Finally! Details!

So we just got a bunch of details about our trip to Taiwan! I am so excited. We had our first real class in preparation for our trip and we are a bit more organized now. Our instructor went over there a few weeks ago and signed all the contracts and organized all of our nurse mentors, called preceptors. Apparently they are all so honored that we are coming and are very hospitable to having us come to their hospital. We will be housed in the apartments that the hospital has attached to it and apparently they are new and quite nice. Complete with washer/dryer, ping pong, pool, TV and internet. We are staying the town of T'ainan (southern/western side) and the hospital we will be doing our rotations is the Chimei Hospital. Its a 1300 bed hospital (bigger than any in Utah) and we will be working mainly in the ICU there.
So we go to work in the ICU Monday-Wednesday for 8 hour shifts and then on Thursday we work a half day at the orphanage, playing with cute little Asian babies! Our instructor specifically said that we couldn't adopt any while we were there or smuggle them home in our bags. So the first half of our stay we work at the ICU and then we switch and work in the community. We go with our nurse preceptor out to do home visits and go to clinics and things out in the community. I am excited to see the people in their own homes and see how they all live everyday. It is going to be quite the experience, I can already tell. Friday and Saturday are our "play days" where we are going to go everywhere and see everything. Then Sunday is church and we do it all again every week. I am beyond excited. We leave around May 1, not exactly sure, and then stay 5 weeks. The things I am most worried about are language, squatter toilets (thanks for the tips Adam!), and the food. Should be a culture shock, that's for sure. But then...Jenna is coming to meet me there!! Hopefully we will get to spend some quality time with Adam, Kay and fam, see Taiwan a little more and head to CHINA! My group that I am going with seem like a blast, I don't know them that well yet, but I will! Our instructor seems awesome and like he wants to have as much fun as we do. I will have internet access so I plan on updating my blog often with exciting pictures and stories!


Also, I got my first PASSPORT for this trip! It was way exciting.

So I just need to get through the rest of this semester, which let me tell ya, might be harder than it sounds, and then bon voyage! I am super excited and can't wait!