There's a classmate in my small group who is always chatting with her friend. You can hear them laugh, giggle, whisper, and chatter. I have no problems with being social at school. I find it actually heartwarming considering all the stress.
However, these two never seem to shut up, even when the professor is talking. All the freaking time yap yap yap, teehehe teehehe. I don't give a damn that you bought flight tickets for Spring Break, which types of boots are in this year, or how useless the small group sessions are. To an extent the incessant chatting interferes with how I can focus on what the professor saying, but that isn't my main problem.
What pisses me off is that when the professor calls on them, they don't know what the question is or in which context was the question asked, which wastes time backtracking through the earlier discussion and an explanation of the question. All of this could have been avoided if they would just shut the front door just a few times throughout the small group sessions.
I just want to squeeze in a nap if the small group finishes on time or early. Please, I need my beauty sleep.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Sunday, December 4, 2011
#31: What I Wish I Had Known Before Entering Med School - Part 1
1. I should exercise regularly.
2. I should study regularly.
3. Medical jokes never get old.
4. More students are in it for the money than I thought.
5. Med students sleep around...with other med students.
6. Dressing more decently and professionally goes a long way in opening up patients to talk.
7. CAGE questions should only apply to coffee.
8. My index finger gets more play than I do.
9. Loans create nightmares.
10. I am more scared shitless examining patients than I do bombing an exam.
2. I should study regularly.
3. Medical jokes never get old.
4. More students are in it for the money than I thought.
5. Med students sleep around...with other med students.
6. Dressing more decently and professionally goes a long way in opening up patients to talk.
7. CAGE questions should only apply to coffee.
8. My index finger gets more play than I do.
9. Loans create nightmares.
10. I am more scared shitless examining patients than I do bombing an exam.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
#30: Medical Poetry Slam...Not Really
Aorta tell you I'm quite stressed.
With all this Robbins left I haven't gotten much rest.
Overdosing on Folger's coffee,
I run to the bathroom quite often to pee.
Renal dysfunction, heart palpitations,
please Winter break give me much needed relaxation.
With all this Robbins left I haven't gotten much rest.
Overdosing on Folger's coffee,
I run to the bathroom quite often to pee.
Renal dysfunction, heart palpitations,
please Winter break give me much needed relaxation.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
#29: Turkey Day
I would like to thank for all the crappy, painful, exhausting, disappointing, and simply shitty stuff and all the mistakes, the foolishness, and embarrassment that has happened. I want to thank all the people who made those shitty stuff possible. Because without it and without them, I don't think I would be as grateful for all the good stuff, even the tiny good stuff, that has happened. I've learned a lot this past year about what to do, what not to do, who I am, and who I am not. I believe I've grown and become ever so slightly better because of my experiences.
I'm happy and proud to be a medical student. However much I bitch and moan about med school, I am truly happy to wake up each day and learn about what I love, medicine. I don't care if you think that sounds cheesy because I know it's true. Even when I want to shoot my brains out learning about psychiatry or the different Hodgkin's lymphomas, I love what I learn.
I want to thank my parents, my sister, my cousin, my aunt, and other family members. Even when things were rough, they stuck by me, especially my sister. She's awesome.
I love the close friends I have. I can call them up when I'm flustered and stressed out from studying and they would talk to me about random things to get my mind off of med school. I can call them about how to wash wool or how to buy car insurance. One friend in specific actually welcomes me to talk about my med school issues, and that's a great friend right there.
Definitely not last, I'm tremendously thankful for my friendship with my med school buddy, or just simply buddy, Jesse and his wife Jackie. They've taken care of me when I felt like absolute shit because of med school and when I don't feel like shit. Plus, I can fall asleep on their couch when I'm a lazy bastard to walk 2 minutes back to my apartment.
It might not always be awesome every day, but I'm thankful to be where I am and with the best people I can think of and without those who I couldn't care less about. Thanks.
Question
Let's not focus on all the happy puppies moment. What "bad" thing are you actually thankful for? Why?
I'm happy and proud to be a medical student. However much I bitch and moan about med school, I am truly happy to wake up each day and learn about what I love, medicine. I don't care if you think that sounds cheesy because I know it's true. Even when I want to shoot my brains out learning about psychiatry or the different Hodgkin's lymphomas, I love what I learn.
I want to thank my parents, my sister, my cousin, my aunt, and other family members. Even when things were rough, they stuck by me, especially my sister. She's awesome.
I love the close friends I have. I can call them up when I'm flustered and stressed out from studying and they would talk to me about random things to get my mind off of med school. I can call them about how to wash wool or how to buy car insurance. One friend in specific actually welcomes me to talk about my med school issues, and that's a great friend right there.
Definitely not last, I'm tremendously thankful for my friendship with my med school buddy, or just simply buddy, Jesse and his wife Jackie. They've taken care of me when I felt like absolute shit because of med school and when I don't feel like shit. Plus, I can fall asleep on their couch when I'm a lazy bastard to walk 2 minutes back to my apartment.
It might not always be awesome every day, but I'm thankful to be where I am and with the best people I can think of and without those who I couldn't care less about. Thanks.
Question
Let's not focus on all the happy puppies moment. What "bad" thing are you actually thankful for? Why?
Thursday, November 17, 2011
#28: Oh Lawd
Dear Person Who Got 97FreakingPoint5% on the Pathology Exam,
What are you smoking? Because I want some of that. Have your people contact my people.
Sincerely,
I Can Pay You Handsomely
What are you smoking? Because I want some of that. Have your people contact my people.
Sincerely,
I Can Pay You Handsomely
Sunday, November 13, 2011
#27: Dork Alert
Last night I played Risk, only the most awesome board game of all time. Throughout the entire game, instead of thinking about world domination, all I could think was, "How can I metastasize?" Teehehe.
Question
Have I gone off the deep end?
Question
Have I gone off the deep end?
Sunday, October 23, 2011
#26: MD vs. DO, DO vs. MD. Stop it.
I met up with the friend from post #4. Let's call her Mandy (not the real name of course). She's applying to med school right now and was asking about the application process and med school in general. At one point during the conversation, Many asked, "Would you have considered applying to DO schools?" My response, "No. Definitely not." It was not because I do not respect DO schools. It was because of what I believe to be hypocritical to my beliefs of what medicine is about: care for the patient. Let me explain.
This post may be a Pandora's box, but let's open it to discussion. Don't flame me, please.
Hold on, now. Chill out for a minute before you reach for the pitchforks and torches. I understand and know that this whole MD/DO issue has been going on for decades. It's a touchy subject among the professionals, med students, and even pre-meds.
In the States, we have two types of med school: Allopathic and Osteopathic. Allopathic med schools are the ones that grant MD (Doctor of Medicine) degrees. Osteopathic med schools grant DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) degrees.
First, as an MD student, let me say that I respect DO physicians, students, and interested pre-meds. I wholeheartedly respect what they do, study, and aspire to become. DO colleagues have the same goal as MDs: to serve, treat, and care for patients. Both take the Hippocratic Oath. Both have the same medical responsibilities to patients.
Second, I understand that MD and DO schools have different teaching philosophies as allopathy and osteopathy have different medical philosophies. MD students have to take the USMLE and DO students have to take the COMLEX. DO students also learn Osteopathic Principles and Practices (OPP) and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) and Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy (OMT).
I have absolutely no issue with different degree, different medical philosophies, and different teaching philosophies. Historically, Dr. Still broke away from the MD crowd to establish osteopathic medicine. That's absolutely marvelous in my mind. Hey, Dr. Still clearly had a different medical ideology and he had every right to teach it. Coolios.
With respect to core basic medical science courses and a huge overwhelming majority of clinical courses/rotations, MD and DO students learn the exact same material. The only different is the addition of OMM, OMT, and OPP and the emphasis of osteopathy in other courses at osteopathic schools.
But, the rift between the MD and DO communities has been tense although it is calmer now. I have heard and talked about the disdain one group for the other whether it be about standardized exam scores, application stats, education styles, jealousy, paid grades, residency site competitiveness, whatever. I do not even want to go into comparing the prestige battle about medical schools and residency sites.
What I have a problem with is this: DO students can take the USMLE in addition to COMLEX and apply for allopathic residency positions. However! However, MD students cannot take the COMLEX in addition to USMLE and apply for osteopathic residency positions. Look, I understand that MD students cannot take the COMLEX because they do not have the education in OMM, OMT, and OPP. But, allopathic residency hospitals have extended their welcome to DO graduates. Yet, DO residency hospitals have not reciprocated. I understand that OMM, OMT, and OPP and the osteopathic education in general give another dimension to DO physicians and graduates that the MD counterparts do not have.
Above the disparity in applying for residency, I have a bigger problem with this: Since all physicians, regardless of degree or education, are dedicated to care and treat patients, why can't we all just be doctors? One type. Make one medical doctor degree? If you got osteopathic education and training, then why not make it an additional credentials to the end of your name? There was a report out there that states that DO physicians use OMM/OMT about 5-15% of the time. (Can someone please look for the stats of this?) Do those percentages really make that much of a huge difference to cause a division in the physician community?
Question
So, here are my concluding questions: If DOs historically wanted a split, then stick with your guns. If DOs now want to work alongside MDs, then reciprocate by opening your residency positions to MDs too. If you got osteopathic education and training, great! You're a physician, too. You're out there to treat and care for patients, too. With the healthcare crisis bubble about to burst, why care if you are DO or MD? Why not just care about being a physician? Why not train as many physicians as possible and put aside the schoolyard tomfoolery? If you got osteopathic skills, use it, and as I suggested, tag on the osteopathic credentials to your embroidered white coat.
Think about the patient, not about which kind of physician you are. Really, like, for real, which of the following sounds better to you if you heard it from a patient?
a) My physician is awesome!
b) My DO/MD physician is awesome!
Since I'm in the MD community, I will honestly admit that I am MD biased. Really, DOs, it is time to open up your residency doors. Or better yet, MDs and DOs, can we all get along? Medicine has advanced a very long way. Heck, even medical education for both allopathy and osteopathy has advanced with all the integrative clinical education in the first two didactic years. We as a community of physicians should too.
This post may be a Pandora's box, but let's open it to discussion. Don't flame me, please.
Hold on, now. Chill out for a minute before you reach for the pitchforks and torches. I understand and know that this whole MD/DO issue has been going on for decades. It's a touchy subject among the professionals, med students, and even pre-meds.
In the States, we have two types of med school: Allopathic and Osteopathic. Allopathic med schools are the ones that grant MD (Doctor of Medicine) degrees. Osteopathic med schools grant DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) degrees.
First, as an MD student, let me say that I respect DO physicians, students, and interested pre-meds. I wholeheartedly respect what they do, study, and aspire to become. DO colleagues have the same goal as MDs: to serve, treat, and care for patients. Both take the Hippocratic Oath. Both have the same medical responsibilities to patients.
Second, I understand that MD and DO schools have different teaching philosophies as allopathy and osteopathy have different medical philosophies. MD students have to take the USMLE and DO students have to take the COMLEX. DO students also learn Osteopathic Principles and Practices (OPP) and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) and Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy (OMT).
I have absolutely no issue with different degree, different medical philosophies, and different teaching philosophies. Historically, Dr. Still broke away from the MD crowd to establish osteopathic medicine. That's absolutely marvelous in my mind. Hey, Dr. Still clearly had a different medical ideology and he had every right to teach it. Coolios.
With respect to core basic medical science courses and a huge overwhelming majority of clinical courses/rotations, MD and DO students learn the exact same material. The only different is the addition of OMM, OMT, and OPP and the emphasis of osteopathy in other courses at osteopathic schools.
But, the rift between the MD and DO communities has been tense although it is calmer now. I have heard and talked about the disdain one group for the other whether it be about standardized exam scores, application stats, education styles, jealousy, paid grades, residency site competitiveness, whatever. I do not even want to go into comparing the prestige battle about medical schools and residency sites.
What I have a problem with is this: DO students can take the USMLE in addition to COMLEX and apply for allopathic residency positions. However! However, MD students cannot take the COMLEX in addition to USMLE and apply for osteopathic residency positions. Look, I understand that MD students cannot take the COMLEX because they do not have the education in OMM, OMT, and OPP. But, allopathic residency hospitals have extended their welcome to DO graduates. Yet, DO residency hospitals have not reciprocated. I understand that OMM, OMT, and OPP and the osteopathic education in general give another dimension to DO physicians and graduates that the MD counterparts do not have.
