Trip to Nicaragua to work with Natural Doctors International

Hi Friends,

This spring break I’m heading to Nicaragua to work in a integrative natural medicine clinic! I’ll get an opportunity to learn/practice medical Spanish, put my new physical exam skills to good use, integrate my recent coursework in a clinical setting, study global health in a developing country, prep for my upcoming clinical entrance exams, and volunteer my time to an organization that is giving so much to the local community of Ometepe! So much to look forward to, and everyone I’ve talked to who has already been raves about the experience. Home stays, community health, and a new country to visit… I’m so excited!

If you would like to help send me to Nicaragua, please click on the link below. Anything you can give will be greatly appreciated! Thank you for following my medical journey, and for your friendship and support. I’m looking forward to posting all about my trip when I return in April!

http://www.gofundme.com/ash2nicaragua

 

Starting to settle

So much is happening in my life right now, it’s hard to know what to put on a page.

Starting week six of the program, already more than halfway through the first term! It’s incredible what they can teach you in that amount of time, the information just comes hurtling in on a daily basis. Two tests already this week, thank heavens I studied anatomy in undergrad!

A few stats:

Courses: 10 (5 lecture, 5 lab)

Credits: 21.75

Classes per day: 2-3

Distance from home: 1.8 miles

Exams completed: 7

Exams looming: 10

Avg class size: 18 or 100

 

This past weekend I got to move into my new home. Two helpers and three trips to storage. Now I have more of my things and a bedroom of my own, to organize in the coming weeks. Besides a desk and a dog, I think I have basically all I need.

A Brief Update

Dear Friends,

I am touched by how many of you remembered me today and sent a word of support on my first day of medical school. It was a sweet day all around. We had a welcome from the NCNM community, complete with drums, clapping, and a show of many faces in our first lecture. I had more opportunities to connect with fellow students. I even got to have dinner with my little bro. There will be a lot of work to do, but I am confident that I’m in a supportive community, surrounded by resources, and with an auspicious bent.

Where have I been since April? Primarily Southeast Alaska! Frederick Sound. Chatham Strait. Stephen’s Passage. Juneau. Sitka. Hoonah. Kake. Petersburg!

What a summer it was too. Having been hired on a 67′ charter cruise, I flew up to spend some time with friends I love. After  a week of R&R, it was time to board the vessel and heave to. My summer was spent in a continuous cycle of 7 days out, 2 days in, viewing the wildlife, the scenery, eating fresh fish, and enjoying diverse company, followed by two days of recovery! And what wildlife, spectacular! Whales and mountain goats, seals and seal lions, otters, birds, and bears, oh my!

I plan to write a more detailed account, but I wanted to thank you for visiting in my absence! Much more to come in the weeks ahead!

A bit of meaty content…

Hello readers!
Thanks for checking in with me from time to time. This blog is approaching it’s second year (gasp!) and I have been writing lite and contemplating where it is going. This parallels my life and goals as well. It feels appropriate to keep it going, as my plans are starting to shape up into something resembling the beginning scenario when I decided blogging was going to be useful.

Does that make sense?

What I mean to say is, I’ve decided to apply for school again! To Bastyr University, one of the leading naturopathic schools.

Mitosis, Meiosis, and weird alien cells

First day of embryology today. I once participated in a Visceral Manipulation III (of V) class, and my teacher spent a lot of time going through the embryology, SO FASCINATING. (Consider yourself 1 cm high, standing between layers of tissue, and walk. What’s in front of you? Behind? What do you run into? Where can you go? etc.) So today I was expecting something similar. Well, actually that is a lie. Last week I was expecting something similar. Then my physiology professor told us not to. Because we are students of osteopathy, and because he is a professor of physiology, and because osteopaths primarily need

Quick look at ESO via The Independent

This article gives a general overview of my school, the European School of Osteopathy, as published in The Independent earlier this year. The photograph shows the administration building, which also houses the cafeteria, board room, library, and a classroom.

I took this photo of the school grounds on my way in just a couple of days ago. The red and white buildings straight ahead and to the right are all classrooms, offices, and student center. Lovely the way the light hits in the morning. I’m happy to spend so much time in such a beautiful place.

Year 1, Term 1

Four weeks down, one more to go, then reading week. This is new to me, a week of at half term to study. I feel like we’ve only just begun. I also feel like I’ve been here for ages already. Funny thing, time perception.

School

My program is great. Mostly I have teachers who really seem to love what they do, to have an investment in Osteopathy and what it is meant to be. They have differing perspectives and a variety of teaching styles, but for the most part they all sound really interested in the future of the profession and creating thinking practitioners who are individuals, practicing according to a strong set of personal values and beliefs, rather than a short list of dogma.

This is only the second week after all.

Soon we’ll get deep into theory, philosophy, and practicals. The parts we’ve touched on so far have given me a lot of hope though. This program appeals to me just as much now as it did in theory.

More updates soon, once I have a better idea of what we’re doing. Thanks for reading my blog. It makes me feel connected in a unique way that I cherish.