Surgery Scramble

Nick's first day of his surgery rotation began MUCH differently than he would have liked.

At 9:00AM he received a text from a fellow student saying "we're waiting on you, in the professional building." Well... Nick was still laying in bed with the belief that he didn't have anything until his scrub-in clinic at 1:00PM. Yep, apparently he had missed an email saying that there was an orientation starting at 9:00AM. Oops.

He was up, dressed, and out the door in under 5 minutes. I felt so bad for him. Surgery is an intimidating rotation WITHOUT being "that guy" on the first day. Luckily we live super close and he was there shortly after, but still nothing like starting out behind the 8 ball.

He said when he entered the room everyone just stopped and stared at him and shortly after the resident leading the orientation made a comment like "and be sure to be on time." Wonder who that was aimed at? Poor guy! After that the students were supposed to go meet up with different teams to follow and get a feel for the rotation- Nick didn't have his white coat as he didn't have any idea what to expect so before he could join the team he had to RUN all the out to his car, grab his coat and doctor stuff and RUN all the way back. He said by the time he reached the team he was a sweaty, flustered mess.

Anyone who knows Nick knows he HATES being late and HATES being unprepared. So that whole day from start to finish was his absolute worst nightmare!

Sooo... basically the good news is that it can only go up from there right?


Nick's surgery rotation goes from mid November-mid February. As part of the general surgery rotation it sounds like Nick will be jumping around through all different units, spending a week or so at a time with each group.

My current understanding of his schedule is roughly:

• Day starts early- he's out the door by 5:15AM to report in with his team at 5:30AM
• Tuesday mornings he has surgery clinic
• Days seem to vary a little on length but for the most part he won't be home until 6:00PM or so.
• He has a pager that goes off whenever someone comes in/something big happens (yay...) 
• It doesn't seem like he will work too many weekends- so that's a nice surprise! 

** We also know he will have 1-2 weeks spent on the night shift. This means he will report in around 6-7PM and stay until around 7AM.  And that he may have a handful of on-call shifts as well (still waiting on clarification of this one!)

His attire for the next few months!!! Much preferred to the dress clothes he wore last rotation! AND there is a scrub machine... so less clothes for me to clean... double win! Maybe the one perk to the Surgery rotation!

Internal Medicine Shelf

Wooo Wooo! Nick has officially written his first shelf exam of clinicals! IM was a great rotation to start with because it covers SO many bases and allowed him to dibble dabble in a lot of different issues. However, that made studying for the Shelf a lot more broad and a little less fun!

Monday Nick had his oral exam in which he sat down with one of his Attendings and was asked questions regarding a couple of the case reports he had written based on patients he had worked with over the past 12 weeks. This was pretty quick and Nick felt really good about it and got good reviews/a good grade! Woo!

The second part was the written portion which took place on Friday.  It was extra helpful because his last day working in IM was Tuesday- giving him all day Wednesday and Thursday to prepare. Nothing like a couple of good 10 hour days in the library to remind you that although you are in the hospital and seeing patients... you are still a student! haha.

The overall consensus from Nick and other students was that the IM shelf exam was EXTREMELY general and broad. They felt that on many of the questions they didn't really have enough information to answer the question (a sign that they are getting so super smart?!) But Nick feels like he did well and passed. From what I've heard it can take FOREVER to get grades back... so it may be awhile before we officially know how he did! 

Overall IM was a great success and Nick left with several letters of recommendation and many more great connections made!

Now for the next 12 weeks it's goodbye dress clothes- hello scrubs!

Internal Med/Life Update

Nick is still chugging along through his Internal Medicine rotation. He only hasa week or so left before he takes his 1st Shelf Exam and moves onto his next rotation (surgery.)  He continues to love IM and has learned SO much! Most days he has 2-3 of his own patients and so far all of his evaluations from the Doctors and Residents he has worked with have all been GREAT and rave about how well he is doing on the floor/in the clinic. YAY! Not that I am at all surprised, but definitely proud wifey over here.

He has now switched from working on the floor to working in the clinic. Clinic hours are definitely pretty awesome- he goes in at 8AM and is home around 4:30PM every day. He's super busy studying and completing case reports so he usually only spends an hour at home before heading off to the library for a couple hours. Still... much shorter days, and especially now that he has a 5 minute commute rather than a 40 minute commute... he's a much happier boy!  I know he misses some of the floor stuff, but I think it has been a nice change of pace and change of scenery to be in the clinic for a couple weeks! He has definitely loved internal medicine and I think he is surprised by how much he has enjoyed it. As of right now I believe Emergency Medicine is still his #1 but I know that the past 10 weeks have definitely opened his eyes to life as an IM doctor and he is definitely not crossing it off his list as a potential career!

