Saturday in Ixtlan we went Christmas caroling (or in my case, more like Christmas croaking)and afterwards we celebrated Jan's birthday. Marshall built a lovely fire in the fireplace of Bethesda (the guesthouse). I had brought the rest of my banana bread and a bag of bunuelos to share. Between the two of us, Bev and I clearly decided that pineapple atole is not the best choice of beverage(especially when compared to Abuelita Hot Chocolate). and my last weekend in Ixtlan for the year 2010 came to an end. My drive back to GDL Sunday was probably more on the Mexican style of driving. I think I it was finally hitting home that I was headed North the very next day!!!!!
All last week I had made myself tackle one cleaning job a day. Doesn't seem like a lot, but really, there's not much involved when it comes to cleaning my apartment. (Taking that into consideration, you'd think I'd actually clean more often than I do!)Due to that, and after giving my floors a good mopping Sunday evening, there was no cleaning for me to do Monday morning. I just had to pack. I underwent a hair straightening as well being as it's much easier to travel with straight hair. It made me smile this year as I remembered my friends in the past complaining that I didn't value them enough to straighten my hair for them. I only straightened it to go home. And then I stopped smiling realizing that all of those friends are no longer with me. They've all moved away from GDL for some reason or other.
I'd made arraingements last week with a taxi driver for a ride to the airport. Talking to the driver last week I never actually told him my address. I just asked him if he would be available on Monday to drive me and that I lived on Seris. He replied with Seris? Oh yes, the yellow building! I've seen your car!" Boy, that made me feel unsafely stalkable!!!! But either way, at least he was ready and waiting for me even before our decided upon time, and I was off on my way home.
I have to be honest. Landing in Chicago last night and seeing the snow I was scared. I didn't want to leave the plane and find out if I could handle the cold or not. Thankfully it hasn't been too bad so far, but then again I've stayed inside so far. Inside with central heating, and carpet, and nice cozy warmness. Mom, Dad, I fear you have forever extinguished any desire I'd ever have for 5 star comfort. Who needs 5 stars when I get luxury for free at home!!!! Thank you!
Hasta!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Yo estoy floja!
The last wave of international students are making their ways to their prospective homes for the holiday this weekend; more specifically, I'd say the exodus started yesterday and will continue until Monday, myself bringing up the rear as I fly off into a winter wonderland this coming Monday, the 20th. I called it the last wave as the "first" wave was about 3 weeks ago with a steady trickle throughout the three weeks floating in between the two waves.
My original plan for my last post was to write a thank you to everyone who has been a support in prayer.....and then plans got changed, and instead of writing a thank you I ended up asking for additional prayer. Horrible way to show gratitude, I know. But I'm back on track now, just a few days behind.
I am very aware of the power of prayer as this year I have been along for a ride through life, Jesus driving and our car powered by a never ending fountain of prayer. It is proving to be a most amazing ride for which I do not take for granted all those who have prayed making it all possible. A few highlights: being able to take the step 1; passing the step 1 and being able to advance onto 5th semester; being able to make it home for Christmas
All were miracles made possible by prayer. I thank you and whole heartedly pray that you are richly repaid for your thoughts and prayers this Christmas season! God bless you!
Sick update:
I'm doing much better. Antibiotics wiped out the vexatious thing (Thank you God that Alexander Fleming was messy!) But if I had to analyze my state now, I'd say that the bacterial infection was taken care of but not first without lowering my immune system enough that some sort of virus set up home. In other words, I'm sounding kind of manly and I've got a pretty nasty cough still. Finally has come in handy that here in Mexico every corner store sells a wide variety of HALLS. I'm going through them fairly quickly, but they keep my coughing spells under control, and with the rest of Mexico treating them like candy.....
Hasta!
My original plan for my last post was to write a thank you to everyone who has been a support in prayer.....and then plans got changed, and instead of writing a thank you I ended up asking for additional prayer. Horrible way to show gratitude, I know. But I'm back on track now, just a few days behind.
I am very aware of the power of prayer as this year I have been along for a ride through life, Jesus driving and our car powered by a never ending fountain of prayer. It is proving to be a most amazing ride for which I do not take for granted all those who have prayed making it all possible. A few highlights: being able to take the step 1; passing the step 1 and being able to advance onto 5th semester; being able to make it home for Christmas
All were miracles made possible by prayer. I thank you and whole heartedly pray that you are richly repaid for your thoughts and prayers this Christmas season! God bless you!
Sick update:
I'm doing much better. Antibiotics wiped out the vexatious thing (Thank you God that Alexander Fleming was messy!) But if I had to analyze my state now, I'd say that the bacterial infection was taken care of but not first without lowering my immune system enough that some sort of virus set up home. In other words, I'm sounding kind of manly and I've got a pretty nasty cough still. Finally has come in handy that here in Mexico every corner store sells a wide variety of HALLS. I'm going through them fairly quickly, but they keep my coughing spells under control, and with the rest of Mexico treating them like candy.....
Hasta!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Yo estoy enferma!
So it turns out I was right to be temerosa on Sunday. My sore throat and cough have progressively gotten worse from day to day adding various symptoms to a growing list of symptoms. I had worked all last week with Anjuli, who had started feeling sick on Friday. I found out on Monday that Anjuli had finally gone to the ER on Sunday and been diagnosed with influenza. It made me nervous, my cummulating symptoms matched Anjuli's. However, there is no one to make me go to the ER....so I don't. Our head doctora at the IMSS finally caught me today noticing I was short of breath and asked why. I figured I could just say I'd ran up the stairs....but I hadn't, so the truth came out. No labs where done on me so I can't say for sure that I have influenza, but all the signs point to it. In short, I can't remember ever feeling like this before. My lungs feel like they are going to explode whenever I cough. My skin feels like it's on fire, but I can't get warm enough. They sent me home from the IMSS and told me not to come back. I am very happy to oblige them and stay at home under my enormous pile of blankets.
Prayers that this rather vexatious thing (it's not worthy of a proper name) is destroyed sooner rather than later.
Hasta!
Prayers that this rather vexatious thing (it's not worthy of a proper name) is destroyed sooner rather than later.
Hasta!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Yo estoy temerosa! Me duele la garganta!
Let's start with a background story:
In Ixtlan, Sunday church is started in the morning with all the children at the front of the congregation and we all sing children's songs. The number of children can vary from three to fifteen the very next Sunday. Last Sunday, as one boy was singing up front his father brought his baby brother (12-14 mo? I'm not sure) up to stand next to him putting the todler's hand in the hand of his big brother. However, as they continued singing the older boy let go so that he could do the hand motions that accompanied the songs. It wasn't long and as his baby brother was fidgetting he lost his footing and fell head first down the two steps to the hard tile floor of the church. He cried, was taken out, and was fine in no time, but the reason for this story is the older brother. The poor boy could barely continue singing as he was fighting tears, and clearly visible plastered across his face was fear and guilt.
I finished up my rehab rotation last Friday with not a very pleasant experience, but definitely one from which I learned. I was conducting therapy on one patient and all of a sudden she yelped in pain. It took all of 3 seconds for me to remedy the problem, and everyone continued on...except me. I couldn't get past the fact that I had hurt her. I felt the fear and guilt that I'd see on that boy's face last Sunday. So like I said, it wasn't a pleasant experience, but at the same time, with each new experience I am able to acquire I am becoming better equiped to deal with the thousands of situations that await me, lurking behind closed doors and dark unknown turns.
This weekend was happy for me in Ixtlan as it brought the return of two parts of my Sibaja family home after their visits to the States. Issa Sibaja had been in the States since the end of June when she, her sister Lupita, and I had all traveled together up to Chicago. Her mother, Lourdes, had gone to the States about mid-October. I wasn't the only one. Lupita was very very happy to have her mom and sister home again.
I fear winter weather is coming to the area to stay. So cold at night, and then warm during the day. Unfortunately my concrete and tile apartment is content to just stay at cold all day long. Regg and Bev run Saturday mornings and so I was going to try to join them, but then they said that they go at 7 am! I dismissed that idea. IT IS COLD AT 7 AM!!! So Bev offered to run twice. She and I went on a run at about 11, comfortable shorts and T-shirt running weather. Much more my speed. ;) I stuck to putting on extra layers and wrapping up in a blanket at 7am.
A few pictures from the weekend:
This little pumpkin is Isai (Jesse in English). He's about the opposite of Matt and Ruth Gerber's little guy. Isai will actually sit still! :)
For the past couple weeks we've been in the process of making the Christmas pinatas! We started decorating them last night. This is supposed to be a pig...if you couldn't tell!
Hasta!
In Ixtlan, Sunday church is started in the morning with all the children at the front of the congregation and we all sing children's songs. The number of children can vary from three to fifteen the very next Sunday. Last Sunday, as one boy was singing up front his father brought his baby brother (12-14 mo? I'm not sure) up to stand next to him putting the todler's hand in the hand of his big brother. However, as they continued singing the older boy let go so that he could do the hand motions that accompanied the songs. It wasn't long and as his baby brother was fidgetting he lost his footing and fell head first down the two steps to the hard tile floor of the church. He cried, was taken out, and was fine in no time, but the reason for this story is the older brother. The poor boy could barely continue singing as he was fighting tears, and clearly visible plastered across his face was fear and guilt.
I finished up my rehab rotation last Friday with not a very pleasant experience, but definitely one from which I learned. I was conducting therapy on one patient and all of a sudden she yelped in pain. It took all of 3 seconds for me to remedy the problem, and everyone continued on...except me. I couldn't get past the fact that I had hurt her. I felt the fear and guilt that I'd see on that boy's face last Sunday. So like I said, it wasn't a pleasant experience, but at the same time, with each new experience I am able to acquire I am becoming better equiped to deal with the thousands of situations that await me, lurking behind closed doors and dark unknown turns.
This weekend was happy for me in Ixtlan as it brought the return of two parts of my Sibaja family home after their visits to the States. Issa Sibaja had been in the States since the end of June when she, her sister Lupita, and I had all traveled together up to Chicago. Her mother, Lourdes, had gone to the States about mid-October. I wasn't the only one. Lupita was very very happy to have her mom and sister home again.
I fear winter weather is coming to the area to stay. So cold at night, and then warm during the day. Unfortunately my concrete and tile apartment is content to just stay at cold all day long. Regg and Bev run Saturday mornings and so I was going to try to join them, but then they said that they go at 7 am! I dismissed that idea. IT IS COLD AT 7 AM!!! So Bev offered to run twice. She and I went on a run at about 11, comfortable shorts and T-shirt running weather. Much more my speed. ;) I stuck to putting on extra layers and wrapping up in a blanket at 7am.
A few pictures from the weekend:
This little pumpkin is Isai (Jesse in English). He's about the opposite of Matt and Ruth Gerber's little guy. Isai will actually sit still! :)
For the past couple weeks we've been in the process of making the Christmas pinatas! We started decorating them last night. This is supposed to be a pig...if you couldn't tell!
Hasta!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Yo estoy lista para la navidad!
Guess who's coming home for Christmas!!!!! Me! That's who! With a capital Y, Capital O, YO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There are six of us currently at our specific IMSS hospital completing our guardias. Without us saying anything, on the very first day, the doctora in charge. Asked us how we would feel about finishing early, and then went on to tell us that they'd do what they could to see that we'd be able to be home for Christmas. Nothing was said after that and we went on our way and got settled into our rotations for the week. Then today us pre-internados (a.k.a. pre-intern students) were called together for a meeting. Lots of importants things were discussed...you know, things like posada! But I couldn't believe my ears when our date of release was decided. It is absolutely amazing how superb my schedule turns out when I am not in control of it!
- Posada is a Christmas tradition in Mexico. Basically lots of food and fiesta making. Us international students are going to be hosting a posada for all the doctors! I'm really looking forward to experiencing my first posada (although I'm sure it'll have an American twist to it!)
I was scolded today during our meeting. The doctora went over what is "family medicine" which led her to talking about family, and directing her attention at us females addressed the difficulties of juggling medicine with having a family. But after this, I forget what exactly the topic was, but she asked us for our relationship status. When I replyed that not only was I not married, but that I didn't even have a boyfriend, I got scolded! Apparently I should not be single! Oh dear, I was a bit flabbergasted. I didn't bother with responding.
This week at the IMSS I've been in rehab. basically, fractures, sprains, post-surgeries, etc... It's easy enough that by today I was handling patients on my own. Honestly, I'm a bit bummed as rehab is the most boring of all the possible rotations, but either way, I'll learn what I can and be thankful for fact that I am able to be there.
Hasta!
There are six of us currently at our specific IMSS hospital completing our guardias. Without us saying anything, on the very first day, the doctora in charge. Asked us how we would feel about finishing early, and then went on to tell us that they'd do what they could to see that we'd be able to be home for Christmas. Nothing was said after that and we went on our way and got settled into our rotations for the week. Then today us pre-internados (a.k.a. pre-intern students) were called together for a meeting. Lots of importants things were discussed...you know, things like posada! But I couldn't believe my ears when our date of release was decided. It is absolutely amazing how superb my schedule turns out when I am not in control of it!
- Posada is a Christmas tradition in Mexico. Basically lots of food and fiesta making. Us international students are going to be hosting a posada for all the doctors! I'm really looking forward to experiencing my first posada (although I'm sure it'll have an American twist to it!)
I was scolded today during our meeting. The doctora went over what is "family medicine" which led her to talking about family, and directing her attention at us females addressed the difficulties of juggling medicine with having a family. But after this, I forget what exactly the topic was, but she asked us for our relationship status. When I replyed that not only was I not married, but that I didn't even have a boyfriend, I got scolded! Apparently I should not be single! Oh dear, I was a bit flabbergasted. I didn't bother with responding.
This week at the IMSS I've been in rehab. basically, fractures, sprains, post-surgeries, etc... It's easy enough that by today I was handling patients on my own. Honestly, I'm a bit bummed as rehab is the most boring of all the possible rotations, but either way, I'll learn what I can and be thankful for fact that I am able to be there.
