and it begins again...

Block 1 is done, grades came out, I did well on all 3 tests so no complaints. I figured this would be the point I would tweak my study habits to accommodate and readjust to what I feel needed to be changed but really...I think ill just keep it the same! It's kind of crazy but block 2 is just around the corner even though we just finished block 1. Oh well, back to studying....every subject, every day!

Noxolo

BLOCK 1 IS DONE

As of about 1130 today...block 1 is done! The morning had some ups and a few downs but time will tell. We got our MCB grades back already...I did pretty well. I'm not really looking forward to getting Embryo back though....time shall tell.

I don't know what i'm more excited for, not having to study for a day and a half, or actually being able to go outside in the beautiful weather instead of just looking at it!

Noxolo

First Block

2 hours from now I will have started my first block...wow. This past month has gone by really fast, but this past week has gone by even faster. Im really looking forward to getting the first block under my belt and there are already a few things i'll be changing for next block but I'll detail that tomorrow maybe.

Wish me luck!

Noxolo

White Coat

Last night our classes white coat ceremony and it was a pretty darn good time. The whole white coat ceremony  symbolizes our transition into "doctors in training." There were speakers, and more speakers, and then some more, but finally we got to read the oath and walk across stage and awkwardly try to have someone else put our white coat on for us. All in all, I thought it was a good ceremony and was just another thing that kind of clicked and made me really realize what I'm doing....I'm going to become a doctor! After the ceremony we headed out to Bliss for some dinner and good times.

I'm a huge fan of people watching and boy where there a bunch of people to see. It was a really good time and i'm really thankful for having a bunch of really cool people in our class...365 class days until 5th semester!...but more importantly, 9 days til our first block exam!

Noxolo

Zing Zang Zoop

Just like that...the weekend is gone and another week has started. Although we've had 4 days of class I feel like i've studied for a semesters worth of material....crazy. On one hand, it's a ton of information and I know we are just getting into it, but on the other hand I really enjoy learning about everything ...at least for now. Another day of lecture down, 2 more to go before we get Thursday off for an island holiday. I'm not really sure what the reason is but hey, it's a day off to study/go to the BBQ at the beach! Friday we have white coat which should be a good time as well. The whole thing is getting put on a webcast and once I get an email about the web address I'll be sure to pass it along.

With the whole theme of new things....new school...new island....new friends....I decided to try something new to me...Sushi! It was actually really good! I'm a pretty picky eater but I would definitely go back for more given the chance!

Noxolo

here we go

After 3 days of class the first weekend comes....where do I find myself? Hello library....16 days til our first block!

Noxolo

I guess this IS what I wanted...

For the past month i've been looking forward to some structure and a routine back...I guess here it is:

645-wake up and work out
8-class
1130-lunch
12-study
5-snack/kick it
7-study
11-sleep

After the first few days I think I can say all is going well. It's nice to have a solid group of people around me and a plan of attack for all this info. It also doesn't hurt to take study breaks over looking the ocean and watching planes take off in the distance.

I can't believe it's already Friday tomorrow! It marks 1 week that I've been here....it seems like it went by really fast, but at the same time a whole bunch has happened since then!

Noxolo

First day

The wait is over, the hype has come and gone...1st day done and from here on out I can kiss it all goodbye. For all the hype I threw at it, the first day went well. Heck, after class, some lunch, and a few hours of studying/note prep I even found something real fun to do from my place: watch the planes take off! I was outside on the balcony just hanging out looking over some notes when all of a sudden I swore I saw a huge kite....nope, it was a plane. I have a real nice view of the planes that take off, they head toward the mountain, and then bank real hard. Plus, today is probably the nicest day since i've been here. A nice breeze, sun, not too humid....perfect!

Noxolo

Here and there it all comes together

Little by little I think I know my way around SXM, or a good chunk of it. I still am amused by how much bigger the island is than I had imagined. Yet, I still don't know if it's because of the bad traffic, worse drivers, crazy roads, or just the never ending beautiful things around? Yesterday we were able to register, pick up stuff from Note Service, and get our financial aid checks back. Today I was able to get my chippie sim card so i'm finally up and running on the island with a phone...feels good! After a long day of presentations/meetings I'm kind of tired, but there really is no reason! I think i'll blame it on the humidity and leave it at that!

