I have to admit, I am starting to wonder if the title (which for those of you that are unaware means that only 'certain' people do crazy things) is really starting to apply for me.
I returned from WA last year, didn't quite make it to Alice due to unforseen circumstances and ended up in ICU.... which was, I have to say, a steep learning curve. Nothing wrong with that, our profession is built upon continual learning. In addition, it's always nice to be reminded how students and new grad nurses probably feel just starting in the field of nursing (i.e. like a deer in the headlights....).
Thing is I have discovered while I enjoy A&E and I find it interesting, I love ICU. Not as in I love those shoes you are wearing but, OMGiwilldierightnowifidon'tbuythosethingsmylifewon'tbeworthliving.... sort of love. It's interesting to compare the two departments and the politics and management styles and what not. Some say it's conducive to facitliting two departments that traditionally have always been at loggerheads with one another. In some ways it is, it fosters a healthy relationship between the two departments and already I have noticed that people will come and check with me about how or what something is done in one department as opposed to another.
Rosters on the other hand, make my head want to explode with the effort of trying to sort it all out. There are reasons as to why working in one department and one department only is a good thing!
But I digress.
Things have been plodding along and a little while back I applied to go overseas. Have not really thought much of it, and didn't think anything would come of it ('needs more experience etc).
Well, spank me stupid and call me Sally... I've been offered 2 positions in 2 major hospitals in the Middle East. Specifically Saudi Arabia.
I'm still not sure how I entirely feel about this.
On one hand I can't wait to get out of here. I live in a fairly small town where people mix both work and home. The two for many people aren't exclusively separate which is something I have never been comfortable with. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind the people that I work with, but when you work with people on shifts on a regular basis, sometimes you see them more than what you do of your own family and for me, that's a little too much. I like my work life to be separate to my private life. I know that's not the way it happens for others, and that's fine. I have become friends with people at work and they have been incorporated into my personal life but it's few and far between.
But I think that is about to change. See, when you are an expat, in order to get out and about you have to socialise. Now, I don't mind socialising, I'm not just into doing it every weekend. But when you are an expat, you have to work with what you have got. Socialising is the way to go and do and see things and get out and about and to distract yourself from the fact that you are more homesick than a hungover dog, you miss home and your own bed and pillow and your doona and for me, it's the smell of the Australian bush. Yes, I know you may be 'WTH?!?!?' but it's true. There is a particular smell that Australia has for me and it's got to do with long hot summers, the smell of rain in the air just after a massive thunderstorm, eucalyptus trees and dirt. If you are a fellow Aussie you will understand exactly what I mean.
So while I am excited to be going to a place which is so far removed from anything I have ever known, and the career oppourtunities will be amazing as will the experience, and I'll be able to travel, I'm also completely terrified.
I've moved interstate before. Moving countries is a whole 'nother ball game as the saying goes. Interstate is no big drama: you are still in the same country, the rules don't change (bar state ones but they all copy each other anyway) neither do the road rules, hospitals are generally the same, along with the paperwork and the personalities and what not.
Moving countries: nothing is similar. The only thing that you can count on is that everything will change. That sense of familiarity: kaputskis. Hello foot-in-mouth disease with a serving of 'you don't do that here'...
I can sense the number of faux pas will far exceed my ability to rememeber who does what and why etc. I think learning the Arabic word for "Sorry" will be my number one priority when I start to learn the language.
So, I'm off, with a potential start date of the end of Sept (who else can boast of spending their birthday flying in an aeroplane somewhere between here and Abu Dhabi or Dubai??) once visa's etc get stamped into my passport and medical checks and what not are done.
I'm off and while I am excited and wish it was all 'hurry up and be here already' at the same minute, I hope the time drags, as I want to delay leaving for as long as possible.I returned from WA last year, didn't quite make it to Alice due to unforseen circumstances and ended up in ICU.... which was, I have to say, a steep learning curve. Nothing wrong with that, our profession is built upon continual learning. In addition, it's always nice to be reminded how students and new grad nurses probably feel just starting in the field of nursing (i.e. like a deer in the headlights....).
Thing is I have discovered while I enjoy A&E and I find it interesting, I love ICU. Not as in I love those shoes you are wearing but, OMGiwilldierightnowifidon'tbuythosethingsmylifewon'tbeworthliving.... sort of love. It's interesting to compare the two departments and the politics and management styles and what not. Some say it's conducive to facitliting two departments that traditionally have always been at loggerheads with one another. In some ways it is, it fosters a healthy relationship between the two departments and already I have noticed that people will come and check with me about how or what something is done in one department as opposed to another.
Rosters on the other hand, make my head want to explode with the effort of trying to sort it all out. There are reasons as to why working in one department and one department only is a good thing!
But I digress.
Things have been plodding along and a little while back I applied to go overseas. Have not really thought much of it, and didn't think anything would come of it ('needs more experience etc).
Well, spank me stupid and call me Sally... I've been offered 2 positions in 2 major hospitals in the Middle East. Specifically Saudi Arabia.
I'm still not sure how I entirely feel about this.
On one hand I can't wait to get out of here. I live in a fairly small town where people mix both work and home. The two for many people aren't exclusively separate which is something I have never been comfortable with. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind the people that I work with, but when you work with people on shifts on a regular basis, sometimes you see them more than what you do of your own family and for me, that's a little too much. I like my work life to be separate to my private life. I know that's not the way it happens for others, and that's fine. I have become friends with people at work and they have been incorporated into my personal life but it's few and far between.
But I think that is about to change. See, when you are an expat, in order to get out and about you have to socialise. Now, I don't mind socialising, I'm not just into doing it every weekend. But when you are an expat, you have to work with what you have got. Socialising is the way to go and do and see things and get out and about and to distract yourself from the fact that you are more homesick than a hungover dog, you miss home and your own bed and pillow and your doona and for me, it's the smell of the Australian bush. Yes, I know you may be 'WTH?!?!?' but it's true. There is a particular smell that Australia has for me and it's got to do with long hot summers, the smell of rain in the air just after a massive thunderstorm, eucalyptus trees and dirt. If you are a fellow Aussie you will understand exactly what I mean.
So while I am excited to be going to a place which is so far removed from anything I have ever known, and the career oppourtunities will be amazing as will the experience, and I'll be able to travel, I'm also completely terrified.
I've moved interstate before. Moving countries is a whole 'nother ball game as the saying goes. Interstate is no big drama: you are still in the same country, the rules don't change (bar state ones but they all copy each other anyway) neither do the road rules, hospitals are generally the same, along with the paperwork and the personalities and what not.
Moving countries: nothing is similar. The only thing that you can count on is that everything will change. That sense of familiarity: kaputskis. Hello foot-in-mouth disease with a serving of 'you don't do that here'...
I can sense the number of faux pas will far exceed my ability to rememeber who does what and why etc. I think learning the Arabic word for "Sorry" will be my number one priority when I start to learn the language.
So, I'm off, with a potential start date of the end of Sept (who else can boast of spending their birthday flying in an aeroplane somewhere between here and Abu Dhabi or Dubai??) once visa's etc get stamped into my passport and medical checks and what not are done.
Hello new ED I'm Deenie. Please be nice to me and don't chew me up and spit me out just yet!
Anyone offer any suggestions to being an expat?
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