There's no daylight savings time here...

Just limited hours of daylight - 6:00 - 18:00, EVERYDAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (redefined) = confusion of what time of the year it is. For some reason I thought it was late spring time, because I was looking to see if Juventus had any exhibition games in July, and I couldn’t find them. I then realized it was only October. This is what can happen to you when your living in a climate that makes you think it’s July all the time.
The cloudy weather hasn’t cleared, so I was forced to make-due with the haziness. I decided to go to blacksand beach, despite the sub-par weather. I have made up my mind, if it is sunny either Monday or Wednesday morning I am going to make it to Grand Anse beach, I have been blasphemous to the sun gods! (Just kidding Tata – I believe in one God the Father Almighty……).
The final countdown is beginning (I wish I could I knew how to put audio clips in here) – 4 weeks till finals, 6 weeks until ‘homecoming’. We have so much more to memorize in the two most difficult courses – anatomy and biochem. There are some non-academic things I would like to do though, before I leave the island this term (I’m sure many of them can be squeezed into the last weekend right after I’ve finished my exams, and before I leave for home). For example, I really want to go snorkeling. Apparently you can rent a catamaran (with a tourguide/driver) that will take you out for a few hours. Some students got scuba certified over their first few weeks on the island, but with the amount of work we have, I’m not sure how much scuba diving they actually get to do.
I have finally got a nice little study group going. Every Sunday night, Megan (my roommate), Julie (my roommate for next semester), and I do a review of what we’ve learned in our classes for the week. It has actually been working out very nicely, as we each assign ourselves what lecture we are going to teach to the other two. We are definitely going to be ready for our exams. Anyways, I have to go prepare for what I’m presenting tonight – fatty acid biosynthesis (I love metabolism!!!).

Stormy Weather

I smell like cadaver, its raining, and I haven’t seen the sun in the last five days. If this continues, I think I might just get seasonal affective disorder! I haven’t been able to go to the beach at all, and this was my weekend to go to the beach (we had Friday off, and today off). Also, every time my hands come remotely close to my head, I smell the bodies – totally gross. Okay, I’m done complaining for today.
On another note, while I was at the gym this morning I saw one of my professors (an older gentleman – maybe early 60s?) lifting freakishly heavy weights – the guy was a force. He had three 45 lbs plates stacked on an entire set of cable weights (like 200 lbs +), and he was doing some sort of lat exercise. It was motivating to see how focused the guy was though, because after one of the sets, I think he started to clap for himself (I was the only other person in there – and I was only mid-set, so it wasn’t for me).
So needless to say, because of all of the crappy weather we’ve been having down here, I guess that means I’ve had more time in doors to study. My housing is arranged for next semester; I will be living in a three bedroom apartment/dorm with a larger kitchen that has a table (I’m excited for the table – I hate eating at my desk all the time). Fortunately/unfortunately it is on campus. The reason I say this is because fortunately it is very convenient being on campus, especially since next semester I’ll have 8 am classes. Unfortunately, I really wanted to get away from campus just because sometimes I feel like I'm in a box, but none of my girl-friends felt the same way. Oh well, maybe for 4th semester I’ll be off campus. I have found a new spot that sometimes I go to before classes. It has a nice view of the sea, and overlooks the rooftops of some of the dorms. It’s great, because I haven’t seen any other students that have been sitting up there.

- - - -

One day has passed since I wrote those last paragraphs - and I can't get this cadaver smell off of my hands (the worst part is, we've been dissecting around and in the perineum area - not to gross anyone out too much!). Of course, on the day we have classes, its beautiful, hot, and sunny! Oh, well hopefully this weekend will be nice. I have to say that there are definetely some weird characters in my class, and I truly start to wonder to myself how these people are going to make good doctors. I know that they're smart, but man, the personality is downright scary for a future doctor....
Anyways, hopefully I'll actually do something remotely interesting besides studying between now and the next post, so I can write about something! I leave you with a picture of the view from my 'new spot on campus'.

Sandblast

Well, yesterday was the big Sandblast, and I had a great time! I forgot how beautiful Grand Anse beach was and how amazingly warm the water was there. Although it is supposed to be ‘wet season’ here right now, it has not rained very much at all. So of course, as we were leaving for the beach (even though it hadn’t rained for the past two weeks) a downpour began. Fortunately, with living in the tropics, you never have to worry about it being crappy all day because it won’t rain for any longer than 15 minutes. And so we began our day under a tent in the rain, waiting for the bus. The bus ride over to the beach was an adventure in itself though. We had packed the maximum number of students possible on the bus, and while it was going up the steepest hill on campus, it stalled! And then again halfway to the beach! We made it though without having to kick anyone off of the bus. We were greeted at the entry to Sandblast with drink cups that we would be using for the day that had ribbons on them so we could easily carry them around our necks.

The beach was packed with students from all terms, and there were games and contests going on throughout the day for added entertainment. A few of the professors were there as well, and water-balloons could be purchased to ‘take revenge’ on the professors that were sitting behind a barbed-wire screen. My favourite prof was one of the ones sitting behind the screen getting wet, it was funny seeing some of the students faces as they threw the balloons (seriously, you could see looks of contempt). Anyways, I was able to get a pic with the prof I so idolize. You’ll see in the picture how geeked I look (like one of those fans that have just gotten a picture with their favourite celebrity….).

