"The New"

The first day of classes has finally arrived and is staring me directly in the face. Friday was the final day of our week-long orientation, and we are all technically ready to dive headfirst into coursework tomorrow morning. Honestly, the weeks have flown by, and I feel completely ready to begin. Throughout the course of orientation we heard from various members of the RUSM faculty, alumni, current students, community members, and RUSM staff. Each provided me with additional information to mull over, and insights that I really took to heart. That being said, a couple presentations really stuck out to me, and had a greater impact on the entire orientation week.

1. Introduction to the Anatomy lab
2. Alumni presentation from Dr. Daniel Kemple

Upon being accepted to medical school I knew I would have to master human anatomy, and I couldn't wait. Having been extremely fortunate enough to have taken it as an undergraduate student, I knew I would love it. As students, we are required to wear green scrubs as our uniform anytime we are in the anatomy lab. The faculty and other staff members wear black to denote the difference between "master" and student. I had worn scrubs before in various roles, but this was the first time I was wearing scrubs as a medical student. That feeling was indescribable. Once in the lab, we went through policies and procedures, expectations of staff, faculty and students within the lab, oriented ourselves with all the tools and equipment, and became comfortable with the space. The facility is absolutely amazing; nicer even than the anatomy lab at the University of Minnesota. After all this was over, we were given the chance, if we so chose, to meet our first patients. To put this experience into words is honestly impossible. Knowing that this person made a deliberate choice to further my education and afford me the opportunity to pursue my dream is extremely humbling. At the end of the semester the school invites the family members of our patients to a ceremony during which we honor their loved ones and thank them for playing such a critical role in our education. I can't wait to have this chance to meet my patient's family, and attempt to put into words how incredibly grateful I am.

The second presentation was given by Dr. Daniel Kemple. A 2013 RUSM graduate who just completed his intern year in Emergency Medicine in Ohio, Dr. Kemple provided some amazing insights into what we can expect, how we should approach studying, the importance of all the STEP exams in landing the coveted residency spot we all want, and how best to utilize our faculty for help as we need it. Seeing that he made it through, and not only landed his top residency choice, but was voted "Best Intern," showed me that despite the long, arduous road ahead, it's completely doable. The best piece of advice I got from him; however, was to "experience the island." A fellow classmate posted a video the other day that really rang true to this advice. The last couple weeks have been incredible, and I feel so fortunate to have had the time to get out and see the island. Granted, it's really only the tip of the iceberg of what Dominica has to offer, but it was a great introduction and motivation to continue "seeing" the island. Despite knowing that my time will be limited over the next several months and that I won't be able to take much time to venture out to the "big" sights, the little things I see and do each day are just as much experiencing the island as driving an hour away. For a lot of people, living on "The Rock," as Dominica is affectionately called, is more of a chore. They can't wait to get off the island and go back to what they know. Back to being able to find whatever they want at the grocery store. Back to not having to plan your electricity usage over the weekend because they may run out at the store (or the store isn't open for you to buy more). Back to not waiting an hour to get your food when you eat out (or watching your friends eat while you still wait). Don't get me wrong, I completely understand where these feelings come from, and would be lying if I didn't have moments when I wished that I didn't have to worry about these things. On the other hand, these are the things that make Dominica, well, Dominica. Being able to wake up in the morning, look out my kitchen window and see the Caribbean Sea. Knowing that forgetting my umbrella when I leave home in the morning is the biggest mistake I could make- it WILL rain. Walking into a restaurant having only visited once and having the owner and/ or server recognize me and maybe even remember my name. These are the things that I don't ever want to take for granted throughout the 16 months I call The Rock my home away from home. I know there will be times when I just want to be home with my friends and family, but trying to keep these things in mind and embrace them instead of resenting them will help diffuse my homesickness.  

In the interest of time and necessity to preview for tomorrow's lectures, I will leave you with a list of 9 firsts (and some pictures) that I have experienced over the last two weeks. Enjoy! :)

1. First lunch at The Shacks (basically a row of shacks on campus that sell different kinds of food and drink- the best juice I have ever had)

Chicken Pita....delicious!

2. First time eating Lionfish (and lobster that a couple classmates caught with a local Dominican)

3. First time attending a Reggae festival
4. First time seeing both the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean at the same time

Scott's Head on the southern point of the island
Caribbean on the left, Atlantic on the right

5. First time eating Cassava bread
6. First time taking a hot shower
7. First time having a pet that I didn't voluntarily purchase (I have two geckos in my apartment)
8. First time seeing SimMan and Harvey for use in our clinical skills labs

SimMan

Harvey
used to practice listening for heart sounds

9. First time having my laundry done (picked up and delivered upon completion)

Until next time, and with much love. 

The Bridge Between "Vacation" and Reality

I cannot believe it's already been a week since I landed and started my life in Dominica; just yesterday I was receiving my acceptance letter, and pinching myself into the reality that in 7 months time I'd be moving to a foreign country 3000 miles away from home to become what I have always wanted to be- Ashleigh Burt, MD. Arriving on the island the week before orientation started was the best decision I made. It both allowed me time to adjust to my surroundings, get to know my neighbors and the area around my apartment, explore a lot of what the island has to offer, build relationships with people who are going to carry me and push me through the next 4 semesters, and get through both the initial "honeymoon" and homesick phases of my culture shock.


