Living one day at at time!

It's been over a week since I have last sat down and had a chance to write. School is relentless, by no means am I am complaining, because I am loving it, but, nevertheless, it is relentless. I am finally finding my routine. I attempt to go to bed everynight at midnight, and I wake up every morning at 8 am. Some days I go running in the morning, and other days I wait to run until after I get out of class. Running here is quite an adventure. The sidewalks here, when there are any, are in really bad shape. The roads are completely backwards, i.e. people drive on the opposite side of the road from what I am used to. Furthermore, it seems like the drivers here try and mess with you and steer their cars in your direction just to watch you scramble into the bushes. It has happened to me on more than one occasion, and I have been very tempted to flip them off, but considering the police here are non-existent, I am sure a local would run me over, back up to make sure I was dead, and then use their dingy to take me out to sea, and no one would be the wiser. So normally, I mutter obscene words under my breath and continue on my run. Since I am signed up to do Vineman (a half Ironman) this summer, I have been trying to increase my mileage gradually. Last weekend I ran to the beach (Gran Anse) with a couple of friends with the idea that I would swim for 20-30 minutes and then run back to my dorm. I learned a very valuable lesson-- do not swim after it rains-- as the jellyfish make an appearance, although, ironically, you can't see them. Yep, the four of us who were swimming, all got stung! I wore my long sleeve rashguard, but I got stung on my leg. Everyone else got stung on their arms. Of course, just my luck. Last Friday night I went for Mexican food again. The restaurant is so awesome because it is right at the end of the dock. The majority of restuarants here are outdoors with a roof over your head, but no walls, so you can enjoy the beautiful scenery that Grenada has to offer. Most of the restaurants here have live music (Steel drums, etc.) and dancing, so dining out makes for quite an event. Furthermore, on Friday nights the Mexican restaurants has $1 Coronas and $3 Margaritas (they make them strong too), so it's a nice way to relax after an intense week of class. Besides that I live Groundhog Day over and over again. Get up, study, class, study, bed. Few different ins and outs to each day, but for the most part my days are relatively the same. Again not complaining. I love it here! I've made some great friends (in no way replacing the ones at home), but it is nice having them because they are going through the same thing that I am going through, so it is nice to have someone to relate to. Biochemistry is proving to be my favorite course thus far, followed by anatomy... histology (the study of cells) and bioethics (how to be ethical (also a complete waste of my life)) are tied for last. For the most part I like my professors, except for one professor in anatomy. Fortunately, he doesn't teach us very often. I left class so frustrated yesterday because he was our professor. I left class thinking to myself okay, so if smoking a cigarette takes 7 minutes off of your life... I would have rather smoked 8 cigarettes and ended my life 1 hour early than sit through this horrible lecture. This is one hour of my life I will never get back. Yeah... me... a vehemently adamant non-smoker considered smoking as a parallel to his horrible lecture. In any event, school is going well so far, granted I am only 3 weeks in, but I am trying to remain positive, so when the proverbial shit hits the fan (which it has when we learned the brachial plexus, and then bent over and took it again for the anatomy of the upper limb), I can continue to remain positive, and study with a smile. Well, I'm off to go see dead people-- cadavers. Hope everyone is doing well, and I can't wait to see everyone in May.

I am officially a medical student!

Brittney and I awaiting our white coats

My friends From the left: Richard, Jessica, Lindsay, Dustin, Monica, Emily, Zarchi, Maria, Richard, John

After the white coat Ceremony. From the left: Lindsay, Maria, Kristi

Sunset at Black Sand Beach

I survived my first week of medical school, and I actually enjoyed it enough where I think I'll attend my second week. My first day of school my anatomy professor assigned 150 pages of reading material. Unfortunately, I made it halfway through my reading before I realized that the books are only used for reference as there isn't enough time to accomplish and learn everything. My course load consists of lab in the morning, whether it is looking a slides of cells (Histology), or sticking my hands in cadavers (Anatomy), or even discussing bioethical princles (Horrible). My afternoons are filled with lecture. Lecture is from 1p-5p, and generally I have one class from 1-3, and then another from 3-5. I then come home make some dinner, relax for a bit, and then begin studying that days material and the material from the previous day. It makes for a very long night. I am trying to get on a relatively regular schedule, in which I am asleep by midnight and up by 8a, so I can study in the morning before class. My days are like the movie Groundhog Day, as each day seems to repeat itself, with a few variations here and there. However, I'm loving it (albeit hard), and I am so happy to be here. Friday night, I made the trek off campus because I heard there was a Mexican food buffet. Although the Mexican food was not like home, I was stil so happy to have an attempt on what could appear to be Mexican food. On the way home, my friends and I got caught in a torrential downpour. We stood under an apartment complex hoping that it would stop as rain here is so transient, but it only got worse as we waited. So we decided to run home. By the time we made it 1/3 of the way back to campus we were completely soaked, so we decided to jump in the puddles and at least have a little fun on the way back. On Saturday, my friends and I decided to take a break from our studying, and go down to Black Sand Beach (it's a sandy beach that has guess what??? black sand), to go watch the sunset. The sunset was absolutely spectacular. Sunday was my white coat ceremony, in which (big surprise), they put my white coat on me. Kinda boring, but the free food after made it somewhat worthwhile.

