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.
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