Goodbye 2007, Hello 2008!

Hard to believe but it is the end of the year! Getting ready to start up our big New Year's bash at our house with ~50 of our closest friends! I can't wait! People will be getting here any minute so this will be short but I just had to put in one last entry. This has been the most challenging year of my life - being away from home for nearly the entire time. Last year at this time I was dreading the new year of 2007 - knowing what was ahead, what I was giving up and what I had to get through to have the island past me. Well, it is all over now - the hardest year thus far of my life but also the best is just another year to put away and remember. Time for a new beginning, a fresh start with my life back at home! I know each year will be getting better and better - but with all I have been though and the huge changes my life has made in this past year - if 2008 has a chance to top that, I can't wait to see what is in store for Tony and I in the new year.

Blessed with family, friends (who are family anyway :) ), great home and a wonderful life! May I not forget this in the new year and always work to better myself for the good of others! All my love! See you in 2008!!!

Getting settled back in my old life...

This is the greatest! I have made it back home before the storm and am sitting cozy in my new house (ok, we got it back in April so semi-new) with TONS of snow on the ground!!! It's so beautiful! I have unpacked my first 4 bags - whew! My folks still have I think 3 more for me but I will get to that later. But getting home was great! I had so many surprises!!!!

My mom wanted to catch some drinks at a restaurant inside the airport to celebrate so of course, how could I turn that down!?! But walking inside I looked up and saw my family, Tony's family and some of my closest friends all waiting for me!!!!!! I was so touched and, yes, I cried. I figured I would see them all but my parents put it all together with Tony's help and it was just so wonderful to hug everyone that is so very close to my heart and that I have missed all this time! But the surprises didn't end there! Tony took me home where I have traditionally hugged the back corner of it and we got to relax for a few. Then he wanted me to see my Christmas present a little early.

He takes me downstairs - ooooooh he set up an entertainment center with couches and our old big screen (I got him a flat screen for Christmas for the upstairs). But no, that wasn't it! I turned the corner and he flicks on some flights then *heavenly music* Tony built me a wet bar in the basement!!! The mother of all bars! With the help of Andy and Phil (thank you!!!) I see a 10 foot oak bar with that honey laquor kinda stuff to make it all soooo shiny! There is also a lighted display case in the back for our glass mugs, shot glasses and soon to be a wine rack for me! I see a 19" LCD screen tv!!! Also, my college mini fridge all is tucked back and into the wooden casing of the bar next to a beautiful sink! It is beautiful and amazing! They did such a wonderful job - I am actually in awe of it! It took them nearly a month to make! No wonder Tony wasn't online much my last month in Dominica, hahaha.

But those were our presents to each other. Of course you can tell how we both will benefit from them and will love them - but it adds so much to the house! After that we went out to Big Al's for the night and had another great time! So nice to see everyone! We sure packed alot into one day!

Tony's off at work now and I have just started up my COMP exam studying. Back to the basics of biochem and anatomy. I don't want to dwell on those subjects too long but I better get back to it before I have to go shopping with Corey (Tony's sis)! All I have to say is - IT IS GOOD TO BE HOME!

One flight away!

Greetings from a newly made 3rd year medical student! This trip has been amazingly smooth so far! I just hope it keeps up! I am one - ONE - flight away from being home in Michigan! Ahhhhhhhhhh! Last night was alot of fun. I was in Puerto Rico with Simran (hi!!) and we got sushi, cheesecake, chocolate cake and Coronas - yummmm! I had alot of fun, thanks girl! I woke up at 4am to get the traveling back on again and am now here in Miami waiting to board in about 45 mins!

Tonight will be fun I'm sure, I hope I get to see alot of my friends - I've missed them so much!!! Well, not much else to say besides I am happy, happy, happy!!!!! Wish me luck on my last flight, I hear that there is a storm brewing! It just needs to hold off until tonight!!! ;)

Leaving Dominica Tomorrow!

In less than 24 hours I will be in a taxi on my way to the airport to head back to Michigan! My time here on the Rock is over! One more exam to take in the morning and that is all that is left. I have just a huge sense of relief. While I still have alot of work to do today - I'll get it done and just do the best I can tomorrow. I am trying to imagine myself now how I will feel when I sit myself down on the prop plane to get out of here - I just can't wait!

My path is what is taking the most time out of my day but pretty soon I am going to head to the gym for my last workout and then grab my security deposit from James. After that, I will be back in the apartment to study out the rest of my time, head to my 8am exam then back to be picked up by Alexis... for the last time! I am sure it will all hit me more tomorrow that my time is over here because right now I still feel a little under pressure to study and get some things done.

The next time I write I will probably be in San Juan, at my lovely hotel! The taxi is picking me up so quickly that I most likely will not have a chance to write before I leave! So, as my last post in Dominica, I want to thank the people for their hospitality and bid the island farewell. I have never been pushed so hard, felt the biggest highs and lows and especially feel the sense of accomplishment that I have over the past 16 months. My first two years end tomorrow and then begins my time as a 3rd year medical student. I will no doubt strive to be the most eager, ambitious and hard-working student in the future hospitals - I just can't wait for it! It will be nice too when I can start posting about my experiences during rotations as I am sure my posts have gotten a bit "blah" over all these basic science years, haha.

Well, time to move on! I'm going to get in my last bit of studying before my LAST exam ever on the island! So until I return to United States territory - I love you all and see you very soon!!!

***GOODBYE DOMINICA!!!***

Trying to study, haha...

Wow, this seems like the impossible! Trying to study when I have 3, count 'em, 3 days to go! How can anyone be studying right now??? Luckily, I started on the weekend so I don't feel overwhelmed with it but I am finding myself being a little lazy this morning. Ah well, as always - it will get done - one way or another! Last night was alot of fun though! I got to just hang around with some buds from my class and just chill out - definitely a nice last night out! Thanks guys! :)

So... 3 days. Pretty much feeling that that will be more than enough time to get in all my studying but I am sure that opinion will change, haha. I am jsut so lazy right now I can barely move - I don't even feel like working out and that is rare. I have cleaned up my room a bit to get ready for James to come in and check it out tomorrow to get my security deposit back! Also, tomorrow I am getting my last laundry stuff done and going to be probably completely packed by tomorrow night! Craziness! I just hope I can bring everything home that I want and I don't go over the weight limit! Anyway, today is just all about relaxing, studying and packing! It's so fun when I get to convert my money back to US, get to charge my home cell phone and all that stuff! It really starts to get you all excited!!!

I still can't believe this is almost over - well - practically is over. 475 days. 16 months. I never thought that I could make it through this. Well, that isn't exactly fair. I knew I could, I just wasn't sure sometimes if I had the strength to get through it - but I guess I did, huh? So weird that by the end of the week I will be leaving here a 3rd year medical student. I just keep thinking what if I didn't come here. What would I have done? My mom and I can't figure it out. Would I have reapplied? Tried for the P.A. program that I was thinking about? Would I still be working in the nursing home? No, haha I at least know I wouldn't be doing that (and for all who have worked in one as a nursing aide - hats off to you!!). I guess it doesn't matter what I would have done because I know I chose the right path and coming home now is just icing on the cake!!! Well, I better get back to studying as slow as that may be. Maybe it is time for some chinese food? :)

ONE... EXAM... LEFT!!!!

Finally my Shelf exams are over! Just one stupid (lol) mini exam is keeping me from leaving this place and starting my life back at home!!! The exam was fine but alot of these exams have review sheets that go around from past exams - so really if you review them it's good but so is the rest of the class lol. So it doesn't matter it puts everyone back on the same level because the Shelfs are curved. Ah well! One more!

I am gonna head out tonight one more time (how can I resist!) but tomorrow it is back to work for 3 more days of studying for my last exam! I can't wait to get in that transport and head home - I'm actually going to go take a nap and dream about it now!!!

Leaving this week!

I am now entering my last week on the island! Friday, I fly out and head back to Michigan for good! Just have a little over 4 days to go! Last night was alot of fun, I got to hang out with my friend Lynn at Tomatos, have dinner and just chat for a few hours! Sooooo nice! It made me even more excited to get home because I finally got a taste of what it was like just to TALK to someone! Everyone here can get so uptight and competitive but just talking with her was just so great - felt like I was back home! HUGS Lynn! Love ya and going to miss you alot!!!

Tomorrow is my last Shelf exam, ICM. I am working my way through High Yield Internal Medicine right now and that's about all I am going to do. I doubt the test will be that bad but am so excited for when it is over - then just ONE exam to go!!!!!! After my exam tomorrow I have to track down James so I can get my security deposit back and say goodbye to some of the faculty who have helped me with my organizations! After that I am done with my "errands" I have to get done with and can just concentrate on packing and smiling my bootie off! My mini is this Friday at 8am and I leave for the airport at noon! :) So excited, I can hardly wait!

