Pre-Departure!

Hello, Hello!

I am attempting to keep a blog while I study abroad (no Dad, not a "Broad") in South Africa. I don't generally like to write, and I rarely journal on my own, but I do want a place to keep friends and family updated on my time away if they are interested. This is my first blog, so please don't expect anything amazing or profound! I will try to post pictures and updates when I can, or when I remember, but I am not promising anything!

With that said, I leave in one week and I cannot believe it. I guess it hit home last night when a good friend from nursing school emailed me asking when she would see me again. I realized that I have spent the past few years of nursing school in a wonderful group of friends, and I have not ever had to do clinical without them! We have shared hilarious moments, embarrassing moments, and been each others' support system for the past three years. We have been there for each other through the funny times, the sad times, the stressful times, and we have a bond that cannot be understood unless you know what nursing school is like. I have often thought about how weird it will be when we graduate and get different jobs, and wont have each other to ask questions we should know the answer to or vent about hard days. I am getting an early taste of that with this semester in South Africa, and it will be bittersweet.

I did not think twice about jumping into this semester abroad. I am so excited to travel and see the world. I am looking forward to learning all about the culture and history in South Africa, and even more excited to perform health care in another country. Now that my departure is rapidly approaching, I am starting to feel a little apprehensive about the whole thing. I think that is normal, though. I am leaving everything I've ever known to go somewhere completely different, filled with experiences that cannot be expected or scheduled. I am going with an open mind, ready to learn all I can and be changed and shaped by this experience. I know it will affect me for the rest of my life! I am so thankful for this opportunity. I have often toyed with the idea of being a missionary nurse, and this hopefully will give me a little taste of what that might be like.

Please keep me in your prayers! I have been sick for the past month, and I am finally turning the corner- Praise the LORD. I have a lot to do before I leave, and not a lot of time. I would especially like prayer for my health while I am away. When I get sick I tend to get hit pretty hard, and I'd rather not deal with that in another country!

Thanks for reading! Please leave me comments, or contact me via email, facebook, or skype.

I'll post again when I'm on the other side of the world! I'll let all of you know how the future is : ) haha.

-KTO