Hasta!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Yo estoy contando con los dedos del pie.
I'm back from Ixtlan, and I'm tired and achy, but am definitely happy to be so. Saturday morning Regg, Bev & I went hiking.
This is a view of La Mula from our starting point.
Proof that after treacherous rock climbs, slick land slides, sheer drop-offs, annoying insects, and much sweat we made it to the top in record timing!
Bev & I on top of the world!
The second you crest the top of la mula you forget all about the work it took to get there. It was so worth it!
Hasta!
This is a view of La Mula from our starting point.
Proof that after treacherous rock climbs, slick land slides, sheer drop-offs, annoying insects, and much sweat we made it to the top in record timing!
Bev & I on top of the world!
The second you crest the top of la mula you forget all about the work it took to get there. It was so worth it!
Hasta!
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Yo estoy contando en mis dedos.
This week went by so fast. Finished up our Psychiatry rotation being the only 20 students still at the HAL campus as everyone else had finished the week before. Segundos were offered this week for all other semesters. My neighbor probably assumed I had failed all my rotations as I was taking off in my whites and with my backpack everyday. No sir, no....I just look clueless!
I came to Ixtlan on Friday this week, and have been enjoying my weekend hanging out with Regg and Bev Beer. I'll post pictures after I get back to GDL.
This blog post I actually wanted to do a little up-date on how Bible studies have been going in GDL. This semester we started out with just 4 of us which diminished to 3 after one of our friends went home in September. However, despite our small number we continued every week. And actually, due to the small number, we changed our Bible study format to topical Bible studies designed for discussion instead of working our way through various books of the Bible. Looking back, it was a good approach to our studies as we started out, but as we've gotten closer as a Bible study, gracias a Dios our discussions have developed and become much more in depth and productive. Thanks to God for helping our small Bible study grow and yet stay true to His Word. Further praise goes to God for then taking the next step and actually increasing our numbers. Recently, within the past month, God has brought three more individuals to join us in worship and study of His Word every Wednesday evening. I also have one more personal praise to give God. God has made it possible for this Bible study to continue regularly every Wednesday night for over two years now. This semester one atendee, who has been a regular the whole time, has taken a step (or maybe a growth would be a better word) and volunteered to prepare and give Bible study. It's one thing to come and listen. But hearing the Gospel is not enough to save one's soul. Taking a further step to do personal study and then apply it and practice it....it must make the angels dance. I am so thankful for God's coninued presence and blessing as we study through His Word. I am also incredibly thankful for all prayful support this study has received. I don't know what kind, if any, impact these feeble attempts at standing up for Jesus will have, but all praise goes to God, and all blessing goes to it's prayerful supporters.
God Bless you!
Hasta
I came to Ixtlan on Friday this week, and have been enjoying my weekend hanging out with Regg and Bev Beer. I'll post pictures after I get back to GDL.
This blog post I actually wanted to do a little up-date on how Bible studies have been going in GDL. This semester we started out with just 4 of us which diminished to 3 after one of our friends went home in September. However, despite our small number we continued every week. And actually, due to the small number, we changed our Bible study format to topical Bible studies designed for discussion instead of working our way through various books of the Bible. Looking back, it was a good approach to our studies as we started out, but as we've gotten closer as a Bible study, gracias a Dios our discussions have developed and become much more in depth and productive. Thanks to God for helping our small Bible study grow and yet stay true to His Word. Further praise goes to God for then taking the next step and actually increasing our numbers. Recently, within the past month, God has brought three more individuals to join us in worship and study of His Word every Wednesday evening. I also have one more personal praise to give God. God has made it possible for this Bible study to continue regularly every Wednesday night for over two years now. This semester one atendee, who has been a regular the whole time, has taken a step (or maybe a growth would be a better word) and volunteered to prepare and give Bible study. It's one thing to come and listen. But hearing the Gospel is not enough to save one's soul. Taking a further step to do personal study and then apply it and practice it....it must make the angels dance. I am so thankful for God's coninued presence and blessing as we study through His Word. I am also incredibly thankful for all prayful support this study has received. I don't know what kind, if any, impact these feeble attempts at standing up for Jesus will have, but all praise goes to God, and all blessing goes to it's prayerful supporters.
God Bless you!
Hasta
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Yo estoy quejandome demasiado este mes.
Back from another weekend in Ixtlan. Not only did I get leftover Thanksgiving on Saturday, but I even got to help clean up all the Thanksgiving dishes that had been put on hold while holding the leftovers. Jan said helping with the Thanksgiving dishes made it official....I had Thanksgiving on Saturday! To top it off I got leftover leftovers to bring back to GDL with me. I am soooo not picky if it means I don't have to make it!
I didn't really get any good pictures from the Thanksgiving meal I attended last Thursday but here's a few:
We were all set up and ready to start at this point. The tables laden with food are to the right. Three tables and the ledge of the stairs just to hold all the food.
These three ladies were the hostesses. L to R: Me, Iveth, Jennifer, Celina
(Celina's husband was also visiting GDL and helped with the hosting)
As I was driving to Ixtlan on Saturday I realized that, being as it was after Thanksgiving, I could start listening to Christmas music. And then I further realized that I hadn't actually done that yet. Time just gets away from you sometimes. I guess I just got tired of running after it for once, and all of a sudden...BAM! I mean it's almost December already!! I remember when I was flipping forward in my calendar to finally put down my scheduled date to take the Step and thinking it was a long time till the countdown ended. Now I'm way past that point and contemplating when to schedule the next! A good thing about time going by fast though...it most certainly keeps things changing and interesting. No time to stop and get bored!
Hasta!
I didn't really get any good pictures from the Thanksgiving meal I attended last Thursday but here's a few:
We were all set up and ready to start at this point. The tables laden with food are to the right. Three tables and the ledge of the stairs just to hold all the food.
These three ladies were the hostesses. L to R: Me, Iveth, Jennifer, Celina
(Celina's husband was also visiting GDL and helped with the hosting)
As I was driving to Ixtlan on Saturday I realized that, being as it was after Thanksgiving, I could start listening to Christmas music. And then I further realized that I hadn't actually done that yet. Time just gets away from you sometimes. I guess I just got tired of running after it for once, and all of a sudden...BAM! I mean it's almost December already!! I remember when I was flipping forward in my calendar to finally put down my scheduled date to take the Step and thinking it was a long time till the countdown ended. Now I'm way past that point and contemplating when to schedule the next! A good thing about time going by fast though...it most certainly keeps things changing and interesting. No time to stop and get bored!
Hasta!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Yo estoy agradecida!
Hello Everyone! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!
What a wonderful day it is. Us Americans are all excited about the holiday; it seems our hectic world has stopped for the day as the rest of Mexico carries on their normal Thursday activities as if nothing has changed. Honestly the situation kind of comes in handy; all the stores and businesses are open so last minutes trips or errands can easily be completed.
I have a special thanks to give my Lord this year. This semester has demanded a complete change in my social life as all of my close friends from the past two years are not in GDL anymore or at least for the holiday. And yet I am going to spend the holiday with a house full of friends. Jesus is my closest friend and as such he knows when I’d struggle most with loneliness and takes care of me.
I haven’t struggled with missing Thanksgiving the past two years as much as I have this year. That’s due to the fact that for the past two years at this point I’d already bought a ticket home normally within the next week. So missing Thanksgiving wasn’t as strong because I just reminded myself that I’d be able to see everyone soon. This year every other semester finishes this Friday. They’ve got their tickets and will soon be home to enjoy the holiday season. But it’s still unknown for me.
I have got so much to be thankful for nonetheless:
- If I’m able to be home in 3 weeks, 5 weeks, or 5 months I know that I’ll still be able to get up each morning with a smile on my face because I have the promise of life eternal in paradise which trumps all depressing thoughts I could possibly think of.
- Walking with Jesus has given me a passion for life and for joy that I desire to share with those around me, and this is due to the fact that when troubles hit I still know that Jesus is here with me. I am thankful that I don’t have to face this life with all its unknowns and heartaches alone.
- I am thankful for…..
Should I keep going with this list it would make the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s longest blog post.
In short, I am blessed beyond words. Blessings overflowing; let me share them with you.
Hasta!
What a wonderful day it is. Us Americans are all excited about the holiday; it seems our hectic world has stopped for the day as the rest of Mexico carries on their normal Thursday activities as if nothing has changed. Honestly the situation kind of comes in handy; all the stores and businesses are open so last minutes trips or errands can easily be completed.
I have a special thanks to give my Lord this year. This semester has demanded a complete change in my social life as all of my close friends from the past two years are not in GDL anymore or at least for the holiday. And yet I am going to spend the holiday with a house full of friends. Jesus is my closest friend and as such he knows when I’d struggle most with loneliness and takes care of me.
I haven’t struggled with missing Thanksgiving the past two years as much as I have this year. That’s due to the fact that for the past two years at this point I’d already bought a ticket home normally within the next week. So missing Thanksgiving wasn’t as strong because I just reminded myself that I’d be able to see everyone soon. This year every other semester finishes this Friday. They’ve got their tickets and will soon be home to enjoy the holiday season. But it’s still unknown for me.
I have got so much to be thankful for nonetheless:
- If I’m able to be home in 3 weeks, 5 weeks, or 5 months I know that I’ll still be able to get up each morning with a smile on my face because I have the promise of life eternal in paradise which trumps all depressing thoughts I could possibly think of.
- Walking with Jesus has given me a passion for life and for joy that I desire to share with those around me, and this is due to the fact that when troubles hit I still know that Jesus is here with me. I am thankful that I don’t have to face this life with all its unknowns and heartaches alone.
- I am thankful for…..
Should I keep going with this list it would make the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s longest blog post.
In short, I am blessed beyond words. Blessings overflowing; let me share them with you.
Hasta!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
HOME
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbSOLBMUvIE&feature=related
"Home"
Michael Buble
Another summer day
Has come and gone away
In Paris and Rome
But I wanna go home
Mmmmmmmm
May be surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
I just wanna go home
Oh, I miss you, you know
And I’ve been keeping all the letters that I wrote to you
Each one a line or two
“I’m fine baby, how are you?”
Well I would send them but I know that it’s just not enough
My words were cold and flat
And you deserve more than that
Another aeroplane
Another sunny place
I’m lucky, I know
But I wanna go home
Mmmm, I’ve got to go home
Let me go home
I’m just too far from where you are
I wanna come home
And I feel just like I’m living someone else’s life
It’s like I just stepped outside
When everything was going right
And I know just why you could not
Come along with me
'Cause this was not your dream
But you always believed in me
Another winter day has come
And gone away
In even Paris and Rome
And I wanna go home
Let me go home
And I’m surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
Oh, let me go home
Oh, I miss you, you know
Let me go home
I’ve had my run
Baby, I’m done
I gotta go home
Let me go home
It will all be all right
I’ll be home tonight
I’m coming back home
"Home"
Michael Buble
Another summer day
Has come and gone away
In Paris and Rome
But I wanna go home
Mmmmmmmm
May be surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
I just wanna go home
Oh, I miss you, you know
And I’ve been keeping all the letters that I wrote to you
Each one a line or two
“I’m fine baby, how are you?”
Well I would send them but I know that it’s just not enough
My words were cold and flat
And you deserve more than that
Another aeroplane
Another sunny place
I’m lucky, I know
But I wanna go home
Mmmm, I’ve got to go home
Let me go home
I’m just too far from where you are
I wanna come home
And I feel just like I’m living someone else’s life
It’s like I just stepped outside
When everything was going right
And I know just why you could not
Come along with me
'Cause this was not your dream
But you always believed in me
Another winter day has come
And gone away
In even Paris and Rome
And I wanna go home
Let me go home
And I’m surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel all alone
Oh, let me go home
Oh, I miss you, you know
Let me go home
I’ve had my run
Baby, I’m done
I gotta go home
Let me go home
It will all be all right
I’ll be home tonight
I’m coming back home
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Yo estoy orando para ti.
Amazing thing happened this Friday. We weren't assigned any write-ups. Honestly, I think it's more that the doctors are getting tired and wanting a break, but I'll take it. It cut my workload for this weekend down much, I'll actually have time to devote to simply studying! That feels good!
Jennifer and I completed our off-campus practicas last week, but this week our classmates (who were at the Psych hosptial) would report back to us that all the patients would ask about and talk about "Christy y Jennifer." It's always nice to be remembered!
By the way, I have to admit that I have never in my life more associated myself with my roots than I did last week at the psych hospital. They want to know where I'm from, do I speak German, etc, etc, etc...
And for the second time ever (both occurring here in GDL) someone came up to me and asked me if I was from Germany. Not even if I was from the United States, but they went straight to Germany. I guess when I'm 4 quarters German it's good that I appear like it. I've just never had a group of people so fascinated by the fact that I have German roots before. I guess I can add "the German girl" to my list of names that I'm called.
Also speaking of names, here in Mexico, Christy is a nickname for Christina, so when I introduce myself they automatically assume that my name is Christina. I just repeat that it's just Christy and there's no problem. But last week at the psych hospital that happened and when I repeated "it's just Christy" the guy responded with "oh, Christy...like a little girl." Oh brother. As much as I don't like Christina maybe I'll just let it go from now on.
Psychiatry is a lot of talking. The majority of the patients we see one on one, just need to talk. They've got a lot of unloading to do. When we are normally one on one with the interned patients we got about 2 hours with them. In Psychiatry there's a total possible 8 hours that we could spend with each patient. We never actually use all 8 hours, but it just shows how much of a different approach to medicine is required by Psychiatry.
However, because of all this talking and conversing going on I've hit a point where I have to say i need a Spanish break. I don't want to talk in Spanish, I don't want to listen in Spanish, read, write or think in Spanish. If I can push through this point and keep up the Spanish, I might actually find I've finally improved some. But right now, don't feel too much like pushing.
Hasta!
Jennifer and I completed our off-campus practicas last week, but this week our classmates (who were at the Psych hosptial) would report back to us that all the patients would ask about and talk about "Christy y Jennifer." It's always nice to be remembered!
