Mar
13
mmm . . . i’m gonna miss the view
Filed Under family, happiness, life, saba, school, thoughts | 1 Comment
As my time on Saba draws to a close, people keep telling me to enjoy the time I have left. I understand what they’re saying. Many, if not most, students who come to this island to study medicine view Saba like a prison . . . something akin to Alcatraz. Now, if I were in San Francisco Bay, on Alcatraz island, locked in a cell . . . I’d be counting my days to get off. I do admit, I am counting the days a bit, but it’s not with excitement to get off this “rock”. I am excited for a few things back in the States, but for the most part I’m going to miss everything about this island . . . well not everything.
Emily wrote a post about things she’s going to miss and things she’s not going to miss. Here’s my list.
Things I won’t miss:
- The so called “fast” internet they have on Saba
- Not being able to buy fruit & vegetables every day I go to the store (only once a week – if you make it to the store before everyone else)
- Sitting in a classroom all day long, with the storm shudders closed, freezing cold air conditioning blasting, sitting in a seat built for a high school student
- Not being able to see my family with a greater frequency
Things I will miss:
- The view
- The warm weather
- The view
- Sitting on my patio watching the sky (and it’s reflection in the ocean) change a million different colors as the sun goes down
- The view
- Sitting on my patio at night under a cloudless star-filled sky – truly it’s AMAZING
- The view
- The quietness of this island
- The view
- The calmness of this island
- The view
- The fact that it takes 20 minutes to drive from one end of the island to the other
- The view
- The fact that there is no traffic whatsoever (unless you count getting stuck in Windwardside for 30 seconds while everybody figures out who gets to go first at the corner by Big Rock)
- The view
- Watching the sun rise over the ocean and then being able to go to Wells Bay later that day and see it set on the ocean
- The view
- Really, there are just too many things to list – I could go on and on
- I hate to be cliché, but did I mention, the view is INCREDIBLE?!
So, I love this island and feel, as my time grows to a close, I’ve really taken advantage of pretty much every day I’ve been here. I don’t think one day has passed that I haven’t paused for a moment to appreciate THE VIEW!!! I do have to say, though, that what I treasure most about this island is the perspective it has taught me about life and family. This will have to be another post by itself, but Saba has taught me what is most important in life and how to appreciate it.
That’s St. Barths on the horizon . . . yeah, I’m gonna miss that view!
Feb
19
I took my fifth semester, block two exams today. It seemed kind of monumental as I thought about it. I have one block left on this island of paradise. After all the time we’ve spent on this island, our time is quickly growing to a close and I’m starting to get a little nostalgic. Emily has been talking a lot lately about how our time is growing short. In fact, just the other day we were taking a little walk down the road and she said, “You know, we don’t have too many more opportunities like this.” Step out the door, and walk down the street with a billion dollar view! It’s hard to believe our time on Saba is drawing to a close. We’ve extended our say on this island by splitting up a couple semesters and I know I’ve certainly enjoyed the extra time I’ve been able to spend with my family in the Caribbean (especially as our family and friends are getting dumped on with snow). I am excited, however, to be moving on to the next phase in our lives. The next chapter . . . a new adventure.
I’m sure in many ways, it will still be exciting as we move back to the United States, but I will alway look back on our time in the Caribbean with fondness. I’ve really tried to take the proverbial time to “smell the flowers”. The journey has certainly been sweet. I’m going to make the best of my time left!
Nov
9
she’s back!
Filed Under emily, hannah, happiness, marriage, school | Leave a Comment
Emily’s been making fun of me that I haven’t posted anything for a while. True, I used to bug her about letting so much time go by between posts, but I really do have a good excuse . . . I’m in medical school. Tonight, though, I’m going to carve out a few minutes to let everyone know how happy I am to have changed my status. I’m no longer “desamparado”. My wife has returned and I’m no longer the most miserable bachelor in the whole wide world.
Since Emily’s been back, a lot of things have changed:
- I’m eating, er . . . healthy
- I’m focusing better in school
- I’m able to sleep at night
- I’m experiencing the progress Hannah is making in her development
- Seriously, there are too many other things to list . . .
Life really is better now that my dear, sweet, loving wife has returned to this little paradise we like to call home.
