Let fall break begin! After almost two months here I am ready to just relax! I'm not stressing myself out with crazy plans like everybody else, I just don't want that right now. Instead I plan to stay home for a while. My homework is piling up and I have a lot of deadlines coming up that I need to meet. Although all I want to do is relax I know just as well as everyone who has been following me it's probably not going to happen. It was worth a shot though... right?
Last weekend we went to Greenwich, and brilliant us decided to take a boat. Not so brilliant, more like freezing! I tucked my knees up under my chin and enjoyed the breath taking view from the small opening between my hood and my knees. The wind messed up my hair and seemed to seep into my bones. When the boat finally bumped into the dock I was so ready to get on dry land. My mind soon changed when they told us we would be climbing up the steepest hill in Greenwich. I looked over my shoulder just in time to see the boat pull away, leaving me no choice but to go along.
My legs burned after trekking up the massive hill, but on the bright side I did get to straddle the prime meridian. Yes, I was in two hemispheres at once, and yes it was awesome... for about thirty seconds. Once all the excitement had passed I ventured inside the Royal Observatory. The museum focuses on the development of navigational techniques. It featured huge touch screen displays that mapped out the history of attempts at making a clock able to work on a ship being tossed about by massive waves. At the top of a steep spiral staircase a gigantic telescope peered off into space. It seemed to stretch on forever and I wished I could sit in the seat and see what far off wonders it was searching for. The observatory was magnificent but my favorite part was pulling the typical American move and taking jumping pictures with the entire city as our backdrop.
Going down the hill was much easier than going up and we practically rand to the bottom. We walked through a luscious green park, past a small stream, through spotless glass doors, and into the National Maritime Museum. Massive ships towered over me and voices surrounded me as they expressed their love for the sea. Old sea exploring equipment hung from the walls, worn ship figureheads stood cracked a faded after countless hard years on the water, and a cave led visitors through the stories of the first explorations of the vast oceans. I felt as if my head was swimming with all the different things going on but it was wonderful. Since visiting Brighton I have a new found love for the sea and getting to learn more about it phenomenal.
After I was drug out of the museum we explored the markets where we met a few very interesting individuals. One lady selling organic home-made beauty products told me I could change the world by thinking and taking a different approach to the way I practice medicine. Men tossed dough high into the air and caught if flawlessly, others talked about healthy nuts, and some folded metal into frames for pictures or postcards. We wandered through the aisles and ended up in s candy shop, the perfect place for a girl with a sweet tooth. On the way back we took the DLR, a train with no driver. It felt a bit like a roller coaster and I loved it. I got a seat right in the front and it was the perfect final adventure of the day. I had fun and everyone we met chatted and was very friendly and I would love to go back and visit. That may not be for a while though because I just made it through classes and I'm ready for my break. The streets of London need a week off from this girl.
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Thursday, 13 October 2011
Week Six - Thursday, October 13th
Last weekend was supposed to be my few days to finally relax, stay home, and get some work done. That didn't happen. I went out every night and had a ton of fun, and even saw a few new things. Saturday night I went to a comedy club and was disappointed, that is until the headliner came on. She was hilarious! She was plastered and sang songs off her newest album "I'm Not Drunk I Just Want to Talk to You" about her ex-boyfriends. She was a little crazy but it made her act even better and I was laughing the entire time.
Over the weekend I talked to a lot of people who have lived in the UK their entire lives and learned a lot. Nobody wants to join with the Euro, they all want to keep the pound and believes it gives them a sense of independence. Religion is important to a good majority of individuals along with politics and the NHS which everybody seems to praise. Nobody can imagine paying for health care and I had many long conversations about the differences in America. I'm pretty sure they all think I'm crazy but I wouldn't necessarily argue with them on that point.
I had way too much fun, but after my crazy weekend it was right back to work. Monday and Tuesday I put in two more long days at the hospital. I'm beginning to get an in depth look at how the system works in the United Kingdom. I now know the roles of each type of doctor, the common timeline of patient admittance, order of referrals, and so much more boring stuff nobody outside the health profession wants to know. The hospital itself is huge and I have only seen a small portion of it including the cardiology, rehabilitation, stroke, outpatient ward, each of which is extremely different. I'm getting a ton of invaluable experience and love it so much I willingly put in over twelve hours a day from the time I leave to the time I get back. Sometimes I feel like I live there and never get out.