My folks are putting me up in a hotel when I get to San Juan, too! Usually, I just huddle all of my luggage together and stay up all night to save some money but I am so excited I can sleep in a nice hotel, get some room service (maybe take a bubble bath?!)! I get in to San Juan at about 5:30pm and my next flight isn't until 7am the next morning - so I am going to do, you guessed it - ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! :D The hotel is actually attached to the airport so that is great too! I will fly into Florida around 10am and my next flight is directly after to get home at 2:20pm!

So excited to see my family and Tony! I can't believe I haven't seen him in nearly 4 months. I'm so glad I will never have to do it again! We made it through these 16 months and I know it has made us so strong. There doesn't seem to be much now that can be that difficult - doing this is definitely the ultimate test for any relationship, haha. Well I should get back to ICM stuff, I want to finish it so I can work on my mini (last exam EVER in Dominica!) aaaaand maybe daydreaming a little about home!

Happily I say, it is time to go...

The micro shelf was interesting at best. It was rough to be honest and that one is making me think about how much work I have to do in the next month to rock out my COMP exam. Again, so glad I am taking it in January! At least it is mostly physio, pharm and path I hear!

After the exam, I went back to my apartment to get ready to go out for my last OLAS E-board dinner and then out for probably my last night out in Dominica. I can 100% say that it is time for me to go home. I love spending time with my classmates here but I found myself out until 9pm last night. That's right friends from home - when do I ever do that!? To be truthful, I ate a lot of food last night and didn't even really have room for many drinks! By the time the heavy drinking rolled around I had to tap out. It was great though, honestly! How often do I get to eat, drink go home and watch a bunch of tv, sleep - wake up EARLY (7am) and happily start up studying without a hangover?? :) I think that is pretty awesome! Plus today is my "off" day at the gym - yay!

Anyhoo, now I am entering my LAST WEEK of my time here in Dominica - less than a week actually! A week from right now (8:30am) I will be flying to Miami, FL and soon after to Michigan to get home at 2:20pm! Yay!!! I can't believe it! This weekend is already flying and soon it will be Monday and time to take my last Shelf exam then my last couple days before I take my mini and fly out! Craziness! Right now though I am working on pathology. Trying to do alot of campus today so I can keep studying at home during the week. I better get back to it! :D

Down to three...

Well it is time for yet another Shelf exam - micro this time. Luckily my last two shelfs are at 1pm so I don't have to wake up at the crack of dawn. My next one that I will have to get up early for is my LAST ONE! I guess that is alright because it is the day I leave!!!!!

Today was alot of errands on top of studying. Mostly everything is taken care of! I am signed off the bank accounts for my two organizations, closed my personal account (yay for seeing American money again!!!), and other stuff too. After my exam tomorrow - oh yes - time to go out and have some fun! My last OLAS E-board dinner will be tomorrow night followed by some good times at Fusion most likely! Saturday though is back to the books for one last weekend of studying (on the island at least!). Then I will just have my ICM Shelf and my mini #3 exam. Ugh, I am so excited I can barely hold it in! I just want to gooooo!!!

Ah well, it has been 16 months and nearly 475 days, 7 more won't kill me :)! Nothing much else to talk about besides how much I DON'T want to study and how much I just want to fly home now! Yup, that's about it! Haha, well back to micro I guess... I'm sure posts will get more exciting with the last week countdown to come!!!

The Ultimate Coundown - Single Digits!

Today marks the day that after all this time - 475 days - I am finally down to the single digits! 9 days from today I will be packed up and eagerly awaiting my taxi after my mini exam! So great to think about! Everyday my smile just gets bigger and bigger!!! Alot of people in my class are taking the COMP exam here and so they won't be leaving until about a week or more after me but that is yet another reason why I am glad I am waiting to take it until January!

These past couple weeks I have really been working on setting up my rotations at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. Nothing is promised although my dream is to get my entire 3rd year there! After many, MANY emails I have finally got the paperwork filled out, sent to be signed organized by our clinical offices in New Jersey and sent off to the Medical Education Department at the hospital! The only issue I now have to face is timing. I have put in to begin my rotations on July 1st, 2008 (soooo excited!). The problem lies in that while the clinical department approves my rotations, I cannot begin them without my passing Step 1 USMLE score. My plan was take my Step in the first week of June but traditionally the May-July time is the busiest. Most students take their exam during this time. So while I might have passed, I will not get my scores back for approximately 6 weeks. If I want to start on July 1st, I will have to take my Step much earlier - possibly the beginning of May. I am curious as to if it will be smart of me to make this sort of move.

After I get my Shelf exams back and especially my COMP exam, I will know better of where I stand. If a student passes the COMP they are very likely to receive a passing score on the USMLE Step 1 exam as well. So, while I want to know the answers now, it looks like it is a wait and see. If I could take it in May and do well - of course I would love to do that! So much is up in the air, even if I pass I still need to hear back from Henry Ford to make sure they will let me in to rotate as they already have spots secured for Wayne State and UofM students right now. So let's all cross our fingers!

Getting back into what is going on now - the path shelf was fine. I thought it wasn't bad at all. Of course, somehow I tend to do average on them. Hopefully my 4th semester shelf exams will be better than my 2nd. Next up is my pharm shelf tomorrow at 8am. Then just 3 more to go and I am home-free! Micro will probably be my last big challenge with the time restraint. The time I have for my ICM shelf and mini exam is much greater than the 5 before it - so I am going to be able to really put in some solid work for those which makes me relieved. I am really hoping to leave with a GPA that I find acceptable - so doing well on this last mini would really solidify that (at least I hope!).

I'm just so glad that I am going to be home so soon! A week from Saturday and I will be back in Michigan and it will be the best homecoming of my life! So clear your schedules everyone for Saturday the 15th! I'm sure it will be a fun night!!!

5 to go!

Its about 5am in the morning and I just can't sleep anymore! Maybe because I have been napping so much lately but oh well. Today is my pathology shelf exam and I am ready to take it, get it over with and move onto pharm. Everyday I am just staring at my 16-month calendar I started when I got here and just see one little tiinnnny week to get through and it's killing me! I'm SO excited! Maybe that is why I can't sleep, haha?

I still have a nice list of things to do before I leave, most of which I am hoping to knock out after my exam. This week so far though has just been relaxed studying. I am doing as much as I can for the shelfs but really I am getting to sleep alot and relax a bit too! Too bad there isn't more packing to do! It's pretty much all done! That makes it harder, just to sit around with nothing to do waiting for the time on the clock to run out, haha. Oh well. Anyway, I'm gonna shove a few more facts in my head before the exam then get the day started. YAY for tomorrow being December 4th - then only 10 days to go - the ULTIMATE countdown ;)!!!

IT'S DECEMBER 2007!!!! IT'S HERE!!!!

December is here, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!! This is my last month (not even a month, I leave a week from Friday!) that I will be here in Dominica. After all this time - it is finally just about over. The pathology lab exam went ok... I hope. It was so much cramming for 30 questions but hopefully it will come out alright. Next up? Shelf exams!

In second semester I tried so hard to study for them and it definitely didn't pay off. Not that I am saying that people shouldn't study - but high yield is the way to go if you want to. This semester however we will have 4 shelf exams: pathology, microbiology, pharmacology and ICM. These are all about two days apart so kinda hard to study hardcore for them. But again, high yield. So I am doing that and after my shelf exams, I will only have mini #3 to go before I get on a plane out of here (one hour later!).

I am just beyond excited! I am just coasting until the end now and it feels so good! My room is so empty and I just have to fold up my clothes and I will be all set to go! Anyhoo - I am going to get back to shelf stuff but I will be seeing you all very VERY soon!!!

And of course - a shout out to my dad on his big day!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!! I hope you have a nice birthday!!! See you soon! :D

NOW it feels like I am coming home!

ICM IS OVER!!! Wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be - as expected, haha. I had one senario, two tasks and Harvey (our patient simulator). So today I was asked to examine a patient complaining of breathlessness (pretty much a reinactment of what I did in 3rd! Haha!), examine the thyroid and for hyperthyroidism, visual fields and identify a murmur, mine was innocent, haha. It could have been so much worse! Even typing them out right now I know how easy they are! Of course I managed to mess up a couple small things but it went really well and am hoping I made the A! Now, I am cramming for my pathology lab exam in the morning. I am not too worried about it as I am planning on staying up all night so it will all get done. Hmm, what else?

