Whew! Another week has gone by. They sure know how to keep us busy here. My morning started at 7am with breakfast with the Dean (a group meeting, I'm not that special) and is just now ending at 10pm though it may be later seeing as I still need to study some more. I can't believe it's already October and 1/16 of my time in med. school has already passed. I've learned alot over the past few months including a wide vocabulary of useful and sometimes amusing words. I'll share with you 10 of my favorite new additions (you can go look them up) either amusing for the complexity used to describe something simple or the amusing sound as it rolls off the tongue. In no particular order:
Right decubitus
Micrognathia
Gubernaculum
Salpingo pharyngeus
Raschischisis
Ataxia Telangiectasia
Nuchal
Anastomosis
Sternocleidomastoid
Sphygmomanometer
Consider yourself a more informed and educated individual. Long day tomorrow so I'd better get some shut-eye. I'll leave you with this encouraging verse that we read last night at medical school girls' Bible study last night:
Isaiah 48:17
T-3 days 'til Cadaver Ball!
10.26.2004
10.20.2004
Homeless
There's nothing like the view of a sunset in Northeast Tennessee, the scarlet colored leaves accentuated by the rose and azure hues of the sky, to complement a loss in intermural football. Hey, it wasn't totally our fault, they only let us play our 7 players against the other team's 8 (I don't think I ever will understand the rules of co-ed football).
Oh well, at least the hour of exercise might assist me in getting into shape for next week's Cadaver Ball. Before you think I've lost my mind or think "Frank" and I are going somewhere on a date, let me explain. It's a tradition here at Quillen for the M2s to throw the M1s a formal every fall, a faculty roast of sorts where the M2s make fun of us and the professors, play music and just have a jolly good time taking the night off from studying. I told "Frank" I wasn't taking him so he's a little bent out of shape at the moment after hearing this. I know, we med. school nerds have an odd sense of humor.
Fall Break was a much needed respite from the stresses of school. It was nice just to have a weekend to do nothing and sit around the house and be lazy. Things had changed somewhat in my hometown, Smyrna. The old farmhouse (my grandmother's) that stood next to our house and the woods had been torn down and in its place stood an empty field ready to house the next building of school-aged punks...err...elementary school children and a wonderful powerline complements of TVA. Though I enjoyed my time there with my parents, it didn't feel like home because of the changes and the fact that most of my friends have moved away. So then I went to Knoxville, my second home so to speak, but it, too, was not as I had remembered it. My brief time in med. school had erased my carefree undergrad attitude and had given me a new appreciation of how much free time I used to have as an undergrad. Though hanging out with old friends was great and enjoyable, it didn't feel like home either. Last night, I traveled back to Johnson City, the least of the three towns that feel like home. I suppose this place never will have the "homey" atmosphere that Smyrna and Knoxville have; I don't expect deep roots to form here due to my lack of time to put forth the effort to do so. Then I got an email from one of my friends in Central America. Some might consider Central America my summer home, and indeed it seems like it is becoming that way. Yet, because of the cultural differences and ties I have here in the States I suppose it too will never become "home". With these thoughts in mind, I have come to the conclusion that I am "homeless" yet I'm content with this thought. My real home hopefully lies somewhere where all my friends from all these places will be together. I suppose that's why God has given us eternity, to have time to become reacquainted with everyone who has touched our lives and to meet those wonderful souls whom we never had the chance to meet here on earth. To use the old saying, my home is where my heart is, ie spread across states and countries in the form of many dear friendships and memories.
Time to go study embryology and clean the apartment. I may not have a "home" but I sure do have dishes and a house to clean. Anyone know of a good maid?
Oh well, at least the hour of exercise might assist me in getting into shape for next week's Cadaver Ball. Before you think I've lost my mind or think "Frank" and I are going somewhere on a date, let me explain. It's a tradition here at Quillen for the M2s to throw the M1s a formal every fall, a faculty roast of sorts where the M2s make fun of us and the professors, play music and just have a jolly good time taking the night off from studying. I told "Frank" I wasn't taking him so he's a little bent out of shape at the moment after hearing this. I know, we med. school nerds have an odd sense of humor.
Fall Break was a much needed respite from the stresses of school. It was nice just to have a weekend to do nothing and sit around the house and be lazy. Things had changed somewhat in my hometown, Smyrna. The old farmhouse (my grandmother's) that stood next to our house and the woods had been torn down and in its place stood an empty field ready to house the next building of school-aged punks...err...elementary school children and a wonderful powerline complements of TVA. Though I enjoyed my time there with my parents, it didn't feel like home because of the changes and the fact that most of my friends have moved away. So then I went to Knoxville, my second home so to speak, but it, too, was not as I had remembered it. My brief time in med. school had erased my carefree undergrad attitude and had given me a new appreciation of how much free time I used to have as an undergrad. Though hanging out with old friends was great and enjoyable, it didn't feel like home either. Last night, I traveled back to Johnson City, the least of the three towns that feel like home. I suppose this place never will have the "homey" atmosphere that Smyrna and Knoxville have; I don't expect deep roots to form here due to my lack of time to put forth the effort to do so. Then I got an email from one of my friends in Central America. Some might consider Central America my summer home, and indeed it seems like it is becoming that way. Yet, because of the cultural differences and ties I have here in the States I suppose it too will never become "home". With these thoughts in mind, I have come to the conclusion that I am "homeless" yet I'm content with this thought. My real home hopefully lies somewhere where all my friends from all these places will be together. I suppose that's why God has given us eternity, to have time to become reacquainted with everyone who has touched our lives and to meet those wonderful souls whom we never had the chance to meet here on earth. To use the old saying, my home is where my heart is, ie spread across states and countries in the form of many dear friendships and memories.
Time to go study embryology and clean the apartment. I may not have a "home" but I sure do have dishes and a house to clean. Anyone know of a good maid?
10.13.2004
Pedal Pusher Seeks Instruction
After the test on Monday (of which I was quite proud of my grade), I was definitely needing some well-deserved R&R. Not having class on Tuesday, only a seminar on "Cultural Competency" which I would have preferred to have clepped out of, my fellow and culturally competent classmate Hannah (who's lived most of her life as an MK in Africa) and I decided that we would go enjoy the fall weather. Since both of us were the recipients of generous loanings of bicycles by our thoughtful friends, we decided it would be fun to explore nearby Buffalo Mountain on bike. We met at Quillen and loaded up the bikes on the back of Hannah's car. The physchiatry residents, who had just finished their grand rounds that morning and were walking back to the hospital, cast envious gazes in our direction as they wished they were back in their first year of medical school and had plenty of free time to enjoy the fall weather.
Despite being neophytes at this whole sport they call "mountain biking," we were confident in our abilities to tackle any incline. I mean how hard could it be to pedal up a path? Well, we were mistaken. We should have realized the trip was doomed when we got the call from our other classmate, Kristen, early that morning saying that she had forgotten that her bike wasn't equipped with the right tires and she would have to bail on us. Then when we got there, Hannah realized that perhaps she should have put more air in her tires. Our friend Matt, a hardcore biker and outdoorsman had told us to take the trail on the left. However, the trail on the left looked more like a hiking trail and unsuitable for mountain biking. So, we decided to take the trail marked for ATVs since it was wider and less covered with tree roots.