By the way, I have to admit that I have never in my life more associated myself with my roots than I did last week at the psych hospital. They want to know where I'm from, do I speak German, etc, etc, etc...
And for the second time ever (both occurring here in GDL) someone came up to me and asked me if I was from Germany. Not even if I was from the United States, but they went straight to Germany. I guess when I'm 4 quarters German it's good that I appear like it. I've just never had a group of people so fascinated by the fact that I have German roots before. I guess I can add "the German girl" to my list of names that I'm called.
Also speaking of names, here in Mexico, Christy is a nickname for Christina, so when I introduce myself they automatically assume that my name is Christina. I just repeat that it's just Christy and there's no problem. But last week at the psych hospital that happened and when I repeated "it's just Christy" the guy responded with "oh, Christy...like a little girl." Oh brother. As much as I don't like Christina maybe I'll just let it go from now on.
Psychiatry is a lot of talking. The majority of the patients we see one on one, just need to talk. They've got a lot of unloading to do. When we are normally one on one with the interned patients we got about 2 hours with them. In Psychiatry there's a total possible 8 hours that we could spend with each patient. We never actually use all 8 hours, but it just shows how much of a different approach to medicine is required by Psychiatry.
However, because of all this talking and conversing going on I've hit a point where I have to say i need a Spanish break. I don't want to talk in Spanish, I don't want to listen in Spanish, read, write or think in Spanish. If I can push through this point and keep up the Spanish, I might actually find I've finally improved some. But right now, don't feel too much like pushing.
Hasta!
Monday, November 15, 2010
Yo estoy respirando. (3:45 PM)
Wow! La barranca was amazing! 3 1/2 miles down and then the inevitable 3 1/2 miles back up!
This is what we hiked:
This is who I hiked it with: L to R: Me, Jennifer, Iveth, Iona, Leti, Celina, Rick
This is proof that I did it:
I took a picture of the Welcome sign because I liked what it says underneath: (Thank you for giving your body the best medicine for preventing diseases, and that's not in a pharmacy.)
I also liked the back of the sign which says "Nunca te viste mejor" (You never looked better!) Funny as you're soaked with sweat by the time you make it back up to see that!
It's very daunting to me now, but la barranca is often used as training. We saw many running it as we made our way. Running la barranca is definitely something to work for.
Ok, now I do need to get to studying! Hopefully things will be calmer now (I've got both of my off-campus practicas done) and I'll be able to write more often.
Hasta
This is what we hiked:
This is who I hiked it with: L to R: Me, Jennifer, Iveth, Iona, Leti, Celina, Rick
This is proof that I did it:
I took a picture of the Welcome sign because I liked what it says underneath: (Thank you for giving your body the best medicine for preventing diseases, and that's not in a pharmacy.)
I also liked the back of the sign which says "Nunca te viste mejor" (You never looked better!) Funny as you're soaked with sweat by the time you make it back up to see that!
It's very daunting to me now, but la barranca is often used as training. We saw many running it as we made our way. Running la barranca is definitely something to work for.
Ok, now I do need to get to studying! Hopefully things will be calmer now (I've got both of my off-campus practicas done) and I'll be able to write more often.
Hasta
Yo estoy respirando. (8:00 AM)
There's no hospital today! I am so thankful for a chance to breathe again. The 20th is Mexico's 100 yr anniversary of the Mexican revolution....We're just celebrating it on the 15th instead.
This morning I'm taking off with a few friends and we are going to go hiking just North of the city. I really should be studying for the exam I have this week, but honestly I feel the short break and the increase flow of smog-free oxygen to the brain will do me more good than a few extra hours cramped up in my cold apartment studying.
Two weeks ago we started our Psychiatry rotation. Everyone from previous semesters had told us something along the lines of...It's the easiest rotation of 5th semester...Oh, Psych is no problem... It's a breeze. After day one we were in disbelief as to how Psych could have ever been considered easy. What we had unfortunately just discovered is that the Psych program is used to having between 60 - 80 students which they split up into two groups of 30-40. There are a mere 20 of us taking this Psych rotation, split into two groups of 10. However the curriculum was not adjusted accordingly meaning we each individually have been blessed with double to triple the normal work load. Another reason why I can justify hiking this morning...I've done nothing but Psych research for the past two weeks!
The psych rotation also includes two off campus psych practicas (sorry, couldn't think of an English word at the moment). Normally the students are in a group of about 20 and even then we'd heard stories to make us nervous. Due to our class size it was just me and another girl doing these extra rotations together. We didn't know what to expect and were a bit apprehensive about being locked in a room with a bunch of crazy guys. A little example of what I was nervous about...On our first day at the Psych hospital we were being given a tour, upon entering one of the courtyards we heard "guera! guera! guera!" and a few of the residents running at us from across the courtyard. Oh dear! but in the end, our whole rotation was really amazing! I can't really share my crazy stories via blog because the vast majority of them involve actions and must be seen to understand. Crazy people are fascinating.
I must go hiking now... To Be Continued.
This morning I'm taking off with a few friends and we are going to go hiking just North of the city. I really should be studying for the exam I have this week, but honestly I feel the short break and the increase flow of smog-free oxygen to the brain will do me more good than a few extra hours cramped up in my cold apartment studying.
Two weeks ago we started our Psychiatry rotation. Everyone from previous semesters had told us something along the lines of...It's the easiest rotation of 5th semester...Oh, Psych is no problem... It's a breeze. After day one we were in disbelief as to how Psych could have ever been considered easy. What we had unfortunately just discovered is that the Psych program is used to having between 60 - 80 students which they split up into two groups of 30-40. There are a mere 20 of us taking this Psych rotation, split into two groups of 10. However the curriculum was not adjusted accordingly meaning we each individually have been blessed with double to triple the normal work load. Another reason why I can justify hiking this morning...I've done nothing but Psych research for the past two weeks!
The psych rotation also includes two off campus psych practicas (sorry, couldn't think of an English word at the moment). Normally the students are in a group of about 20 and even then we'd heard stories to make us nervous. Due to our class size it was just me and another girl doing these extra rotations together. We didn't know what to expect and were a bit apprehensive about being locked in a room with a bunch of crazy guys. A little example of what I was nervous about...On our first day at the Psych hospital we were being given a tour, upon entering one of the courtyards we heard "guera! guera! guera!" and a few of the residents running at us from across the courtyard. Oh dear! but in the end, our whole rotation was really amazing! I can't really share my crazy stories via blog because the vast majority of them involve actions and must be seen to understand. Crazy people are fascinating.
I must go hiking now... To Be Continued.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Yo estoy segura.
It's been a week because I haven't had time to blog, and so now stories have been piling up one on top of the other that I fear those now at the bottom of the pile will never be told and soon long forgotten. How sad.
I'm blogging today, however not because I have time but because what happened today it too big to ignore.
I've never related any stories about the growing drugs wars in Mexico simply because to never talk about them helps me to not really consider them as a problem myself. But, reality is....they are becoming a bigger problem.
Shortened version of today's events concerning shootings at Hospital Dr. Angel Leano.
- last night a shot and wounded Narco was taken to HAL for care.
- Today offending enemies returned to finish the deed and HAL was caught in the crossfire.
- HAL was completely shut down and entrances to and from the hospital closed denying entrance and exit.
- Mexican army arrived to sweep the area
There's a lot more details that I heard throughout the day but as most stories amongst innocent bystanders are...just rumors, so I won't relate them.
When we finally were able to leave my friend said that seeing all the soldiers as we left was what finally made the experience real for her. For me it was hearing the ballade of bullets. My California classmates brag that they're used to drive-by shootings, but being from the middle of a corn-field myself I guess you could say I've had somewhat of a different upbringing. It was really interesting to experience this in the age of communication that we are living in now. People were updating their facebook statuses the second stuff started happening. News bulletins were being broadcast with updates that friends not at HAL would watch and call us letting us know what the News knew. At first when people started texting and calling asking if we were all right, we were all like "How on earth do they know?" Some of my classmates had fun answering those questions....which I'm sure didn't help a slur of rumors from being started, if you know what I mean.
Anyways, I've still got much to do tonight, and I'm tired already, but I thought that since there is a very very slight chance this might make some US news stations tomorrow I should at least mention it.
I'll end with a question:
Who's stupider? the Narcos? or those that make the existence of the Narcos possible?
Hasta!
yes, Dad I just caught myself...I ment "more stupid"
I'm blogging today, however not because I have time but because what happened today it too big to ignore.
I've never related any stories about the growing drugs wars in Mexico simply because to never talk about them helps me to not really consider them as a problem myself. But, reality is....they are becoming a bigger problem.
Shortened version of today's events concerning shootings at Hospital Dr. Angel Leano.
- last night a shot and wounded Narco was taken to HAL for care.
- Today offending enemies returned to finish the deed and HAL was caught in the crossfire.
- HAL was completely shut down and entrances to and from the hospital closed denying entrance and exit.
- Mexican army arrived to sweep the area
There's a lot more details that I heard throughout the day but as most stories amongst innocent bystanders are...just rumors, so I won't relate them.
When we finally were able to leave my friend said that seeing all the soldiers as we left was what finally made the experience real for her. For me it was hearing the ballade of bullets. My California classmates brag that they're used to drive-by shootings, but being from the middle of a corn-field myself I guess you could say I've had somewhat of a different upbringing. It was really interesting to experience this in the age of communication that we are living in now. People were updating their facebook statuses the second stuff started happening. News bulletins were being broadcast with updates that friends not at HAL would watch and call us letting us know what the News knew. At first when people started texting and calling asking if we were all right, we were all like "How on earth do they know?" Some of my classmates had fun answering those questions....which I'm sure didn't help a slur of rumors from being started, if you know what I mean.
Anyways, I've still got much to do tonight, and I'm tired already, but I thought that since there is a very very slight chance this might make some US news stations tomorrow I should at least mention it.
I'll end with a question:
Who's stupider? the Narcos? or those that make the existence of the Narcos possible?
Hasta!
yes, Dad I just caught myself...I ment "more stupid"
Monday, November 1, 2010
Yo estoy lloriqueando.
Due to the current string of holidays that Mexico is having (Oct 31 = Halloween; Nov 1 = All Saint's Day; Nov 2 = Day of the Dead) I thought I'd start with a few scary stories:
It has recently come to my attention that HAL (the school hospital) is haunted. Apparently on repeated occasions when nurses stop in to deliver meds to admitted patients the patients confess that they were just given their meds, and when asked by whom they describe the interfering culprit as a nun!
The main cemetery here in Guadalajara has dead people....but not just any dead people; these dead people walk around. The outside walls of the pantheon are covered with pictures of the deceased that have been seen walking around after the time of their death. Every Thursday night for the month of October and November tickets are sold for midnight walk-throughs of the pantheon. No need to decorate or add to the scariness there; the idea of "what if" is enough to sufficiently scare and thus justifying the selling of tickets.
Ok no more ghost stories:
When I got back from Ixtlan yesterday trick-or-treaters were out and about. They'd walk down my street yelling "Queremos Halloween" (We want Halloween). My neighbor underneath me would have them say "Trick-or-treat" before actually treating them.
Last story for the night:
I almost died Saturday! No just joking! Replaying it in my head I've decided I wouldn't of died, but my car would have been completely totaled! I had just started on my way to Ixtlan Saturday morning and in the process of making my way around a round-about when right in front of me a car sped into the round-about without slowing to enter or yield to cars. It was going so fast that you could see the heads in the car ping-pong back and forth violently as the car squidded into a 90 degree turn at the inside lane of the round-about. I was so distracted by the idea of the car slamming into my car that I kind of forgot where I was for a bit, and had to end up making a right turn from the left lane. I'm sure most people back home will shake their heads and say 'crazy Mexican driving' upon hearing this story, but the saddest thing to me about this story is that is not what came to my mind. Yes, Mexican driving is crazy, but the fact is that there is an underlying unspoken rhythym to it. Once you pick up its beat it flows rather smoothly. Seeing the car I was immediately reminded more of something that would be seen in the USA, where people drive to their own rhythym unconscious of the rhythyms around them. And even worse and more specifically, it reminded me of high school age boys from corn-field MidWest when in persuit of "coolness" the line between thrill/tough-guy and utter stupidity gets blurred to the point of disappearance and the two permantly combine. So moral of the story, have patience, because stupidity will always exist, and that extra two seconds you are detained behind some slow grandma could potentially save your life....or your car....or both.
Hasta!
It has recently come to my attention that HAL (the school hospital) is haunted. Apparently on repeated occasions when nurses stop in to deliver meds to admitted patients the patients confess that they were just given their meds, and when asked by whom they describe the interfering culprit as a nun!
The main cemetery here in Guadalajara has dead people....but not just any dead people; these dead people walk around. The outside walls of the pantheon are covered with pictures of the deceased that have been seen walking around after the time of their death. Every Thursday night for the month of October and November tickets are sold for midnight walk-throughs of the pantheon. No need to decorate or add to the scariness there; the idea of "what if" is enough to sufficiently scare and thus justifying the selling of tickets.
Ok no more ghost stories:
When I got back from Ixtlan yesterday trick-or-treaters were out and about. They'd walk down my street yelling "Queremos Halloween" (We want Halloween). My neighbor underneath me would have them say "Trick-or-treat" before actually treating them.
Last story for the night:
I almost died Saturday! No just joking! Replaying it in my head I've decided I wouldn't of died, but my car would have been completely totaled! I had just started on my way to Ixtlan Saturday morning and in the process of making my way around a round-about when right in front of me a car sped into the round-about without slowing to enter or yield to cars. It was going so fast that you could see the heads in the car ping-pong back and forth violently as the car squidded into a 90 degree turn at the inside lane of the round-about. I was so distracted by the idea of the car slamming into my car that I kind of forgot where I was for a bit, and had to end up making a right turn from the left lane. I'm sure most people back home will shake their heads and say 'crazy Mexican driving' upon hearing this story, but the saddest thing to me about this story is that is not what came to my mind. Yes, Mexican driving is crazy, but the fact is that there is an underlying unspoken rhythym to it. Once you pick up its beat it flows rather smoothly. Seeing the car I was immediately reminded more of something that would be seen in the USA, where people drive to their own rhythym unconscious of the rhythyms around them. And even worse and more specifically, it reminded me of high school age boys from corn-field MidWest when in persuit of "coolness" the line between thrill/tough-guy and utter stupidity gets blurred to the point of disappearance and the two permantly combine. So moral of the story, have patience, because stupidity will always exist, and that extra two seconds you are detained behind some slow grandma could potentially save your life....or your car....or both.