I can't believe he almost has one full and long rotation under his belt! Time is flying! Surgery is next up, and while I know he will like it, I am definitely not very excited for the crazy hours it entails. However, I AM HAPPY to have it over with BEFORE baby arrives AND he has 2 weeks or so off for Christmas break- so I guess I can't complain too much about the timing :) Plus, I'm sure surgery will bring some good stories from his experiences... we already have a suture kit in our kitchen at almost all times so God only knows what else is to follow... ;)

In other news:  we are almost completely settled into our new house!! Wooo hoo! We've been living here for a full week or so now and really only have some small things left to do/some organizing, but all in all it's quite homey and we are loving it! Pictures and more updates on that another time.

Baby is continuing to grow big and strong and my glorified beer gut baby belly is gradually turning into a full on baby bump! Every day I see obvious changes, which is weird, but fun! Still waiting to feel the little nugget move!

He's dressed so doctor-y and cute every day that I couldn't resist snapping a quick picture! The cutest IM student ever!!!

16 weeks pregnant and enjoying having some energy back and the fall weather/wardrobe!

Internal Medicine

We officially have a 3rd year Internal Medicine Half-Doctor in the house!!! Nick's orientation was on Wednesday August 14th and his first official day on the job was Monday, August 19th! He came home from his orientation SO EXCITED about his very doctor-esque beeper that he was given. AKA the hospital version of a handcuff to ensure students/employees are never too far out of reach! While it's exciting today... I say give it about a month and that thing will be his enemy (or maybe mostly mine)- when it goes off around 2am!

Nick has successfully completed his first full week of Internal Medicine rotations, and so far, so good! His first day he dove right in offering to take the less ideal jobs that the higher up residents did not want to do. This doesn't surprise me at all. Unlike some medical students, Nick worked in the hospital for 2 years before attending SGU. He is used to getting his hands dirty and being the low guy on the totem poll. There are very few tasks that phase him- and actually, he is eager and willing to do all and any that get thrown his way!

An added perk so far has been that Nick has a "noon conference" every day which includes a catered lunch! Some days it is better than others but either way, this wifey (and our bank account) enjoy not having to make to lunches every day!  

The first week involved a little bit of everything- from having his own patients to check in with/report on during rounds, attending lectures, shadowing on exciting cases, and overall just getting oriented to St. John's Hospital. Some days he comes home feeling like he is on top of his game and other days he comes home and quickly sticks his head in a medical book- eager to learn more to have a better understanding the next day.

His schedule for Internal Med has been pretty good with his hospital day starting roughly around 7:00AM and ending anywhere between 3:00- 6:00PM and he works some weekends, but not all. His day rarely is over when he walks in the door however, because there is usually something he wants to learn up on before bed... but all in all not a terrible schedule for his first rotation!

He is learning so much and comes home with interesting/exciting stories every day and it's crazy how much he has learned already in such a short period of time! They sure do work these med students hard! :)

3rd Year Clinical Schedule

It's been a couple of weeks since we got the official word that Nick would be remaining in Detroit at St. John's Hospital and since then we have been hard on the house hunt and preparing to move into our new (although still unknown) home.

Life post STEP continues to be awesome, but ONE week from today the hubs is back in medstudent mode- this time ready to conquer his 3rd year of medical school and the 6 hospital rotations that come with it!

We got his schedule today which was really exciting! In short, the overview of his year looks like this:

1. Internal Medicine (a 12 week rotation)
2. General Surgery  (a 12 weeks rotation)
3. Family Medicine (a 6 week rotation)
4. Pediatrics (a 6 week rotation)
5. OB/GYN (a 5 week rotation)
6. Psychiatry (and as of right now his schedule says this is a super short 2 week rotation- so we'll see if that is correct or changes.) 

3rd year is filled with all mandatory rotations that every medstudent must take, but in 4th year he will have a little flexibility to pick a few rotations that he is especially interested in (ie: Emergency Medicine)- so that will be fun! This schedule takes him from August 19, 2013 - June 30, 2014! As 3rd year comes to an end in June, Nick will then need to be preparing for his STEP 2 exams and getting ready to begin the residency application process (which from what we've read, heard, and been told- is rather lengthy.)

