Last night, I dreamed that I matched into my top residency choice. All was good and well until I showed up to my first day of work to discover that I had actually ended up at the worst program of all time. I hated my upper-level, I hated my attending, and I even hated my co-tern (interestingly, played by someone I know in real life who isn't even a fourth year medical student and thus has no chance of being my co-tern). By the end of the nightmare, I was regretting my choice in training program, in specialty, and in my entire career as a physician.
I'M JUST A LITTLE STRESSED ABOUT MATCH, OKAY??
Healthy as a Horse
I had my PPD read today, a graduation requirement. And you know what? It was definitely, undoubtedly, certainly, 100% negative. Whew! I mean, I've already had experience with bedbugs and amebiasis. If I had contracted tuberculosis while I was in Guatemala too, well, that might have been the straw that broke the camel's back. Thank the good Lord that I didn't.
I'd write more, but I think it's time for me to start watching the pilot episode of The Wire. Because what better way to spend the rest of my fourth year than diving headfirst into cultish TV shows?
I'd write more, but I think it's time for me to start watching the pilot episode of The Wire. Because what better way to spend the rest of my fourth year than diving headfirst into cultish TV shows?
Musical Theater
Today marks my return to the world of musical theater. I spent my first afternoon of many working with the students of Charlottesville High School on H2$, which goes up in less than three weeks. It's crazy; the last show I played was The Light in the Piazza, which was almost four years ago. I still remember it like it was yesterday, but I was a different person then. I had just graduated college, and at the time, eight hours of rehearsal a day seemed like nothing to me. Sadly, I'm no longer the pianist I once was, and even just playing for three hours today was both physically and mentally exhausting.
To complement my experience, I also watched the first five episodes of Smash in the past 24 hours. Don't look at me like that! Matty made me do it, I swear.
It's a show about creating a Broadway musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe, and the original music in it is very captivating. I'm not a big a fan of the random covers that they do of pop songs; it reminds me too much of Glee (I hate Glee), and I think it's better as a show about a musical than it is as a musical itself. Does that make sense?
I think part of why I like the show is that the characters are, for the most part, believable. For better or for worse, I've actually worked with a lot of people who have personalities exactly like the stars of Smash. My favorite character, though? Larry, the rehearsal pianist. That guy is a darn good one... so good, in fact, that somehow while he's playing you'll also hear a drumset, bass, trumpet, and violin, amongst other instruments. I wish it sounded like that when I played piano!
Snow Day
It snowed this morning!
Like, quite a bit. Enough so that local schools were closed. I was supposed to start rehearsals with the Charlottesville High School Drama Department for their upcoming production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, but no classes means no after-school activities, so I had the day off.
I spent the afternoon playing on the Lawn with Titan and Coop. When we tired of that, we decided to go for a walk around grounds. Coop and I visited our first-year dorms, although mine has been torn down and replaced with a behemoth by the name of Watson-Webb. It's huge! One of the workers was outside taking a smoking break and we chatted her up. She informed us that not only are the new dorms air-conditioned, but they also have flat-screen TVs in the lounges and kitchens for the residents to use. I feel gypped!
Sadly, I didn't bring my camera with me and thus have no pictures to share of our awesome adventure. I know, it's very uncharacteristic of me. Perhaps the 'meebs have migrated to my brain...
Like, quite a bit. Enough so that local schools were closed. I was supposed to start rehearsals with the Charlottesville High School Drama Department for their upcoming production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, but no classes means no after-school activities, so I had the day off.
I spent the afternoon playing on the Lawn with Titan and Coop. When we tired of that, we decided to go for a walk around grounds. Coop and I visited our first-year dorms, although mine has been torn down and replaced with a behemoth by the name of Watson-Webb. It's huge! One of the workers was outside taking a smoking break and we chatted her up. She informed us that not only are the new dorms air-conditioned, but they also have flat-screen TVs in the lounges and kitchens for the residents to use. I feel gypped!
Sadly, I didn't bring my camera with me and thus have no pictures to share of our awesome adventure. I know, it's very uncharacteristic of me. Perhaps the 'meebs have migrated to my brain...
Life Updates
On my luggage:
Still no word of it from Continental. On the one hand, I'm really sad about losing some of my favorite clothes and especially my brand new Vibram FiveFingers. On the other hand, I haven't had to worry about eliminating bed bugs from my suitcase and its contents.
On my intestinal parasites:
I've finished my course of nitazoxanide, but that is not to say that my symptoms have let up. We'll see how the next few days go. If I continue to feel bad, then it's probably time for a trip to Student Health to give another stool sample.