Above the disparity in applying for residency, I have a bigger problem with this: Since all physicians, regardless of degree or education, are dedicated to care and treat patients, why can't we all just be doctors? One type. Make one medical doctor degree? If you got osteopathic education and training, then why not make it an additional credentials to the end of your name? There was a report out there that states that DO physicians use OMM/OMT about 5-15% of the time. (Can someone please look for the stats of this?) Do those percentages really make that much of a huge difference to cause a division in the physician community?
Question
So, here are my concluding questions: If DOs historically wanted a split, then stick with your guns. If DOs now want to work alongside MDs, then reciprocate by opening your residency positions to MDs too. If you got osteopathic education and training, great! You're a physician, too. You're out there to treat and care for patients, too. With the healthcare crisis bubble about to burst, why care if you are DO or MD? Why not just care about being a physician? Why not train as many physicians as possible and put aside the schoolyard tomfoolery? If you got osteopathic skills, use it, and as I suggested, tag on the osteopathic credentials to your embroidered white coat.
Think about the patient, not about which kind of physician you are. Really, like, for real, which of the following sounds better to you if you heard it from a patient?
a) My physician is awesome!
b) My DO/MD physician is awesome!
Since I'm in the MD community, I will honestly admit that I am MD biased. Really, DOs, it is time to open up your residency doors. Or better yet, MDs and DOs, can we all get along? Medicine has advanced a very long way. Heck, even medical education for both allopathy and osteopathy has advanced with all the integrative clinical education in the first two didactic years. We as a community of physicians should too.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
#25: Importance of a Physician
This post is not about seeking self-pity or even pity. It's not about being self-absorbed or demanding recognition. Take it as an explanation of part of why I want to become a physician.
We expect our physicians to be smart, charismatic, efficient, understanding, accommodating, prompt, careful, considerate, communicative, accessible, honest, dignified, altruistic, confidential, attentive, dedicated, hardworking, caring, informative, right, proactive...the list goes on. Those are a lot of expectations. It's rightfully so that we expect so much from physicians. And, physicians know this. They took the Hippocratic Oath the moment they graduate from medical school. At my school, I took the Hippocratic Oath at my White Coat Ceremony in my first year. Physicians understand not only their duty, but their value to their patients.
Why so many expectations? Why are they justified? Because physicians don't necessarily handle things in your life. Physicians handle your life. Not your money, not your car, not your house, not your work, not your schedule. You. Your money can come and go. But, you, you can't. You can't die and come back. (Well, maybe give science and research a few more years...)
Without you, you can't have the things in your life. Imagine not being able to buy a home, marry the person of your dreams, drive your favorite car, read a book on the porch, travel the world, see your parents or kids, talk with your friends, walk, occasionally indulge in your sins and vices, live long enough to see your grandkids, have sex, and all the other little joys of life.
You seek physicians when you're in pain, sick, and/or distressed whether it's because of your volition or of the encouragement of others or when it's your last resort or whenever you want to. Physicians are bound by an oath to treat and care for any patient who seeks them. Now, when I say treat and care, physicians must consider the medical benefits and costs, your personal beliefs and feelings, resources available, and ethical principles. All of this biosocioethical consideration on top of the intellectual demands of figuring out what is medically wrong with you.
The burden of integrating the nuts and bolts of scientific medicine for a diagnosis, the patient's feelings and views, and the physician's own feelings and views can be overwhelming at times. Treatment and care encompass all these factors, which ultimately leads to handling your life. It's not easy. Being a physician is extremely and exorbitantly demanding.
I wouldn't want to be anything else...but, check back with me when I actually have that MD title if I survive the onslaught of 2nd year.
We expect our physicians to be smart, charismatic, efficient, understanding, accommodating, prompt, careful, considerate, communicative, accessible, honest, dignified, altruistic, confidential, attentive, dedicated, hardworking, caring, informative, right, proactive...the list goes on. Those are a lot of expectations. It's rightfully so that we expect so much from physicians. And, physicians know this. They took the Hippocratic Oath the moment they graduate from medical school. At my school, I took the Hippocratic Oath at my White Coat Ceremony in my first year. Physicians understand not only their duty, but their value to their patients.
Why so many expectations? Why are they justified? Because physicians don't necessarily handle things in your life. Physicians handle your life. Not your money, not your car, not your house, not your work, not your schedule. You. Your money can come and go. But, you, you can't. You can't die and come back. (Well, maybe give science and research a few more years...)
Without you, you can't have the things in your life. Imagine not being able to buy a home, marry the person of your dreams, drive your favorite car, read a book on the porch, travel the world, see your parents or kids, talk with your friends, walk, occasionally indulge in your sins and vices, live long enough to see your grandkids, have sex, and all the other little joys of life.
You seek physicians when you're in pain, sick, and/or distressed whether it's because of your volition or of the encouragement of others or when it's your last resort or whenever you want to. Physicians are bound by an oath to treat and care for any patient who seeks them. Now, when I say treat and care, physicians must consider the medical benefits and costs, your personal beliefs and feelings, resources available, and ethical principles. All of this biosocioethical consideration on top of the intellectual demands of figuring out what is medically wrong with you.
The burden of integrating the nuts and bolts of scientific medicine for a diagnosis, the patient's feelings and views, and the physician's own feelings and views can be overwhelming at times. Treatment and care encompass all these factors, which ultimately leads to handling your life. It's not easy. Being a physician is extremely and exorbitantly demanding.
I wouldn't want to be anything else...but, check back with me when I actually have that MD title if I survive the onslaught of 2nd year.
Friday, September 23, 2011
#24: Facepalm
So, this whole to vaccinate or not to vaccinate fiasco. Michelle Bachmann told a possibly false anecdote about a mother whose child became mentally retarded because of a vaccine. Ok, well, not fine. I'm tired of this whole sensationalized crap about anti-vaccination. For Pete's sake, the study linking the measles vaccine with autism was debunked by the medical profession. Heck, some participants even reported of data/observation fabrication, collaborators eventually jumped ship, and the principal investigator of that research had his license revoked.
I understand why, in discrete cases, individuals would object to vaccination. However, I don't understand why people would preach anti-vaccination when a ton of epidemiological data indicate not only has vaccination nearly eradicated several diseases, but also show that not getting vaccinated has increased the incidence of these diseases.
Question
I would like to hear stories of the opposite. Stories of misfortune, regret, and we-told-you-so. Have you ever heard of stories or anecdotes or read literature or news articles about parents who decided not to vaccinate their child(ren) who consequently suffered the same diseases for which they should have been vaccinated?
I understand why, in discrete cases, individuals would object to vaccination. However, I don't understand why people would preach anti-vaccination when a ton of epidemiological data indicate not only has vaccination nearly eradicated several diseases, but also show that not getting vaccinated has increased the incidence of these diseases.
Question
I would like to hear stories of the opposite. Stories of misfortune, regret, and we-told-you-so. Have you ever heard of stories or anecdotes or read literature or news articles about parents who decided not to vaccinate their child(ren) who consequently suffered the same diseases for which they should have been vaccinated?
#23: Open Letter
Dear 2nd Year of Medical School,
First, you've taken tens of thousands of dollars. Second, you've taken away my social life. Third, you've taken away my libido to mate. Would you like my first born too?
Sincerely,
Exhausted MS II
PS: Ladies, the libido thing was a joke. Ladies...?
Question
Have you seen New Girl with Zooey Deschanel? You haven't? Shame on you.
First, you've taken tens of thousands of dollars. Second, you've taken away my social life. Third, you've taken away my libido to mate. Would you like my first born too?
Sincerely,
Exhausted MS II
PS: Ladies, the libido thing was a joke. Ladies...?
Question
Have you seen New Girl with Zooey Deschanel? You haven't? Shame on you.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
#22: Pick Up Your Phone and Call
If you have a friend or family member or someone you care about in medical school, please pick up your phone and give them a call. They might not pick up or even return the call in a day or two or three. You might feel that you're intruding or bothering them. You're truly not. They will most likely say, "I'm busy. I have to study" or some variation thereof. They might tell you a horrible event in the clinic or at school. They might break down and express doubts that you may not understand.
Just call anyway.
Question
Did you call?
Just call anyway.
Question
Did you call?
Friday, September 16, 2011
#21: Unexpected Surprise
Some days, I just need Mumford and Sons to get me through at med school. Other days, it just takes a good looking Senior Resident giving a lecture. Eye candy, you know? But, that's like once every blue moon...
Question
Which type of music or band just gets you through the most banal days?
Question
Which type of music or band just gets you through the most banal days?
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
#20: Still Amazes Me
Scene
Each medical student has graduated undergrad with a bachelor degree (or multiple ones). Some have gotten a Masters or even a Ph.D. degree. Some have done a post-bac program. Some have published scientific research papers. For a huge majority, we're all going to get an medical degree.
But, this still amazes me: it's, its, there, their, they're, your, you're, won't, wont, want, err, air, very, vary. Other notable ones: wit, dat, shouldof, wouldof, couldof, I'mma.
I cringe every time. I'm a hypocritical grammar police, I know.
Question
What is one of your pet peeves?
Each medical student has graduated undergrad with a bachelor degree (or multiple ones). Some have gotten a Masters or even a Ph.D. degree. Some have done a post-bac program. Some have published scientific research papers. For a huge majority, we're all going to get an medical degree.
But, this still amazes me: it's, its, there, their, they're, your, you're, won't, wont, want, err, air, very, vary. Other notable ones: wit, dat, shouldof, wouldof, couldof, I'mma.
I cringe every time. I'm a hypocritical grammar police, I know.
Question
What is one of your pet peeves?
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
#19: Spleen
Scene
Last year in the Foundations of Clinical Medicine I class, our class was roughly taught a few physical examination techniques, one of which was how to palpitate for the spleen. To do so, you ask the patient to take a deep breath to push the diaphragm down and consequently push the spleen down past the last rib. Once the patient has taken a deep breath, you push your hand up from the abdomen under the last rib and feel the spleen with your fingers.
I volunteered as the guinea pig for my small group. I thought I was going to be the model for just the professor to demonstrate to the group. I was wrong. I was the model for any other student who wanted to try. It was painful enough to have an experienced professor forcefully push his fingers up against my spleen. It was even more painful to have a handful of students trying over and over and over again. When one student couldn't feel the spleen, the professor encouraged "to push up harder." Apparently, harder meant hard enough to elicit a groan and retraction into the fetal position for me.
Today is the start of FCM II. Cringe.
Question
Which part of a doctor's visit hurts the most?
Last year in the Foundations of Clinical Medicine I class, our class was roughly taught a few physical examination techniques, one of which was how to palpitate for the spleen. To do so, you ask the patient to take a deep breath to push the diaphragm down and consequently push the spleen down past the last rib. Once the patient has taken a deep breath, you push your hand up from the abdomen under the last rib and feel the spleen with your fingers.
I volunteered as the guinea pig for my small group. I thought I was going to be the model for just the professor to demonstrate to the group. I was wrong. I was the model for any other student who wanted to try. It was painful enough to have an experienced professor forcefully push his fingers up against my spleen. It was even more painful to have a handful of students trying over and over and over again. When one student couldn't feel the spleen, the professor encouraged "to push up harder." Apparently, harder meant hard enough to elicit a groan and retraction into the fetal position for me.
Today is the start of FCM II. Cringe.
Question
Which part of a doctor's visit hurts the most?
Thursday, September 1, 2011
#18: One of those Blah Days
Scene
Some days, med school just sucks the life out of me. It's all fun and games until I realize I've spent about 6-8 hours studying. My brain is sore. For Immunology, I don't care which cytokine does what. For Path, pretty much every prognosis includes death. Chyeah.
Oh, my butt is numb and my back aches from sitting and hunching over while studying for hours on end. Prognosis? Secondary hypermeducational fukitallitis.
Question
Tell me a happy story of what happened in your life today.
Some days, med school just sucks the life out of me. It's all fun and games until I realize I've spent about 6-8 hours studying. My brain is sore. For Immunology, I don't care which cytokine does what. For Path, pretty much every prognosis includes death. Chyeah.
Oh, my butt is numb and my back aches from sitting and hunching over while studying for hours on end. Prognosis? Secondary hypermeducational fukitallitis.
Question
Tell me a happy story of what happened in your life today.
Monday, August 29, 2011
#17: All This Studying
Scene
All this studying has really gotten me out of shape. I feel like as if I have respiratory distress walking up to the 2nd floor mods...which are one floor down from 1st year.
Question
How do you exercise? Do you find it difficult to find the time to exercise?
All this studying has really gotten me out of shape. I feel like as if I have respiratory distress walking up to the 2nd floor mods...which are one floor down from 1st year.
Question
How do you exercise? Do you find it difficult to find the time to exercise?
