Yo estoy estudiando todavia.

Whelp, Cell Bio done with. Now on to Biochem.
Thought I'd let you all in on one of my study breaks though. Rosa heated up some champurrado with some galleta type thingys for the three of us.

(Please ignore the mug. It's the one Rosa gave me to use!)

Hasta!!

yo estoy dejando mi tarea para mas tarde.

hello everyone,
i am procrastinating. I just looked out my window and saw it dark outside. When I started procrastinating it was still light. I think I've been playing mahjong a bit too long. Oops!

I've got my first exam coming up on Wednesday. It's my cell bio final. I've got a set of 250 questions to start going through. I'm not as motivated because I have a good basic knowledge of textbook cell bio already. It's the whole medical cell bio approach that I've got to study for and that's a bit confusing and daunting. Don't exactly know how to go about that. I guess I'll figure it out sooner or later.

I'm a bit tired of the rainy season here in Gdl. I've never lived in a place with a "rainy season" before. I think there's about a month more of it.

I'm coming up with a lack of stuff to say. I'm pretty much in a routine now so everything seems ordinary now, and nothing really sticks out.

I was in Ixtlan again last weekend. Some of the sisters were coming to Gdl, leaving on Monday at 5am and offered me a ride. unfortunately my classes start at 8 and I would not have gotten home in time so I just rode the bus back. Another comment about the rain....rained hard during the trip that by the time we arrived at Gdl the low roads were flooded. Praise the Lord for huge heavy buses because at one point the water was really, really high. Any luggage under the bus was wet if not ruined.

I brought a piece of Jan's Texas cake home with me yesterday. It was very, very good! Excelente!! Rosa is a healthy person so dessert is very rare other than fruit. Man I miss my sweets.

Okay, maybe I should attempt once again to be a good medical student, peace out.

hasta!!

I forgot to mention..... Mexico has two medals now. This second was a gold. First olympic gold for Mexico since 1984. The country's pretty excited!!

Yo estoy a casa.

The word 'home' finally slipped into my vocabulary today. I haven't been able to use it since I moved. I've always referred to it as Rosa's house or my host mom's house, but today I called it home finally. I take it as a good sign to be able to be where you are.

The other day I made a trip to the center with one of my classmates. Started raining when we got to the PMC office. by the time we left the roads were flowing like a river. Thankfully my friend drives a truck. No way could a car have survived. Then the smell hit us. The sewers were overflowing with so much water they had pushed open the manholes and were spurting upwards. It looked like water fountains dotting the roads. We made it through and home. I just wish I'd had my camera with me because my words don't come close to describing it.

Funny side note. Everyday in Anatomy, Ponce opens class by asking questions, in other words you got to know the material for the day ahead of time. I had left some studying to do during my break today, but unfortunately had forgotten that today we didn't have a break but rather our IPM class so I was not prepared to answer questions in the depth that Ponce likes them. Of course he calls my name from the list...
"Stoller...Christy?"
Crude I say under my breath. "Here!" accompanied by a half-hearted raise of my hand.
Ponce looks down. "Tawill...Patrick?"
and that was the end of it. I couldn't believe it. It makes me laugh even now. Ponce's never let anyone off the hook like that before. Thank you Lord!! (said with extra emphasis on the last word).

I've got to go study Anatomy now. Ponce decided to combine some of his lectures, so in other words I've three days of work to prepare for tomorrow. ugh!

Yo estoy una surfista!!!...o una alemana.

The other day during a class activity I was talking to some of my classmates. They were surprised to hear I was from Illinois. According to them they thought I was a surfer from California. Sweet!! But then a bit later a taxi driver asked if I was from Germany and was surprised to hear I was from the US. hummm... All in the eye of the beholder I guess.

Things are really getting busy. One of my professors/doctors keeps telling us that there should be no reason for us to not get at least 6 hours of sleep a night. Who is he kidding!!! How did he pass med school getting that much sleep. There's way too much to learn and to put it simply...not enough time to learn it in. I'll be glad when the Olympics are over. Then I can stop wasting time on the internet looking up results. Go USA!! Mexico has one bronze at the moment. Go Mexico!!

I wore an ISU shirt on campus today and walking to class I got booed at by some guys in my class. Apparently one of them had attended Creighton in the US. Definitely was not expecting hostility and it caught me by surprise. They were only joking, but I think I'll wear my shirt more often from now on.

Hasta!!

Yo estoy escuchando a la musica de los vecinos.

I've actually got some stuff to write about for once so hold on to your pantalones.

