next step

My International Application was due this morning and I decided for sure that I want to go to Ghana. So Ghana was my first choice and Taiwan is my second. Now the next step is an interview in the next few weeks and then hopefully I'll know by Christmas if I got into either of those. If I didn't, I'm stuck staying local. So start saying your prayers that I get to go to Ghana!!

Big decisions

So I knew that this year was going to be a big year for me to make decisions, but now that I have to make some of these decision very soon (like from a few days to 2 months) it's getting quite a bit overwhelming!!

-Stay in Provo for a one day clinical next semester or switch to Primary's Children hospital for 2 days? Convenience vs. Experience (this decision has to be made by tomorrow haha)

-Ghana or Taiwan?

-Mission?

-Move, or stay put?

-Stay friends, or pursue something more with a person?

-Aim for graduation or just drop out and move home?

That last one sure is tempting :) Just kidding!

HELP ME!!

So I have the opportunity in the nursing program to go this spring and do nursing abroad for 4-5 weeks. It seems very exciting, and yes, it is. But it's also one of the most stressful decisions I've ever made! I'm pulling my hair out! You can ask my mother I keep going back and forward on what to decide. Problem is, I have to submit my international application by Wednesday at the latest and it has my top 2 choices on it. After learning about the international sites, which includes Vancouver British Columbia, Ecuador, Jordan and Jerusalem, I have selected my top two choices to be Ghana and Taiwan. But don't ask me which is first and which is second choice BECAUSE I CAN'T DECIDE! So I need input. Lots and lots of input.

Some things to know: I do have to interview, but I only get interviewed for my top choice. If you don't get your first choice, they try and put you in the second choice, but if you don't get that one, you don't get to go international, and instead you go to DC for a week, Colorado for 3 days, the "inner city" of Murray UT or the state prison. So yeah, I'd like to go international ha. Also, I know I'll have a great experience no matter where I go, but what's going to be best?! Anyway. Below is my pro/con list. See?! It's gotten so hard to decide I had to type out my pro con list!

	GHANA	TAIWAN
PROS	· More service oriented · Get to make a noticeable difference · Not for the faint hearted, and I am definitely not weak. · Two faculty members going are my past two clinical instructors · 3rd world country · 13-16 spots available · I have a bunch of very good friends who want to go, and will probably end up going	· Cheaper · Get to travel entire country over weekends · In country 5 weeks · ER rotation · 1st world country · Opportunity to scuba dive, learn how to surf, see country….
CONS	· More expensive · In country only 4 weeks · Don’t do much travelling, go from hospital/village to housing at night · Don’t go out at night · Risk of illness or death (technically) · Requires lots of immunizations and taking anti-malaria medication.	· Seems to focus more on my own personal experience (travel, scuba etc) · More people are going to want to apply here (mainly because of price and international location) · Only 8 spots available · I don’t quite feel as attached to going to Taiwan. It just seems more logical