Oh yeah right after my ICM exam I was in my first earthquake! The epicenter was in Martinique at a 7.3! Sana and I were in the library and I started feeling some shaking (I have felt this twice in my own bedroom but not to this extent!) and all of a sudden it gets worse and worse! The walls of the library start shaking and everyone starts rushing towards the exits! We were outside only a few minutes before heading back in but it was wild! Mother nature must be getting back at me for missing out on the hurricane a couple months ago!!! Very interesting though because we even saw some of the staff squirm about! Usually they think it is funny how we all over-react to things, like the hurricane. They have been through it all before and know what to do! So that was interesting.

Anyway, I have like 15 hours before my path lab exam so I better get my butt into gear! After tomorrow morning I am down to 5 exams from 7! Five exams keeping me from all the loves back home!!! Happy days sooooo soon to come!

Exam marathon begins tomorrow...

I decided to write this blog on the eve of my bunch of exams when I am feeling most confident. I figure this way I can look back and hopefully get the confidence on the days when I am feeling a bit nauseated about everything - like tomorrow. Well, to me at least, ICM will be my hardest exam in the sense that I am being graded for examining 4 patients. I know that I have it all in my head but it is just a matter of not choking up and getting all nervous. Of course, the other exams will be hard but for some reason after doing an exam like ICM, multiple choice exams seem so wonderful. Haha, well I will have six of them after tomorrow so let's see if I stick to that!

As of right now I am done with ICM. I feel pretty confident I know what I am doing and that I will be able to answer the secondary questions that will be coming along with each patient. We will see though. The exam begins at about 1:30pm but we are all being sequestered in the classroom - so who knows when I will actually get in there. I hope I go first!!! I want it over with! Then, after that exam I have to get my butt in gear for my path lab exam which is the next day. Ah, cramming - how I missed you... I am acutally working on it now in hopes that I will not need to pull an all nighter tomorrow night, but if need be, I will do it.

After that I will have the whole weekend to prepare for my shelf exams and mini. The shelf exams, like in second semester - well, you just do what you can do. It is so much material to remind yourself of and cram into your head that you can just do your best. I am really glad I chose to take the COMP in January. For me, getting ready for that on top of the classwork I have now plus my extracurriculars just wouldn't be wise. So, I am figuring after my lab exam on Friday I am home-free. I will be studying alot but I won't be so pressed for time!

So I better get to my pathology before my last little ICM review. Just have to keep that confidence!!!

475 days down to 17...

Tick tock... Ugh, I just want the ICM practical to get here! I am in the very last group Thursday afternoon and I think I am working myself up for nothing. I was at the gym earlier today talking out my examinations and it was going just fine! I know I will do alright but just the anticipation and anxiety I can feel (not to mention the nerves) when the profs are watching me examine patients just makes me queezey. Of course, once I am actually in there doing the exam I am okay most of the time but still.

Then I had a new thought to calm my nerves: If the only thing that is standing in my way to getting home to my Tony is this exam - bring it on. You know what? It works. I am just ready to get it over with. I have alot of exams after (6) but none of those bother me as much as ICM, seeing as they are multiple choice exams, haha. Sigh.... Thursday, you here yet? Nope. On the upside, I am studying in my apartment in my PJs all comfy-cozy. Nice knowing I don't have to move except for the gym and exams!

Just countin' down the days...

Well that night was alot of fun - so much so that after the Kubuli blocked half of my memory and got me sick in the middle of the night - I feel that I now have had enough until I get home, hahaha. Funny how power hours were so easy in college... I did think I was getting old but then again Kubuli is a stronger beer - yeah we will go with that excuse!

Anyhoo - so yesterday went okay just worked on bits of things here and there. I got to talk to my baby today while some of our friends were over the house! Seeing them all made me so happy! I just wanted to squeeze them all! Ah well 18 days. YES - We have hit the teens!!!! 18 days to go and I am home free. I am really trying to figure out what I am going to miss from here. I'm sure that will be in another post to come, as of right now I can't think of anything!

It is going to be so weird tomorrow when I don't have to go to class! I never have to go to campus again - only to take exams! Slowly but surely, the excitement is building as I am realizing this is mere DAYS away from being over... Wooooohooooo!

Classes on the island - FINISHED.

It's over! Lectures for my first two years of medical school are over! Now only 7 exams stand in my way from finishing my second year! This is so wierd. After 18 years of learning in the classrooms, I am finally done. While in 5th semester is between 2nd and 3rd year and we have a few lectures here and there - I can't help to extrapolate a little and say to myself that I will be beginning my 3rd year, forever done with the classrooms and now continuing my education in the hospital (Of course to my patients, I will be a "5th semester student"). Such a great feeling!

So what's on the agenda today? Well, I'm thinking I will study a bit for today, head on home then get ready for a fun night out. Why not! Been waiting for this day a long time and at times I never thought it would come! Studying this weekend will mostly be at the apartment I'm sure but it is definitely time to get the nose to the grindstone. I have been able to pump out some good work but I know it is near impossible to finish all I want to before the Shelf exams. I will get it done before the COMP which is ~1.5 months away luckily but I am darn well going to try to do as much as I can. I figure, the more I get done before the shelfs the more time I will save myself for when I come home to study for the COMP!

Just gotta keep pushing and not get too down when time runs out - I can only do what I can in one week. So, back to it so I can get out tonight! Hopefully, I will get a good sleep and wake up semi-refreshed, haha!

Happy Thanksgiving from the island... again.

Wow, a year has passed. Thanksgiving is here again. I wish I was home for it so bad to see all of my family. I am trying to keep a more positive attitude than last year but it was honestly the worst day here on the island last year so today is second to only last Thanksgiving, haha. I have quite a few things to do today to keep me busy so I am hoping that makes the day fly for me. Ah well, now I am on campus to study all day. I thought it would be easy to think of other things but I just think about my family and friends, fooooooooood, parades, cool and crisp weather... Sigh...

Let's see what am I thankful for? Family, friends, everything from home... lol. Down here? Well I am grateful I made it through these 16 months. I am grateful that I have been privileged to really be a part of Ross as a leader in so many different clubs. Grateful too that I now have knowledge to teach others under me (like today I am a TA for 1st semesters). I am grateful that while I have had to cram so much in my head, that even though I feel like it's so hard to retain it all - I still have my determination and passion for medicine. I know I am grateful for so many things, especially that this is the last holiday I have to sacrifice in my time here. 3 weeks from tomorrow I leave for good. That is one the greatest of all things to be thankful for.

I love you all SO very much and don't know where I would be without all of your love and support. So close to coming back home to you all and words can't even explain how that makes me feel. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Last week of classes ever...

Strange. So strange. After this week I will never be in the classroom again. Of course, we will be having a few here and there for 5th semester but nothing like the setting I have had for my first two years of medical school. Friday I will be bringing my video camera just to capture the last glimpse of us as we finish our last lecture! I am so excited this to be all over and behind me. Just knowing I am coming home 3 weeks from Friday is just blowing my mind!

Today, I am just in class then hitting up the gym before I head home. Most of my studying now is for the COMP exam (which will also help me with my Shelf exams) and the mini is going on the back burner for now. Exams start off next Thursday and don't stop until the day I come home! Tomorrow is our last day for ICM and it will be dedicated to practicing different scenarios they will be throwing at us for our exam. Sana and I have been studying really well together so my anxiety about that exam has really lessened.

So... 24 days to go. Tony and I can barely believe it! I am so incredibly happy how well we have gotten through the past 16 months apart! Finally we will be together again and not have to worry about me moving 2,000 miles away after 2 weeks visiting. It is going to be such an amazing feeling to wake up after being home for 3 or 4 weeks and realizing that I never have to leave him again. Of course, I do have 5th semester but I will still be so close to home, just 1.5-2 hours away from him. So much better than >24 hours of travelling to get to him. Being 2 hours away for just 3 months will be a BREEZE compared to this - so much so that I am not even thinking or worrying about it at all. I will be home in Michigan and that is what matters.

Well I better get back to class, after today only 2 more days of classes to go!

Goodbye Roseau!

Today was one of the best days I have had here in Dominica. You might remember when I made my first donation to Princess Margaret Hospital for the neonatal ventilator early in the year. Well, since then - alot more fundraisers and such with RFDH (Ross' Foundation for Dominican Health) and we have been able to make another! This time we delivered two pulse oximeters and a neonatal incubator.