Hasta!
Friday, October 29, 2010
Yo estoy esperando pizza.
Pneumology has drawn to a close. The final was at 11 but I and a few other showed up at 7 this morning to get in some extra hours of radiology in prep for the exam. I felt like one of those fanatic students that I've always shooken my head at for doing things like requesting extra lab hours at like 5 in the morning. Unfortunately, I can't even positively say that the extra effort helped me on the exam.
Wednesday I ran into a wall. not literally, but figuratively. It was a quite unexpected experience. Now, normally when someone falls down they get up and keep going but for some reason Wednesday I couldn't get up again. Honestly, I kind of just sat there and pouted.......and then ate some popcorn. Thankfully Thursday I was able to rally and study hard once again. But the whole experience made me really thankful for this weekend. Weekends inbetween rotations are kind of "free" as there aren't projects and studying needing to be done. I'm going to Ixtlan this weekend and I'm going to enjoy it!
I've recently started running once a week with a friend at a park here in GDL called Los Colomos. It's like running cross country through a woods constantly up and down (This is not IL; nothing is flat). The park is paid entry so it's very nicely kept and taken care of. Anyways, let me explain the difference between my friend and I while running the hills at Los Colomos. My friend goes up the hills and I get up the hills. In other words, she used to run marathons until she suffered six herniated disks, and is now getting back into shape from her time off. Funny how her "out-of-shape" is actually....not! Either way, she's good motivation for me and we always have a good run!
Hasta!
Wednesday I ran into a wall. not literally, but figuratively. It was a quite unexpected experience. Now, normally when someone falls down they get up and keep going but for some reason Wednesday I couldn't get up again. Honestly, I kind of just sat there and pouted.......and then ate some popcorn. Thankfully Thursday I was able to rally and study hard once again. But the whole experience made me really thankful for this weekend. Weekends inbetween rotations are kind of "free" as there aren't projects and studying needing to be done. I'm going to Ixtlan this weekend and I'm going to enjoy it!
I've recently started running once a week with a friend at a park here in GDL called Los Colomos. It's like running cross country through a woods constantly up and down (This is not IL; nothing is flat). The park is paid entry so it's very nicely kept and taken care of. Anyways, let me explain the difference between my friend and I while running the hills at Los Colomos. My friend goes up the hills and I get up the hills. In other words, she used to run marathons until she suffered six herniated disks, and is now getting back into shape from her time off. Funny how her "out-of-shape" is actually....not! Either way, she's good motivation for me and we always have a good run!
Hasta!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Yo estoy deseando.
I did well all weekend. I was productive. I was getting work done at an efficient pace. I was getting good sleep each night. All the way up until about 7pm Sunday night. I had about 2 hours worth of work left on my last project. An estimated 2 hours that unfortunately turned into 5 taking me all the up to midnight on Sunday. It was sad to see my weekend end on such a half-hearted, inefficient note, but the main point was that it ended. I am thankful that I made a point to get good sleep prior to that because it prevented sleepiness being a factor in my inability to finish the last two hours and it has also allowed me to function today without feeling the effects of a late night working last night. It felt really good to turn in all my projects today.
Driving home from HAL today my friend and I were excited for a couple reasons.
1) We were actually leaving at 12.
2) We had options of how to spend the rest of our days. We could...
- start work on our next SOAP
- simply spend time studying!
- or dare I say...take a nap!
Honestly coming off a weekend of projects it sounds really good to be able to just study. Although I know that I will end up making myself start my SOAP too. but for right now since I'm not really a nap-taker, I think I'll procrastinate my work for a bit and read a few pages in my free-reading book!
There were two weddings that I missed back home this past weekend. Saturday was the wedding of Stephanie Thomas to Aaron Addicks. Sunday was the wedding of Regg Beer to Bev Schlatter. Congratulations to all of them!
I'm so sorry that I could not share their moments with any of them. It makes me think it'd be nice to live in a movie world or a TV series world....in other words, a ficticious world; where people make last minute flights all the time. Flights that are always direct, take about 30 minutes (no matter the destination), and leave the passengers as wide awake and fresh as they were when they boarded, and of course there's no thought to the cost of flying. Wouldn't it be nice.......
Right, back to reality...
Hasta!
Driving home from HAL today my friend and I were excited for a couple reasons.
1) We were actually leaving at 12.
2) We had options of how to spend the rest of our days. We could...
- start work on our next SOAP
- simply spend time studying!
- or dare I say...take a nap!
Honestly coming off a weekend of projects it sounds really good to be able to just study. Although I know that I will end up making myself start my SOAP too. but for right now since I'm not really a nap-taker, I think I'll procrastinate my work for a bit and read a few pages in my free-reading book!
There were two weddings that I missed back home this past weekend. Saturday was the wedding of Stephanie Thomas to Aaron Addicks. Sunday was the wedding of Regg Beer to Bev Schlatter. Congratulations to all of them!
I'm so sorry that I could not share their moments with any of them. It makes me think it'd be nice to live in a movie world or a TV series world....in other words, a ficticious world; where people make last minute flights all the time. Flights that are always direct, take about 30 minutes (no matter the destination), and leave the passengers as wide awake and fresh as they were when they boarded, and of course there's no thought to the cost of flying. Wouldn't it be nice.......
Right, back to reality...
Hasta!
Friday, October 22, 2010
Yo estoy avanzando en el agua.
My car is in the shop yet again. No need to explain why, it's the same old, same old. A friend is stopping by in a bit to take me back and Lord willing I'll be able to drive it away. It had been getting progressively worse all week so I was planning on taking the car to the shop on Saturday. I've recently started car-pooling with a classmate and on the way to HAL this morning worse became...."oooo! ouch! oh dear! that can't be good! oh noooooooooooo!" (I'm a bit over-dramatic sometimes....just a little) So after class I putt-putted all the way to the shop!
This respiratory rotation is tiring. This past week had a total of 5 exams in four days. In addition, though we are scheduled until 12 everyday, today was the only day I actually got to leave at that time. Tuesday was the lastest at a leaving time of 4pm. 9 hours with no break!?! what about a lunch?! no, it's not that bad. (like I said overly-dramatic) If you aren't with a patient the doctors typically allow you to eat. We are just dragging our feet to the parking lot at the end. And then for me it's extremely hard to get my brain to focus on my projects, presentations, and studying after that.
Today I realized that I feel like I'm treading water. That I've been treading water. I'm in the ocean and there's no land in sight. No tangible hope for a rest anytime soon. Sometimes I'm able to keep focused on the fact that Jesus is keeping me afloat, but other times when the waves keep putting me under time and time again, I begin to focus more on the fact that my arms and legs are so tired instead of the simple fact that Jesus brings me up again after each wave. Not exactly a clear analogy, but I'm willing to guess that more people than I realize would probably understand the feeling that I'm getting at.
I've discovered that pneumology or respiratory is something that I've got a knack for. I was able to pinpoint and define lung sounds within seconds of first hearing them, but unfortunately this time it's the subject that's the problem. I find respiratory to be rather boring. opposite of cardio which I love the topic but didn't have the talent for it.
I'm staying in GDL again this weekend, and though at the beginning of the week I thought maybe I should have decided to go to Ixtlan, it's now Friday and I've got plenty to keep me busy I'm worried if I'll get it all done the way it is.
We shall see!
Hasta!
This respiratory rotation is tiring. This past week had a total of 5 exams in four days. In addition, though we are scheduled until 12 everyday, today was the only day I actually got to leave at that time. Tuesday was the lastest at a leaving time of 4pm. 9 hours with no break!?! what about a lunch?! no, it's not that bad. (like I said overly-dramatic) If you aren't with a patient the doctors typically allow you to eat. We are just dragging our feet to the parking lot at the end. And then for me it's extremely hard to get my brain to focus on my projects, presentations, and studying after that.
Today I realized that I feel like I'm treading water. That I've been treading water. I'm in the ocean and there's no land in sight. No tangible hope for a rest anytime soon. Sometimes I'm able to keep focused on the fact that Jesus is keeping me afloat, but other times when the waves keep putting me under time and time again, I begin to focus more on the fact that my arms and legs are so tired instead of the simple fact that Jesus brings me up again after each wave. Not exactly a clear analogy, but I'm willing to guess that more people than I realize would probably understand the feeling that I'm getting at.
I've discovered that pneumology or respiratory is something that I've got a knack for. I was able to pinpoint and define lung sounds within seconds of first hearing them, but unfortunately this time it's the subject that's the problem. I find respiratory to be rather boring. opposite of cardio which I love the topic but didn't have the talent for it.
I'm staying in GDL again this weekend, and though at the beginning of the week I thought maybe I should have decided to go to Ixtlan, it's now Friday and I've got plenty to keep me busy I'm worried if I'll get it all done the way it is.
We shall see!
Hasta!
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Yo estoy creciendo mas y mas.
25 years baby!! Oh yeah!!
You couldn't see me, but I just did a little dance!
Been blessed with another year! Que celebracion.......guess you've got to speak Spanglish to understand that one!!
Didn't do anything special persay (?), but just kind of enjoyed knowing that I can now say I'm 25....so much more mature than 24!....right?
Ran errands this morning. Received extra strange glances, but probably due to the fact that I was slightly dancing to the music being played over the PA in WalMart. I didn't mind. You only turn 25 once. When I paid my gas bill and wasn't charged extra for it being overdue I told myself it was because it was my birthday. That lady at Zeta MultiGas knew...somehow, she knew! :)
I knew no one was going to stop by and say Happy Birthday, but I made sure my door was unlocked just in case. In the end the only person to come to my door today was the Santorini guy. But he brought me the perfect birthday gift. We all know how much I love water delivery day, especially when I'm completely out, which I was today...that is until the Santorini guy came ;)
For my birthday dinner I really splurged and got not only McDonalds but also a DQ blizzard! What a feast! haha! I just enjoyed not having to prepare any of it! The poor girl at the DQ drive thru finally gave up and asked me to pull through to the window. She couldn't understand my spanish through the headset she had on. I felt really bad, but sometimes I don't know how to say English words in Spanish. for example, blizzard, oreo, and M&Ms are all English words without another word translated in Spanish. There are many words like these and some are said in Spanish (for example Starbuck's is Starboouks), but some stay with their English pronounciation.
I was trying to call for a taxi once for a ride home from a restaurant that a friend and I had walked to. We were at La Casa de Waffle (the Waffle House). I tried every proununciation I could think of but the poor taxi guys on the other end of the phone just kept passing me around letting someone else try to understand where the world I was at. I eventually gave up and my friend and I ran into the rain and hunted down a taxi on our own. (I still don't know how Waffle is pronounced here.)
It's been a good birthday! It was happy! Listened to my music a bit louder than usual. Smiled a bit more than normal. Danced a little bit weirder. and with each new day I'm blessed with am definitely, without a doubt, more resolute in my desire to praise my Lord and Saviour up until and then beyond the last I pass on this Earth.
God Bless everyone! I love you all!
Hasta!
You couldn't see me, but I just did a little dance!
Been blessed with another year! Que celebracion.......guess you've got to speak Spanglish to understand that one!!
Didn't do anything special persay (?), but just kind of enjoyed knowing that I can now say I'm 25....so much more mature than 24!....right?
Ran errands this morning. Received extra strange glances, but probably due to the fact that I was slightly dancing to the music being played over the PA in WalMart. I didn't mind. You only turn 25 once. When I paid my gas bill and wasn't charged extra for it being overdue I told myself it was because it was my birthday. That lady at Zeta MultiGas knew...somehow, she knew! :)
I knew no one was going to stop by and say Happy Birthday, but I made sure my door was unlocked just in case. In the end the only person to come to my door today was the Santorini guy. But he brought me the perfect birthday gift. We all know how much I love water delivery day, especially when I'm completely out, which I was today...that is until the Santorini guy came ;)
For my birthday dinner I really splurged and got not only McDonalds but also a DQ blizzard! What a feast! haha! I just enjoyed not having to prepare any of it! The poor girl at the DQ drive thru finally gave up and asked me to pull through to the window. She couldn't understand my spanish through the headset she had on. I felt really bad, but sometimes I don't know how to say English words in Spanish. for example, blizzard, oreo, and M&Ms are all English words without another word translated in Spanish. There are many words like these and some are said in Spanish (for example Starbuck's is Starboouks), but some stay with their English pronounciation.
I was trying to call for a taxi once for a ride home from a restaurant that a friend and I had walked to. We were at La Casa de Waffle (the Waffle House). I tried every proununciation I could think of but the poor taxi guys on the other end of the phone just kept passing me around letting someone else try to understand where the world I was at. I eventually gave up and my friend and I ran into the rain and hunted down a taxi on our own. (I still don't know how Waffle is pronounced here.)
It's been a good birthday! It was happy! Listened to my music a bit louder than usual. Smiled a bit more than normal. Danced a little bit weirder. and with each new day I'm blessed with am definitely, without a doubt, more resolute in my desire to praise my Lord and Saviour up until and then beyond the last I pass on this Earth.
God Bless everyone! I love you all!
Hasta!
Friday, October 15, 2010
Yo estoy bailando parte 2.
For recent things non-Leon or Guanajuato related see the first part of today's post 'Yo estoy bailando parte 1.'
I did not take pictures of the clinic on Saturday so all of the following are from colonia San Juan de Abajo outside of Leon, GTO.
This is a picture of the area the clinic was in.
It was after 9 when we had finally arrived and it was close to 11 before I finally saw my first patient of the day. But people had been lined up and waiting since 8 am.
