Every once in a while I have a dream featuring the city, the people and my past experiences from Boston '04, normally followed by a period of nostalgia (the good type).
Needless to say, I am currently feeling a wee bit nostalgic; further exacerbated by the absolutely gorgeous spring days we've been having this week, a precursor to the summer months ahead which I am now looking forward to with brewing anticipation. Not to mention the fact that Kirsty is now officially living in Auckland and enjoying the generally much warmer temperatures c.f. Dunedin, of which I am daily reminded!
This year feels like it's basically OVER. On Friday I picked up my introductory booklets/papers/etc for Surgery and I have to admit, I am OFFICIALLY excited. Fourth year has thus far been a year of new, uniquely "medical school" experiences, and undoubtedly, Theatre will be no different. And the icing on the cake? The surgeons I've been attached to. :)
The scary thing is (again, in a good way) I know Surgery will be over before I know it, and subsequently, this year. And as I look toward summer, I'm acutely aware of the fact that I am one year closer to the end of med school, one year closer to graduation, one year closer... to being a doctor. Strange.
One last contributing factor to my summer day nostalgia? In exactly two years from now I will be starting my medical elective, heading off for three months of travel overseas to WHEREVER I WANT TO GO. Boston? New York? Washington D.C.? Seattle? Geneva? London? Oxford? Dublin? Prague? Santiago? Buenos Aires? Seirra Leone? Botswana? Zambia?
Med school is AWESOME.
P.S. Our magnolia tree has begun to blossom once again!
Currently (Re-)Reading: Without Reservations, Alice Steinbach
Currently Listening to: Cool and Collected, Miles Davis
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
What would YOU be if you weren't a doctor: "From OSCEs to Oscars"
It's great to be home again. Even though my time in Invercargill wasn't exactly a total hiatus from home seeing as how I managed to come home every weekend, there is no greater feeling than sleeping in your own (double!) bed.
After spending five weeks in Timaru back in May I wasn't looking forward to going on another rural-ish placement. But you know what? I had SUCH a great time in Invercargill, SURPRISINGLY SO. I think staying in the Doctors' Residence and there being so many other students around made the difference. The hospital experience in Timaru was great, but I felt so isolated, living in a house with just one other student, there being absolutely no one else around, and not coming home much at all during my time there. On the contrary, Invercargill was great fun! More like living in a dorm again.
And I know I totally lucked out in regards to who was down there with me. Nic, Jane and I had a blast, joking around all day but still studying/working pretty hard(!), and just totally "bonding." LoL. The six others from our class who were down there with us doing surgery or acute medicine were great too! And I had so much fun getting to know them better.
This past week in particular has been utter hilarity. Since we (Nic, Jane and I) had our psych written test last Friday, we didn't have much work to do and it felt like a mere formality going into the Mental Health Unit everyday (with not much to do!). Granted, we still had our Observed-Long Case on Wednesday but we even had fun with that -- on Tuesday night I embraced my natural acting chops and pretended to be a patient so that Nic could practice taking a history/MSE from me, aka "Mandie," the 24y/o Caucasian female who presented acutely with a two-week history of depressive symptoms, on top of a four year history of morphine dependence, who found out three weeks ago that she was pregnant and had to subsequently start on the methadone programme. LoL. Elaborate, I know, but a very detailed, well-crafted character loosely based on my experience that day at the methadone clinic in Gore! Man, but I had such a blast acting and I only cracked up laughing once during the hour -- when Nic asked me to "remember three objects and repeat them back to [him] -- queen, tennis, apple." (Oh, Kumar!) I may seriously consider quitting med school to audition for Shortland Street, because I am convince I can act better than 90% of the actors on that show, LoL. I told Becca this and she was like, "From OSCEs to Oscars." ...I like that! It'd make a good title for my autobiography, don't you think? Hehehe...
Last night the whole lot of us decided to drive down to Bluff (the southern-most tip of the South Island, 20min drive from Invercargill) for some seafood which I've been craving for a while now. When I suggested this little trip I envisaged us sitting in some waterfront restaurant eating lobster with a glass of Riesling. So with a list of three different restaurant possibilities we took two cars and drove down, and by the time we got there it must have been about half seven. Now, Bluff isn't a big town AT ALL, but we spent quite a while trying to find ANY restaurant at all, but failed miserably. We ended up at Sterling Point (the bottom most point in Bluff, two shakes from Stewart Island and ANTARCTICA!) and it was absolutely stunning. I've seen some clear star-studded nights in my life so far, but never have I seen the night sky as vast, as crisp, as clear, and as utterly breathtaking as it was last night at Sterling Point.