With its washouts and 45% grade incline (ok so maybe it wasn't that steep), we found ourselves not so much mountain biking as walking our bikes up the mountain. After about a mile or two of these, Hannah and I decided that perhaps there is more to mountain biking tan pedal pushing and that maybe we should leave the Black Diamond level "hill" and find a more appropriate Bunny Slope upon which to test our skills. When we finally reached the bottom after many speedy descents and hasty dismounts to walk the bikes, we looked around and didn't see any other trails. We didn't just want to go home and waste the $5 donation we had made to the National Park Service for our 15 minute stay. Luckily, there was an old access road across the street. Hopping on our bikes, we road across the road and started up the gravel path. With a more gentle incline, we found little difficulty in biking up and down it for thirty minutes, Hannah's tires barely holding on.
Needless to say, we concluded that perhaps paths are better on foot, perhaps there is something more to biking than just pedal-pushing, and that perhaps we'd better try a few more spinning classes before planning another outdoor two-wheeled excursion.
Tomorrow's Rural Track day in Rogersville and Friday I'm headed back to Smyrna for Fall Break, my first time since moving here. Lots of traveling and all by car and foot. The semester has flown and I've enjoyed it, but thank goodness for fall break. Time to go study, the learning never ends.
Despite being neophytes at this whole sport they call "mountain biking," we were confident in our abilities to tackle any incline. I mean how hard could it be to pedal up a path? Well, we were mistaken. We should have realized the trip was doomed when we got the call from our other classmate, Kristen, early that morning saying that she had forgotten that her bike wasn't equipped with the right tires and she would have to bail on us. Then when we got there, Hannah realized that perhaps she should have put more air in her tires. Our friend Matt, a hardcore biker and outdoorsman had told us to take the trail on the left. However, the trail on the left looked more like a hiking trail and unsuitable for mountain biking. So, we decided to take the trail marked for ATVs since it was wider and less covered with tree roots.
With its washouts and 45% grade incline (ok so maybe it wasn't that steep), we found ourselves not so much mountain biking as walking our bikes up the mountain. After about a mile or two of these, Hannah and I decided that perhaps there is more to mountain biking tan pedal pushing and that maybe we should leave the Black Diamond level "hill" and find a more appropriate Bunny Slope upon which to test our skills. When we finally reached the bottom after many speedy descents and hasty dismounts to walk the bikes, we looked around and didn't see any other trails. We didn't just want to go home and waste the $5 donation we had made to the National Park Service for our 15 minute stay. Luckily, there was an old access road across the street. Hopping on our bikes, we road across the road and started up the gravel path. With a more gentle incline, we found little difficulty in biking up and down it for thirty minutes, Hannah's tires barely holding on.
Needless to say, we concluded that perhaps paths are better on foot, perhaps there is something more to biking than just pedal-pushing, and that perhaps we'd better try a few more spinning classes before planning another outdoor two-wheeled excursion.
Tomorrow's Rural Track day in Rogersville and Friday I'm headed back to Smyrna for Fall Break, my first time since moving here. Lots of traveling and all by car and foot. The semester has flown and I've enjoyed it, but thank goodness for fall break. Time to go study, the learning never ends.
10.11.2004
Upon the Mountain
Charlie's Bunion, April 2004 (photo courtesy of Justin Acuff) 
"He who forms mountains...and treads on the high places of the earth,
the Lord God of hosts is His name. " Amos 4:13
If you've ever spent any time with me at all, you know I have a fondness for the wilderness, particularly the mountains. Many of you, being sympathetic to my whims, have left your warm sheets on a Saturday morning to accompany me on a random adventure in the Smokies. I can't say why I have a predilection for spending time in the wilderness. My parents have never understood it, especially after an attempted hike to the Chimneys ended 5 hours later after they refused to believe my 100th encouraging statement of, "I think we're almost to the top." Perhaps it is because of the aforementioned verse; there seems to be something about spending time at a lofty height that gives one a sense of being closer to the presence of God. Even those who don't consider themselves "spiritual" or "religious" admit to having a seemingly spiritual experience when peering down from a ridge to view the expanse of leafy boughs below. Despite the sweat, the burn of muscles, the shortness of breath that one experiences to reach the summit, the view is always worth the effort. How can one not having a feeling of satisfaction being surrounded by God's creation and looking out on to all that He has made?
This time of year is especially rewarding as the trees exhibit a delectable palette of ochres, crimsons, and sepias, tinged with evergreens. Though I had a test today, I couldn't pass the opportunity to spend an hour on Buffalo Mountain this past Friday afternoon. The leaves have begun to turn here in Johnson City, only whetting my appetite for a walk through the Smokies. I have to say moving away from the Smokies is one of the sacrifices of medical school. I'm thankful fall break is next week and that I'll have the opportunity to venture once again to my "playground" of sorts next Tuesday. Yep, I'm like a little kid. Forget the TV and high-tech toys, just put me in the mountains and leave me there for a few hours. I'll find plenty of ways to amuse myself, whether it be ''naming" the native flora (purple and white are my favorite species), misguiding my poor friends down a "path less taken" or trying to traverse a "shallow" stream crossing.
These hikes have lead me to many beautiful outlooks, only accessible after miles on foot and far more spectacular than any drive-in parkway "scenic overlook". Sometimes I think as Christians we expect God to grant us the mountain top experiences with only the effort of pulling up our car and jumping out for a few snap shots. Yet, to get to the real views, those untainted by man-made objects, those glimpses into the vestibule of heaven and God's portfolio of creation, takes effort and preparation. It takes strength and endurance, having the physical fitness and the right gear with you to make it to the top. Lack of either of these will put one in a bind and unable to reach the goal (and believe me I've been in both situations). Yet, I know myself especially, we often scream to God "Put me back upon the mountain top!" but we are unwilling to undergo the discipline and training needed to reach that mountain top. Hours spent mindlessly spinning my legs on the elliptical machines or sweating it out in body sculpting class may not be my ideal of fun, but it's necessary to stay and shape to do the things I really enjoy. Likewise, disciplining ourselves in areas such as prayer, service, and study may not be the most enjoyable at times; however, they are necessary components to reach that which God has set before us.
For now, I'll be content to stay in the gym and the confines of the M1 classroom and dream about next week's cool, crisp mountain air and the smell of freshly fallen leaves and how I'm going to summit the next mountain God puts in my life.
This time of year is especially rewarding as the trees exhibit a delectable palette of ochres, crimsons, and sepias, tinged with evergreens. Though I had a test today, I couldn't pass the opportunity to spend an hour on Buffalo Mountain this past Friday afternoon. The leaves have begun to turn here in Johnson City, only whetting my appetite for a walk through the Smokies. I have to say moving away from the Smokies is one of the sacrifices of medical school. I'm thankful fall break is next week and that I'll have the opportunity to venture once again to my "playground" of sorts next Tuesday. Yep, I'm like a little kid. Forget the TV and high-tech toys, just put me in the mountains and leave me there for a few hours. I'll find plenty of ways to amuse myself, whether it be ''naming" the native flora (purple and white are my favorite species), misguiding my poor friends down a "path less taken" or trying to traverse a "shallow" stream crossing.
These hikes have lead me to many beautiful outlooks, only accessible after miles on foot and far more spectacular than any drive-in parkway "scenic overlook". Sometimes I think as Christians we expect God to grant us the mountain top experiences with only the effort of pulling up our car and jumping out for a few snap shots. Yet, to get to the real views, those untainted by man-made objects, those glimpses into the vestibule of heaven and God's portfolio of creation, takes effort and preparation. It takes strength and endurance, having the physical fitness and the right gear with you to make it to the top. Lack of either of these will put one in a bind and unable to reach the goal (and believe me I've been in both situations). Yet, I know myself especially, we often scream to God "Put me back upon the mountain top!" but we are unwilling to undergo the discipline and training needed to reach that mountain top. Hours spent mindlessly spinning my legs on the elliptical machines or sweating it out in body sculpting class may not be my ideal of fun, but it's necessary to stay and shape to do the things I really enjoy. Likewise, disciplining ourselves in areas such as prayer, service, and study may not be the most enjoyable at times; however, they are necessary components to reach that which God has set before us.
