Blocks

I am currently preparing for my first block exams, which are held for each of my classes at the end of each month (total of 3), followed by a two week review before we take our shelf (final). Today I was up at 6, to school by 7:30, and just got home now, a few minutes before 1am. Tomorrow, a lot more of the same. It is crazy to me that I just do this over and over for the next 2 years. I have made good study partners though, and the older students come in and "check" on us and wish us luck. Some of the 4th semesters even hold reviews, with the most important concepts explained again before our exams. I've been sleeping four hours at night, and drinking about 5 cups of coffee a day. Monday I have my Histology exam, while Tuesday I have Gross Anatomy Lab, GA lecture, and Embryology. At 7pm Eastern Time Tuesday, I hope to be sleeping like a baby. Next weekend, I have a date with the Atlantic ocean.

In all the chaos, I'm still missing home. I miss my cute little grandma, and hope shes not being too stubborn, and she better not be lifting a thing! I miss my mom and her renovations, and the simple relaxed life I used to live. (To think, my one hour drive was the worst part of my day!) And a special congratulations to my best friend Roo on her engagement. I hope that Mr. Franks will love you almost as much as I do, and I am so happy for both of you. From California, Florida, Ohio, LI and upstate, chances are I'm thinking of you! I will catch up/make calls next week. Hope everyone has a good weekend!

Happy Birthday Goo :)

Before leaving 30 park for Cayman, I sorted through piles of old cards. Birthday cards, thank you cards, christmas cards, pretty much any note someone gave me in the past four years. One of my favorites, was from my little sister. It was a thank you card for her birthday, and in it she wrote something like, you (me), dan, and mar are my favorite part of me, and I'm so lucky to have all of you. I remember specifically rereading the card, and wondering if she knew just how lucky we are to have her.

I was scared to leave home for two years, and she left fearless for four. She's not going to have the typical upstate new york profession, and as much as I like to believe it, she probably won't be a famous country singer either. (And I won't say it, but you know what my favorite song you sing is, Goo). All I know, is that the strong-willed, beautiful girl we call our baby sister will make a difference, and we will always be lucky to have her.

Happy Birthday to the girl I call Choo, Goo, and everything in between :) I love you!

Little moments

Brad Paisley's little moments has always given me the chills. I have certain friends, mon amie, who will always do little things that they consider "nothing", that mean absolutely everything to me. I look through my photo album and my heart swells with happiness. Peers come into my room, see the picture of my siblings and I with crooked faces, and I'm proud to call them the best part of me.

Thank you so so much to everyone, who since I've been here have been so supportive. Friends who I haven't seen in months, or years, family who I saw every day. Every im, phone call, comment, and facebook post means so so much to me.

One of my friends here is having a really hard time, she doesn't know if she really wants to be a doctor and she misses her family. Its really hard to be away from my family (and friends, who i consider family), but I know I am exactly where I'm supposed to be every day. I'm really grateful for having such a great support group back in the states, and just wanted to say thanks because I don't say it enough.

Skype!

Hi all,

Just wanted to remind everyone to download skype, at www.skype.com . It is a free download, similar to AOL instant messanger, but it is the internet phone service I have my number through in Cayman. Skype to skype calls are free, so we could set up chat times, etc. if you have the program! Only catch is, you need a microphone, which can be internal to the computer, or external as well. My mic was $15 at wal*mart (which, I miss so much down here in the tropics). My skype name is LauraKS30, add me as soon as you sign up!

Otherwise, my number is 585.502.4568. It is a Rochester area code, so that anywhere in the U.S. its just minutes off a cell phone, or local or long distance depending on where you're calling from. If you call and my computer isn't on, it will go straight to voicemail. I would love to hear from you!

What I learned today...

Everyone back in the states really seems interested in what I'm learning in this far off place. And, while I should be studying, I need a break. Its 97 degress outside, so instead of a walk, I decided to blog.

For the past 4 days, I have been learning the brachial plexus. I can now draw and understand this collection of spinal nerves and branches beginning at the spinal cord and ending at the tip of your fingers. Each branch innervates one or more muscles which each are responsible for specific movements of our body. The muscles have ligaments, arteries that supply them with blood, veins, and lymph nodes-all of which I can name and locate on a diagram or actual cadaver. Damage to one of these nerves, branches, cords, trunks or roots results in paralysis of a muscle (sometimes several), and usually a syndrome/disease.



Today in lecture we finished the upper limb, and are moving on to the leg Friday. And, I have 4 other classes I should probably study for too! On that note, I should get back to work. Enjoy!

