UAAMSA
I’ve been working on wordpress.org to develop a site for UAAMSA. Now I’m trying to figure out the differences between wordpress.org and wordpress.com
Ugh
So far .org looks better with the plugins and ability to install themes..
It snows in Michigan, apparently.
So today was the first day it snowed here in Michigan. At least, since I’ve been here. Everytime I tell someone I’m from California, people always ask me, “So, have you seen snow?” And when I counter that California has snow, people like to scoff and say,” Oh there’s no good snow there.” At this point, I point out that we have Lake Tahoe, and have hosted the Winter Olympics. Not good enough snow for you? Good enough for the world, thankyouverymuch.
(Above picture is Lake Tahoe, with the Sierra Nevadas in the background)
A few thoughts:
“Med Student P” is probably the only person I know so far who is actually excited for snow. He keeps on doing his snow dance and wishing for snow. I think it’s ironic that he was also one of the only people I know who didn’t get to see the snow today.
Med Student K, last year apparently, thought that it was flying ashes and went around telling everyone that it was so. I guess Arizona doesn’t have snow.
My own thoughts: Walking out of anatomy after having one of the juiciest most intensive labs yet, my first thought was:
1) Hey, it’s snowing
2) It’s cold
3) Stupid biostat smell
Pictionary
The other day medical student M and I went to medical students A&W’s apt to visit their new cat, Coco.
After feasting on Halloween candy and vainly trying to get the cat dizzy, we decided to play pictionary. Med student M was on my team, and A&W were on the other.
Here’s just a few random excerpts:
(Round starts, 2 seconds in)
(Both girls) A&W: LOVE!
Me: Dammit.
—
(M’s turn to draw)
Me (sees M’s drawing): ???
Me: Cylinder?? uhh Dynamite! no, mm.. Jackhammer!!
(Med Student M is trying very hard)
A&W: Needle!
Me: dammit.
—
(M’s turn to draw)
Me: M, are you ready?
M: Yeah! Let’s do it!
Me: Okay, we’re ready.
M and A: Ready, set, GO!
(A begins furiously drawing, M’s pencil doesn’t move)
(5 seconds pass)
Me: Draw something!!!
M: I don’t knowww
Me: What??? (peeks over at A&W’s drawing)
W: California! Washington!
Me: Oregon!
A: WHAT HOW DID YOU- (sees me looking at their paper) You CHEATED!
Me: NO! Med student M wasn’t drawing anything!! I’m allowed to look at your paper!!
Med student M (Not sure how I guessed correctly): Wow, how did you get it from my drawing? (the drawing is a line and a triangle.. apparently a mountain)
Me: ehm,.. yeah..good drawing
—
(Med Student M’s turn to draw)
Everyone: Okay, GO!
(5 seconds later)
Me: OMG Maria draw something!!!
The Call
(Note: This photo has nothing to do with the post below. But I wanted to add something to it)
As I got ready to go for a run in the arboretum, Med Student T gives me a call.
Me: Hello?
Med Student T: Hey! What are you doing?
Me: Oh, I’m going out for a run with Med Student G, what are you up to?
Med Student T: Oh, I’m just in downtown. I was hanging out with a hobo for the past hour.
Me: Are you serious?
Med Student T: Yeah! I helped him beg and everything. Got him some money, it was cool!
Me: Sounds like something you’d do.
Med Student T: And it’s just like CFM, you know. He told me about his history, and all the psychiatric and medical problems he had. It was awesome.
Me: Wow.
Of Cups and Bowls
Normally, whenever I open my cupboards to reach for a cup, there’s at least five cups ready for me to use. And in the mornings, when I want to grab a bowl for cereal, it’s always there as well. For the past few days however, I’ve been noticing that whenever I open the cupboards, there is generally only a single cup or bowl left. But, in the hurry of the morning, I tend to forget this as I go off to class.
Today, while washing dishes from the the previous night’s (yummy) potluck dinner, Med Student Y (my roommate) comes up to me and says:
Med Student Y: You know those bowls and cups we’re missing?
Me: Hmm yeah, where are they?
Med Student Y: I found them.
Me: !!
(We walk to Med Student T’s room and discover this)
=___=
Prescribing my first medicine
After a radiology interest group dinner, I headed back to the LRC (The Learning Center) for some good Friday night studying time. As I walked through the door, I saw Med Student C sitting in a chair out in the lounge.
(Med Student C is on the phone)
(Walking past, I get a sip of water from the drinking fountain)
Med Student C: (hanging up) Argghh I’m so angry!
Me: What’s up?
Med Student C: I was talking with my boyfriend, and I told him I had a headache. He told me, ‘take some Advil,’ and I replied, ‘I don’t have any Advil.’
