I'm loving living in Chicago. But I knew that before I even got here. Sunday was my first time taking the El back into the city from Carrie and Troy's. Got off on Superior triumphant. Take that "CTA"! Plus in the middle of switching trains someone asked me for advice on switching. Score 1 for the "I-have-no-clue-what-I'm-doing-but-you-can't-tell" game face!!! I'm also getting better at judging intersections while walking around the city. I don't have to stop at a corner and determine if I can cross or not anymore. Instead, now by the time I've reached the corner I've already noted if I can continue or stop. Doesn't sound like something big, but when you're standing at a corner waiting to cross and in the meantime two different individuals have approached and proceeded to cross without waiting, it becomes something big to you!
Today was my actual first day in Children's. Yesterday I just did some training as I wasn't cleared by health services yet. The secretaries informed me that I didn't miss anything. Turns out that both of the attending physicians are at a conference, so nothing has happened yesterday or today. Tomorrow they'll be back, and it'll get busy. Because it wasn't busy today, one of the secretaries convinced me to go outside of the hospital for lunch saying I should take advantage of the opportunity as it probably won't happen again. I would have been content to stay there and eat the raisins I'd brought, but I figured she was right. So I walked around till I found the Greek restaurant she had mentioned. They gave me a free dessert with my meal. Score!!!
Hasta!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Yo estoy en Chicago!
I've been sitting with my fingers poised to type but couldn't think of any adjective more appropriate than "weird" to describe how it feels to be back in the States again so soon. But couldn't think of one. That's just what it is...weird to have to leave Mexico again so soon after getting back. Just this past week I had enjoyed part of a break at HAL sitting on the grass in the sun. I'd pulled up the pant legs of my scrubs and pulled off my white jacket and was just happy to be reminded that I love Mexico. And then before I know it I'm on a plane heading back again. As the plane descended into Chicago and finally cleared the thick fog revealing the gray wetness of the city the little boy sitting behind me started exclaiming, "Yes! Yes! Yes!" He made me smile and I was just happy to be reminded that I love it here too.
Hasta!
Hasta!
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Yo estoy extravagante.
Sunday mornings in Ixtlan start with children's songs during which the kids will stand up front as we all sing. Two weekends ago one of the little two year olds joined the rest up front squeezing in beside his sister. Two seconds later the piece of hard candy he had in his mouth had fallen to the floor. He turned to his sister and pointed at her mouth. Without hesitation she took the gum out of her mouth and put it into his. This past weekend a similar story transpired between two girls. Girl #1 grabs her friend's hand and uses it to whipe her nose. Girl #2 doesn't squirm just lets her whipe and then uses the back of Girl #1's shirt to clean off her hand. The whole time both girls just kept singing.
- I can't say if it was culture, or age, or just innocence that prompted those exchanges, but what struck me was the unhesitant giving. Do I love that much? Love my brother enough to give the food from my own mouth? Love my friend enough to give my own hand?
In Mexico they hiss. It's kind of hard to actually put a definition to their hiss becuase they are able to send a couple of different messages by hissing, but in general it can be likened to an American boo. Such as booing something you dislike or disapprove of. I was on the receiving end of my first Mexican hissing last week. It was mentioned in clinical cases how Lyme disease is endemic in parts of the United States whereupon my classmates turned and hissed at me. I knew they were joking and actually laughed along with them. Can check another "to do" off my list; receive a Mexican hiss....didn't know that was actually on my list, but I guess it was. :)
Had exams last week (hence the lack of posting). Two of them; Ophtalmology on Thursday and Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) on Friday. Since the start of the semester ENT doctors had been hinting at our need to study, study, study. Plus from previous semesters ENT is known as one the hardest of 8th semester. So being nervous enough about it I was trying to stay up to date as much as possible with my ENT studying. And then it was Wednesday and I realized I hadn't really studied ofta. Whoops! Shoot! Bang! Needless to say I did better on ENT than ofta.
Hasta!
- I can't say if it was culture, or age, or just innocence that prompted those exchanges, but what struck me was the unhesitant giving. Do I love that much? Love my brother enough to give the food from my own mouth? Love my friend enough to give my own hand?