Still treading

I recently asked a girl in my residence hall how she found the energy to go out snorkeling for an hour at a time. I told her I've always wanted to go, but feel as if I'd drown after about 10 minutes. She reassured me that when you get tired, you just tread and float, viewing from the top...survive until you get your next wind to swim and inquire further.

I think her analogy for snorkeling may be mine for med school, except I feel as if I'm sinking a little lately. I have been getting five hours of sleep, which I used to be able to work on without a problem. On September 29 and 30, I have my first block exams. The two anatomy exams cover 10 lectures and 9 labs, the histology lecture covers 11 lectures and 2 labs, while the embryology block should be a breeze, only covering 5 lectures.

I start my studying at 7am, and end around midnight, with breaks for classes, coffee, and peanut butter and jelly. I took pictures Sunday, but unfortunately am having problems uploading them, and usually decide to sleep rather than play with my computer on getting them to work. So, they are to come :) This week I still have 6 extra hours of class (catching up from Gustav) plus lab all day Saturday. In case I don't write soon, I am alive and surviving, and even through the hecticness here, missing all of you. Keep me updated on news in the states.

First cousin once removed!

Grand Cayman is nothing like Brockport. I spend my days looking at library cubicles or xray fractures. I miss soccer games, freezies with my best friend, reunions in Canandaigua, and flux tests in the Sia lab. My days here seem to have been so long, and I have so long before I hug my mom, and head back to the place I've lived for all my life.

But every once in a while, we have those moments that make what we're doing completely worthwhile. My cousins Kris and Carey had a baby girl, Abby, today around 2pm. It hit me today that while I'm sitting in lab studying joints of the upper limb, lives are being brought into the world, lives are being saved, medicine is making miracles, and I can be part of them in time.

The days are absolutely overwhelming. The knowledge I have gained is ridiculous, and I can't even imagine what I have in store for me. But for tonight, I'm just going to be thankful. My cousin is healthy, and my first cousin once removed is finally here, and she has already made my day. Congrats Carey and Kris!

First day done :)

I am grateful after 8 months to be back in the swing of things in the academic world, and somehow, I even remember how to study! Today was actually a pretty easy day, with a class from 8 to 10 and another from 10 to 12. The most alarming point came around 8:15, when my professor was speaking of autopsies and opened a slide with a completely opened human being on it. I knew I would be seeing graph photos at school, but 8:15 on the first day was a bit shocking. I managed to keep my oatmeal down though.

Schiraldi puts me in the third lab group, so I don't have lab until tomorrow. I spent most of my afternoon in the library, where I met a really nice fourth semester student from Staten Island by the printers. After we talked for a few minutes, he offered me advice in any subjects I want and even old anatomy exams! Then I went to the librarian desk to borrow a reference book, and the third semester student who gave me more advice and a great deal on some anatomy flash cards. People were nice at home, but its almost like people go out of their way to be especially nice here.

Other things I learned today: people in Cayman take a lunch break from 12 to 1:45. And still leave at 5. Cayman also has Monday wing nights for 25 CI (~29 cents US), which make me miss Brockport but in no way compare to Grandma's house.

And the best news (after the exams of course), is that my friend Shamil found us bikes for $120 CI. We're getting bikes, baskets, and raincoats (to fight off the hurricanes) which will save the hassle of waiting for taxis and paying the fees.

First post!

Hi everyone, I write to you from sunny Grand Cayman. My cousin, Kris has a blog, and my sister said that all she wants for Christmas is for me to blog as well. So, Merry Christmas Em.

I arrived Thursday, and I've having to conduct reality checks since. The island is beautiful, the sand is white and the ocean teal. There are palm trees everywhere. Our view from the room is the pool and gazebo. The photo above is a picture of my view on the plane coming into Cayman. While our campus is very small, the buildings are adequate and the professors seem knowledgeable and ready to help. At orientation, our class of just under 150 had several speeches like the Patch Adams "we're going to make doctors out of you" speech. A little cliche after the fourth time, but all the same I'm ready to put their words to reality.

In my first post, I'd just like to give a special thank you to my parents, Teresa and Frank. The sacrifices you have made are incredible, and I am so thankful to have such amazing parents.

I will write more on the island and what I have seen/done and want to see in the upcoming days. However, I do start medical school tomorrow and have a lot of reading to do! I plan on sending emails so people know I'm writing, but if you all could spread the word too that would be wonderful. Hope all is well back in the states.