Today marked the "official" beginning of my medical career on the island of Dominica with the commencement of orientation. This morning each first semester student was required to go through the motions of "checking-in" to ensure all addresses, phone numbers, and emergency contacts were correct; receive our financial aid refund checks (aka: the only way I will financially support myself throughout this endeavor); and to receive a neon pink sticker on our student ID's stating we are registered and officially checked in for the Fall 2014 semester (see picture below). Despite the redundancy of signing my name multiple times and repeating the same things multiple times, the final station provided each of us with the one tangible article that every aspiring physician looks forward to and takes immense pride in.....our white coats. Officially we are not able to wear them until Friday, September 12 when they are placed on our shoulders by current faculty and practicing physicians; however, looking in my closet to see my white coat hanging synthesizes every single emotion I've experienced up to this point, knowing that I am ready to tackle the tough road required to place "MD" after my name. As nervous as I am, and has difficult as I know it will be, looking at that coat makes it all worth it.

 

Later in the evening, we had an optional session providing us with more information about the island, it's history, the government structure, etc. Throughout the course of our first week on the island, the group of people I met on my flight from Puerto Rico and I have explored several areas within the island. After this historical introduction this evening, it was really exciting to be able to put some of our ventures into context. For example, yesterday we went on an excursion to the Kalinago Territory on the Eastern side of the island. The Kalinago people are the indigenous population of Dominica, and throughout the course of both English and French reign sought refuge in the inner regions of the island where terrain is much  more rugged and difficult to navigate. In 1903, 3700 acres were set aside as a territory specifically for them. They are able to rule their community much like a Native American reservation would in the United States- with their own government system and ability to maintain cultural norms and traditions. Their willingness to share music, dances, food, and open their lives to us was beautiful. Following our visit to their territory we traveled approximately 25 mins south to a small body of water called the Emerald Pool. It is located within a rain forest, and the pool is literally the collecting body of water from a waterfall. Finding words to describe the environment and the lush greenery would not even skim the surface of how absolutely stunning the locale is. We all waded in the water (it was freezing!!), and some group members courageously stood under the waterfall. Of course, being that it is a rain forest, the rain arrived promptly as we were on our way back to buses. Needless to say, living on this island has taught me that rain can literally come at ANY time of the day. Even when it's completely sunny, don't ever leave home without your umbrella. Despite the rain, it was our last hurrah prior to jumping into the reality that is school, and it couldn't have been a better way to end my first week here on the "Nature Isle."

Traditional dance of the Kalinago People

Emerald Pool

Throughout this week we will continue to have speakers and introductions regarding the island, it's rich history, food, and culture, but more and more focus will be shifted to our curriculum, exam schedules, course schedules, and, of course, thinking about USMLE testing down the road. I cannot believe (still) that I am fortunate enough to be here to train and become what I hope will be a compassionate, determined, optimistic, and inspiring physician.

Until next time, I will leave you all with some more pictures from our venture to the weekly market about 15 minutes away from my apartment for some fresh produce. Up until this moment, I had never had coconut water in my life. Now, I will never have coconut water again unless it is poured directly from the coconut into my water bottle. :)

...here we go!!

I made it!! Over the last two days, I have called three separate aircraft my own, travelled through three cities, spent the day relaxing by a pool, and am finally able to settle into an apartment in preparation of following my dream of becoming a physician. Unfortunately, the connection between Puerto Rico and Dominica did not bode well for my luggage as both of my suitcases were left behind on the tarmac. Needless to say, I'm living in the same outfit for as long as it takes for my luggage to get here. On a personal level; however, I have to say that flight boded extremely well. The majority of my fellow passengers were also first semester students eager to begin their education at Ross University. It was both reassuring and extremely motivating to engage with others who had the same desires and passions as I. Granted, our chosen vessel for arrival in Dominica was a twin-engine turboprop plane, so the chances of running into fellow students was quite high, but the opportunity to actually see and meet everybody was amazing. I honestly believe I will be able to form lasting friendships with many of these people.

My initial observations on the island are as follows:
- more beautiful than any picture or article can describe
- sincere and extremely helpful people
- "island time"
- drive on the wrong side of the road! :)
- paying electricity by pre-buying a certain amount at the store and entering a code into the meter in my apartment
.... more to come.


I am extremely excited and feel very fortunate to be here and take advantage of this opportunity. Based on the experience so far, it's going to be even better than I imagined, and it's still completely surreal. The feeling that I will wake up from a dream has still not left. For now, enjoy some pictures.