In Mexico they hiss. It's kind of hard to actually put a definition to their hiss becuase they are able to send a couple of different messages by hissing, but in general it can be likened to an American boo. Such as booing something you dislike or disapprove of. I was on the receiving end of my first Mexican hissing last week. It was mentioned in clinical cases how Lyme disease is endemic in parts of the United States whereupon my classmates turned and hissed at me. I knew they were joking and actually laughed along with them. Can check another "to do" off my list; receive a Mexican hiss....didn't know that was actually on my list, but I guess it was. :)
Had exams last week (hence the lack of posting). Two of them; Ophtalmology on Thursday and Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) on Friday. Since the start of the semester ENT doctors had been hinting at our need to study, study, study. Plus from previous semesters ENT is known as one the hardest of 8th semester. So being nervous enough about it I was trying to stay up to date as much as possible with my ENT studying. And then it was Wednesday and I realized I hadn't really studied ofta. Whoops! Shoot! Bang! Needless to say I did better on ENT than ofta.
Hasta!
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Yo estoy oftalmologa.
Some people would call slapping your forearms with hard inflated rubber repeatedly for 1 1/2 hours punishment or even perhaps torture. In Ixtlan we call it some really good volleyball. Since we finished playing Saturday my arms have been swollen, tender and if you look close enough spotted with petechia in places from busted cappillaries. They're on the mend and should be good as new by tomorrow. :)
Often times my drive home from the hospital finds me enjoying my music either singing along, maybe dancing, sometimes both. Last week one such drive I happened to be singing, and noticed a guy from my class was driving by. From what I've noticed in my years of driving, drivers aren't tipically paying attention to surrounding drivers, so I was hoping I could bank on that. NO WAY!!!! The next day he came into clinical cases and sat next to me; he had a supressed smile and a gleam in his eye. The gleam that says you know a secret. Made like he was going to say something, but rethought it and instead offered me some of his Bubu Lubu. ay ay ay doh *facepalm*
Mexicans have a plethora of names, and often a doctor needs to be told by which of their names they typically go by.
- One girl is called Ana Eugenia. By when the doctora called her Ana she wrinkled up her nose and said she likes Eugenia. I joined the doctora in surprise. Who would prefer Eugenia over Ana...but I guess she does.
- Another girl is called Alejandra, but goes by the nickname, Alex. Here's the hitch, it's spelled Aletes. Which is very important to her that everyone knows. "Aletes...with tes!"
For one of our consults people have been turned away for not having proper uniform, or for having the wrong kind of shoes, or because their shoes aren't white enough. One of my classmates was telling us she had used alcohol wipes too clean her shoes but was still denied access for dirty shoes. So I just cleaned my shoes with toothpaste. I figure if it can whiten teeth it better have some power over dirty shoes. Priorities a little skewed if you ask me but if they want white shoes, they gottem. Plus, now my feet'll smell minty fresh!
Hasta!
Often times my drive home from the hospital finds me enjoying my music either singing along, maybe dancing, sometimes both. Last week one such drive I happened to be singing, and noticed a guy from my class was driving by. From what I've noticed in my years of driving, drivers aren't tipically paying attention to surrounding drivers, so I was hoping I could bank on that. NO WAY!!!! The next day he came into clinical cases and sat next to me; he had a supressed smile and a gleam in his eye. The gleam that says you know a secret. Made like he was going to say something, but rethought it and instead offered me some of his Bubu Lubu. ay ay ay doh *facepalm*
Mexicans have a plethora of names, and often a doctor needs to be told by which of their names they typically go by.
- One girl is called Ana Eugenia. By when the doctora called her Ana she wrinkled up her nose and said she likes Eugenia. I joined the doctora in surprise. Who would prefer Eugenia over Ana...but I guess she does.
- Another girl is called Alejandra, but goes by the nickname, Alex. Here's the hitch, it's spelled Aletes. Which is very important to her that everyone knows. "Aletes...with tes!"
For one of our consults people have been turned away for not having proper uniform, or for having the wrong kind of shoes, or because their shoes aren't white enough. One of my classmates was telling us she had used alcohol wipes too clean her shoes but was still denied access for dirty shoes. So I just cleaned my shoes with toothpaste. I figure if it can whiten teeth it better have some power over dirty shoes. Priorities a little skewed if you ask me but if they want white shoes, they gottem. Plus, now my feet'll smell minty fresh!