Last time a donation was made, it was very quick. Just a quick "handing over" of the equipment and we were back on the hour drive to campus. This time? SO DIFFERENT! It was a big deal. I am so glad that in my time running the foundation I was able to have an awesome E-board! We had about 7 of us go to the hospital along with our faculty advisor, dean and much other faculty and staff of PMH! It was so great. Not only that - but there was media there for Dominica! The presentation was going to be broadcasted all over the island! Everyone on the E-board that went had a great time and I am so glad. There is nothing more that I want from this than for those I worked with to feel like that really made a difference and I think this experience will stay with them for a very long time. It has been so nice to be in all the extracurriculars that I have been in and have them pay off as much as they did. But in RFDH's case, it has so much more meaning. It is nice knowing that I didn't just come here to Dominica to study but that the donations we have made can really be put to use to save lives and help in the health care here. Just to leave a little bit of our work back here makes me feel like I made a difference.

Not to toot my own horn but without taking over the foundation after the two girls had founded it - RFDH would not exist. Kinda makes me feel good knowing that. I always have the feeling that "Well, if I didn't do it - someone else would have.", which isn't true for this. Sure, someone might have done another club like it years later, but no one else knew about RFDH after that semester and it was up to me to keep it going. I am just so glad I did and got to work with so many of my classmates. It was just so nice to be recognized for the hard work we are all putting into the foundation because it really means so much to us all.

I am so happy that I was able to record everything with the camcorder my Mom left so that will be a nice memory to have. But alas, once all the fun was over and my time with RFDH pretty much had come to an end - we had to leave PMH and the city of Roseau for the last time. Next up will be leaving Portsmouth and the island forever... in just 27 days! It can't come soon enough...

Less than a month...

28 days to go and trying to motivate myself to plow through some material. I am slowly moving studying back to my apartment. After sitting in the same seat for nearly 3 months everyday, I am officially getting sick of it. Not to mention most of my extracurricular duties are just about over so I am so excited that I can do what I want with my own time again.

It is strange though with the end so near I was thinking about the day I leave. My mini 3 ends at 11am and then the taxi is coming to get me at noon! That give me an hour to rush home, chug a couple beers (hehe) and head to the airport! With all that rushing, I just kept thinking how I will be rushing out of campus not even realizing that it will be the last time I will be there! Not that I am looking for a great goodbye but just strange how quick I will be leaving.

Time flies I guess and almost time to leave here. Who knows if I will ever come back - probably not. But hey - Tony and I still need to figure out where we are going on our honeymoon :P! Yeahhhhh... Ah well, back to studying - oh wait I've been lazy all day... Here goes nothing...

Coming to an end!

Time spent with my parents was very short but also wonderful. I really am glad that I had been able to see them even if only for ~20 hours. They are on their way back home now, back to good 'ole Michigan. Me? Well, I'm only 30 days behind them.

Things still are going full speed but luckily with an end in sight. 10 days until my classes here on the island are forever over and then I just have to plow through a handful of exams and I am home free. It seems so long since I have been back. I guess it will be - I haven't been on the island for the whole semester since my first semester here. Thanksgiving is coming up too and I don't even want to think about it. That was the worst day I think that I have had on the island was last Thanksgiving and not being there for it. This Thanksgiving I hope I will see the good because it is the LAST holiday I will have to miss because I am here. Ah well...

So anyway, I am back in the health groove - wanna look nice for my man when I step off that plane ;). Started going to the gym yesterday and am already looking forward to going back. It's so nice just to take an hour of the day for myself and to straighten out my head. Today, Sana and I are making a study schedule and we are sticking to it!!! I hope it works out. I just think things will work out better if I am not doing it alone and am able to get more thoughts in my head than just my own. We'll see how that works out.

Classes end next Friday. Then what? Here we go: ICM practical exam, Pathology Lab exam, Pathology Shelf exam, Microbiology Shelf exam, Pharmacology Shelf exam, ICM Shelf exam and out Mini3 the day that I leave! Whew. Seems like alot but I know it will fly by. So - better get back to it! Missing you all tons... I mean TONS!

Dominica and her good humor...

The day is finally here! The day my parents come down to move my things out of Dominica!!! Oh wait, they missed their flight. Thanks for waiting for my parents American Eagle, grrrrr. Well their two day trip here is now cut down to 1. I am still be thankful for my ~20 hours I will get with my parents but I still wish there was more time. It was heartbreaking hearing my mom cry about it. After all, she planned and planned for this trip and was so excited just as my stepdad and I were. Ah well, what's done is done.

Tonight is the 4th semester banquet so campus is so quiet. I am just finishing up a couple lectures then heading home at 7pm to start packing up bits of my room so it doesn't take very long for us to do that tomorrow... Sigh, what a day.

On the upside I got my mini scores back and I did SUPER well :D 2 As and 2Bs (very close to As but yes, a B is a B :P)! I know for sure that I am getting out in 33 days. 33! I need to get out. I know I say this all the time but I need my friends and family back. It's just time lol. Only about another 12 days and my classes here are over forever! Crazy besides a few classes here and there with 5th semester this is pretty much the end of me sitting in a classroom! Just about time to move up and start working in the hospitals! Sooo weird.

Okay, well time to go pack my things!!!! I'll write again soon hopefully after a splendid time with my folks!

After 16 months, finally on the homestretch...

It's over! I can't believe it. I think the mini actually went really well - like really well. But of course I will never know until I get my scores back. I hope I'm not wrong about this one. It would be so great if it all paid off... Sigh... No sense lulling, I suppose. I'll just have to wait.

So, now I am pretty much all organized again and ready to finish off this semester and my 2nd year! What is left? Well, I have my ICM practical exam, pathology lab exam, 4 Shelf exams and my mini #3 exam. Seems like alot. Our classes end 2 weeks from Friday and after that the exam marathon begins! I am actually excited about it though. So close to coming home - it is hard to believe I am going to be cramming all of this into 36 days but bring it on - because this chica wants to get out of here.

4 days until my parents get here! I CAN'T WAIT! I hope we are able to just relax and have a nice time catching up! They are only staying Saturday-Monday but I know that will give me a huge boost, which is much needed. This week is pretty laid back and I am sure the weekend won't be productive at all - but I'll make up for it with my new energy that I know my family will be bringing me! YAYYY. By the way, did I tell you I had 36 days left? Oh yes. 36!

Tick, Tock!

It's about 5:30pm the day before mini #2 and I am just killing time now. I'm looking over a few things here and there but feel pretty ready to take it - or at least as ready as I am going to be. I just have been thinking all day that next time it is the day before the mini, it will be the day before I leave the island forever! So excited.

I am really looking forward to this week, too. Tomorrow after the exam I am planning on taking a nice loooooooong nap. After that, I think Sana and I are going to sit around and watch some tv, get some dinner then go OUT! :D Last after-mini party for me in Dominica! Wednesday will be alot of catching up from last week but I'm not too worried about it and then just waiting for the weekend for my mom and step-dad to arrive! WOOHOO!!!!

Ugh, what to do - what to do! I guess more studying and tv... I'll write soon to let you know how it all went!!! :D

Just about ready to rock the mini!

Studying has been going oddly well the past couple days. So hopefully that's a good sign! Since there is the Dominican Independance Day on Monday, we get an extra day to study and take our exam Tuesday. After that - the homestretch of not just 4th semester but of my time here on the island! It is nearly all over! Unbelievable.

After the exam? Of course, playing some catch up with lectures I've missed - but not before some celebrations!!! I am not going to be able to stay after mini 3 to party with everyone (oh yeah because I am moving off this rock :P) ... so this is it!!! I'm sure I'll get my work done among my catchin' up but then Saturday will be rolling around and my folks are coming down!!!!

2 whole days with my folks are going to be pure gold for my spirits! I can't wait!!! I can't tell you all enough how much it is going to do for me to see them! I don't want to think about them leaving but after they do? Just about less than a MONTH till I am back home restarting my life among my family and friends! I almost get too excited to even think about - it gets distracting - but in the best way possible!

Well, I got home around 1:30am and it's already past 2, so I should get to bed soon! Miss you all and I'll write again soon!!!

My last full month on the island!

It's November! :D I can't remember being this excited since... well, LAST November!!!!

What does November mean?
*My parents are coming in a matter of days!!!
*Classes forever end on the island THIS month.
*I can finally say that I am moving back home for good NEXT month.
*It is officially time to start playing Christmas music!!!

So much! I can't imagine how I will feel a month from now (a month!!!!) when I realize I have 2 weeks left of this place - forever. It's so crazy! Studying is going... ok. I'm visiting some professors to get things down for sure but my pharm professory says that I know things very well. I was laughing in my head. Suuuuure ok. We'll see how it goes Tuesday. Maybe I do know this stuff? Even now, over 15 months since I got here I doubt myself. At least now it is mostly in a joking matter and not driving to tears anymore lol.