For now, I'll be content to stay in the gym and the confines of the M1 classroom and dream about next week's cool, crisp mountain air and the smell of freshly fallen leaves and how I'm going to summit the next mountain God puts in my life.
10.04.2004
Life on Rocky Top
Nicoll and I showing our GameDay Spirit
I debated on making this post one of my usual, serious reflective pieces or something a little more light and humorous. Seeing as how it's quite late at night (or early in the morning) and knowing that I'm typically characterized for being more goofy than somber at this hour, I think I'll put in something a little on the lighter side. That being said, on with the post....
I know you might be wondering, why is a medical student up in the wee hours of the morning when they have class at 8am? You see, I had the misfortune of travelling back to Knoxville this weekend where I was reintroduced to what life is like as an undergrad. Sadly, I think the influences of those of so lucky, full of free time, undergraduates overcame my responsible, professional nature that typifies my persona of the model med. student. While my oh-so studious peers were confined to visions of Netter's Atlas pages and dates with their Anatomy Lab Partners, I was observing another wonderful weekend in Big Orange Land.
Besides getting to spend time with the best little sister and best big sister a girl could want (Nicoll and Mer) and trying not to get into too much trouble, I decided to compile a list of "Thou Shalt Nots" for those unfamiliar as to how Tennessee Culture works on a game day weekend:
(In no particular order)
1. Thou shalt not wear any colors besides orange or white (note Nicoll and I demostrating proper UT attire on Saturdays in October). Lime green or the opponent's colors are unacceptable.
2. Thou shalt not use the late starting time of the game as an excuse for more time to raise your blood alcohol level
3. Thou shalt not be a guest of gracious UT hosts and then proceed to shout "War Eagle!!" on the premises of their humble abode
4. Thou shalt not turn around and offer your fellow UT fan peanuts only to tell them that they need to eat them because their throat is sore from "talking too much" throughout the game.
5.Thou shalt not refrain from the clapping of hands and the screaming of "Woo!" when encouraging songs about moonshine and women are played to spur your team on to victory
6. Thou shalt not use the traffic jam after the game as an excuse to violate every traffic law ever written
7.Thou shalt not get up in the middle of halftime, thinking that food is more important than watching the "Pride of the Southland" and the dance ministry team
and finally (who said there had to be ten of these?)...
8.Thou shalt not work for ESPN GameDay and then kick Smokey off the set for disliking your predictions
What can I say? Once a Vol, always a Vol.
Good Ol' Rocky Top (woo!), Rocky Top Tennessee!
I debated on making this post one of my usual, serious reflective pieces or something a little more light and humorous. Seeing as how it's quite late at night (or early in the morning) and knowing that I'm typically characterized for being more goofy than somber at this hour, I think I'll put in something a little on the lighter side. That being said, on with the post....
I know you might be wondering, why is a medical student up in the wee hours of the morning when they have class at 8am? You see, I had the misfortune of travelling back to Knoxville this weekend where I was reintroduced to what life is like as an undergrad. Sadly, I think the influences of those of so lucky, full of free time, undergraduates overcame my responsible, professional nature that typifies my persona of the model med. student. While my oh-so studious peers were confined to visions of Netter's Atlas pages and dates with their Anatomy Lab Partners, I was observing another wonderful weekend in Big Orange Land.
Besides getting to spend time with the best little sister and best big sister a girl could want (Nicoll and Mer) and trying not to get into too much trouble, I decided to compile a list of "Thou Shalt Nots" for those unfamiliar as to how Tennessee Culture works on a game day weekend:
(In no particular order)
1. Thou shalt not wear any colors besides orange or white (note Nicoll and I demostrating proper UT attire on Saturdays in October). Lime green or the opponent's colors are unacceptable.
2. Thou shalt not use the late starting time of the game as an excuse for more time to raise your blood alcohol level
3. Thou shalt not be a guest of gracious UT hosts and then proceed to shout "War Eagle!!" on the premises of their humble abode
4. Thou shalt not turn around and offer your fellow UT fan peanuts only to tell them that they need to eat them because their throat is sore from "talking too much" throughout the game.
5.Thou shalt not refrain from the clapping of hands and the screaming of "Woo!" when encouraging songs about moonshine and women are played to spur your team on to victory
6. Thou shalt not use the traffic jam after the game as an excuse to violate every traffic law ever written
7.Thou shalt not get up in the middle of halftime, thinking that food is more important than watching the "Pride of the Southland" and the dance ministry team
and finally (who said there had to be ten of these?)...
8.Thou shalt not work for ESPN GameDay and then kick Smokey off the set for disliking your predictions
What can I say? Once a Vol, always a Vol.
Good Ol' Rocky Top (woo!), Rocky Top Tennessee!
9.30.2004
Small Town Doc
Nothing like traveling to a small town in Tennessee complete with, blue flame-painted Jettas, guys celebrating their girl's birthday at Wendys, and signs advertising a "Hog Trade" every third week. As you can tell, it was Rural Track day. Today we were each assigned a different doctor to shadow for the morning. Though I've only been in med school for two months, I'm amazed at the amount of knowledge I've already accumulated. Two months ago, I wouldn't have noticed much about my preceptor's practice of medicine, but today I found myself critiquing his interaction with the patients, his manner of using the diagnostic equipment, and his thoroughness of exam. Medicine is an art, each doctor finding his own way to prepare the impromptu script thrown at him with every entrance into the exam room. It was a good way to reemphasize my reason for being here. Our first patient had Bell's Palsy (a defect of one of the cranial nerves). It made me realize that all my studying of Anatomy isn't in vain, and that it will be of use to me. Though not an incredibly small town, Rogersville is small enough where the doc knows Jane's dad who's the head of the Lions club and also treats her son who's going to the local community college. You could say the family doc is almost like the local gossip or Dear Abby, knowing almost everything about everyone in the town.
Still lacking in hours for the service learning component of my Psychology class, I stopped by the Church Hill clinic again to volunteer my services as a translator. Though we didn't have as many patients, it was still a rewarding experience as I conversed with some of the local Mexicans and met some people devoted to the cause of healing not only the physical but the spiritual as well.
Well, I should probably get some sleep. Like today, tomorrow promises to be another long day as I head to Knoxville for the weekend. It will be good to see everyone again and live "normally" for a weekend..well...maybe with a little studying.
Still lacking in hours for the service learning component of my Psychology class, I stopped by the Church Hill clinic again to volunteer my services as a translator. Though we didn't have as many patients, it was still a rewarding experience as I conversed with some of the local Mexicans and met some people devoted to the cause of healing not only the physical but the spiritual as well.
Well, I should probably get some sleep. Like today, tomorrow promises to be another long day as I head to Knoxville for the weekend. It will be good to see everyone again and live "normally" for a weekend..well...maybe with a little studying.
9.28.2004
An Epiphany
"C'mon Michele, you can do it," I kept telling myself. I was almost up the hill and my heart was pounding, body warm and sweat pouring; a contrast to the cool, crisp Autumn air around me and the breeze blowing past. "Alright! Sit it back down and take the resistance down to about a level 5" Sigh...I snapped back to reality to realize I was not hiking up some steep hill in the Smokies; rather, my feet were strapped to the pedals of a spinning bike and I was staring out the window onto a gloomy Johnson City day. I'm not a huge fan of cold weather (I'm glad God hasn't called me to be a missionary in Alaska), but I have to admit, the new coolness that pervades the mornings is somewhat refreshing. It brings back many fond memories of bonfires, hayrides, crackling leaves, smells of apple cider and all the other wonderful warm and cozy things of Fall. Maybe I'll get to enjoy some of those things this semester.