 His breaks in between each rotation are pretty short, but his schedule within each rotation will definitely vary dramatically- with some being more intense than others. We've heard a little of what to expect from those who have completed 3rd year ahead of us, but we'll see what our own personal impression of each one is!

Nick's definitely not ready to give up the relaxed life yet, but he loves (and thrives) in the hospital setting so I think once he's back in his scrubs and white coat he'll be lovin' all the hands on experience that comes with each clinical rotation!

Operation Grenada Child- Bringing Santa to Grenada

"There is a spirit in the world of generosity- 

That brings good things to all of us, whoever we may be

 So I believe in Santa Claus, for it can't be denied- That he is generosity personified.

 Yes, there is a Santa Claus for children everywhere- 

Though you may watch the chimney tops and never see him there.

People say his magic sleigh flies in the sky above- 

But you might find it anywhere you find unselfish love.

Oh, yes, he really does exist- And Santa Claus will live!

As long as hearts can realize- How good it feels to give.

So when you are feeling blue- Keep up your hopes, because...

 If there is kindness in this world- There is a Santa Claus!"

-Martha Cratchit, in "The Stingiest Man in Town" 

Childhood memories at Christmas are really hard to remember without Santa. We would write him letters asking for the newest and coolest toy, doll, tamagotchi, or whatever the must-have item of the year was that was coming out. And if our minds changed before Christmas- the panic that Santa might not know, lead to another URGENT letter being sent to clarify the new request.

But imagine, growing up, and from as young as 2-3 years old not having a Santa. Not having that excitement each Christmas morning, and not getting presents- big or small.  That's how the memories of Christmas are for many of the Children here in Grenada. When we talk to them about Christmas, there is very little mention of Santa, or presents, or anything that most of us, as children, associated with Christmas. I was actually talking to one of the "older" girls about how I was getting married at Christmastime and so I would be going home to Michigan to celebrate the holiday with my family and little brothers. She immediately asked how only my brothers were and when I told her they were just a little younger than her, she responded "that's good you are going to see them, Miss, ... Santa doesn't come here." I could have cried and honestly didn't even really know how to respond.

While the purpose of Christmas is not about gifts, how do you explain to a 9 year old that Santa and presents happen to some children throughout the world and not others? And although she didn't seem overly sad and it is a normal thing to her, it was the vast line that was drawn between her and children (like my brothers) at her age that really killed me. I hate how grown up and aware of discrepancies they are at 8,9,10 years old. And I hate that some kids get presents and some don't.

However, this year some SGU SOs- both here in Grenada and those already back in the States, have decided to make sure that Santa does indeed visit Grenada this Christmas. They have started a project called "Operation Grenada Child." The idea is a simple one. For $20 or less, you can create a shoebox that will be shipped to Grenada for a Limes child. It doesn't have to be anything super fancy, these kids get excited over simple things like pencil sharpeners! If you don't personally want to shop for the gifts, there is also the option to assist with shipping the boxes to Grenada- which is equally as helpful as the shoe-boxes themselves.

For more information, or to sign up to send a box follow THIS LINK.

Thanks for helping us put smiles on these sweet children's faces!  

And in the words of Tiny Tim... "God bless us, every one"

Unity Ball

Every term SGU puts on a semi-formal event "Unity Ball." This is a chance for students and their guests to get dressed up and enjoy a night of fun.  Living on an island, where I have no hair dryer or straightener and constantly rock a frizzy fro, and live in sundresses and flip-flops, the idea of getting dressed up seemed like a lot of work. However, when you literally only have one semi-nice dress here, and only brought flip-flops as a shoe option, it takes away any decisions about what to wear for the night! Also, without said hairdryer and straightener there were few decisions to be made as to how to do my hair as well. Half up half down frizzalicious-do? Perfect! I did need to decide whether to wear my black or brown flip-flops, so after walking around the house to make my decision, I almost left the house wearing one of each... oops! So out we went, with Nick dressed to the 9s and looking handsome as ever and me in my mixed-matched attire.  Although I felt a little strange sporting my flip-flops I was actually really glad I was wearing them after watching girls attempting to navigate the huge hills and walk through sand in their heels. I can't walk in heels on flat surfaces, so that would have only ended poorly for me! Besides, while everyone else's feet were killing them after a night of dancing, I felt great! I guess it pays off being the one girl who literally packed only clothes needed to be on the beach. Note to self- bring down nice outfit next term. Or, don't. Maybe I can just make that "my thing."