This is a picture of where I did consults for the day. There were two doctors per room. Dr. Debbie Sauder and I got to set up in the kindergarten room. We could see the kids having school outside as the clinic was overtaking all their rooms. I was very thankful for the other doctors on this trip. They pushed me to work on my own! I learned so much about medicine and about missions because of it!
Finally packing up and heading back after a long day. :)
Sunday we had a service at the hotel and then took a day trip to the city of Guanajuato, GTO.
I got to share a hotel room with these lovely ladies. L to R: Me, Heidi Kruger, Gloria Gonzalez, Maggie Gonzalez, Laura Jimenez, Claudia Gonzalez
The following three videos were taken in Leon, GTO. The are of light displays in two separate location that the city has projected onto buildings.
This first one is called Time Machine. It is a light display projected onto the Casa Municipal in one of the plazas of the centro of Leon. There were much better (a.k.a. more colorful with better music) parts of the show that I didn't catch on video. Sorry!
A few blocks away is the second light show. This one is called Drops of Blood and is projected onto the side of this large Cathedral in Leon. This video was at the beginning of the show but once again I did not get the best parts on video. I realize in these videos it's hard to see all that's happening but trust me that there was always something moving/changing shape/changing color, etc...
Hasta!
I did not take pictures of the clinic on Saturday so all of the following are from colonia San Juan de Abajo outside of Leon, GTO.
This is a picture of the area the clinic was in.
It was after 9 when we had finally arrived and it was close to 11 before I finally saw my first patient of the day. But people had been lined up and waiting since 8 am.
This is a picture of where I did consults for the day. There were two doctors per room. Dr. Debbie Sauder and I got to set up in the kindergarten room. We could see the kids having school outside as the clinic was overtaking all their rooms. I was very thankful for the other doctors on this trip. They pushed me to work on my own! I learned so much about medicine and about missions because of it!
Finally packing up and heading back after a long day. :)
Sunday we had a service at the hotel and then took a day trip to the city of Guanajuato, GTO.
I got to share a hotel room with these lovely ladies. L to R: Me, Heidi Kruger, Gloria Gonzalez, Maggie Gonzalez, Laura Jimenez, Claudia Gonzalez
The following three videos were taken in Leon, GTO. The are of light displays in two separate location that the city has projected onto buildings.
This first one is called Time Machine. It is a light display projected onto the Casa Municipal in one of the plazas of the centro of Leon. There were much better (a.k.a. more colorful with better music) parts of the show that I didn't catch on video. Sorry!
A few blocks away is the second light show. This one is called Drops of Blood and is projected onto the side of this large Cathedral in Leon. This video was at the beginning of the show but once again I did not get the best parts on video. I realize in these videos it's hard to see all that's happening but trust me that there was always something moving/changing shape/changing color, etc...
Hasta!
Yo estoy bailando parte 1.
I've been busy so I'm going to write about my trip to Leon separatly in 'Yo estoy bailando parte 2'
I just remembered my gas bill. Went looking for it. Found it. And then sighed to see the due date had been the 7th. Sigh....not looking forward to paying that tomorrow.
Wednesday at HAL (Hospital Angel Leano)there was a camera crew to take pictures for the next edition of the school's catalog. They called out the minorities and being the only white girl in class that included me. I felt a little guilty, as if I were falsely advertising the school, but in all reality any person to go through a college education has been wisened to the fact that all schools stage their promotion photos. The camera crew was complete with a make-up girl and all. I found it humorous to be getting a spontaneous quick make-over powdering and gloss until she pulled out the hair-spray. Really could have done without that bit. So I did my bit modeling, but in the end honestly doubt any of the pictures I'm in will be used. I had just gotten back from Leon the day before and so was really struggling to keep my eyes open. I probably come across in the photos as half-dead...probably not the propaganda the school will be looking for.
After two years of watching Mexicans and my classmates pop HALLS in their mouth like candy I finally tried one. I came to the conclusion that since they were so widely eaten they couldn't be mentholated as they are in the States. I was Wrong! The second I put the "candy" in my mouth I realized that they are indeed mentholated. Some of my classmates are addicted to them and constantly are eating them. I can't get past the mentality that they are a medicine nor the fact that I can taste the menthol in them to be able to ever eat one again without first having a cough.
When I got home from HAL today I had to take a picture of the odometer in my car.
I do realize that the chance of this particular number showing on the odometer is the exact same chance of any other particular number showing......but, this number is just cooler.
Pneumo is proving to be much more busier than cardio. I'm not liking all of the projects and presentations...it's reminding me of undergrad. As soon as it's dark tonight, I think I'm going to justify going to bed and then hopefully, Lord willing, tomorrow morning I'll finally be able to wake up ready to tackle the weekend.
Hasta!
I just remembered my gas bill. Went looking for it. Found it. And then sighed to see the due date had been the 7th. Sigh....not looking forward to paying that tomorrow.
Wednesday at HAL (Hospital Angel Leano)there was a camera crew to take pictures for the next edition of the school's catalog. They called out the minorities and being the only white girl in class that included me. I felt a little guilty, as if I were falsely advertising the school, but in all reality any person to go through a college education has been wisened to the fact that all schools stage their promotion photos. The camera crew was complete with a make-up girl and all. I found it humorous to be getting a spontaneous quick make-over powdering and gloss until she pulled out the hair-spray. Really could have done without that bit. So I did my bit modeling, but in the end honestly doubt any of the pictures I'm in will be used. I had just gotten back from Leon the day before and so was really struggling to keep my eyes open. I probably come across in the photos as half-dead...probably not the propaganda the school will be looking for.
After two years of watching Mexicans and my classmates pop HALLS in their mouth like candy I finally tried one. I came to the conclusion that since they were so widely eaten they couldn't be mentholated as they are in the States. I was Wrong! The second I put the "candy" in my mouth I realized that they are indeed mentholated. Some of my classmates are addicted to them and constantly are eating them. I can't get past the mentality that they are a medicine nor the fact that I can taste the menthol in them to be able to ever eat one again without first having a cough.
When I got home from HAL today I had to take a picture of the odometer in my car.
I do realize that the chance of this particular number showing on the odometer is the exact same chance of any other particular number showing......but, this number is just cooler.
Pneumo is proving to be much more busier than cardio. I'm not liking all of the projects and presentations...it's reminding me of undergrad. As soon as it's dark tonight, I think I'm going to justify going to bed and then hopefully, Lord willing, tomorrow morning I'll finally be able to wake up ready to tackle the weekend.
Hasta!
Friday, October 8, 2010
Yo estoy imaginando mi cama.
It's late...or it's early. It's my own fault. I really did have plenty of time that I could have been in bed an hour ago, but write-ups are soooo tedious some times. I would open the word document and stare at the clinical history I was supposed to be completing...and then I'd find something else to do. So now it's past 12 and I've still got to pack.
I'm heading to the cities of Leon and Guanajuato in the neighboring state of Guanajuato. The AC medical/dental mission trip is currently there so Claudia Gonzalez and I are going to drive over and join them. And as I'll be leaving right after the hospital tomorrow (today) I really need to be packed and ready to go before I leave for the hospital. As it's a national holiday next Tuesday we've decided that we'll stay till then meaning I'll be missing Monday at the hospital. I'm such a rebel!! Hopefully my doctors won't have a problem with it.
We are a week into our Pneumology rotation now. This was the cut off for step scores so our class dynamic has changed quite a bit. So many faces not there anymore, and instead soooo many empty seats in lecture. It's almost isolating as we have to sit in seats according to our list number and it's very likely to end up sitting in a row all by yourself.
When a friend got his passing score a while back in his celebrating he exclaimed, "I passed! and as my reward I get to keep going to school!........waaaaait!"
The Pneumo administration forgot to take this into account when they divided us into groups, and so by dividing the class evenly according to number they ended up with something like this: SubGroup 1, Mini-Group 1 = 20 students; SubGroup 1, Mini-Group 2 = 4 students, etc. and then about 10 students who were left off the schedule entirely.
So in other words, the administration has spent this entire first week coming up with a new division and schedule. In the meantime, the 20 and the unlisted quickly dispersed themselves among the various mini-groups and learning has gotten well underway. Presentations assigned and given as well as patients seen and write-ups written. So now the vast majority of us are not looking forward to being reassigned to a new group/schedule. I've got my fingers crossed that i'm in the middle somewhere and the changes don't affect me.
Another cardio story:
There were three of us sitting in on a patient consult and the doctora told us to listen to the patient's heart. All three of us simultaneously pulled our stethascopes from around our necks, and realizing it just kind of stopped and paused for a second. A joke about who was the fastest stethascope slinger was unavoidable.
I haven't been able to get out and run as much this semester as I would like but yesterday I went and in the middle of a hill found myself trying to divide 32 by 7. I finally agreed with myself that 7 x 4 is 28 and 7 x 5 is 35 but for some reason I kept on pondering how 7 fit into 32, and was a bit embarrassed that I couldn't remember how. When I realized what I was actually pondering all I could think was WOW! America! welcome to your next generation....unable to multiply by 7. Yes, pray harder!
I'll save you the story on how I came to the point of trying to divide 32 by 7. You'd really be embarrassed for me then!!!
I blame this on the fact that at the time I was running uphill and all excess blood flow was being demanded by my lungs and legs leaving certian brain functions under-served.
Hasta!
Prayer request: Our travels on Friday and Tuesday as well as protection for my car in between. That we can be useful to the work of the medical/dental mission.
I'm heading to the cities of Leon and Guanajuato in the neighboring state of Guanajuato. The AC medical/dental mission trip is currently there so Claudia Gonzalez and I are going to drive over and join them. And as I'll be leaving right after the hospital tomorrow (today) I really need to be packed and ready to go before I leave for the hospital. As it's a national holiday next Tuesday we've decided that we'll stay till then meaning I'll be missing Monday at the hospital. I'm such a rebel!! Hopefully my doctors won't have a problem with it.
We are a week into our Pneumology rotation now. This was the cut off for step scores so our class dynamic has changed quite a bit. So many faces not there anymore, and instead soooo many empty seats in lecture. It's almost isolating as we have to sit in seats according to our list number and it's very likely to end up sitting in a row all by yourself.
When a friend got his passing score a while back in his celebrating he exclaimed, "I passed! and as my reward I get to keep going to school!........waaaaait!"
The Pneumo administration forgot to take this into account when they divided us into groups, and so by dividing the class evenly according to number they ended up with something like this: SubGroup 1, Mini-Group 1 = 20 students; SubGroup 1, Mini-Group 2 = 4 students, etc. and then about 10 students who were left off the schedule entirely.
So in other words, the administration has spent this entire first week coming up with a new division and schedule. In the meantime, the 20 and the unlisted quickly dispersed themselves among the various mini-groups and learning has gotten well underway. Presentations assigned and given as well as patients seen and write-ups written. So now the vast majority of us are not looking forward to being reassigned to a new group/schedule. I've got my fingers crossed that i'm in the middle somewhere and the changes don't affect me.
Another cardio story:
There were three of us sitting in on a patient consult and the doctora told us to listen to the patient's heart. All three of us simultaneously pulled our stethascopes from around our necks, and realizing it just kind of stopped and paused for a second. A joke about who was the fastest stethascope slinger was unavoidable.
I haven't been able to get out and run as much this semester as I would like but yesterday I went and in the middle of a hill found myself trying to divide 32 by 7. I finally agreed with myself that 7 x 4 is 28 and 7 x 5 is 35 but for some reason I kept on pondering how 7 fit into 32, and was a bit embarrassed that I couldn't remember how. When I realized what I was actually pondering all I could think was WOW! America! welcome to your next generation....unable to multiply by 7. Yes, pray harder!
I'll save you the story on how I came to the point of trying to divide 32 by 7. You'd really be embarrassed for me then!!!
I blame this on the fact that at the time I was running uphill and all excess blood flow was being demanded by my lungs and legs leaving certian brain functions under-served.
Hasta!
Prayer request: Our travels on Friday and Tuesday as well as protection for my car in between. That we can be useful to the work of the medical/dental mission.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Yo estoy deseando.
Had an amazing time in Morelia. People have always had wonderful things to say about Morelia, and I always thought it was just hyped up. I was pleased to find I was wrong. It really is a beautiful city. Here's some pictures:
The Candy Museum:
Enjoying one of the many fountains:
Overlooking view of Morelia (this is only half of the city):
We had to get some gasphacho. You know, it's just fruit....with chili...and salt...and lemon...and cheese. Honestly, next time I'll get it without the cheese.
The Cathedral at night:
The acueducto at night:
Heidi Kruger joined us on Sunday. L to R: me, Heidi, Gloria
Hasta!
The Candy Museum:
Enjoying one of the many fountains:
Overlooking view of Morelia (this is only half of the city):
We had to get some gasphacho. You know, it's just fruit....with chili...and salt...and lemon...and cheese. Honestly, next time I'll get it without the cheese.
The Cathedral at night:
The acueducto at night:
Heidi Kruger joined us on Sunday. L to R: me, Heidi, Gloria
Hasta!
Friday, October 1, 2010
Yo estoy al fin, finalmente!
It was one of those weeks. You start Monday with a bad day, but you shake it off knowing it was just a bad day and things will be brighter the next day. But the bad day ends up turning into a string of bad days. It's no fun. I just about cried twice while at the hospital on Thursday. That would have been awfully embarrassing. The fact that I made it through without crying cheered me up itself, for the rest I relied on chocolate. I used to think people that don't like chocolate were lucky to be able to avoid such a temptation, but I've changed my mind now. Sometimes you just need chocolate.
Monday morning on my way to the hospital I ran over something. I had no clue what it was, at the time thought a bad pothole, but having passed the spot since then, there's no pothole there. There is a grate in the road so possibly the grate wasn't laying flat when I went over it. Either way, running over it hurt my car so bad I almost felt the hurt myself. I prayed the rest of the way to the hospital. After classes I got in my car and together we limped down the road to the gas station. Putting air in the tires proved to be futile as the rim of the front tire was horribly bent. The attendant went to work with a hammer and got me on my way again, stripping one of the lug nuts in the process :/ It got me home, but by evening my back tire was completely flat. After much inner turmoil, debate, and discussion I decided to put the donut on and wait till after our Final (which was today) to deal with my car. So I was hitchin' rides for the rest of the week. My thumb has become quite sore.
