Clayton State University

School of Nursing

International Health Care Elective Weblog

By Dr. Lisa Eichelberger

This is a brief weblog detailing the travels of the faculty and students involved in the Clayton State University School of Health Sciences International Health Care Elective in 2006.  The course was taught by Dr. Lisa Eichelberger and Dr. Melanie Poudevigne and taken by 9 junior and senior students and Dr. Eichelberger's daughter, Tera.  This course had been offered by Clayton State for a number of years prior to September 11, however, 2006 was the first year the School of Health Sciences had returned to Europe with students.  You can click here to get a copy of our agenda. The course will be taught again this May, 2007 and we hope they have as much fun and learn even more than did we.  Dr. Eich

Our trip began on Sunday May 14^th - We all met at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport on Sunday afternoon and boarded our British Airway’s direct flight to Gatwick Airport –London, England.

 The British Airway’s plane was unbelievable! Free champagne, wine, pillows, blankets, sockies, toothbrushes, built in headrests and eye masks to make your 8 hour flight comfortable.  We had a blast on the plane.

We arrived at Gatwick Airport at 8 am on Monday, May 15th, which was really 3 am Atlanta time but no one seemed tired.  We were too excited!!  Everyone got their luggage and we were off on the London “Tube” to our hotel.

Our hotel was great!!  The rooms were small but you are in Europe so that is what you get.  St. Giles Hotel was in a great location, just about one to two blocks from the British Museum and the Totteningham Tube Station.

After we unpacked, we hit the streets and made a bee line for Big Ben

and Westminster Abbey. 

 They were unbelievable and right on the River Thames and across from the London Eye.  .

 We got pretty good at riding on the subway system in both London and Paris, though London’s was much easier to navigate. 

 Famous Red Telephone Booths.  England still has pay phones mainly for tourist to use their lower price calling cards to call the US.

And we saw some of the famous “Palace Guards”.  They never moved. 

 We had an early dinner and hit the “sack” and tried to overcome our jet lag because we had to meet at 8:30 am London time on May 16th Tuesday morning.

” that deciphered the hieroglyphics, unlocked the key to what the writings were really all about and what the British explorers took and don’t want to give back.  

and mummies   “Ginger”

and statuary and my favorite, fabulous jewels in the European section.  It was a great learning experience. 

Then it was off to St. Thomas’ Hospital and the Florence Nightingale Museum where the Museum Director, Mr. Alex gave us a private lecture on FN.  We then were given a private guided tour by “Elizabeth”.      

  Tera got to try on “Dress up Hats” like Mary Secole wore.  We learned a little about Mary Secole’s role in the Crimean War as well.

Then it was off to Kensington Palace, the former home of Princess Diana  and a walk through nearby Notting Hill  

Followed by a nice dinner of English “Fish and Chips”.  I can't really say the Fish and Chips were good however.

We then planned an evening of Salsa Dancing at a local club with Dr. P.’s childhood friend.  Unfortunately, we never quite made it and ended up in Chelsea Westminster Hospital Emergency Room after Tera had a “little run in” with an English car.  God’s hand was on her that night and she escaped with only one small scratch on her foot, a pretty good size headache and a very sore hip!  This was a first hand interaction with the British Health Care system and we definitely learned a lot.  Most of all to watch out for traffic!

 Wednesday May 17^th, 2006 the group carried on without us, going to the Tower of London  and the Anesthesia Museum while Tera and I slept since we spend the night in Chelsea and Westminster Hospital having q 1 hour neuro checks!! 

Thursday May 18^th, we were all back on tract.  We made up for lost time and saw the jewels and the “rack” at Tower of London, rode the London Eye,     walked through Trafalgar Square,   saw Buckingham Palace                                            and toured the Queen’s Room and Mewery

 where all her horses and carriages are kept      and had to have some good American food at the London Hard Rock  .

Friday May 19^th was our last morning in London and we all did some last minute shopping on Oxford Street THEN IT WAS ON TO PARIS!!!   

We checked in to our hotel which took a long time because the ‘lift” would only hold two students with their luggage so we had to take turns on the elevators.  After the British food, we were looking forward to a good dinner and boy did we luck out.  Right across from the Tim Hotel we would find what became our hangout “The Big Bird or Flying Duck” is what we called it but actually Melanie told us the translated name is The Migratory Bird.  We met our friend “Kamel”, the owner and he was quite the flirt.

We did not realize how delicious cheese and potatoes could be when cooked in Paris.

 Our first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triompe was from our rented carsYes, I drove around and around on the Champs-Elysée.  I think Dr. P. did that on purpose but the students said I did a very good job driving in France.  We drove through the tunnel where Princess Diana was killed, up to the beautiful cathedral Montmonc where the view of Paris was spectacular.

   pass Napoleon’s tomb and La Louvre.

 Saturday May 20th we were off to Normandy, France and Omaha Beach which was about a three hour drive in the French country.  It was beautiful and we saw several “Chateau’s” along the way.  Omaha Beach was a very moving experience for all of us and I think everyone shed a few tears. 

We toured the American and British memorials then met Melanie’s Mother, Sister and Sister‘s fiancé for an authentic French lunch in Normandy.  Afterwards, we were invited to Mr. and Mrs. Poudevignes’ home for an absolutely delicious meal.  They were so kind to us and they are both warm and loving people.  Melanie is lucky to have such a wonderful family.  This is the whole group at the Poudevigne’s home.  Papa P. is standing and Mama P is next to me standing and Melanie’s sister Natalie is next to their mom.  We returned to the hotel but not before stopping off to see where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake!!! 

The next day it was up early for our appointment at UNESCO.

  Unbelievably, our guide was from LaGrange, GA.  He had been living in Paris and working at UNESCO for eight years.  I hope to get him to come and speak at a CSU Lyceum next year.  He has some great stories to share.

 “The DaVinci Code” movie debuted while we were in Paris and we all went to see the movie the afternoon before our Louvre visit.  We all looked for the places mentioned in the film and wondered what was really under the “point”.  All that culture can be pretty exhausting and I would not leave until I found the Rembrandt’s, Reuben’s and Van Dyke’s.

 Melanie had arranged a visit to the American Hospital in Paris for us and they had asked us to stay for lunch.  We spent the morning in dialog with nurses and they asked us as many questions as we asked them.  We toured their hospital and then after a very nice lunch we boarded the “Metro” and back to the hotel.   

 We spent our evening on a dinner cruise down the Seine.  It was great, food was good and we had great views of the Parisian “banks”.

We were so lucky to get to attend the Paris Ballet at the world renowned Opera House –Garnier of “Phantom” fame.  We had box seats right close to where the sat in the“Phantom of the Opera” play and movie.      We had our picture taken on the steps of the Opera House Garnier where the musical number “Masquerade” was filmed.   The ceiling was painted by Chagall.  Wow!!

Versailles was unbelievable.  The weather was cool but the sights were unreal. 

On Friday May 26th, it was time to pack up and leave. We were all exhausted but we really saw and learned a lot.  I don’t think that we could have possibility done or seen more and lived to tell about it.  Hope this gives you some idea of what the trip was like and the dates are already set for next year so start saving your money. 

We won’t do exact the same things, we learned what not to do and what we need to change but all in all it was a very successful trip and Dr. Poudevigne really did a fantastic job planning it all.  Email me if you have any questions.  Au revoir!!!  Dean Eich

lisaeichelberger@clayton.edu