Orientation tomorrow, an island tour, and a little mixer action at night....I can't believe school is about to start in a few days!

Noxolo

Welcome to the past 36 hours...

So I guess blogger doesn't like to upload my pictures...hmm. I threw some of my room/apt and sunset bay up on flickr. You can check them out here!

I guess a recap of the past day or so is in order....

Yesterday I flew out of MSP at 520 am...yippee. After $200 in an extra baggage charge I was all ready to go...and hoped my bags had the same idea. The flight from MSP to ATL wasn't too bad. It was right around 3 hours and seemed to go quite quick. Since I booked my tickets so far in advance I picked all my seats and thus had the first row of general seating for both flights. I don't know what it is about flying out of MSP early in the morning but I always seem to have "someone" on the flights. When I went to South Africa it was Rev Run, and this flight it was Tubby Smith. After we got to ATL I had a nice little chat with Tubby about gopher basketball and such....and then I also found out his brother in law is a pediatrician? Hmm

I was kind of nervous about my ATL connect because it's a darn big airport plus it's under construction. I initially thought I was going to have to go from Terminal A all the way down to E (which would mean a really long walk followed by a 20 min train ride and then another really long walk). Crazy thing is, our flight came in 30 min early and they sent us to E terminal ....it worked out perfectly.

Next I was on my way to SXM finally. Again, not a bad flight....around 4 hours or so. I did a little sleeping, prepped my paper work for immigration and watched some movies/TV. It was actually really nice, like our SA flights, with TV's in all the seat backs.

All in all the SXM airport arrival went pretty smooth. Well, as smooth and quick something in SXM can be. The immigration likes were kind of long and of course I picked the SLOWEST line possible. A couple of old guys behind me kept complaining about it and what not, no worries. After finally getting through...with no issues mind you, I kept my fingers crossed when I went for my bags. Crazy thing...I had all 3 of my bags within 3 min of standing at the carousel!

Somehow I managed to carry all my crap out into this hot sticky mess that is SXM weather. First person I see outside the airport is a taxi driver...perfect. I tell him I'm heading to AUC in Cupecoy and he puts on a huge smile.

Him: "Oh, so you're going to be a doctor huh?"
Me: "Yup, that's the plan"
Him: "What kind? A gynocologist?" (laughing hysterically mind you)
Me: (fake laugh) "ugh, I don't know, maybe peds?"

Awkward........

After the taxi to school I checked into the guard shack, got my packet and keys and headed up. I was really pumped that 1.) the room was REALLY cool from the AC and 2) it's really nice! No more than 5 min later C and his rents showed up. We then headed out to the store to pick up some groc. At the first place we stopped a 50 pack of paper plates was $16...HA...no thanks. We ended up finding a nice place on the other side of the airport with some good stuff and decent prices. After that we ran back to the apt to drop things off and then headed out to their resort. SXM is a lot bigger than I thought it'd be! It seemed like it just kept going and going and going..but then again, I think it could also have to do with the 1 main road, winding hills, and "slow" speeds..and slow is a relative term. Once we got to their resort we hit up the happy hour, on the beach, over looking the ocean...perfect? Pretty much....

We then headed back to campus, swung in and grabbed some dinner, yum, and then hit up Atlantis for a bit. I'm pretty pumped for the TV's with all the sports on there...looks like I won't be needing a TV.

I headed back home around 9 and started unpacking....boo. I went and kicked it with F and R for a bit and then headed to bed after a LONGGG day...but it was a good one.

This morning I got up, showered, (pleasantly surprised by the shower quality) and then kept unpacking crap. C and the rents came and swooped me and we headed out to Sunset beach for lunch/watch planes fly in. It's one of those places that you see on "Top 10 Carib Beach" shows on the travel channel...and rightfully so. The planes fly in real low, RIGHT over top the beach...check out the pics I put up on flickr.

Again, per usual, the food was great and I'm pretty pumped to go back with my legit camera gear and not my point and shoot to take some pics. After lunch I finished unpacking and just wrote this blog....welcome to the past 36 hours of my life.

Noxolo