In the end, we found out that one of the restaurants had closed down completely a while back, and the other two were both closed for the night by the time we got there (what kind of restaurant closes before EIGHT?!? The ones in Bluff, obviously) and so we ended up going to this tiny fish'n'chip place for a totally Kiwiana feed! After ordering a feast of chips and (fresh! yummy!) fish, we pushed together a couple of the tables and that was that. Life is funny that way, with benign twists and turns every so often that keep you on your toes and make for great memories to laugh about later on.
It really is unbelievable how different my two experiences on placement this year have been. After Timaru I came back home tired, broken, and lost, emotionally and spiritually; after Invercargill, refreshed, clear-headed, full... joyful. That's all You, God; it's all You.
More reflections on my psychiatry run later, but for now just trying to spend as much time with Kirsty before she heads off Saturday morning. "Change is a-gonna come."
Currently Reading: Deuteronomy
Currently Listening To: Beth Rowley
After spending five weeks in Timaru back in May I wasn't looking forward to going on another rural-ish placement. But you know what? I had SUCH a great time in Invercargill, SURPRISINGLY SO. I think staying in the Doctors' Residence and there being so many other students around made the difference. The hospital experience in Timaru was great, but I felt so isolated, living in a house with just one other student, there being absolutely no one else around, and not coming home much at all during my time there. On the contrary, Invercargill was great fun! More like living in a dorm again.
And I know I totally lucked out in regards to who was down there with me. Nic, Jane and I had a blast, joking around all day but still studying/working pretty hard(!), and just totally "bonding." LoL. The six others from our class who were down there with us doing surgery or acute medicine were great too! And I had so much fun getting to know them better.
This past week in particular has been utter hilarity. Since we (Nic, Jane and I) had our psych written test last Friday, we didn't have much work to do and it felt like a mere formality going into the Mental Health Unit everyday (with not much to do!). Granted, we still had our Observed-Long Case on Wednesday but we even had fun with that -- on Tuesday night I embraced my natural acting chops and pretended to be a patient so that Nic could practice taking a history/MSE from me, aka "Mandie," the 24y/o Caucasian female who presented acutely with a two-week history of depressive symptoms, on top of a four year history of morphine dependence, who found out three weeks ago that she was pregnant and had to subsequently start on the methadone programme. LoL. Elaborate, I know, but a very detailed, well-crafted character loosely based on my experience that day at the methadone clinic in Gore! Man, but I had such a blast acting and I only cracked up laughing once during the hour -- when Nic asked me to "remember three objects and repeat them back to [him] -- queen, tennis, apple." (Oh, Kumar!) I may seriously consider quitting med school to audition for Shortland Street, because I am convince I can act better than 90% of the actors on that show, LoL. I told Becca this and she was like, "From OSCEs to Oscars." ...I like that! It'd make a good title for my autobiography, don't you think? Hehehe...
Last night the whole lot of us decided to drive down to Bluff (the southern-most tip of the South Island, 20min drive from Invercargill) for some seafood which I've been craving for a while now. When I suggested this little trip I envisaged us sitting in some waterfront restaurant eating lobster with a glass of Riesling. So with a list of three different restaurant possibilities we took two cars and drove down, and by the time we got there it must have been about half seven. Now, Bluff isn't a big town AT ALL, but we spent quite a while trying to find ANY restaurant at all, but failed miserably. We ended up at Sterling Point (the bottom most point in Bluff, two shakes from Stewart Island and ANTARCTICA!) and it was absolutely stunning. I've seen some clear star-studded nights in my life so far, but never have I seen the night sky as vast, as crisp, as clear, and as utterly breathtaking as it was last night at Sterling Point.
In the end, we found out that one of the restaurants had closed down completely a while back, and the other two were both closed for the night by the time we got there (what kind of restaurant closes before EIGHT?!? The ones in Bluff, obviously) and so we ended up going to this tiny fish'n'chip place for a totally Kiwiana feed! After ordering a feast of chips and (fresh! yummy!) fish, we pushed together a couple of the tables and that was that. Life is funny that way, with benign twists and turns every so often that keep you on your toes and make for great memories to laugh about later on.
