What I Really Learned in Med School

"How is studying going?"   It's about the only relevant question there is to ask me these days. We are entering crunch time now. 3 weeks. Our exam in Halifax was cancelled (or should I say, severely postponed) so we decided to re-book for a similar day in Bangor, Maine. We are keeping busy with our work but taking more time to refresh than we did when we were back on Saba. I have done Zumba and Craig has gone golfing. We went to a StFX basketball game (reminded me of my X Dance Team days) and we had an awesome lobster/mussel supper recently. And even when I just need a short break, I am fortunate enough to have friends to chat with or Michelle in town to grab lunch with. I think that when I look back on this chapter of my life that I will remember who was there with me (in person or electronically) to make each day a little less of a struggle. Now for some pictures... It's birthday season! Out for a run on the lake We took a Thursday...

I am slowly getting climatized. Even the warmest days have a refreshing breeze in the air that keeps you from feeling like you are melting. But it seems like I am always at least kind of cold. I am attempting to revamp my wardrobe for the weather. I started wearing pants again and I bought a fall jacket. Dad, Michelle, and I did a shopping trip to Halifax. We bought the entire fall line out of Dynamite and had an incredible meal at The Keg. I sipped on a Caesar – you don’t see many of those outside Canada. I have a phone again. And I’m getting re-acquainted with driving on roads that have stoplights and speed limits. I am enjoying curling up on in front of the TV with a blanket and tea again and buying fresh vegetables any day of the week. I am happy to be close enough for Mom to send cinnamon rolls and only a 7-minute drive to a decent gym. I am all settled into my home away from home at Craig’s house. We are getting back into a routine – despite the distractions. We have...

My time on Saba is over. I thought that I would feel sadness when making my final flight out, but my mind was filled with positive memories that I have from there and a great desire to move on. I am grateful for so much.  Wonderful teachers and mentors.  The opportunity to learn. The support of my family. A beautiful Caribbean island that I explored every inch of.  Feeling at home in my house on the cliff.  Some great classmates who now feel like old friends. The good times and good people often outweighed the bad and I can’t even say that I didn’t love my time on the island BUT the environment can be toxic. It took a lot out of me. Especially this last semester. There are parts of me that didn’t get their fair chance to be expressed. I’ve been home in Cape Breton for three days and I can already feel a weight lifted. My last few weeks on the island were stressful ones preparing for the Exit Exam. But it was all worth it in the end because...