I'm taking a break from pharm and moving onto micro... Then probably back to pharm. Wow, my life is SOOO interesting, haha. Okay, back to it so I can get this test over with and start writing more interesting posts!!! :P

Mmmmm sleep.... 0:-)

It's now less than a week until my next midterms and I am already tired! Uh oh... I can feel my eyes getting sleepy right now as I'm typing. I'll try to put in some more time tonight but I think that the battle is about lost for me. I really want to push myself to act like the exam is Saturday or so - just so I really push to get through material. Doing well on this mini will really leave me feeling comfortable for the final stretch so I hope it works out.

I've been so tempted to go home tonight at 7pm, then 9pm, etc. I'm trying to stay as late as I can but I think my body knows that my mind is just evaporated. I've gotten a good amount done but I need to make sure I retain it. I'll probably have to find some way to quiz myself. We'll see how it goes. Anyhoo, I'm sure tomorrow will be productive as well. As for now, I'm gonna put in my last bit of work before I finally get to shut my eyes and dream of home.

Goodnight! * Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz............*

New Season of Increase

Waking up this morning and motivation was low. I blame it all on being drained. Why can't this be over? Why can't I just get back home to my family and friends? Why can't I just have a break?

Every Sunday I turn on the television hoping to catch part of Joel Osteen's sermon for the week and today it was about following in God's footsteps leads to new seasons of increase. Believing in Him, knowing that my life has been set with all the trials set in place for a reason and to be ever mindful to that fact and give praise for the good and the bad that come to pass because in the end it is meant to make you stronger. Acknowledging and trusting in His plan and living your life to be as best an example of God's word leads to these blessings. While I have my times of complaining, I am so grateful to have made it through all of this. I have never been though anything so hard in my life but I know that my opportunity to come here was just the beginning of my "new season of increase".

I have really came back to something I lost a while back. Before my grandmother passed away, she really brought be back to the church and gave me a whole new perspective of how to look at worship. I fell in love with it! It wasn't like those mornings where you had to be draggggged out of bed at the crack of dawn to get all dressed up all just to fall asleep during mass. The place we went to was all about songs and preaching - really bringing home things in scripture to apply in your own life. I couldn't wait to get out of bed and go to, not to the usual 45 minute, but 2 hour service! After she passed away, I just didn't want to have to go back to that place. I didn't want to see all of the people who knew her and the memory just makes me sad, even now. I never went back but the feelings I had about worship went dormant inside.

After listening to Osteen's sermons - they really hit home. I've been thinking to myself how badly I want to come home and really forgotten about my season of increase that is coming. I have passed all semesters and moved right along when I thought I might struggle, I have friends and family who have supported me all along the way, gotten engaged to a man who has always been such a big and wonderful part of my life, bypassing Miami and coming to Michigan for 5th semester, have people willing to help me secure rotations close to home (which by the way - yet another blessing - a beautiful new home!)... SO MUCH has happened over these past 16 months. I feel sometimes like I have missed out on things back home but really my life has never changed so much in such a short period of time. It is really amazing and a wonder. The person who left nearly 16 months ago is not the same person coming home in December.

I truly feel through my belief and relationship with God that He has blessed me with a new season of increase - there is no other explaination. I feel like I have been forgetting this. I walk around exhausted, which is understandable, but I forget how much I have to look forward to! Finally moving back home (3 months sooner than expected!), planning my wedding and just setting my life back up in Michigan. I am just feeling so bummish feeling like "Ugh, 46 more days..." when I should be like "WOW, only 46 days!!!!". Think about it, total on this island I have had to spend 475 days. Out of that today is my 429th day on the island! Somehow 46 days seems so small this way.

All in all, while I know I might still grumble about my time left here - I just have to keep reminding myself to keep pushing for 46 more days. 46 more days and I will be flying home to my new season of increase and life will never be the same. Praise God :)!

...to my Grandma (or as she said, my sister in Christ), I miss your company and guidance everyday...

Senioritis

Yes people, it's official. I have senioritis. Being that there are four semester's down here in Dominica, I am now a senior on the island - and like both high school and college, senioritis is in full swing. I am so anxious to get home but still have another 47 days to go before I get my final plane ride out of here. It isn't like I am slacking, I am working as hard as I can. There are times, however, when I just want to go out to Fusion and stay out all night or go home with some snacks and vino and park it in front of my tv for 12 hours straight.

Alas, now it is turning into crunch time and my next midterms are looming ahead. Of course. No rest for Jessica, as usual. I used to thrive on this - all my hard work pushing me to want to do more and get ahead. Now? I'm passing everything so I just want OUT. There's a good attitude! I think it is the attitude of most though. As long as I am passing everything, I have a guaraunteed ticket out of here. I am going to keep working hard but some days (like today) I just want someone in the same mindset as me and just knock off a few hours early tonight to go hang out. No such luck among my classmates tonight. So I guess I will just follow suit and keep working...

ZZZZZzzzzzZZZZZzzzzzzZZZZZzzzzzz..... OKKK! I'm awake, I'm awake! Back to the books...

Time's chippin' away!

Class for today is nearly over and I am glad. Finally, I have time to study. This week I have been leaving early nearly everyday because I have had to get up early to do clinicals but it's all over now. No more Stan sessions (simulated patient) and no more hospital rotations! The semester is starting to wrap up (or so I'd like to think).

My mom and step-dad are coming down to the island 2 weeks from tomorrow and I couldn't be more excited! I am dying to see anyone from home without the help of a webcam. I really think that my not coming home this semester after mini #1 really hurt me mentally. It was just so hard after coming back my second and third semester to not come back home. I stayed here the 4 months for my first semester so I know I can do it again. Actually, it is almost over so I'm sure of it - haha. But seeing my family will be wonderful. Unfortunately, they will only be here for 2 days which is such a tease but nearly one month after they come - I will be going back home - FOR GOOD. Nothing special planned really just some nice time together and catching up. I decided not to attend the 4th semester banquet. It is partly because my folks will be arriving that day but also - I really just don't feel like going. Yeah... so that is settled.

My countdowns are just getting ridiculous. I have my countdown to home (48 days) my countdown for lecture hours (after today 49 hours) and constantly updating my Facebook and AIM profile as well. I think out of the whole class I have to be one of the people who wants to leave here most. So much is waiting for me back home and I need to get there now more than ever. I hope to God I never take things back home for granted again because this island has showed me how much they mean to me. I am planning on setting up a little study area in the house so I have a place to quietly study away from distractions and just keep all my work organized. I can't wait to set it up! My mom is worried that I will be like I was on vacation and not be as productive as I would like to be. I can see that, but really know that it will not be like that. Studying is a huge part of my life now and it isn't like high school studying, college studying - but studying to pass my COMP exam that I have to take in January and my first of three medical board exams coming up in June. I'm very excited to begin working towards that in a more focused way!

Not too far now - just a matter of a little over a month and it is all over. Hard to believe and I am sure it will be filled with emotion when it really sinks in! I can't say that "I did it!" yet but I can definitely see the finish line! :)

Last Hospital Day in Dominica!

Another hospital day over with and my last one! I never really wrote about my previous visit but while I learned a bit - it really didn't compare to today's rotation! This time I had my
anesthesiology rotation. It was great! We were in surgery for about 4 hours in the morning for a partial gastrectomy. The patient had an adenocarcinoma of her LES (cancer of the sphincter between her esophagus and her stomach). Overall, not a good prognosis but in a flash procedures were underway. All together in one case, I saw an epidural, intubation, surgery (obviously), central line, drainage tube and chest tubes all performed.

As soon as the operation started - man - did that surgeon go to town. It all seemed SO rough the way he was doing everything. The point of the surgery was to resect the portion of the stomach (cardia) along with the tumor. All of a sudden we see a spleen go flying - what? why? Don't ask me! We all just looked at each other trying to figure it out. He also cut through nearly the entire greater curvature of the stomach... The best I can come up with is that I noticed the surgeon had to cut out the spleen because of the short gastric arteries that led up to the stomach - and this could have let to a more massive bleed? I feel dumb for not knowing but it's good trivia for me to think of after I write this blog. She did have a large loss of blood, nearly 2 liters I was told. But for a woman of her age, she handled it very well. I hope good things for her. I know when she wakes up she will be in an extraordinary amount of pain. She will require a long recovery and need much extra care.

Working with the anethesiologist was great although we all were bouncing back and forth from the surgeons to anethesiologists the whole time - trying to catch a glimpse of everything. I really enjoyed it but still do not consider either in my future. What bothers me most? The patients are unconscious! I think I feel that I bring alot of my personable qualities to this profession and that I would be wasting them if I spent it in a lab or with patients that I couldn't even speak to and in that way make an impact. I know that is ONE THING I want for myself in my practice.

