Final MINE Blog

Finally sitting down to write my final evaluation of the project.
I like some others had no idea of what to expect of the MINE project despite having it explained to us several weeks before we had left and most likely because I never really think of what I'm doing until I'm in the middle of it. Even though the questions were provided for us, the framework, timing and delivery was to be decided entirely by us. As simple as it sounds I came to realise very quickly that I had never worked in this way before. I had produced presentations in a group but never had I worked on such a scale with all decisions to be made by those taking part. In saying that I very much enjoyed the challenge and found it easier than our new continental friends may have done as the entire project was in English (thankfully).

On reflection (theres the magic word) I have enjoyed every moment of my time on the project and have learnt so much that I was previously ignorant to. Not just the differences and similarities between nursing in the UK and mainland Europe but the lives of people from other cultures and how we all manage to find a common ground and work together. I even came to realise that despite living in different countries with different languages and different systems of working there are always the same type of people in the groups. The more vocal people, the quiet people, the natural leader and the team player to name a few and I found that the challenges of working were not to be found in the different cultures but in the same conflict of personalities that can be found in any group.

To conclude, this was one of the greatest experiences of my life. The Finnish people are friendly and their country one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. I have experienced things that I have loved yet hope to never do again (jump in a frozen lake and singing Jerusalem) and I hope to remain friends with all of the fantastic people I have had the pleasure of meeting and working with.

Special thanks go to Mirja and her group of elves who organised the superb events and succeeding in making my waste line  3 inches bigger.