Start to Finnish

By this time next week, I should be in Finland, in the city of Tampere, to attend a 5-week course on global health sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Finnish Medical Association Duodecim. That is, of course, if my Schengen visa is released tomorrow or Tuesday. I have no doubt it will be.

I haven’t really been excited excited until this weekend. For the longest time, I had to contend with SO MANY REQUIREMENTS from the University just so I can be allowed to go on leave. It took almost a month to get an authority to travel. I think I lost not a few pounds as I shuttled from one office to another, from Padre Faura to the 8th floor of the PGH. That seemingly needless hurtling CAN dampen one’s fondness for such a trip. OR it may just make the trip more worthwhile.

(Imagine- having to get THIRTEEN department heads’ signature so as to earn the coveted signature of ONE hospital official… Hayayayay).

I am so excited about this trip to Finland, so distracted in fact that I hardly remember anything that transpired when I “participated” in Sunday mass earlier. It doesn’t help that I got more distracted by my plan on how to blog about my distraction during mass…

Which clothes to bring?

Mental note: Do not to forget my CD-R King travel universal plug adaptor!

Just a week to go!

I haven’t packed!

I haven’t even cleared out of my luggage the goodies from Indonesia I was supposed to give out to friends!

Plus I still have a full week ahead in school, until 5pm of Friday.

Hayayay.

Okay, first things first.

Breathe.

You were meant to go on this course.

Remember?

All fourth year medical students had the chance to go to Finland BUT the year you were supposed to go, the program was not offered. You thought the opportunity to attend the course was forever lost. But no, as an innovation beginning this year, they began accepting participants who were already practicing physicians. You applied, you got accepted! If that’s not a manifestation of fate- I don’t know what is.

Breathe.

Everything will fall into place. As it always has.

God’s track record is, so far, perfect in your life.

Even if you weren’t attentive during mass.

Forgive me, Father, for I have Finned.