Last Stretch

Finally, we are in the last stretch as Second Semesters. We survived (well, maybe not all of us...at least most of us...ok, most importantly I survived) what was supposedly the most difficult test that us medical students will take at Ross. After we took the Renal & Digestive System exam (Mini II) on Tuesday afternoon, we were so graciously given the night off from studying, only to have to start the last block the very next day. But taking the rest of that day and night off was just what my mind needed. I was so sick and tired of taking tests and studying that I decided to what? Partake in trivia night at DeChamps! That night I was able to enjoy a few refreshing beverages and hang out with friends for a little while, but had to quickly get back in the swing of things the next day for the start of the Reproductive & Integument module.

That's right. You heard me. We get to spend 2 and a 1/2 weeks studying one of the most uncomfortable topics concerning the human body. Splendid. But if there is one thing that I have learned so far...med school is not med school until you see your first mangled penis. Yea, I just said that too. You know that feeling when you see someone else hurt a part of their body, for example they break an arm, and then your own arm starts to hurt? Yep, I have been having that feeling a lot lately.

I guess I would be lying if I didn't say that I have been counting down the days until I go back to Florida. We are less than a month away from finishing Second Semester with only Mini III, a Micro Anatomy exam, a Gross Anatomy exam, a CCSB exam, and our Semester II Final standing in our way. Oh gosh, just writing that made me realize how much there is left! That equates to a lot of hours studying.

This upcoming week starts off quickly with lab tomorrow ("Male & Female External Genitalia"), 2 sessions of SGL, a Beginner's Suture Lab (put on by Surgery Club), and the usual...lectures everyday. It should provide for an eventful week. Anyway, that's all I have for today...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fC_q9KPczAg

Another Big Test

Once again, a big test is upon us (I know, I say that every time). Mini II is on Tuesday (117 questions over the span of 2 hours and 30 mins). Heck, I've watched movies longer than that...it should be no problem. Anyway, it will test us on our knowledge of both the Digestive and Renal Systems. 

Despite the upcoming test, this week has been pretty uneventful. Oh, I guess we got a day off on Tuesday as Tropical Storm Chantal moved past us. Let me say this...it couldn't have been over-hyped any more. A little rain and some mild wind. That's all. But it was still able to manage to cause problems to Ross' communication systems and faculty email, which might not seem like a big deal, but it correlates to a lot of miscommunication between everyone on the island. However, most of those problems have been resolved and now we have carried on with our regular schedules.

Sorry to keep it short, but I gotta get back to studying. 

Can anyone guess the male actor in the following music video?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqmFxgEGKH0

Disaster Averted...For Now

I'm not sure if everyone is familiar with the theory of "Basic Needs", but it states that there are three main things that every person must have in order to survive. Food. Shelter. Clothing. That's it. And throughout the last two weeks, I thought I was going to lose out on one of them. Shelter? No. There haven't been any hurricanes down here yet, so thus far I still have my shelter. Clothing? Once again, no. I have plenty of clothing and multiple options for laundromats to keep my clothing clean, so that's not it. What does that leave us? Food. As most of you probably know, I am an avid fan of the Subway on campus. It's just a little taste of home and for the price, it's a pretty filling meal. I typically eat dinner there 6 out of 7 nights of the week. But over the last couple of weeks, I started to notice a trend. First it was the chocolate milk. They had it one night and the next night it was gone. Then went the chocolate chip cookies. Ooooh boy, you don't want to mess with my chocolate chip cookie cravings. When those began to disappear, I started to get a little peeved. So peeved, in fact, that I began to use the word peeved. Then it was tomatoes...followed by green peppers. You see where this is going. Then last Thursday, when I went to Subway for dinner, they were out of cookies, chocolate milk, bread, tomatoes, green peppers, yes I said bread, and the toaster for pizzas was broken. At that moment, I told myself that I had had enough and I walked out. A trusty establishment whose sole purpose is to serve delicious and nutritious subs to people couldn't even throw together a decent meal. Sad day.

So, I told myself that I would not go back there for a while. I couldn't face the disappointment of walking in there to find half the ingredients available to make a sandwich and still get charged full price. But then my prayers were answered! For some reason I was walking by the other day, probably because I was having Subway withdrawals, and I saw the cookie container stocked full of double chocolate, oatmeal raisin, macadamia nut, and chocolate chip cookies. Jackpot! All the ingredients to make every sub on the menu were available and I was back in business. So it was a quick scare...and that's all. Apparently, sometimes the shipment of supplies from the US can be a tad late, but it will eventually get there. And when it does, what a glorious day that is! Subway...eat fresh!

UPDATE: As I sit here writing this blog, a friend sends me a picture of the path of Tropical Storm Chantal, which appears to be heading straight towards Dominica. Now my Theory of Basic Needs seems very appropriate. Hopefully, it will provide some blog material this next week. And rain. We are in desperate need for rain (THIS COULDN'T BE ANY MORE SARCASTIC).

Big week coming up. Three and a half days of classes and one lab with a long weekend ahead of me, which will be spent studying for Mini II on the following Monday. Thanks for reading.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLHso6hLHFA