high hopes

I think I've written millions of times before about the girls who lived down the hall from me freshman year, the angels. Now, they are anything but the girls down the hall. One of my beloved angels and her family are going through a difficult time, as her father is battling a terminal cancer. It is difficult to be far away, when a very close friend is so sad. Through emails, and video chats, we're trying to send smiles and hugs. I hope there are many happy times for her and her family with her dad in the coming months, through all the hard times. Please keep them in your prayers.

New Years Resolution!

So, I'm a bit behind but I've decided on my second new years resolution. First, I decided to floss every day. Its silly not to, it prolongs your life, and it takes 2 minutes. Plus, my teeth feel so much happier!

Next, I decided (to try) once a week to list a few things I'm thankful for. Life is hard for everyone, not just me, and I don't want my blog to turn into a pitty party. Especially when I have so many good things in my life.

So, this week I'm thankful for..
-surprise emails from friends and coaches
-a webchat with my favorite Ohio girl
-happiness that comes with engagements of high school friends
-6-way skype chats with angels
-coming out relatively untouched after our earthquake, and the safety of my professors and classmates
-a phone call from my big (tiny) sister
-a day off today

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and last week of January! Didn't the ball just drop?

Earthquake!

As you may have, or might not have heard, Grand Cayman experienced an earthquake with a 5.8 magnitude around 9:30 this morning. It was, interesting. I was in class, and the projector began to shake. A moment later, everything stopped. I figured, my eyes were playing tricks on me. Before I could think much of anything else, the desks all began to shake, then I noticed the floor was shaking. I basically dove under my desk. The first tremor was probably 2 seconds, and the second 5. Afterwards, my professor goes, "should we continue?"

Our building was evacuated, and once there wasn't any more signs of aftershock, we went back to class for 6 hours. The rest of the school was canceled, with a day off. But, since our class has our professor flow in from the states (this one, from Colorado) we continued on. I joked with underclassman about how they had to become doctors because we were going to die in the building.

Sleep is precious, so I'm off to get mine. Just wanted to let everyone know I am ok :)
miss you all, and miss the world i used to live in with much less chance of natural disaster.

update: still breathing!

Hi Friends and Family. An update on my busy time on the island, can't believe it hasn't been two weeks yet.

Our schedule was changed up a bit. Instead of having class every day, they have lengthened our program a week and a half, so we do have a day off here and there. Its nice to sleep in an extra 30 minutes and have a whole day to catch up! We are two weeks from our midterm, and I can't believe the time between me and my boards.

Today is January 14, which makes it the birthday of one of my very dear friends, Jackie Murphy. "Murph" or "Sue", as many of you might know from name, or maybe you know her as the 6 foot girl that stood by me on the soccer field (in goal) and many, many basketball games. I love that no matter how much time goes between our visits, Sue is always the same. Happy 23 :)

Yesterday was January 13, and that date is forever engraved in my head. On January 13, 1998 I lost my classmate to a MVA. I believe it is a testament to her memory the amount of that day, the feelings, and memories that come back when I think of her, and of January 13. She was 12, which means she would have been twice that age now. When applying to medical schools, I had to write an essay about life changing experience affecting my decision to join the medical field. Unfortunately, and fortunately, I wrote about the loss of her, and of so many friends under 20 I had lost already in my life. Losing young lives is always heartbreaking, it never gets easier. And yet, the only way to keep their memory is to keep living on, paying it forward. Yesterday, I felt happier that I was part of the class of 2004 than ever, and missed my dear high school friends.

On a funny note, grandmas never seem to make me smile. Yesterday, I received a letter in the mail with the cursive hand writing of my grandma Schiraldi. (I knew she was sending a birthday card she had forgotten to give me.) The funny part, was that she forgot to write in it! It was a perfect chuckle after a long day. Grandmas are one of my favorite gifts from God.

Hope everyone is well! I'm still kicking, and officially home in less than 3 months. <3

day 1 down :)

Well, the first day is in the books.

This morning started with an hour introduction followed by a three hour diagnostic exam. It was, hard to concentrate but not an impossible exam. Kaplan now goes back and assesses what each individual subject and subset of that subject each of us needs to work on, and gives us an online database quizzing us on those subjects first, and moving towards the ones we did better on.

In the afternoon, we did test taking strategies. Our professor tried to convince us that we were "lucky to be taking the step1" not that we "had to". I think he almost had me for a minute, then I was like wait a second, I want to do this to myself?! He then told us that we need to forget our family, because calling/contacting makes people emotional and all we should be doing is eating and dreaming about the USMLE. (He obviously, never met mine!)

All in all, its ok to be back in Cayman. It is nice to see the people going through this process with me, they get where I've been and where we're going. The reality that I'm home in four months is ridiculous and really refreshing. It is cold here, and I have yet to the see the sun. It is 70, but with the wind feels like 64! I'm hoping the sunshine will break through so that Kaplan is a bit less depressing. Plus, you feel bad for the tourists on the beach pretending its warm because they're on vacation.

Last, I want to wish my big brother a very happy 29th birthday! I have had a wonderful role model and friend in him for many years (even through all the torturing!), and I'm so grateful to have someone to look up and to protect me, mar and em. Happy Birthday Old!

Happy New Year :)

I write today sitting in my toasty living room, next to the fireplace, in a bitter cold western NY. While, its never "fun" to be back in Cayman, when I hit the 90s in about 18 hours, I'll be torn between what to miss. And still, no matter how big dreams get, home is always best.

It was, a wonderful vacation. I have been abundantly blessed, and have so many special people in my life. I got to visit with many of them, and it is always hard to miss out on others. It is great to have gotten to spend two weeks with my younger sister, who I haven't seen since May. I spent a week with Mary, and I was with the world's best big brother for over a week. While its always hard to not see friends, it is reassuring to know that when this craziness is over, they will still be by my side. I got to visit with all three of my grandparents, many aunts, uncles, cousins, and even my favorite 15 month old too. My mom spoils me rotten when I'm home, and I was glad to spend so many nights asleep with her by the fire. When I stop believing in myself, I have the best family to think of; their support is overwhelming.

2009 was quite the year. Highlights include my best friend's wedding in March, my sister's graduation in May, a trip back to the the Adirondack's with the Schiraldi family in August, my Mom's visit to Cayman in October, and this break. (The best parts are always with family and friends!) And, this year took a lot out of me. My once healthy, happy body seemed to get the best of me. While being away from home for the first time is quite the challenge on your hormones, adding medical school to it is even worse and I'm constantly fighting to keep the 'old me' or at least a less stressful version of the 'new' one.

I return to Cayman in the morning, for the biggest task yet, but the end of my time in Cayman and the end of basic sciences. January 5th-February 26th I take a Kaplan course to prepare me for my licensing exam this Spring. The course is intense, 8-5 or 11-7 Sunday through Saturday. During the course, I will take two practice boards and if/hopefully when I pass those, I will be okayed by my school to take the licensing exam. Afterwords, it is up to me whether I wait a week or 5 months to take it. I hope to be ready as soon as possible. To completely focus for the next months, I decided to inactivate my facebook account. I will blog when possible, and I am always checking email (laura.k.schiraldi@gmail.com) and would love to hear about your exciting or maybe not so exciting lives. I can't say enough how much hearing from the states keeps me going. I hope everyone has a happy, healthy start to 2010. All my love.