Our friend Jen is SGA Vice President and worked super hard putting the event together and I must say it definitely showed.  In true Grenadian fashion, they made her jump through hoops and even cancelled the event on her the day before due to mix up over the noise permit needed, but she managed to get it all sorted out and threw a great party! In my opinion it was definitely one of the most fun nights out we've had here. It was at Mt. Cinnamon, which was really fun and an outdoor venue, which I thought worked out perfectly and we enjoyed a night of drinks, dancing, and fun with friends! 

Something was obviously very funny!

The boys with Jen the party planner! 

Now it's back to the grind for Nick as finals are quickly approaching. He has done a really good job of staying on top of things, but regardless the long days are inevitable. On the plus side, that means they are that much closer to finishing their first year of medical school and that much closer to spending summer at home! See ya in 4 weeks boyfriend, oh and please remember to take me to the airport in 2!! :) 

Oh, and we have another mouse. Are you surprised? I am not. But it was a nice 2 weeks being mouse free, now back to walking around using chairs to keep me elevated off the ground. I wish I was kidding. 

Grades for Term 1//Master's Graduation

It has been SO nice having Nick home for the past week, we've been more or less inseparable- and I love it!! We've been spending a lot of time with family and friends, trying to soak up as much of home  as we can before we leave in just under 2 weeks!!!!


First off, an update on how Nick finished off his first term of medical school.... he did great!!!! Seriously, I could not be more proud of him and am so happy to see his countless hours of studying pay off.  He finished the semester with 2 A's and 2 B+'s!!! He was also the Term 1 Class Representative for both Surgery Club and the Emergency Medicine Club, and will be the Surgery Club Secretary and the Emergency Med Vice President for Term 2. So, in typical Nick fashion, he is taking SGU by the horns and pretty much running the place :) It is amazing to see how much he has learned and accomplished in just 1 term!

As for me, I am officially a Master's Graduate from the University of Michigan!! Yay!! Decided to attend the Social Work Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, and am really happy that I did.  The ceremony was really nice and it was a nice celebration of all that I have accomplished over the past 16 months.  I still have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that I am 100% officially done with school though! Seriously, it is weird!! I keep feeling like I should be reading, or writing some paper whenever I am out shopping or just lounging around with Nick, but then I realize, NOPE that ship has sailed!! Donezo! Still waiting on final grades, but very excited to be done :) If I let myself think about it too much though I start to feel overwhelmed at my new label of "unemployed adult." Shesh, being a grown up is stressful ;) Just kidding...

Besides that life has literally consisted of sleeping in, eating (so much eating!!!!), making Christmas cookies, playing video games, and watching movies. Rough life right? The rough part has been the packing. Ugh, I despise packing. It highlights the fact that I have way too much crap and clutter, and now I am paying for it because I am forced to go through it all! Reason #18984979 why I will never be a hoarder or pack rat. I hate excess, random, annoying, never-used, stuff! Rant over. It is coming along though. Maggie is being a super trooper and not complaining that I am making the entire apartment more messy in my attempt to organize/pack.  I promise, I really am packing stuff up and throwing bags and bags of stuff away! Packing is also a bit hard because it infringes on my ability to deny that moving is quickly approaching.  Not that I am not very excited about the new adventures in Grenada... but I am going to miss home, and family, and friends.  And I know that at some point I need to face it head-on and let myself be sad about it. But right now, I'd rather just push ahead, enjoy the holidays, and soak up as much family time as I can before leaving!!

Okay, I've officially procrastinated packing/cleaning out my jeep for way too long just to write this post, so off I go... Here are some pictures from Nick's fun times after finals/my graduation pictures/ enjoying being home for the holidays :)

Enjoying a beverage with friends at the cliff after finals

Nick and Marty picking up Dr. Brahim one night after finals?? No idea why haha

Waterskiing in Grenada... How gorgeous eh??

Making Christmas cookies! They were so yummy!!!

So lucky to have such a wonderful family/support system :) 

With da family

Daddio and I- He's dressed appropriately in his UofM coat! :) 

With my boo boo!

Close up, he's so handsome!