I did learn alot today however and I think it gave me the kick in the butt I needed to start plowing away at my books... So - here we go! :)

This one goes out to my fans!

After this blogger talking about enabling my "cookies" (in which immediate hunger followed) - and again, internet constantly goes out 30 mins after I get back to my apartment and the blogging has halted again. After going to the bookstore - I found out I have a mini fan-club!!! :D HI EVERYONE!

After hearing that it is time to update, I put in a little effort into fixing "my cookies" (still have no idea) but the genius that I am has fixed it! So HA!

So.... Where to continue from... Well, I got mini #1 back and I passed everything with flying colors. Well, maybe like half-staff? Haha, no I did alright. Everytime I take an exam I tell myself that I will be happy if I just pass - but it somehow always turns into - ahhhh, I wish I had done better. Ah well, another chance is around the corner - mini #2. Yes, I have paused on blogging so much that it is just about that time again. I am taking it a week from Monday and then I'm really on the downhill to getting off this Rock! It's crazy how time flies.

Besides school things are SO busy. Honor Council is keeping me busy with a couple things which is pretty time consuming. The foundation is going FABULOUS - except for the stupid customs agents in Dominica still holding onto our equipment!!! We found out we don't have to pay the $3,000EC to get it to us (ridiculous - it's a donation!!!) but we will have to pay for storage fee. Fine. I say whatever - can't be more than $500EC... I hope. I am so thrilled though because there are wonderful students interested in taking RFDH over after most of us leave! I am so happy that I found passionate people that I know will do a fantastic job.

As I have probably said before, sometimes I look back this time last year to see what I was doing. It makes me laugh. The pre-reading, 5am wake up calls, the giant physio book that only a master's student would read - yep, all me. I just can't believe it is nearly time for me to move on from the island and start building my life back up at home. So much has changed. I came here an eager, freshly graduated college student leaving behind friends, family and a boyfriend and am coming home an exhausted, 3rd year (nearly) medical student coming back home to my family and finace!!!

I must say, that is a nice transition. Of course, there is all that personal growth and all, haha. That's a big one that I overlooked. I can now say that I am quite the independant person. I remember telling my mom that once when I was in college. She flat out told me that I wasn't - which was so true. Yes, I lived on my own in college but still pretty much had gotten everything I needed from my parents (thanks again for the millionth time!!! :D). I know that anything that I have to deal with from now on will be nothing compared to some of the things I have went through here.

Will I miss it? Of course now I am so busy with EVERYTHING I'd love to say heck no - but I might sigh and admit that a part of me will... somehow haha. So, on that note, I better get back to studying - I have hospital tomorrow all day, so I will write sometime after and let you know how it went! I love hospital days!!!

Hugs to all and to those in my fan club (don't worry I'll stop calling it that) leave a message and kick my butt if I am slackin' on this! :)

Take care.

Will I be ready for my upcoming clinicals?

My LAST first mini is over... wow. Never again!!! After the exam, I just couldn't help to think that now it is downhill - the first mini is just about at the half-way point in the semester (odd I know) but next week is week 8 of 12. Then exams and done! The mini I think went well - I know I worked hard so I hope it pays off.

So as you all know, I am going home to Michigan for my 5th and hopefully the rest of my clinical education before I can finally receive my M.D. degree. Knowing my clinicals are coming up - it is quite nerveracking! I know it will be 2 years of pimping, along with some self-doubt, times of pride and also disappointment as well. We have learned so much in my near two years that it makes me wonder how much I have retained! I know I have retained alot. With my classes now, so much is being integrated together. For all those that don't believe - biochem DOES return haha. Of course, I'm sure alot of preceptors ask about such details but I would still like to be able to recall them. I'm just so excited to put all I have learned to use and be that person where the others on rounds say "She's the one that always seems to know the answer." I hope that is me.

A week or two ago there was a small private session for our Harvey (patient simulator for cardiorespiratory systems based on different anatomical abnormalities of the heart). After we got into it, I just looked around the room. It was two other girls, myself and three different professors. It was the three professors on one side and us three students on the other. It just hit me and stuck with me that they were passing down their knowledge to us just like one day we will do to others. Just felt like we were that "new generation" of medicine and gave me a bit of excitement.

Even after that I met a great professor who taught us our breast, pelvic and head/neck exams. Dr. K had such a huge knowledge base, could break everything down so easy a chimp could understand and made us feel like medicine was not some impossible task but gave an enjoyable and simplistic approach to it all. After we had him teach us for two hours, we all wanted to know his story - how he got to be a successful doctor that so many people I am sure adore. Another professor who also has been so helpful and wonderful teacher, has taught me on and off for my two years. She comes across as so confident, intelligent and like Dr. K - just a wonderful and personable individual! Who would have guessed it but both of them were gradutes of Ross graduate. I don't know why it surprised me. I know Ross is a great school but it just for some reason took me by surprise. It made me hope that someday people would want to know more about me and my story someday too. I know I will have alot of them to tell!

I am now mere months away from my rotational years and actually - less than that! We do them in 5th semester and even overnight on-call shifts too. So scary but exciting! Before I start I have to take the COMP exam. This exam is taken by all out-going 4th semesters which they must pass in order to register for the Step 1 exam. I will be home to study for this and I will be flying down for my exam (which I have to take in Miami) January 17th. Then it is back to Michigan to begin taking everything from my 1st and 2nd years and applying it to my patients (or my residents' patients that I have to do the scut on, haha). Will I be ready? I hope so. I hope I can be someone patients want to come see and students that actually look forward to my teachings. Until then, keeping the nose to the grindstone so I can get my butt out of the classroom and in the hospitals helping people - where I belong.

4th is well underway!

Why hello hello! Look at who's internet was back to acting up *raising hand*! Yes, on campus there it's hard to get on my blogsite and at my apartment - well, internet hasn't worked in my room in a while - ah Dominica! I am plugged into the internet in my kitchen which we just got plugs for so yay!

Anyway, trying to figure out where I left off! Semester 4 is amazing - I absolutely love it. I am just finishing up week 5 right now (well our mini is on Monday and the week beforehand we have lectures on material that will be on mini two, so I will have to catch up!). Again, our first mini is this coming Monday and I couldn't be more excited! It is my LAST first mini!!!! We have learned so much so far this semester it is unreal.

I have had a habit since I haven't been able to blog to look way back when to my first days on the island last year. How time flies! I can't believe it is almost time to leave. It is like the science summer camp that has finally come to an end! I am sitting at about 2.5 month now until I will be leaving Dominica and moving onto my 5th semester. Ross does 5th semester here on the island or in Miami, FL. BUT - recently they have approved a site in Michigan for 5th semester!!!! Well... slow down, no. It isn't approved until May 2008 when I will be already done with 5th... boo. BUT WAIT! Then they thought they might try to set up a cohort of 10 people in my class to go for a "trial run" this upcoming February (which I was pushing and pushing for) - and they APPROVED IT! Guess who was on the list of 10 to go - yours truly, that's right!!!!

I'M COMING HOME!!! NEVER TO LEAVE MICHIGAN AGAIN!

I can't wait to come back home and spend MORE than 2 weeks in the new house. I haven't ever lived in there that long before! As I told Tony (from my last post my newww finace!), "We will finally be together long enough to be able to get on each other's nerves!" I can't wait to be back with him, friends and family! What fate though! Out of ALL the places in the US, they picked Michigan and out of ALL the students they picked me! I thank God so much for this blessing. We prayed and prayed for it and He has come through more than I ever hoped for!

So that is the big news lately - the lastest buzz. I know the blogs lagged but you really didn't miss much - studying, studying, working on my organizations and OH YEA - studying, haha. There are so many things I want to talk about that I feel like I have bottled up waiting to say but it will have to wait! I have a mini in 4 days after all!!!

Back to studying for now but I'll be back :D!
With love, Jess

The last battle: Ross' 4th Semester and ME!!!

Well, I have made it! I am a fourth semester student here at Ross University and am shy only 3.5 months to getting out of here for good! For those that I left so suddenly with - I did manage to get off the island that next day through standby. It was a ROUGH day. I got there at 6am and, while there are plently of stories to go with this - 10 hours later - standing in the box of a room with no A/C I got on a flight! So many people went with the charter planes - their pilot never showed! I'm so glad I went to try to get standby.