Thursday, August 25, 2011
#16: MS2
I got upgraded to a 2nd Year med student this week! Yay! 65K in debt and counting. Yay! But now I can diagnose amyloidosis. Great success.
I haven't realized how far I've gone in just one year of medical education until I saw the wide-eyed MS1s...and smelled their trail of formaldehyde. As an MS2, I'm not envious and I sure as hell don't want to look back at being an MS1.
Question
Where are you now compared to a year ago?
I haven't realized how far I've gone in just one year of medical education until I saw the wide-eyed MS1s...and smelled their trail of formaldehyde. As an MS2, I'm not envious and I sure as hell don't want to look back at being an MS1.
Question
Where are you now compared to a year ago?
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
#15: Rest of Europe and Rest of Summer
Scene
Well, hello, my friends. You may have wondered if I have been kidnapped abroad or simply neglected you. Neither, actually. Rather, I made a conscious decision to spend essentially my last summer as best as I could. And, that I did. That I did. Here are some highlights.
After Amsterdam, I traveled to Berlin to meet up with Nancy (not her real name, of course), a friend since high school and we met once before in Milan when we both studied abroad. It was comforting to meet up with someone I knew and to slow down to shoot the breeze about the different paths we've taken in our lives. I didn't pay much attention to sightseeing Berlin, but was absolutely immersed in listening to how Nancy basically just left the States and moved to Berlin on a whim. I was immensely happy to hear that she was happier living in Berlin than miring in the totalitarian control of her parents. As this trip was the first time I've ever really been alone on my own in the world, her story gave me assurance that I would be alright.
In Frankfurt and Munich, I got drunk for the time few times ever. A liter of beer did me in. So did 750mL of beer, a ridiculously strong mojito, and apfelwein (apple wine). What can I say, I'm a lightweight. I hung out with more Asians than I ever have before. I told the waitress at the beer hall that I thought she was cute. Must have been buzzed off of my rocker. I definitely had a hangover and it was like having Snookie and Lady Gaga on PMS in my head. Painful. I'm not even a fun drunk. Just a sleepy one. No fun.
Switzerland, oh how beautiful you were with rivers running through your cities and mountains towering in the background. Gorgeous and serene. Basel, Zurich, Luzern, and Lenzburg. What I would do to live in any of those cities. I stayed with an absolutely wonderful Swiss family. And, Swiss girls did not disappoint (sorry, I'm a guy). Schon indeed. I climbed up to Burgenstock even though I have an incurable fear of heights. I swam in a lake even though I have an terrifying fear of depths. The adrenaline rush got me through those moments for sure.
After I got back from Europe, I visited my grandaunt in Pittsburgh. I hadn't seen her in years...so long ago I don't even when was the last time. I spent an afternoon with her chatting about what was going with our lives. How she misses her husband who passed away 7 years ago. How I gallivanted about through Europe. I didn't get to know much about her until this time. What a strong, sturdy woman she is. I can't believe it took this long for me to get to know her.
One of the most exciting moments was when I went sailing. It was my first time sailing on a boat larger than a 420. I learned a bit about navigation and got a taste of steering and skippering. Like sailing 420s and FJs, controlling the jib line and being crew were my comfort areas. It was the first time I spent a night on the water feeling the gentle rocking on the waves. I spent time on the boat staring out into the horizon and water yonder with my legs stretched out and feeling the puffs of breeze passing by.
To cap off the end of summer, I spent time with Meredith (not her real name, of course), who has been a friend since high school. The same gal to whom I clumsily confessed my affections over the interwebs via instant messenger. Don't ever do this, kids. This summer was the first time we've ever really gotten to know one another. It was a bit surreal because all this time, I've felt and still feel that I was just a dork who helped out a cute girl in Chemistry. And, that was extent of the friendship. We had hung out one night before I left for Europe and I totally enjoyed wandering around the city at night and talking aimlessly for hours with her. Since she made me owe her dinner after the first time, which I definitely did not mind, we arranged to meet up when I got back. So, we did. Twice. Both times I really really enjoyed the conversations and banter. Having meaningful conversations was something that was lacking for me and to sit back and simply talk for hours was calming, peaceful, and fun. It was such a stark contrast to the hustle and stress of med school that at times I felt I was doing something new, foreign. Living in this cave in med school has apparently made me socially detached. Look at what med school has made me become. The horrors.
Oh, and I built a bookshelf for me mum! Happy face indeed.
You may say that the things I did could have been minor or insignificant or even normal. But, in med school and the undergrad premed years, I didn't get to enjoy these things. I was either too shy or too busy to take care of myself and my happiness. From this summer, I started to grasp the idea that this life was mine. What am I waiting for? I should take risks, be a fool, feel a lot, fall down, get back up, do it again. At least I wouldn't be wasting a minute stagnant when I could be taking a step toward possible happiness...or a hilarious misunderstanding. I know better of what makes me happy or happier. Good conversations and good company. You know, live and love and share. A minute I wasted being unhappy was a minute I could have been happy.
Question
Tell me a story about your summer. You'll get a cookie if you sneak in a Flight of the Conchords reference.
Well, hello, my friends. You may have wondered if I have been kidnapped abroad or simply neglected you. Neither, actually. Rather, I made a conscious decision to spend essentially my last summer as best as I could. And, that I did. That I did. Here are some highlights.
After Amsterdam, I traveled to Berlin to meet up with Nancy (not her real name, of course), a friend since high school and we met once before in Milan when we both studied abroad. It was comforting to meet up with someone I knew and to slow down to shoot the breeze about the different paths we've taken in our lives. I didn't pay much attention to sightseeing Berlin, but was absolutely immersed in listening to how Nancy basically just left the States and moved to Berlin on a whim. I was immensely happy to hear that she was happier living in Berlin than miring in the totalitarian control of her parents. As this trip was the first time I've ever really been alone on my own in the world, her story gave me assurance that I would be alright.
In Frankfurt and Munich, I got drunk for the time few times ever. A liter of beer did me in. So did 750mL of beer, a ridiculously strong mojito, and apfelwein (apple wine). What can I say, I'm a lightweight. I hung out with more Asians than I ever have before. I told the waitress at the beer hall that I thought she was cute. Must have been buzzed off of my rocker. I definitely had a hangover and it was like having Snookie and Lady Gaga on PMS in my head. Painful. I'm not even a fun drunk. Just a sleepy one. No fun.
Switzerland, oh how beautiful you were with rivers running through your cities and mountains towering in the background. Gorgeous and serene. Basel, Zurich, Luzern, and Lenzburg. What I would do to live in any of those cities. I stayed with an absolutely wonderful Swiss family. And, Swiss girls did not disappoint (sorry, I'm a guy). Schon indeed. I climbed up to Burgenstock even though I have an incurable fear of heights. I swam in a lake even though I have an terrifying fear of depths. The adrenaline rush got me through those moments for sure.
After I got back from Europe, I visited my grandaunt in Pittsburgh. I hadn't seen her in years...so long ago I don't even when was the last time. I spent an afternoon with her chatting about what was going with our lives. How she misses her husband who passed away 7 years ago. How I gallivanted about through Europe. I didn't get to know much about her until this time. What a strong, sturdy woman she is. I can't believe it took this long for me to get to know her.
One of the most exciting moments was when I went sailing. It was my first time sailing on a boat larger than a 420. I learned a bit about navigation and got a taste of steering and skippering. Like sailing 420s and FJs, controlling the jib line and being crew were my comfort areas. It was the first time I spent a night on the water feeling the gentle rocking on the waves. I spent time on the boat staring out into the horizon and water yonder with my legs stretched out and feeling the puffs of breeze passing by.
To cap off the end of summer, I spent time with Meredith (not her real name, of course), who has been a friend since high school. The same gal to whom I clumsily confessed my affections over the interwebs via instant messenger. Don't ever do this, kids. This summer was the first time we've ever really gotten to know one another. It was a bit surreal because all this time, I've felt and still feel that I was just a dork who helped out a cute girl in Chemistry. And, that was extent of the friendship. We had hung out one night before I left for Europe and I totally enjoyed wandering around the city at night and talking aimlessly for hours with her. Since she made me owe her dinner after the first time, which I definitely did not mind, we arranged to meet up when I got back. So, we did. Twice. Both times I really really enjoyed the conversations and banter. Having meaningful conversations was something that was lacking for me and to sit back and simply talk for hours was calming, peaceful, and fun. It was such a stark contrast to the hustle and stress of med school that at times I felt I was doing something new, foreign. Living in this cave in med school has apparently made me socially detached. Look at what med school has made me become. The horrors.
Oh, and I built a bookshelf for me mum! Happy face indeed.
You may say that the things I did could have been minor or insignificant or even normal. But, in med school and the undergrad premed years, I didn't get to enjoy these things. I was either too shy or too busy to take care of myself and my happiness. From this summer, I started to grasp the idea that this life was mine. What am I waiting for? I should take risks, be a fool, feel a lot, fall down, get back up, do it again. At least I wouldn't be wasting a minute stagnant when I could be taking a step toward possible happiness...or a hilarious misunderstanding. I know better of what makes me happy or happier. Good conversations and good company. You know, live and love and share. A minute I wasted being unhappy was a minute I could have been happy.
Question
Tell me a story about your summer. You'll get a cookie if you sneak in a Flight of the Conchords reference.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
#14: Amsterdam
Scene
The unfortunate circumstance of Amsterdam is that a lot of folks think that the city is a one-trick pony...well, two-trick pony: prostitution and weed. It's impossible to deny that is true. Amsterdam has legal prostitutes and legal weed. "Cafes" are many and near in between and there's definitely no shortage of coital entertainment. The upside is obvious...duh. But, the downside is that a lot of people tend to miss other beauties and offers of Amsterdam or even skip the fabulous city altogether because of the mispreconception (yes, I made that word up) of rampant blazed hooligans and strippers galore burning innocent eyes everywhere you turn. That I dare say is a travesty.
My absolute favorite place in Amsterdam was Museumplein. There I sat by the pond and dipped my feet in the calming water. It was a welcoming slowdown from all the walking of London and Paris. Also, there I found the infamous "I Amsterdam." If you don't know what it is, Google, my friend. The park was just absolutely relaxing and chill. The Dutch really know how to just unwind and sit back at the end of the day. Not the snobby sit back and do nothing French. Rather, picnics, pick up football games, bike riding, beer drinking in the pool . They have fun together, and it's this jovial bonding that makes the Dutch so so so so likeable.
However, there's a drawback to Amsterdam for me. No matter how hard I tried or what I did, I always got lost in the city. The streets aren't laid out straight, but instead flow in concentric circles. Thus, it was extremely difficult to know if I was walking in a straight line or if the street has curved in a different direction.
Wandering through the Red Light District was...interesting. The area was too...cliche and over the top. Yeah, we all know about the prostitution, but to make it that tacky takes away the charm and beauty of the area, the city, and the culture. The asking prices were fair, unlike a particular someone who demands $1.5 million ;0P
I'll honestly say that I did not enjoy the resources of Amsterdam. I wasn't blazed and no lap dances. Sad face, I know. I felt that I couldn't dignify myself to enjoy the wonderful like that. There was so much more to Amsterdam. The Dutch folks were fun and friendly, albeit a little nuts and probably drunk. The architecture and winding canals were gorgeous and surreal. It was like hopping from one island to the next.
I Amsterdamed! Going way yonder east to Berlin!
Question
What's the most charming city you've been to?
The unfortunate circumstance of Amsterdam is that a lot of folks think that the city is a one-trick pony...well, two-trick pony: prostitution and weed. It's impossible to deny that is true. Amsterdam has legal prostitutes and legal weed. "Cafes" are many and near in between and there's definitely no shortage of coital entertainment. The upside is obvious...duh. But, the downside is that a lot of people tend to miss other beauties and offers of Amsterdam or even skip the fabulous city altogether because of the mispreconception (yes, I made that word up) of rampant blazed hooligans and strippers galore burning innocent eyes everywhere you turn. That I dare say is a travesty.
My absolute favorite place in Amsterdam was Museumplein. There I sat by the pond and dipped my feet in the calming water. It was a welcoming slowdown from all the walking of London and Paris. Also, there I found the infamous "I Amsterdam." If you don't know what it is, Google, my friend. The park was just absolutely relaxing and chill. The Dutch really know how to just unwind and sit back at the end of the day. Not the snobby sit back and do nothing French. Rather, picnics, pick up football games, bike riding, beer drinking in the pool . They have fun together, and it's this jovial bonding that makes the Dutch so so so so likeable.