With my mama! 

Hangin out with Al and Nat

Liat Airlines Fail

Sooooooo instead being on my way home from the airport after picking up my wonderful boyfriend, I am sitting on my couch watching tv and finishing up my paper/cleaning my apartment. Why you ask? Well, unfortunately, Nick's trip home included a flight on Liat airlines.  I haven't been able to get the full story yet, but what I do know is that Nick was supposed to leave Grenada around 6:30am this morning.  At 10-11:00 am I spoke with him and he had still not left Grenada. Apparently, lovely Liat airlines just felt like being many hours late. And on top of being late, there was no explanation or assistance in helping any of the passengers out... so frustrating!! Nick did eventually get out of Grenada though, but missed his connecting flight in Barbados.. and didn't end up leaving Barbados until like 4:30pm... which meant he didn't get into Miami until about 7:30pm and at which point he needed to bust his booty to go through customs, recheck in, and board a plane to Dallas.  He should land in Dallas around 11:30-12:00 tonight.

So all of that being said, my poor Nicholas will not be in Detroit until tomorrow.  Poor guy, he just wants to come home!!! It's been a long day for him, full of annoyances and lots of travel.

Oye, can't wait to squeeze him extra when he finally makes it home tomorrow!!!

And what is the lesson in all of this? Always book flights to and from Grenada early enough so that you can get American Airlines all the way. Liat airlines sucks and will screw you over more often than not. Trust me... er, trust Nick, he'd tell ya it's worth a couple extra bucks to know that you have a more reliable airline.  But if you want to end up stranded in a random Caribbean airport or to have your luggage end up God only knows where... Liat airlines is the airliner for you!!! ;)

Term 1 COMPLETE-- check!!!!

Drum roll please!!!! Term 1 of medical school has successfully been completed!!!! I can hardly even believe it! Nicholas will be home in less than 24 hours... I could scream I am literally that excited!!

Life has been absolutely crazy over the past month or so and my blog has been very neglected, so  here is a quick overview of what's been going on/ a time of what is to come in the next month!

-Nick kicked major medical school butt. Seriously, did anyone expect anything less? The guy has literally lived in dry lab! He through everything- including the kitchen sink, at these finals!! I am so proud of him and so impressed by his dedication and perseverance.  He amazes me every day! But anyway, he finished with 2 A-'s and 2 B+'s and I could not be more proud!!

- My last week of classes was last week. I repeat... my last week of classes ever was last week!!!!! Ah!! I.am.so.excited!!! What a whirl wind this past 16 months has been. For as crazy as graduate school has been, it is a huge accomplishment to officially say I am done. It feels good and I am ecstatic.  My family talked me into walking in my graduation ceremony this weekend. While I don't think I would have regretted not walking... I am glad I am. It is a huge accomplishment, and I am proud.  It has not been an easy 16 months. It has been really hard on so many levels, and I am glad that my family gets to celebrate this accomplishment with me.

- I completed my internship at the Children's Hospital of Michigan.  Words cannot describe how hard leaving that place was for me on Friday.  I miss those kids and their families already.  I would normally be waking up and heading in to work in the morning and my heart is aching knowing that I will not be there with/for them tomorrow.  Several of the kiddos were not doing that well last week either and that made it even more challenging to leave.  But I feel so unbelievably blessed to have been able to spend the past year there and to have been given the opportunity to work with such unbelievable children and their families.  I have never met more amazing little fighters in my whole life. My last day was filled with so many hugs, a few tears, and lots of smiles and laughs. One of my patients made an extra visit to the hospital just to say goodbye to me, and with the hospital being the last place in the world any of them would want to be on their day off, I was unbelievably touched. Not to mention, I had been bummed that I would not get to say goodbye to her.  She gave me the most beautiful necklace, that says "Always Friends, Now and Forever" and I will cherish it always. Another one of my girls, who has been so sick, was able to read a book with me and play with me a little bit for the first time in several days.  It was the best gift I could have been given. Each of them is eternally engraved in my hearts and I pray that they each get/remain healthy and go onto to live long and healthy lives. They're fighters, and braver than anyone else I know, even at as young as 2 years old <3

-Tomorrowwwww I pick Nick up from the airport. Tomorrow. TOMORROW. Tomorrow!!!!! Less than 24 hours... eeeee ahhhh!!! I have butterflies, and can barely contain myself. I am not even sure I will be able to sleep tonight because I am literally that freakin' excited! :)

-The big move to Grenada is in 23 days. Well pretty much 22 days now. Holy Freaking Cow. Typing that just gave me major anxiety. So much to do. So many people to see. So much family quality time to be had. If time wants to slow down just a tiny bit for the holiday season, that would be wonderful. I'll take long, slow days, to just enjoy my Nicholas being home and to spend time with family and friends. Maybe I'll send a letter to Santa and see if he can work on that!