So break... WOW - best time of my life. Tony and I took our awesome trip up north to his family's cabin. Not more than 3 hours after we got there we just weren't tired (4am) and decided to go out on the boat and watch the sunrise - little did I know he had a plan all along ;)

HE PROPOSED! I'm engaged!!! Ahhhhhhhhh!!!! :D It was so wonderful, right out in the middle of the lake at sunrise and I never saw it coming! I thought he'd wake until December or something but nope! Guess he just couldn't wait ;) I am SOOO happy! Right now we are thinking of Spring '09 but not set in stone yet. It's all so exciting. When I can't study anymore I just can't help going online and looking at wedding stuff... I really AM such a girl! Hahaha...

Well, I know I am behind on telling you about 4th semester but as every semester I have to get all of my clubs up and running and make sure I'm all settled in. It's about the end of week 2 so I am just about there and plan to write a good entry this weekend! Sorry for the delay!!!

The calm before the storm... literally.

Just about a day out and I want OFF this island!!! There is so much to talk about but first of all our final exam. Due to the storm looming ahead we were given the option earlier today to take the final exam or "opt" out of it and average out 3 midterm scores to give us our final exam grade. Of course, mind you, we have no idea what we got on mini 3 yet! It was SUCH a crapshoot: do you take the average and risk what you got on mini 3 or take the final and risk being screwed because of all of these distractions?

Well I chose to take the average. I was studying but very slowly. The Weather Channel is all I could seem to watch - just watching the storm get closer and close - and of course, on the day I am suppose to leave. BUT, since I am getting out of the final, I decided to do something about it. Tomorrow, or I should say today, I am leaving at 5ish-am to go to the airport and try to get standby for a flight. The chances do not look good but I am desperate. IF I can get off this island I am good to go and should get home fast but it is very hard getting out of here and am not very optimistic about the morning. But I am praying and hoping. There are tons of people taking charter flights out of here but at 700-900 (and I have even heard of $1200!!!!) JUST to get to Puerto Rico it was just not worth it to spend that much. That is an insane amount of money just to take you 150 miles and frankly I just couldn't afford it either. But I don't think it is worth it either. Worst case I am hoping I can get out Sunday - but we will see.

If flying out tomorrow doesn't work, it looks like I will be riding out the hurricane here. I can't stay in my apartment because it is basically a death trap. Okay, it isn't that bad. My room though is exposed to the elements (on the balcony) and there are 3 big windows so I can't stay. We will have to see. I packed up most of my room (papers, pictures, etc.) and hid it away in my closet space which is a little off the ground. I am hoping nothing gets ruined!!!! I might take some pics to the airport with me, just because I am afraid of that.

Sigh, so - yet again, we will see how this goes. I miss you all and hope I can get back to you all again really soon. Getting home would just be so wonderful and I'm sure I'll cry when I see D-town again... Please keep praying and I'll see you soon.

Hurricane Dean???

Ha, well as luck would have it - there is a tropical storm brewing out in the Altantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. The Weather Channel says that it is a depression now but is most likely to get stronger and hit the Lower Antilles (where I am) in the next 4-4.5 days (when I leave). UNBELIEVABLE! Not to mention I still have 2 other test to take while waiting this news out, haha... No problem.

I'll keep you all updated but it looks like things are going to get kinda close to whether I will just miss the storm or have to stay here and ride it out. Of course, I want out of here but I am also worried for those that will miss their flights and the locals as well. I just hope everyone is safe...

Prayers would be great on this - not just for safety but for me to get home :(...

5, 4, 3, 2, 1...

Finally it is here - the final week of the semester! I got my path lab exam back - got a B. I was hoping for higher but doesn't everyone, haha? I am happy with it though and will gladly take it. I heard alot of people did really poorly so I am grateful. Next, I took my behavioral shelf. I was really happy with how that went and am hoping it went as good as I thought! So... what's next on my agenda??? Mini #3 time on Tuesday and my final exam (gulp) on Thursday. Studying is going alright but I still have alot to do to get ready for it. Pharm is giving everyone a really hard time but I am starting to think that I will be able to get a handle on it. But there is still all the other subjects to worry about too. I just hope I can get through it all. We will see.

This has been on my mind and I think It's kinda funny how now that I think about when people say "I would never go to a doctor that got Cs". Okay, I'll admit I got one already - biochem in my 1st year - big woop. But the time that they give you to study for some of these exams is just ridiculous. I have my final exam 36 hours after my mini... While - yes, it is possible to work on final stuff before - it is not as easy to let go of studying for the mini exam. You want to do well and giving up precious time to study for the final - well it is a toss-up. What to study for? Same when I was in second and even now I am reminded when I hear second semeters talking about it. They have - what - 5-6 Shelf exams in a week??? THEN a mini two days after? Now come on. I do understand some people have "the gift" and think that "oh it's not so hard if you just try". Right, lol... It is very hard and even if they are showing off like they "supposedly" have it all under control... Well, I call your bluff lol. :)

Just a little rant that caught my attention lately. Not being a perfect 4.0 doesn't mean you won't be a good doctor and if patients don't come to you for that reason - well who needs 'em anyway, right? Just kidding! Haha - what I mean is though that I think that they are missing out because most of whom are not book-worms make up for it in character. I know too many people that - well, it just comes easy for them and I am happy for them - really. But at the same time I think it doesn't really help them in the end because they (some not all, so no one yells at me) have never had to be pushed, never had to persevere over some hard times and keep going. That's at least how I think. I think with all the hard work I have put in, while I am not a 4.0, I make up for it in so many other ways and in the end I will be a well-rounded, competent and respected physician that will be a great teacher and guide to those that I will mentor in the future - which is something I am looking forward to more and more everyday!

Okay, more work to be done if I am coming home this week!!! Well - either way I'm coming home :P but you know... Love, love, love! :D

Three exams to go...

The path lab final has come and gone. I know I messed up a couple easy ones but I finally got over it so I am moving on lol. My behavioral shelf exam is tomorrow morning. I hate 8am exams! What if I don't wake up?? Haha, I always worry about that. But I feel really good about it and am ready to get it over with.

After the exam I am probably going to the gym, shower, then we have our semesteral OLAS dinner! Yay, free food at Tomatos! I am proabably going to be studying at home tomorrow too and start back up on campus Friday. Have my LAST two exams next week and then I am homeward bound! 8 days... wow. I can't wait! I have SO much work to do for my last two exams, mini #3 and the final. The final, we never had 2nd semester but we did way back when I was a little first semester lol. But I will bust my butt so I can do well and just GET HOME!

This is kind of short I know but I just haven't posted in a while and wanted to give an update. Nothing much new is going on besides my ridiculous studying schedule and exams. Just trying to make it to 4th semester (FINALLY!) and get out of here for good!

I'll post more soon but until then - have a wonderful day :)!

If this week were only a prelude to the next two!!!

So this past week has been amazing! Where to start? Well my clinical exams are over and they went well. I mentioned by physical exam assessment but after that I also had my clinical history assessment too. Basically we went in to our own little "offices" and was greeted by a professor and an 2nd semester student posing as an actor to be our patient. Everyone had a different case and our task was to take a thorough history and give our differential diagnosis. Mine went very well. My patient had a tension headache accompanied by GI problems due to his overuse of aspirin. Really the diagnosis isn't the hard part to get, but in taking a history you have to be sure to hit all of the right questions and rule out any other possibility. For instance, this headache could have been a multitude of things: migrane, cluster headaches, from high blood pressure, stress, etc - which you must ask about all of those through their possible symptoms. For his GI problems, one must ask: medications the patient is on, drug use, sexual history, stool characteristics, family history of cancers - and so on...

As far as my patient, I nailed it. My professor said that I did a very good job and would receive a grade in the 90s. So that made me very happy. She even used the actors opinion in my grade and he said how comfortable he was with me and how I seemed to come across as being genuine and very thorough. So that is another test down. Next was my paper... Again, things went well - it is not graded as of yet but I did ask for one of the 4th semester ICM professors to revise it and I believe that really helped smooth it all out - I am definitely feeling confident about that.

As for now, it is all studying (which after writing this blog I am going to start on) but some BIG news. Our newly hired Dean of Clinical Medicine came down to Dominica, introduced himself to us and allowed us to ask as many questions as we wanted. As most students were all eager to ask about their own individual states and what new things are happening, of course I asked about Michigan. So many lies, exaggerations and rumors are on ValueMD lately that it was great to hear someone first hand. So basically I wanted to know if there were any developments in Michigan rotations. I found out many things - all good. Seems like it shouldn't be too bad to get rotations to stay home (provided the timing works out) but then he said something amazing. While nothing is yet signed, there is a contract out in Michigan pending to begin a 5th semester in Michigan! "That's nice", I thought. Probably wouldn't happen for a year or two. He gave details about it and within the next couple months he was hoping that it would be final and that this January it would begin. Not to sound too wimpy but when he said that my jaw dropped and my eyes began to well-up. This January??? Are you kidding me?! What this means is that I may possibly leave Dominica this December and be home in Michigan for good! No Miami!!!! Of course, as Tony is trying to tell me, to not get my hopes up too much - and boy and I trying - but WOW! This would be an amazing end to my time away from home.