Overall, it's been a good day. I had an epiphany about my study habits in relation to Anatomy. I think I've finally pulled myself out of the undergrad mentality of "I don't want to learn this because I'm never going to use this information again so I'm just going to cram enough of it in my brain to do well on the test". So if I can just convince myself to succumb to nerdiness and think studying is the most fun thing in the world, then I think I'll do alright. We celebrated my friend Loan's birthday last night and it almost felt like a normal night of sitting around eating dinner with friends and watching TV until someone flipped it to some Medical/Health channel and we all started "ooing" and "aahhing" over the cool surgeries the docs were performing. Gotta love going to school with a bunch of medical school nerds :o).
Speaking of...it's time to hit the books again with my new improved study techniques. All play and no study means Michele can't go to Knoxville this weekend to hang out with friends and family.
Overall, it's been a good day. I had an epiphany about my study habits in relation to Anatomy. I think I've finally pulled myself out of the undergrad mentality of "I don't want to learn this because I'm never going to use this information again so I'm just going to cram enough of it in my brain to do well on the test". So if I can just convince myself to succumb to nerdiness and think studying is the most fun thing in the world, then I think I'll do alright. We celebrated my friend Loan's birthday last night and it almost felt like a normal night of sitting around eating dinner with friends and watching TV until someone flipped it to some Medical/Health channel and we all started "ooing" and "aahhing" over the cool surgeries the docs were performing. Gotta love going to school with a bunch of medical school nerds :o).
Speaking of...it's time to hit the books again with my new improved study techniques. All play and no study means Michele can't go to Knoxville this weekend to hang out with friends and family.
9.19.2004
The Macedonian Call
Wow! What a refreshing weekend it's been! I didn't realize how much I needed a redirection of my focus until Saturday. The seminar was a time of inspiration and encouragement as I listened to story after story of how God had called people with all types of talents and backgrounds to serve Him and how He had worked through their lives to impact the lives of so many others. It was great to meet Dr.Farrar and his wife and to hear their countless stories about living in Nigeria. They are definitely a source of inspiration, having kept their eyes on God and their hands serving Him for 50 years together, over 30 of that in medical missions. I can only hope that God will allow me to serve like them (though it looks like it may be solo, but I've got way to much else on my plate to worry about such things) and for as long.
Needless to say, though I've spent all day today studying HDBG, my mind has been thousands of miles away in lands where people haven't heard the gospel and the message of hope that it brings and where people are dying for a lack of basic health care. The Spirit touched me at the seminar yesterday, and I'll be praying to see where I'm led for more preparation next summer. Though I could hop on a plane tomorrow without a qualm, I understand how much more effective I can be in my service in a few years. If Christ took 30 years in preparation for His ministry, surely 26-29 years can't be too bad. In the meantime, like Isaiah in Isaiah 6, Here Am I, if I can't go right now, at least I can prepare myself between now and then and try to share the gospel here (after all there are more Christians in Africa now than the US).
It's getting late so I'd better wrap up my studying and pray that God blesses me with a clear mind tomorrow during my test!
Needless to say, though I've spent all day today studying HDBG, my mind has been thousands of miles away in lands where people haven't heard the gospel and the message of hope that it brings and where people are dying for a lack of basic health care. The Spirit touched me at the seminar yesterday, and I'll be praying to see where I'm led for more preparation next summer. Though I could hop on a plane tomorrow without a qualm, I understand how much more effective I can be in my service in a few years. If Christ took 30 years in preparation for His ministry, surely 26-29 years can't be too bad. In the meantime, like Isaiah in Isaiah 6, Here Am I, if I can't go right now, at least I can prepare myself between now and then and try to share the gospel here (after all there are more Christians in Africa now than the US).
It's getting late so I'd better wrap up my studying and pray that God blesses me with a clear mind tomorrow during my test!
9.14.2004
Mr.Gorlin, Would You Like GASELA with That?
Girls' Night: Me, Aleisha, Nicoll, Mer, Anacharlene
There's nothing more that will get your adrenaline going than hanging 20-30ft in the air by your fingers and toes on little molded pieces of fiberglass, relying on a few pieces of webbing and rope and the goodwill of your belayer. Hannah and I decided to go relieve a little post-test stress Tuesday afternoon by rockclimbing at the gym. It was a stress-relieving and humbling experience as I realized how pitiful my forearm strength is. Oh well...at least it gave the testosterone-ladened belayers a good laugh after we left I'm sure.
I think I'm going to survive med. school on silly little acronyms, pneumonics, and goofy little drawings (hence the oddly titled post). Then when I get out of med school, I'm going to publish a book with all my silly little study aids and use the proceeds to pay off my loans (hey, I'd buy a copy). Yeah, that's about the only hope I have of cramming over a semester's worth of material into my head for this Monday's test.
Other than having a mountain of studying to do and no time to do it, things are going well. My cousin is coming in tomorrow with Dr.Farrar and the Medical Missions Seminar is this weekend. Though I'll probably have to study through half of it, I'm excited. I've actually been given the privilege of speaking on behalf of Health Talents International about the MET program. It's my hope that others will be motivated to try it out and that it will lead them to want to do mission work. The seminar itself will be a nice refresher for me and a reminder of exactly why I'm here torturing myself with long nights of studying embryology, anatomy, genetics, everything else you could possibly cram into 27 hours of classes, etc..
Well, I'd better go remove my Anatomy study aids and books from the living room so my cousin doesn't freak out tomorrow when he comes. TTFN!
There's nothing more that will get your adrenaline going than hanging 20-30ft in the air by your fingers and toes on little molded pieces of fiberglass, relying on a few pieces of webbing and rope and the goodwill of your belayer. Hannah and I decided to go relieve a little post-test stress Tuesday afternoon by rockclimbing at the gym. It was a stress-relieving and humbling experience as I realized how pitiful my forearm strength is. Oh well...at least it gave the testosterone-ladened belayers a good laugh after we left I'm sure.
I think I'm going to survive med. school on silly little acronyms, pneumonics, and goofy little drawings (hence the oddly titled post). Then when I get out of med school, I'm going to publish a book with all my silly little study aids and use the proceeds to pay off my loans (hey, I'd buy a copy). Yeah, that's about the only hope I have of cramming over a semester's worth of material into my head for this Monday's test.
Other than having a mountain of studying to do and no time to do it, things are going well. My cousin is coming in tomorrow with Dr.Farrar and the Medical Missions Seminar is this weekend. Though I'll probably have to study through half of it, I'm excited. I've actually been given the privilege of speaking on behalf of Health Talents International about the MET program. It's my hope that others will be motivated to try it out and that it will lead them to want to do mission work. The seminar itself will be a nice refresher for me and a reminder of exactly why I'm here torturing myself with long nights of studying embryology, anatomy, genetics, everything else you could possibly cram into 27 hours of classes, etc..
Well, I'd better go remove my Anatomy study aids and books from the living room so my cousin doesn't freak out tomorrow when he comes. TTFN!
9.10.2004
Stepping up on the Soap Box: Some Reflections
If variety is the spice of life, then I have to say that mine has been at least at a jalapeño level the past few years with all the little winding paths God has taken me. The Lopez family sent me an email today, wondering if I was ok and whether or not I had been near the hurricane and letting me know I was still in their thoughts and prayers and that their two children still asked about me. Though I only knew them for two months last summer and a few weeks this summer, they are like my second family. It's amazing how such a bond could be formed that a couple from another culture would still be emailing me over a year later to see if I had fared the bad weather. I think that's one of the things I enjoy most about serving our Lord, the richness of life He has blessed me with. I love the fact that God gives us a Christian family and blesses us with relationships that run just as deep, if not deeper, than our blood roots.
