What's next

After spending 6 weeks in India I have arrived home safe and sound. I've lost 8lbs from a sickness I acquired while there, but I'm feeling better now. It has been quite an adjustment being back and I'm having many mixed emotions. The culture shock coming back to the States was worse then actually being in India. I feel I have somewhat recooperated and am now ready to start the next journey in my life. My whole perspective on life and what I plan on accomplishing in mine has completely been altered from my experience. Well I guess not completely, but I definetly have some new ideas as to what I would like to do. There is a dual masters degree program at University of Washington that I plan on applying for in the Fall. I would be able to enter directly into a masters in nursing program even though I have not quite finished my BSN. I would spend one year finishing my RN, and a second year focusing on Public Health. I am also able to add my own component of study to the degree; which I plan on focusing on medical anthropology. I would love to continue working in International Health Care. The program is rated #1 in the nation and so I really need to beef up my application in order to get in. It's also a very expensive program so I need to get residency and hopefully get some scholarships. Until then I am studying for the gre, learning more spanish, trying to gain more health care experience, and make some money to pay off some debt. Tomorrow I start a three week contract job with PIII, Associates, an archeaology firm in Utah. They have some short term projects and were kind enough to hire me on as an archaeologist to help finish them up. After I finish my work there I will be starting a job in Southern Utah working for the BLM. I'm going to be working as a wildland firefighter on an engine crew of 4 males, 1 female (me). I have absolutely no experience fighting fires, but I always wanted to try it for a summer. I was hired on for my EMT as well as my archaeology experience. There are archaeological sites everywhere in this area and they need to make sure prescribed fires aren't harming them.

I have to pass a pack test in which I have to hike 3 miles in 45 minutes, with a 45lb pack on my back. I've been hiking and climbing to try and get in shape. I wasn't too out of shape, but being sick from India really took a lot out of me. Bought some new boots for fire that I will break in working for PIII cause my job there requires hiking all day long. It's great cause not only do I get to hike to prepare myself for the rigorous job of fire fighting, but I get paid to do it.

A few pics of patients in villages. Still working on uploading the rest to snapfish.

Checking Lung Sounds on 8 year old boy from one of the villages in Himalayas.

At Than Gaon Clinic