Summer in the city, Sancho updates, Camp is Magic and other random things...

Don't you just love NYC in the summer? I do. I took this photo shortly before I left the city on one of those hot, humid nights when all the hydrants were open to cool off the kids and city.

Anyhow... I'm back from my whirlwind of Teen Adventure MS Camp and trip home to NM to visit my family. It has been quite the two weeks and everything was great but I have to say I am happy to be back in NYC and back in my bed. 

I start my Child Advocacy elective tomorrow and am looking forward to it...

I have so many things to share, it has been a busy couple of weeks but for now I just want to say I'm home (well my temporary home) but once again separated from my husband and puppy. Its hard to be away after a week together. I miss them both but they are also home and Sancho has claimed the living room. Literally. He personally unpacked all of his toys and spread them out as seen here.  He also seems to have perfected the stretch. He really isn't THAT much bigger than when we got him but he seems to take up so much more space (when he wants to.)

My little guy is growing up. Tear.

Sunny California

Summer Break- Day 2. I'm here with a new West Coast address. Fourth term ended without much fanfare. Five weeks to unpack our apartment, explore a new city, see my family, go to camp, and enjoy not studying (well, maybe in moderation.) Then I'm back to Grenada for a final term. With time I'm sure I'll have something to say about Term 4 but right now I'm just enjoying my new city. It's summer break, woo hoo!

Just some numbers

This is my 50th entry in just over a year. (Belated happy first b-day blog!)

Only 11 days until Grenada. I'm not sure how I feel about that.

2010 is just 28 hours away and I have plans to spend it an amazing downtown NYC apartment of a good friend with my husband, a few friends and 200 or so other people I may or may not know... 

So far vacation has consisted of reading 5.5 books and packing 0 boxes. (I guess we know what my first New Year's Resolution will be. Less reading, more packing..... blah.)

The temperature today was 24. Cold, but it would be better if there were fresh snow to go with the freezing temperature...  Maybe tomorrow, my fingers are crossed. 

Dear Grenada,

How was your summer? Did you miss me? The time went by so fast, and I'll be back on your island in just six days. I am sure you are busy getting ready for Carnival. It will be my first Spice Mas experience so I'm counting on you to make it memorable.

While I was away I traveled and worked and played. I did lots of summer things. I went to the beach (but don't worry your beaches are nicer), many BBQ's, a concert, wine tasting at the semi-local vineyards, and many other fun things.

I did things I can't do in Grenada. I had Starbucks almost every day and often twice a day (thanks to the new Starbucks in the Hospital lobby where I worked.) I bought lots of coffee to bring back with me. I shopped and bought new flip flop and t-shirts and dresses. BTW, do you think I need anything special for rainy season? I have two umbrellas, awesome rain boots and a yellow slicker with a hood. When I use it all I look like a 5 year old ready to go puddle jumping. I'm sure you will make some nice mud and puddles for me this term.

I tried to pre-read for Genetics and maybe I'll finish the book before classes start. I'm looking forward to school again. Do you think Term II is better than Term I? I think I'll find the subject material more interesting. Genetics, Parasitology, Neuroscience, Immunology, Physiology, Community Health. I can't wait!

Well, I guess that is it. I hope you had a nice summer and didn't miss me too much! I admit, I did miss you. It was great to be home, but I'm ready to come back. My flight gets in at 7:15pm on the 5th and Gypsy will be with me if you want to send a cab for us. Okay, well I had better start packing and making sure I have everything I need for the term. Let me know if you think there is anything I must bring. Otherwise, I'll see you soon!

Love,

Spice Island Queen

Summer Blues

So, this week is technically only the 2nd of summer, although I feel like my summer is nearly over. With the rainy and cold weather I was starting to think summer might not show up at all. But now its here, and I hope to enjoy it. For what is left... My last day of work is August 1st, I leave for Grenada August 5th. Lots happens between now and then.  And I'm thinking I might need to start studying for genetics at some point. 