However, there's a drawback to Amsterdam for me. No matter how hard I tried or what I did, I always got lost in the city. The streets aren't laid out straight, but instead flow in concentric circles. Thus, it was extremely difficult to know if I was walking in a straight line or if the street has curved in a different direction.
Wandering through the Red Light District was...interesting. The area was too...cliche and over the top. Yeah, we all know about the prostitution, but to make it that tacky takes away the charm and beauty of the area, the city, and the culture. The asking prices were fair, unlike a particular someone who demands $1.5 million ;0P
I'll honestly say that I did not enjoy the resources of Amsterdam. I wasn't blazed and no lap dances. Sad face, I know. I felt that I couldn't dignify myself to enjoy the wonderful like that. There was so much more to Amsterdam. The Dutch folks were fun and friendly, albeit a little nuts and probably drunk. The architecture and winding canals were gorgeous and surreal. It was like hopping from one island to the next.
I Amsterdamed! Going way yonder east to Berlin!
Question
What's the most charming city you've been to?
Monday, July 4, 2011
#13: Paris
Scene
The City of Lights. The epitome of fashion and high class sophisticated European life. After several days relaxing in suburbia of Angers, Paris kind of smacked me in the face. Bam! There were people literally everywhere, but most were doing absolutely nothing. Well, that's wrong. They sat outside a cafe, drank coffee or wine or beer, and smoked and smoked and smoked. It was truly a stark contrast from my preconception of the lofty Parisian life. I guess doing nothing is tres chic.
Despite my not liking the Parisian way of doing nothing, the happiest thing I did out and about in the city was sitting on a lawn chair in Jardin du Luxembourg in front of the Palais du Luxembourg and taking a 2 hour snooze and people watching. I felt like a lazy lump of unproductiveness, but I deserved that for myself.
Like London, Paris was huge...mainly because I arrogantly decided that my feet were better than public transportation. Within a day or 2, I realized that I was completely out of shape to put my money where my mouth was. Because of my stubborn decision to walk everywhere, I admit that I didn't see all of Paris. But, you can't really. I wish I had seen the Catacombs, but why wasn't it open on a Monday?! I guess that's the French way of being tres chic in doing nothing.
Again, like Angers, the best part of staying in Paris was catching with a friend's family that I consider pretty much family to me. I haven't seen them in over half a year. They were like my 3rd family. And, they're just plain awesome with the bestest dog ever. I'm not a dog person at all, but I would jump immediately at the opportunity to have that dog.
I also visited another cousin who lives on the outskirt suburbs of Paris. Like the other cousin, I haven't seen her in years. (I have a lot, a lot of cousins). We just spent the entire day talking about life, family, and catching up. I really enjoy kicking back and slowing things down outside of school and work. To shoot the breeze and get to know my cousin like that for a whole day was fawesome.
All in all, Paris was just too...lofty(?) for me. Just wasn't my crowd. Parisian folks were just too Parisian and too...easy going, not doing much. Too tres chic with fancy shmancy fashion and tight jeans and sports coats that fit. In my eyes, the city just seemed to uppity and full of itself. And basically every big thing in Paris was a tourist attraction. Hordes of Americans, Italians, and Japanese everyfreakingwhere. As a solo traveler, it was oftentimes frustrating to navigate through swarms after swarms of upward gazers with protruding fannypacks, dangling Nikon cameras from their necks, and ingenious ideas of taking photos at the end or beginning of crosswalks. I get a lot of that when I go through NYC, but there are plenty of locals to outnumber the tourists. Paris was just too much.
Amsterdam next! Hookers and blow!
Question
Which city don't you like so much? Why?
The City of Lights. The epitome of fashion and high class sophisticated European life. After several days relaxing in suburbia of Angers, Paris kind of smacked me in the face. Bam! There were people literally everywhere, but most were doing absolutely nothing. Well, that's wrong. They sat outside a cafe, drank coffee or wine or beer, and smoked and smoked and smoked. It was truly a stark contrast from my preconception of the lofty Parisian life. I guess doing nothing is tres chic.
Despite my not liking the Parisian way of doing nothing, the happiest thing I did out and about in the city was sitting on a lawn chair in Jardin du Luxembourg in front of the Palais du Luxembourg and taking a 2 hour snooze and people watching. I felt like a lazy lump of unproductiveness, but I deserved that for myself.
Like London, Paris was huge...mainly because I arrogantly decided that my feet were better than public transportation. Within a day or 2, I realized that I was completely out of shape to put my money where my mouth was. Because of my stubborn decision to walk everywhere, I admit that I didn't see all of Paris. But, you can't really. I wish I had seen the Catacombs, but why wasn't it open on a Monday?! I guess that's the French way of being tres chic in doing nothing.
Again, like Angers, the best part of staying in Paris was catching with a friend's family that I consider pretty much family to me. I haven't seen them in over half a year. They were like my 3rd family. And, they're just plain awesome with the bestest dog ever. I'm not a dog person at all, but I would jump immediately at the opportunity to have that dog.
I also visited another cousin who lives on the outskirt suburbs of Paris. Like the other cousin, I haven't seen her in years. (I have a lot, a lot of cousins). We just spent the entire day talking about life, family, and catching up. I really enjoy kicking back and slowing things down outside of school and work. To shoot the breeze and get to know my cousin like that for a whole day was fawesome.
All in all, Paris was just too...lofty(?) for me. Just wasn't my crowd. Parisian folks were just too Parisian and too...easy going, not doing much. Too tres chic with fancy shmancy fashion and tight jeans and sports coats that fit. In my eyes, the city just seemed to uppity and full of itself. And basically every big thing in Paris was a tourist attraction. Hordes of Americans, Italians, and Japanese everyfreakingwhere. As a solo traveler, it was oftentimes frustrating to navigate through swarms after swarms of upward gazers with protruding fannypacks, dangling Nikon cameras from their necks, and ingenious ideas of taking photos at the end or beginning of crosswalks. I get a lot of that when I go through NYC, but there are plenty of locals to outnumber the tourists. Paris was just too much.
Amsterdam next! Hookers and blow!
Question
Which city don't you like so much? Why?
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
#12: Angers
Scene
It's Angers, France...not a lot of anger angers. After a 6 hour train trip from London to Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare du Montparnasse to Le Mans to Angers, it's safe to say that I arrived at Angers quite exhausted. However, my cousin to the rescue! I haven't seen her in about 17 years. She welcomed me with a thorough walk through Angers...as I had a ~30-40lbs backpack still strapped on. After a half hour walk, we got picked up by her husband. How wonderful it was to let go of the backpack!
In no time, like every other Vietnamese hosts, her husband and she stuffed me with french food: bread, cured meat, pate, and cheese. Like, stuffed me. Plus a bowl of good ole Vietnamese pho. Man, it was refreshing to slow down a bit after a mad dash through London that left my feet aching in satisfying pain. They continued to feed and feed and feed me the next two days. Different kinds of french cheese including Roquefort, pate including one made from pig's head meat, and canard au confit. It was literally a crash course through rustic french food. It was a culinary pleasure.
And did I mention the wines? Had my first Bordeaux and a semi-sweet Coteaux du Layon. The supermarket wine aisle beats the corner wine store in the States. Better and more variety with tremendously better prices. There were some wines that were cheaper than bottled water. I could have just been drunk on wine the whole time. But, I behaved.
All in all, there isn't much in Angers, just a huge old castle in the smack middle of downtown. The castle had a ridiculously amusing ancient tapestry of the Apocalypse that included the portrayal of a prostitute and Saint Jean eating a book. Important matters to cover in the Apocalypse. You never know when you just have to resort to eating books.
The most important reason why I came to Angers was to visit my cousin. She took care of me when I was young back in 'Nam. She embarrassed me with a lot of stories when I was young. Apparently, I had spiky short hair that never stayed down. It was just great to see how despite a 17 year gap, we still bonded so tight being family. It was just good on this long trip to meet someone who knew me. Although it was liberating and free to meander around new places basically as a stranger, I really could have used a companion to just talk and slow down a bit.
What struck me the most was how much more revered I was because she knew I got into med school. It was "being a doctor is important," "being a doctor is special in the family," "you're the first doctor we'll have." It was a big deal to her...and to the whole family, apparently. A good number of family members have tried to study medicine back in the days in 'Nam, but didn't succeed because of one reason or another. I really didn't know that becoming a doctor was that important to the family. It's not like I need more pressure...sometimes I just wish my family would treat me as an ordinary, regular person. No doctor this, med school that, or med student anything. I don't like it when I'm reminded being in med school, especially when I'm on break.
To my sister: that chateau is my house!
Paris next!
Oh, I got my first ever pair of jeans about a month ago. It's growing on me despite never owning one. But, the pockets are pretty much useless.
Question
Who helps you slow down when your life is going way too fast?
It's Angers, France...not a lot of anger angers. After a 6 hour train trip from London to Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare du Montparnasse to Le Mans to Angers, it's safe to say that I arrived at Angers quite exhausted. However, my cousin to the rescue! I haven't seen her in about 17 years. She welcomed me with a thorough walk through Angers...as I had a ~30-40lbs backpack still strapped on. After a half hour walk, we got picked up by her husband. How wonderful it was to let go of the backpack!
In no time, like every other Vietnamese hosts, her husband and she stuffed me with french food: bread, cured meat, pate, and cheese. Like, stuffed me. Plus a bowl of good ole Vietnamese pho. Man, it was refreshing to slow down a bit after a mad dash through London that left my feet aching in satisfying pain. They continued to feed and feed and feed me the next two days. Different kinds of french cheese including Roquefort, pate including one made from pig's head meat, and canard au confit. It was literally a crash course through rustic french food. It was a culinary pleasure.
And did I mention the wines? Had my first Bordeaux and a semi-sweet Coteaux du Layon. The supermarket wine aisle beats the corner wine store in the States. Better and more variety with tremendously better prices. There were some wines that were cheaper than bottled water. I could have just been drunk on wine the whole time. But, I behaved.
All in all, there isn't much in Angers, just a huge old castle in the smack middle of downtown. The castle had a ridiculously amusing ancient tapestry of the Apocalypse that included the portrayal of a prostitute and Saint Jean eating a book. Important matters to cover in the Apocalypse. You never know when you just have to resort to eating books.
The most important reason why I came to Angers was to visit my cousin. She took care of me when I was young back in 'Nam. She embarrassed me with a lot of stories when I was young. Apparently, I had spiky short hair that never stayed down. It was just great to see how despite a 17 year gap, we still bonded so tight being family. It was just good on this long trip to meet someone who knew me. Although it was liberating and free to meander around new places basically as a stranger, I really could have used a companion to just talk and slow down a bit.
What struck me the most was how much more revered I was because she knew I got into med school. It was "being a doctor is important," "being a doctor is special in the family," "you're the first doctor we'll have." It was a big deal to her...and to the whole family, apparently. A good number of family members have tried to study medicine back in the days in 'Nam, but didn't succeed because of one reason or another. I really didn't know that becoming a doctor was that important to the family. It's not like I need more pressure...sometimes I just wish my family would treat me as an ordinary, regular person. No doctor this, med school that, or med student anything. I don't like it when I'm reminded being in med school, especially when I'm on break.
To my sister: that chateau is my house!
Paris next!
Oh, I got my first ever pair of jeans about a month ago. It's growing on me despite never owning one. But, the pockets are pretty much useless.
Question
Who helps you slow down when your life is going way too fast?
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
#11: London
Scene
Ever since undergrad started, I've always wanted to backpack through Europe (or originally the Scottish Highlands) after graduation. However, with the uncertainty of acceptance into med school, I didn't have a free summer to just travel, but rather I had to find activities to improve my appeal to med schools for the next application cycle.
So here I am as I just finished MS1. I decided to spend some me time. No research this summer. I've done that for too many summers and years in undergrad. I needed to refresh my mind, take time and distance away from med school, chillax, and recharge for, basically, the next 3 years. Like I said, I didn't have this opportunity before to refresh before med school started, so there's no better time than now.
I'm just some wandering backpacker through Europe conspicuously lost among the ranks of locals. I'm not obnoxiously getting in people's way with a family or in a tour group with a queue of other tourists with fanny packs behind me. Just me somewhere in the crowds, but with a huge noticeable backpack. I really should have dressed up like Waldo. Someone better get on that idea ASAP. Anywho, a bit sidetracked, that's how I like it: "Yeah, you're a tourist, but you've got a backpack and you're alone. We respect that. Props to you." At least that's how I'd like to think of it.
Casey was supposed to go with me, but she had other plans and concerns to take care of before moving away and heading off herself to med school. Sad she couldn't come. She wanted to see London and from what I've experienced, she would have loved the city.