Ah, well, it is late, and I need to finish up paper tomorrow, do about 12 loads of laundry, clean my apt, and clean out my car, before picking Nick up tomorrow night... soooo on that note, this girl needs to hit the hay! More later on holiday festivities and packing!

2 MONTHS!!!

Today is November 4th and I would say today marks the official countdown to my big move down to Grenada.... ah, wow! 2 months feels frighteningly soon...

In the past couple of weeks I have been completely overwhelmed. Overwhelmed with school, overwhelmed with field, and overwhelmed with change.

For the majority of my 23 years, I have been a student. For the past 5 1/2 years I have been a college student. Sure, I've considered myself an adult for many years now, but when asked to identify as something I have always been a "student." As much as I have been yearning to be done, as ready as I am to be done, and as much as I need  to be done to save my sanity... I can't lie, there was a lot of comfort in being a student. There is a safety net that encompasses being a student. Being a student somehow justifies the right to cling to being young and somewhat irresponsible and it makes you feel less guilty when you admit you have no idea what you are going to do as a life long career. It is acceptable, and the norm, to be broke and living off loans.

In 5 weeks I am officially done with graduate school.  I will be a master's graduate from the University of Michigan. And... in 5 weeks I am officially no longer student. Rather, I am officially a 23 year old, unemployed master's graduate. Ouch. That stings a bit.

Student.. meet adulthood... where loans are no longer offered every semester, rather a bill is sent as Uncle Sam comes to collect what he's so generously handed out over the years.

Here's the main thing that has been on my mind a lot lately... Being unemployed is okay when you are student. It is okay when you are taking 18 credits and working 24-30 hours a week at your field placement. However, it sounds less okay when you have officially graduated and are choosing  to move to another country to volunteer for the next year and half. If I had moved to volunteer prior to graduating... as a "student" for instance... hands down, no questions asked, it would have seemed like such a great experience, that was helping to shape me into a better person, and expand my knowledge beyond classroom and even United States walls. But... now I am adult. Young adult yes, but adult nevertheless getting a paid job would be the plan of action according to most.

I am so excited  about the experience I am going to get in Grenada. It is going to change me as a person, it is going to add to my work experience, and it is going to challenge me in many different ways, every single day, for the next year and half. Despite that though, I can't help but wonder if people think I am irresponsible every time I tell them my future plans. Every time someone asks what I am doing come December, they are expecting me to list job opportunities that I have looked into or plan to pursue, and are shocked when I inform them I have not looked into jobs, rather I will be volunteering in a third world country. Puzzled and intrigued looks are then followed with a line of questions regarding how I will support myself and where I will get money from without a real big girl job. I admit, I do not answer these questions easily, but rather, dance my way around them, feeling slightly embarrassed and slightly irresponsible.

Don't get me wrong, I can't wait to be in Grenada. I truly do believe there is more to life than money and I think that living in Grenada will enrich my life in ways that money never could.  I really, really believe that. I guess I just feel that people believe I am going on year and half vacation to the Caribbean, and I would argue that that is not the case.

I am going because Nick is there. I am going because long distance relationships stink. I am going because while we've managed our semester apart like champs and actually probably grown closer- it is not how I want to spend the next 2 years. No money is worth missing out on him. I am going because I think I can help the children of Grenada. Yes, it is a major disadvantage that there is no pay involved, but in some ways that is what makes it more meaningful. I am doing it because I want to.  I am doing it because I love children. I am doing it because I think I have a lot of skills, knowledge, and passion for this type of work that really can make a difference.

