Seattle... not too impressive.

But I am almost home and nothing can stop me now - except the fact that Greyhound was sold out for the earlier ride. And that unfortunate fact is making me spend 4 extra hours in the States before I can head home to Vancouver. So the flights were not bad. I met three really nice ladies/girls on two separate flights and learned some Spanish that I soon forgot. But that is alright - I was running on 3 hrs of sleep and lots of excitement. From the plane I took lots of beautiful photos of the landscape, which I will upload once I am back in Dominica (I left my camera cord there).

Ah, it feels so amazing to finish the first semester and feel like a survivor. All these hours spent sitting down and bending over the books suddenly seem so trivial. The important thing is that I did it! And if I was to use one sentence to sum up my feelings right now, it would be - the world is mine to conquer! Okay you may think that is a bit silly...

I am sitting in a coffee shop in the WestLake Mall in Seattle (as shown in the photo). It is one of the few places that closed at 9pm. Everything else, including all Starbucks, closes at 6pm on a weekday. What a joke! I am used to having coffee shops open till 11pm, or even better - 24/7. That was frustrating - I did not want to sit at the dirty and creepy Greyhound terminal for 4 hours with a bunch of sketchy people. But I guess I have to spend a whole hour with them before I could get on the bus and pass out. I am so exhausted and not feeling so well. I think the AC on the planes are to blame.

Oh well. I am almost home :) My holiday begins!

Uncertainties

The campus closed down yesterday at 6pm because of the tropical storm warning, 2 days before the final exam. And they told us that it would re-open on the morning of the exam day. For students who always study on campus - that was a disaster. The next thing you know, everyone was rushing to shop and stock up on groceries like it was the end of the world. I thought about doing that for a second. Nah... didn't do it. Had my butt planted in the chair for a few more hours till the campus was closed. If the storm was gonna hit and all the stores were closed I would just run across the street to my friend's apartment to beg for food and shelter hahaha.

Tomorrow is my exam - 1pm. I can't wait to write it now. No I am not completely ready and no I don't know everything I should know. But my brain is exhausted. I could almost hear it protest against having more information funneling into it. Prayers are welcome! Today I took two big breaks and packed one suitcase. I was planning to move tomorrow but decided to do part of it today - because tomorrow I will be going OUT right after the exam and actually live a little. How exciting! Something to really look forward to.

I am at my friend Lila's place right now and she is out hunting for food :)
Last haul. Fingers crossed!

ps. I just found out that my webcam actually has those crazy ugly frames so I decided to get creative while I slack off! Excuse my tired look...

Bad news?

So there will be a tropical storm hitting Dominica tonite. Then 2 hurricanes - Bill and Ana - coming Tuesday and Thursday, respectively. That sucks. My flight is on Aug 20 Thursday right between the two storms!! :( Looks like there is a high chance that I won't make it home this break. But I am still hopeful... or in denial. Apparently Bill is hitting us with a Level 3. Great! Right on the day of the final as well when all we wanna do is party. Maybe I can fly myself home...

This is messed up.
I can't focus on studying now...

What just happened?

Yes what just happened? I think I have just written the hardest exam by far in my life... I know I complained about Mini 2, which - compared to this Mini 3 - was A PIECE OF CAKE. Oh man. A friend's words precisely describe the effect of this exam: 'Mini 3: 122, Student: 0. This is the first exam that made me feel like all the hours I put into studying had just gone to waste.' The repeating students who had written Mini 3 from last term said this one was RIDICULOUS. A lot of students did not even manage to finish the exam. Imagine that... well, I am hurting but it could be worse? Haha at least I am trying to tell myself that. Ross is rough like that.

After the exam I went to my friend Polina's and just jammed with her for HOURS. Music, my life saver. Polina is an amazing guitarist and songwriter. It just happens that we have very similar taste in music. I love singing and she loves playing. We clicked and the music healed our wounded little spirits (post-exam trauma), partially. Next term we are gonna try to play at the talent show here :) It really is nothing though - no one ever goes because everyone is busy studying. But we both know that we need it. That gives us something to work on and look forward to other than just studying day after day like a machine.

I am beat. But tomorrow morning I am going to put on my speedo and goggles and go work out in the pool - rain or shine. Because it has been missing from my life for the past 3 weeks.

Last exam - final - Aug18. Then my lovely home Vancouver. Prepare yourselves!

PS. Crossing my fingers for decent exam results..... let me pass let me pass.

I Want Your Life

[Check out my FIRST pair of Crocs. I can't believe it either...]

Unforgettable, that's what you are. Unforgettable, though near or far. Nat King Cole's soulful voice fills my mind in between my draining study sessions. I haven't been singing much for the past month, and that I miss greatly. It reminds me of the days when I used to work with the endearing cancer patients - the way we laughed and sang and enjoyed music in silence. The way we were all brought together by soothing melody. Music is not in my soul, it IS my soul. I was just getting better at the blues style of singing before I left Vancouver. Sigh, medical school - what a perfect example of a love-hate relationship.