Let's see where to start...I must say I love the ticket counter agent who gave me an exit row seat for the first connecting flight and a bulkhead seat for the transatlantic flight. Talk about leg room galore and I made sure to take full advantage of it flying across the Pond. I must, however, say that service from the flight attendants were...piss poor. Grumpy or some unnecessary displacement of stress.
Anyhow, I arrived in Heathrow on 4 hours of sleep the night before and ~3 hours on the plane on and off. First thing I learned that "a line" is "a queue." Apparently, the border patrol officer knew the hostel where I would be staying. The most striking initial observation was that everything was on the left side. I knew that driving would be on the left, but walking also? After a few hordes of people plowed into me...message taken.
Surprisingly, the Tube, the actual carriage itself was pretty small. Much narrower than the metro or subway cars in the states. I mean, British people who use the Tube were quite fit unlike us Americans. And my, my, Londoners know how to dress. Suits fit, especially pants. Women wore proper skirts. But, everyone pretty much had impeccably styled hair. Even the students dressed superbly well.
Arriving at the hostel, I was greeted with an extremely cute receptionist. Welcome to freakin' awesome London. She was Italian and my Italian failed to impress, but elicited a few laughs. One brownie point for me. Back on track here, I went for a stroll, a long stroll through Hyde Park on this brisk afternoon. Wearing shorts, you could pick me out from everyone else. Seriously, everyone wore pants, or rather, trousers. Pants are underwear. Kensington Palace and garden were magnificent and gorgeous. Hyde Park was a proper park with clear open spaces, ponds, and wide paths. Very well kept compared to American standards.
After getting disoriented in Hyde Park, I ended up meandering about through Kensington High Street, Notting Hill, and nearby communities. Quintessential London townhomes with each door painted a different color. Just like in Notting Hill, but how I wish I was an American boy standing in front of a British girl asking her to love me. Tis a pity that didn't happen.
Returning back to the hostel, I met and got to know the only Brit I could find. Ben was a fine chap from Birmingham visiting London for the first time. We went for some fish and chips at a local pub sharing a pint of Stella and Guinness. A proper pub. No dance floor, no blaring music, no shouting across the table, no completely smashed hooligans. Just proper booths with proper conversations. Most importantly, a proper pour of Guinness with just the right amount of head unlike the thin crappy layer back in the States. That was a good pint.
The second day in London was a tour de force. British Museum, St. Paul's, Fleet Street, Globe Theater, Tate Modern, London Bridge, Tower Bridge, London Eye, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Downing Street, Trafalgar Square, National Gallery, Leceister Square, Picadilly Circus, Covent Garden, and Harrod's. These were all proper visits, as in I just didn't walk by or stopped by. I walked around, went inside, perused about, and actually stopped to take in the surroundings.
Best site: the Globe Theater. Hands down. It's a bit off the beaten path, but it's breathtaking and engaging. The tour guide was a slicked hair deadpan sarcastic bloke. Well worth every pence...and no, he wasn't a prostitute. Really wish I could have seen a play in the outdoors at the Globe. That would have made me even more chuffed. Can't have the cake and eat it too I suppose.
That evening, Ben, Reana(?) (another hostel roommate), and I went to grab some Indian food for supper. My first ever exposure to Indian restaurant food. Lamb tikka masala. I was extremely adventurous. Left quite a good first impression and I'll definitely seek out Indian food in the near distant future.
Gorgeous city. Of all the urban cities I've visited London is up there with Montreal as an urban city I wouldn't mind living in. I'm not a city person, so that speaks volumes. Most of all, the ladies.
Random observations:
English girls...oh dear lord, they're just downright good looking, from their attire to physique. Not sure if I had an adequate sample size, but I don't care. Ok, fine, I'll stop. Maybe not. Emma Watson. That's it.
I almost got run over by a cabbie...because I can't seem to look in the right direction since the Brits drive on the wrong side. It was really a matter of inches. No lie.
Everything is on the left side. People walk, drive, and ride their bikes on the left. If you walk on the right side, you're not from around here.
Hyde Park is ridiculously huge. Huge. But, extremely calm and peaceful.
With the hostel situated in South Kensington: 20 Porsches, 15 Aston Martins, 10 Ferraris, 5 Bentleys, and 2 Rolls-Royce later, it was basically a Top Gear show.
I've found more foreigners in London than actual British folks. Americans were everywhere. Literally, everyfreakinwhere. Americans got in my way more. So frustrating when they're quite oversized.
If you think you live the high live and flashing the dough in the States when you go shopping, then go shop (or rather, browse) at Harrod's. That'll shut you up and put your money where your mouth is. If you think your local shopping mall has high standards, you haven't seen real class until you go to Harrod's. Seriously, a barber and gentleman's lounge? Proper.
That's what London is: Proper. Minus the Americans.
Question
What's your favorite European city? Why?
Ever since undergrad started, I've always wanted to backpack through Europe (or originally the Scottish Highlands) after graduation. However, with the uncertainty of acceptance into med school, I didn't have a free summer to just travel, but rather I had to find activities to improve my appeal to med schools for the next application cycle.
So here I am as I just finished MS1. I decided to spend some me time. No research this summer. I've done that for too many summers and years in undergrad. I needed to refresh my mind, take time and distance away from med school, chillax, and recharge for, basically, the next 3 years. Like I said, I didn't have this opportunity before to refresh before med school started, so there's no better time than now.
I'm just some wandering backpacker through Europe conspicuously lost among the ranks of locals. I'm not obnoxiously getting in people's way with a family or in a tour group with a queue of other tourists with fanny packs behind me. Just me somewhere in the crowds, but with a huge noticeable backpack. I really should have dressed up like Waldo. Someone better get on that idea ASAP. Anywho, a bit sidetracked, that's how I like it: "Yeah, you're a tourist, but you've got a backpack and you're alone. We respect that. Props to you." At least that's how I'd like to think of it.
Casey was supposed to go with me, but she had other plans and concerns to take care of before moving away and heading off herself to med school. Sad she couldn't come. She wanted to see London and from what I've experienced, she would have loved the city.
Let's see where to start...I must say I love the ticket counter agent who gave me an exit row seat for the first connecting flight and a bulkhead seat for the transatlantic flight. Talk about leg room galore and I made sure to take full advantage of it flying across the Pond. I must, however, say that service from the flight attendants were...piss poor. Grumpy or some unnecessary displacement of stress.
Anyhow, I arrived in Heathrow on 4 hours of sleep the night before and ~3 hours on the plane on and off. First thing I learned that "a line" is "a queue." Apparently, the border patrol officer knew the hostel where I would be staying. The most striking initial observation was that everything was on the left side. I knew that driving would be on the left, but walking also? After a few hordes of people plowed into me...message taken.
Surprisingly, the Tube, the actual carriage itself was pretty small. Much narrower than the metro or subway cars in the states. I mean, British people who use the Tube were quite fit unlike us Americans. And my, my, Londoners know how to dress. Suits fit, especially pants. Women wore proper skirts. But, everyone pretty much had impeccably styled hair. Even the students dressed superbly well.
Arriving at the hostel, I was greeted with an extremely cute receptionist. Welcome to freakin' awesome London. She was Italian and my Italian failed to impress, but elicited a few laughs. One brownie point for me. Back on track here, I went for a stroll, a long stroll through Hyde Park on this brisk afternoon. Wearing shorts, you could pick me out from everyone else. Seriously, everyone wore pants, or rather, trousers. Pants are underwear. Kensington Palace and garden were magnificent and gorgeous. Hyde Park was a proper park with clear open spaces, ponds, and wide paths. Very well kept compared to American standards.
After getting disoriented in Hyde Park, I ended up meandering about through Kensington High Street, Notting Hill, and nearby communities. Quintessential London townhomes with each door painted a different color. Just like in Notting Hill, but how I wish I was an American boy standing in front of a British girl asking her to love me. Tis a pity that didn't happen.
Returning back to the hostel, I met and got to know the only Brit I could find. Ben was a fine chap from Birmingham visiting London for the first time. We went for some fish and chips at a local pub sharing a pint of Stella and Guinness. A proper pub. No dance floor, no blaring music, no shouting across the table, no completely smashed hooligans. Just proper booths with proper conversations. Most importantly, a proper pour of Guinness with just the right amount of head unlike the thin crappy layer back in the States. That was a good pint.
The second day in London was a tour de force. British Museum, St. Paul's, Fleet Street, Globe Theater, Tate Modern, London Bridge, Tower Bridge, London Eye, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Downing Street, Trafalgar Square, National Gallery, Leceister Square, Picadilly Circus, Covent Garden, and Harrod's. These were all proper visits, as in I just didn't walk by or stopped by. I walked around, went inside, perused about, and actually stopped to take in the surroundings.
Best site: the Globe Theater. Hands down. It's a bit off the beaten path, but it's breathtaking and engaging. The tour guide was a slicked hair deadpan sarcastic bloke. Well worth every pence...and no, he wasn't a prostitute. Really wish I could have seen a play in the outdoors at the Globe. That would have made me even more chuffed. Can't have the cake and eat it too I suppose.
That evening, Ben, Reana(?) (another hostel roommate), and I went to grab some Indian food for supper. My first ever exposure to Indian restaurant food. Lamb tikka masala. I was extremely adventurous. Left quite a good first impression and I'll definitely seek out Indian food in the near distant future.
Gorgeous city. Of all the urban cities I've visited London is up there with Montreal as an urban city I wouldn't mind living in. I'm not a city person, so that speaks volumes. Most of all, the ladies.
Random observations:
English girls...oh dear lord, they're just downright good looking, from their attire to physique. Not sure if I had an adequate sample size, but I don't care. Ok, fine, I'll stop. Maybe not. Emma Watson. That's it.
I almost got run over by a cabbie...because I can't seem to look in the right direction since the Brits drive on the wrong side. It was really a matter of inches. No lie.
Everything is on the left side. People walk, drive, and ride their bikes on the left. If you walk on the right side, you're not from around here.
Hyde Park is ridiculously huge. Huge. But, extremely calm and peaceful.
With the hostel situated in South Kensington: 20 Porsches, 15 Aston Martins, 10 Ferraris, 5 Bentleys, and 2 Rolls-Royce later, it was basically a Top Gear show.
I've found more foreigners in London than actual British folks. Americans were everywhere. Literally, everyfreakinwhere. Americans got in my way more. So frustrating when they're quite oversized.
If you think you live the high live and flashing the dough in the States when you go shopping, then go shop (or rather, browse) at Harrod's. That'll shut you up and put your money where your mouth is. If you think your local shopping mall has high standards, you haven't seen real class until you go to Harrod's. Seriously, a barber and gentleman's lounge? Proper.
That's what London is: Proper. Minus the Americans.
Question
What's your favorite European city? Why?
Sunday, June 19, 2011
#10: Looking Back on 1st Year
Scene
No question this time. I ask that you just hear me out. This is my year in review, not anyone else's, so don't judge med school based on my experience. Forewarning, the first part is a bit gloomy, but it gets better. Trust me.
Let's start off way back before med school. A lot, I mean, a lot of people told me med school was rough, but how rough would be determined by what you make of it. No doubt the work load would be difficult, more often than not. No doubt the emotional and stress toll would be difficult. In that personal statement for the application, you had to, basically, write about why you want to pursue a career as a physician in medicine. You wrote about how medicine excites your curiosity, how it has an emotional impact on you, how rewarding it is, how there's nothing else you would rather do, how it's a lifelong dedication. In med school, you better put your money where your mouth is. I wrote all that. Guess what? I got all my wishes...and more.
When you boil it down, the beast really is not the school or the education, but rather yourself. How far are you willing to push yourself? How dedicated are you? How determined are you? How much stress can you handle? How do you handle stress? How do you handle success and failure? How do you handle your classmates? Your family? Your friends? Your significant other? All of this on top of the meducation.
Here's a wise food for thought question in med school: "Do you like pancakes?" (http://rumorsweretrue.wordpress.com/2006/11/01/pancakes-every-morning/ and made into a Youtube video by students at Saint Louis University SOM). Well, I've learned that it doesn't matter if you do or you don't, you just have to eat them. But, the way I see it, pancakes are just more than the loads of mechanisms, pathways, disorders, treatments, and material med school serves. That's just the meducation part. What a lot of people who are not going or have not gone through the meducation don't understand is that studying and training doesn't really stop. Not at this point in the first 2 years. Lectures every day in the morning/afternoon. Studying in the evening/night. Here's the catch: studying on the weekends, on the holidays.
