Ellen Quach
Where does one begin to describe the experience of a lifetime? Before this exchange, I had no idea that there is actually ‘A world of Pharmacy’ out there. That our degree could take us further then ‘just’ working in a community or hospital pharmacy. It’s amazing how much your views can change in such a short period of time. I think it’s something about being by yourself, in a huge city, speaking a foreign language, with no friends and family and only yourself to influence your decisions.
I’ve split this report in two, as I know there are those whom are more interested in my academic side of things and those whom are more interested in the Paris side of things…
The exchange
My exchange was organized through the International Pharmacy Students’ Federation (IPSF) student exchange program.This program gives pharmacy students the ability to experience the profession in another country for short periods of time. There is usually no remuneration however accommodation is usually provided and the majority of participants stay with a host family/student.
The application process is easy, just a package downloaded from the IPSF website, a letter explaining why you want to participate and three country preferences. The Australian SEP officer then selects from the applications and forwards them to the countries chosen. The corresponding SEP officer then tries to find placements, accommodation etc.
I chose
The university was quite open in allowing me to use this exchange as a fourth year rotation placement. It did however restrict the placement to a hospital one only, as this would be the only viable way to ensure my assessment would be to the same standard as local levels.After a few meetings with the head of school and fourth year coordinator, I was granted permission to go.
The Learning Curve
Hotel Dieu is literally located at the centre of
In
Then there was my stint with the radio pharmaceuticals. What is boring on paper is certainly fascinating in practice. From preparation to quality control to actually watching the patientscan while the isotopes decayed really shed light on why we had to learn that in Pharmaceutics. I even had a chat with one of the representatives whom was supplying the hospital with technecium generators and was amazed to find outthat the hospital was utilizing Technegas – an Australian generator, the same one I was examined on last year. So could you believe it, there I was pulling out the rote-learned exam answer to bucky balls that had miraculously not yet been emptied from the recycle bin and was feeling pretty patriotic at the same time.
Next door to the hospital was one of
Another exciting aspect was working with pharmacists in charge of running the clinical trials of new drugs. Having access to the ‘strictly confidential’ files of drugs that are soon to hit the market, proved to be a very interesting read. As well as seeing aseptic techniquein practice, from manufacturing cyclosporine eye drops to chemotherapy drugs. I even got to watch a bone marrow transplant.
All in all I was exposed many extremely different areas, that all require a pharmacist – so have a broadened view on our possible career paths. I’ve also seen how another country operates and can contrast to a degree some strengths and weaknesses. For example although Paris lacks its emphasis in ward pharmacists (there was only one and only inoncology), it has kept Pharmacy a profession – L’officines or community pharmacies are mainly dispensaries with only a limited amount of ‘specialised’ shop stock. You wont find toilet paper here and when I complained that the service is slow (you would wait about half an hour to buy anything) a student was quick to point out that “This isn’t an area you should want to rush through, these are poisons your putting in your body. Be patient and find comfort in the fact that when it’s your turn, you can take as long as you like.” Pharmacists aren’t usually pressured to rush by the customer either, in contrast, they actually expect to take some time. And it’s true, with that dogma, you can see why supermarkets aren’t a threat here and there’s no ever-present insult that pharmacist’s just stick labels on boxes.
I love Paris in the Springtime
Paris is unimaginably beautiful. She’s so much more then the Eiffel tower, the Mona Lisa, Arc de Triomphe....It’s the buskers on the street that climb on the Metro with random stereos and guitars and just start singing and playing - just like that. It’s the kids that have nothing else better to do then to bring out the bongo drums and just start playing and dancing in the square - just because they can. It’s the smoky underground jazz caves, where the music is chaos, that you can close your eyes and bob to any tune, because there are so many, but all together make such beautiful music. It’s the lovers that walk hand in hand and at any given moment, for no better reason then 'just because they want to' embrace in a smoldering kiss that would even make Angelina Jolie curl her toes. It’s the grumpy taxi drivers that won’t take you if your destination is out of their way. It’s the crowded metro that is so hot and sweaty and packed to the brim, however someone still miraculously manages to squeeze in at each station. It’s the loud 'pardon' that you have to scream because there’s ten thousand people between you and the door and you’ve got six seconds before the doors close. It’s the small streets, orange chimney pots and the old buildings that can make you stop stock still and just stare, because for some given reason, something absolutely mind blowing has presented itself. It’s getting lost in those little streets and just when you about to give up and cry, the Eiffel appears - Paris's equivalent to the Southern Cross - to show you the way home. It’s the excruciatingly hot days, followed by the downpour that cools the city at night. It’s the wonderful airplanes that always find that patch of blue sky to draw lines on, even when it’s cloudy. It’s spending a lazy afternoon doing absolutely nothing except reading in the perfectly sculptured gardens or just simply people watching from an outside cafe, trying to make that glass of wine or kir or coffee last as long as it can because it’s so excruciatingly expensive. It’s waiting for half an hour in the express line at the supermarket to buy a bottle of water because the service is alway so s-l-o-w. It’s singing ‘I will survive’ with thousands of ecstatically crazy Zidane worshipping frenchies in a sea of blue, white and red each time France won in le coupe du monde, and crying with them because of that one last missed goal. It’s not being allowed to sit on perfectly beautiful eatable grass.
And I havent even started with the food......
Should I start with the crepes or the confit de canard or the tartare that looks like dogfood on a plate, but tastes absolutely divine. The sandwich de libonnaise that is like heaven in a bite. The chevre chaud that just melts in your mouth. The foie gras that is so creamy. Oh my god. And how could I forget the baguettes I could live on their baguettes forever and be happy. And their pain au chocolat, each bite is a heavenly sweet chocolaty surprise. And the creme brule, with the perfect crack which promises ecstasy in a mouthful.
In Summary
As you can see this trip was an eye-opener in all aspects – cultural, professional and personal. I believe I have comeback more passionate about my career. I’m quick to correct any student who says that any part of study spent at university was a waste of time. I can now relate when Shelley Kinsella told us that although we may believe that we’ve climbed Everest when we graduate, we in fact haven’t even started to scratchthe surface.
On a personal level, I’m now able to communicate in another language, become more independent and less influenced by others and most importantly, have come to appreciate some luxuries that I’ve always taken for granted. I never once thought that I had spent all this money,time and effort just to work for free, in actual fact – I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.
I strongly encourage that students should look into undertaking a similar experience for themselves. It’s truly worth it.A lot of students after coming so far studying are still wondering “Why did I choose Pharmacy?” After coming back with a clear head about where I’m heading,the benefits of the trip surely blow all the risks out of the water.
Acknowledgements
First and foremost I would like to thank the
