is fairly conservative. I'm sure over the next week, I'll have even more stuff to pack, so I'll have to be ruthless in eliminating things that I won't need. I have no new developments on the progress of a cost or schedule to report, unfortunately.

Final exams are this week, and I can hardly believe how close I am to the end of the semester! I have my classes sorted out for the fall-which will be my final semester as an undergrad! I'm already antsy to graduate and I am sure I will be even more excited as it gets closer to the actual graduation! I do have some GREAT news to share, for those who don't already know...I just accepted a nurse intern position in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, starting the day after I get back from Africa. After my interview last week, I nearly started crying because I was so thrilled to even be considered for such a prestigous internship...and when they called with the offer, I was tearing up on the phone. This position is really a dream come true. I don't even have the words to express how excited I am to start this internship...I have loved working with babies in both a healthy population of newborns in the OB world, and those that are sick in the Pediatric/NICU world. I am sure I will learn new things every single day! I know that I don't even really quite know exactly what I am getting into but I can't wait to start! In addition to being just thrilled, I am also nervous (well, make that VERY nervous), because I really want to make a good impression with my skills (this is what I've been working for, since I've started in the nursing world) and to just jump right in....but there is so much that I haven't seen or experienced yet...I am READY for a challenge though! I am hoping that this internship will lead me to a permanent position as a nurse following graduation. I absolutely love the people that I work with; everyone is knowledgable, warm, caring and just passionate about their work. I have a feeling that I will make a career with the Children's System...Oh, and I should mention that I'm moving as well! The commute from my current location is just a little far for driving every day-the amount in gas plus the time it takes to commute makes moving a cheaper and more convienient option. Anyway...I will post more details as I find them out!

Well, I should get to studying. I have a LOT to accomplish this week!