Me: Oh.
Med Student C: And then a minute later, I tell him again, I have a huge headache, and he again tells me, ‘take some Advil’, and I tell him AGAIN, “I don’t HAVE any Advil.”
Me: (ruffling through my backpack) I see. So you still have a headache?
Med Student C: Yes. (notices me ruffling through my backpack) Do you have any advil?
Me: I’m not sure, I’m trying to check. (Finds a whopper candy) I don’t think I have any Advil. Want a Whopper?
Med Student C: What?? No.
Me: Hmm. Okay here, how about a Warhead candy?
Med Student C: oooh I haven’t had that in forever! (Takes and eats Warhead)
Me: So how’s your headache?
Med Student C: (Sour face) ><
Life in Medical School
Around 2PM, an hour and a half before our 3:30 Anatomy Practical, Mr. T decides to head out the door.
T: “I’m heading out to the gym!”
Me: “What? What about the practical? You’re that confident huh?”
T: “Yeah. I already know it all. Plus, psychiatry doesn’t need that. We just have to know everything. Like hippies.”
Me: “…what?”
T: “Yeah, we just have to understand our patients (heads out the door)”
(T comes back in)
T: “By the way, what are the four rotator cuff muscles?”
Me: “SITS,”
T: “There’s SIX??”
Me: “There’s four. S-I-T-S. It’s an acronym.”
T: “Oh. What were they again?”
Shanghai Museum
In the morning, my dad and I headed to the Shanghai Museum in People’s Square. Unfortunately, I was still sick, and could hardly stand the air-conditioning. I woke up various times with chills and I kept getting them throughout the day. After only checking out a few exhibits, I had to leave and just warm up in the sun.
Definitely some cool items in there, and it’s pretty big. Personally, I really enjoy museums. It always amazes me to see the skills people can reach.
After only a couple hours I went back to my hotel for the rest of the day to rest. Was feeling too unwell at that point, bah.
Shanghai: Xitang Water Village（西塘水乡）
The next day after arriving, I went to Xitang, a water village. I learned about these water villages during my Chinese language class’ geography section, and ever since I’ve been craving to go. In chinese they are 江南小镇, literally, Jiangnan River’s villages. They are also called the Venice of China, because they are villages with water channels running through them. Unfortunately, they’ve really become commercialized, so the authentic feel was rather lacking, but it was still really nice to visit.
Someone going up and down the channels, cleaning as they go
Another look at the village, during the day
Lunch. I love the yellow-skin chicken
Small alleys in the back
I have to mention that I started getting sick throughout the day. It started as just a feeling of being unwell, but it’d gradually worsen. I think it was food poisoning, from a darn restaurant near my hotel. My Dad likes it a lot, I thought it wasn’t anything special, and then when I ordered a “shanghai chowmein” I got the greasiest, most oily dish I’ve had in my life. But I didn’t want to waste it ate it anyway. Regardless, I attribute my food sickness to that restaurant. Shanghai chowmein- ugh.
The village is really amazing as you get towards sundown and the light is much nicer. It lends an reddish, warm feelish to the village
Many bridges for you to take photos on
All bordering the water
Many boats going under these archways
Archway/bridge
Oh, and Mission Impossible 3 had scenes filmed here
We explored a few of the back areas where it was much more peaceful and authentic
Definitely a worthwhile place. Thank you Chinese class!
Shanghai: Arrival
As usual, I am writing this blog post in memory of something that happened months ago. But I’m going to pretend that my readers are the most patient and loyal followers, not to mention forgiving.
I arrived in Shanghai and was greeted by this ‘statue’ of the Shanghai World Expo mascot. I think it’s supposed to be a wave or something, but I kinda forgot.
Coming from the airport, one of the highlights is riding on this super fast train, the “Maglev Train” from Pudong International Airport into the city. It works by magnets, so it is essentially levitating “MAG-netic LEV-itiation”, and tops out at around 300mph. Depending on the day you take it, it maxes out at different speeds. When I went it went about 140mph.
For dinner, I went with my father and his girlfriend to an all-you-can-eat teppanyaki restaurant. The place was actually pretty cheap, but this food also wasn’t very fresh. It may look good, but it really didn’t taste good.
yeah.. seriously, quality no good
Also at the place were workers from the Spanish pavilion. Apparently they have some rodeo show, where there’s the guy dressed up in a cow suit and another as a matador. They kept on goofing around and caused a ruckus in the restaurant, driving some of the staff crazy. Made me interested to see the expo though!
Shanghai during the night is still brightly lit, with their highways and buildings lined with neon lights. Here’s a shot from my hotel room.