Layover in Miami

Our twin-engine turboprop chariot

Descent into Dominica

Final runway approach

Sunset from my balcony

(Expected) Changes of Living Abroad

While searching for a few resources for moving abroad online, I stumbled across a list on this blog. Reading through the "17 things that change forever when you live abroad" sparked an even bigger reflection on what actually constitutes a "life." For the last three years, I have acquired things and built my life around them. I have paintings, furniture, dishware, coffee mugs, bedsheets, towels, decorations, etc. that defined "my life." These items became a part of my "value." A direct reflection of my personality, of who I am as a person. Is that a bad thing? I don't believe so, no. I do; however, believe it to be a reflection of the type of life I anticipated living. An expectation that this "life" I was working to build would travel with me no matter where I went. Pack it up. Put it in a moving truck. Drive it to wherever my next destination happened to be. This, of course, was a narrow minded assumption that driving to my next home would be possible. Not to be overly critical of my thought process, but retrospectively, I wasn't actually thinking critically. Whether I attended an international medical school or not, my goals have always included moving for a period of time to a different country to practice medicine. What would I have done then? Likely reflected on this same idea in a different context, and with different tangibles. Now, all of these objects that I used to build my life are packed in a box and will remain in boxes for at least 15 months. My life and home are no longer defined by them. I will build a new life with new things nearly 3,000 miles away from the place I have always called home. This time; however, my emphasis will no longer be on those tangible commodities, but instead on the people I meet and the experiences I have.

To say that I am not afraid of how my perspectives and attitudes about life will change, or the fact that the lives of my friends and family will continue on as usual without me being here, would be a complete lie. On the other hand, knowing that this experience will open doors that I didn't even know existed, is one of the most exciting and liberating pieces of information I've personally uncovered in a long time.

Fears and Leaping

6 days. Not counting today, there are 6 full days that separate me from boarding a plane in Minneapolis and beginning the next phase of my life. At this point, ninety percent of the loose ends are tied; all of my necessary medical supplies are purchased, and are either safely in my possession or are in the process of being delivered to me. I have received confirmation of my apartment from my landlord, and requests for arrival information to ensure adequate transportation from the campus of Ross University to my apartment. Home. I have successfully registered for classes. Financial aid is accepted. The checkmarks on my “To-Do” list are nearly complete. It is a moment I have waited 25 years for, and to think it’s almost here is surreal.

Yesterday I was honored to have about 30 people, whom I am privileged to call my friends and family, stop by and wish me luck on my next adventure. Some brought cards and gifts. Others brought their new babies and dogs. Few; however, brought just themselves. We chatted, laughed, and in some cases cried for a short time. After everybody went their separate ways, returning to their own realities, it struck me how absolutely grateful I am for all of these people, and the impact they’ve all had on my life. In some cases, they’ve known me since the day I was born, while in others, just over two years. Despite these time differences, I have never felt so supported and loved. Without the encouragement, inspiration, and challenges presented throughout each of these individual relationships (and the relationships I have with others who were not able to attend yesterday for various reasons), my dream of becoming a doctor would not be possible. For that, I thank each and every one of you who has motivated, challenged, inspired, and most importantly believed in me to make this leap.

As I look forward to the next week of preparations, I anticipate this being my last reflection completed on United States soil; however, my experiences, insights, adventures, trials and tribulations, victories, and defeats will commence as soon as I can upon arriving in Dominica, and will continue on a weekly basis (hopefully more!). :)

For now, I leave you with this question: If you had the chance to overcome a personal fear, what would it be, and what doors of opportunity might open as a result?  

Yon Dekouvet: "The Discovery"

Hello everybody! As I began preparing to depart the United States for the next two years in pursuit of my medical degree, a dream that has been near and dear to my heart for the majority of my life, finding a way to maintain connections with the people whom I will be leaving behind in the States was imperative. Of course, there are methods in which to call, email, send snail mail, etc; however, for those times that such forms of communication are unavailable, keeping a blog seemed like the most logical answer. Additionally, it forces ME to actually take time periodically and reflect on the unique experience I am being afforded instead of letting it pass by. Therefore, here I am. 

The countdown to my departure date has begun (73 days!!), and despite it seeming like a long time from now, I know the time I have left in the United States will slip through my fingers. Currently, the tasks of tying all loose ends at work, completing required visa paperwork, purchasing necessary school supplies, deciding what is "necessary" to bring and what can be left for my eventual return to the USA, securing housing, purchasing airline tickets, and paying deposits keeps my mind occupied; however, once all those things are taken care of, I know the reality of me leaving will begin to officially sink in. I would be lying through my teeth if I said I wasn't terrified to completely uproot myself and leave everything I've ever known, but on the same level, when will I ever have this opportunity again? In the long run, what's two years? 24 months with breaks to return home periodically; 24 months to really discover what kind of physician I want to become. Hence, the title of this blog post. 

As I was coming up with the idea to write a blog, I reached out for ideas from a few people who have known me for quite some time and know how deep rooted this dream is. In the end, despite still coming up with my own title, I received an incredibly well-developed list of suggestions. One of which I chose as my inaugural post. After determining that the second most common language spoken in Dominica is creole, a great college friend of mine suggested "Yon Dekouvet." This translates to "The Discovery" in creole. 

I couldn't think of a better way to begin what will hopefully become the most rewarding (and difficult) discovery of my life, and I thank you all for being a part of it. 

Until next time,
Ashleigh