Down here, my beverage of choice is called a vodka ting – the ting part is a grapefruit flavoured carbonated water. Because the drinks were made by med students, and I have a low concentration of alcohol dehydrogenase in my system it didn’t take much before the party turned from great to even better (all the water and alcohol reminded me of my days as a lifeguard….). So I definitely had some ‘fun in the sun’ yesterday. Well, not to forget about the after-party, I had a nice siesta to regenerate for the night ahead I almost decided that I didn’t want to go (I have a really bad habit enjoying waking up early to the point that I will sometimes skip out on anything that requires staying up really late). I knew I would kick myself later while studying furiously for exams for not going out previously. Plus, I brought a great t-shirt with me for the event (you can read what it says in the pics). I’m glad I decided to go out, because I had a great time hanging out with my fellow Canadians at the party. So enjoy the photos, and its okay if you feel a tinge of jealousy over the weather....

Click on the link to access the photos: http://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dseslija3/my_photos

And life goes on...

My wildest dreams and fantasies just came true today in the local hardware store. As I was walking though the kitchenware aisle, my eyes met with the most beautiful, gorgeous……stainless steel espresso maker!!!! The best part is yet to come – it was only 24.95 EC (that’s like $10.00 USD). It was most surely my lucky day. I’m not a big espresso drinker, but I just wanted something that I could BREW coffee in. Basically, you put the grounds in the filter section, put water in the base of the canister, and it works off of a pressure system. The brewed coffee collects in the top, and – voila - freshly brewed Tim Hortens coffee (yes, I brought lots of ground coffee, I can’t wait to have the hazelnut blend I brought). My life is now complete down here (although, they didn’t have lettuce again at the supermarket….but I can’t complain – I have brewed coffee!). Okay you make think I’m crazy to be so excited over such a little thing, but seriously, down here you really learn to appreciate the little things that you probably don’t think twice about at home.
So I made it through midterms, I haven’t gotten all of my marks back – but so far so good. My biochem midterm was the last one on Monday, and after it was over my brain literally crashed. It just shut down. I’ve never had to think more intensely for a test than this one. So to reformat my brain I’ve been watching movies, and downloaded t.v. episodes that people have on their computers.

Here are a few things I would do while studying for my various courses:

In anatomy, I liked to think about where bullets would go if I shot them through different places in the body, or if you stabbed, or sliced the body somewhere, what would happen (I know it sounds morbid, but it really tests if you know your stuff).

In histology, I liked thinking about fruit, because it seemed like every different cell type we learned about could be compared to looking like grapes and bananas on a slide.

In biochemistry (my favourite) I loved learning about metabolic regulation and hormonal control. And every time I got hungry or ate, I thought about what was happening at a molecular level. Then while I was exercising I would reflect on which muscles I was using and what type of fibres they were, and how my lactic acid was being carried to my liver….okay okay, I know I’m a nerd, but seriously, this is the most applicable stuff to everyday life.

Lastly, in embryology, I got feelings of nostalgia, and I would reminisce how great fetal life was – just joking that was the worst course to study for.

Unfortunately, it is not wise to fall behind around here, so I have to saddle up and start studying again. We have a full week of classes and then, this weekend there is the biggest party of the semester – Sandblast. It starts on Saturday, around noon at the Grand Anse beach (the best beach on the island). There is a cover for all you can drink and snacks. It moves on at night to a local restaurant/bar called the Aquarium (supposedly a posh place for dinner), for more drinking and dancing. I’m not a big drinker at all but I am excited to spend a carefree Saturday afternoon at the beach. I haven’t done that since I’ve first arrived here. Okay, maybe I’ll have a few cold ones....

I leave you with a pic of what Megan and I like to do in our spare time (that ball was the best thing I packed).
P.S. I changed some settings, so anyone can post comments, you shouldn't have to sign in for anything.

Top 10 Reasons Why I've Felt Like a Prisoner...

1) There are guards with dogs, surrounding the ‘campus’.
2) I spend 99% of my time in a small room (cell).
3) I am always within 10 feet or less of my “cell-mate”.
4) We are transported in and out of the ‘compound’ in white vans.
5) I have (self) scheduled exercise time (outdoors).
6) Contact with other ‘prisoners’ is limited.
7) I’ve been eating these weird soy pellets as a protein substitute (lately).
8) At night there have been unusual displays of rowdiness by the other ‘prisoners’.
9) Toilet paper is rationed (seriously – 2 rolls per week).
10) I spend 99% of my time in a small room (did I already mention that?).

2 down, 2 to go

This is nuts! For those of you who aren't sure if you really want to be a physician don't do it, its way too much work. Its been midterm week, and so far I've written anatomy (thank God that one's over) and embryology (pure blatant memorization). Tomorrow I have histology (I'm getting bored studying it), and Monday I have biochemistry (rumored to be the most difficult). I've been making sure that I get enough sleep every night, and have well-rounded meals (lots of greens - I definetely don't want to be sick at this time). I've been continuing with running/lifting, to keep my stress levels in check (boy can I run fast the night before an exam). I think I've already figured out for some courses how I would like to modify the way I learn things for the finals. Anyways, sorry for the lack of posts, but I hope you all will understand - if not, too bad! I have to go study.