Hasta!
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Yo estoy nada.
I received my score report yesterday. I waited until after Bible study to actually look at it. That way when asked I could deny any news. I was so anxious that by the time we were saying good-bye I had to consciously keep my hands from shaking. My report said pass, and I felt I could breathe again as if I had been holding my breath for the past 4 weeks.
Back in December a friend was trying to cheer me up and said, "don't worry, you're Christy Stoller!" As if my name carries some magical power with it or something. How Stupid is that? So if mom and dad had named me Gertrude I would be living a completely different life? It is reasons like that which annoy me the most. A name is nothing more than a label. It says nothing about who a person is nor what they're capable of.
Some may have thought I lacked faith in the situation for doubting. But the only thing I have faith in is One True God who loves me and holds my future in his hands, and as such He can do with it as He pleases. We have never been garaunteed smooth sailing as we sojourn through this life....the opposite is more what we are to expect. And when I dislike the idea of trouble, embarrassment or failure it never lessens my faith that God knows what he is doing. I promised Him my love and obediance for the rest of my life, and crying over a failed exam would not have changed that promise.
Either way though....it feels good to breathe again!
Hasta!
Back in December a friend was trying to cheer me up and said, "don't worry, you're Christy Stoller!" As if my name carries some magical power with it or something. How Stupid is that? So if mom and dad had named me Gertrude I would be living a completely different life? It is reasons like that which annoy me the most. A name is nothing more than a label. It says nothing about who a person is nor what they're capable of.
Some may have thought I lacked faith in the situation for doubting. But the only thing I have faith in is One True God who loves me and holds my future in his hands, and as such He can do with it as He pleases. We have never been garaunteed smooth sailing as we sojourn through this life....the opposite is more what we are to expect. And when I dislike the idea of trouble, embarrassment or failure it never lessens my faith that God knows what he is doing. I promised Him my love and obediance for the rest of my life, and crying over a failed exam would not have changed that promise.
Either way though....it feels good to breathe again!
Hasta!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Yo estoy llenada.
Still more classmates showed up today....almost a week after starting. Talking to one such classmate I asked him why he got back so late and he said that his birthday was last Friday and he had wanted to spend it with his family. Hadn't heard that one before.
I talked with my people about my conversation with the shrugger yesterday. They reassured me I would be okay. I left with that feeling of "I've got people, and my people trump your people!" That feeling of "my dad can beat up your dad!!!"
I had started a reading a book over break hoping to finish it. Of course I wasn't able to, but now I'm glad for it. Now I still have an excuse to take some time everyday and let tedious actuality dissolve around me. I can escape to the fantastical world of Alagaesia where I don't have to think or worry. There I'm just along for the ride....a sweet dragonback ride. ;)
Hasta!
I talked with my people about my conversation with the shrugger yesterday. They reassured me I would be okay. I left with that feeling of "I've got people, and my people trump your people!" That feeling of "my dad can beat up your dad!!!"
I had started a reading a book over break hoping to finish it. Of course I wasn't able to, but now I'm glad for it. Now I still have an excuse to take some time everyday and let tedious actuality dissolve around me. I can escape to the fantastical world of Alagaesia where I don't have to think or worry. There I'm just along for the ride....a sweet dragonback ride. ;)
Hasta!
Monday, January 9, 2012
Yo estoy mareada.
I really like rollar coasters, but for just once couldn't it just be a smooth ride? I sat down with Vicky in the international office and got my complete schedule for the semester figured out. It's even crazier than last semester. It follows no rhyme or reason, just a jumbled mess. I'll have to brush up on my juggling skills. When I got there Vicky had already done some configuring, which I was very thankful for, because honestly I had spent some time staring at the various possibilities of an 8th semester schedule and had come up with nothing. I was half expecting that I would loose my spring break, but never said it out loud as if by doing so would make it come true. Unfortunately my efforts were pointless and my expectations were right. I'd had my fingers crossed that I'd be able to have a restful spring break since I won't get a break between here and New York. No such luck. sigh.
In the end I was happy to walk out of the office with a schedule that both she and I had in writing no matter how crazy it was.