I think often times we forget this and instead identify ourselves by X label on the door of our church. I wish people would just know me by "Christian" instead of "that girl that goes to the church that doesn't have instruments," and I wish others and people at church wouldn't identify the church by such a trivial detail such as a stringed piece of wood or a lack thereof. Instead, I wish people would comment about a church full of believers, worshipping like those in Acts 2, not with some flashy, feel-good services but rather as a family who supports one another, relying solely on God's Word, and where each member uses their God-given talents to the benefit of others. I think sometimes we forget this familial aspect when trying to be a Christian and think that it's just about doing our good deed. Yet, if we don't build relationships while "doing good deeds" and enjoy the blessing that God gives us of these relationships, what are our good deeds except un-paid labor and what puts "spice" in our lives?
Ok...I realize I've just written a sermon so I'll step down from the pulpit now.
I suppose an update needs to be given on the situation this past weekend in Pigeon Forge. Well, I didn't know the girl from Honduras but we did have people in common. About my age, she taught me an important lesson. Before worship began, she asked the preacher to pray for her because she felt badly about some things that had happened the week before, and she didn't want to take the Lord's Supper with that guilt on her shoulders. It made me stop and think about how often I take the Lord's Supper for granted and how much do I seriously examine myself and my thoughts before taking it.
Well, it's sunny outside, class is done for the week (though not my studying), and it's Friday afternoon which means it's time for Ultimate Frisbee. Cheers to all of you who've added "spice" to my life!
I think often times we forget this and instead identify ourselves by X label on the door of our church. I wish people would just know me by "Christian" instead of "that girl that goes to the church that doesn't have instruments," and I wish others and people at church wouldn't identify the church by such a trivial detail such as a stringed piece of wood or a lack thereof. Instead, I wish people would comment about a church full of believers, worshipping like those in Acts 2, not with some flashy, feel-good services but rather as a family who supports one another, relying solely on God's Word, and where each member uses their God-given talents to the benefit of others. I think sometimes we forget this familial aspect when trying to be a Christian and think that it's just about doing our good deed. Yet, if we don't build relationships while "doing good deeds" and enjoy the blessing that God gives us of these relationships, what are our good deeds except un-paid labor and what puts "spice" in our lives?
Ok...I realize I've just written a sermon so I'll step down from the pulpit now.
I suppose an update needs to be given on the situation this past weekend in Pigeon Forge. Well, I didn't know the girl from Honduras but we did have people in common. About my age, she taught me an important lesson. Before worship began, she asked the preacher to pray for her because she felt badly about some things that had happened the week before, and she didn't want to take the Lord's Supper with that guilt on her shoulders. It made me stop and think about how often I take the Lord's Supper for granted and how much do I seriously examine myself and my thoughts before taking it.
Well, it's sunny outside, class is done for the week (though not my studying), and it's Friday afternoon which means it's time for Ultimate Frisbee. Cheers to all of you who've added "spice" to my life!
9.06.2004
Viva Knoxvegas
Boomsday on the River
Nothing like spending a weekend in Knoxvegas. How can one describe it? The smell of combustion as the city spends lots of well-earned tax dollars to entertain its citizens with an impressive display of fireworks. But that's ok because the strong smell of alcohol everywhere is probably what brought in the tax dollars in the first place. I mean what's a UT football game weekend without thousands of good ol' Tennesseeans supporting their state with a little Jack Daniels and seeing who can get drunk the earliest? (the city is highly in favor of this since they just lowered the legal time to sell alcohol on Sundays from noon to 10am in honor of this weekend's game). And who can forget the sight as the whole town paints itself orange and white..everything from cars to window displays to that funny looking rubber mask the guy sitting two rows away from me was wearing. Except there was this one lady who thought it'd be cool to where light green pants instead of orange. Now maybe if she were a guy and colorblind I might could forgive here but come on....you just CAN'T where anything but orange or white on gameday. I mean its just blashphemy to not where the most hideous color on earth even if you are sitting up in the double letters like I was, closer to Mt.Leconte than Shield-Watkins Field (though I'm very grateful for being given those tickets). Why pay half of your paycheck to the VASF for season tickets and then NOT wear orange? I never thought I'd say I missed hearing Rocky Top but it was somewhat of a welcome sound to my ears...even after I'd heard it for like the 40th time. And since we beat UNLV, I didn't mind it too much when the whole crowd decided to yell "cow-poopie" on the crazy blind refs. You gotta love the enthusiam of the TN culture. We love our sports and ain't nobody gonna make a bad call on our boys out there on da field. Between some hardcore ice cream eating at girls' night (you can't have a girls' night without a gallon of MooseTracks and spoons for all) and all the munchies and cookouts at the CSC, I think my belly has extended to the size of the GoodYear blimp.
Yep...definitely a great weekend of fun, friends, and fellowship. Time to get back to the books and being a "serious" student.
"Rocky Top you'll always be home sweet home to me. Good Ole Rocky Top. Rocky Top Tennessee!"
Nothing like spending a weekend in Knoxvegas. How can one describe it? The smell of combustion as the city spends lots of well-earned tax dollars to entertain its citizens with an impressive display of fireworks. But that's ok because the strong smell of alcohol everywhere is probably what brought in the tax dollars in the first place. I mean what's a UT football game weekend without thousands of good ol' Tennesseeans supporting their state with a little Jack Daniels and seeing who can get drunk the earliest? (the city is highly in favor of this since they just lowered the legal time to sell alcohol on Sundays from noon to 10am in honor of this weekend's game). And who can forget the sight as the whole town paints itself orange and white..everything from cars to window displays to that funny looking rubber mask the guy sitting two rows away from me was wearing. Except there was this one lady who thought it'd be cool to where light green pants instead of orange. Now maybe if she were a guy and colorblind I might could forgive here but come on....you just CAN'T where anything but orange or white on gameday. I mean its just blashphemy to not where the most hideous color on earth even if you are sitting up in the double letters like I was, closer to Mt.Leconte than Shield-Watkins Field (though I'm very grateful for being given those tickets). Why pay half of your paycheck to the VASF for season tickets and then NOT wear orange? I never thought I'd say I missed hearing Rocky Top but it was somewhat of a welcome sound to my ears...even after I'd heard it for like the 40th time. And since we beat UNLV, I didn't mind it too much when the whole crowd decided to yell "cow-poopie" on the crazy blind refs. You gotta love the enthusiam of the TN culture. We love our sports and ain't nobody gonna make a bad call on our boys out there on da field. Between some hardcore ice cream eating at girls' night (you can't have a girls' night without a gallon of MooseTracks and spoons for all) and all the munchies and cookouts at the CSC, I think my belly has extended to the size of the GoodYear blimp.
Yep...definitely a great weekend of fun, friends, and fellowship. Time to get back to the books and being a "serious" student.
"Rocky Top you'll always be home sweet home to me. Good Ole Rocky Top. Rocky Top Tennessee!"
