hey there friends. i know you're all pretty concerned about my short disappearance from the blog world. ugh every time i say the word blog i feel like such a nerd.
but it's ok. i'm writing on a blog. whatever. if you think i'm a nerd then stop reading . . .
alright, you're still reading which means you're interested in what i have to say on my blog and therefore are just as nerdy as i am for writing said blog.
. . . pause for a second while i go microwave some pizza . . .
back!!! i wanted to tell you about my beautiful day(s). so, the other day i received news of passing my gastrointestinal class . . . waaahoo! there were a few days in there when i was pretty nervous about not passing gastrointestinal. because it was a close call. but in the end, i pulled through.
today was pretty fun in general because i slept in, and then had one of my first clinical experiences in med school. i was assigned to a pediatrician who practices a few miles north. i had a really nice time observing, taking medical histories, and practicing physical skills like ear and pulmonary exams (because as it turns out, children either come in with an ear infection, pneumonia, or the flu). my preceptor (the pediatrician) was really nice, too.
then i went out for drinks with old and new friends - it was such a lovely time! but what really stuck with me from my evening was the interactions i had during my transit journey to get across town. on my way, i had an interesting chat with a gentleman sitting across from me on the bus. i don't know if he was on mood altering drugs or was simply in an altered state of mind, but he fixed his dark eyes on me and asked who won, adam or eve? is monogamy possible? what is the answer to life? i just smiled and said that's pretty deep for the bus, and i don't know the answer. after we were finished talking, i pulled out some notes to study during my down time. he got my attention again after i'd been studying a few minutes and held up his palms and said relax. just relax. he caught my eye once more and gave me a knowing look and said - you just need to relax! i smiled and silently agreed.
then i hopped off the bus in an unfamiliar and dark part of town - oops the silly quadrant system/repeating street #s of this city got the best of me again. instead of trying to figure it out, i hailed a cab. it's my default these days, especially when i feel lost in the dark. i said can you take me to this bar, and he said sure. he had some fun music playing, and i asked about it. he said it was from ghana. i smiled and nodded my head along with the beat. he turned around at a stop light and explained - the song is about feeling empowered because there's a God who loves you. that made me smile more.
then i met my friends for drinks and catching up. how fun! then i got into a cab to go home. this sweet cab driver told me all about the engineering classes he was taking. how he loves math and science, and how he is happy to be here in the states to have these opportunities. but we also talked about the road the us is on - budget crises and such. and how we both are (very cautiously) optimistic for our nation's future.
what a wonderful world it can be, when you get to meet so many interesting people in one day. it's a reminder that there is so much to be learned about every person, if you remember to ask.
xoxo,
k and lil e
ps this post is dedicated to the birthday people! my dad, and my good friend katie! happy birthday, you two!!