Although I want to travel and see everything I can I don't think I will until fall break simply because there is so much to see right here in London and the UK. My internal clock has finally begun to straighten out and I'm beginning to get a bit of a set schedule. My schedule tends to be a bit hectic but that's nothing new for me. I love always being busy. Homesickness isn't as frequent as it used to be. I think a lot of it has to do with me keeping myself occupied. Of course I miss my family, boyfriend, and friends, but I love it here in London. It's harder when I talk to them and they mention coming home, or memories of the past. All of that comes with studying abroad though, and I made the decision to be here. I don't regret that ever. Besides, the streets here would be a lot less interesting without me wandering around.
Over the weekend I talked to a lot of people who have lived in the UK their entire lives and learned a lot. Nobody wants to join with the Euro, they all want to keep the pound and believes it gives them a sense of independence. Religion is important to a good majority of individuals along with politics and the NHS which everybody seems to praise. Nobody can imagine paying for health care and I had many long conversations about the differences in America. I'm pretty sure they all think I'm crazy but I wouldn't necessarily argue with them on that point.
I had way too much fun, but after my crazy weekend it was right back to work. Monday and Tuesday I put in two more long days at the hospital. I'm beginning to get an in depth look at how the system works in the United Kingdom. I now know the roles of each type of doctor, the common timeline of patient admittance, order of referrals, and so much more boring stuff nobody outside the health profession wants to know. The hospital itself is huge and I have only seen a small portion of it including the cardiology, rehabilitation, stroke, outpatient ward, each of which is extremely different. I'm getting a ton of invaluable experience and love it so much I willingly put in over twelve hours a day from the time I leave to the time I get back. Sometimes I feel like I live there and never get out.
Although I want to travel and see everything I can I don't think I will until fall break simply because there is so much to see right here in London and the UK. My internal clock has finally begun to straighten out and I'm beginning to get a bit of a set schedule. My schedule tends to be a bit hectic but that's nothing new for me. I love always being busy. Homesickness isn't as frequent as it used to be. I think a lot of it has to do with me keeping myself occupied. Of course I miss my family, boyfriend, and friends, but I love it here in London. It's harder when I talk to them and they mention coming home, or memories of the past. All of that comes with studying abroad though, and I made the decision to be here. I don't regret that ever. Besides, the streets here would be a lot less interesting without me wandering around.
Thursday, 6 October 2011
Week Five - Thursday, October 6th
This week has been crazy, and by far the best yet. Friday we took a trip as a class and visited Stonehenge, which was sweet for about ten minutes and then I had seen it all. Most of the people were more intrigued by the field of sheep across from the historical site. We got back on the bus and went to Bath. I got to walk through the Royal Roman Baths which were beautiful just like the rest of the city. I was even given a sign of peace and a funny photo opportunity by a retired Roman polishing his armor.
Cindy, Sahara, and I walked through the town after I tried a glass of the water from the spring that fed the ancient baths. Neither of them wanted to try the water but after I assured them it tasted strangely like warm water they both had a sip before we taste tested some delicious traditional pasties. It was a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of inner city life. I felt almost as if I had gone on a miniature vacation as I rested between the massive trees in the center of the Royal Crescent. After a long bus ride home I made my long day even longer and went out to celebrate Central's traditional Lemming Race.
Saturday I traveled to Brighton, a town located on the southern coast of the UK along the Celtic Sea. Our train took just under an hour. The second I stepped off the train and onto the platform I was ready to go. In the distance the horizon changed from tall city buildings to a rocky beach littered with people and water stretched out until it met the bright blue sky far off in the distance. Having never lived near any body of water I practically ran down the steep main street as my friends laughed at me for being so "cute," but I didn't care. The second my feet hit the rocky beach I was down to my swimming suit and headed straight for the water.
