Nepal or not? Placement opportunity...

[kirsty b]

Was chatting with a coursemate today and was asked if I had given any thought to my elective placement in our 3rd year. (for those of you who don't know me I'm a first year student nurse)

The upshot is, if I wanted to I could go abroad. Nepal in particular. There is a company called Work the World who would make all the arrangements for placemnt etc, sort accommodation, feed me every day as well.

Its dear, with 2 weeks at £900 going up to £1400 for 6 weeks and I have to find my own flights, visas and spends.

Its an amazing opportunity, but I have a husband I love dearly despite my constant nagging of him, and my little girl, both of whom I would miss like mad. I don't think he would be dead keen on me going away even though I went away for a week to walk Hadrian''s Wall and they said didn't even miss me.
I can't just up and leave to go halfway round the world, and am now thinking about if they were able to be out there at the same time as me, the town is a big tourist place too with plenty of places to stay. I could do my work and then spend spare time with them.

Prob won't happen because its a huge amount of money to save, but the thought of what I could learn out there just won't get out of my head...

Just thinking aloud, would be interested to know other peep's take on it.

[Bagpuss]

I'd deffo go for it. Life doesn't tend to offer up opportunities (or excuses !) that often, but that's just me.

What do you really really want to do ? Would you (and your hubby and little one) regret it if you (all?) didn't go ?

As for not being able to up leave and travel across the world, of course you can !

[CaroltheCarrot]

Can you afford it? I would def go if it was me ( can I come with you)

[Alison]

My friend did a placement in Canada when she was a student nurse, had a wonderful time but then again was single at the time. Basically, do you want to do it or like the idea of wanting to do it? If the latter then just forget about it as it's a pipe dream, if the former then work on the practicalities etc and talk to OH about it as it'll affect him too.

[kirsty b]

I would love to go, and if single would be off like a shot!

I do want to do it but know the OH in particular probably not keen. Two weeks is not an awfully long time (which is why I thought it would be nice to combine with a holiday for them, Pokhara only 180 miles from Everest!) but this is not something that you can do on a whim, I have to start thinking about it seriously pretty much straight away. I'll not be likely to get a chance like this again.

Need to have a proper grown up chat with him methinks...once I have gathered more info and can present a realistic case. If we really can't do it, then we can't, but would at least like to try.

[zazen999]

My motto [and it works] is ask for a horse and you stand a better chance of getting a dog.

So tell him a fortnight and he will bring that down to a 'no way jose'

Tell him the 6 weeks, and he will bring that down to the fortnight.

Tell him 6 months [wing it a bit] and maybe you'll get the 6 weeks.

[taff]

I'd go just to see a sky burial.
much nicer way to go.

[rana]

An invaluable experience to be had so you should go. What I would have trouble with is the cost. At £900 plus flights and Visas it is more than I'd expect to pay for such a short visit.

[FionaH]

Im with Zaz, tell him its a 6 month placement!

Seriously two weeks isn't that long. God forbid if you were poorly and had to go into hospital for two weeks they would survive wouldn't they? The guilt often comes when it's something we would like to do and would enjoy.
Being a parent is the most important job we ever have, but sometimes we get so caught up in it we forget we are people too. Yes you have responsibilities to your husband and child, but you have them to yourself as well. Your OH can parent for a fortnight without too many ill effects. (Ok they might be on the edge of scurvey from too many pizzas but you can sort that)

If you can afford it I would say go. Just my opinion you understand feel free to tell me I am barking

[janeyo]

I am with the ' go for it' crowd too. Best to regret things we have done in life, as they generally make us stronger and shape who we are, than regret NOT doing anything at all.

[SueA]

You sound as though you really want to go Kirsty & would regret it if you didn't. If you can afford it then I'd say save up & go as a family so that you can all have the experience of a lifetime!

[Incy]

If you can afford it then go for it. I'm a little confused as to the length of the placement because you mention 2 weeks and 6 weeks, but I've been sent on 2 week business trips and if my OH can cope with our little darling for that long, I'm sure yours will be fine too.
As has already been said. It's better to regret doing something than to regret NOT doing it.
Good luck

[bobleponge]

My 2p worth Kirsty, I think it would be an invaluable experience, seeing medicine in action in a country and culture totally alien to where you are training can only broaden your outlook on your future job.
Also, its one of the very very few countries I would pay to go back to. Absolutely adored the place, the scenery is indescribable (for an ill educated wretch like me) the people are incredibly friendly and (for further argument) your spends once you get there are minimal.
I understand OH not being keen, and also understand you would miss the nipper if you went, but I've always lived by the edict that I will die knowing. If you dont go, you'll never know.

[kirsty b]

Incy, the placement can be anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks. You choose the length of time you go for when you book it. I have decided to see if there is anyway I can figure out how OH and pickle can come too. We would have to save really hard, but it must be do-able. The only thing that would make experiencing a place like that better would be experiencing it with the two people I love the most. They could amuse themselves when I was working and I could spend days off doing stuff with them. I need to do some searching and enquiry making now. Will get the Christmas fun and games over with and crack on with it

[Patchninja]

How old is pickle? If she's very young, she won't really benefit from such a trip. VERY expensive It's a very short time, so I don't see how you'll have the time to learn all that much, and I expect you'd need every second of your time for the job and not for tourism. So it might be a hindrance to have OH and pickle! A trip there doesn't have to be now, you've got the rest of your life. Oh, me the wet blanket! Just trying to look at the other side of the coin.