- side note on the tire changing. As often as I've had to change my tires you could call me an expert, but it all does no good if I'm not even strong enough to loosen the lug nuts in the first place. A guy who washes cars on my street saw me busting a vein trying to loosen it and took pity.
I've got an other doctora story. This one is past biscuit burning unfortunately. I picked it up that this certain doctora didn't like me back in gastro, but tried to ignore it giving the excuse that I was probably just being paranoid. But since then she has repetedly snubbed and ignored me. For example, she refuses to acknowledge my presence among the group. So I make myself known, to which she exclaims, Ah! Christy Mari I didn't see you, I didn't think you were here today.... (until one day this past week I had absolutely always been there.) Worst part is I had made eye contact and exchanged a smile with her when she had entered the room just 5 minutes prior. This doctora has a habit of talking about people that are absent. As my driver left early one day from the hospital this week I was absent, and being so I just wondered if and/or what would be said behind my back. And I was not let down. The next day a classmate energetically approached me asking "Has anyone told you what she said about you yesterday?" That was Thursday, and let's just say that was one of the reasons for almost pushing me to upset tears. On top of a bad week piling up having someone you're supposed to be respecting insult you just doesn't mix well. Those who had heard it volunteered confirmation that she had stooped to far. I dreaded seeing her later that day knowing that I was going to smile and act like everything was all peachy. She pulled her refusal-to-acknowledge act on me again, and pained glances from some classmates told me that I wasn't the only one to pick it up this time.
- I know I shouldn't really complain about doctoras being insulting to me and not liking me because I'm sure there's bound to be worse waiting for me in the future, I guess I was just hoping it'd wait till I was at least out of med school first.
I've shared two stories here, but there was much more adding to the bad luck of this week. I woke up this morning so excited for the beginning of the end. After getting back from Cardio final I pushed my car into the street and drove it down the street to the tire place. It appeared as if they performed surgery on my car. Seriously, they had hammers and saws and irrigation hoses, everything! In the end, I drove away literally feeling a good 6 inches higher off the ground than when I'd limped into that place.
After weeks like this I am so grateful for all things true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, and of virtue. When I have a disabled car knowing that I am blessed with the ability to fix the problem gives such a bad situation a big ol' period. And when I go days without being able to get my pilot light lit, I know that I at least still have water and in the end I can simply get used to taking freezing cold showers. I mean, for example, I don't like getting up before the sun but I've gotten used to it. All bad things eventually come to an end, and this week has ended. I'm going to take off to Morelia this weekend. I invited some to come with me but so far all have come back negatory so I'll be going by myself. I'll be staying with sister Gloria Gonzalez and attending services there this weekend as well as simply taking joy in and celebrating the Good Shephard's faithfulness in caring for his sheep.
Hasta!
Monday morning on my way to the hospital I ran over something. I had no clue what it was, at the time thought a bad pothole, but having passed the spot since then, there's no pothole there. There is a grate in the road so possibly the grate wasn't laying flat when I went over it. Either way, running over it hurt my car so bad I almost felt the hurt myself. I prayed the rest of the way to the hospital. After classes I got in my car and together we limped down the road to the gas station. Putting air in the tires proved to be futile as the rim of the front tire was horribly bent. The attendant went to work with a hammer and got me on my way again, stripping one of the lug nuts in the process :/ It got me home, but by evening my back tire was completely flat. After much inner turmoil, debate, and discussion I decided to put the donut on and wait till after our Final (which was today) to deal with my car. So I was hitchin' rides for the rest of the week. My thumb has become quite sore.
- side note on the tire changing. As often as I've had to change my tires you could call me an expert, but it all does no good if I'm not even strong enough to loosen the lug nuts in the first place. A guy who washes cars on my street saw me busting a vein trying to loosen it and took pity.
I've got an other doctora story. This one is past biscuit burning unfortunately. I picked it up that this certain doctora didn't like me back in gastro, but tried to ignore it giving the excuse that I was probably just being paranoid. But since then she has repetedly snubbed and ignored me. For example, she refuses to acknowledge my presence among the group. So I make myself known, to which she exclaims, Ah! Christy Mari I didn't see you, I didn't think you were here today.... (until one day this past week I had absolutely always been there.) Worst part is I had made eye contact and exchanged a smile with her when she had entered the room just 5 minutes prior. This doctora has a habit of talking about people that are absent. As my driver left early one day from the hospital this week I was absent, and being so I just wondered if and/or what would be said behind my back. And I was not let down. The next day a classmate energetically approached me asking "Has anyone told you what she said about you yesterday?" That was Thursday, and let's just say that was one of the reasons for almost pushing me to upset tears. On top of a bad week piling up having someone you're supposed to be respecting insult you just doesn't mix well. Those who had heard it volunteered confirmation that she had stooped to far. I dreaded seeing her later that day knowing that I was going to smile and act like everything was all peachy. She pulled her refusal-to-acknowledge act on me again, and pained glances from some classmates told me that I wasn't the only one to pick it up this time.
- I know I shouldn't really complain about doctoras being insulting to me and not liking me because I'm sure there's bound to be worse waiting for me in the future, I guess I was just hoping it'd wait till I was at least out of med school first.
I've shared two stories here, but there was much more adding to the bad luck of this week. I woke up this morning so excited for the beginning of the end. After getting back from Cardio final I pushed my car into the street and drove it down the street to the tire place. It appeared as if they performed surgery on my car. Seriously, they had hammers and saws and irrigation hoses, everything! In the end, I drove away literally feeling a good 6 inches higher off the ground than when I'd limped into that place.
After weeks like this I am so grateful for all things true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, and of virtue. When I have a disabled car knowing that I am blessed with the ability to fix the problem gives such a bad situation a big ol' period. And when I go days without being able to get my pilot light lit, I know that I at least still have water and in the end I can simply get used to taking freezing cold showers. I mean, for example, I don't like getting up before the sun but I've gotten used to it. All bad things eventually come to an end, and this week has ended. I'm going to take off to Morelia this weekend. I invited some to come with me but so far all have come back negatory so I'll be going by myself. I'll be staying with sister Gloria Gonzalez and attending services there this weekend as well as simply taking joy in and celebrating the Good Shephard's faithfulness in caring for his sheep.
Hasta!
Friday, September 24, 2010
Yo estoy maloliente.
Another week down. As much as I love Cardiology, after the first week I sadly came to the realization that it is not the field for me. Crossing Cardio off the list. And since then I've had a bit of trouble being excited about being at the hospital. Love the part when I'm actually with patients, but for the rest...sigh.
Ever since we started having the Latin doctors as instructors back in 3rd semester, I quickly learned I had to pay attention when a name was called as I'm not always called Christy. My middle name is included on the student list to the doctors, and as Mexicans have four names sometimes more the Latin doctors go through a guessing game with their international students as to what name to pick. They pronounce Marie as Mari. I don't correct them anymore and just make sure I answer when I think I'm supposed too. I normally get either Mari or Christy Mari, sometimes it's just the Christy, but for the first time one of my Cardio doctors from day one has called me Mari Christy.
I can tell my fingers are getting used to typing in Spanish. The left pinky goes down for the ctrl when I need to add accents, and now when I need to capitalize I'm messing up a lot because my pinky over-reaches the shift and hits the ctrl instead. I'm getting annoyed by it and have started to just leave the accents off alot to get my finger out of the habit. I figure all the Mexicans leave the accents off so it won't really hurt anything. I'll just be considered more Mexican writing incorrect Spanish.
I finally took the time to write down names of my original classmates that are in 5th semester with me. There are just 29 of us, fewer than I had originally guessed. Of that 29, 15 of us have taken and passed the USMLE step 1 and will be continuing on to 6th. There are a few that are going to try to retake the step quickly and see if a few strings can be pulled to allow them to continue on, and one more of us just took his step this past week so hopefully he'll make us 16. But currently there will be 15 of my original class starting 6th semester in January. 15 of an original 119 that started 1st semester July of 2008. I wonder how big our class will be in January. There's about 100 upper semesters that are with us in 5th right now so they could potentially make us a large class. It's just sad to me that in 6th semester, students that are actually originally supposed to be 6th semesters will be very much a minority of the class.
I'm staying in GDL this weekend. Praying I can be as productive as possible!
Hasta!
Ever since we started having the Latin doctors as instructors back in 3rd semester, I quickly learned I had to pay attention when a name was called as I'm not always called Christy. My middle name is included on the student list to the doctors, and as Mexicans have four names sometimes more the Latin doctors go through a guessing game with their international students as to what name to pick. They pronounce Marie as Mari. I don't correct them anymore and just make sure I answer when I think I'm supposed too. I normally get either Mari or Christy Mari, sometimes it's just the Christy, but for the first time one of my Cardio doctors from day one has called me Mari Christy.
I can tell my fingers are getting used to typing in Spanish. The left pinky goes down for the ctrl when I need to add accents, and now when I need to capitalize I'm messing up a lot because my pinky over-reaches the shift and hits the ctrl instead. I'm getting annoyed by it and have started to just leave the accents off alot to get my finger out of the habit. I figure all the Mexicans leave the accents off so it won't really hurt anything. I'll just be considered more Mexican writing incorrect Spanish.
I finally took the time to write down names of my original classmates that are in 5th semester with me. There are just 29 of us, fewer than I had originally guessed. Of that 29, 15 of us have taken and passed the USMLE step 1 and will be continuing on to 6th. There are a few that are going to try to retake the step quickly and see if a few strings can be pulled to allow them to continue on, and one more of us just took his step this past week so hopefully he'll make us 16. But currently there will be 15 of my original class starting 6th semester in January. 15 of an original 119 that started 1st semester July of 2008. I wonder how big our class will be in January. There's about 100 upper semesters that are with us in 5th right now so they could potentially make us a large class. It's just sad to me that in 6th semester, students that are actually originally supposed to be 6th semesters will be very much a minority of the class.
I'm staying in GDL this weekend. Praying I can be as productive as possible!
Hasta!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Yo estoy marchando.
5 days in Ixtlan, incredibly laid back. Enjoyed it so much that of course I didn't want to come back to reality. And while there, Mexico's Bicentenial celebration of their Independence from Spain came and went. I went to sleep Wednesday the 15th at about the time El Grito was being sounded from each Governor's Palace across the country. Talking to a few that did attend El Grito in GDL they said it was so packed you could barely move. I think I made the right choice to spend the holiday in Ixtlan. Following are some pictures and videos from the Independence Day parade.
This first picture is of our school, Colegio de las Americas de Ixtlan. I missed them the first time the parade passed me so I and Claudia & Maggie Gonzalez took a few shortcuts to another street and caught the parade again from the very begining. These kids march, and march, and march...
This isn't of the parade but I couldn't help taking a few of this cutie. This is Caleb, Matt & Ruth Gerber's little guy. His aunt Maria is holding him. He was walking alongside his daddy, but stopped for a bit when they came upon us.
This first video is of a random primaria school.
This second video is of a secundaria. Jessica Rocke is playing the drum in the first row walking right in front of the camera. She looks at the camera right before Maria showers her with confetti. She attends church regularly and her education is being paid for by the mission.
This last video is of the prepatoria (high school). Sister Lupita Sibaja is marching next to the flag on the side closest to us. The bangs you hear in the video are random fireworks being set off. You'll notice that the prepa does not have trumpets and drums. They have never been large enough to have one. Education is not highly valued and a high school education is either too expensive or seems excessive to the majority. This year is one of the largest incoming classes the prepa has ever had.
In the US, candy is thrown from the parade into the crowds. In Mexico, confetti is thrown from the crowds into the parade. I'm sure you caught it a few times in the videos. I was doused with some leftover confetti and was still finding random pieces the next day that had managed to hide. After the parade would pass the streets were covered with a colorful blanket.
Hasta!
This first picture is of our school, Colegio de las Americas de Ixtlan. I missed them the first time the parade passed me so I and Claudia & Maggie Gonzalez took a few shortcuts to another street and caught the parade again from the very begining. These kids march, and march, and march...
This isn't of the parade but I couldn't help taking a few of this cutie. This is Caleb, Matt & Ruth Gerber's little guy. His aunt Maria is holding him. He was walking alongside his daddy, but stopped for a bit when they came upon us.
This first video is of a random primaria school.
This second video is of a secundaria. Jessica Rocke is playing the drum in the first row walking right in front of the camera. She looks at the camera right before Maria showers her with confetti. She attends church regularly and her education is being paid for by the mission.
This last video is of the prepatoria (high school). Sister Lupita Sibaja is marching next to the flag on the side closest to us. The bangs you hear in the video are random fireworks being set off. You'll notice that the prepa does not have trumpets and drums. They have never been large enough to have one. Education is not highly valued and a high school education is either too expensive or seems excessive to the majority. This year is one of the largest incoming classes the prepa has ever had.
In the US, candy is thrown from the parade into the crowds. In Mexico, confetti is thrown from the crowds into the parade. I'm sure you caught it a few times in the videos. I was doused with some leftover confetti and was still finding random pieces the next day that had managed to hide. After the parade would pass the streets were covered with a colorful blanket.
Hasta!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Yo estoy emocionada por la vacacion.
Today is a Friday-Tuesday. It's Tuesday, but it's also a Friday because leaving each session today at the hospital the Doctor or Doctora would say bye and see you on Monday! Thursday is Mexico's Independence Day and as this year is the Bicentennial it's to be an even grander affair than normal. As a result we have Wednesday and Friday off in addition to Thursday. I'll be headed to Ixtlan tomorrow morning, early enough to miss holiday traffic I hope, and plan on spending the holiday and the weekend there coming back to GDL just in time for an exam on Monday morning 7am. (That's not going to be a fun one!)
