My name is Lauren, and I am an Oregonian by birth, but nomadic by choice.

    I spent a snippet of time in Denmark, traveled for three weeks across the US in a  VW van, lived for a year in Brazil, and studied Public Health and International Studies for three years of undergraduate work in the Willamette Valley. How did I end up in Baltimore? A friend of mine who had previously spent two years in Lesotho, South Africa as a Peace Corps Volunteer recommended the school. He highlighted the city's diverse setting, and endless opportunities to be involved with international health. I applied, and with some financial assistance, I was able to make the move from Oregon to Maryland in order to study.

 Life here is an adventure. My little feet have been hotsy totsy for learning, traveling, and helping other people. The city of Baltimore and the Johns Hopkins University will be home for the next two years. What about after? International Service in the Peace Corps (can't wait to be a "gringita" again), followed by work as a nurse practitioner along with a PH.D. (Yes, I like school so much I will stay in it forever). The Johns Hopkins University is an excellent fit for me and the experience is priceless.

Here I am, 8 weeks into the BSN program, and I find myself amidst the top researchers and health care providers not only in the nation, but in the world. I am supremely happy. The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing teaches all aspects of nursing, but expects its nurses to be future leaders and researchers. For my goals and aspirations, this institution is the right place to be. The students here are well-traveled, mature, educated, and a pleasure to work and study with.

What has been going on here?

    Well, where should we start… how about the day I went to the gas station and overflowed the tank?  Gas started guzzling out of the tank and onto the concrete. My college budget didn’t include paying hydrate the concrete. (In Oregon, someone pumps the gas for the drivers. I blame my inexperienced gas-pumping hands on Oregon's gasoline regulations.)  I could also highlight the incident with my canister of pepper spray imploding in my backpack. Ah yes, that was a memorable day as well. Nothing like seeing the entire second floor of the school of nursing hacking, coughing, and teary eyed. We know that the spray works! While washing that backpack and cleansing it of potent chemicals, I managed to simulate snowfall in Oregon by washing a spiral notebook full of clinical notes. It was tucked into one of those secret backpack pockets. Oops. Forgot to take it out. My navy blue hospital pants came out with a lovely, snowy speckled appearance. Life here is truly unpredictable.

Even with some of these fun little wrinkles in life, I've had an extremely positive experience with the people in this city. When I got lost driving and ended up on a toll road a number of miles from my destination, the attendant directed me home, accepted my pitiful toll donation of $1.52, and supplied me with the necessary pass to turn around and head home. Getting around can be tricky! A very generous neighbor took pity on me and dropped off a number of Baltimore/surrounding area maps that now live in the glove compartment of the car. There really is no excuse for getting lost (other than my eyes are so tired from reading I'd rather be disoriented in a strange city rather than scan another piece of text).  :)

       School is good. There are tremendous amounts of reading, writing, documentation, and clinical lab expectations. It's an excellent group of students and professors to be working with. My hospital days are wonderful as well. Right now, there is little that I am able to do as a student, but I love the patient contact. It's the most enjoyable part of the healthcare experience. I am eternally grateful for my health and vitality.

As extra-curricular activities go, I joined the Student Government Association at the SON, and will hopefully take part in Programa Salud, an outreach program to the Hispanic Community in Baltimore. A group of students will administer vaccinations, do routine TB testing, and complete general health assessments.  I have a class beginning that will focus on the health disparities in this city; this group of students will gain a greater understanding of the various factors that contribute to the city's diversity and development.  The teaching emphasis will be on Public Health. The Geriatric Interest Group will also take up a portion of my time...

There is SO MUCH TO DO here… it's really hard to say no to certain activities! I think the majority of my class is looking forward to a break when we can all take a deep breath and not feel so crunched with deadlines and expectations. The 8 weeks that I have been here have been some of the most exciting days of the past few years… there is always a new adventure around the corner, and every day presents a different challenge. The stories that I share are similar to other students' experiences. We all are going through some quirky adjustments and just cannot help but laugh about it all! Laughter keeps the heart and soul happy.