Life
Hello friends.
It has been a long time since I've done any kind of blog update.
I visited Ameba today to give some kind of basic update on my life...it took me a long time to figure out how to post on here again, since I don't know how to read Japanese.
Last time I gave some kind of update, I was going to leave for travels in Europe for a few weeks, last summer, before starting medical school. Since then, I feel like I have been swept up by a tornado, and traveled all this past year at the speed of light. I am just slowing down now, and getting some perspective on life.
Upon returning from Europe, I started my first year of medical school. This was a very challenging year. I feel like I learned a lot. I finished several courses, and definitely had both my strong points (Biochemistry, Physiology, and Intro to Clinical Practice), and my weak points (Anatomy, Neuroscience).
On a social level, I found medical school weird. Upon starting school, I noticed that many of my classmates seemed very competitive, but put on a fake friendly smile most of the time. Many people are absorbed completely in their work, and don't like to drink or have a conversation. I think working hard is great and everything, but do you really have to be a robot in order to achieve your goals?
After some time, I found some good friends. I just moved in with one of my good friends, Ladster, from medical school. The first time I ever spoke to Ladster, we were in anatomy lab and he was thinking of dropping out of medical school. I tried to convince him not to drop out.
My professors have generally been quite good and kind, and there is one elderly professor of biochemistry, Dr. Webler, who is a huge drinker, you know the type - a real good guy; we get along quite well, so we drink regularly. But I have not met anyone yet who drinks like Dr. Bermuda sensei.
I am glad I survived my first year. It felt sometimes like an uncontrollable vortex. I also lived in a bad environment, one of my roommates was a dentist with a drug problem.
I now am in a very good situation. Upon finishing my first year, I went to Barcelona, Spain with my buddy Ladster, and traveled around there for a while, seeing concerts in Europe. Wow, that was good fun. After I came back, I went camping for a while and went to a few music festivals and concerts, to relax my brain and evaluate the stresses of med school. I realized I was too stressed during the past year and in order to be more efficient, need to relax more. I recently joined the gym, and have been focusing on exercise, swimming, and relaxing in the sauna. I moved into a new apartment with my friend Ladster. The apartment is cheap, clean, close to the medical school, and most importantly, it is across the street from the beach and within walking distance to at least 5 bars, all of which are open late. I am drinking a beer right now.
I am working in research this summer. I was lucky enough to join the lab of a new professor at my school who recently came from another university. He is famous in his field and I am learning more in this lab than I could have ever imagined. Luckily for me, I was awarded some kind of research stipend by a foundation, so I don't need to worry about paying rent this summer and have enough money for drinks and concerts. I wonder what the foundation would think if they knew I liked drinks and concerts so much? If I was on the board of a foundation, I would probably support students in doing such activities, to maintain a healthy lifestyle. But some others may not agree, I guess.
It is amazing how quickly time passes, and to see ourselves change in front of our eyes.
Last time I wrote on this blog, I was a kid fresh out of college, working a research gig, waiting to go travel Europe and see the world before I started medical school. Now I have finished my first year, sometimes experiencing triumph, other times, barely surviving (sometimes quite literally).
All in all, life is good.
I wonder where life will take me, and where I'll be by the next time I update this blog...
It has been a long time since I've done any kind of blog update.
I visited Ameba today to give some kind of basic update on my life...it took me a long time to figure out how to post on here again, since I don't know how to read Japanese.
Last time I gave some kind of update, I was going to leave for travels in Europe for a few weeks, last summer, before starting medical school. Since then, I feel like I have been swept up by a tornado, and traveled all this past year at the speed of light. I am just slowing down now, and getting some perspective on life.
Upon returning from Europe, I started my first year of medical school. This was a very challenging year. I feel like I learned a lot. I finished several courses, and definitely had both my strong points (Biochemistry, Physiology, and Intro to Clinical Practice), and my weak points (Anatomy, Neuroscience).
On a social level, I found medical school weird. Upon starting school, I noticed that many of my classmates seemed very competitive, but put on a fake friendly smile most of the time. Many people are absorbed completely in their work, and don't like to drink or have a conversation. I think working hard is great and everything, but do you really have to be a robot in order to achieve your goals?
After some time, I found some good friends. I just moved in with one of my good friends, Ladster, from medical school. The first time I ever spoke to Ladster, we were in anatomy lab and he was thinking of dropping out of medical school. I tried to convince him not to drop out.
My professors have generally been quite good and kind, and there is one elderly professor of biochemistry, Dr. Webler, who is a huge drinker, you know the type - a real good guy; we get along quite well, so we drink regularly. But I have not met anyone yet who drinks like Dr. Bermuda sensei.
I am glad I survived my first year. It felt sometimes like an uncontrollable vortex. I also lived in a bad environment, one of my roommates was a dentist with a drug problem.
I now am in a very good situation. Upon finishing my first year, I went to Barcelona, Spain with my buddy Ladster, and traveled around there for a while, seeing concerts in Europe. Wow, that was good fun. After I came back, I went camping for a while and went to a few music festivals and concerts, to relax my brain and evaluate the stresses of med school. I realized I was too stressed during the past year and in order to be more efficient, need to relax more. I recently joined the gym, and have been focusing on exercise, swimming, and relaxing in the sauna. I moved into a new apartment with my friend Ladster. The apartment is cheap, clean, close to the medical school, and most importantly, it is across the street from the beach and within walking distance to at least 5 bars, all of which are open late. I am drinking a beer right now.
I am working in research this summer. I was lucky enough to join the lab of a new professor at my school who recently came from another university. He is famous in his field and I am learning more in this lab than I could have ever imagined. Luckily for me, I was awarded some kind of research stipend by a foundation, so I don't need to worry about paying rent this summer and have enough money for drinks and concerts. I wonder what the foundation would think if they knew I liked drinks and concerts so much? If I was on the board of a foundation, I would probably support students in doing such activities, to maintain a healthy lifestyle. But some others may not agree, I guess.
It is amazing how quickly time passes, and to see ourselves change in front of our eyes.
Last time I wrote on this blog, I was a kid fresh out of college, working a research gig, waiting to go travel Europe and see the world before I started medical school. Now I have finished my first year, sometimes experiencing triumph, other times, barely surviving (sometimes quite literally).
All in all, life is good.
I wonder where life will take me, and where I'll be by the next time I update this blog...