Unfortunately I ran into the shrugger again. As a number of my classmates had decided to wait to return until today some of the smaller consult groups got rearrainged. I was unhappy at first then realized there was nothing to do about it so decided to make the best of it. The doctor I got reshifted to is the shrugger. After our time I approached him to remind him I'd be leaving. He then started giving me a hard time saying I'd have to finish all of my hours, etc. etc. A miracle must have happened because I was able to refrain from yelling at him something along the lines of....
"...Last Wednesday I stood in your office telling you I would be leaving, and asking for your input. And. You. Shrugged. You gave me no opinion, no requirement, not even a disapproving thought on the subject. So a schedule has now been configured and approved by the international administrators. How dare you to think that you now have the right to say anything..."
....so probably a good thing that I instead just smiled, told him I'd talk to Vicky again, thanked him, and left.
I knew this guy was going to be trouble. :(
Hasta!
In the end I was happy to walk out of the office with a schedule that both she and I had in writing no matter how crazy it was.
Unfortunately I ran into the shrugger again. As a number of my classmates had decided to wait to return until today some of the smaller consult groups got rearrainged. I was unhappy at first then realized there was nothing to do about it so decided to make the best of it. The doctor I got reshifted to is the shrugger. After our time I approached him to remind him I'd be leaving. He then started giving me a hard time saying I'd have to finish all of my hours, etc. etc. A miracle must have happened because I was able to refrain from yelling at him something along the lines of....
"...Last Wednesday I stood in your office telling you I would be leaving, and asking for your input. And. You. Shrugged. You gave me no opinion, no requirement, not even a disapproving thought on the subject. So a schedule has now been configured and approved by the international administrators. How dare you to think that you now have the right to say anything..."
....so probably a good thing that I instead just smiled, told him I'd talk to Vicky again, thanked him, and left.
I knew this guy was going to be trouble. :(
Hasta!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Yo estoy mejorando.
Things are better. I went to HAL earlier and started by going to the department office as I was told yesterday....of course no one was there. So I sat and waited, determined not to go anywhere until at least something got figured out. I also made another visit to the escolar office and talked with the lady who helped me yesterday second guessing her on why she'd given me the list number she had. She assured me I should be fine. Awhile later, after finally getting my schedule half figured out and finally attending a class I ran into that same lady in a hallway. She approached me to say that after I'd left she'd finally realized why I had asked her again about my number; I had been given the wrong number. She looked visibly worried about the mistake and was rapidly mumbling about how she could fix it, but as I already knew the numbers allotted for the internationals to be filled what she was wanting to do would have still put me with the Latins, and honestly I really just did not want to start all over with the mess, so I stopped her and told her it was okay. And it's true. It was easy to smile again by the end of the day. Except for the shrugger, everyone I've talked to today has been helpful and understanding (so thankful for that as I wasn't expecting it). Lord willing, I'll have been able to track down the last doctor, reschedule the last clinic, and pick up the last forms by tomorrow.
I've mentioned it before how first days at UAG are an organized chaos, but hands down this start has been the worst. The chaos part a bit out of control. Makes me laugh now. I pretend that they wanted to start my last semester with a big bang so they threw me a great big chaotic conundrum of a party as only UAG could do so well. Success! Definitely made my head spin!
Hasta!
Drove beside a black car with black windows escorted by the federales on my way to the hospital. Made me wonder who was so special, but not enough to give way to them as I noticed other cars were doing. Maybe not a smart move, but I figured that playing the blonde card would get me out of trouble and in the end they only stayed on the road for about 2 minutes before turning off. Can’t believe I’m thinking it, but perhaps I shouldn’t be so careless like that. Hmmmm. Next time I’ll pick a fight with someone my own size….without the machine gun escort….hehe just kidding ;)
I've mentioned it before how first days at UAG are an organized chaos, but hands down this start has been the worst. The chaos part a bit out of control. Makes me laugh now. I pretend that they wanted to start my last semester with a big bang so they threw me a great big chaotic conundrum of a party as only UAG could do so well. Success! Definitely made my head spin!
Hasta!
