Well folks, as of yesterday its officially been 5 months since I woke up, shook off the feelings of doubt, threw the suitcases in the back of my brother in laws truck and headed for the airport. What felt like 4 days later I landed in Riyadh, but it was actually only Nov. 12th. Started work at 10 am Nov. 13th and have been going ever since.
Last night I celebrated my 5 month anniversary not by drinking, or partying but by going and doing some field research as an SRCA volunteer on my first night shift. As I explained to the guys, I was brought here to do a job, regardless of how many times my job description has changed, and regardless of how many times somebody has told me "no you are instructor, I be here many year, you just teach". I was recruited and hired and paid to do a job. Which was the all too simple task of improve the quality of EMS education in the Kingdom, and ensure that the graduates of this program would be able to hold their own with their American counterparts. Although I keep it a little more secretive these days, I'm still following that original mission statement. Part of improving things involves analyzing existing systems, issues and challenges. So for me, field research means getting out on an ambulance or on an ALS truck and seeing what these guys really do for a living and what these students need to be able to do.
Last night I celebrated my 5 month anniversary not by drinking, or partying but by going and doing some field research as an SRCA volunteer on my first night shift. As I explained to the guys, I was brought here to do a job, regardless of how many times my job description has changed, and regardless of how many times somebody has told me "no you are instructor, I be here many year, you just teach". I was recruited and hired and paid to do a job. Which was the all too simple task of improve the quality of EMS education in the Kingdom, and ensure that the graduates of this program would be able to hold their own with their American counterparts. Although I keep it a little more secretive these days, I'm still following that original mission statement. Part of improving things involves analyzing existing systems, issues and challenges. So for me, field research means getting out on an ambulance or on an ALS truck and seeing what these guys really do for a living and what these students need to be able to do.
best of luck for everything :).
ReplyDeleteThanks for the luck and Thanks for reading!
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