A Mocha kind of day...

So with only 11 days left on the island I am feeling a bit nostalgic. I spent the majority of my day studying at Mocha Jumby. It was my primary place of study 1st term and while I've been spending much less time here this term it still holds a special place in my heart. They seem to remodel every term but the coffee and food has been consistent and while I have to admit I'm looking forward to Starbucks and discovering new coffee houses for Step 1 studying I will miss this place too.

So to Mocha Jumby and the girls I met here first term I raise my coffee cup!

And some pics of Mocha today, because this is my pictorial countdown after all.

only a dozen to go...

Today marked the last official day of Basic Sciences. Two years of medical school is over (or will be as soon as exams are written next week.) Everyone was a little sad as small group came to a close today. I grabbed all my first year group members from Anatomy lab and we took a picture because it seemed fitting... oh how time flies. Anatomy lab and first term seem both forever distant and remarkably recent.

It is strange to reflect back over the past two years, upon how much we have learned and upon what is next. Third year and clinical rotations means we will all be scattered among many different hospitals and states and save the exams and after exam partying I likely won't see many of my classmates until graduation. I am not sad that basic sciences is over. My love of sitting in a classroom and doing small group busy work is not exactly why I came to medical school. But I WILL miss all my amazing friends and future colleagues (tear.)

Well enough of this reflecting... I'll be stateside in just 12 days and it can't get here soon enough. Now it is time to study my weekend away, for the last time ever in Grenada!

And b/c I heart Dr. Dasso- here is random question he put up during the pre-exam pharm quiz yesterday. Enjoy!

Path Pictionary

You can find these in reference to three things in pathology. Name them! Answers will be posted Sunday.

* Inspiration- The night before the path exam I was sent a file form a friend of a friend, original source unknown and it was Pathology Pictionary....  bascially buzzword images of a the appearance of something pathological.  It was so fun I decided to make my own. I'll try to share them here. Feel free to comment and guess.

My very non-exciting med school life update: exams came and went. Microbio is over and nutrition is one week down, one week to go. 

Five more weeks... the island is quiet. Only fourth termers remain which is great if you want to print or have grocery options at IGA.  But it is not all roses, I tried to study at Mocha Jumby the other night but they are enjoying summer hours which means closing at 6pm. So sad.... my study spaces are dwindling. First Rituals closed and now Mocha Jumby has useless hours.

On the bright side, today is the start of a three day weekend. And only 1 month, 1 week and 1 day until I'm  headed to California! 

Another Week

So, I cannot sleep again... I don't know if it was the 2 hour nap after lecture (thank you migraine and Relpax for that!), the cup of coffee at 8pm or the fact that I'm feeling a little guilty for the amount (or lack thereof) of studying I accomplished today but here it is, after 2am and I am wide awake. I tried Netter's anatomy flashcards, they usually put me to sleep but to no avail... but maybe I can name all the muscles of the thenar now.

In more exciting news (oh wait, I'm in medical school, my life is class and studying, there is no exciting news, sorry to get your hopes up) this marks the start of my third week of classes... time is going by so quickly! DES study groups stated this week and I went to a biochem review tonight, it was pretty decent and since there were three tutors and only three students we got one-on-one time so that was good. I also looked at 50 epithelium slides via Histotime in my least favorite place, the library.  (Too bad I can't figure out how to run it on my computer- not very Mac compatible. If anyone know any tricks please do tell...)  But there was no one at the library so I did get to print about 100 pages of notes and BRS material, yay! What else can I say?

Run down of my weekend:

Saturday- I met with a small anatomy study group and that was good.  Afterwards we headed to IGA for groceries and then stopped for dinner at some bar/restaurant, the name escapes me, near the rotary. It was my first experience of true Grenadian service. Menus were already on the table when we sat down and after 20 minutes one of girls I was with asked if someone would help us. Within 5 minutes our orders were placed and we had food within 15 minutes so overall, not too bad. And it was cheap: I got a fish sandwich ($11 EC) fries ($8 EC) and diet coke ($3.50EC) so with tip my meal cost around $28EC or $11 US! No complaints here...  That really was the highlight of my weekend. I had planned to go to the beach in the morning, just for an hour or so but it was raining and thus I stayed inside with my books.... (I am sad to report that I have yet to go to the beach. It is not far but it seems that every time I try, it is either raining or I'm in the middle of studying.) Sunday was anatomy lab-small group where I realized just how much I need to study after which I headed to Mocha Jumby for my usual.

So now another week of classes...  and only two weeks until the Unified Quiz (its only worth 5% of our grade but it lets us know how we are doing, kind of a check system to make sure your study methods are working before you take the midterm three weeks later.) 

That is about it, sorry I can't be more exciting. But I promise more pictures soon!

Study Space

Some people are dorm studiers while others like the traditional library or quiet study hall. I on the other hand have always preferred to study in a semi-social environment and more importantly to have caffeine at my side while doing so. I made it through undergrad and my post-bac living at Espresso Royalle in Boston and later Starbucks in Long Island. The baristas became my best friends and the the coach/table my living room. 

I was a little worried while being on an island without Starbucks that I might not have the same set up, but that is NOT the case. Just 200 feet off campus is a local coffeehouse, Mocha Jumby and it is great. I've already gone twice to check it out and meet the staff and regulars. They even serve food and the veggie burger I saw looked pretty tasty. I think I've found my new home, Internet is free and the coffee is good. (They even have skim milk and so far it is the only place I've seen skim milk on the island, not even the grocery store had it.) 

Tomorrow is my first day of school. I meet my faculty advisor at 8am and have four hours of lecture from 1-5pm. After which I plan to grab a quick dinner and then head to Mocha Jumby to hit the books. I can't wait!