I thought I should post an update, since a lot has happened since my initial post, and things are moving right along.
First of all, my surgical board exams are done, and I passed! Thanks, God! So did the other 8 residents I've trained with for the last 5 years. It's such a relief to have this phase of things done, and a little hard to imagine that my general surgery training is finally over.
Where to from here? Well, next week I start a 3 month orthopedic surgery placement to help me prepare for some of the surgery I'll be doing in Nepal that I haven't yet been trained for. I'm looking forward to this time. With my exams done, and all the core requirements for my residency completed, this is just bonus time, and I'm doing it to prepare for Nepal, so it should be fun. And I don't have to study for exams anymore. Whew!
I have a departure date scheduled - it's November 3. I'll be flying first to Thailand, where I'll spend 10 days with some good friends, and then will head to Kathmandu in mid-November. The plan is to be in Kathmandu for the first 4-5 months doing language study, and then to move to Tansen after that, probably March/April 2012.
I'm so thankful that God has brought me this far. The last many months have been a grind, but it's paid off. Thanks to those of you who have been standing with me.
Onwards and upwards.
