back with a bang

well, i've been back in the US of A for a bit less than two weeks.  i've already worked five 12 hour shifts.  and let me tell you, there's no easing in to nursing.  nope.  i'm back with a bang.

first day back at work:  my somewhat confused 62 year old man moaned all day long, "i'm dying, my heart is dying..."

second day back at work:  i answer an emergency light.  a 32 year old lady is having a seizure.  three minutes later, she codes.  mayhem ensues.  dozens of people storm her room.  there is blood everywhere.  she dies.

third day back at work:  same patient from first day begs me to kill him.

nothing like a light-hearted job!

nepali vacation

life before and after vacations is always...  stressful, crazy, mayham?!?  on october 3rd, i left the country for 35 days.  there had been lots of preparation involved - many discussions, much packing, and too many to-do's to cross off the many lists.  one to-do was writing a blogpost pre-trip that described my plans for my upcoming adventure.  but it never happened.  so here i am - post-trip.

nepal was AMAZING.  it's truly too hard to express in words.  photos do a little bit better a job.  but still, they do not depict the true experience.  the feelings i had.  the lessons i learned.  the ways in which i have grown.  you'll just have to believe me.  nepal was amazing.

 vanna white displays her handiwork with cow dung.  

 two new neighbors admire their new homes through suku's new window.

 funyuns on fingers are pretty funny.

 ganesh accompanied me on my nepali adventures since my boyfriend, cole, couldn't come.  not a very good substitute.  

but he did bring good luck.

 prayer flags hung on top of kang la pass (over 17,000 feet) in honor and memory of my patients.

 a celebratory jump at lake tilicho.

local woman winnowing grain in the village of nar.

me, just chilling, with the saddhus.  om!