It really is unbelievable how different my two experiences on placement this year have been. After Timaru I came back home tired, broken, and lost, emotionally and spiritually; after Invercargill, refreshed, clear-headed, full... joyful. That's all You, God; it's all You.
More reflections on my psychiatry run later, but for now just trying to spend as much time with Kirsty before she heads off Saturday morning. "Change is a-gonna come."
Currently Reading: Deuteronomy
Currently Listening To: Beth Rowley
Thursday, August 21, 2008
...in this not-so-quiet place
So a lack of posts recently owing to the fact that sitting in the busy computer room of the doctor's residence isn't very conducive to much reflection, but a lot to write about eventually!
Just finishing up the last week of my psychiatry run down here in Invercargill (back for good next Wed), and looking forward to moving on to surgery soon. We have a test tomorrow (I haven't sat down at my desk to purely study in oh so long!) which I'm sure I'll pass but won't do fantastic in, but that's fine by me; and then an observed-long case with one of the consultant psychiatrists here sometime next week. All pretty low-stress -- sometimes it feels like psychiatry has consisted mostly of sitting around, drinking coffee, etc -- but surprisingly emotionally draining. That whole transference thing must be true!
I went for a walk a few days ago just before dinner and stumbled upon this beautiful estuary right behind the hospital grounds! Who knew, huh? And as the sun was setting, and as I was listening to my favourite praise mix, I just stood at the side of the road ENVELOPED by the perfect LIGHT of God, praising Him for how beautiful He truly is and how there is none like him.
... although I have to admit in the back of my mind I was a little paranoid about those unleashed Cujo-esque dogs I saw in the houses nearby.
Back home this weekend for the last time before the end of my run, and looking forward to spending my last weekend with Kirsty before she MOVES AWAY FOREVER AND EVER TO AUCKLAND!!!!
Just finishing up the last week of my psychiatry run down here in Invercargill (back for good next Wed), and looking forward to moving on to surgery soon. We have a test tomorrow (I haven't sat down at my desk to purely study in oh so long!) which I'm sure I'll pass but won't do fantastic in, but that's fine by me; and then an observed-long case with one of the consultant psychiatrists here sometime next week. All pretty low-stress -- sometimes it feels like psychiatry has consisted mostly of sitting around, drinking coffee, etc -- but surprisingly emotionally draining. That whole transference thing must be true!
I went for a walk a few days ago just before dinner and stumbled upon this beautiful estuary right behind the hospital grounds! Who knew, huh? And as the sun was setting, and as I was listening to my favourite praise mix, I just stood at the side of the road ENVELOPED by the perfect LIGHT of God, praising Him for how beautiful He truly is and how there is none like him.
... although I have to admit in the back of my mind I was a little paranoid about those unleashed Cujo-esque dogs I saw in the houses nearby.
Back home this weekend for the last time before the end of my run, and looking forward to spending my last weekend with Kirsty before she MOVES AWAY FOREVER AND EVER TO AUCKLAND!!!!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
life in Invercargill...
Jane: "Apparently you're going up to Gore next week."
Me: "Why?"
Jane: "You know, to hand out methadone."
Me: "Why?"
Jane: "You know, to hand out methadone."
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
"O woeful day!"
There is very little in life which I truly despise doing. One of them, I've discovered today, is trying to stuff a feather-down sleeping bag into its compact pouch.
I haven't even left for Invercargill yet, but already I'm glad to be coming back home Friday night.
I really should try to be more optimistic... Okay... I am now officially glass half-full. Invercargill will be AWESOME!!! Three exclamation marks worth of awesomeness...
I haven't even left for Invercargill yet, but already I'm glad to be coming back home Friday night.
I really should try to be more optimistic... Okay... I am now officially glass half-full. Invercargill will be AWESOME!!! Three exclamation marks worth of awesomeness...
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
stellar-ness (like awesome-ness but more feminine!)
I hate that I get so irritable when I'm physically tired. It's amazing how much I depend on the forgiveness, patience and understanding of those around me...