Drove beside a black car with black windows escorted by the federales on my way to the hospital. Made me wonder who was so special, but not enough to give way to them as I noticed other cars were doing. Maybe not a smart move, but I figured that playing the blonde card would get me out of trouble and in the end they only stayed on the road for about 2 minutes before turning off. Can’t believe I’m thinking it, but perhaps I shouldn’t be so careless like that. Hmmmm. Next time I’ll pick a fight with someone my own size….without the machine gun escort….hehe just kidding ;)
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Yo estoy en el borde.
First day back at HAL. It wasn't good. I should have taken hint by the fact that everyone I tried to contact yesterday about when we were supposed to start today aren't getting back until tomorrow. (Semester starts Wednesday means return on Thursday?? ...sigh and eye roll). So I figured since I had no idea of where I was supposed to be today nor when I was supposed to be there (we normally have just those two bits of information by the day before) no sense in hurrying no where, so I didn't. I woke up this morning wishing I could just stay in my bubble and let the world move on without me. I knew it would be a trying day, but I also knew that at least by the end of it everything would somehow be sorted out. And that thought helped me keep my chin up all day as the hours ticked by. Well, it's finally the end of it, and nothing is sorted out. I feel as if frustration is seething hot below the surface. And that, makes me even more frustrated, and just...sad.
1) I spent the time last semester to make sure I had all my paperwork done and was good to go for this semester only to not see my name on the list today. So not having a list number I couldn't really do anything, so I actually came home for a bit. Took a breather and pulled out my signed receipt. Figured I'd bring proof that I'd handed everything in already.
2) So that worked. I got asigned a list number. Yay! Yay? or no... for some reason I was given a Latin program number. I realized that but thought it would work as that's what I had last semester. But then I took a look at the schedules, and no, it's not going to work. Problem #1
3) In addition, as I'm in Chicago for a few months I don't actually finish this rotation making my availability for consults later in the rotation kind of impossible. Problem #2
I talked with the director of one subject. He glanced at me, looked at the other doctor in the room with us then shrugged, and went back to looking at his computer screen.
I can see it now...A day before June 3rd Dr. Mario Ruiz denying my right to graduate because I'm missing busy work or missing such-and-such points because I didn't attend such-and-such consult. And when that happens it will take a miracle to keep me sane, to keep me from yelling/emphatically reminding him that I was standing in his office January 4th explaining that potential problem to him and. he. shrugged.
Tomorrow will be a better day right? I'll get everything sorted in the morning in time to be able to attend at least half of my activities for tomorrow. And then I'll be able to actually start studying/working hard at getting as much done as possible by the time I'm to leave (a.k.a. trying to avoid any future problems). You've got to always be thinking ahead at UAG. Cover all your bases well. Count on them throwing you a curve ball and make sure you're prepared to either catch it or dodge when they do. Basically play their game, but play it better than them. Even when the game's not fun.
Hasta
1) I spent the time last semester to make sure I had all my paperwork done and was good to go for this semester only to not see my name on the list today. So not having a list number I couldn't really do anything, so I actually came home for a bit. Took a breather and pulled out my signed receipt. Figured I'd bring proof that I'd handed everything in already.
2) So that worked. I got asigned a list number. Yay! Yay? or no... for some reason I was given a Latin program number. I realized that but thought it would work as that's what I had last semester. But then I took a look at the schedules, and no, it's not going to work. Problem #1
3) In addition, as I'm in Chicago for a few months I don't actually finish this rotation making my availability for consults later in the rotation kind of impossible. Problem #2
I talked with the director of one subject. He glanced at me, looked at the other doctor in the room with us then shrugged, and went back to looking at his computer screen.
I can see it now...A day before June 3rd Dr. Mario Ruiz denying my right to graduate because I'm missing busy work or missing such-and-such points because I didn't attend such-and-such consult. And when that happens it will take a miracle to keep me sane, to keep me from yelling/emphatically reminding him that I was standing in his office January 4th explaining that potential problem to him and. he. shrugged.
Tomorrow will be a better day right? I'll get everything sorted in the morning in time to be able to attend at least half of my activities for tomorrow. And then I'll be able to actually start studying/working hard at getting as much done as possible by the time I'm to leave (a.k.a. trying to avoid any future problems). You've got to always be thinking ahead at UAG. Cover all your bases well. Count on them throwing you a curve ball and make sure you're prepared to either catch it or dodge when they do. Basically play their game, but play it better than them. Even when the game's not fun.
Hasta
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