Weeks 9 & 10 Update from Växjö Sweden

This pirate misses home! I don't regret my discussion to study abroad. I would do it again, provided I have the opportunity. However, now that we have crossed the halfway point in our journey, I really miss my family and friends and church. I miss coming home to mom and dad. I miss our nightly family dinner. I miss Saturday morning breakfast with dad. I miss talking to mom 100 times a day, at least that’s how many times her and Mrs. Norma say I call. I miss playing cards on Friday nights at Grandma's or Greta's house. I miss being able to run to Greta’s house and spend time with her while Mariah spends time with Robert. I miss going to Paula and Jace’s house and seeing my favorite middle schooler Morgan and of course Bradyboy too. I miss talking with Ann and Kristin while the girls take ballet. I miss Mariah's play dates; they were fun for me too. I miss talking to Kelly almost everyday; most mornings when I don't go to Greenville, I start the morning talking with her. Or, when I go to G'ville, I talk with her on my way home to pass time. I miss the teaching style of the ECU Professors. I miss my friends and family at church. I miss the sermons and the fellowship of my Christian brothers and sisters. I miss seeing all the smiling faces of “my” kids in class every Sunday and Wednesday. Lastly for now at least, I miss the country cooking. They don't know what collards or creamed corn or even biscuits are. Biscuits here are more of the English type; they are hard and sweet like biscotti’s. As much as I miss these things, I do realize once I am home, there are thing that I will miss about Sweden too!

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Enough of that, now for an update. We haven't been anywhere lately. I have been extremely busy with the start of classes. That is also why I have not posted in two weeks. On the 9th, I started my four main academic classes. I also still have my Swedish class going on. Classes here are much different. They do not recommend taking more than 2 at a time due to the fact they are primarily research based. However, somehow my schedule got messed up and they all started together. There are no test or quizzes in any of my classes, just one big research report at the end that you have to present. The research reports have to be 10 typed pages and thoroughly researched in the field and through literature. The social work class is the easiest so far. The two health care classes are tough and have intensive field studies. Which brings me to this week.

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This week I have worked at the Ljungby Hospital in the Dialysis ward. The first day I shadowed Paren. Paren is the head Dialysis nurse; he has been on this ward since it opened in the 80's. Most of the patients were older 70+ and did not speak very good English if at all, when possible Paren translated interviews for me. Thursday was my last day there, by then several of the patients greeted me in English and said goodbye in English too. I also managed to interview two patients while they tried broken English and I tried broken Swedish. This was a great opportunity for me to learn more about the renal system and dialysis, but it was an even better opportunity for me to practice Swedish. Next week, I start another field study. This time I will be working in the Växjö Hospital Surgical Ward.

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Mariah is doing well. On Friday the 13th, she started taking horseback riding lessons. It is at the stables behind the apartment. She loves the horses. She is doing well in school and has made lots of friends. On Sunday the 14th, she had a birthday party to attend. She was really excited about going to a new friend's birthday. It was also an excuse for us to do a little shopping. Would you believe I purchased a purse and sunglasses for me? Mariah got Pippi Longstocking pajamas. On Monday the 16th, was Mariah's school picture day. The pictures are supposed to be back before we leave. I do hope so.

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Well, that’s all I can think of to say about the past two weeks. The rest was just day to day life and not very interesting or attention grabbing. I paid the remainder of our rent for our time here this week. Oh, and I was tested for multi-resistant bacteria today. It was required to work in the surgical ward. Lots of cotton swaps in lots of various places. Not fun at all.

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Tomorrow, Saturday the 21st, we are headed to Malmö for a short trip. I will post sometime next week about that.

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For our family and friends at home that are reading this. I wish you all could be here. Thank you for letting me share our experience with you. We send our lvoe too you. I hope God is watching over you and blessing now while we are apart and always. I hope you are all doing well. Please keep in touch. We love the emails and the letters. It is just a small connection that we have with home. I don't know who gets more excited me or Mariah when we hear from you, our friends, family, and loved ones. We also received our first care package this week! Thank you so much Greta. I love my early birthday present too. We can't wait to see you in December. There are only 63 days left!