I cannot believe how busy I've been these past two weeks. But I'm leaving for Invers tomorrow so I will be relatively cut-off from "it" all, which should be interesting... and nice. :)
I finished my project in record time that morning -- three and a half hours! I thought it would take a whole day. I met with my supervisor yesterday morning and with some minor changes it looks like I'll be ready to submit it soon. I just need to pick up my academic record which takes two days to order(!) -- who knew. Actually, theoretically I should have known since I've ordered it before, but what I can say, these things go in one ear and out the other.
A classmate of mine and I had a "bake-off" yesterday where each of us bought two different things and let our group judge, LoL. It was fun. And my caramello brownies and choc crunch both turned out SO good, the best ever! Although, I was impressed by his sponge cake and apricot slice -- I totally underestimated him! A worthy opponent. LoL. We had a tally going for a while but in the end I'm pretty sure it was a tie. And rightly so. :)
I cannot believe how busy I've been these past two weeks. But I'm leaving for Invers tomorrow so I will be relatively cut-off from "it" all, which should be interesting... and nice. :)
I finished my project in record time that morning -- three and a half hours! I thought it would take a whole day. I met with my supervisor yesterday morning and with some minor changes it looks like I'll be ready to submit it soon. I just need to pick up my academic record which takes two days to order(!) -- who knew. Actually, theoretically I should have known since I've ordered it before, but what I can say, these things go in one ear and out the other.
A classmate of mine and I had a "bake-off" yesterday where each of us bought two different things and let our group judge, LoL. It was fun. And my caramello brownies and choc crunch both turned out SO good, the best ever! Although, I was impressed by his sponge cake and apricot slice -- I totally underestimated him! A worthy opponent. LoL. We had a tally going for a while but in the end I'm pretty sure it was a tie. And rightly so. :)
Sunday, August 3, 2008
coffee + 4am = brilliance (hopefully)
It's 4am and I'm sitting at my desk, coffee in hand, ready to write a report. Procrastination? Nope. (Well, partial, but I'll explain.) Staying up all night like a crazy person for whatever reason? Nope. Insomnia? Nope. This is a planned, alarm-clock-set, go-to-bed-early-the-night-before type of event.
I guess everyone has study/work preferences and I honestly work better at four in the morning, especially when I have like six/eight hours free ahead of me. It's so nice because the world around me is asleep, the house is silent, there are no distractions and my mind (once I'm awake, which takes about two minutes, plus or minus some coffee) is unusually clear. At least, much more so than it would be during 7 - 11pm.
I'm trying to get a summer research proposal together so (hopefully) I can get another research scholarship at the end of the year. They released all the information a few weeks ago and I've been hunting for a supervisor with no luck until just this past Friday. Now, with the deadline being while I'm away at Invercargill, I really need to (start and) finish my proposal before I leave, which is Wednesday. My supervisor (who is LOVELY and BRILLIANT -- I sure do know how to pick 'em!) and I came up with a project idea on Friday morning, and I'm meeting up with him again on Monday morning to go over/edit my written proposal which I assured him I could (start and) finish over the weekend.
Oh, man. If I don't get funded, I'll be gutted. Not just because it's actually a really cool idea (about thyroxine with clinical relevance), but because I woke up at 4am for it. Now that's dedication.
I guess everyone has study/work preferences and I honestly work better at four in the morning, especially when I have like six/eight hours free ahead of me. It's so nice because the world around me is asleep, the house is silent, there are no distractions and my mind (once I'm awake, which takes about two minutes, plus or minus some coffee) is unusually clear. At least, much more so than it would be during 7 - 11pm.
I'm trying to get a summer research proposal together so (hopefully) I can get another research scholarship at the end of the year. They released all the information a few weeks ago and I've been hunting for a supervisor with no luck until just this past Friday. Now, with the deadline being while I'm away at Invercargill, I really need to (start and) finish my proposal before I leave, which is Wednesday. My supervisor (who is LOVELY and BRILLIANT -- I sure do know how to pick 'em!) and I came up with a project idea on Friday morning, and I'm meeting up with him again on Monday morning to go over/edit my written proposal which I assured him I could (start and) finish over the weekend.
Oh, man. If I don't get funded, I'll be gutted. Not just because it's actually a really cool idea (about thyroxine with clinical relevance), but because I woke up at 4am for it. Now that's dedication.
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