We started cutting the cadavers yesterday. It took me a second before I could actually start. I mean, the man laying on the table in front of me had a name, had a life once upon a time. Once i got started it was no problem. One is so intent on the task ahead of them that peripheral peaks to the man's face cease and all of a sudden time's up.
Ironic thing though. When I got home, Rosa had some chicken for supper. It's not polite to use your hands so I picked up my knife and fork and hacked away for the second time that day. jaja! okay, that was a bit crude wasn't it? Please for give if I offended. It was certainly not intentional.

Today I had my CIAP course in the morning. We got the results from the psych exam we took during orientation. You know, the one's that told us we are all crazy for thinking we could do something like this :) My results kind of surprised me and I've got some disagreements, but for the most part it nailed me right on the head. I'm going to quote my favorite part for you.
"Their private reactions are often vivid and intense, and sometimes quite unpredictable to others. These private reactions seldom show in their faces, and even when dealing with a crisis, they can look calm and composed. Not until you know them very well do you discover that behind their outer calm they are looking at things from an intensely individual angle, often a delightfully humorous one."

So I started my PMC today. Went to the hospital, Hospital del Angel Leano (HAL). So apparently this hospital is out in the outskirts of the city, plus it's a teaching hospital so I saw a grand total of 2 patients. Oh well, I practiced some vitals and got to know some other UAG students and some of the doctors. Oh my word though. In general I am shocked at what I saw today. Shocked. The doctora that is supervising me is a mess. If I saw her on the street, not in a million years would I guess her to be a doctor. But most of all the whole drug situation was what really did it. Dra. Martinez opened the drug cabinet. Bags and boxes of drug samples just thrown in on the floors no organization whatsoever. Boxes old and smashed (given to the patients in that condition too). When Dra. Martinez couldn't find some drugs she was looking for she went over to her purse and started pulling out box after box of drugs. i mean what is she doing with all them? Handing them out to her friends......I wouldn't be surprised. To top it all off both Dr. Iberri and Dra. Martinez loaded their patients up with drugs. Dr. Iberri gave his patient about four prescriptions for a bit of acid reflux, probably the start of an ulcer. Dra. Martinez loaded her poor patient who couldn't even see well enough to read the boxes up with six different drugs. She's not going to remembering what she's supposed to do (being she can't even read the boxes let all the doctora's instructions) take the wrong one's at the wrong time and die. Either that or someone on the street will she her walking by, bag bulging with drugs and rob her. The whole time I'm thinking....what am I getting myself into?

Interesting and very ironic tidbit. The black market can be found on San Juan de Dios. Talk about polar opposites. My friend had her side mirrors stolen off her car and was wondering where she could find them again.

Well, I'm going to stop cuz I want to sleep before i have to get up. No that's an exaggeration, but it's been a long day and I want to sleep. Got lots of thinking and mentally planning to do.

Hasta!

Yo estoy emocionada.

I got a phone today. Well, I figured out how to use the phone I had, let's put it that way. Delta helped me out. Those voice machines that you get on the phone.... yeah couldn't understand it so that's where a native speaker came into play. i feel like I have a new toy now and neglecting my studying just want to play with it.

We were about to start on the cadavers in lab today, but they hadn't been set out to drain/dry in the morning so were still too wet. Oh well, tomorrow.

Campus is so much more busy and crowded now that the Latins have started.

I've got to study.
Hasta!!

P.S. If anyone has a specific question about something post it in a comment or email me. Feel free. Love ya all!!

Yo estoy escuchando musica.

Hello!

Weekend went well. Meet Marshall and his nieces at the airport for a ride out to Ixtlan on Saturday. Starting to know a few more people there.

Got a new roommate yesterday. Well, we've got our own rooms, but you know what I mean. Her name is Delta. She started her classes today. She is part of the medical program for Latin students here at UAG. She is from Aguascalientes, about 3 hours from here.

I've got Anatomy lab to add to my list of classes. It was on the schedule for everyday, but they told us that when we have PMC we won't have lab. so we figured it would be on one of the other four days. Apparently not. We've got Anatomy lab 2 hours a day 4 days a week. I'm on campus 9 hours a day. Ugh!

Hasta!

Yo estoy llena.