Ah, well, as one of my favorite attendings warned me, once medical school starts you will never have the discrecinary time like you use to. Its a a whole new world. And I'm not complaining, not really. I like being a medical student. I like learning, and most days I like studying. 

Yet at the moment as I'm contemplating my remaining summer I can't help but reflect one how one keeps her sense of self. Several articles and posts have brought this issue to the forefront of my mind. The first was this article in the New York Times. The second a blog entry from one of my favorite blogging medical students.

I try to have interests and friends outside of medicine. I went running this morning. I watch Baseball (go Red Sox) and read. I am proud to say that I did leave campus during first term. I walked around St. George's and went to dinner with friends. I checked out beaches and saw the "Vagina Monolouges" the weekend before the Unified. I studied, but it wasn't all I did and I think it made me happier. I need to perfect my studying methods, I could stand to raise my grades but I am not willing to give up myself in the process nor do I think it is healthy to do so. 

I'll be back in Grenada before I know it and I plan to kick 2nd terms butt. But I also want to do a Hash. Volunteer for a health fair, drive around the island, check out Bathaway Beach and so many other things. Term 2 will start, and I'll be a medical student again but it isn't all I plan to be.

Home Again

Term One ended. I did finish all four books and Fox's memoir is worth the read. My favorite Grenada beach? Prickly Bay. Quiet, picturesque and right off the Lanse Aux Epines bus route. (I also visited BBC and Paradise Beach which are both worth checking out as well.)

I came "home", worked for a week and then did a mini tour of the Southern Colorado before going to my "hometown" for a week vacation, it is always good to see the family. I got back "home" this morning and am looking forward to enjoying my summer. I'll be working but I like my job and coworkers and it gives me something to do while Dr. Boyfriend is being a resident.

I know this may sound crazy, but I kind of miss Grenada. I don't miss the schoolwork yet, but I'm guessing by the time the summer is over I'll even be ready for that. Right now I just miss the always warm weather and my view of the Caribbean Sea in the morning. Now don't get me wrong, being among the land of Starbucks and grocery stores that actually are fully stocked is nice.  And I am looking forward to many more books this summer and plenty of sleeping in and walking around the city time. Being in the Southwest among mountains and streams and lakes was revitalizing, I had forgotten how much I love the mountains. Speaking of which the trip to the rainforest and Seven Sisters waterfalls was pretty amazing. Fellow SGUers should do this if they haven't already. I am proud to say that I did see a lot of Grenada doing term one. I still have a lot of exploring to do but I'm off to a good start, I've made me non-academic list of for term 2 and am looking forward to going back to my Grenada home. After my relaxing summer at this home, this is....

I kind of like it here

Now, don't get me wrong, I am looking forward to my last real summer vacation. Who knows when or how old I'll be before I have over two months of personal time to work, travel and lounge at my discretion again. And of course I do miss certain things and people from home. I am looking forward to going home, but I am not dreading coming back in August either.

The thing is, I like Grenada and I think I'm getting a good medical education at SGU. I like my classmates, I've made some amazing friends. Sure medical school is a lot of work, but I think this setting makes it easier to work. There are few distractions that are not self created and people here work hard. Of course there will always be those that work harder or play harder than you but for the most part my classmates want to be here and we are all doing our best to do well. 

I have not been counting down the days because I really don't have anything to count down to. Sure ordering a drink from Starbucks, seeing my husband, going to the playground with my nieces, walking around a modern hospital, reading The New Yorker on the Monday it comes out, all of that will be nice. But last night I went out to dinner with a few of my favorite island people and we celebrated a Birthday, a published paper, a summer travel internship and being a month away from completing first term, and that was nice too...

I could write about everything I miss from home and the States, but the thing is, I am starting to think of Grenada as my second home and I'm going to miss my friends from here and the amazing view of the water and the Island time lifestyle over the summer. I recognize that this is not the place for everyone, but as for me I'm okay with being a SGU student in Grenada, 'cause, I kind of like it here!