Also, moving to the Caribbean, while it sounds glamorous, is really scary. I have never lived more than 15 minutes away from family, and now I am moving to an entirely different country. I am moving to a place to be with a medical school student...In other words, I will  be by myself the majority of the time. I am stepping out into full fledged adulthood without the comforts of home and my family 15 minutes away to support me. It is a huge change and in many ways, not so glamorous at all. It is going to be hard and at times it is going to be really lonely. I am going to get homesick. I am going to have to learn how to navigate life in Grenada on the fly and step out of my comfort zone. Every day tasks that we don't even think twice about in the States, will not be so easy. For example, going to the grocery store will require taking a bus, shopping, lugging everything I bought back on the bus with me, and then walking it from the bus stop home. There is no quick grocery store run in Grenada. There is no dishwasher and more often than not I will dry our clothes on a clothesline. It is drastically different in many ways. More simple, but often also less convenient.

But all of that... that is what makes this an adventure. That, is what makes this a once in a lifetime opportunity.

And amidst all the scariness that comes with this big change and the homesickness that is sure to hit immediately upon passing through the security gates at Metro... are breathtaking Grenadian sunsets, the clearest blue water I have ever seen, cliffs to jump off of, and an ocean view out my bedroom window.

Packing for Grenada 101

So how does a person pack to live for 2 years in Grenada? Frankly, I have not the faintest idea. I  figure sundresses, swim suits, flip flops, are clearly all essential. Throw in some makeup, a nice outfit, a pair of sweats. Ah, yes this is turning out to  be a typical throw together a suitcase for a vacation Lindsey style list. And while these things will be necessary for island living…  we will be there a minimum of 4 months at a time… we will be living there. Crrrraaazzyyy. Luckily, St. George’s has a list of Do’s and Don’ts, so here the list of what to bring. Bring on the 70lb suitcase!! Oh, and some love from home in the form of packages (hint hint) ;)
Things to Bring
Clothing

• Light clothing (shirts, shorts, sundresses, bathing suits, cover-ups, etc)  Sandals, flip flops, “Teva” type sandals, sneakers, etc. - Comfort is key, you will do a lot of walking!!!Running shoes, hiking boots (if you plan on doing hiking - waterproof would be best)

• Umbrella

• Nice dress for white coat ceremony, men need sport jacket and tie. (Although you will most often wear shorts and T-shirts, there are nice restaurants, and other social occasions for “dressy casual” attire, so pick your favorite outfit and bring it along.)
•  Also, you’ll need long pants and a shirt with sleeves when visiting the Immigration or other government offices. 

• Sweatshirt or sweater, long pants - the lecture halls and on-campus housing are air conditioned and can be very cold at times (but you’ll only need these if you visit the lecture halls or live on campus.  Otherwise, SOs won’t need them.)

• .Laundry bag, you may need 2 if you only wash once a week!  (Laundry baskets can generally be purchased from students leaving the island.)

• Sunglasses - a necessity, bring an extra pair!

• Hats

• Travel Iron with dual voltage switch. If you must bring a 110V iron try a converter, it will work fine & is less expensive than buying a transformer of such high wattage.

Kitchen

• Water filter and purifier- + refills - can be pitcher style or the kind you attach to the faucet.

• TIP: Local spring water (from the rainforests) can be purchased on the island and delivered; however, it can be costly.

• Dishes - non breakable (If you live on campus, you’ll have to bring dishes or buy them here.  If you live off campus, your place will probably provide them.  Ask your landlord.)

If you wish to continue reading…

Household

• Shower curtain - most places have them, but are old and grimy, only plastic low quality curtains are available here, so if in doubt, bring one!

• Rubber bath mat, something to step out of the shower on, all floors are tiled and can be slippery.

• Towels - Bring at least one bath towel and one beach towel per person!

• Sheets and bedding - some places provide sheets so check with your landlord.  If you live on campus, you’ll need sheets and bedding.

• Battery operated radio/alarm clock (electric ones tend to be slow with the transformer)

• Extra batteries or rechargeable batteries and charger.

• Decorations for your house- tablecloths, wall hangings,etc. There are fabric stores on the island but they are expensive.

• Flashlight or good fluorescent lantern light (You will definitely need in case you lose power.)

• Fabric softener sheets (if you have a dryer)

General

• Laptop for the SO to use

• Print cartridges 

• Camera / video camera/ underwater camera/ digital camera

• Pocket Calculator - handy for $$ conversions!

• CD Player, stereo, etc and music!! iPod or Mp3 player.

• Any books or hobby supplies you may need

Personal Items

• Prescription medication for your entire stay

• Contraceptives - many brands are available here

• Feminine products-available here but quite expensive

• Vitamins

• Contact lens solution, saline etc.& extra pair glasses, plenty of disposable contacts if you use them. TIP: Duty can be very high when shipping contacts or solutions.  Solution is incredibly expensive here and hard to find.