Boy, I'm stuffed. Let me say I've been eating good this past week. haha. Rosa had surgery last Friday. She came home on Sunday and since then her sister, Irma, and brother, Armando have been staying with us. In addition, friends and family have been visiting non-stop. At first, I was a bit annoyed with so many people around. mainly because I always felt awkwardly in the way. But I've slowly changed my mind. I mean we've had three and even sometimes four-course meals everyday with very good food such as duck tacos, arroz con leche, taquitos (actually to me that's what it sounded like, but not exactly sure if it's right.) Mom and Dad you'd be proud of me. The soup today was mushroom soup and I forced it all down. I hope it's not served again anytime soon. haha.
Another story about how God is providing for me. I was in need of some scrubs which run about 3 times more expensive here than in the states. A girl in my class, Lori, tall like me, offered me a pair of hers saying she had tons at home. Today she hands me not one but one and a half sets of scrubs. Now Lori is tall but she is also very skinny, but I'm in no position to be picky so I accepted them. Turns out they'll do just fine. Praise the Lord! He just saved me about 700 pesos. God bless Lori.

I'm going to Ixtlan again this weekend. Very excited!

Hasta!

yo estoy medica

I received the picture from the girl who took my picture today. Here it is. I thought you'd be able to see the patch, but I guess I was wrong. Bummer. It's on the left arm.

Yes, Yes, I know I don't look like a doctor. You can stop laughing now!!

yo estoy cansada.

hello everyone,
Hope you all enjoyed the picture that I was finally able to post this morning. I have a break at the moment so I thought I'd come home and study/pass the time before returning for Anatomy. Since I've got some time I'll fill you in on my professors.

1) Biochemistry: 2hrs a day, 5 days a week, all semester long
Dr. Lorzano is the main doctor (We'll have another who specializes in carbs when the time comes). He is nice. No complaints. In addition to the book we have like a class notes book (actually it's divided into 5 different books...it's that huge) which helps guide us in our studying and also for following in class.

2) Cell Biology: 2hrs a day, 5 days a week, 4 weeks*
Dr. Hughes is the doctor. He is American. Was educated at the UAG like us. He is nice to have for first semester cuz he's got advice and recommendations that he randomly throws out gathered from his experiences of moving to Mexico. He's full of jokes. (I have heard some complaints from fellow classmates that his jokes are taking away from him actually teaching us. I do see their point but personally have no complaints yet.

3) Anatomy: 2 hrs a day, 5 days a week, all semester
Dr. Ponce is the doctor. Can anyone say jerk? Ponce is a plastic surgeon. Way over the top stuck on himself. and Mexican through and through. If you've ever lived or visited Mexico you'd understand that, but for those who haven't let's just say that his comments about his female students made me rather uncomfortable. Ugh! I sit in the back and am going to keep it that way. Plus he admits that he thinks our lives revolve around him and his class. Whatever, at least i like the subject.

*Cell is followed by embryology which is then followed by genetics.

i am also meeting a wide range of classmates. I sit next to Liz; very heavy New Yorker accent.
Trrifinie is here with 6 of her 7 kids all in an apartment; 5 of which are staying. Daffydd was not ashamed to admit that he screamed when given his immunizations. Pratik let me call home on his computer. Amelia (who had her interview same day as me). Amelia and Pratik are always together. I've hung out with them a couple of times. Steve was a teacher/football coach in Texas for 4 years. Joseph from California lives with relatives here and is always with Steve. Feroz i can't really describe in a sentence but I think he'll be a great doctor someday. There's Josue. There's Adriana. Jason is from Greece. Luis lives with his parents (His dad transferred to Guadalajara when he was accepted.) Then there's the Puerto Ricans and a bunch of people I haven't met or either know enough to comment on.

i should go. I've got Anatamy.
love ya,
hasta,
Christy

Yo estoy una jamon otra vez!

Hey! It worked this morning.
My first day of med school.

Yo estoy una jamon!

It was my first day of school. I couldn't help it!

....okay well I had a picture of me to put here but either the internet service or my computer is pretending to be weird and deciding not to load the pic....so sorry about that

maybe I'll try again tomorrow even though second day of school isn't near as cool.

hasta!

Yo estoy pensando en mi hogar.

My thoughts are at home today.
Two friends that I've known basically my whole life are getting married today. Congratulations to Seth and Jenn! My prayers are with them and I wish them all God's blessings.
In addition, two new cousins have recently been legally added to our Stoller family. Alissa and Zae are up from Texas visiting in Illinois with their parents (Scott and Jennie). I have never met them and yet know that I love them.

Much love to all back home,
hasta,
Christy

Yo estoy lista para el comienzo de mis clases. Sino, primero, necesito mis libros.

Wanted to post this picture taken first day of orientation. It was posted on facebook. The majority of the first row is not part of the class but rather UAG faculty and staff and other important people. Can you find me?
Hint: I'm white! (pun intended :)