Take me to Taiwan

Hello from Taiwan!

Many of you may be wondering what I am doing 6,936 miles away from home (without my cute husband 😢 ).. I am currently on (another) study abroad! This time I am with BYU's College of Nursing. A Public & Global Health Practicum is required for my graduation, believe it or not. I feel incredibly blessed to be here. First off, many people are not fortunate enough to go to University. Second, of those who do, most are not able to do one study abroad let alone TWO.
I always say I am the luckiest person I know, and honestly I mean it.

I am here with 13 other nursing students (9 of which are from my cohort, 4 from the semester above) and two BYU faculty members--Craig and Ryan. We love* them. We also have Jane, our Taiwanese translator. She is a nurse at the hospital we work at and her English is AMAZING. She is the most darling person I have ever met.

*drive them up a wall.

As Taiwan is a developed country, we are working inside a main hospital in Tainan. We do not have a ton of ability to practice skills here, but I have learned SO MUCH from watching the amazing nurses and doctors who work here. In the States, most nurses on a med-surge floor have 3 or 4 patients. Here a nurse will have 8-12, and up to 25 during night shift. On top of that, Taiwan does not have CNA's/patient care techs to help out. THAT IS CRAZY. Ironically enough, the nurses here never complain about patient load or patients that require extra attention. The Taiwanese nurses give 110% to their patients. They are so kind, giving, and humble. Taiwanese physicians also seem to have very good relationships with the nurses, which is something I greatly admire.



I'll just give you a quick rundown of the adventure so far:

We spent the first day in Taipei, traveled to Tainan, and visited "Monkey Mountain" -- where there really are just monkeys roaming around. Turns out monkeys are pretty mean.

The next day we attended church in Tainan and went to the legendary "stake pit". Honestly, we were all just sooooooooooo jet-lagged. Adjusting to a 14 hr time difference is a whole different beast than the 7 I am used to.
Monday we had orientation all day long on the hospitals we are working at!
And last Tuesday we began clinical bright and early. I spent the first two days in the ER. IT WAS SO COOL.

We also played badminton one night with some doctors. Apparently it's like a national sport here and a HUGE deal.... We just played at a high school but they had a massive arena. How sweet is that?

Wednesday-Friday we traveled to the other side of the Island and visited Hualien and Taroko Gorge National Park. aka the prettiest place on earth.

We hiked a bajillion stairs up the mountain to this temple for some killer views... I have never sweat so much in my life. No joke, we were all just dripping. We are talking hair soaked, sweat beads running down your legs, wet-in-places-you-never-want-to-be kind of sweating.

But for a view like this??

WORTH IT.

Is this not the most beautiful place you have ever seen?!?? I am pretty sure this is what heaven will look like. Only with Austin there, too.

That was week one! After sweating our way through Hualien we got on the train for 6 hours and went back to Tainan to start another week of clinical. 

It has been so amazing to observe another culture, visit incredible places, and understand a little more about God's love for His children all over the globe. I am so excited to see where the next two weeks take me!

Love Always, Aimee 

I Know That My Redeemer Lives

I know that my Redeemer lives
oh sweet the joy this sentence gives.
He lives; He lives who once was dead. He lives, my ever living head.
I lives; my kind, wise, heavenly friend.
He lives and loves me to the end.
Oh sweet, the joy this sentence gives.
I know that my Redeemer lives.


I am so grateful to be blessed enough to know that I have an elder brother, Savior, and Redeemer who not only died on the cross for me but rose again and broke the bands of death. He paid a debt I never could have and gave me--and the entire human race--reason to live, reason to hope, reason to feel joy. There is life after death; it is through the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love my Lord. He is my light and my strength through every day of life. I am so grateful for His loving arms that are continually reaching out to save me. Without His great infinite and eternal sacrifice the whole human experience would end in nothing. But because of his act of pure, deep, and unconditional love for each and every one of us, death will be the only thing that truly dies in the end. That is the most beautiful irony of all. We will live forever with our families and Savior. All He asks is that we come and follow Him.

I truly stand all amazed at the beautiful grace Jesus offers me.


Love Always, Aimee

MIA

I must have had some theory when I returned to school that my life was suddenly uninteresting and thus did not need to be updated via this blog as often.