In reality, pancakes encompass all the other stuff that never really did cross my mind when I dreamed of getting into med school. Did I imagine the stress and pressure of med school would have affected me that much that I essentially shoved other life problems away so that I wouldn't have more problems to deal with? No. That was the hardest part as problems compounded and I just didn't want to deal with them.
Don't get me wrong. Med school so far has also been awesome. Fawesome. It's pretty much a love-hate relationship. I absolutely love what I'm learning and the clinical practice. The best moments were with patients. Interviewing them, learning from them, and applying words from books into real life actions. It's an awakening each time I see a disorder, a disease, an illness described in books and lecture notes. Sure, there are pictures, but nothing compares to the sight, the feel, the smell, and the emotions of witnessing medical conditions in the flesh. It was extremely rewarding to interact with patients in the first year. Last but definitely not least, I'm actually learning about stuff about which I want to learn and have dreamed of learning. I now know what is Wernicke encelopathy. Great success!
It's been a lot of work, a lot of hard work. Never have I worked so hard to be this mediocre. I find that relying on cramming and talent doesn't get me as far as they did back in undergrad. I have to work basically everyday even if it's for a little bit.
I've learned the main lesson so far is that med school is what you make of it. I can't get through it alone that's for sure. Although it's my journey, I need support and reality checks every now and then from the people I care most and when least expected, from strangers or people who I haven't really gotten to know. I'm a quarter of the way done, but there's a lot of miles left to travel. It's been rough, awesome, sad, happy, frustrating, relaxing, and anything else oxymoronic. Onward!
For those interested in or heading off to med school, remember when you we're a kid and your parents told you the stove top was hot? But, you couldn't just take their words and had to test it out for yourself. It's hot. Trust me. But, touch it anyway. You just have to. You could read that a million times and after a millionth time, you still wouldn't take my words for it. You shouldn't. That's the beauty of journey through medical education and training. You really don't know what's going to happen. Will you be able to handle the incessant studying? The incessant criticism? The loneliness? The mind games? The self-doubt? The highs of success? The love of others, or more preciously, the love of another? The relief of overcoming a hurdle? The loss of a relationship? The growing distance with close friends? The new bonds made in med school?
I would like to end this post with the absolute best advice I got for med school and a career in medicine from my clinical preceptor, "You need 4 things to get you through:
1) Something to do outside, a hobby, something to get your mind of school and training (and it may change from time to time)
2) Something you're passionate about in medicine
3) Someone to love you
4) Someone to love
I would totally do it again.
PS: Looking back, I really should have deferred acceptance a year to work, travel, and have an actually life/break before med school. Could have really used a year to just live and enjoy freedom.
No question this time. I ask that you just hear me out. This is my year in review, not anyone else's, so don't judge med school based on my experience. Forewarning, the first part is a bit gloomy, but it gets better. Trust me.
Let's start off way back before med school. A lot, I mean, a lot of people told me med school was rough, but how rough would be determined by what you make of it. No doubt the work load would be difficult, more often than not. No doubt the emotional and stress toll would be difficult. In that personal statement for the application, you had to, basically, write about why you want to pursue a career as a physician in medicine. You wrote about how medicine excites your curiosity, how it has an emotional impact on you, how rewarding it is, how there's nothing else you would rather do, how it's a lifelong dedication. In med school, you better put your money where your mouth is. I wrote all that. Guess what? I got all my wishes...and more.
When you boil it down, the beast really is not the school or the education, but rather yourself. How far are you willing to push yourself? How dedicated are you? How determined are you? How much stress can you handle? How do you handle stress? How do you handle success and failure? How do you handle your classmates? Your family? Your friends? Your significant other? All of this on top of the meducation.
Here's a wise food for thought question in med school: "Do you like pancakes?" (http://rumorsweretrue.wordpress.com/2006/11/01/pancakes-every-morning/ and made into a Youtube video by students at Saint Louis University SOM). Well, I've learned that it doesn't matter if you do or you don't, you just have to eat them. But, the way I see it, pancakes are just more than the loads of mechanisms, pathways, disorders, treatments, and material med school serves. That's just the meducation part. What a lot of people who are not going or have not gone through the meducation don't understand is that studying and training doesn't really stop. Not at this point in the first 2 years. Lectures every day in the morning/afternoon. Studying in the evening/night. Here's the catch: studying on the weekends, on the holidays.
In reality, pancakes encompass all the other stuff that never really did cross my mind when I dreamed of getting into med school. Did I imagine the stress and pressure of med school would have affected me that much that I essentially shoved other life problems away so that I wouldn't have more problems to deal with? No. That was the hardest part as problems compounded and I just didn't want to deal with them.
Don't get me wrong. Med school so far has also been awesome. Fawesome. It's pretty much a love-hate relationship. I absolutely love what I'm learning and the clinical practice. The best moments were with patients. Interviewing them, learning from them, and applying words from books into real life actions. It's an awakening each time I see a disorder, a disease, an illness described in books and lecture notes. Sure, there are pictures, but nothing compares to the sight, the feel, the smell, and the emotions of witnessing medical conditions in the flesh. It was extremely rewarding to interact with patients in the first year. Last but definitely not least, I'm actually learning about stuff about which I want to learn and have dreamed of learning. I now know what is Wernicke encelopathy. Great success!
It's been a lot of work, a lot of hard work. Never have I worked so hard to be this mediocre. I find that relying on cramming and talent doesn't get me as far as they did back in undergrad. I have to work basically everyday even if it's for a little bit.
I've learned the main lesson so far is that med school is what you make of it. I can't get through it alone that's for sure. Although it's my journey, I need support and reality checks every now and then from the people I care most and when least expected, from strangers or people who I haven't really gotten to know. I'm a quarter of the way done, but there's a lot of miles left to travel. It's been rough, awesome, sad, happy, frustrating, relaxing, and anything else oxymoronic. Onward!
For those interested in or heading off to med school, remember when you we're a kid and your parents told you the stove top was hot? But, you couldn't just take their words and had to test it out for yourself. It's hot. Trust me. But, touch it anyway. You just have to. You could read that a million times and after a millionth time, you still wouldn't take my words for it. You shouldn't. That's the beauty of journey through medical education and training. You really don't know what's going to happen. Will you be able to handle the incessant studying? The incessant criticism? The loneliness? The mind games? The self-doubt? The highs of success? The love of others, or more preciously, the love of another? The relief of overcoming a hurdle? The loss of a relationship? The growing distance with close friends? The new bonds made in med school?
I would like to end this post with the absolute best advice I got for med school and a career in medicine from my clinical preceptor, "You need 4 things to get you through:
1) Something to do outside, a hobby, something to get your mind of school and training (and it may change from time to time)
2) Something you're passionate about in medicine
3) Someone to love you
4) Someone to love
I would totally do it again.
PS: Looking back, I really should have deferred acceptance a year to work, travel, and have an actually life/break before med school. Could have really used a year to just live and enjoy freedom.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
#9: Homesick
Scene
You know what really sucks about going to school here? There's absolutely no country radio stations. I miss Maryland (yes, a little tid bit about me).
Not sure if anyone really knew this, but I've been pretty much homesick throughout 1st year. There, I admit it. First time I moved away from home, ever. No country music. No real close friends. No Casey. No home cooking. No real places to get away. The culture around where I go to school is different. Let's just say it's more cosmopolitan. Hustle and bustle. You know, "with it." Not really my scene.
Looking back, I should have gone home more often. Not attend class so much and just come home while studying from recorded and scribed lectures. I could have been happier. What people don't really tell you about med school is that you should figure what works best for you. Stick with it regardless of what people say.
To be honest, I'm still not really comfortable going to school here. It's not the school or the meducation. It's just the place. I was really rushed into going to school here. Never really had adequate time to savor the last bits of home before leaving, especially the people back home.
It's just been taking a while to get adjusted to things.
Question
When have you been homesick?
You know what really sucks about going to school here? There's absolutely no country radio stations. I miss Maryland (yes, a little tid bit about me).
Not sure if anyone really knew this, but I've been pretty much homesick throughout 1st year. There, I admit it. First time I moved away from home, ever. No country music. No real close friends. No Casey. No home cooking. No real places to get away. The culture around where I go to school is different. Let's just say it's more cosmopolitan. Hustle and bustle. You know, "with it." Not really my scene.
Looking back, I should have gone home more often. Not attend class so much and just come home while studying from recorded and scribed lectures. I could have been happier. What people don't really tell you about med school is that you should figure what works best for you. Stick with it regardless of what people say.
To be honest, I'm still not really comfortable going to school here. It's not the school or the meducation. It's just the place. I was really rushed into going to school here. Never really had adequate time to savor the last bits of home before leaving, especially the people back home.
It's just been taking a while to get adjusted to things.
Question
When have you been homesick?
Sunday, June 5, 2011
#8: Daydreaming
Scene
Sometimes I wish that life would just be so easy. The things and the people you care about or want to care about just come together like a neat puzzle. All the obstacles, all the worries, all the failures...just poof, gone. Everything is just fine and dandy. After a year of mess, I believe I deserve it. I deserve to just have things work out the way I want them to with minimal effort. Selfish? Yes. Foolish? Yes. Relaxing? Hells yes.
On the flipside, if you care about something or someone, then happiness shouldn't come easily. It would be rather meaningless and less valuable if you didn't make an effort. However, may I and can I have, just for a brief moment (maybe a week or 2), everything go my way as I see it in my mind? Please? Pwetty pwease with a cherry on top? Sure, it's an easy way out, but everyone deserves some good karma every now and then. Nowi-ish would be awesome for me. I would like that very much. Make it happen oh great powers of the universe.
Question
If you could have one thing (or person or whatever) to make you happy, regardless of how improbably the scenario may be, what would it be? Why?
Sometimes I wish that life would just be so easy. The things and the people you care about or want to care about just come together like a neat puzzle. All the obstacles, all the worries, all the failures...just poof, gone. Everything is just fine and dandy. After a year of mess, I believe I deserve it. I deserve to just have things work out the way I want them to with minimal effort. Selfish? Yes. Foolish? Yes. Relaxing? Hells yes.
On the flipside, if you care about something or someone, then happiness shouldn't come easily. It would be rather meaningless and less valuable if you didn't make an effort. However, may I and can I have, just for a brief moment (maybe a week or 2), everything go my way as I see it in my mind? Please? Pwetty pwease with a cherry on top? Sure, it's an easy way out, but everyone deserves some good karma every now and then. Nowi-ish would be awesome for me. I would like that very much. Make it happen oh great powers of the universe.
Question
If you could have one thing (or person or whatever) to make you happy, regardless of how improbably the scenario may be, what would it be? Why?
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
#7: Shenanigans
I have a problem of thinking further ahead than what I'm actually writing, typing, or speaking. I often skip words, mash words together, or switch words. For example, I get a lot of flak for having said "swink trums." If you come across an error, think of it as a mind game challenge. Fill in the blanks, that sort of thing. I'm unintentionally helping you keep your noggin tip top ;0)
I hope you take some time to post a comment answering the question or addressing the post or providing input or whatever (remember, NO "First!"). You don't have to write a whole bunch of stuff. Just a few words would do. I really look forward to reading what you have to say. Also, if you like this blog, please share it with other people. Thanks!
I saw from the blog's stats that, on multiple occasions, I have visitors from Germany. Who are you? I really want to know :0) Hi! Guten tag! Danke for reading my blog (yeah, my expansive knowledge of German ends there).
Scene
A disappointing and often time frustrating part of med school has been the limited time I get to see my close friends. Sure, there are breaks and holiday weekends, but here's the thing: you can go as far away as possible from the school, but it never ends. You can leave the lecture hall at 4PM, but the work load haunts you til you go to bed. It's really a full time job and some more. It really is relentless most of the time. It's not that horrible, but there are only a few rare handful of moments you can completely forget about med school. Unless you're transitioning from one block to the next, there's always the next barrage of exams. Gotta study, gotta study.
I really admire the people who can parse their time very efficiently to maximize both studying and zoning out to chillax. But, I can't really do that. I study when I'm back at home staying with friends or when we're on I-81 to Canada. Yeah, I'm a party pooper. sad face.
Thus, on this ever growing list of ways to improve to be happier, I have written down: Keep better in touch with friends. Although most of the time I abhor texting, it is a way nevertheless. Emails, too. Oy, even Facebook. Smoke signals if I have to.
But, nothing replaces face to face time and random shenanigans. From throwing darts at each other's face to camping through a hurricane to window prom dress shopping to attending a football game in the soaking rain, those are what memories are made of.
Question
What are your plans with friends this year? What do you want to do with friends, but haven't had the time to do so?