It was freezing and goosebumps spread up my legs as I waded further out into the water until my toes could no longer reach the rough bottom. Other swimmers joked with me and we shared stories of how we ended up at the beach on a sunny October afternoon. I spent the rest of the day in Brighton. I walked to the end of the pier as the sunset over the water, it really made me miss my boyfriend and wish he could have been there with me. The pier was lit up, carnival rides spun wildly, children laughed, and I found myself sitting at a booth playing ski ball trying to race my dolphin to the finish line first. On my walk back to the train I stopped along the shore to watch a man on a unicycle juggle fire and when the act was over I almost dreaded having to leave the shore. Once I reached the hotel though I was glad to get the salt off my skin and finally get some rest in my own bed.
My excitement carried over into the week when I finally started my internship on Tuesday. I was placed in the cardiology unit and got to dive right in. Francesco, the head doctor, went through on ward rounds with me following closely at his heels. I listened carefully as he explained to each patient their planned treatments for the day and discussed their conditions. Two first year doctors explained all the terminology and tests to me and I picked it up quckly. My mind raced at a thousand miles a minute as I flipped through charts of history and test results trying to assist in the development of countless care plans. Countless terms were thrown at me and we bounced ideas off each other trying to find causes and cures. I felt intimidated when they asked me for my opinions and proud when I knew the answers to their advanced medical questions.
I was like a sponge soaking up everything possible and learned so much about cardiology. The differences in healthcare from the U.S. to the U.K. are huge and was one of the most intriguing topics we discussed. A few incidents really stuck with me. I got to see a patient who had caridac bypass surgery, a woman with COPD, and a lady who hugged me for giving her a little attention and making her day. I could have stayed there all night even though my legs ached from more than ten hours on my feet moving from one room to the next. This is exactly the type of environment I want to find myself in, and can't believe I have the extraordinary opportunity to be here already. Now I'm giving the streets a rest and spending some extra time in the maze of hospital corridors.
Cindy, Sahara, and I walked through the town after I tried a glass of the water from the spring that fed the ancient baths. Neither of them wanted to try the water but after I assured them it tasted strangely like warm water they both had a sip before we taste tested some delicious traditional pasties. It was a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of inner city life. I felt almost as if I had gone on a miniature vacation as I rested between the massive trees in the center of the Royal Crescent. After a long bus ride home I made my long day even longer and went out to celebrate Central's traditional Lemming Race.
Saturday I traveled to Brighton, a town located on the southern coast of the UK along the Celtic Sea. Our train took just under an hour. The second I stepped off the train and onto the platform I was ready to go. In the distance the horizon changed from tall city buildings to a rocky beach littered with people and water stretched out until it met the bright blue sky far off in the distance. Having never lived near any body of water I practically ran down the steep main street as my friends laughed at me for being so "cute," but I didn't care. The second my feet hit the rocky beach I was down to my swimming suit and headed straight for the water.
It was freezing and goosebumps spread up my legs as I waded further out into the water until my toes could no longer reach the rough bottom. Other swimmers joked with me and we shared stories of how we ended up at the beach on a sunny October afternoon. I spent the rest of the day in Brighton. I walked to the end of the pier as the sunset over the water, it really made me miss my boyfriend and wish he could have been there with me. The pier was lit up, carnival rides spun wildly, children laughed, and I found myself sitting at a booth playing ski ball trying to race my dolphin to the finish line first. On my walk back to the train I stopped along the shore to watch a man on a unicycle juggle fire and when the act was over I almost dreaded having to leave the shore. Once I reached the hotel though I was glad to get the salt off my skin and finally get some rest in my own bed.
My excitement carried over into the week when I finally started my internship on Tuesday. I was placed in the cardiology unit and got to dive right in. Francesco, the head doctor, went through on ward rounds with me following closely at his heels. I listened carefully as he explained to each patient their planned treatments for the day and discussed their conditions. Two first year doctors explained all the terminology and tests to me and I picked it up quckly. My mind raced at a thousand miles a minute as I flipped through charts of history and test results trying to assist in the development of countless care plans. Countless terms were thrown at me and we bounced ideas off each other trying to find causes and cures. I felt intimidated when they asked me for my opinions and proud when I knew the answers to their advanced medical questions.
