1 Down..How Many More to Go?

Well I survived Week 1 of MS1 (1st year medical school)! Honestly, it wasn't so bad, but again it was only week one. I have a lot to study each night because I choose to. Some people might wait until the weekend to study the week's info, but I like to summarize and learn the material each night after classes. My typical day so far is as follows: 8-3:30 class, 3:30-4:30 drive home, take Bentley for walk, have a snack, 4:30-6:30 summarize day's classes, 6:30-7:30 dinner and TV break, 7:30-10:30 study. It's not so bad because I've taken all of these classes before so I just need to review it again.

On Thursday we began dissecting the cadavers. My table, along with 3 others, do not have cadavers yet. There were problems in the shipping and ours will arrive some time next week. In the meantime, we work with the group next to ours. The cadaver is an older woman. We spent 45 min. allowing everyone to adjust to seeing a body and feeling it. For some people this was very difficult (who would have thought?!). Me, being a veteran to this line of business, sat back and watched everyone squirm. Again, I am so thankful for all my experience with organ donation.

The work I did was quite different from our goal in lab. We are slowly dissecting the body to see every muscle, tendon, and vein that we are expected to memorize. It is truly amazing to have this opportunity. Some of the medical schools in the States do not even get a full body dissection. It's sad for them because I can think of no other better way to fully grasp the complexity of the human body.

This weekend I moved into my permanent home down here. It wasn't really much of a move because I simply carried my stuff down the sidewalk into a villa not so directly on the ocean. The place is great. It is 2 bed, 2 bath, 2 floors. The master is upstairs with a private deck overlooking the pool and ocean. Its spectacular! On Saturday my neighbor took me all over the island looking for additional furniture and accessories to turn the rental into a "home". I have a painter coming on Wednesday to paint an accent wall in the living room and one in the master. Anyone that has been to our home in Tucson knows that Ryan and I like paint! I think it will do a lot for the house.

Now for my most anticipated event this week: Ryan's arrival! He is coming on Thursday at 10pm and I can't wait. He is going to be able to see his wife presented with a white coat and sign the Hippocratic Oath. I'm expecting it to be emotional and exhilarating at the same time! I wish all of you could be here. Stay tuned for pictures and the week's story!