9.02.2004
God's Little Surprises
I love it how God puts little pieces and fibers from different people's lives together to form a thread of opportunity. My phone doesn't get reception inside of Stanton-Gerber and I was literally about 10 feet from the door when it rang. No one ever calls me so I was kinda excited and wondering who in the world would be calling me at 10am. To make a long story short, it was the preacher from the Pigeon Forge Church of Christ telling me that there was a lady who just moved there from Honduras and who doesn't speak English. He was looking for a translator and it just so happens that I'm headed to that part of TN this weekend and just so happens that I've been to Honduras and there's a 90% chance that either I've been to the church she's from or I know someone that goes there. So...I'll be going there Sunday morning to translate the service and Bible study class for her. So it'd be more fun to go to church at Laurel and eat potluck lunch afterwards, but you can't turn down an opportunity that God has placed in front of you like that. That's what I think alot of Christians miss out on. We wonder why God isn't working in big ways in our lives, but we fail to acknowledge and act upon all the little opportunities he places before us.
On the bright side, I did pass my Anatomy test and can now focus on learning about the Head and Neck which starts tomorrow. It's going to be really weird in lab. Before, I've been able to distance myself somewhat and tell myself it's not really a person. I think it's going to be pretty hard to do that tomorrow when "He" is staring me in the face, that intricate God-created being.
So the thought for the day? Look for those little "random" moments God places before you, those times when the Spirit moves within you, urging you to step out on that limb and do something you think might be illogical, irrational, but something totally satisfying for you know that it's God's Will. That's what life is all about: savoring those God-given opportunites to serve Him according to His purpose.
On the bright side, I did pass my Anatomy test and can now focus on learning about the Head and Neck which starts tomorrow. It's going to be really weird in lab. Before, I've been able to distance myself somewhat and tell myself it's not really a person. I think it's going to be pretty hard to do that tomorrow when "He" is staring me in the face, that intricate God-created being.
So the thought for the day? Look for those little "random" moments God places before you, those times when the Spirit moves within you, urging you to step out on that limb and do something you think might be illogical, irrational, but something totally satisfying for you know that it's God's Will. That's what life is all about: savoring those God-given opportunites to serve Him according to His purpose.
9.01.2004
Street Musician Seeks Work
Ever feel like you've studied and studied for something and when you take the test you could have done just as well going in there blind knowing nothing about the subject? Yeah...the past four hours of my life were just spent like that. So be looking for me playing on your local street corner soon because I think I just failed my thorax exam. Oh well, how was I supposed to know the relationship of the azygos vein to the greater splanchnic nerve at TV 9 or what that tiny nerve fiber pinned in a mass of something innervates? I just hope the powers that be are gracious in grading our tests this afternoon.
Yeah, it hasn't been too great of a week so far. The problem when you move somewhere new is that you have to leave the old behind. I really miss my friends and church families back in ktwown and home. I just haven't found the same up here. I went to the JC version of the CSC last night for a devo. I don't know if it was just the attitude of the group at that moment or what but the atmosphere just seemed immature and spiritually unfocused instead of the encouragement and strengthening I was hoping I'd find. On the other hand, one of the guys in my study group showed me a really encouraging verse last night on our study break. I like the Message's version of it (from Psalm 94): "When I was upset and beside myself, you calmed me down and cheered me up....God became my hideout, God was my high mountain retreat."
I can't wait til this weekend, FREE of studying, filled with spending time with old friends and hopefully a little Big Orange football (once a Vol always a Vol). Knoxvegas here I come!
Well, I'd better get back to class. It's definitely going to be a windows rolled down listening to 80's mix CD, burning off some post test stress in spinning class, venting with the girls kinda day.
Yeah, it hasn't been too great of a week so far. The problem when you move somewhere new is that you have to leave the old behind. I really miss my friends and church families back in ktwown and home. I just haven't found the same up here. I went to the JC version of the CSC last night for a devo. I don't know if it was just the attitude of the group at that moment or what but the atmosphere just seemed immature and spiritually unfocused instead of the encouragement and strengthening I was hoping I'd find. On the other hand, one of the guys in my study group showed me a really encouraging verse last night on our study break. I like the Message's version of it (from Psalm 94): "When I was upset and beside myself, you calmed me down and cheered me up....God became my hideout, God was my high mountain retreat."
I can't wait til this weekend, FREE of studying, filled with spending time with old friends and hopefully a little Big Orange football (once a Vol always a Vol). Knoxvegas here I come!
Well, I'd better get back to class. It's definitely going to be a windows rolled down listening to 80's mix CD, burning off some post test stress in spinning class, venting with the girls kinda day.
8.25.2004
Health Freaks and Geeks
Thank goodness the gym finally opened up this week!!! It's been nice to start back into a regular exercise routine. I think half of the med. school was there when it opened on Monday (as if we don't see each other enough already). There are benefits to going to school with other people interested in health and in healing people. For the most part they all eat pretty healthy which I'm hoping will rub off on me and curb me of some bad eating habits I picked up in college and help me take off my freshman...err...college 15. I think Johnson City as a whole has got to be the most exercise crazy town I've ever lived in. People are always running around the campus and at the VA park and bike racks seem to abound.
I felt like I was in Central America last night. To put in some more service hours for my psych class I volunteered at a Christian-based free health care clinic near Kingsport, translating and shadowing the doctor. Half of our clientele were Hispanic and I had the cutest little 4yr old girl and her mother and siblings for patients. I felt like I was back at Clinic Amicus running a typical day with one of the brigade docs and letting my patients know that God loves them. I'm so glad I have the blessing and ability to be able to serve in that way, though I think I benefitted from the experience more than my clients did.
Well, I should probably appreciating this time and be sleeping instead of typing to myself. Buenas noches!!!
I felt like I was in Central America last night. To put in some more service hours for my psych class I volunteered at a Christian-based free health care clinic near Kingsport, translating and shadowing the doctor. Half of our clientele were Hispanic and I had the cutest little 4yr old girl and her mother and siblings for patients. I felt like I was back at Clinic Amicus running a typical day with one of the brigade docs and letting my patients know that God loves them. I'm so glad I have the blessing and ability to be able to serve in that way, though I think I benefitted from the experience more than my clients did.
Well, I should probably appreciating this time and be sleeping instead of typing to myself. Buenas noches!!!
8.23.2004
Random Post Test Thoughts
I made it through my second test-ok my first HDBG test which stands for an conglomeration of random facts, pathways, and embryology all crammed into one course whose notes already fill a 1.5" binder.
This has definitely been a week of answered prayers (I know it's only Monday). It started last night with a trip to the migrant workers' camp where they have a free bi-weekly clinic. It was refreshing to be immersed in the Latin culture again but strange to work in a non-Christian pro-bono clinic. I mean what's the point of preserving a body if you do nothing to help preserve the soul?
While some of my peers were out celebrating a night free of studying hanging out at the bar, I decided to go see what the med. students girls' Bible study was all about, another blessing. I think sometimes we don't realize how much we need daily spiritual strengthening. Ultimately that comes from constantly making an effort to be in God's presence but at the same time, our brothers and sisters in Christ are there to edify and encourage us. What a wonderful feeling it was to sit and pray with my sisters in Christ. I am learning that calling yourself Christian isn't so much about religion, a Sunday social club ritual that gives you another label to wear. Rather, it is about a constant walk in God's footsteps along the path He has laid out for you, realizing that He is the one that directs your steps to the ultimate destination and realizing that it is a matter of blinidly trusting Him in all situations to continue to lead you.
This has definitely been a week of answered prayers (I know it's only Monday). It started last night with a trip to the migrant workers' camp where they have a free bi-weekly clinic. It was refreshing to be immersed in the Latin culture again but strange to work in a non-Christian pro-bono clinic. I mean what's the point of preserving a body if you do nothing to help preserve the soul?
