What med school is all about.

Half an hour ago I was walking home from my last "small group learning" session of the semester and I got to thinking. I stood around like I was lost. I didn't know which way I wanted to walk, where I felt like going, or what I wanted to do. It's a Friday night. Class is done for the week. There is a huge party going on tonight, and I don't feel like going. In fact, I never even considered going. Is there something wrong with me?


In fact, I don't think there is anything wrong with me. I've realized that I am perfectly normal: for a med student that is. If I were at home, I'd be looking to go out, have fun, or find something to do. Not here. The thing about med school that has taken a while to get used to (with the hardest simply being away from home) is that it takes a tremendous amount of sacrifice. And I am far from the gleaming, shining example of what a true med student should be doing, but I understand what it takes to get by. My next big exam is a little over a week away, and I'm studying for it like it's tomorrow (except for right now of course, cut me some slack!) In med school, you have to use your weekends to "catch up." Sometimes I wonder if I have learned anything and other times, I feel like I've conquered the most meaningless task. I guess it's about winning the little battles.

For a more interesting and fun take on little battles, I guess I'll discuss my hockey game from last week. We played the team that we had our only loss against on the first game of the semester. We had since beaten them on our only other meeting, and a close game that was. This game, both teams came out determined to win, and a show it was. the second semester team came out hard scoring goals left and right and by the end of the first half, we were down a score of 4-2. My team was a little disappointed but we rallied back and managed to tie the game at 4-4. Late in the game one of their guys had a wide open net, and our defenseman managed to get a stick on the puck just he went to bury the shot, and it went right over the net, and their guy drove hard into the "makeshift" boards consisting of trash cans and a large tarp. He was certain that he scored.  Welp, if that didn't cause a discrepancy I don't know what would. In the end, we gave them the goal to avoid the confrontation. With just a few minutes left in the game we tied it again at 5-5. When the time ticked off the clock we had to discuss how a winner would be decided. We concluded that a "first team to score" would decide the winner. My team went back out determined and the going was tough. We played an additional 10 minutes with endless shots, still without a victor. I was exhausted. Our captain Rob had had enough. He hit the pavement to block a shot with his thigh. From his knees, his instinct cleared the puck to the other side of the rink and both teams watched in awe as the puck rolled its way over the line and into the net. We had won. I promise you, it would have been featured on the ESPN highlight reels. We finished the season with a 7-1 record. This weekend is the semifinal game, and next week Friday is the championship game. We expect to see that same team again in the finals, as their only two losses came from us, and our only loss to them.

Having got that excitement and the need to write it down out of my system, it's crunch time. Like I mentioned earlier I have an exam in a little over a week, then 4 days to prepare for the the final. It's a bit scary knowing that I am on the home stretch of my first semester of medical school and the time has really flown by. I hope that in the end I have a decent understanding of this stuff. Wish me luck!


Thanks for reading :-)

Nick

More adventures :-) and "sea" creatures

After the exam I took a glorious weekend break to alleviate the stress, while the agony of not knowing how I did looming in the back of my mind. On this exam, I told myself that I would go with my gut feeling no matter what. And it worked. I managed to pass my exam. I was very pleased, because in medical school, you aim for the stars and just hope to pass. This past exam was the most difficult that I have encountered thus far and I worked my butt off, and it paid off.

This whole week was very exciting for me. Primarily because I finally feel like I'm studying medicine. We are learning about the heart and lungs, which (ironically) has a special place in my heart.  A little over three years ago I lost my dad to heart disease, and the nature of his condition, and the procedures he underwent are beginning to make sense. I've been telling people for years that my dad had a triple bypass, and multiple stents, but now I am really understanding what that means, and it's a welcoming feeling.

Yesterday (friday night), We waited for Matt's daughter to get out of school before walking to his house for the evening.

 Matt waiting patiently. Kind of reminds me of one of these.

Matt and his daughter

I got to play with his kid's, make noise, and be silly. Stephanie, Brad and Kim joined shortly after and we watched  a few episodes of Game of Thrones. Matt's wifey Tamara made some delicious shepherd pie and bread. (I failed to take a picture, but take my word for it, it was scrumptious.) We left around 10pm and I went home and crashed because I had a long day.

 This morning Curvin the laundry guy, woke me up to collect  my socks and undies. Shortly after, I walked to Stephanie's house and we met Matt and Tamara at the beach. I went where no Nick (me) has gone before! Here are pictures of today's beach adventure:

 The long walk.

 I LOVE these guys. This is a pelican. You know, the one that saved Dori and Nemo's Dad from the crazy dumpster chickens (seagulls). I  watched this guy dive head first into the water a dozen times today, hoping to catch some lunch. It was quite a site. :-)

 So we were all having a dandy time swimming in the ocean, and I felt a few warm patches (thanks Matt). The warm patches however were coming from the sand... It felt like it was a natural hot spring or something. The sand felt like the hot rice things that go around your neck to relieve soreness.

