wanderlust #2

Favorites from the National Geographic Photo Contest, 2012:

Village and islands in background in Gásadalur, Faroe Islands

Baobab forest in Avenue du Baobab, Morandava, Madagascar.

Buddist temple in Bagan, Myanmar (Burma)

Japanese maple tree in the Portland Japanese Gardens, OR

More winners

also Some choices from this year's contest

Looking at these photos makes me want to cry. Because I want to be in those places SO badly. In reference to my previous entries, I have SUCH a wanderlust...to the point where I really want to run away and explore the world for a year. Too bad reality is that I am stuck until I finish my career. Or am I? What is stopping me?

-logic

-lack of money

-safety

-money

But why should I do it now?
Reasons from this guy (from previous post)
-i'm young
-no ties down.
-no job that demands things out of me 360 days a year (*cough* residency)
-clearly, i am currently miserable haha

Just putting this here too:
Pictures of the Szechuan Earthquake 5 years later

wanderlust

currently drooling over pictures from 4th years traveling, like this from my friend in Nepal:

sigh

TRUTH: Why you should travel while young
Also: Living with less

life is what you make of it.

Because it's late and I'm tired, just going to do a quick jot down again before I forget:

-Got to catch up with an old friend this past weekend and we ended up spending like 30 min debating insurance companies vs physicians HAHA. It was actually very refreshing to hear her side...and made me realize how easily convinced I can become if I don't force myself to play the devil's advocate. Later on, I realized I DID agree more with her standpoint than my previous position. Within reason, of course ;) But again...goes to show I really need to be more widely read. More sometime later about the changing face of 'primary care' and family physicians.

-There was a (gorgeous) patient today who accurately (and a bit arrogantly...but not unreasonably) stated he was probably the healthiest patient I'd ever see. And he was quite accurate. Basically this guy has a family history of longevity (and no disease haha), is a physical trainer for a living and is EXTREMELY strict with his diet. He googles everything to make sure his body is in its best possible condition. He takes curcumin because it's been shown to help prevent nerve damage.

Did I mention he was extremely attractive? Man...made ME feel bad about myself o_O haha but I guess I should use it as inspiration huh? ^__^'

gratefulness

Just going to do a bulleted recap because this week was full of so many things...!

-Finally feel like I'm connecting with my preceptor (ugh...after weeks of me feeling like an idiot around him). First of all, on Friday, after completely missing the PMH and assessment on a patient, decided to try to redeem myself by going the extra mile. For the next two patients, I spent a bit of extra time, but 1. printed out patient information and lots of educational stuff for a patient 2. got called a sweetheart by another. My preceptor actually smiled :)! 

Second, he finally agrees with and is using my A/P's with patients (!!)

Also this week, made another preceptor very happy, did patient advocation for another, and requested to see another patient in the office on a return visit. My lab-stalking paid off :)

So this next week is the last week to make an impression. After receiving a disappointing grade in Medicine (which really upset me...definitely going to try to argue it in 2 weeks :/) I really want to do well in Family. About 3 weeks ago, the chances looked pretty dismal...the physicians in the practice are so smart and amazing, it is hard to please them. But here's fingers crossed for the last two days...my hopes still should not be that high, but it's worth a try right? sigh.

-Met up with a guy on Tuesday for the first time and it TOTALLY felt like I was talking to someone at job interview or something o_O I need to work on my flirting LOL. But in all seriousness...you know how all the guys lament being that 'nice-guy' friend? I'm pretty sure I'm a female equivalent to many of my guy friends T__T

I also realized I am so lucky to be surrounded by such amazingly smart, clever, compassionate people in medical school. Where else do you find such incredible people? I love my class, the classes below me, and the classes above me. That also makes it hard to find that right person because my standards are pretty high o_O

-Got called not once, but TWICE by classmates for advice about the management of  conditions in people close to them. That really surprised me because at this time of year, I still don't feel as competent as I should be. Yet both times I had the right A/P gut-wise...just wasn't as confident ^__^' Will hopefully try to work on that in the next couple months.

And did I mention the week before, diagnosed a new murmur in a patient! Note to self: follow up on her echo!