DDay minus 1

View from campus

Gran Anse beach

Gran Anse beach

The Aquarium

Concord Falls

Coming to Grenada started off a little rough! The TSA lady hasseled me for my carry on, and then the TSA screener broke my USC coffee mug... I was sad! The flight to Miami was eventful. The fasten seatbelt sign remained permanently on, and the stewardess told me that in the 27 years of her flying, this flight was one of her top 5 most turbulent flights. The layover in Miami was short and sweet, and a slept the majority of the way to Grenada. I was very glad that I did. The country of Grenada definently marches to the beat of their own drum-- things take a lot of time, so patience is absolutely necessary. I waiting in line for over an hour to go through customs. After customs I looked for my bags, however, none of the bags from California made it on the flight, so I had to wait another hour in line for the American Airlines lost baggage kiosk. They assured me that my luggage would make it to the island sometime that week, but they couldn't promise me when. I then made my way to the end of the hour long declarations line, in which I had to declare my laptop and pay the associated import taxes... (I hid my ipod, my iphone, and my Garmin in my backpack, so I wouldn't have to pay taxes on them too). I arrived to my dorm with no luggage, but fortunately a blanket and one change of clothes that I had stuffed in my carry-on. I slept on the mattress and bundled up my shirt for the pillow. The next day I registered for classes, and walked around the campus finishing up odds and ends. That night I went to the airport to get my bags, and ironically, the people that I hangout with now are the people I met that night at the airport getting their lost luggage too. The following day I went on a campus sponsored tour of the capitol. The farmers market and the fish market are definently 2 places that I will be returning too. I saw the hospital-- after seeing the hospital I definently DO NOT want to get sick while I am down here. I then went on the school sponsored hike to Concord Waterfall, in which I opted to go for a swim! Later that night I went to a university sponsored event at a bar called Aquarium, and danced until I couldn't stand the feeling of sweat anymore. Fortunately, Aquarium is on the beach, so I hungout on the beach with my friends to cool off. Yesterday it POURED! I went to the cheap market and the hardware store without my raincoat, and I definently paid the price. Weather here changes so fast, and normally it only rains for 15 minutes at a time. Well yesterday it poured nearly all day! However, by the evening it cleared up, so I went to the University sponsored bbq for some free food!!! :) Last night my friends and I sat on the beach right next to my dorm and enjoyed the tranquility of the island. Everyday thus far has been filled with really boring orientation meetings. Today was no different. Except after the meetings I went to the beach. Gran Anse was voted by National Geographics as one of the prettiest secluded beaches in the world. It is definently their claim to fame (besides nutmeg and mace). I played in the crystal clear water before returning to campus to go to the bazaar, in which I ate more free food, listened to some steel drums, and walked around the vendors. I joined the Women in Medicine club, the Emergency Doctors Club, and the Surgery Club. We'll see how much time I have for these clubs. Running on the island is achieved by waking up early in the morning-- otherwise it gets a little warm. Tonight, I plan on falling asleep to Marley and Me, and enjoying my last night of freedom. Although the journey started off rough... I look outside, and think this place is amazing, and I am so lucky to be here!

One more notch on my belt

Today I spent the day running around doing errands and getting last minute things that I think I would want on the island. I am a little less anxious today than yesterday. Don't get me wrong, I am still super nervous, but I have finished packing (or so I think) (I also have no more room to pack anything else), and I am trying to relax before I leave. I am really going to miss my friends and family, but I am trying to keep in mind that "the juice is worth the squeeze." i.e. in 4 years (2013) I will officially and finally be Dr. Schmid!

6 Days and Not Couting

Lately, I have been very anxious about leaving. I am very excited about pursuing my dream, but the thought of being away from everything familiar (family, friends, my house, dogs) is hard. I have been so busy lately, or on vacation, that I haven't really had adequate time to see everyone that I want to see. Packing is proving to be quite the undertaking as I only am alloted 2 bags at 50 lbs a piece. I am paying $100 for a third bag, but rumor has it that all of the bags don't make it to the island with you, so be prepared by carrying a few days of clothes with you in your carry on. Supposedly, I have my own room in a 3 room suite (mind you, I am living in the dorms), but I am trying to not get too excited until I see it for myself. I am signed up to do a half Ironman (Vineman) in July, and it looks as if there is a "run club" on the island. Furthermore, I have found a blog online in which several students from my class have posted in that they are looking for people to run and swim with. Looks like, hopefully, I won't have to be doing all of my training by myself. I welcome any and all visitors, and please feel free to bring something from home. I haven't left yet, yet I'm beginning to miss home!