Home for the Holidays

Happy Holidays! I had 18 glorious days in Nova Scotia where we did lots of winter activities including the Barra MacNeils Christmas show, skiing, family game night, and lots of Christmas shopping. We got snowed for days at a time but we spent those days wrapping and having holiday drinks at home. 

I fell in love with the most perfect little man, Camden AuCoin. He is the son of my beautiful friend Laura but I stress that we have the same last name because it makes me feel like an honorary aunt. This break was a little longer than most so I was able to have some long overdue catch ups with friends and family.

Although I'd like to think my cooking and baking skills are improving, nothing beats Mom's weekend breakfasts or having lobster at Dad's. As with every holiday season, there was a lot of food involved overall. Every day. It is going to take about 3 years on the elliptical just to burn off all the squares I ate. Tis the season, right?

I spent a few days in the hospital to shadow and gain some experience. I observed 6 surgeries and 2 epidurals for women in labour. I also attended a doctor recruitment event which was like a networking thing for medical students and residents and an opportunity for the health authority to encourage people to come home after they are done with their studies. I was able to meet many interesting people from various specialties including the man who did my eye surgery when I was 3 and was the first person to inspire me to be a physician. My relatives still tell the story of my walking around the hospital all those years ago saying I was going to be a doctor. I got the opportunity to tell him the influence he had on my life and he encouraged me to tour his office so he could make his case for me to join his field of ophthalmology. 
 
But for now... to enjoy NYC! I will post pictures and updates from our trip later.
Then I am off to Toronto with some of the best friends a girl could ask for.

I didn't take many pictures at home but I stole a few from Michelle. There are in random order because I am still figuring out how to find my way around this new macbook. 

From sand to snow in 10 hours...

My front yard

Me and sissy with Mom's tree

Annual Christmas fun run!

My gift for Miche and Maman

Silly

Dad's tree

Sibs on xmas eve

More snow every day

Christmas themed drinks

Bubbas

Home sweet home

Wine and baking - 2 of my favourite things


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

U.S. Residency Application Advice

I've received some really great advice from colleagues, residents, faculty, and online sources over the last year about the U.S. residency application process and the couples match. I attempt to compile the most helpful tips here and add my own insight (as a Canadian IMG from Saba entering my first choice family medicine residency) as a means to "pay it forward."  Choose electives wisely:  You can really focus on networking and finding a residency during fourth year. My strategy was to  do rotations at hospitals that had a family medicine residency program  even if my rotation wasn’t in that specialty. While I was there, I would ask for a meeting with the program director or try to get in on some of the family medicine lectures. I ended up interviewing at 3 places I rotated at plus I received interviews in all 6 states that I did rotations in. For example, I did 6 months of rotations in Louisiana and then received 4 interviews in that state. I was told by a program
Read more

Graduation

Image
Graduation marks the official end to my four years spent in medical school. It has been an unbelievable journey. I achieved a goal that I set my sights to at 3 years old. When people ask me if I am surprised that this day finally came, I say no. This is because I have always visualized myself as a physician, and in a way, this is simply one step among many others along this lifelong path. A million thanks to my family (significant others and in laws included) who have been a steady and positive presence. Looking forward to our visits together often helped me get through long stretches of continuous work. My family network has grown so much! The amazing women who have been with me (mostly long distance) over these recent years have not once complained about my hectic schedule and have been there to remind me of my strengths and also to remind me of who I am outside of medicine.  I have made peace with the idea that there are people from my past who will not be part of my fu
Read more

Vacay north of the border

Image
Vacation time in Canada with some amazing family and friends What more could we ask for? Martha & Tanner's wedding @ Crystal Cliffs beach Craig's MC skills Grand Bend with Steph and Allie The cutest beach town with my besties So many of my favourite people in one place!   Exploring Toronto Shawn and Kristen meet us in the big city! Jays game on Canada Day Silly sissy & sissy-in-law Michelle and Connor arrive! Hooray! 5 of us together... only missing Craig! Game went to 19 innings... We stayed until about the 14th inning stretch Random festival on the Toronto waterfront Beer tasting Shawn and I liked about 33% of them Peterborough with the Marshalls Montreal with Stephy Singing Kelly Clarkson karaoke on a bowling lane Love having friends that you can go so long without seeing and then pick up right where you left off Baden, Ontario with Allie
Read more