Carnival/Mini 2/Jay's Visit

Hey everyone!

Jay and I at Red Rock After Mini 1 

       I know that it has been a while and you have all been waiting to hear what I've been up to for the past few weeks! Well you are in luck I am writing today to fill you in! So Jay left and it was off to study for my practical exam. The anatomy practical exam went well, it was on the head and neck! It is amazing the nerves and itsy bitsy muscles that you have to make you smile and frown and my personal favorite the risorius muscle which gives people their dimples. One of my professors told us a story about the platysma muscle, and he started by saying, "remember when we were horses" and i personally do not remember when i was a horse but the platysma muscle was used to shake the flies off of the horses neck! Kind of cool right?

Carnival Crew! 

       So after the anatomy practical we had one day off from school because it was Carnival here in Dominica. So Carnival is similar to the US Mardi Gras with parades and costumes and bands! The capital of Dominica, Roseau had a huge party for five days. So I heard that in Portsmouth it was going to be just as crazy and wonderful with lots of costumes, so my friends and I decided to take a study break to head to Carnival. The only problem is.....people party from 11pm till like 10am then take a break and start again around 5pm, we didn't know this and went into Portsmouth looking for Carnival around 1pm, needless to say no Carnival! But we did have a nice lunch at Blue Bay, on the beach, and met some local's who were ready to celebrate Carnival. Overall it was a great day with good friends and one day I will make it to a true Carnival!!!
        After the Carnival adventure it was time to start hard core studying for mini 2. I wrote mini 2 on Monday and it was a tough test on the Gastrointestinal Tract and Renal system but it went just fine! Monday night, is my usual day to take the day off so I went to dinner with my friends and then instead of going out I was so exhausted I went home talked to my amazing family and boyfriend and then went to bed! This week was a busy week I had my second standardized patient exam which was for a thyroid condition. My standardized patient exam went really well and I am definitely feeling more comfortable performing patient interviews and basic physical exams. It is exciting to get dressed up and wear my white coat, it makes me feel almost like a doctor. It is also a plus that these patients are not sick in the least!

Steel Drum Band

My Friend Arianne in the Ross Carnival Parade

Locals getting ready for Carnival 

Fun Carnival Costume Man

        Also since the last time that I wrote I went to the Salybia Mission Project Clinic. Salybia is a student run organization here at Ross where we provide free medical care to the indigenous people of Dominica. I went to the clinic and got to do an interview on real patients, then I got to present the patients to the doctors on duty and work with them to find a differential diagnosis and a plan of treatment for the patients. It is amazing to give back to the people of Dominica and it is cool to see how the information I learn in class can be transferred over the books and into real life where I can apply it. At the clinic the indigenous people are able to see a doctor, and get their prescriptions for free right on the spot, a worthwhile experience for those who cannot make it to the hospital nor have the means to pay for the treatment that they need. I hope to go to another Salybia Clinic soon! I will keep you all posted. If you want you can check out the Salybia website here... Salybia Mission Project


  


  Well I am sure there is more that I am missing but I will write again soon!!!





Till next time......