I was like a sponge soaking up everything possible and learned so much about cardiology. The differences in healthcare from the U.S. to the U.K. are huge and was one of the most intriguing topics we discussed. A few incidents really stuck with me. I got to see a patient who had caridac bypass surgery, a woman with COPD, and a lady who hugged me for giving her a little attention and making her day. I could have stayed there all night even though my legs ached from more than ten hours on my feet moving from one room to the next. This is exactly the type of environment I want to find myself in, and can't believe I have the extraordinary opportunity to be here already. Now I'm giving the streets a rest and spending some extra time in the maze of hospital corridors.
Monday, 3 October 2011
Week Four - Thursday, September 29th
Another week down in the books and they just keep flying by. I don't know where all my time is going! I've been here almost a month now but it seems like my plane landed only a few days ago. I'm getting lost in the vast maze of streets and don't know if I will ever get out, or if I even want to. I'm seeing more of the city everyday and venture further from my hotel, but always manage to find a way home, no matter how ridiculous it may be. This week I settled down a little finally. Don't worry, this won't last long.
Tuesday I got up early, slipped into my pencil skirt, tucked in my sweater, put on my heels, and strutted out the door. The hour long journey to West Middlesex University Hospital seemed to take forever. The seconds ticked by slowly and I jammed out to my iPod to pass the time. None of that mattered because the second my bus pulled up I was ready to get started. Enthusiastically, with a huge smile spread across my face, I shook the firm hand of Stephen Hamilton, my soon to be boss. As I patiently waited for him to say something I noticed our strange setting.
We were standing in a small box of an office with nothing more than a cluttered desk, one chair, and a filing cabinet. Before he spoke I knew what he was going to say. My internship was pushed back another week because he was still moving offices. I wasn't upset, I had just been so ready to get started I wasn't sure what to do with my day. As it turns out this was one of the best things that could have happened. On my slow walk down the hill to the bus stop I listened to my heels click on the pavement and thought about what to do with my day. My mind continued to wander as I stepped onto the bus and plopped down into a seat.
I crossed my legs and noticed the red mark I had on my leg had grown bigger. Two nights ago I had been bit by a spider and peeked over my knees from the corner as one of my friends killed it. It itched a bit but I hadn't thought anything of it. With my now free afternoon I made the walk from the train station I got off at to the clinic a short distance down the street. I found out I had been bit by a poisonous spider and was sent straight to the pharmacy. Now for the next week I get to take twelve pills a day and avoid walking. How is that even possible? Looks like I won't be exploring too many streets any time soon.
Tuesday I got up early, slipped into my pencil skirt, tucked in my sweater, put on my heels, and strutted out the door. The hour long journey to West Middlesex University Hospital seemed to take forever. The seconds ticked by slowly and I jammed out to my iPod to pass the time. None of that mattered because the second my bus pulled up I was ready to get started. Enthusiastically, with a huge smile spread across my face, I shook the firm hand of Stephen Hamilton, my soon to be boss. As I patiently waited for him to say something I noticed our strange setting.
We were standing in a small box of an office with nothing more than a cluttered desk, one chair, and a filing cabinet. Before he spoke I knew what he was going to say. My internship was pushed back another week because he was still moving offices. I wasn't upset, I had just been so ready to get started I wasn't sure what to do with my day. As it turns out this was one of the best things that could have happened. On my slow walk down the hill to the bus stop I listened to my heels click on the pavement and thought about what to do with my day. My mind continued to wander as I stepped onto the bus and plopped down into a seat.
I crossed my legs and noticed the red mark I had on my leg had grown bigger. Two nights ago I had been bit by a spider and peeked over my knees from the corner as one of my friends killed it. It itched a bit but I hadn't thought anything of it. With my now free afternoon I made the walk from the train station I got off at to the clinic a short distance down the street. I found out I had been bit by a poisonous spider and was sent straight to the pharmacy. Now for the next week I get to take twelve pills a day and avoid walking. How is that even possible? Looks like I won't be exploring too many streets any time soon.
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