While some of my peers were out celebrating a night free of studying hanging out at the bar, I decided to go see what the med. students girls' Bible study was all about, another blessing. I think sometimes we don't realize how much we need daily spiritual strengthening. Ultimately that comes from constantly making an effort to be in God's presence but at the same time, our brothers and sisters in Christ are there to edify and encourage us. What a wonderful feeling it was to sit and pray with my sisters in Christ. I am learning that calling yourself Christian isn't so much about religion, a Sunday social club ritual that gives you another label to wear. Rather, it is about a constant walk in God's footsteps along the path He has laid out for you, realizing that He is the one that directs your steps to the ultimate destination and realizing that it is a matter of blinidly trusting Him in all situations to continue to lead you.
8.18.2004
The Heart of the Matter
Sunday Afternoon Drive
So I got to play doctor today right? Actually, it's called Intro to Phys Exam which is a really cool class that utilizes standardized patients to help teach us neophytes the proper way to conduct a physical exam. Today was chest and lung exam day which meant that a local cardiothoracic surgeon (how's that for a cool title?) was present to help us with any questions we might have and explain proper technique, etc. He also was present in lab; it was "dissect the heart" day. Anatomy lab has to be one of the weirdest and most intriguing experiences I've had in my academic career. I mean...if anyone else was doing what we are doing, they'd call them crazy and lock them away. It's almost inevitable that I have to distance myself from my cadaver and try to think of only the academics of what I'm doing; yet at the same time, I don't want to completely forget that he was once a person like me who had feelings, thoughts, emotions, and a family. I suppose that's the dichotomous nature of medicine and the conundrum of physicians worldwide. How do you keep the humanity of your patient in mind without letting that same humanity cloud the academic components of anatomy, pathology, etc. that are essential in the patient's treatment?
Things are starting to settle into place in most areas of my life though I'm still often plagued with the feeling that I've stuck my head in a shirt and am searching for the sleeve holes. Oh well, I'll eventually find my niche. Life's a journey so I guess part of that journey is finding out where is lost and where is where you're supposed to be.
An answered prayer is this coming Sunday's migrant worker clinic at a nearby farm that employs about 250 immigrant workers. I can't wait to get back to serving and to the Latin culture. Life without some regular component of service makes me feel like some type of "social club Sunday potluck dinner" kind of Christian. I'll be helping out translating and maybe helping with some health survey work or presenting health-related skits to those of the community. It'll be like MET, except I'm in rural East Tennessee. I think I'm also going to assist the new Medical Spanish class elective they're having at QCOM Friday afternoons. I'd love it if my peers could learn Spanish too. It's such a needed skill here and seemingly everywhere in the States. Whoever thought I'd get to use my Spanish here?
The last few weeks have been some of the most academically, mentally, and spiritually challenging for me that I've experienced so far in my life. Worth it? Oh yeah. I love it here.
Wondering what that lovely mountain landscape is? It's called part of the AT near Roan Mountain. There are benefits to living 1/2 hour from the Appalachian Mountains, and yes med. students do have time to get out and have fun every once in a while :o)
8.13.2004
A is for Anatomy
My version of playing Ultimate Frisbee with all the other MSs (UF Pros): Run alot, act like you know what you're doing, and pray that no one actually throws you the frisbee.
I can't believe I just finished my second week of med school. It flew by and was a lot better than last week. We all got the "big test" over with in Anatomy on Wednesday and everything went really well for me. Too bad it only counts 5% of the total grade. I'm really enjoying that class, even lab. Yeah, I know I'm a nerd. I think I'm more worried about BioStats than anything right now. Did I ever mention how much I don't like math? I just keep telling myself, "three more weeks of it and then I get to do cool stuff in Rogersville with Rural Track."
I think my apartment is going to smell like garlic bread sticks for awhile. While studying Monday night, some of us were complaining about how we don't like to eat by ourselves. The result of that conversation led to a wonderful concoction of baked ziti, bread sticks, glazed carrots, and peach cobbler at my apartment last night. We didn't get as much studying done as we had hoped, but we ate well. Plus, I got to show off my humble abode, very impressive. Actually, with all the interest group meetings, I think I can manage to cut my food budget in half; that or I'm going to have to start working out twice as much.
I really like my class and we're all starting to click now that we realize that we're not going to fail out of med. school and that we can do the work. The one thing I do miss is all my Christian friends. I guess I've been spoiled the past few years with always being surrounded by good Christian examples. Though I've made friends at church here, they don't go to class with me everyday. I guess this will be a test of faith over the next few years since many opportunities to compromise my values and to let my faith become stagnant exist.
Looks like tomorrow will be filled with studying and conquering HDBG. Sunday I'm taking a break after church and going hiking somewhere (yeah I've already convinced a few of the M1s to come with me on my random adventures in the woods). I think the Olympics are on now. Maybe I can watch them, assuming they're on one of the four channels I have (why get cable when I'm never home to watch it?). Ahh. the life of a med. student; I'm looking foward to sleep tonight and no 8am classes tomorrow.
I can't believe I just finished my second week of med school. It flew by and was a lot better than last week. We all got the "big test" over with in Anatomy on Wednesday and everything went really well for me. Too bad it only counts 5% of the total grade. I'm really enjoying that class, even lab. Yeah, I know I'm a nerd. I think I'm more worried about BioStats than anything right now. Did I ever mention how much I don't like math? I just keep telling myself, "three more weeks of it and then I get to do cool stuff in Rogersville with Rural Track."
I think my apartment is going to smell like garlic bread sticks for awhile. While studying Monday night, some of us were complaining about how we don't like to eat by ourselves. The result of that conversation led to a wonderful concoction of baked ziti, bread sticks, glazed carrots, and peach cobbler at my apartment last night. We didn't get as much studying done as we had hoped, but we ate well. Plus, I got to show off my humble abode, very impressive. Actually, with all the interest group meetings, I think I can manage to cut my food budget in half; that or I'm going to have to start working out twice as much.
I really like my class and we're all starting to click now that we realize that we're not going to fail out of med. school and that we can do the work. The one thing I do miss is all my Christian friends. I guess I've been spoiled the past few years with always being surrounded by good Christian examples. Though I've made friends at church here, they don't go to class with me everyday. I guess this will be a test of faith over the next few years since many opportunities to compromise my values and to let my faith become stagnant exist.
Looks like tomorrow will be filled with studying and conquering HDBG. Sunday I'm taking a break after church and going hiking somewhere (yeah I've already convinced a few of the M1s to come with me on my random adventures in the woods). I think the Olympics are on now. Maybe I can watch them, assuming they're on one of the four channels I have (why get cable when I'm never home to watch it?). Ahh. the life of a med. student; I'm looking foward to sleep tonight and no 8am classes tomorrow.
8.09.2004
As I sat on the dock of Dr.Shambra's dock, my belly full with homemade burgers and fresh veggies from the garden, watching the sun go down as the sound of a poor imitation of Jimmy Buffet eminated from the local marina pub, I finally felt relaxed for the first time last week. Yes, it was definitely a week of change; I've learned that change always brings growing pains. Saturday, after spending the morning studying, I took a much needed break and strolled around the grounds of the spacious VA park located in front of the COM. The VA used to be a place for the "old soldiers to come and die". Funny how now people such as myself are learning how to make others live. Yet as I study, I realize that in four years I will still be just as helpless when it comes to curing mankind as I am now. I will still be limited by the same imperfections of humanity of those who I am supposed to cure.
It's a futile practice really, the imperfect trying to perfect the imperfect, a real "blind leading the blind" so to speak, but like Christianity that doesn't mean I should give up in pursuit of perfection. Rather, like being a Christian, I should try toward that perfection but realize that it is only God that can ultimately grant that perfection, that "cure". The more I study the human body, the more I admire the perfectly designed complexity, the fine engineering as each part works together with the conjunction of thousands of other parts in perfect union to operate what we call person. I don't understand how anyone could look upon such fine craftmanship and order and say this stemmed from chaos.
