Last block 1!

Ok...I'm not jumping the gun and saying I will pass each of these classes just yet, but I'm well on my way to having my last semester of basic science classes in Cayman. And honestly, I can't wait to live in the USA.

A little update on my month, since September ends this week and I don't know where the time went. The first weekend we were here was my roommate, Sarah's 23rd birthday. We did a cupcake celebration for her birthday, and I cooked her dinner-my moms awesome cheese filled burgers [not as good as her, but the roommates were impressed!],then went out for appetizers and drinks that Friday on Sarah's parents. It was really nice, and relaxing and a great start to the semester. The next weekend, September 12 was my friend Nirav's birthday. We met the first night I was in cayman, and I consider him my "Cayman Larry", the friend you know you'll always having an just a genuinely nice guy. The next week I had my shadowing experiences, one which I wrote about and two-with a pediatrician and internal doctor specialized in cardiology. These were much better experiences, and it refreshing to talk to individuals who considered us people as well. After that, buckling down with work was my obvious focus, and it definitely paid off. Again, the scores I wanted and I am truly blessed.

For now, its getting ready for a patient-doctor set of exams in two weeks, meeting with professors about wrong answers, and getting 63 ready for the best mom in the world. Hope all is well in the states, 3 months until I'm back for a visit, and 7 months until I'm a permanent resident again!
All my love.

Happy Birthday Choo!

Have to keep this short and sweet, but wanted to wish a very happy birthday to my baby sister today. Sometimes being the baby of four, one could feel left out or distanced from other siblings. I hope she knows how much she completes the family and I personally couldn't imagine life without her. I am counting the days to Christmas when we will all be together again. Happy 22 to my beautiful little sister. I love you Choo!

Lower than Dirt

Everyone has the point in their career that they're at the bottom of the totem pole. I shadowed a doctor in the emergency room today, with my friend Prash. We arrived early, and it took about 5 minutes until anyone behind the ER desk stopped to say hi, ask if they could help us, etc. When the doctor finally did, he told us we were early, and that he'd be with us in ten minutes. We took a seat. 35 minutes later, we were yelled to, "take a history in #9." We had not met a doctor or nurse, had not had a tour of ER or known where room 9 was. I think we were both excited to not be sitting, wasting study time. In the three hours, we did three patient histories and were torn apart by the doctors for not knowing the diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and supporting facts-that we had sometimes heard of but learned very basics of the diseases; not the clinical aspects until Clinical Sciences, years 3 and 4. My "favorite" part of the day was when the doctor asked me why I wanted to be a doctor, and started laughing at me. They were some of the longest 3 hours of my life, and I walked out of that emergency room feeling stupid, degraded, and very angry. I was ready to pack my suitcases or at least call my mom and cry. Instead I treated myself to sushi and 6 hours of Path.

The funniest part, I took cash in to pay for gas on the way home from the hospital, and the gas attendant goes, "hello! how are you today?" I lied and said good. He was way nicer than the doctors. Does that make any sense?

Take home message, be nice to the little people. Still plugging away...

Happy Birthday Abby!

Two days late=on time for med school. After 14 hours of studying today, I'm afraid this won't be long. I wish I had more time for phone calls this weekend home, and of course I wanted to be at my cousin Abby's 1st birthday more than anything. A year ago, I was sitting in Gross Anatomy, and got the news my cousins Kris and Carey had delivered a healthy, baby girl. I announced it to my friends, and found out it was my good friend Nirav's birthday the very same day. This weekend we went out to dinner for him, and several friends wanted me to extend very happy first birthday wishes to Abby.

I'm still here. Living the dream. School is insane. This week I start my shadowing for patient-doctor. With 10 hours of shadowing plus class and reviews, I should have my hands full, maybe even more full? I'm smiling. I can't wait for my mom. Hope all is well in the states, I will write/call when I can.

All my love.

10 days in...

and I'm already so far behind? It is soo difficult after an amazing vacation to convince yourself, and you're brain its time to study again. I am beginning the win the battle again, and find myself needing to know everything-as almost an impossible task this semester.

I'm taking Pathology, Pharmacology, Microbiology/Immunology, and Patient-Doctor. Path is a lot, with 8 credits a week plus 2 review classes (you know its not a very easy class when there are 2 classes to review for the 4 you have a week). I am starting to adjust and find that all the -itis's and diseases the human body can have is absolutely insane. One of the diseases I learned about has 5 names, which are still all used today. Why not just pick one?

I hope all is well at home, where ever home may be. Looking forward to December, (and closer, my moms visit in a month), but thinking I have mountains to climb before either of those happen. All my love, I'm surviving.