Good Morning Guadalajara! Sun finally coming up over the mountains. This is a view from the Sala de Descanso (Lounge).
I quickly took a video from Club Medico today. I did it quickly as it was after our break and everyone was heading back downstairs for our last class. So it didn't come out like I was hoping it would. The city of GDL is seen much better from a stationary viewpoint, but at least you'll get the general idea. The actual hospital is seen at the begining, painted red.
Hasta!
Good Morning Guadalajara! Sun finally coming up over the mountains. This is a view from the Sala de Descanso (Lounge).
I quickly took a video from Club Medico today. I did it quickly as it was after our break and everyone was heading back downstairs for our last class. So it didn't come out like I was hoping it would. The city of GDL is seen much better from a stationary viewpoint, but at least you'll get the general idea. The actual hospital is seen at the begining, painted red.
Hasta!
Friday, September 10, 2010
Yo estoy sanada
My immune system kicked that cold in the tooshie, and by the next morning it was out the door and well on it's way to Timbuktu. Thanks be to the healing power of Jesus and to all the prayers. God bless.
Cardio is proving to be time spent less efficiently for many of us during our 7 hours at the hospital campus. Dutch Blitz to the rescue!! I tell you, if Jesus could catch on as quickly as something as simple as a card game like Dutch Blitz.....perhaps World peace wouldn't be considered such an unrealistic idea.
On the top floor of the administrative tower is Club Medico, I guess it's sort of like the student lounge. I want to take a video from there to show you the view, but haven't yet as it's been gray and rainy all week. So, Lord willing, one of these few weeks to come I'll get a video taken.
Bible study this past Wednesday went well. Thank you for the prayers. Turned out that Hector choose Satan as his topic. Our discussion ranged from free will to Hell to Catholism vs. Christianity and many many tangents in between. We went on for a couple of hours only stopping in the end knowing that we are all running a circular track for the time being. Throughout the night the Holy Spirit provided me with a supply of verses for whatever need the current tangent had us on, and afterwards I almost congratulated myself for feeling like I knew something. At that moment I realized I needed to go to Ixtlan and have a discussion with Jan and Marshall. Talking with them on matters spiritual I'm always drastically reminded that compared to them what I think I know is actually quite minuscule. For the past 10 years I've always held in awe my older brothers and sisters thinking, for some odd reason, that 10 years of the Christian walk was "the milestone to hit." I hit that year marker this past June and just as I was reaching out to grab the milestone Jesus picked it up and heaved it far into my future. Honestly I can't even see where it landed.
In the meantime...a friend sent me this variation of the Footprints poem recently, and I absolutely loved it
FOOTPRINTS...A New Version
Imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking down the road together. For much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace.
But your footprints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures, and returns.
For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually your footprints come more in line with the Lord's, soon paralleling, His consistently...
You and Jesus are walking as true friends!
This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: Your footprints that once etched the sand next to Jesus' are now walking precisely in His steps.
Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, you and Jesus are becoming one.
This goes on for many miles, but gradually you notice another change. The footprints inside the large footprints seem to grow larger.
Eventually they disappear altogether. There is only one set of footprints. They have become one.
This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the second set of footprints is back. This time it seems even worse! Zigzags all over the place. Stops. Starts. Gashes in the sand. A variable mess of prints.
You are amazed and shocked. Your dream ends. Now you pray: 'Lord, I understand the first scene, with zigzags and fits. I was a new Christian; I was just learning. But You walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk with You.'
'That is correct.'
'And when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps, following You very closely.
'Very good. You have understood everything so far.'
When the smaller footprints grew and filled in Yours, I suppose that I was becoming like You in every way.'
'Precisely.'
'So, Lord, was there a regression or something? The footprints separated, and this time it was worse than at first.'
There is a pause as the Lord answers, with a smile in His voice.
'You didn't know? It was then that we danced!'
This brings a huge smile to my face. With the Joy received by not walking for ourselves how is it possible to continue on merely walking? We must dance!
Hasta & Keep Dancing!
Cardio is proving to be time spent less efficiently for many of us during our 7 hours at the hospital campus. Dutch Blitz to the rescue!! I tell you, if Jesus could catch on as quickly as something as simple as a card game like Dutch Blitz.....perhaps World peace wouldn't be considered such an unrealistic idea.
On the top floor of the administrative tower is Club Medico, I guess it's sort of like the student lounge. I want to take a video from there to show you the view, but haven't yet as it's been gray and rainy all week. So, Lord willing, one of these few weeks to come I'll get a video taken.
Bible study this past Wednesday went well. Thank you for the prayers. Turned out that Hector choose Satan as his topic. Our discussion ranged from free will to Hell to Catholism vs. Christianity and many many tangents in between. We went on for a couple of hours only stopping in the end knowing that we are all running a circular track for the time being. Throughout the night the Holy Spirit provided me with a supply of verses for whatever need the current tangent had us on, and afterwards I almost congratulated myself for feeling like I knew something. At that moment I realized I needed to go to Ixtlan and have a discussion with Jan and Marshall. Talking with them on matters spiritual I'm always drastically reminded that compared to them what I think I know is actually quite minuscule. For the past 10 years I've always held in awe my older brothers and sisters thinking, for some odd reason, that 10 years of the Christian walk was "the milestone to hit." I hit that year marker this past June and just as I was reaching out to grab the milestone Jesus picked it up and heaved it far into my future. Honestly I can't even see where it landed.
In the meantime...a friend sent me this variation of the Footprints poem recently, and I absolutely loved it
FOOTPRINTS...A New Version
Imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking down the road together. For much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace.
But your footprints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures, and returns.
For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually your footprints come more in line with the Lord's, soon paralleling, His consistently...
You and Jesus are walking as true friends!
This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: Your footprints that once etched the sand next to Jesus' are now walking precisely in His steps.
Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, you and Jesus are becoming one.
This goes on for many miles, but gradually you notice another change. The footprints inside the large footprints seem to grow larger.
Eventually they disappear altogether. There is only one set of footprints. They have become one.
This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the second set of footprints is back. This time it seems even worse! Zigzags all over the place. Stops. Starts. Gashes in the sand. A variable mess of prints.
You are amazed and shocked. Your dream ends. Now you pray: 'Lord, I understand the first scene, with zigzags and fits. I was a new Christian; I was just learning. But You walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk with You.'
'That is correct.'
'And when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps, following You very closely.
'Very good. You have understood everything so far.'
When the smaller footprints grew and filled in Yours, I suppose that I was becoming like You in every way.'
'Precisely.'
'So, Lord, was there a regression or something? The footprints separated, and this time it was worse than at first.'
There is a pause as the Lord answers, with a smile in His voice.
'You didn't know? It was then that we danced!'
This brings a huge smile to my face. With the Joy received by not walking for ourselves how is it possible to continue on merely walking? We must dance!
Hasta & Keep Dancing!
Monday, September 6, 2010
Yo estoy enferma.
I'm sick. muaaaaaw! (I don't know what kind of sound that was supposed to be.) It started as a sore throat and tongue last Friday. Easily ignorable, but over the weekend I noticed it begining to progress to something not so ignorable to the point where last night I finally had to admit that I was sick. Mom, I blame the frozen chicken you had me put on my foot for exacerbating my cold to leaky faucet nastiness. But at the same time at least my stab wound isn't paining me anymore. (A knife was dropped on my foot, blade down, this past weekend.)
Fifth semester started with Cardiology this semester. I know I complained about Gastro being confusing, but now looking at my Cardio schedule, Gastro appears more like a cakewalk. I'm at the hospital from 7 to 2 now. Running around trying to figure out where we were supposed to be today found us in some interesting hallways and corners. It also didn't help much today that my brain was fuzzy from my cold; wasn't really thinking straight to start with. It'll take another day or so to get used to our new schedule.
I had a blessed weekend in Ixtlan this past weekend. Many visitors for the testimonies and baptisms so that all the beds in the guesthouse and at Jan & Marshall's were filled so I got to stay with the Sibajas this time. In addition to getting to enjoy fellowship with my brothers and sisters, for the first time in years I was able to partake in communion Sunday evening. Finally in the right place at the right time again. It was an emotional weekend were tears were shed out of heartache, out of joy, out of shame and saddness, and most importantly out of love. An overwhelming love that we experience for our Savior who became man for us. A love that we share as a family in Christ making it a bond stronger than blood. A singing and bonfire was to follow communion Sunday evening, but I got to be useful instead and gave a ride to a couple from Silverton, Oregon to the airport. Jan sent me on my way with a bag of leftover chicken in one hand and a bag of cookies in the other. :)
Last week during Bible study I had jokingly brought up the idea of everyone doing presentations as our lives at the time seemed to be one presentation after another. However, what started as a joke was resuggested seriously, and in the end one of the regulars volunteered give Bible study this week. Though we are working through the book of Judges now we gave him free riegn to present on what he would like. Please pray for Hector as he prepares for and then gives Bible study this week. Please pray that no matter what turns discussion takes Jesus could be first and foremost glorifed.
One more tidbit of info that I just recently realized. Having now lived in this apartment for 1 1/2 years it is the longest that I've lived in one place since I first moved out of home 5 years ago.
Hasta!
Fifth semester started with Cardiology this semester. I know I complained about Gastro being confusing, but now looking at my Cardio schedule, Gastro appears more like a cakewalk. I'm at the hospital from 7 to 2 now. Running around trying to figure out where we were supposed to be today found us in some interesting hallways and corners. It also didn't help much today that my brain was fuzzy from my cold; wasn't really thinking straight to start with. It'll take another day or so to get used to our new schedule.
I had a blessed weekend in Ixtlan this past weekend. Many visitors for the testimonies and baptisms so that all the beds in the guesthouse and at Jan & Marshall's were filled so I got to stay with the Sibajas this time. In addition to getting to enjoy fellowship with my brothers and sisters, for the first time in years I was able to partake in communion Sunday evening. Finally in the right place at the right time again. It was an emotional weekend were tears were shed out of heartache, out of joy, out of shame and saddness, and most importantly out of love. An overwhelming love that we experience for our Savior who became man for us. A love that we share as a family in Christ making it a bond stronger than blood. A singing and bonfire was to follow communion Sunday evening, but I got to be useful instead and gave a ride to a couple from Silverton, Oregon to the airport. Jan sent me on my way with a bag of leftover chicken in one hand and a bag of cookies in the other. :)
Last week during Bible study I had jokingly brought up the idea of everyone doing presentations as our lives at the time seemed to be one presentation after another. However, what started as a joke was resuggested seriously, and in the end one of the regulars volunteered give Bible study this week. Though we are working through the book of Judges now we gave him free riegn to present on what he would like. Please pray for Hector as he prepares for and then gives Bible study this week. Please pray that no matter what turns discussion takes Jesus could be first and foremost glorifed.
One more tidbit of info that I just recently realized. Having now lived in this apartment for 1 1/2 years it is the longest that I've lived in one place since I first moved out of home 5 years ago.
Hasta!
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Yo estoy legal otra vez.
It's been a busy week. We finished Gastroenterology. I was sad to say goodbye to some of the doctoras. One of my favorites has an incredibly foul mouth and is strick with us as students as to what level we should be performing at to the point where people are scared of her. On the other hand though, she really knows Gastro; she would answer any question and in detail. One could learn a lot from her. I am not sad to say goodbye to the biscuit burner, even when she gave out candies on our last day with her.
I have a file on my computer entitled "no name class" because honestly none of use could really come up with a good reason why we were there. On Thursday we were given an exam in the class that I don't know of anyone who actually studied for it. When you don't really see a point to something it's hard to be motivated, and so I went into that exam with an attitude "Go on...Test me...I dare you!"
After my test on Friday I vroomed off to take a whack at ending my waiting game with immigration. I picked up a friend and we got downtown as soon as I could. Found the right government building, 4th floor, and took a number at 11:30 am. I was 87....currently it was 29. The waiting room for immigration was standing room only and no air conditioning so we picked a spot on the floor in the area outside the room and periodically checked the number progression through the windows. The office closes at 3 but at 1 they stop taking people...doors are locked. So at 1 all of us that had set up camp outside the waiting room were herded inside and the door locked behind us. To cut a long waiting story short, after 3 hours, at 2:30 my number was finally called. Walking away with my new FM3 my friend made fun of me cause I kept staring at it kind of like in awe as in it was a prize that I'd worked hard for and was finally rewarded..."Wow! I waited three hours for this! AMAZING!!!! Whoa! and then she admitted she'd done the same when she'd finally gotten hers! Technically with an expired FM3 this past month I was illegally going to school. UAG could have not allowed me to attend the hospital. but.....This Is Mexico. All said and done...I won that waiting game! :)
After immigration my friend and I commenced cooking. We made egg rolls, sweet and sour sauce, sesame chicken, fried rice, and brownies. All was homemade from scratch (well I guess we bought the egg roll wraps and the brownies were from a box.) It took us an hour longer than projected, but guests arrived 1 - 1 1/2 hours late so it worked out perfectly. We really had to improvise at times because, for example, we couldn't find oyster sauce, but everything was really good and very very edible. It was a lot of fun to experiment. :)
Veronica and I: las cooks! :)
Hasta!
I have a file on my computer entitled "no name class" because honestly none of use could really come up with a good reason why we were there. On Thursday we were given an exam in the class that I don't know of anyone who actually studied for it. When you don't really see a point to something it's hard to be motivated, and so I went into that exam with an attitude "Go on...Test me...I dare you!"
