The Prologue

Over the past year some of you may have heard me muttering something along the lines of: “I’m going to South Africa to work in August for a couple of years.” The general response from nearly everyone would follow: “Wow, that’ll be an amazing experience.” I do hope so, but I also hope it will be enjoyable.

So, yes, August has now gone by and I’m still braving the British summer and keeping my bank manager happy with a few locums. It has been exceptionally lovely having over a month at home with my Mum, but I now have a departure date: September 20^th 2011. This working trip has been 6 months in the making – there have been emails/phone calls to and fro South Africa, Philadelphia, the GMC, GKT medical school, South Thames Foundation School along with plenty of delays, including strikes, and occasional frustration (not that I am one to really get frustrated); I have been notarised (twice); I have been vaccinated;  the police have vetted me; my work permit has been approved (in theory, anyway). In essence, I am very nearly there. All I need now is to pick up a travel book – Lonely Planet? Quite fitting, seeing as I am going into the abyss solo.

The general response from people, though, has now changed after telling everyone I was leaving in August. Now it goes along the lines of: “I thought you were in South Africa. Gosh, it’ll be an amazing experience.” My reply, again, is often: “Yes, I do hope so.”

I have decided to write a blog. “Why?” some may ask, and I have asked myself this question too. It all sounds very indulgent and narcissistic, and yes that may be true to an extent. I am trying to embrace the internet and the powerful medium it is for communication. Although, I have no plans to start tweeting from the trauma room. I want to use this blog as a means to keep my family and friends updated on what I’m doing (if they want); to document my educational experiences, almost like a log book and reflective practice tool, so I can hopefully get a job on my return; possibly to inspire other health care professionals, or anyone for that matter, to take some time out and work abroad (assuming I do have “an amazing experience” and not a terrible one!).

The last thing I should write about, is often the second question I get asked: “Why South Africa? Why not Australia? Why not stay in the UK? You’re part of the brain drain.” The question(s) is/are tough and easy at the same time. Occasionally I will say: “Why not?” but that’s not the real answer. The answer is multi factorial and I’m sure I could reel off an endless list. One reason is that I want to gain and augment my experience as a doctor in new and familiar fields and really test my conviction for emergency medicine that I have at the moment; Another is that I have a perfect career break and no particular ties at home to stop me going; I have always had this bug in the back of my mind that has told me I need to work abroad in foreign climes (quite a weak answer, but true nonetheless); I’ll come back with a wealth of knowledge and experience (that’s the plan); I just don’t fancy working in Australia or New Zealand – I want to do something different. Not the strongest answers I know, but I never did get the question: “So, why do you want to be a doctor?” at medical school – I never really knew the answer to that one, I just know it’s what I wanted to be and it’s a career that I have so far loved every minute of.