It's a learning thing....

So typically, when you learn something you can do one of two things with the piece of information. Remember it for the present task at hand, or remember it for the present and future.

4 days into my medical education, I learned the above lesson well. It seems that my modes of studying in undergrad came and bit me from behind. Not only has it been 4 years since I graduated, but I have learned that I never TRUELY learned anything at all. Yes, this is an exaggeration, but I spend the past few nights RE-LEARNING everything I though I already knew, plus the new information they are filling my head with! Overwhelming indeed. Every single class is related, so if you don't understand a pathway in one class, it can greatly hinder your understanding of another subject. Note to self, LEARN EVERYTHING.... and Learn for the future, not for today.

Now to the island.... Dominica really isn't that bad.

Food, is by far one of the most revolting topics I can think of. I have never in my life had so much anxiety when it comes to eating! Right by campus is a little place called the "Shacks". And yes, they look like shacks. Like all other places to eat in Dominica, I force myself to think of where the food comes from and how they keep the chicken and fish cold. Or what happens when they lose power? (which happens quite often here) Do they throw out the food? I mean it can't possibly stay cold in 100 degree weather without power! Not to mention the overabundance of bugs on this island swarming all over the restaurants. The thought of it makes me walk straight home and grab a protein bar from my cupboard!

Aside from the random bugs and terrible food, the island life is quite rewarding. I mean who would have thought that by just going to class I would lose 10 pounds and get a tan? The downside to that, is the terrible farmers tan from my backpack, and the drenched sports bra chilling my spine as the AC in class kicks on. But overall, life is good.

I am trying extremely hard to find the time study everything that was in a days worth of lectures. Example: We have 2 hours of Biochemistry and 2 hours of Histology lecture in the morning. And then we start in the afternoon with Anatomy Lab. (yes, we dissect real cadavers...more on that when I actually get to do the cutting!) At the end of the day, sometimes it is 5:30 by the time I get home. Now I have to incorporate 4-8 hours of lecturing into my night's studies so I don't fall behind. You do the math, but it turns out to a lot of late nights. And as I stated above, I have to go above and beyond that because my basic science recall is not so great. Let me just say I am looking forward to the weekend so I can review everything I learned and hopefully solidify most of it in my brain!

Off to another lecture.... Radiologic Anatomy.