The rain is pounding down outside, and I am not sure why I am wide awake. This week we have had a lighter lecture schedule, and I don't have to be at school until nine...and I went to bed late...why am I up and ready to go at 6am? Doesn't my body know what's going to happen in the coming weeks? (i.e. my schedule is going to increase in stress-levels and obligations about 100x!). Sigh.
Last I wrote, I had just finished third term, which already seems like ages ago. This time last week I was getting ready to the take the final. One week can seem like a month in this place - for better or worse! Last weekend was really fun, and everyone spent a lot of time at the beach, and just catching up with friends and sleep and eating normally post-exams. On my part, I did another hash with some friends, went to a great Sunday morning yoga class at La Luna with my roommates (which is a gorgeous resort on BBC beach), had some nice meals, and got painted and partied until the sun came up on Monday for J'Ouvert. J'Ouvert is the first day (Jour + Ouvert in French) of Carnival in Grenada, and everyone parades, drunkenly for the most part, around St. George's covered in paint. There are also the Jab Jab (from the French word for devil, "diable"), who are covered in motor oil and chains and are really intense - I prefer the brightly colored painted people...just saying. Anyway, I didnt go last year because it was the first day I arrived on the island, so I wanted to make sure and get a true dose of the festivities this time, and my roommates were smart and committed me to buying a ticket early in the day so that I couldn't back out and get sleepy :) which I'm notorious for. So glad I went though, it was a totally unique experience, and just a ton of fun. Plus we had Monday off so I could be totally lazy without too much trouble!
This week in class, we have just begun our introductory to Microbiology and CPD, which is a Clinical Skills class. Pathology starts next Monday. So far, I do sort of like Micro, but it has been very dependent on the lecturer. I liked Parasitology a lot, and the initial parts of the course have not been so different, so I like learning about all the bugs and their "techniques" for attack, etc., but I may have a different opinion once the memorizing and amounts of material ramp up. I guess I need to just take one day at a time, right? That's what they tell me...
The clinical skills class itself was really boring for the first day, but in our lab, we are put into groups of 6, and we spent this week doing patient histories and interviews with a mock patient. I thought it was really fun! It is totally uncomfortable to dress up (we have to be formal anytime we're with patients), and be sweating in Grenada weather (and broken A/C conditions in the exam rooms...), but the actual interactions and talking to patients, real or fake, was a lot of fun. I was nervous at first, but then remembered as soon as I began my turn with the patient, that interactions are what I love and what I am more natural and excited about getting to do as a physician. I mean studying and going to lecture is great and all...but I am so much more confident with my people skills than my lecturer-deciphering ones! It was a good experience, and I think it will be a good addition to this year.
This weekend will be attempts at previewing next week so that I don't drown in anxiety about my new schedule; we have class and lab until 5pm every day and then studying of course until our brains can't process any more. I also have to get to Hog Island and get some good fresh air while the stress levels are still low. Oh! And there is an Orientation Bazaar for all the new kids on Sunday, and I have to go and recruit people for the Orphanage Student Organization. OSO Beach Days will start next week, and I cannot WAIT to see my favorite kids!
Alright, well maybe I should look at a book or do something productive with my weird overzealous morning energy :) Or maybe reading the information about bacteria will help me get another little bit of sleep before class...!
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