On my laptop charger:
Did you know that a brand new power adapter from Apple costs $79?? I'm sorry, but that's just ridiculous. Luckily the hostel still has mine, so Amanda and Lis are going to bring it back for me when they return from Guatemala this week. In the meantime, I've stolen Lee's charger from his room to use as my own. What? It's not like he needs it while he's in Ghana!
On re-assimilating into life in the United States:
As easy as pie. I may have been born in a developing country, but that doesn't mean I'm made for living in one. Heated showers, potable tap water, and my own car to get me from Point A to Point B? Why yes, I believe that will be just fine, sir.
Still no word of it from Continental. On the one hand, I'm really sad about losing some of my favorite clothes and especially my brand new Vibram FiveFingers. On the other hand, I haven't had to worry about eliminating bed bugs from my suitcase and its contents.
On my intestinal parasites:
I've finished my course of nitazoxanide, but that is not to say that my symptoms have let up. We'll see how the next few days go. If I continue to feel bad, then it's probably time for a trip to Student Health to give another stool sample.
On my laptop charger:
Did you know that a brand new power adapter from Apple costs $79?? I'm sorry, but that's just ridiculous. Luckily the hostel still has mine, so Amanda and Lis are going to bring it back for me when they return from Guatemala this week. In the meantime, I've stolen Lee's charger from his room to use as my own. What? It's not like he needs it while he's in Ghana!
On re-assimilating into life in the United States:
As easy as pie. I may have been born in a developing country, but that doesn't mean I'm made for living in one. Heated showers, potable tap water, and my own car to get me from Point A to Point B? Why yes, I believe that will be just fine, sir.
Pwned by Guatemala
First blog post ever from my iPod! And you know why? Because I left my laptop charger at my hostel in Guatemala City, and I need to buy a new one tomorrow.
At least I still have my laptop itself, which was in my carry-on luggage.
My check-in bags didn't show up at Dulles when I did, and the folks at Continental are still looking for it. Here's to hoping that my clothes show up soon!
On the bright side, I'm reunited with Titan, who was so excited to see me that he kept alternating between trying to jump into my arms and running to the corner of the room and crying. What a confused dog I have.
My check-in bags didn't show up at Dulles when I did, and the folks at Continental are still looking for it. Here's to hoping that my clothes show up soon!
On the bright side, I'm reunited with Titan, who was so excited to see me that he kept alternating between trying to jump into my arms and running to the corner of the room and crying. What a confused dog I have.
La Muerte
I rarely get sick, so when I do, my body doesn't know how to deal with it.
I'm glad to say that I felt fine during my kayak and horseback riding trips yesterday, but as soon as I got back to San Lucas, I knew that something was wrong. I ended up calling it an early night and going to bed by 9pm.
When I woke up in the middle of the night, I was running a high fever. I was so dehydrated that my tongue felt like sandpaper in my mouth. I was nauseous, but I couldn't bring myself to vomit. I was curled up under several layers but still shivering and producing night sweats.
"What if I feel like this tomorrow?" I thought to myself. "There's no way I can travel feeling like this. Will I be forced to stay in Guatemala until I recover? Do I need to call the airline company and postpone my return? How would I pay for healthcare in a foreign country?"
As I lay in bed last night, I was seconds away from calling a tuk-tuk to be taken to the clinic so I could get IV fluids and ondansetron. I don't recall every being so uncomfortable in my entire life. Luckily I feel better this morning, but I pray that the fever doesn't return tonight. I'm really not in the mood to be tested for malaria when I get back.
I'm glad to say that I felt fine during my kayak and horseback riding trips yesterday, but as soon as I got back to San Lucas, I knew that something was wrong. I ended up calling it an early night and going to bed by 9pm.
When I woke up in the middle of the night, I was running a high fever. I was so dehydrated that my tongue felt like sandpaper in my mouth. I was nauseous, but I couldn't bring myself to vomit. I was curled up under several layers but still shivering and producing night sweats.
"What if I feel like this tomorrow?" I thought to myself. "There's no way I can travel feeling like this. Will I be forced to stay in Guatemala until I recover? Do I need to call the airline company and postpone my return? How would I pay for healthcare in a foreign country?"
As I lay in bed last night, I was seconds away from calling a tuk-tuk to be taken to the clinic so I could get IV fluids and ondansetron. I don't recall every being so uncomfortable in my entire life. Luckily I feel better this morning, but I pray that the fever doesn't return tonight. I'm really not in the mood to be tested for malaria when I get back.
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