But then today I realized it is halfway through March and over a quarter of the way through the year and I have not posted one thing. And sure,  I know longer spend my days wandering London or weekends visiting other countries or castles. I spend my days sitting in classes or studying cadavers in the anatomy lab and my nights writing research papers or reading textbooks, but my life is not inconsequential because of it. Freak. I love my life! Research papers, never-ending classes and all.

First day of class shot. This is home. 

My teachers are amazing. I am learning so so much every day. Anatomy? GUYS. Everyone should take it!! It is so cool to study the body. And really, how can you study the body and not KNOW there was a divine creator? This stuff does not just happy people. It's perfect and beautiful and amazing. Even if the smell is less so.

skully is the only one who understands. 

My other classes are so uplifting. I am so grateful I had an extra semester to complete a minor in Family Life (someone remind me of this in a few years when I just want to be done and graduated).

new desk, old memories. 

Here's what I love about BYU: we accept all truth as what it is: truth. Gospel truths included. Meaning my teachers can testify of Christ and Eternal Families and the Atonement and things the Prophet's have taught us as we study the body or chemistry or family finance. And you wouldn't think those things all relate back to the gospel but holy cow I am here to tell you that they do. Everything is related to the gospel because God created this world and the elements in it. He is the only one who truly understands everything and the one who inspires us to be able to as well. There is no where else in the world that you can get such a good education by the world's standard as well as an education in the gospel. It is unlike anything else to feel the Spirit in a science class. There is no where else I would rather be (even if we don't get a spring break..).

original by yours truly. 

My roommates are bomb. I don't know how I have lucked out every semester so far. I always seem to have exactly the people living with me I need to learn from (it's weird, it's like I have someone watching out for me who knows everything or something).

Just your casual Saturday night jam session. 

Peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth. 

mini London Roommate Reunion. These girls are my favorite humans. 

The weather? Do I even need to explain this one? It has been beautiful. I have never seen a "winter" like this. Sure, we have no water yet for the summer.. But hey. I have nothing against April showers. Those are way better than January or February blizzards in my book.

surprise visit to see my favorite RM in California? YES. YES YES YES.

And that is only the very beginning of the list of reasons why my life is so wonderful.

new favorite place to eat: BAKED. Guys. I am a firm believer that sandwiches = life.

Well. It's almost midnight and I still have some reading to do for class tomorrow, so I will end there.
But just so ya'll know, I am alive and well and still loving life.
Yes, I miss England. I think I always will. But I also know happiness is very much a choice in life. And I will always (try to) choose to be happy.
So come what may and love it.

Love Always, Aimee

 (Sorry I don't have any really cool pictures really to post, just a lot of jumbled up thoughts and shots from real life.. but here's a flashback for your enjoyment and my heart ache)

(this is also home)

Real London Life

It has come to my attention that some folks here believe all I do across the pond is travel and party. I have come to set the record straight: those claims are false. While we do travel loads and go on many adventures, there are also countless hours spent writing papers, studying, and reading as well as attending class. I would be lying to say it was the same extent as going to school on campus, but it some ways it feels even more overwhelming here because London is calling right outside the front door. There are always a million things to do and places to see on top of twelve credit hours of class and homework along with church callings, day trips, and then trying to keep in touch with family, import/sort through photos, emails, write postcards and letters, grocery shop, exercise, and just do basic life things like laundry.. Our schedules are jam packed. More often than not I am up until well after midnight reading for class and then get up at 6:30 to go run and shower before class. After that it is go-go-go all day long. I am not complaining or trying to convince you that my life is too hard in any way, shape, or form; I just want you all to know that it is still real.

Yes, there are days it feels like a dream (and it is my dream).
Yes, every day I find myself in awe of how lucky I am that this is my life.
Yes, there are days--sometimes several in a row--where I stay in all day and do homework.
Yes, there are many nights I am stressed and up late trying to finish things with no idea how it will really happen (and yet somehow it miraculously always does).
Yes, I am in love with my life. It is full of all the best things this world has to offer: the most wonderful people, constant exploration and learning, loads of laughter, self-discovery, and traveling through some of the most beautiful countries and cultures known to man.

