1st clinical

There are millions of first times in our life, no matter where you are and what you do. Hard to think there is no new things happening around us.
I had my first clinical today. Yesterday I was too nervous to start my paperwork. I talked to different people to get ideas to conquer my fear and get started. However, the more I talked to people, the more nervous I felt. So I didn't get started my pathomap until midnight. Pathomap is crazy, at least for the first time. I had no clue where I should start, where I could get ideas, and what I should do. Overall, I was so lost.
When almost all my peers went to sleep, like 2 hours before I got started...I guess by the time I got done with my pathomap, it was already almost time for them to get up..I felt a little bit dumb because everybody already finished. I know I should have been negative like that. I almost cried though. Then I went downstairs to the computer lab to get resource and I saw one of my classmates were pouring tears..Finally I felt I was not alone.
So with all kinds of help, I finally got started my pathomap and had a big picture of disease. Then I used my every single brain cell to think about the disease, hydronephrosis, which I never heard about before, which I will have billions of things that I never know before. How exciting! So many things to expect or unexpect!
Acutally I talked to my patient, who is 88 yrs old, a lot this morning besides doing my clinical assignment.
He was very nice and encouraging. I like it when he was surprised that it was my first time, which made me feel like I am professional. :P Well...I should be..Just feel the roles in my life changed, from a student to a professional.
Before we said goodbye to each other, he said, "come here, let me give you a hug." My eyes turned red and tears rolling in my eyes. He said that he would never forget me. Neither do I. How blessed I am to have a such nice patient!
Although almost 5 hours standing and walking was not very delightful, everything went well. Everything was new to me. Sometimes, maybe a lot of times, I didn't understand what the RN talked about and what was going on. I really need to improve my English skills, especially listening skills, to undertand future different patients and professionals. BUT....how? what should I do specifically?
After today, I wonder what student nurses learn and what nurses do in mainland of China and HongKong. Apparently it is very different in mainland of China, but not sure what exactly it is.
Life is terrific, so much new things for us to learn. ^.^