One block left!

Since its been a week since my exams, I wanted to update everyone. Life is good in Cayman, I still miss my mom but remnants of her visit-taffy, pickles, cookies- still cheer me up every day (and no, I don't eat all at once!).

My exams went well. I'm not even sure that I wrote about my PD clinical exam, which was a week before our block 2. I had to perform a catheterization and do a history on a patient with chest pain. During the history, we ask about their family history-their parents and siblings, children, etc. After my history, the proctor told me that of the 20 some odd histories he had heard that day, I was the only person to tell the patient (volunteer student) I was sorry to hear that his mom had passed. I laughed, but was pretty happy that in the stress of the exam I didn't loose my entire personality.

Block two exams crept up quickly, and again, I was very lucky with my results. My path exam this block was the hardest test I have taken in my life thus far-and many of my friends didn't pass so I was really happy with my lower than average, but still far above passing score. One of my friends figured it out the other day (I guess when you're in medicine, there is nothing like depressing yourself), and we have taken 62 exams since we arrived in Cayman last September. We have 8 left on the island, and Step1 back in the states. While many days it seems like a long way to home, one set of block exams, and 8 tests in Cayman seems like a completely approachable number. And-only 6 until Christmas :)

I have been very glad to catch up with some close friends and family at home, and would love to hear from all of you, so give me a call or shoot me an email updating me! I hope everyone is well, and has a wonderful Halloween. I will write again soon!
All my love.

Beyond wonderful week!

There is no place like home. I miss 30 park, (snow covered and all), but was blessed to have a piece of my favorite part of me in Cayman the past week. It was surreal at first, having my two worlds collide. Before last Thursday, my mom was someone I told friends about, my friends people my mom had heard of. She got to put faces to the names, and they finally got to meet the lady I continuously brag about.

We did many fun tourist things-hung out in downtown Georgetown, the turtle farm, botanical gardens, rum point, and swam in the teal blue waters seeing our toes 4 feet below us. I was spoiled-with groceries in the cupboard, yummy breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, not to mention the 6 dozen cookies my mom smuggled into the country (and I was soo glad she did!) It was my favorite week since I've been on the island, and I miss her so much already.

Goodbyes have never been my favorite, as I'm sure many of you reading this have seen me sob saying goodbye-to you, college, the US, etc. Her goodbye was bittersweet, as I know I'll be home in just over 50 days and she gave me the perfect jump start to finish my last semester of classes on the island. The reality is, the ones we love are almost always too far away. Thank you so much to my mom for her visit and unconditional support.

I hope everyone is well in the states, and cannot wait to see you around the holidays. I will write again after my exams Oct. 26 and 27. All my love.

A busy 10 days at 63!

The busyness of block week is over at 63, and in its place comes a wave of visitors! Thursday, in two days (thank God), my mom will be here :) I can't think of anyone who deserves a vacation more than this lady, and cant think of a med student who needs her mama more than me-so, it works out for both of us! The same evening, my roommate Dana's dad flies in from Arizona for the weekend. While he won't be staying at the house, it'll be nice to meet him too. The sixteenth, Sarah's younger sister flies in with a friend for her fall break. We went from having no visitors last semester to 3 sets in 10 days this semester! And we're all looking forward to it. So, back to studying and cleaning, and looking forward to my #1 fan hitting the island so soon!
All my love back home, I miss you all very much.