Sep
26
It’s been a while since I’ve written anything on my blog . . . as you can see. Last semester was quite a rough ride. All I can say is that I’m still floating. Although Pathology has been one of my most difficult courses yet, I really enjoy the class. In the midst of a semester it’s difficult to appreciate the information I’m trying to internalize, but after the stress and pressure of exams has subsided . . . it’s an amazing view in retrospect. Again, I marvel at the amazing way the body deals with injury.
So now, I’ve been abandoned . . . or as my father-in-law says, “desamparado”. Emily and Hannah left Monday of last week for a month visit to the States. They first flew to Southern California to spend some time with Emily’s sister. Then, on Sunday, they flew to Utah to spend a few weeks with the rest of her family and mine. She’ll round out her trip in Texas for a few days with our dear friends. This will mark the longest we’ve ever been apart.
When Emily and I got married, I was in school to become an airline pilot. I was going to be the one traveling around the country and possibly the world, but as it turns out Emily has been the world traveler. She stared out going to Las Vegas and Phoenix, then it progressed to Columbus. Ultimately she visited Taiwan and Hong Kong. When the decision was made to come to medical school . . . it was only natural that we travel to get here. I’m sure you can see a bit of irony in our marriage. In ten years of marriage, Emily has been the one being left only once. We had a funny conversation before she left comparing the one doing the leaving verses the one being left. The one doing the leaving doesn’t quite miss the other in the same way. She agreed with me. I’ve made it through a little over a week . . . just a few more to go.
Jun
30
definitely a tool
Filed Under gadgets, medicine, school | Leave a Comment
While at school yesterday, one of my classmates showed me a new piece of technology . . . yes, it was a gadget. However, this gadget is different than many gadgets as it can actually be justified for me in my future profession. Call it a tool, if you will. Let’s start with a handy little program that I’ve been told over and over is absolutely essential when practicing medicine. It is a program called Epocrates. This little program fits on a PDA and provides drug information, drug interaction information, and if you get the subscription it has a clinical consult section. From what I understand, it is an incredibly powerful program which aids the physician in covering all the bases. Next, there is the fact that physicians carry all kinds of “tools” with them as they are going about their workday. Stethoscope, reflex hammer, cell phone, and of course (to carry Epocrates) a PDA in addition to many other items.
To cut down on the weight and clutter of all these items . . . it would be ideal to combine as many of them as possible. The phone and PDA have been combined for a while . . . first with the palm and the add-on phone adapter . . . then, more effectively by the Palm Treo. Now, I believe the best combination yet . . . the HTC Touch. On their website they tout, “The world’s first touch phone.” The press release on HTC’s website stated, “The HTC Touchâ„¢ is now available [June 5, 2007] in the United Kingdom and will be released later this month in Asia [June 12, 2007] and throughout Europe. The North and Latin American version of the HTC Touchâ„¢ will be available in the second half of 2007.” Since yesterday was the widely anticipated Iphone release . . . I guess they beat them. I’d have to say that the Iphone is a watered-down version of the Touch. Plus it has Windows Mobile® 6 Professional . . . so you can add products like Epocrates and anything else your heart desires. The features are rich and the interface is the most usable I’ve ever seen. I’m not an expert on gadgets . . . but I do love them, and this one impresses the socks off me! It’s certainly on my “must get before I start clinical rotations” wish list.
My friend got his on St. Maarten for ~$600. I found one online at 1ShopMobile.com for $489. That’ll save you a little chunk of change.
Jun
19
healthy body
Filed Under happiness, life, school, thoughts, trials | Leave a Comment
Wow! What a day. I had another round of exams today. It wasn’t pretty, but I’m getting through. I’m currently taking Pathology, Pharmacology, and Physical Diagnosis. Pathology and Pharmacology are both very difficult classes due to the shear volume of material I’m expected to internalize within a three week period of time, (the length of our blocks). Physical Diagnosis is a bit easier for me as it’s a little more hands on. It adds another mode of learning for me that I feel comes a bit easier than gleaning all my knowledge from a book. The classes have been very interesting. I’ve learned a lot, but have struggled at times with the tremendous amount of tiny details, (but I guess that’s why I grow in knowledge). The big picture has become more and more clear as my time in basic sciences has progressed. The human body is truly an amazing thing. I marvel at the way it is able to, when functioning normally, maintain our temperature, pH, and all the other inter-environmental factors in line as we go throughout our daily lives . . . not giving two thoughts to our breathing . . . or our heart beating, etc. Truly spectacular! It really makes me grateful to be healthy.