Getting Ready to Go!

Back in October, I found out that the study abroad trip through Concordia that I wanted to go on was cancelled. I had been counting on traveling to Tanzania with the nursing program and working in a hospital there, while earning a nursing credit. I was pretty bummed at first, but then decided to explore other options to travel abroad in May. I didn't want to pay tuition for a class that I didn't need to take, so I started looking at other programs that weren't through my school.

People have asked me how I found this program that I am now traveling through, and I literally just googled "nursing study abroad" and sifted through my options. I first looked at other trips to Africa, and found a few that were also going to Tanzania. I looked into these for a while, but then realized that if I wasn't going to get credit, I may as well use my Spanish skills. 

For those of you who don't know, I went to a Spanish Immersion school in Robbinsdale, MN for Kindergarten-8th grade. I think sending me to this school was one of the best decisions my parents made for my siblings and me, and something I will forever be grateful for. I've taken Spanish classes since I started when I was 5, and have now completed my Spanish minor. I hope to use my Spanish and Nursing degrees when I graduate, and hopefully this trip will be a great way to prepare myself for the future!

Anyways, I came across this program called Work the World (www.worktheworld.com), a program based in the UK. They have medical internships and study abroad placements all over the world, Argentina being the only Spanish-speaking country. After talking it over with my parents (and researching the program to make sure it was legit), I decided to take a chance and sign up for a trip!

I can't believe that my trip is only 5 days away, and I finally have made all the necessary preparations that come along with traveling to another country. I am mostly really excited, but also a little nervous since I am not sure exactly what to expect. 

I will be in Mendoza, Argentina for 5 weeks. My first week, I am taking a Spanish Intensive course, which focuses on medical Spanish for use in the hospital. In the mornings of the first week, I will be with a small group taking the Spanish class, and in the afternoons we will travel around and do fun cultural activities! I will be living in a house just a few blocks from the pediatric hospital (Hospital Humberto Notti) where I will be "interning" in Pediatric Oncology for weeks 2 and 3, and then in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for the final two weeks. Other students from around the world will be living in the house, as well as a few Work the World staff and a cook who will provide breakfast and dinner each day.

It will be their winter when I am there, but it definitely will not be as cold as Minnesota winters, so that is fine with me! 

Today, I unpacked my things and I am moved back home to GV for the summer, and tomorrow I will start repacking for Argentina...packing is not my favorite.  

Anyways, there was a long introduction to my trip!

I am told there will be internet in the house where I am staying so hopefully I will be able to keep this updated when I'm there! :)

Mendoza is near the middle of Argentina, close to the Chilean border.

-Elsa