Paso a Paso

Can I start by saying I’m sorry for being quite remiss these last few months about keeping my blog up to date; however, I had reached a point where I really needed to re-evaluate my priorities and take a few things off my plate. Unfortunately this was one aspect that reached the chopping block. I am so happy to say, after two weeks of break, I’m ready to get back into writing and a new semester. And, yes, I did say it, a NEW semester! I successfully passed second semester, and am now officially a second year medical student. Honestly, the time has flown and part of me can’t believe it’s actually true, but it means I’m one step closer to moving back to the United States for good. There are many people who have not only been there throughout the past two semesters, but have offered ears to vent to, shoulders to cry on, wine to celebrate with, and experiences to relate to. Without these people, there is absolutely no way I would be where I am today, and for that I am indescribably thankful.

Now, on to the fun part- playing catch up! As most of you know, I usually have a hard time knowing exactly where to start when formulating my thought process. That’s over the course of a week or two- to try to determine where to start with life over the course of two months?! Oh, boy we’ll see how this goes. I’ll start at the end and maybe work my way backward. In reference to one my favorite parts of the University of Minnesota Marching Band pregame show- ARE YOU READY?!

As I mentioned earlier, I’ve been on a two- week break between semesters, and it’s been wonderful. Since it takes me about 2 days to get back to Minneapolis from Dominica, I decided to forego the trip home this time and instead, welcome a few visitors here with me. For the first week, my mom and her boyfriend, John, came to visit, and the second week my dad and his girlfriend, Victoria, came. Not only was it absolutely wonderful to see all of them, but having them here also gave me a reason to get outside of my comfort zone and the small area I spend most of my time in during the semester to see the small, yet simultaneously expansive island I currently call home. Between both of their trips, we ventured to waterfalls, the botanical garden in the capital city of Roseau, under the sea for some scuba diving, and to the second largest boiling lake in the world. Mind you, that last activity was what I thought might be the end of my life. I had heard from former students and faculty members that the hike to Boiling Lake was long, arduous, and challenging; however, it was, honestly, one of the most physically and mentally taxing things I have ever done. As I was hiking through various segments of the trail, one part of which is called “The Valley of Desolation,” different things popped into my head in attempts to keep myself motivated and encouraged. Anything from movie quotes to song lyrics to reminiscing about an experience I had downhill skiing as an 8 year old in Sun Valley, ID. I'll try to keep it short, but to put it into context, I digress briefly to share that story. As an 8 year old, I knew how to ski and had gone several times in Minnesota; however, this was first experience on a mountain that would take more than just one run to get to the bottom. I was terrified, but knew there was only one way out of the situation- down. Thanks to my mom for being there telling me all I had to do was go “fluffy to fluffy,” ie: just ski across the hill from one mound of snow to the other such that my speed never got away from me, I made it down the hill. That metaphor came back, and I knew all I needed to do was go segment to segment, step by step, and eventually I’d get there. At the end of it, I have to say it’s quite the feeling of accomplishment. Needless to say the things I did with my parents here were things I probably wouldn’t have had time to do otherwise, and I’m really glad they came.  

Botanical Garden in Roseau
Tree knocked down in 1979 by Hurricane David

 

Lobster Dinner at Sunset Bay

Post Scuba Dive Pina Coladas

Snorkeling

Survived to Boiling Lake after a few honest tears

Boiling Lake

At the end of my mom’s time on Dominica, I left the island with them for a 3 day mini-vacation in Puerto Rico. If you’ve never been to Puerto Rico- GO! It was just enough for me to get away for a few days to a place of four lane highways, CVS, Starbucks coffee, a chlorinated swimming pool, and speaking Spanish. One of the things we did while there was the Bacardí distillery tour- not just good rum, also much history! Although my drink of choice has changed since moving away from the land of Diet Coke, a Cuba Libre is still one of the most refreshing drinks there is in my book. At the end of our tour we participated in rum tasting, which was incredibly enlightening for me. I’ve never been one to enjoy spiced or dark rum; however, as our tour guide explained the undertones and flavors within each of the four rums we tasted, I gained a newfound appreciation for darker rums, and also other liquors. After the distillery tour, we took a ferry to Old San Juan where we ate a delicious lunch of plantain nachos, Mofongo, and chicken empanadas followed by an educational, albeit sweaty, tour of the El Morro Fort. By the end of this day- I was wiped and knew that everything I had wanted for the break was waiting for me the next day- 16 hours sitting by the pool with my book. Let me tell you, it was glorious. I had started the book Wild about halfway through the semester and had yet to finish, so having the opportunity to sit down and read without any other obligations was indescribable.