I hope you take some time to post a comment answering the question or addressing the post or providing input or whatever (remember, NO "First!"). You don't have to write a whole bunch of stuff. Just a few words would do. I really look forward to reading what you have to say. Also, if you like this blog, please share it with other people. Thanks!
I saw from the blog's stats that, on multiple occasions, I have visitors from Germany. Who are you? I really want to know :0) Hi! Guten tag! Danke for reading my blog (yeah, my expansive knowledge of German ends there).
Scene
A disappointing and often time frustrating part of med school has been the limited time I get to see my close friends. Sure, there are breaks and holiday weekends, but here's the thing: you can go as far away as possible from the school, but it never ends. You can leave the lecture hall at 4PM, but the work load haunts you til you go to bed. It's really a full time job and some more. It really is relentless most of the time. It's not that horrible, but there are only a few rare handful of moments you can completely forget about med school. Unless you're transitioning from one block to the next, there's always the next barrage of exams. Gotta study, gotta study.
I really admire the people who can parse their time very efficiently to maximize both studying and zoning out to chillax. But, I can't really do that. I study when I'm back at home staying with friends or when we're on I-81 to Canada. Yeah, I'm a party pooper. sad face.
Thus, on this ever growing list of ways to improve to be happier, I have written down: Keep better in touch with friends. Although most of the time I abhor texting, it is a way nevertheless. Emails, too. Oy, even Facebook. Smoke signals if I have to.
But, nothing replaces face to face time and random shenanigans. From throwing darts at each other's face to camping through a hurricane to window prom dress shopping to attending a football game in the soaking rain, those are what memories are made of.
Question
What are your plans with friends this year? What do you want to do with friends, but haven't had the time to do so?
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
#6: Patagonia?
Scene
180 Degrees South. Watch it.
I want to see Patagonia before I kick the bucket.
Question
If you were to backpack to somewhere, where would you go? I need ideas.
180 Degrees South. Watch it.
I want to see Patagonia before I kick the bucket.
Question
If you were to backpack to somewhere, where would you go? I need ideas.
Monday, May 30, 2011
#5: Lesson Learned
Scene
Alfred Lord Tennyson once penned:
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.
Thus far in my limited life, I have loved once. And lost. It hurts. Heartache is true. The most agonizing and painful part of this love lost was seeing the distance slowly widening. Casey was a real special gal. I know it's cheesy and cliche and sensationalized, but once I felt "it," I just knew. I'm not trying to exaggerate, but she really had me at the first sight, at the first hello, at the smile, at the first of several 6 hour phone conversations that ended at 4AM. There was never a day that went by that I did not think of Casey and how lucky I was to be with the most wonderful gal.
But as med school loomed, I became preoccupied with the applications, the back up plans, the failures, and eventually med school itself. Somewhere along the way, I lost myself. I really did. Rejections upon rejections. Dreams crushed again and again. Coming into college, I felt I was some big shot with 50 AP credits and believed I could finish undergrad in 2 years and matriculate into med school in 3. That plan was shot. I took a lot of flak from...myself. I incessantly dwelt on "Why can't I get into med school?" I beat myself up and slowly I desensitized myself from happiness only to mire in shortcomings. Instead of taking the negatives and turning them into positives and looking forward to new opportunities, I burdened myself with the grim past and obsessively tried to figure out damage control or spotty patchwork to somehow roll the train into the med school station.
This pitiful behavior slowly penetrated into various areas. I hit a block, a wall of self-pity and apathy brewed by my disappointment of med school applications and subsequently putting way way way way too much pressure and stress on myself to do exceptionally well in med school. I felt that each time I was short of reaching my expectations, I obsessed so much about what I did wrong and why I did wrong. I told myself, "You suck. Stop sucking. Why did you fuck up?" But, I never did anything to fix the underlying problem. Instead I patched the symptoms: maybe try to study earlier, maybe look into more activities...blah blah blah. The main underlying problem was: wallowing in the negatives and not moving on. Overthinking so much about the past that once the future comes, I don't know exactly what to do. I was too weak and down that I didn't take proactive steps to enjoy the future, but rather trying to fix the past.
Instead of proactively listening and inventing new ways to surprise Casey and to show her I loved her, I did things that were good enough. I lived in the past for way too long and routinely did the same things with Casey. I apologized for my shortcomings and mistakes, but focused so much on preventing them that I didn't introduce anything new. Again, damage control, living in the past, and not enjoying the future. I couldn't move on from my mistakes in the relationship although I sincerely apologized each time. I beat myself down way too much because I cared about Casey so much that I played it way too conservatively safe and just solely tried to correct my faults. The jig got old and slowly we drifted apart in the relationship.
Instead, I should have looked forward and tried new things. As I've always told myself, "You only regret the things you didn't do." True enough, that was the case. During the years, I wanted to pick her up after she greeted me at the door, kiss her deeply, and tell her that I love her. I wanted to come up and hold from behind overlooking the sunset horizon at Assateague. Instead of apologizing for not calling her, I wanted to drive home even for just one night, give her surprise hug, and hold her through the night.
I've learned that lesson the hard way, and I lost dearly. I take that lesson to heart and I really enjoy the friendship with Casey.
You mean the world to me.
Question
What was the hardest lesson you've learned from a relationship? Why was it hard for you to learn?
Alfred Lord Tennyson once penned:
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.
Thus far in my limited life, I have loved once. And lost. It hurts. Heartache is true. The most agonizing and painful part of this love lost was seeing the distance slowly widening. Casey was a real special gal. I know it's cheesy and cliche and sensationalized, but once I felt "it," I just knew. I'm not trying to exaggerate, but she really had me at the first sight, at the first hello, at the smile, at the first of several 6 hour phone conversations that ended at 4AM. There was never a day that went by that I did not think of Casey and how lucky I was to be with the most wonderful gal.
But as med school loomed, I became preoccupied with the applications, the back up plans, the failures, and eventually med school itself. Somewhere along the way, I lost myself. I really did. Rejections upon rejections. Dreams crushed again and again. Coming into college, I felt I was some big shot with 50 AP credits and believed I could finish undergrad in 2 years and matriculate into med school in 3. That plan was shot. I took a lot of flak from...myself. I incessantly dwelt on "Why can't I get into med school?" I beat myself up and slowly I desensitized myself from happiness only to mire in shortcomings. Instead of taking the negatives and turning them into positives and looking forward to new opportunities, I burdened myself with the grim past and obsessively tried to figure out damage control or spotty patchwork to somehow roll the train into the med school station.
This pitiful behavior slowly penetrated into various areas. I hit a block, a wall of self-pity and apathy brewed by my disappointment of med school applications and subsequently putting way way way way too much pressure and stress on myself to do exceptionally well in med school. I felt that each time I was short of reaching my expectations, I obsessed so much about what I did wrong and why I did wrong. I told myself, "You suck. Stop sucking. Why did you fuck up?" But, I never did anything to fix the underlying problem. Instead I patched the symptoms: maybe try to study earlier, maybe look into more activities...blah blah blah. The main underlying problem was: wallowing in the negatives and not moving on. Overthinking so much about the past that once the future comes, I don't know exactly what to do. I was too weak and down that I didn't take proactive steps to enjoy the future, but rather trying to fix the past.
Instead of proactively listening and inventing new ways to surprise Casey and to show her I loved her, I did things that were good enough. I lived in the past for way too long and routinely did the same things with Casey. I apologized for my shortcomings and mistakes, but focused so much on preventing them that I didn't introduce anything new. Again, damage control, living in the past, and not enjoying the future. I couldn't move on from my mistakes in the relationship although I sincerely apologized each time. I beat myself down way too much because I cared about Casey so much that I played it way too conservatively safe and just solely tried to correct my faults. The jig got old and slowly we drifted apart in the relationship.
Instead, I should have looked forward and tried new things. As I've always told myself, "You only regret the things you didn't do." True enough, that was the case. During the years, I wanted to pick her up after she greeted me at the door, kiss her deeply, and tell her that I love her. I wanted to come up and hold from behind overlooking the sunset horizon at Assateague. Instead of apologizing for not calling her, I wanted to drive home even for just one night, give her surprise hug, and hold her through the night.
I've learned that lesson the hard way, and I lost dearly. I take that lesson to heart and I really enjoy the friendship with Casey.
You mean the world to me.
Question
What was the hardest lesson you've learned from a relationship? Why was it hard for you to learn?
Sunday, May 29, 2011
#4: It's Sunny!
Scene
I've been following Casey's advice about jotting down various thoughts of ways I can improve to be happier. Although it may be too early to call it a success, but by having a tangible list of notes I can carry wherever I go, I have become a lot more aware of what makes me unhappy and what I can do to resolve problems as they arise. Without a doubt, I've let less problems build up and worry me down throughout the day. So far so good :0)
Last night, I took a shot in the dark and replied back to a friend who I haven't seen or spoken with in a long, long while. Like those oh so young high school days. I had a crush on her back then, which I dismally failed to express eloquently in a dignified manner. If there are any young'uns reading this, please do not confess your affection over electronics (texting, phone, internets). Walk up to your person of interest, strike up a real face to face conversation, and ask him/her out. Trust me on this.
So, although ironically I cowardly used the internets (AIM to be more specific. I know, shameful, but I was a real shy kid around girls), we've been friends throughout these years because of the internets with the advent of Facebook. Messaging back and forth and asking about life and med school application advice. After years, I finally had a light bulb moment and decided, why not? Through various scheduling conflicts, we worked out a meet up day. It's not a date, geez. Just a friendly catch up.
I surprised myself. Item #8 on my list: Think-->Do-->Stop thinking. I used to overthink a lot, which led me to avoid starting to resolve most of my problems. A lot of what ifs. The point is, do those what ifs even matter in the end if you don't actually do anything? No.
Question
When was the last time you just told yourself, "Hey, just do it" and did something that not only surprised you, but also had a surprising result?
I've been following Casey's advice about jotting down various thoughts of ways I can improve to be happier. Although it may be too early to call it a success, but by having a tangible list of notes I can carry wherever I go, I have become a lot more aware of what makes me unhappy and what I can do to resolve problems as they arise. Without a doubt, I've let less problems build up and worry me down throughout the day. So far so good :0)
Last night, I took a shot in the dark and replied back to a friend who I haven't seen or spoken with in a long, long while. Like those oh so young high school days. I had a crush on her back then, which I dismally failed to express eloquently in a dignified manner. If there are any young'uns reading this, please do not confess your affection over electronics (texting, phone, internets). Walk up to your person of interest, strike up a real face to face conversation, and ask him/her out. Trust me on this.
So, although ironically I cowardly used the internets (AIM to be more specific. I know, shameful, but I was a real shy kid around girls), we've been friends throughout these years because of the internets with the advent of Facebook. Messaging back and forth and asking about life and med school application advice. After years, I finally had a light bulb moment and decided, why not? Through various scheduling conflicts, we worked out a meet up day. It's not a date, geez. Just a friendly catch up.
I surprised myself. Item #8 on my list: Think-->Do-->Stop thinking. I used to overthink a lot, which led me to avoid starting to resolve most of my problems. A lot of what ifs. The point is, do those what ifs even matter in the end if you don't actually do anything? No.
Question
When was the last time you just told yourself, "Hey, just do it" and did something that not only surprised you, but also had a surprising result?
Saturday, May 28, 2011
#3: What's wrong with the world today
Scene
"Some advantages particular to this age are not to be denied. Boredom seems to have been vanquished. there is always something to do, but hasn't this translated into a perpetual distraction in our lives? In the bathroom. At the dinner table. In the backseat. At a wedding...There's always something to check, something to tweet, something to download, something to play, something to share, something to buy, something on a voicemail, something to yank at our attention span and it's all in the palm of our hand for a small monthly service fee. " - Tom Hanks at Yale's graduation 2011.
Please just put away your phones and devices. I have a tremendous pet peeve about people texting while I'm hanging out with them. I absolutely don't mind if they need to attend to family matters or emergency work issues. But, I've had people look down or away while I was in the middle of a conversation with them or while I'm actually saying something, only to have to repeat it after they finished reading or replying to the text. The intermittent head bob up and down to check the lit screen is infuriating sometimes. Like, seriously, here I am right in front of you, talking with you and sharing an experience with you, but you would have the inconsideration to look away and have a virtual interaction with someone else? Thanks a lot.
Question
Is having communication, entertainment, and resources all in the palm of your hand worth it? Especially when you're actually hanging out with people you care about?
