Sunday, August 28, 2011

Adventures Since Being Back

Sorry for the hiatus since coming back to the US--it has been a bit of a whirlwind (but then again, when is my life not?), visiting friends and family in NY, then starting classes almost immediately after being back in DC.

Being a second-year medical student certainly feels a little surreal. It is a step closer to the dream, and this year, we focus on the more clinically relevant aspects--pharmacology and pathology (so basically drugs and diseases). I love it. We learn pharmacokinetics and mechanisms, which satisfies that part of my brain that constantly asks why things happen the way they do. We are also currently studying immunology, which I love. Really--the human body is phenomenal and immunology is just one example of how phenomenal. The system is so complex and intricate, and yet miraculous. Did you know we make all of our antibodies at random and before we see any disease? And yet somehow, we manage to be able to fight most bugs that come our way. There are so many steps, checks and balances, compensatory mechanisms. Truly, we are fearfully and wonderfully made!

In the past week, my friend from Trinidad has been visiting. He was looking for an excuse to come, and he picked the ideal week (just before life starts to become insane and clubs and academics become the routine and necessity). Of course, he also happened to pick the week of natural disasters in DC! Tuesday, we were having a late lunch when we felt shaking that felt like the metro struggling underneath (except that I knew the metro was a block over) and the glasses rattled a bit. I had no idea what happened until one of the other women said I think we just had an earthquake. Surprise! That we had one in DC at all made me wonder, but we just went outside, were served our lunch, and continued with our day. And of course last night, the hurricane, which really wasn't bad either. The only downside was that the heavy rains caused my windows and ceiling to leak, and so a steady drip-drip-drip serenaded us all night (and continues, albeit more slowly; I can see the drip into the saucepan and the subsequent rebound). Still I am grateful all is all right in most places, as far as I know.

Who knows what other adventures the year holds? I will do my best to keep you posted somewhat, or at least better than last year. I am excited to learn about diseases and treatments, to feel maybe a little more like a doctor, to see what changes the city has in store for me now. I am glad to be here, though I miss Cambodia, and grateful to have had that experience as well. And for future reference, not being able to sleep on planes does help a bit with jet lag :)