Bacardi Tour

Rum Tasting

El Morro

Drinks our last night at The Vanderbilt Hotel

In an attempt to keep this a little more succinct, I think I’m going to try to put the rest of the semester into a highlight reel of sorts.

1. I followed through playing powder puff football with a fantastic group of ladies, and am proud to say we as Category X pulled off the win to beat the 3^rd and 4^th semester team. Since we are medical students, most of the sports teams we have on campus derive their names from something related to medicine. In our case, Category X refers to drugs that are completely contraindicated in pregnant women, and also in women who have the possibility of getting pregnant. Since it is unsafe for women to take any Category X rated drug, we thought it an appropriate name for our team with the tagline, “Under no circumstances can women take us.” It proved to be true. :) 

 

2. I fell in love with our neuroscience block. Not necessarily to the point that I am thinking about changing my specialty to something related to neuro, but enough to make me understand, appreciate, and respect the human body even more. Granted, each of our blocks this past semester, based in some aspect of human physiology, brought more and more to light in terms of how much our bodies do without us even having to think about it, but without the neurological system, NONE of that would happen. That’s humbling. Not only further bringing forward a sense of respect and humility, but also the honest interest it piqued in me. The various ways in which your brain is organized to control movements, senses, memories, and so much more. Knowing that all of your five senses except smell have to make a pit stop in a specific part of your brain before reaching their final destination. Or, that your spinal cord is organized in such a way that the majority of the information traveling TO your brain is contained in one half, while the information traveling AWAY from your brain is contained in the other half with a few other things interspersed between. Absolutely incredible, if you ask me. In fact, if you do ask, I probably won’t stop talking about it. Talk to anybody I’ve interacted with in the last couple weeks who are not in medical school, and they can probably attest to the fact that in nearly every conversation something pops into my head that ties everything back to medicine. What can I say- even when it’s hard, I still go back to what I love.

3. A wonderful young lady whom I have met and gotten to be friends with since moving to Dominica and her fiancée got married last weekend, and although I was unable to attend the wedding due to having visitors, I was honored to be a part of her beautiful bachelorette party about halfway through the semester. We started the day at one of the local restaurants owned by the sweetest British couple for breakfast and mimosas, and continued the day about an hour south of campus at a hot spring spa. Not only was it a spa with multiple hot/warm/cool natural pools, but as we walked around to explore the area, we ran into a guide from the resort who pointed out that there were also hundreds of different plants, herbs, and foliage, along with a peacock and many stick-bugs. Concluded by an amazingly delicious home-cooked lobster dinner, homemade apple pie, and a bonfire on the beach, it was by far the best bachelorette party I’ve been to with a group of some of the strongest, most supportive, and fun-loving people I’ve ever met.  

Cacao Plant

4. I planned and coordinated my second pediatrics clinic for about 100 primary school students about 45 minutes south of campus, and can honestly say it doesn’t get old. Yes, there were days that I was frustrated with some of the people I need to coordinate with, or was nervous that things weren’t going to come together in time, but in the end, all that mattered was that we were there and willing to provide as much support to these kids as we possible. Although clinics are great ways for each of us to practice clinical skills in a clinical environment, the best parts of the clinic for me are the kids who come. Some of them are shy and won’t leave their parents’, while others don’t stop talking. They’re each so different and unique that it honestly never ceases to put a smile on my face. Now, after this past semester, I am passing my coordinator torch to another member of the Pediatrics Student Association as I take on a different role within the organization, but will have no problem signing up for the clinic, simply to go.

As many of my colleagues, myself included, have now reached the halfway point of our time on the island, it’s definitely starting to become bittersweet. On the one hand, being on The Rock (or Jurassic Park, as many others fondly call Dominica) has afforded me opportunities both personally and professionally that I would not have had in a different environment or at a different school (did I mention I’m getting scuba certified this semester?!). On the other hand, because it is a small island and you often run into the same people and the same situations, it can become stifling if you let it. That being said, there are less than 8 months during which I will call my apartment, this city, and the island of Dominica my home. I know it is going to fly, and just as things have unfolded thus far in this experience, I will continue to take life one step at a time, or paso a paso.

Until next time, I leave you with all the love in the world, and a few more miscellaneous pictures. 

Welcoming Spring with the Indian holiday of Holi

The only regulatory street sign posted within several miles of campus