Where in the world to go?

[rachprice]

Carrying on from another post I did... (bout going to work for the motogp for my medical elective, who I very much doubt they would take me on for the whole 3 months)

So, any suggestions on where else I could go??
I'm thinking developing country (you get to see and do so much more)
Anyone been to some obscure place that blew their mind???

[blackdog]

don't sell yourself short, and don't doubt.

if you want to do something, make it happen.

[Shadowjack]

Timor-Leste.
Gob-smacked me in so many ways. Worked there a decade ago; my organisation has recently been doing more up there.
Folks there doing their best with exceedingly limited resources.
NZ has a pretty fair (recent) history there.
And scenic as all get-out.

[Brett]

Carrying on from another post I did... (bout going to work for the motogp for my medical elective, who I very much doubt they would take me on for the whole 3 months)

So, any suggestions on where else I could go??
I'm thinking developing country (you get to see and do so much more)
Anyone been to some obscure place that blew their mind???

Went with my wife for her elective to Malta for the 3 months. It absolutely kicked arse.
It all depends what you want out of your elective...experience? then hit somewhere like New York, London etc. where they have busy ED departments or interesting specialist fields.
We chose Malta because we both had been working like dogs for a few years and wanted something different.
It was one of the best things either of us have done. My wife was working at most 3 or 4 hours a day in the main hospital and some days as little as an hour (because they know that elective students heading over there are kind of looking for a bit of a break as well).
The place is smallish (Size of greater Auckland maybe?) so 3 months gives you the right amount of time to become familiar with the country, see a lot, experience real life and living in the region etc.
The diving is amazing and I recommend it as well. Cheap flights every day to Italy, Ireland, Spain, UK, Germany etc. and the hospital was pretty good about giving her the time off she wanted.

[Brett]

Went with my wife for her elective to Malta for the 3 months. It absolutely kicked arse.
It all depends what you want out of your elective...experience? then hit somewhere like New York, London etc. where they have busy ED departments or interesting specialist fields.
We chose Malta because we both had been working like dogs for a few years and wanted something different.
It was one of the best things either of us have done. My wife was working at most 3 or 4 hours a day in the main hospital and some days as little as an hour (because they know that elective students heading over there are kind of looking for a bit of a break as well).
The place is smallish (Size of greater Auckland maybe?) so 3 months gives you the right amount of time to become familiar with the country, see a lot, experience real life and living in the region etc.
The diving is amazing and I recommend it as well. Cheap flights every day to Italy, Ireland, Spain, UK, Germany etc. and the hospital was pretty good about giving her the time off she wanted.

Also, the lifestyle is wicked...they put you up with other med students from around the world, so it gives you a cool network of like minded people to hang out with. If you are there over summer, there is a village/town party EVERY night where they put on shows with fireworks etc. and one village turns off their power and everything is candle lit. Absolutely beautiful.
History is amazing, given Malta's central geographical location, has everything from the oldest standing structures known to man through to forts etc from the knights of St John and towns that are hundreds of years old.
If you choose to head there, flick me a PM...I will hook you up with one of the doctors over there who used to head up their elective programme and still takes the time to hang out with elective students and show them around the place...including some wicked wine bars

Sounds like a rave I know...but really can't give the place enough props. Word of warning about it though, when we first got there the thoughts were along the lines of "what the f&ck have we done...where have we come to???" but once accustomed to the place, it is unbelievably awesome....IMO...do your own research

[rachprice]

Sweet thanks for the good advice so far

I guess money is always going to come into it as well

[blackdog]

japan might be good for experience right now

[FJRider]

On / off shore oil rigs. Outback mining companys ... they pay good money ....

[Brett]

Sweet thanks for the good advice so far

I guess money is always going to come into it as well

For now maybe...but don't worry about that too much...it comes soon enough . I remember when I was supporting my wife through med-school, it felt as though we had to watch our money all of the time and was part of the reason we chose Malta given it is one of the cheapest countries to live in in the EU.
Just my advice from our own experience...but once you get back from your elective, the work and study starts all over again for a few years depending on your specialty. Enjoy the elective, try not to worry about the money side too much (obviously within reason) because you WILL be earning good money not too long from now in a very stable industry but this particular opportunity will have passed you by. (Of course one always makes their own opportunities as they wish).

Either way, enjoy

[Brett]

On / off shore oil rigs. Outback mining companys ... they pay good money ....

It's a med-school elective, YOU pay THEM to work for them. Absurd...I know!

[HenryDorsetCase]

Carrying on from another post I did... (bout going to work for the motogp for my medical elective, who I very much doubt they would take me on for the whole 3 months)

So, any suggestions on where else I could go??
I'm thinking developing country (you get to see and do so much more)
Anyone been to some obscure place that blew their mind???

thought about attaching yourself to the Army and going to, say, Bamiyan? Not sure if it is possible but I may know someone you can ask.

[rachprice]

thought about attaching yourself to the Army and going to, say, Bamiyan? Not sure if it is possible but I may know someone you can ask.

Handy for me I already work for them but I think I would prefer to do something separate from them because I'll be working with the for a while

And my elective isn't until sept next year so japan now isn't really on the cards as I'm in my big year for exams

[rachprice]

For now maybe...but don't worry about that too much...it comes soon enough . I remember when I was supporting my wife through med-school, it felt as though we had to watch our money all of the time and was part of the reason we chose Malta given it is one of the cheapest countries to live in in the EU.
Just my advice from our own experience...but once you get back from your elective, the work and study starts all over again for a few years depending on your specialty. Enjoy the elective, try not to worry about the money side too much (obviously within reason) because you WILL be earning good money not too long from now in a very stable industry but this particular opportunity will have passed you by. (Of course one always makes their own opportunities as they wish)

Either way, enjoy

Thanks for the great advice definitely one to think hard about

When did your wife graduate? And what has she specialized in?

[Brett]

Thanks for the great advice definitely one to think hard about

When did your wife graduate? And what has she specialized in?

Graduated 2006 (I think) top clinical student. She was tossing up between Paeds and GP and decided to go down the GP path for now as it is the most family friendly. She also has done the Paeds diploma in the meantime as she wants to focus on kids within primary care in the South Auckland region. Longer term, she is talking about going into Public Health to try and get the NZ health system operating more effectively and efficiently. She loves her work. Definitely went into it for the passion rather than the money.

[Bikemad]

isle of man of course!!