I used to be much fitter (now I am getting jiggly... partly due to my foot injury). I used to bike everywhere (Dominica is NOT made for bikes, let alone my skinny roadbike). I used to sing and play piano whenever I want to (no pianos here) and jam with my buddy Cam (he is in Vancouver and most students here are just too afraid to think about making time for music). I used to eat very healthy (don't even think about it here unless you are like my friend Lila... she is just too amazing). Studying does take up most of my time. And I know that other medical students are going through similar feelings, but it just sucks sometimes. 'Don't lose your personality!' Sorry, but it is a little hard not to... ;) Oh of course I will not lose my personality. I still sing in my room while I isolate myself like the rest to study for the exams!

Alright so to say a little about the exams - Histo practical was yesterday. It was not so easy as the first and I think that is because we had less time to study for it. The hardest portion was pulmonary - all the cross sections of bronchi and terminal and respiratory bronchioles were hard to distinguish. Most of my friends felt the same about the exam. But it's behind us now. Gotta study like mad for Mini 3 on Aug 11. Then a week after that is the final exam. So close to going home! I can feel my heart race at the thought of being home with my family, friends, and Miho.

Back to the deadly Biochemistry. [Photo below is my cardiac cycle diagram. I heart cardio physiology!]

3 More Exams

Yesterday I wrote my Anatomy practical exam. To me it seemed a little less easy than the first. There were quite a a few heart and lung questions. Unfortunately most hearts were really shriveled and mutilated and therefore making it difficult to orient ourselves when we stand in front of this cut-up organ with 45 seconds ticking away. I wasn't completely happy about the exam, but I think the results shouldn't be too bad. Fingers crossed and no time to dwell - today I have my Histology practical in 1 hr and 45 mins. Then right after this exam my Canadian girl Allie (also my future roommate for next term) and I will go hardcore and nail the Pulmonary Physiology. That subject is pretty difficult, especially with all the formulas tossed back and forth. But I will do my best to understand how to apply them before the Mini 3 exam on Monday.

It's been more than 2 months without running for me, and close to 1 month without swimming (due to the cold/flu). I am slowly going insane... thank goodness there is still Pilates. Maybe I have A.D.D.? It seems like I just have way too much energy to spend and I NEED to move and jump around. This sitting-for-the-whole-day business just doesn't flow with me here. Alright back to studying!!

Scrambled eggs for the soul...

Friends

The cute little angel you are seeing in the photo there, with her legs and arms wrapped around me, is the niece of my laundry lady Joanna. Her name is Valgela. Every morning when I walk out of my apartment to head to school she is there with a big smile. It just makes my day to hear her say 'Alexis!' and watch her run to me to give me a big hug! :) I will miss her once I move out of this complex...

These past few days have been rough - trying to fight off a cold and a sudden onset of fever. The dreadful 'pandemic' has finally hit me... I was hoping to get lucky this term. Better luck next time I guess. Fortunately it was not a flu. I feel better today after being on drugs for a few days. My immune system had been teetering for a week or two ever since the first person started coughing out death on campus. I was doing my best to not let myself break... and that effort worked for 2 weeks. Oh well what are you gonna do? Fortunately my friend Lila took care of me and shared her Ibuprofen... otherwise I'd probably be a lot sicker for a longer period of time. Lila herself actually got sick 2 weeks before I did and that put her out of order for one whole week. But she is such an amazingly smart and mentally strong individual that missing a week of class did not phase her. She just picked up where she left off. I admire that so much! Anyway, so when I was sick she took care of me - bought me V8 and made me scrambled eggs. It had been so long since I last had home-made food! It was delicious. She apologized to me, thinking that she got me sick when I visited her during her sick days. Well, I don't know - maybe she did, maybe she didn't. I knew what I might be getting myself into when I made up my mind to go see her with some fruit juice concentrate (it was passion fruit.. mmm). What are friends for?

The meaning of friendship is taken to a new level here in Dominica, particularly for Ross students, in my opinion. This new level may be good or bad, depending on many factors. This medical school is isolated, unlike most medical schools in other parts of the world. We are pretty much stranded on an island far away from home with nothing much to do except study. Friendships can form very quickly but some are not real. Many students feel lonely or homesick being away from family and close friends, so the reflex is to find someone to lean on as soon as possible. I know that is generalized and not every student is like that but many are. And that is scary sometimes. Fotunately the friends I have made are pretty darn great in their own ways. The main lesson I learned here is: be yourself and associate yourself with people with a positive outlook.

My first exam is in 4 days - Anatomy practical. Then the next day is the Histology practical. Then 2 days later is Mini 3. Tonight I did a review session with my Canadian girl Allie. And it was amazing! We were so efficient that I was clearer than ever about pulmonary physiology than I initially was. Talking it out with someone does help when you are prepared! And of course you have to find the right type of study partner.

Countdown to VANCOUVER: 17 days!!! Alright it's already 2 hours past my bed time. I should go... Goodnight everyone!