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