• Cosmetics, no Clinique here!

• Bug repellent( bring alot.)

• Antibacterial soap*

• Sunscreen - The sun is very intense here, daily protection is wise.*

• Mending kit (small pair of scissors, thread needle, safety pins, etc.)*

• Hair coloring, gel, mouse, hairspray, etc

• Travel hairdryer with dual voltage switch

• First Aid Kit - TIP: most OTC medications are available here, and not too much more expensive than at home, take care to bring your prescriptions, maybe a few bandaids, some cough drops etc, but don’t worry, Pepto, Advil, etc, are all here at the pharmacy.

• Razors, blades, shaving cream*

• Shampoo and conditioner*(Non-professional products are very available.)

• Nail clippers, tweezers, etc.

Tools

• Hammer

• Duct tape (bring plenty)*

• Screwdrivers-Phillips and flat

• Picture hangers - buy “hardwall hangers” (has 3 tiny nails and a hook) - All walls in Grenada are concrete - the stick on hangers are really handy too, don’t get the kind that you have to moisten, but the kind that have a sticky tape back, the removable ones are very nice.

• Extension cords and outlet strip, surge protectors are very important!TIP: There are hardware stores on the island. (One is an Ace Hardware)

So there it is! If you read the whole thing, nice work and dedication! And I even left out the “what to bring for children” suggestions… Although, lets be honest, I am totally bringing beach toys with me!

Slightly Bittersweet

“Around every corner, you often don’t know what to expect, but it is usually something beautiful.” <3 

ONE MONTH from tomorrow is Nick’s big move! ONE MONTH. ONE. Holy…

     Where has summer gone? Where has time gone period? This summer has been filled with so many countless memories and the month of July will be nothing short of fun-filled and fabulous as well! This really makes me realize how blessed I am in so many ways, but also, hammers home the fact that everything is more fun with my Nick!! This is where it becomes bittersweet.
     I put on a smiley, strong face, and I honestly am SO excited for him and the journey that lays ahead. BUT, I am not ready to send him off to Grenada. I am not ready to be apart for 4.5-5 months. I am not ready to be living in different countries. The reason that I am not ready isn’t for fear of losing him either… I simply do not want to be away from him for so long. I am going to miss literally everything about him. He’s my best friend, he knows how to make me smile no matter what, and makes every day better. Meh, basically, I am jealous of Grenada for getting him!!!
     However, today someone asked me about him and after about 5 minutes I realized I had been rambling on about how great of a doctor he is going to be, and how exciting it is that he is going to get to experience life in another country during med school. And the thing is… I meant every word of it. Every single word. I am excited for him, I know he is going to do great things, and I know that everything is going to work out fantastically.
     The one comfort in dreading him leaving so much is knowing that I have him to miss. It’s going to be hard. Long distance is a drag. I am going to be lonely. BUT (there is always a but) I am lucky to have a man that I love so much that I cannot even picture my life without him.
     Bottom line, I am going to enjoy and cherish every second of this last month I have with him <3 Then, buckle down for the next 4-5 months and finish grad school and get my booty down there so my heart can be complete again!

It's official!!!

Nick will be attending St. George Medical School in Grenada starting this fall!! Yes, you heard right, this fall!!! Crazy right?! This is such an exciting time for him and such a big step toward achieving his dream to become a Doctor! But honestly, I can’t believe that we are already within a month and half until he leaves… for so long this was something “down the line”, “in the future”, “next year”, you get the picture and now it is quickly approaching and his departure is breathing down our necks! Absolutely crazy business.
Anyways, this blog is a way for me to document our lives and adventures over the next 2 years while in Grenada. Mainly, I am doing this for my own entertainment, but I am hoping it also allows family and friends who wish to follow our adventures to do so as well! My plan is to write here frequently and to post MANY stories and pictures :) My goal is to keep it real, and tell it how is- meaning there will be a little bit of everything, from daily life to fun island adventures, and a wide range of emotions I am sure! So stay tuned!


St George’s University has no idea how lucky they are to have him :) Next time he is in Grenada, it will be to attend school for the next 2 years, and when he leaves he will be well on his way to becoming Dr. Leo!! Have I mentioned how proud I am??