"Some advantages particular to this age are not to be denied. Boredom seems to have been vanquished. there is always something to do, but hasn't this translated into a perpetual distraction in our lives? In the bathroom. At the dinner table. In the backseat. At a wedding...There's always something to check, something to tweet, something to download, something to play, something to share, something to buy, something on a voicemail, something to yank at our attention span and it's all in the palm of our hand for a small monthly service fee. " - Tom Hanks at Yale's graduation 2011.
Please just put away your phones and devices. I have a tremendous pet peeve about people texting while I'm hanging out with them. I absolutely don't mind if they need to attend to family matters or emergency work issues. But, I've had people look down or away while I was in the middle of a conversation with them or while I'm actually saying something, only to have to repeat it after they finished reading or replying to the text. The intermittent head bob up and down to check the lit screen is infuriating sometimes. Like, seriously, here I am right in front of you, talking with you and sharing an experience with you, but you would have the inconsideration to look away and have a virtual interaction with someone else? Thanks a lot.
Question
Is having communication, entertainment, and resources all in the palm of your hand worth it? Especially when you're actually hanging out with people you care about?
Monday, May 23, 2011
#2: Best Friend
Scene
For a very long while, I've been having a few best friends. The ones with whom you go to shoot the breeze, do reckless shenanigans, and have an unspoken unwavering support. But, it wasn't until about 2 years that I met Casey (not the real name, of course). Through the years, she's become my best friend. Not one of my best friends. Best friend. She has given me some of the fondest memories, the happy ones, the sad ones, the frustrating ones, and the peaceful ones.
She takes it and dishes it. She can read me before I've even finished thinking about myself. The absolute best characteristic about her is that she pushes and challenges me to become a better person although I can be obtusely stubborn and infuriatingly defensive. She's always stand by me even during and after I've blurted out things she never deserved to hear. On the flip side, she's always been at the absolute top of her game when I've help her to be a better person.
This first year in medical school has been one of the most challenging times in my life so far mainly because I need to grow up and learn to face my problems head on instead of sweeping them under the carpet. I really don't know how Casey does it, but she's stuck by me and, like a broken record, pushed me to man up, deal with my problems, be happy, and just live. Casey has always been there with me, through thick and thin.
I'm working hard to become improve my weaknesses and be happier. The emotional stress of med school is rough in addition to the work stress. I feel that I've never worked so hard and expend so much of my talent to be just...mediocre. I'm very tough on myself, sometimes too tough that I often have a one track mind to plow through my weaknesses and studies with unthoughtful brute force. Or, I often just freeze with disappointment and cram my problems into that horrible closet I never want to open.
It hurts when someone points out the root of my problems. There's an overwhelming sense of vulnerability and failure. But, the best friend has the audacity to knock you down to rubble and help you build a new self, a better self. For free. I know I need to resolve my problems with better finesse and I shouldn't ignore my problems anymore thanks to Casey.
Casey has been my main supporter through the first year. I don't think I would have gotten here without her. I'm forever grateful to be this lucky to have Casey as my best friend. Thank you.
Remember, folks, a best friend is free, but losing one costs dearly.
Question
What makes your best friend your best friend?
For a very long while, I've been having a few best friends. The ones with whom you go to shoot the breeze, do reckless shenanigans, and have an unspoken unwavering support. But, it wasn't until about 2 years that I met Casey (not the real name, of course). Through the years, she's become my best friend. Not one of my best friends. Best friend. She has given me some of the fondest memories, the happy ones, the sad ones, the frustrating ones, and the peaceful ones.
She takes it and dishes it. She can read me before I've even finished thinking about myself. The absolute best characteristic about her is that she pushes and challenges me to become a better person although I can be obtusely stubborn and infuriatingly defensive. She's always stand by me even during and after I've blurted out things she never deserved to hear. On the flip side, she's always been at the absolute top of her game when I've help her to be a better person.
This first year in medical school has been one of the most challenging times in my life so far mainly because I need to grow up and learn to face my problems head on instead of sweeping them under the carpet. I really don't know how Casey does it, but she's stuck by me and, like a broken record, pushed me to man up, deal with my problems, be happy, and just live. Casey has always been there with me, through thick and thin.
I'm working hard to become improve my weaknesses and be happier. The emotional stress of med school is rough in addition to the work stress. I feel that I've never worked so hard and expend so much of my talent to be just...mediocre. I'm very tough on myself, sometimes too tough that I often have a one track mind to plow through my weaknesses and studies with unthoughtful brute force. Or, I often just freeze with disappointment and cram my problems into that horrible closet I never want to open.
It hurts when someone points out the root of my problems. There's an overwhelming sense of vulnerability and failure. But, the best friend has the audacity to knock you down to rubble and help you build a new self, a better self. For free. I know I need to resolve my problems with better finesse and I shouldn't ignore my problems anymore thanks to Casey.
Casey has been my main supporter through the first year. I don't think I would have gotten here without her. I'm forever grateful to be this lucky to have Casey as my best friend. Thank you.
Remember, folks, a best friend is free, but losing one costs dearly.
Question
What makes your best friend your best friend?
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
#1: Welcome
Why hello there! Socrates once said, "An unexamined life is not worth living." I am 22. I am young although some days I feel in my joints the rain coming. I am a medical student currently finishing up the 1st year. I have somewhat of a busy "life" consisting of mainly studying, watching Top Gear, and taking long walks on the beach.
This blog used to be about sharing my experiences during med school and reviews about relatively inexpensive diverse wines that fit into a med student's budget. However, having experienced nearly a year in med school, I felt that "life" is kind of passing me by. I'm not talking about missing out on parties and shananigans that 20-something year olds would and could do. I'm talking about putting myself out there to be exposed to and learn from different people and cultures. When you're med student, time is quite limited (trust me, you'll hear more about this later), but I have this wish to travel, meet people, and hear what they have to say.
Thus, my intention with this blog is to describe situations I'm going through, feelings that I feel, and musings that pop into my wandering thoughts as I sit through a lecture about Waardenberg Syndrome (usually autosomal dominant, but some types are autosomal recessive). I don't want to feel confined to my dark dungeon wallowing in the miseries of incessant higher education. I want to learn from what people have to say or at least be aware of different perspectives. I want to have "life", my life specifically to be "examined." I just don't have time to meet "everyone." This is where the interweb comes into play.
This is how it's going to be:
a) I set the scene with my reactions and thoughts based on one of my meandering experiences Look, they're reactions and thoughts, NOT necessarily what I believe in. A lot of stuff will be trivial, but I believe these trivial matters are important to savor when I'm young and don't have mortgages, kids, and adult shtuff to deal with. A good number of topics will be medically related because I'm a med student if haven't noticed.
b) You, in a civilized manner, share your take on things. NO three or FOUR or five letter words (you know what those words are). NO statements that are derogatory, bigoted, racially offensive, sexist in intent. Look, the important word is intent. Some topics may be a bit on the edge, but we're all adults on the internets, so play nice. Understand that different people have different points of views because of their different experiences. I will do the same. If something horrible is said, go sit in the corner and then apologize sincerely. No, but really, apologize and learn from the mistake. Just respect people and their points of view, ok? Please, don't post "First." I ask you nicely not to do that. (Not nice way: That's dumb. Don't do that.)
That's it. I share things with you and you share things with me. I'm young and I want to grow and learn from this. So, teach me and share. Have fun. Shoot the breeze.
Read on for the first topic.
Scene
I was driving my 3rd year med student roommate last night in the drizzling rain to the train station. We got on to the topic of how much work it takes to become a doctor, not just to be a doctor. The discussion quickly turned to if, based on merit and responsibilities, doctors should be paid more?
I think that doctors should definitely be paid more. Look, I don't know exact salary numbers or financial figures about insurance or malpractice, but I would venture to say most physicians make in the range of hundreds of thousands. However, I feel that doctors have a huge encompassing responsibility: caring for an individual's health and well-being, whether it be physical or mental health. That's a tremendously huge responsibility on their shoulders because if they don't, people can die. Like, poof, dead, gone, no more. Gone gone.
On top of having a lives in their hands, doctors accumulate tens or hundreds of thousands in debt for medical education (excluding the possibility of undergrad loans), just so that they can become qualified to do their job. That's a huge commitment to begin with and will eventually be offset...in years later on when more personal adult responsibilities kick in.
Then, I compared salaries to, for example, athletes, entertainers, and even bankers/financial folks. In these fields, when you make it big, you make it big. Millions. Tens of millions. Hundreds of millions. To compare responsibilities, shooting a ball into a hoop, autotuning your voice for a Platinum record, and taking bailout money for bonuses. These responsibilities just seem, to me, of much smaller merit to that of handling the tangible lives of people (hey, I didn't say no merit, just much smaller).
Question
Am I nuts? Is my view skewed because there is so much more exposure to a few successful not-doctor millionaires? Do doctors actually make millions? Should doctors be paid more based on merit and value of their service to society? Which other jobs/careers should be paid more? Explain. If not, explain why not. No character limit, but you're not going to write War and Peace or Don Quixote. (Looks like an essay prompt back in high school).
This blog used to be about sharing my experiences during med school and reviews about relatively inexpensive diverse wines that fit into a med student's budget. However, having experienced nearly a year in med school, I felt that "life" is kind of passing me by. I'm not talking about missing out on parties and shananigans that 20-something year olds would and could do. I'm talking about putting myself out there to be exposed to and learn from different people and cultures. When you're med student, time is quite limited (trust me, you'll hear more about this later), but I have this wish to travel, meet people, and hear what they have to say.
Thus, my intention with this blog is to describe situations I'm going through, feelings that I feel, and musings that pop into my wandering thoughts as I sit through a lecture about Waardenberg Syndrome (usually autosomal dominant, but some types are autosomal recessive). I don't want to feel confined to my dark dungeon wallowing in the miseries of incessant higher education. I want to learn from what people have to say or at least be aware of different perspectives. I want to have "life", my life specifically to be "examined." I just don't have time to meet "everyone." This is where the interweb comes into play.
This is how it's going to be:
a) I set the scene with my reactions and thoughts based on one of my meandering experiences Look, they're reactions and thoughts, NOT necessarily what I believe in. A lot of stuff will be trivial, but I believe these trivial matters are important to savor when I'm young and don't have mortgages, kids, and adult shtuff to deal with. A good number of topics will be medically related because I'm a med student if haven't noticed.
b) You, in a civilized manner, share your take on things. NO three or FOUR or five letter words (you know what those words are). NO statements that are derogatory, bigoted, racially offensive, sexist in intent. Look, the important word is intent. Some topics may be a bit on the edge, but we're all adults on the internets, so play nice. Understand that different people have different points of views because of their different experiences. I will do the same. If something horrible is said, go sit in the corner and then apologize sincerely. No, but really, apologize and learn from the mistake. Just respect people and their points of view, ok? Please, don't post "First." I ask you nicely not to do that. (Not nice way: That's dumb. Don't do that.)
That's it. I share things with you and you share things with me. I'm young and I want to grow and learn from this. So, teach me and share. Have fun. Shoot the breeze.
Read on for the first topic.
Scene
I was driving my 3rd year med student roommate last night in the drizzling rain to the train station. We got on to the topic of how much work it takes to become a doctor, not just to be a doctor. The discussion quickly turned to if, based on merit and responsibilities, doctors should be paid more?
I think that doctors should definitely be paid more. Look, I don't know exact salary numbers or financial figures about insurance or malpractice, but I would venture to say most physicians make in the range of hundreds of thousands. However, I feel that doctors have a huge encompassing responsibility: caring for an individual's health and well-being, whether it be physical or mental health. That's a tremendously huge responsibility on their shoulders because if they don't, people can die. Like, poof, dead, gone, no more. Gone gone.
On top of having a lives in their hands, doctors accumulate tens or hundreds of thousands in debt for medical education (excluding the possibility of undergrad loans), just so that they can become qualified to do their job. That's a huge commitment to begin with and will eventually be offset...in years later on when more personal adult responsibilities kick in.
Then, I compared salaries to, for example, athletes, entertainers, and even bankers/financial folks. In these fields, when you make it big, you make it big. Millions. Tens of millions. Hundreds of millions. To compare responsibilities, shooting a ball into a hoop, autotuning your voice for a Platinum record, and taking bailout money for bonuses. These responsibilities just seem, to me, of much smaller merit to that of handling the tangible lives of people (hey, I didn't say no merit, just much smaller).
Question
Am I nuts? Is my view skewed because there is so much more exposure to a few successful not-doctor millionaires? Do doctors actually make millions? Should doctors be paid more based on merit and value of their service to society? Which other jobs/careers should be paid more? Explain. If not, explain why not. No character limit, but you're not going to write War and Peace or Don Quixote. (Looks like an essay prompt back in high school).
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