After my test on Friday I vroomed off to take a whack at ending my waiting game with immigration. I picked up a friend and we got downtown as soon as I could. Found the right government building, 4th floor, and took a number at 11:30 am. I was 87....currently it was 29. The waiting room for immigration was standing room only and no air conditioning so we picked a spot on the floor in the area outside the room and periodically checked the number progression through the windows. The office closes at 3 but at 1 they stop taking people...doors are locked. So at 1 all of us that had set up camp outside the waiting room were herded inside and the door locked behind us. To cut a long waiting story short, after 3 hours, at 2:30 my number was finally called. Walking away with my new FM3 my friend made fun of me cause I kept staring at it kind of like in awe as in it was a prize that I'd worked hard for and was finally rewarded..."Wow! I waited three hours for this! AMAZING!!!! Whoa! and then she admitted she'd done the same when she'd finally gotten hers! Technically with an expired FM3 this past month I was illegally going to school. UAG could have not allowed me to attend the hospital. but.....This Is Mexico. All said and done...I won that waiting game! :)
After immigration my friend and I commenced cooking. We made egg rolls, sweet and sour sauce, sesame chicken, fried rice, and brownies. All was homemade from scratch (well I guess we bought the egg roll wraps and the brownies were from a box.) It took us an hour longer than projected, but guests arrived 1 - 1 1/2 hours late so it worked out perfectly. We really had to improvise at times because, for example, we couldn't find oyster sauce, but everything was really good and very very edible. It was a lot of fun to experiment. :)
Veronica and I: las cooks! :)
Hasta!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Yo estoy disfrutando la lluvia.
After a period of about 1 1/2 weeks it's raining again tonight. The end of summer/beginning of fall climate in GDL is fresh at night and mornings and then warms up nicely during the day. But when it doesn't rain it doesn't get as fresh and then days get warmer as a result.
I should be studying or sleeping right now, but I wanted to tell a story that has had me smiling all day today. There is an apartment directly across the street from me that is the home of two guys of the Latin program. All three of us leave at the same time for the hospital every morning. A car had already left from their apartment this morning so I thought they were gone, but as I backed out to take off the second guy stumbles out of their front door eyes only half-opened, still in his pajamas with a rolled up bundle of whites in his arms. It was a very comical sight to see.
I hear someone practicing the piano from there apartment everyday. So far whoever it is really likes playing The Entertainer and Let it Be. Somedays I can just enjoy it; other days it feels more like torture that there's a piano close and I can't play it. If there's ever an opportunity present at the same time I have the guts to approach them I'm so asking if I can play!
One of my classmates is taking the step this Wednesday. She had her consulta time today and was expressing her desire to not have to go before her step. Since I was scheduled for Thursday (the only day left she could possibly go) I switched with her. I would have just stayed at the hospital all day waiting, but as I wasn't prepared for that today I went home after class. While doing some studying before returning I heard more than a few horns bellowing from a distance, and based on that left giving myself twice the time usually needed to get to the hospital, and sure enough...I needed it. I am so thankful for those times when God connects the loose circuits in my brain. The doctora that I was with this afternoon is really good. She's tough. makes me want to run home and start memorizing drug dosages.
On the other hand, one of the doctoras that I am with for two hours everyday gave me a look today. This wasn't just any look. It was a high-falooty look that screamed in unbelieving tones "Are you really this stupid?!" Oooooooo, she burns my biscuits! See why I need a piano! I've got feelings! emotions! They're pent up! They need to be let out! ....and that's why I was crowned drama queen. No just kidding...I just talk at this blog instead. Not as safe psychological-wise, but it works. :)
Hasta!
I should be studying or sleeping right now, but I wanted to tell a story that has had me smiling all day today. There is an apartment directly across the street from me that is the home of two guys of the Latin program. All three of us leave at the same time for the hospital every morning. A car had already left from their apartment this morning so I thought they were gone, but as I backed out to take off the second guy stumbles out of their front door eyes only half-opened, still in his pajamas with a rolled up bundle of whites in his arms. It was a very comical sight to see.
I hear someone practicing the piano from there apartment everyday. So far whoever it is really likes playing The Entertainer and Let it Be. Somedays I can just enjoy it; other days it feels more like torture that there's a piano close and I can't play it. If there's ever an opportunity present at the same time I have the guts to approach them I'm so asking if I can play!
One of my classmates is taking the step this Wednesday. She had her consulta time today and was expressing her desire to not have to go before her step. Since I was scheduled for Thursday (the only day left she could possibly go) I switched with her. I would have just stayed at the hospital all day waiting, but as I wasn't prepared for that today I went home after class. While doing some studying before returning I heard more than a few horns bellowing from a distance, and based on that left giving myself twice the time usually needed to get to the hospital, and sure enough...I needed it. I am so thankful for those times when God connects the loose circuits in my brain. The doctora that I was with this afternoon is really good. She's tough. makes me want to run home and start memorizing drug dosages.
On the other hand, one of the doctoras that I am with for two hours everyday gave me a look today. This wasn't just any look. It was a high-falooty look that screamed in unbelieving tones "Are you really this stupid?!" Oooooooo, she burns my biscuits! See why I need a piano! I've got feelings! emotions! They're pent up! They need to be let out! ....and that's why I was crowned drama queen. No just kidding...I just talk at this blog instead. Not as safe psychological-wise, but it works. :)
Hasta!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Yo estoy en la iglesia de Gridley.
I'm back in Gridley this Sunday. As much as I am so thankful for the fellowship of being in Ixtlan there is an element of understanding that's missing as opposed to hearing God's Word shared in one's own language.
Being in GDL this weekend I invited friends over for Dutch Blitz last night! It made for a very productive Saturday for me. I couldn't really allow myself to be too lazy so in the end I got all of my busy work for the weekend done yesterday. I just need to study today, Yeehaw! I was even able to pick up and clean my apartment with about 20 minutes to spare before friends came! Needless to say I was tired before the party even started....but then, that's were caffiene comes into play!
Every Wednesday a new batch of USMLE scores are released. Everyone's buzzing with excitement on that day. So thrilled to be able to rejoice with those that passed and so thankful to see new smiles added to the list of PASS! Truthfully I am able to better enjoy my own passing each Wednesday as more of my friends have also passed. This past Wednesday another 8 were added from my original class! What a victory as a number like that boosts the self-esteem of everyone! I look forward to each Wednesday.
The other day one of my classmates had bought a muffin and was passing it around the table. If you wanted some you just took your finger and dug out a chunck. In the end the bottom-half of the muffin was all that was left and sat alone in the middle of the table at which another classmate mourned, "awwww, sad muffin bottom." que bursts of laughter... What really struck me about that phrase is that it sounds like an amazing albumn title to me. I didn't really get any affirmation on that idea from my classmates so I'm guessing I'm alone in the opinion, but to me it sounds like something a group like Relient K would title their next albumn, 'Sad Muffin Bottom'.
I had another story to tell but at the time of the story all I wrote down was '9 years'. Apparently at the time I thought that would be enough to remind me of the event.....but sadly it has not. so all I can say is that something about 9 years was rather intriguing to me this past week.
Hasta!
P.S. yes K! basketball anytime :)
Being in GDL this weekend I invited friends over for Dutch Blitz last night! It made for a very productive Saturday for me. I couldn't really allow myself to be too lazy so in the end I got all of my busy work for the weekend done yesterday. I just need to study today, Yeehaw! I was even able to pick up and clean my apartment with about 20 minutes to spare before friends came! Needless to say I was tired before the party even started....but then, that's were caffiene comes into play!
Every Wednesday a new batch of USMLE scores are released. Everyone's buzzing with excitement on that day. So thrilled to be able to rejoice with those that passed and so thankful to see new smiles added to the list of PASS! Truthfully I am able to better enjoy my own passing each Wednesday as more of my friends have also passed. This past Wednesday another 8 were added from my original class! What a victory as a number like that boosts the self-esteem of everyone! I look forward to each Wednesday.
The other day one of my classmates had bought a muffin and was passing it around the table. If you wanted some you just took your finger and dug out a chunck. In the end the bottom-half of the muffin was all that was left and sat alone in the middle of the table at which another classmate mourned, "awwww, sad muffin bottom." que bursts of laughter... What really struck me about that phrase is that it sounds like an amazing albumn title to me. I didn't really get any affirmation on that idea from my classmates so I'm guessing I'm alone in the opinion, but to me it sounds like something a group like Relient K would title their next albumn, 'Sad Muffin Bottom'.
I had another story to tell but at the time of the story all I wrote down was '9 years'. Apparently at the time I thought that would be enough to remind me of the event.....but sadly it has not. so all I can say is that something about 9 years was rather intriguing to me this past week.
Hasta!
P.S. yes K! basketball anytime :)
Monday, August 23, 2010
Yo estoy cansada.
I went to Ixtlan this past weekend and invited a friend, Veronica, to join me. I always am excited to be able to share this most special part of my life with those here in GDL with me in a way that's more than a mere Bible study. The prospect of playing volleyball and Dutch Blitz is a positive attractant for them to come also ;)
Upon getting back to GDL yesterday I had my work cut out for me and was weary from the start at what I knew was to be another all-nighter. I first had to meet with a group as today we were to present a clinical case that all weekend via email we had gone back and forth over prospective differentials without being able to nail down a definitive diagnosis. With out a doubt our most difficult case yet. Presenting it today has not been easy at all, after 2 hours we've only just started in on our labratorios y gabinete (I don't know how that translates). My group is pretty amazing though. We must admit it's scary going into something you know you're going to get ripped apart on, but in the end everyone's still able to smile and say "oh well, we're learning". ok, ok, ok, so there might be a few things mumbled under the breath. Anyways, after the group meeting I still had two projects needing done. To my amazement, two friends volunteered to help me complete them. It was small what they were able to do, but because of their selflessness I was able to finish both with time to spare. a.k.a. there was time left over to sleep :)
This is what I'm discovering about my commute to the hospital. If I leave on time traffic is slower as everyone knows that they have time. As I'm not a fan of slower traffic say I leave a minute or two earlier, there's much less traffic and the commute actually takes almost a whole 5 minutes less. But then if I leave within 5 minutes late there's much more traffic, but now it's quick as if everyone's left 5 minutes late and knows they've got to hurry and the commute is quicker once again. This morning I experienced the 5 minutes late scenerio. It's still night out, and everything is silent. It starts out with just me going down the street, after a few turns and a glorieta I'm on a four lane road and then there's a handful of cars zooming down aquaducto (which is one of my favorite roads in GDL as there's portions like a rollar coaster). Then another glorieta and aquaducto merges with another road it's 6 lanes wide, then 8 lanes wide. The whole time the handful continues to grow till it feels like I'm part of a pack, and a pack because it's not like we're racing each other but rather as if we're all running together to get to our destination. As we change roads again and get closer to the hospital our pack continues to grow, but this doesn't slow us down as we all share a common origin...we left 5 minutes late.
I was sent a survery via email to gather some feedback on how I felt UAG prepared me for the step. I was filling it out trying to make productive answers, till I got to question #9. "How do you feel about failing the USMLE step 1?" I just about choked and had to read it again. Then immediately went to the ecfmg website and rechecked my official notice to reassure myself I had indeed passed. I have to say it was with a little bit of a harrumph! that I put "I didn't fail." as my answer to that question. Leave it to UAG to get the survey wrong. oh brother!
The correct answers for Friday's exam were posted today. After realizing that I got the first 5 questions wrong I lost the nerve to continue checking, so I don't know exactly how bad I did. We were all required to attend a session where the questions were all gone over with us, and what I realized then was that I got a lot wrong because I gave up on the question. Instead of allowing myself time to think the case through I went the easy way out blaming the fact that there was a word or two that I didn't understand, and therefore had tricked myself into believing that I probably couldn't get it due to not understanding the few words.
Hasta!
Upon getting back to GDL yesterday I had my work cut out for me and was weary from the start at what I knew was to be another all-nighter. I first had to meet with a group as today we were to present a clinical case that all weekend via email we had gone back and forth over prospective differentials without being able to nail down a definitive diagnosis. With out a doubt our most difficult case yet. Presenting it today has not been easy at all, after 2 hours we've only just started in on our labratorios y gabinete (I don't know how that translates). My group is pretty amazing though. We must admit it's scary going into something you know you're going to get ripped apart on, but in the end everyone's still able to smile and say "oh well, we're learning". ok, ok, ok, so there might be a few things mumbled under the breath. Anyways, after the group meeting I still had two projects needing done. To my amazement, two friends volunteered to help me complete them. It was small what they were able to do, but because of their selflessness I was able to finish both with time to spare. a.k.a. there was time left over to sleep :)
This is what I'm discovering about my commute to the hospital. If I leave on time traffic is slower as everyone knows that they have time. As I'm not a fan of slower traffic say I leave a minute or two earlier, there's much less traffic and the commute actually takes almost a whole 5 minutes less. But then if I leave within 5 minutes late there's much more traffic, but now it's quick as if everyone's left 5 minutes late and knows they've got to hurry and the commute is quicker once again. This morning I experienced the 5 minutes late scenerio. It's still night out, and everything is silent. It starts out with just me going down the street, after a few turns and a glorieta I'm on a four lane road and then there's a handful of cars zooming down aquaducto (which is one of my favorite roads in GDL as there's portions like a rollar coaster). Then another glorieta and aquaducto merges with another road it's 6 lanes wide, then 8 lanes wide. The whole time the handful continues to grow till it feels like I'm part of a pack, and a pack because it's not like we're racing each other but rather as if we're all running together to get to our destination. As we change roads again and get closer to the hospital our pack continues to grow, but this doesn't slow us down as we all share a common origin...we left 5 minutes late.
I was sent a survery via email to gather some feedback on how I felt UAG prepared me for the step. I was filling it out trying to make productive answers, till I got to question #9. "How do you feel about failing the USMLE step 1?" I just about choked and had to read it again. Then immediately went to the ecfmg website and rechecked my official notice to reassure myself I had indeed passed. I have to say it was with a little bit of a harrumph! that I put "I didn't fail." as my answer to that question. Leave it to UAG to get the survey wrong. oh brother!
The correct answers for Friday's exam were posted today. After realizing that I got the first 5 questions wrong I lost the nerve to continue checking, so I don't know exactly how bad I did. We were all required to attend a session where the questions were all gone over with us, and what I realized then was that I got a lot wrong because I gave up on the question. Instead of allowing myself time to think the case through I went the easy way out blaming the fact that there was a word or two that I didn't understand, and therefore had tricked myself into believing that I probably couldn't get it due to not understanding the few words.
Hasta!
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