When Bloggers Meet
Our new student started today. She arrived in the UK yesterday, but if she was jet-lagged, it didn't show. We started the morning doing the usual things: a tour of the unit, introductions to other staff members, setting goals for the next five weeks, getting an email account set up and chatting about our mutual editor.
Our new student is fellow blogger, Lauren Rosso. I must admit that it was with some hesitation I agreed to take her on board. After all, she would be able to blog about my service and me. What if it turned out to be a poor fit? What if she was grossly unhappy with the affiliation? Would all our dirty laundry be in print? Having read her blogs, and seen the consistent level of professionalism she has displayed, I figured it would be a good bet to have her on board for an affiliation. I wouldn't be her direct clinical instructor but would be overseeing her affiliation on the whole.
First impressions are important, and so far she is every bit the engaged, aware and inquisitive student I had hoped she would be. That didn't stop me from giving a "pop quiz" today and reams of reading for her to take home this evening. We've also given her advice on some brilliant weekend trips: Edinburgh, Alnwick Castle (where they filmed the exterior shots of Hogwart's for the Harry Potter films) and the beautiful coastline of Northern England.
It was a good reminder of how different things are here when she asked, "What do you mean I don't have to worry about billing?" It is going to be an education on so many levels. I'm excited for her!