Now that we are done with the real talk I'll tell you what a general week here in London town is like.
Monday: classes
Tuesday: day trip
Wednesday: classes
Thursday: London excursion or classes
Friday: classes
Saturday: free (aka catch up on homework/laundry/go to markets for lunch/maybe see a show)

The days we have classes they go from nine to noon. After having lunch I will typically go to museums for homework or work on papers or study for tests or run to the store/laundry or do site visits or London walks or whatever else. Day trips we spend the day going by coach to somewhere, such as the Isle of Wight in the past or last week to Hampton Court and this week was to Cambridge. For London excursions we go to sites within tube rides such as the Tower of London or Westminster Abbey; you get the idea. Often another night of the week we have another thing planned by the program like an Evensong or last week we went to the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to hear Beethoven's No. 9 Symphony in D minor (which was incredible AND we spotted Royalty)!

The last few weeks have been such a blur of school and outings and late nights and everything in between. Here are some views from visits:

Hampton Court

Just a few of my favorite people

Careful with the Swans.. They all belong to the Queen and to hurt one is high treason.
You think I'm kidding? ...
The last guy to kick one while drunk back in 2007 is still in jail. 

Fun Fact: You get to wear fantastic capes around Hampton Court if you want. 

 

Have I ever told you that I am obsessed with gold? No? Oh. Well, I am obsessed with things that are gold.

Greenwich

Boat ride down the Thames to Greenwich! 

Our bff Big Ben lookin' fan-freaking-tastic from the river. Always the show-off. 

Straddling the Prime Meridian. Am I am in the east or western hemisphere? ... Nobody knows.

Royal Naval College

Favorite Chapel I've been in.
And I have been a good number of chapels in my lifetime.

 

Found some aebleskivers at the market! Score. Obviously Lauren and I had to get some. 

Firmly believe that different is beautiful too.

Stratford-Upon-Avon (Shakespeare's home)

 

Did we creep on this guy helping the elderly out?
Yes. Yes, we did. No shame.

 

We <3 Shakespeare! And wandering cute towns in the rain and seeing Much Ado About Nothing performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company set in the 1920's and looking like Downton Abbey.

Portsmouth

You haven't lived until you've had a Magnum Bar.  

Yes, that is my Professor jumping with us in the middle. He's pretty cool.

Camden Market

I seriously am obsessed with markets. Utah needs to get on it because they are the bomb.com

   

 

Ever heard of the cronut? Let me educate you to its brilliance. It is a croissant donut. Need I say more? The one featured about was bought (and shared, don't worry) at Camden Market. It's Apple and Cinnamon with some crumble thing.. So essentially it was heaven in my mouth.

Is there anything more beautiful then a donut cart? Donuts are my weakness. Weird, I know. I can say no to everything else.. But a good donut? There's nothing better. A bad donut? Nothing worse.

Running Scenes

This view is what gets up early every day. 

Cliffs of Dover and Dover Castle

I dare you to come at us. 

The throne suits me, don't you think? 

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra ft. Beethoven's 9th Symphony in D minor

You see those box seats behind us? Yes. That is Prince Charles of Wales, aka the next KING of Great Britain.
NBD guys, NBD... Just a normal Monday night in London

That Awkward Time we showed up at the Tate Britain and they asked us to be in a Movie

Canterbury Cathedral

coolest book shop ever in Canterbury. I can't lie; it was actually really hard for me to walk through the door. I felt off-balance in a way I can't even explain. 

London Centre Scenes

Me doing homework. Obviously I am ecstatic.

My Shakespeare Analysis after 4 hours of work... 

My current view of the drawing room 

It's all about the details in the dining room.

(to my left) the beginning of the stairstand front entry behind it

 Why do I say the stairs ominously?
I'll show you:

this is what I walk up 12+ times a day to get to my room/the lou.
No I am not kidding. This is real life. It's fine though; I will just have killer legs by the time I leave (or I'll ask for a refund).
The pathetic part is we all keep thinking we will get used to it and it will become easier.... And it doesn't 

Memes I Make when I can't Handle Any More Homework. 

Well, that is it for now! Sorry I have been neglecting the blog. I promise I have every intention of catching up (hopefully this weekend!) with Halloween pictures and a review of my trip to PARIS! Stay tuned; don't give up on me. I'm just holding on and pushing through some papers and school stuff. 

Love Always, Aimee 

Remember that one time we got day-of student tickets to the front row of WICKED for 25 pounds?
Yeah. That was a fantastic and beautiful day.

#cheerstodyoulondon