November 2002 Archives
I have been so incredibly busy lately, that i have not written anything for almost a month. My normal pattern is to write something after an exam, because preumably I will have some amount of free time, but this time I have had no free time at all!
But now I am done with anatomy, and have quickly moved on to Cell Structure and Function, which is basically an in depth biochemistry course. I am hoping to get some help from my mom on this one, since she has a degree in cell biology. (Break out the text books mom, cause I'm gonna call ya!). I actually have a "quiz" tomorrow, which is an affectionate term used to denote a one hour exam, so I am in the midst of studying. But here are some quick updates.
- Finished anatomy: the last test was the hardest yet (it was all about the cranial nerves and associated head structures, which involves a lot of very small holes in the base of the skull, through which pass many many different kinds of things - i broke out some serious flash cards for this one) - but I managed to do well, and got honors in the class. Yay! Some special anatomy updates include: taking out the brain, taking out the eyes, cutting through one of the eyes with a scalpel like in that one shocking surrealist movie by Dali and Luis Bunuel (Un Chien Andalou). My labmates were weirded out when I wanted to do that. When else was I gonna get to be like Salvador Dali? The other notable thing was sawing through the head with a "butcher saw". Num.
- Day after anatomy test started CSF, for which I did no studying all week because I was working on...
- writing my 26 page essay for Principles of Clinical Medicine. That was due wednesday.
- friday we had a memorial services for those who donated their bodies to our anatomy class. It was a great ceremony that really reaffirmed the educational and emotional value in what we did. I know I usually share all the gross stuff so it makes me seem insensitive, but anatomy lab was really an incredible experience that taught me immense respect for the complexities of the human body, as well as for the generosity of the people who donated their bodies to science. Lots of family members came to the ceremony and shared stories about their loved ones. I cried a lot. Especially when the violinist played "Oh Danny Boy". Gets me every time.
- This past weekend I went to an International Medical Conference at the University of Washington School of Medicine up in Seattle. It was very inspiring - it makes me want to leave the country now! I will write more later about my new plan to go to australia this summer. To return to my roots, so to speak.
- I just got bak, and am procrastinating on studying for my little "quiz" tomorrow. I will be up late.
- On wednesday we have our first major GOSCE exam - which stands for Group Observed... Something something something. Its basically where we get tested on our physical exam skills in front of a group of our peers. Musculoskeletal exam, here I come!
- I have been trying to watch ONE MOVIE for the past 2 weeks. A friend at Trilogy video has basically loaned it to me, in the hopes that I can find one and half, maybe two consecutive hours of free time to watch it. No luck so far. Isn't that insane? I am literally busy every waking hour of the day. Weird. If anybody else has the time, check it out- Beau Travail. Mike (and everyone else) says its good.
Well, that's about it. I've got a boat-load of polypeptide bonds and hemoglobin to study.
Enough with the procrastination.
--------