 A little while later Matt felt something scratching his foot, so he reached down to grab the crud off when he found this little gem. :-)

 Matt and his sea-star!

 Can you see the little tube feet?

 My "adopted" nephew

 After a few hours in the sun, I started packing my things up. I grabbed the towel and the last things I picked up were my shoes. To my surprise, I had a visitor hiding out beneath my sandals. :-)

 Look at those eyes!

Stephanie had the courage to touch him :-)

And here is a conglomeration of  photos from earlier in the week.

 A fraction of what I learned.

 Hard to see, but the waves were abnormally intense this night. 

This guy was surfing. I really want to learn how.

 Picture from Le Flambeau Restaurant

 Ruth and Rob eating dinner with me after the exam

 Giant moth outside my window.

After my anatomy lab this week, I was reminded of one of my favorite childhood stories.

 Look familiar?

 At first glance, I thought this guy had wings.

 The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire!

 Kim

 Matt

 Stephanie

 Creamsickle float at Stephanie's

 Early morning silhouettes.

 My wrap. Is it colorful enough food network professional Kim?

 Something I always wondered about. This is a remnant of history, smack dab in the middle of campus. What you see is a relic from the past few hundred years. What used to be a part of a plantation, mill  or something similar. The large wheel was likely used to grind a crop like sugar cane when the British inhabited the island.

 Birdie on the seaside deck.

 Being studious.

The last thing I felt like mentioning is that I had a lecture this week that made me feel like going on a health binge. I'm going to try working out just about every day. So far, I've been achieving  my goal :-) let's see how long it lasts.

I hope you enjoyed my blog!

Nick

Post- Exam reflection

The past few weeks have been a serious test of mental endurance, and I'm finally (more or less) getting used to it. I don't hate studying, but it can be taxing. Every single day on this island I study like I have an exam the next day, and yesterday, that mentality became a reality. I took my third exam (Mini 2) yesterday morning, and went into the exam with a sour stomach and praying that I could remember what I've studied. I didn't feel too wonderful after leaving the exam, but I did my best. Hopefully my head will still be above water after this one... word on the street says this is the exam that makes or breaks us. 


I woke up this morning without a worry in the world. No material. No exam. No, well, nothing. I have a genuine one day break and so far I have spent half of it sleeping. I had almost forgotten that I had a blog for a while. One can really get caught up in studying the gluteus maximus. So much has happened the past two weeks so I had to look through the pictures to remember :-)

On February 25, it was a Monday. A freaking Monday. And the school plans to celebrate something called Beach Bash. I thought it was inconsiderate to plan a fun occasion on a Monday, but whatever, I got a free t-shirt. When contemplating whether or not to go, I thought "I have way too much stuff to study for my exam in 2 weeks... I don't have time for that!"  So I did what my conscience told me to do, and it said, "Nick, you're cheap. Go get the free BBQ and t-shirt." Who could fight with that logic? Here are some pictures of the beach that got bashed:

 The long walk down the beach...

 Looks dangerous!

Looks like fun!

 The social gathering

 I often forget to open my eyes,

and sometimes I'm glad I do.

 Waiting for the green flash.

 FIRE! it was probably 20 feet tall

 Free BBQ chicken, twas declicious

My friend Stephanie

After beach bash, I walked back with Stephanie and Ron, and spent several hours studying immunology. I have to say that this was one of the most productive study sessions I have had in a long time. Toward the end,things got goofy.

 Ron, the immunology guru.

One of these will be on the test,

 I only pray it's not the last one,

That might be uncomfortable.

Later that week a few of my friends decided to take a study break and hang out on the roof of my apartment.

 view of some apartments below

 Matt chillaxin.

 Stephanie being smiley

 Kim sipping her tea.

Last week Friday I played my weekly hockey game and we won yet again boosting our record to 4-1

I had a lot of fun as always and we won. I scored 7 goals : )  Here is a view of the rink (the game after ours)

:-)

 

 This week we won again, advancing our record to 5-1. After out game, my team split into 2 and we played against ourselves. One of the most fun things I can do on the island.

 

 

This little fellow and his friends have been creeping on me in the shower.

cute little guy.

 

 

One of the last review sessions before the exam, a friend Jamie decided to show us his capture.

 This is the son of my buddy Matt, he likes chocolate. A little too much. 

A cruise ship spotted on the horizon.

 

After the exam, I hung out with Stephanie and the only thing I wanted to do was something mindless and here is the result.

I also had the desire for something sweet, yum.

 

After my sherbet, I made my way to the pool

 

And met another puppy

 And hung out with my buddy, he also loves jell-o

 Matt is going to land on the beach ball.

Brad and Stephanie goofing around

This has been fun to write, and I have enjoyed some parts about being in Dominica. The best part is the people I have met, followed by the stuff I have learned. Hopefully I can keep a good run going.

Thanks for reading :-)

Nick-olai.