Love At First Sight

From the moment I stepped of the plane I knew that I was in love with Samoa.

But now I'm back in the real world. Final year starts on Monday, along with the opening of the foundation application. It's going to be a busy and tough academic year.

So as I have a couple of days left before it starts I'll use the time to daydream about Samoa and reflect on the amazing time I had.

I can't pretend that it was a taxing elective placement. It was incredibly laid back, but even with that I felt I've learnt something. I encountered diseased like rheumatic fever and typhoid that I haven't seen at home and I practised my auscultation skills, hearing lots of interesting chest crackles.

What has been more valuable than the medicine, are the life experiences. I conquered my fear of water slides by sliding off mini waterfalls, and my fear of swimming under water by snorkelling in coral with shoals of tropical fish. I've climbed craters in rainforests, driven down dirt tracks and slept in a thatched hut during a tropical rain storm.

I have memories that I'll smile about for the rest of my life. It's also given me a chance to chill out and relax... something I've really needed after this year. I'm going to be starting term in a very good mood. That is if I get over the jet lag and don't chew off my own legs to stop the itching from the mozzie bites!

Tomorrow I'm doing my favourite part of the new academic year ritual. Buying stationary. I shall be walking around all the local bookshops sniffing notepads and caressing nice pencils and pens. Mmmmmm. Joy.

Life is good!

Lily xXx

A Quick Update

So... not only am I getting to grips with the hospital (working hard... 1.5hrs a day!!) but I'm also getting to grips with tanning... who'd have thought a ginge could get so brown?!

I spent the weekend sleeping in a wooden hut on a paradise-like beach!!

I'm also learning first-hand what a lot of mozzie bites at one point feel like, tonight I am bathing in deet... I'd like to see the little buggers chew through that... but I think somehow I'll still end up even more bitten.

I'm not sure how I'm going to adjust to getting back to life in the UK in a fortnight. Strange to think that in 2 weeks and a day I'll be back on my way home to be a 5th year! eep!!!

On a side note the foundation programme people have said there won't be enough jobs this time!! Unimpressed... now job applications are seeming much more daunting.

Lily xXx

Doing Some Work

I had my first morning in the hospital today. A short morning, but I've learnt a lot none-the less.

I've decided to tag along with paediatrics. Tomorrow I'm going to a clinic full of rheumatic fever patients, so I need to learn a little about that, but today it was mainly jaundice and pneumonia. The doctor I went on ward round with was a fantastic teacher, even though he'd already been working over 24 hours!!

Now I'm off to get some fresh coconuts. Apparently the coconut water inside is naturally lightly carbonated. Om nom nom!!! Can't wait... I'm going to come back a lot fatter!!

Lily xXx

Talofa!!!

I have arrived in Samoa and it is paradise on Earth.

I cannot believe how beautiful it is here, not to mention how warm.

Can't say I've got any medicine done yet, but we all know how I can be a little work-shy at times. I have however conquered my fear of waterslides on some rocks which slide into beautiful pools of water surrounded by tropical trees.

I probably won't be blogging much as firstly I'll be having too much fun and secondly t'internet is a little pricey. I will however fill you all in when I'm back, and who knows I might post again at some point.

Lily xXx