PBL Fun & Care Package

I knew that this week was going to be long with two assessments--the respiratory physical exam and also an exam on basic life support.  I wasn't worried about these assessments per se, but they are compulsory passes in order for me to move onto second year, so they weren't exactly walks in the park either.  Also, everything was packed into 4 days as Good Friday is a holiday here.  Next week is my Easter break, but it's really called Revision week since I have my first written exam the week after break.  Wish me luck!

But the week wasn't half bad as it is now over, and there were some very pleasant surprises along the way too!

1. Care Package from the VERY awesome people in the PI Dept at BMC.
On Monday, I received an email from the manager of my apartment complex saying that a package was waiting for me in the office.  I wasn't expecting a package nor had anyone told me they were sending me anything, so I was thoroughly intrigued! Only problem--I didn't have any time to pick it up! They were closed by the time I got home on Monday.  I have classes every day starting at 8am, so I'm always gone before the office even opens. Tuesday was a late night with classes and then a medical specialties talk.  The office is closed on Wednesdays. They are also closed Friday-Monday for Easter.  Today was my only chance, but then peer tutorial was scheduled for tonight, so I wouldn't be able to pick it up today either...SO, I made the decision to skip this morning's lecture on Population Health (as they are ridiculously boring--and for those of you who are shaking your heads--I don't make it a habit to skip lectures.  This was only my second one this semester). so that I could pick up the package before my biochem expert tutorial and PBL.  Boy am I glad I did!!!

I walked into the office this morning, but I couldn't find anything with my name on it!  Finally, I spot the LARGEST box (it was wrapped with all this Australia Customs tape) sitting on the chairs, and I recognized Connie's handwriting!  All of my other packages have been either textbooks or meds from home, so this definitely takes the prize.  What an awesome surprise!!  I almost ran up the stairs and back to my apartment so that I could cut all the tape off and see what was inside, but as I was "flying" up the stairs, I noticed the declarations sheet and just read what was inside...I know, I spoiled it.  But I was still very excited to open the box!  After cutting through all the tape, I found 6 skeins of yarn and WHATABURGER ketchup (the best ketchup on earth)!!! YUM!  I also found a Customs pamphlet in there saying that X-Ray detected something that they thought was illegal and so therefore, they had to open and inspect it, but they didn't find anything illegal.  Hilarious.  But yes, some of the ketchup containers did bust open, but it's all good as it didn't leak out of the ziploc bag.  I now also have 3 skeins each of gray and dark pink yarn.  YAY!!

But the best part of it all was the cards inside the box.  I had to take them and run to the bus stop, but while I was waiting for the bus, I read Ampy's card first.  So sweet!  Thanks for the yarn, Ampy! I promise to put it to good use.  I'm sure it'll be useful for me as I study for this exam. But then onto the other card--I honestly was expecting only something from Connie, but low and behold, everybody in the office had written a note!  Seriously, I almost started crying at the bus stop...Thank you guys, and especially Connie, for this wonderful, amazing surprise.

2.  Career Fair - After our basic life support assessment yesterday at the hospital, we had to head back to campus for a Micro Prac at 3pm.  It was only noon, so the 5 of us who headed back decided to try to crash an earlier session.  As we were walking from the bus stop, Ann-Marie and I noticed signs about the UQ Career Fair that was going on.  Obviously, we knew that they wouldn't have anything in store for us there, but we decided to swing by to get some lollies and free stuff.  By 12:45pm, we'd only been around to a couple of the stalls but had gotten a ridiculous amount of lollies...so we decided that we were going to just go to our normal Micro session so that we could walk around the whole UQ Centre and explore all the booths.

After 1.5 hours of pretending that we were first year engineering students, undecided on what we wanted to specialize in (electrical, mechanical, etc), we walked away with some awesome stuff.  Highlights for me include a metal water bottle (I've been meaning to get one), a pair of flip flops, bags of jelly beans, and finally lots and lots of chocolate.  Here is a picture of everything I got:

Ann-Marie and I have decided that this is the best we've ever done at any career fair and plan on going again next year!

3. PBL fun - I belong to a very awesome PBL group. No dominant personalities, everybody's really laid back, and there's no drama.  I was worried at the beginning of the school year that I'd be stuck in a really horrible group, but after my first session, all of these worries eased.  Anyhow, this week, we switched tutors and now, we have this amazing one! It's a refreshing change.

But yes, after PBL today, Ravi organized another pizza get together at the Pizza Cafe on campus.  It was nice to just be able to hang out and know that we don't have classes for the next week.  Jade and I shared the Sophia Loren pizza (spinach, gorgonzola, and olives), and it was really good.

Thanks to everyone for making this week awesome!  And I did pass both of my assessments!  Only peer tutorial left tonight, and then it's 10 days off (study, study, study though).  Hope you all have a great rest of the week!

Cheers,
Jen

March Madness

As many of you know, I am a HUGE fan of college basketball.  March is one of my most favorite months of the year...I've followed college basketball since I was in high school and have filled out brackets since I was in college.  I'm a die-hard fan of the sport, and I love my K-states even more.  So this year, when Kansas was given the overall number 1 spot and then Kentucky also received a number 1 spot, I was ecstatic! But then KU lost last weekend, and today, UK lost.  Devastation.  My bracket is a complete bust (first time in 3 years--I've picked the winning team for the past 2 years), but I'll continue watching since it's the most awesome sport and tournament in the world!

Yesterday, I headed to Chinatown with a couple of friends.  I'd only been once previously but wasn't too impressed since it's only about a block long.  But I've been craving some chow mein for the past week since Ally had some for lunch the other day.  I've never been a huge fan of chinese food, and I very rarely eat it, but there's something about not eating chinese food for a long while that makes me crave it.  So I went grocery shopping for some soy sauce, sugar, and Hokkian noodles yesterday, and here's what I made (vegetarian chow mein since I gave up meat for Lent). 

Not too bad, huh?  It tastes just like Chinese take-out, so I'm happy with the way it turned out!  Now I have enough chow mein for the rest of the week. Whoo!

Hope you all have a great, awesome rest of the weekend! 

Elective in the UK!

So it looks like I might be doing my elective at the end of the year in London!  Obviously, I have a lot to sort out, but the most important thing I first need to do is find a doctor who's willing to take me on.  Hopefully it won't be too difficult because I've already starting planning my month in Europe! 

I've debated for a long time where I should go for this elective, and it came down to either home (San Francisco), a developing country, or London.  Home would be the easiest and most convenient.  A developing country because it's really why I got into medicine in the first place.  London because I love Europe and want to live there some day.  The UK has won out simply because I potentially have free housing there, and from what I hear, the elective will be my last hoo-rah before what I currently know as my life disappears with second year studies, USMLE prep, clerkships, internship, residency, etc. I do have to say, however, that I'm finding first year pretty difficult anyhow since I don't have any of that life sciences background.  But it's cool.  At least I'm having fun, right?

But yes, planning for Europe (again)...oh what joys!  Places I really want to go to again include Angelina's in Paris.  They have the best hot chocolate ever (thanks Connie)! I also want to go back to Rue Mouffetard and visit all of their crepe stands.  YUM.  I also need to ride the London Eye since Cax and I ran out of time in November.  And the West End!  I plan on watching all the musicals and plays that I can!  Exciting. 

Nothing much otherwise.  Just studying planned for this weekend though Darren, Jeff, and I might head to Chinatown for some grocery shopping today since I'm not going to the West End Farmer's Market.  Perhaps some chow mein?  Until next time...