Choices

[polychrome_pen]

So I'm hoping you all can weigh in a bit on a problem I'm facing.

Next Monday - the 26th - we choose our sites for Rotations. We will be in these areas for nine months, moving between six different pharmacy practice settings.

Until recently, this wasn't even a decision that I felt needed deciding - it was already practically a done deal that I wanted to go to Loma Linda. But recently, my friends have been trying to sway me to Sacramento.

Here's a bit about each region for you non-California people. :)

Loma Linda
- Smack in the middle of southern California and eight hours away, this regions represents my first true chance to get away from the area I live now. I have several old friends who live down here, as well as the chance at very affordable housing if I live with some friends of my Mom (who went to college down there).
- Also, I like that there's a large Adventist population. And it doesn't hurt that I'd be really close to Disneyland.
- But in a bit way I'm scared to death of being so far away from everything.

Sacramento
- This region is only about an hour's drive north from where I live, and although I wouldn't really be that far away it would still be a very different experience. Housing becomes trickier in this situation, though - I don't know where I would live.
- It would be nice to still be able to come home if I really wanted to. I'm not sure how homesick I might get. Heh.
- Also, the friends I've made in this program are mostly wanting to go there. And they want me to come with them. This is kind of a new concept for me.

I'm very undecided about this still, and probably won't really decide until I pick on Monday. But I would value some outside opinions.

Comments

[tanz-fanatika.livejournal.com]

Is there any way you could look into the housing in Sacramento before Monday? I think that would be the deal-sealer for me. If you can't get it reasonably, go for Loma Linda. It's cool to have friends that want you to go with them, but if there's no place for you to live, that's kind of a problem. I think the adventurous aspect of the other one is cool, too. I always recommend people get away from home and live on their own for awhile. It builds character. Heh.

[alisonchainsv1.livejournal.com]

I agree with this, I lived in Texas for awhile. That's a ways from CA, And a whole other world. Getting away from your area, even if it is in the same state can really help to show you what the world is like outside of your safe zone, if that makes sense.

[ry-sabir.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your thoughts!

I know I desperately need to get out of my "safe zone." I think I'm really concerned about how much I want to get out of it, though.

It's kind of ridiculous, really. Sacramento is an hour away, but feels like a foreign city to me sometimes. I would die without a GPS!

Oh, so sheltered. :(

[ry-sabir.livejournal.com]

Thanks for weighing in, Lori.

Either place, I would be living on my own, which I know I desperately need for personal growth reasons.

Thanks for the suggestion too! I'll definitely do some research into housing this weekend!

[alisonchainsv1.livejournal.com]

Holy crap, you live in my area?!? I'm in Modesto.

[ry-sabir.livejournal.com]

I live in Woodbridge/Lodi, but go to UOP in Stockton!

Oh my gosh - we live like 30 minutes apart. That is too hilarious!

[alisonchainsv1.livejournal.com]

Yeah that really is haha. that is so crazy.

[dreaming-faerie.livejournal.com]

I'd say do what Lori says. Check for housing in Sacramento. If you can find something, go for it.

[ry-sabir.livejournal.com]

Oh my gosh - I laughed so hard at your icon!

And I think I forgot to mention that we pick them now, but we don't actually start there until July. XD
I've still got the rest of this semester and summer semester to go until I get to Rotations.

And thanks for your opinion!

[dreaming-faerie.livejournal.com]

Haha, thanks. xD After seeing Baltor in the video, it so reminded me of the song.

Well, that should be plenty of time for housing to opening up. I would say at least check for prices in the meantime.

And what's Adventist?

[ry-sabir.livejournal.com]

That video is priceless if only for the fact it looks nothing like Baltor. XD

I should have clarified - Seventh-day Adventist. It's the church I belong to - Loma Linda is the area where a large Adventist university/medical school is located.

[dreaming-faerie.livejournal.com]

Oh man, Baltor looks so bad in the video. It doesn't help that Icy has some sort of liver condition where her skin is yellow. Jandis, isn't it?

Oooohh, okay. I still vote for Sacremento.

[skyoferaklyon.livejournal.com]

Jaundice

[iyreia.livejournal.com]

Hm!! (let's ignore the fact that I have no idea where these places are :3)

I guess it depends on how much of a you-person you are... I'd love the chance to get away (and stay away for a good long while). No chance of me ever being homesick.. ^^;;

So it comes down to whether or not your wanting to be with your friends (gives a more... familiar enviro, I guess) wins out in the end? Keeping in mind you'll need to sort out accomodation...

Still, it might be a good chance to experience getting away. Hmm!! (I sucks at opinions/advice/whatever this was supposed to be) It might end up a good learning/growing experience~

[ry-sabir.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the opinion! :)

I'm so big on loving what's familiar it's kind of scary. Which is why it might be better for me to leave, because I think it really would lead to some personal growth.

On the other hand, people want me to go with them, and I think that would be a grand time too.

So am I really looking at a situation where I should judge based on personal growth vs having a grand time?

Oh, and I tend to over-analyze things like this too, just to let you know. ;D

[iyreia.livejournal.com]

Over-analyse away! Hehe~

Well either way, you're still getting out -> taking a step towards personal growth.

If you go to LL, you'll leave your familiar surroundings in a way more substantial than if you went to S (since it's further, and you can't go back as easily). But then you'll be living with your mother still yes? As opposed to being w/ your friends... I don't know if you'll have a great time with your mother as with your friends XD!

Ahhhh I overanalyse when it's unneccessary ^^;;.. I hate it when once I've made a decision, and then I suddenly get all these other options @___@

[skyoferaklyon.livejournal.com]

isn't Loma Linda known for rattlesnakes tho? ::cringes so you know that this is out of character::

[ry-sabir.livejournal.com]

Is it? I've always just known about it because of the Medical Center. XD