The M2s gave us a "practice" practical part of the exam tonight. Let me just say that just as none of us are equal on the outside, neither are none of us equal on the inside. It wasn't bad, and I think I'm well-prepared for any innervations, insertions, motions, etc. that may appear on the test. As each day passes, I get to know my peers better and enjoy this thing they call "med. school" I realize that some of them will never see past the dollar and job of medicine. For the rest, I hope to share with them all that I have been shown through my experiences, the art, beauty, and joy of serving our fellow man.
I leave you with the lyrics to Chris Rice's latest song which I had the privilege to hear for the first time the other day. It has to be one of the best pieces of advice I could give someone:
It's a futile practice really, the imperfect trying to perfect the imperfect, a real "blind leading the blind" so to speak, but like Christianity that doesn't mean I should give up in pursuit of perfection. Rather, like being a Christian, I should try toward that perfection but realize that it is only God that can ultimately grant that perfection, that "cure". The more I study the human body, the more I admire the perfectly designed complexity, the fine engineering as each part works together with the conjunction of thousands of other parts in perfect union to operate what we call person. I don't understand how anyone could look upon such fine craftmanship and order and say this stemmed from chaos.
The M2s gave us a "practice" practical part of the exam tonight. Let me just say that just as none of us are equal on the outside, neither are none of us equal on the inside. It wasn't bad, and I think I'm well-prepared for any innervations, insertions, motions, etc. that may appear on the test. As each day passes, I get to know my peers better and enjoy this thing they call "med. school" I realize that some of them will never see past the dollar and job of medicine. For the rest, I hope to share with them all that I have been shown through my experiences, the art, beauty, and joy of serving our fellow man.
I leave you with the lyrics to Chris Rice's latest song which I had the privilege to hear for the first time the other day. It has to be one of the best pieces of advice I could give someone:
Carry your candle run to the darkness
Seek out the helpless confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle and go light your world
8.05.2004
What It's Really Like
My Home : Stanton Gerber Hall
Well, I can say almost made it through my first week of medical school. No one said med school is easy; they're right. This has to have been one of the longest weeks of my life. Was it really just four days ago that I knew absolutely nothing about the back or cadavers or what it's really like to "go to med school"?
I've studied more this past week then I ever did last semester. My typical day starts around 6:30 in order to be prepared and in my seat at 8am for class. Then it's lunchtime around noon and more class until 3 or 4pm. If I'm lucky I can go home then and spend a few hours eating dinner and working out unless my group and I didn't finish our dissection and have to go back to the lab. Then it's back to the books for a few more hours before I finally call it a night only to get up and do it again.
Someone once told me that part of learning medicine is like learning a language. I think they're right. I mean how often do you hear words like semispinalis capitus and conus medullaris and the dorsal scapular nerve innervates the levator spinae? Yeah, if I could just know what half of what I read meant, I think I'd be doing ok. Netter's atlas pages are permenantly etched on my mind (I hope at least until Wednesday). I think the two key words for me over the next two years are balance and discipline.
It's going to be hard work, but it's not all drudgery. Yesterday I had my first patient. Ok...so he was a standardized patient paid to let us practice vital signs on him, but he was still a patient. In my white coat and all dressed up th my new instruments in hand, I felt like a little girl playing doctor :o). Tomorrow night, my advisor is taking myself and her other advisees out to her house on the lake for dinner.
Tonight I took the time to attend CMDA's (Christian Medical and Dental Association) barbeque. It was nice to spend time with some of the older students and know that it's possible to make it through your first year, and that there are Christian doctors out there. I'm looking foward to a speaker they're having next month, the author of one of my favorite books, Jesus M.D. . I can already tell that it will be a constant struggle to not let the academic side of medicine overwhelm me so that it quenches my spiritual fervor and zeal that led me to this career in the first place. I ask for your prayers on this and for my first test coming up this Wednesday.
Well, I should probably go spend some time with old Mr.Netter. Sometimes I wonder if I can really do this or if I've gotten myself in over my head. Guess I'll find out next Wednesday. Until then...
8.01.2004
So They Think I'm a Doctor
Yesterday was a mixture of emotions (good) and marked the end of our week of orientation here at Quillen COM. The day was defined by the White Coat Ceremony. We all marched into the VA Theatre on campus and were seated on stage. The dean and some others then proceeded to speak to us about the significance of the coats we were about to don and the career which we are about to begin. They told us how we would never be viewed the same again. People would being to view us as "doctor" their physician, their healer, their counselor, their confidant. What a wide arrange of shoes I'm going to learn to have to fill. The dean humorously spoke of how of when we went home for Thanksgiving of how our friends, neighbors and family members would suddenly flock to us, as if the three months of training we had received had already added an M.D. to our name. I think my response will be, "Give me another 4 years and then I'll tell you what you have."
After the cloaking, the COM Humanism Scholarship Award winner was announced. As the speaker described the qualities in selecting the recipient, I couldn't help but think how I had learned about many of those qualities through my class on service learning, my experiences with my "patients" in the inner-city clinics, and my time spent abroad in Central America. "Could I possibly be the recipient?" I asked myself, but then reminded myself that I was part of a class of 60 of the best and brightest in the region, all well-qualified and active in changing their world. When the speaker announced that I was indeed the recipient, I nervously stood up and walked to the podium to receive the award. I stared out into the sea of proud parental faces, and my eyes fixated on two beaming countenances, those of my parents as they stood up to be recognized as well. What an honor it was to bring such joy to them; seeing the pride in their face I think was worth more than the small amount of scholarship money that was given along with the nice plaque that now hangs in my study.
The coordinators of the event spared no expense with the reception. Everything from barbequed shrimp to stuffed mushrooms to chicken croissants to delectable cheescake brownies was on the buffet. Too bad this coming week will be devoid of free lunches. Guess I'll have to wait until I have my own practice and am wooed by the drug reps. Tomorrow is the first day of my career. I've spent the entire afternoon printing off this week's notes, and I should probably be reading over those now so I don't get behind (it's not even the first day and I already feel behind). It should be a busy week of trying to drink water from an open fire hydrant, so to speak.
After the cloaking, the COM Humanism Scholarship Award winner was announced. As the speaker described the qualities in selecting the recipient, I couldn't help but think how I had learned about many of those qualities through my class on service learning, my experiences with my "patients" in the inner-city clinics, and my time spent abroad in Central America. "Could I possibly be the recipient?" I asked myself, but then reminded myself that I was part of a class of 60 of the best and brightest in the region, all well-qualified and active in changing their world. When the speaker announced that I was indeed the recipient, I nervously stood up and walked to the podium to receive the award. I stared out into the sea of proud parental faces, and my eyes fixated on two beaming countenances, those of my parents as they stood up to be recognized as well. What an honor it was to bring such joy to them; seeing the pride in their face I think was worth more than the small amount of scholarship money that was given along with the nice plaque that now hangs in my study.
The coordinators of the event spared no expense with the reception. Everything from barbequed shrimp to stuffed mushrooms to chicken croissants to delectable cheescake brownies was on the buffet. Too bad this coming week will be devoid of free lunches. Guess I'll have to wait until I have my own practice and am wooed by the drug reps. Tomorrow is the first day of my career. I've spent the entire afternoon printing off this week's notes, and I should probably be reading over those now so I don't get behind (it's not even the first day and I already feel behind). It should be a busy week of trying to drink water from an open fire hydrant, so to speak.
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