Even that doesn't end my good news. After all of this we had our SGA elections (Student Government Association), where I was running for Honor Council President. This was such a fiasco because we had complaints about how it was happening and after the elections were over we had to throw them all out and start over! I was so bummed. All my work to get people to go out and vote for me, ruined. BUT, elections were held yet again and to my surprise I won by a huge margin with 208 votes! I was SO happy - so after 3 semesters of being a representative - I have finally moved up to being President - and it is a good feeling. We are a pretty active council and I am excited to be in charge of it! So much will be on my plate next semester but most of what I am in charge of is running like a well-oiled machine, so I think I will be able to handle it.

Finally, we come to today. All I wanted to do was "close" all clubs for the semester - just be done!!! So, I needed to get all of our banking done to get our donations ready and let that be the end. OLAS was able to donate to two causes in Dominica - totaling about $4,000EC! RFDH was able to put in our 2nd wire-transfer for our medical equiptment for a total of about $9,000EC! Hopefully, all of it will get here by the time we get back so we may bring it to the hospital but - wow - I mean it isn't everyday that you get the privilege of donating nearly $13,000EC in one day!

Overall, I am so very pleased with how this past week has gone. But I can't forget about my studies! Still TONS to do - so I am going to go get started!!!! I hope that this past week is a good omen for the next two weeks of exams!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLOG!!!

Wow, I can't believe it has been a year since my first post! I have great news to post later on - many great things have happened over the past couple days - so I will try to write about it all soon! I just couldn't let the day pass without telling my blog...

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY!!! :D

Getting through this with Him by my side...

Another rainy day here in Dominica and studying in my aparment for a change. As things are drawing closer to an end I am finding a little more flexibility in studying. Just seems like there is more time but I hope I am just going to still use it wisely. Getting a little nervous for my exam tomorrow because I really want to nail it and don't want to get nervous like I did before. So, I studied a bit today and will still do that a little here and there but I really just want to prepare for tomorrow. So I am going to work on that and start organizing for my final exam in a few weeks :) Just do little things that aren't hardcore studying but still get some work done at the same time.

Though all of this though - since I have been here and especially this semester though - I have had to rely on such a higher power helping me out along the way. While I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel for the semester, I can't help but think about this whole semester and how I have gotten through it. I had prayed here and there before but it has become such a second nature here to do that just because I feel like I need Him and Mary now more than ever. This semester has been the hardest yet here mentally and without having prayer I don't think I would have made it through, at least as well as I think I will do.

His "divine intervention" into my life isn't just in how I feel inside but how much I know that it's done though the people in my life too. I could never be here and make it through all this without everyone at home pushing me on and just simply telling me that everything will be alright and that they will love me no matter what happens. Sounds silly, but really you forget that "hey - they actually WILL love me no matter what" - and things then don't seem so horrible. Being in such a remote area you forget so many obvious things like that - and especially that you are not alone. Sure there are tons of people here doing the same thing and truly the island is not a bad place to live at all - but as anyone would say - it's not home.

I find myself turning on someone like Joel Osteen just to watch one of his sermons sometimes (that guy is so great!) and just taking time for myself at the gym or something to bring me back to "center", because it is so easy to lose that. I am so close to coming home again and to look back on all I have done here makes me realize how much I have grown and how the things that I am most looking forward to in life and getting so much closer - like moving home, starting rotations, enjoying the new house, getting engaged - and gasp - becoming a doctor! Hard to believe that a year ago I still was at home waiting to leave for the island, but here I am now only about 4.5 months away from leaving here with two years deep in my medical education! It's a crazy feeling like it almost isn't real.

I just thank God for so much that I can even begin to write about but have to admit that because of Him and his blessing in my life like my family and friends I will finish these last few months here strong and make this Christmas definitely a "Merry" one! :) Aaaaamen! ;)

Another taste of clinicals...

Well my birthday was a great time. Matt took me out to eat but when going into our little restaurant here - 5 or 6 of my friends just popped out to surprise me! I knew something was up! Haha. It was so nice though, there was a cake, decorated table and everything. It was so sweet of all of them so thank you so much!!!

Studying is sluggish but picking up. Today was our last day of clinic - so our group was up! We went to Vielle-Case Clinic where we met with our patient to take his history. This time it was actually a real one. I wish I could have gotten him all to myself, but there were limited patients so we had 3 people in the room, myself with another guy and girl. So we alternated taking the interview but - wow - did he have quite some story! If you ever have visited Dominica (because I am sure soooo many of you have lol) or have read my early on posts from last year, driving here is... there really isn't any words - it's just insane. Speeding, driving on the edge of cliffs, cutting SO close to people walking on the side of the road and animals - it can really freak you out, not to mention what it does to your stomach... ugh... Anyway, our taxis here are called "transports" and M.L. (funny how the initials are the same from my other interview, haha, but this was a guy) got caught in the door and was dragged THROUGH GLASS along with the transport! This happened years ago but with all of the injuries he sustained he ended up having a plate put in his leg. All in all, he ended up having the plate taken out but after the stiches were removed he started to develop a wound infection.

It was the most interesting case I have seen so far here in Dominica and I felt so bummed that I started my paper on my other case because this would be a great case-writeup! But after we were all done we thanked him and headed back to Portsmouth to present to the attending (supervising physician). It was quite intimidating talking our patient up to him. He was kind, but was pretty demanding. This is something we will all have to get used to but I couldn't help think he was looking at us like we were the dumbest people ever! Before I continue on that note, the other girl in our group really got on my nerves. While she was quite thorough in her part of the interview, she wasted SO much time. After the patient would tell us part of his story, she would go all the way back to the beginning and confirm. Of course, you do not want to miss anything but with the limited time we were given and expected to perform a complete history (which can be a lengthy process) it was hard to keep the flow going. She would constantly cut both myself and the other guy in the group off but moreso in presenting the patient. When I would begin talking she would cut me off and just go on like she did everything. Nothing but "I" statements. "I asked him" this... or "I wanted to rule out" that... It was so obnoxious and with her cutting me off I couldn't help but give a little glare in her direction. I could tell the physician saw my frustration with being cut off and when she would get frazzled or go too fast she would finally shutup and then I would just continue on. It really killed the flow and that disappointed me. We are supposed to be a team here and she just - well - I'm not sure what she was trying to accomplish. There really wasn't a grade for this, more for practice. I can't be 100% about this but her tag on her ID had a 4th semester color so she might have been a repeat-3rd semester that has done this before but just wanted to seem like she was "all that" and a bag of chips... Who knows. After that, I went to the gym and worked that all off my mind.

It was a great experience though and I look forward to more! He had us go through our whole case, making sure we missed nothing and even went as far as to us giving our DD (differential diagnosis)! It was actually pretty fun and in that short morning, I really learned alot. I'm not so worried about being criticized (positive or negative) by the attendings. That will be my life for many years to come and I can't let it get to me and consume me. They all have their preferences of how they want cases presented and if you can just feel them out and able to be flexible in that sense - I think it makes for a less stressful time and a more enjoyable experience.

As for now, I am back at my apartment after a wonderful nap and studying! Classes are basically over. Just a few hours here and there but they are officially over I believe Monday. Before that though I have my oral exam this Thursday then nothing but paper-exams after that! So - on that note - time to kick it into gear! Where's my energy drink??? :)

Time for some fun...

Well Tony made me promise something - that I would have some fun tonight for myself. I agreed without hearing what I was promising to, because heck - I'd do anything for him! That was a bit of trickery! But I promised so I guess it's about time for some fun.

He's so sweet. The day started off bummish because all I want to do is be home with all of you. But everyone here has been so nice and wishing me "happy birthday" all day long, leaving messages on facebook, etc... It's helping. I figure if I don't let myself have some time to myself - especially on my birthday I will regret it. I don't want to have all "what I missed because of the island" thoughts, so tonight will be a nice time (hopefully not too crazy) of memories I will have and miss from here.

Well, sorry for the shortness but it is time to go for the semesteral powderpuff game, then Matt wants to take me out to eat (n' what not) so sweet and hopefully meeting up with Sana after... Something tells me that somethin' is up... but I'm just happy to spend time with my favorite people here - hopefully I'll see some people at Fusion tonight and be able to live in the moment and forget about everything ahead of me (studying, studying annnnd studying)... Happy Birthday to meeeeee!