Semester 2
I promised myself I would at least try to document once a month (hopefully more) my journey at Saba School of Medicine. Last semester I got a little carried away and did not have any time for anyone almost let alone anything.
Due to my hard work, I was able to complete the course to my satisfaction. I think some of the gossip and drama got to my head though, and I am hoping to stay clear of everything this time around. Even if I have to spend a little more time by myself or not going out, I think it’s worth it.
This semester will be quite challenging, I will be taking physiology, biochemistry, epidemiology and genetics. Epidemiology is purported to be a relatively easy course, while biochemistry and physiology will be difficult. It will be an adjustment, due to the focus of the first semester mostly on anatomy, to having several courses to focus equal energy upon.
Once I arrive on the island I will post some pictures of the new place I have gotten and I will also have more to talk about so you can look forward to that!
After my arrival...
So it’s my second day on the island, the first day of school is over and it’s 9pm at night and I have reviewed all of my lectures. This has got to be a first. BUT it is the first day of school. I am just expecting things to get harder and harder. Biochemistry today was slow, but a bit of a slap in the face in terms of what I have forgotten in organic chemistry and biochemistry. It is slowly coming back however. I took a long time this afternoon reviewing everything and went a little ahead. We were to have physiology today, however, it was not to be – Dr. S had a family emergency and had to leave the island. So we are getting a few days of reprieve. But, I decided I would go ahead with the first lecture. It was pretty straightforward and that is the reason for my early finish today I believe. Also, our third class was epidemiology, in which we had a lecture, which we were told most likely had no material that was testable. However, I re-read that lecture several times as well. I have been quite productive studying at home and I am shocked.
I just can’t believe there is so much to learn, well I can, but I am still constantly overwhelmed. I am hoping that one of these days I will relax a little more – but I am worried as soon as I relax I will get too relaxed, let down my guard and start to not do well in my courses.
I started this as a potential aid to future students at Saba, so I will endeavour to continue providing information, but it’s difficult to also not provide gossip, which is the language of this place. Our class has shrunk considerably, from our bloated initial 103 students, to our current 76. But in each of our classes we have irregular semester students, who have dropped classes or failed courses and have ended up in between semesters taking a combination of courses. This scares me considerably. I am determined to work as hard as I can to make sure I am not one of these persons. I have been reassured by others that often these students did not have a background in the subject matter (i.e. biochemistry), and that may have been a reason for their failure but I am unsure.
I am sorry to say that this blog is not going to be very active. I doubt I will be able to write more than twice a block – but I will try my best.
I am posting some beautiful pictures today of my new little apartment and my view. I hope you enjoy.
I am going to try to tough out my first block in biochemistry, covering mostly DNA, RNA, Amino acids and some protein structure; physiology, consisting of muscle contraction, nervous system and some cell physiology; genetics, covering some molecular biology techniques, mendelian genetics and gene mutations.
I miss my family and other loved ones very much.
I hope you are all well and I will write when there is more to write about!!
