Kingston University 2018
I chose to go to Hue, Vietnam for my elective placement.
It was a new programme for Work the World, and I’d always been keen on visiting Vietnam.
It seemed perfect.
The Work the World team looked after me from start to finish.
They completely tailored my placement to my clinical interests.
They helped me with travel information, what to expect, and what to pack, amongst other things that helped me prepare me for my trip.
My best friend and I undertook our electives together. When we arrived at the airport, we received the most wonderful welcome from Work the World’s local team.
After 24 hours of travelling, we were exhausted, and they couldn’t have done more to make us feel welcome and settle us in.
The whole trip was a rollercoaster of emotions, but we always had someone to talk to about our feelings.
My placement hospital was tough at times. It took a few days to get used to it.
Seeing the healthcare system in Vietnam opened my eyes. It highlighted the key differences between their healthcare system and ours.
I spent most of my time in maternity.
The staff in the hospital were keen to involve us in anything that was within our scope of practise.
My favourite part of it was bathing babies, which is much harder work than it might sound.
The whole clinical experience was incredible.
Our evenings and weekends were free to explore Vietnam.
There’s a lot to do in and around Hue, so we weren’t short of things to experience.
This really was a once-in-a-lifetime trip. I don’t regret it for a second.
It was such a privilege to work in a Vietnamese hospital, meeting amazing people each and every day.
The Work the World Staff at the house in Hue are incredible too. The catered to our every need.
Speaking of catering, the catering team prepared all our meals for us. The team were a credit to their profession.
We did cooking lessons with them every Wednesday, making traditional Vietnamese cuisine.
If you have the chance to go to Hue, take it.
You won’t regret it. You’ll look back with the happiest memories.
We didn’t want to leave!
