One more semester break here in Dominica. I've been waiting for this one for quite a while. I haven't been more than 40 miles away since April, when I got here. It's been a long two semesters on the island, and I'm ready for a change, especially one involving snow, rest, and relaxation.
Over the last two weeks, I had 3 practical exams, 5 National Board of Medical Examiners shelf exams, and 1 mini exam. Most of the people I've talked to who have completed second semester told me that this examination period in second semester was the worst experience of their life. After having gone through it, I can certainly say it wasn't easy, but it certainly wasn't the most difficult thing I've gone through. That being said, it did feel like it just wouldn't stop. I went from exam to exam with little break, and they were reasonably exhaustive in their testing. However, I actually enjoyed going through an examination with well-thought-out, well-worded questions created by people whose main thrust was clinical medicine—much different than most of the instructors I've had so far. I'm not knocking people with Ph.D's educating us in medical school, but there are certain differences in what is considered important, in my opinion.
It's been a little disappointing, being done, though. Becky and I had hoped to spend a fair amount of time on the beach, just being bums. But, the weather has conspired against us. Tropical storm Olga passed north of us, pulling rain up fromVenezuela, and it's still been cominig. Every day has been rain, rain, rain, and cloud, cloud, cloud. It's not bad weather. It's certainly comfortable enough. But, we wanted some sun and quiet, and we're not exactly getting that. Especially the quiet.
There is something here that many locals simply do different than most Americans I've lived next to. Music blares here. It's worse than most teen-agers' cars back home. And, I'm not saying people here shouldn't listen to music they like, because that is wicked to think they should only listen to music I like to listen to. But, there is only so much reggae christmas music one can listen to when one isn't, firstly a fan of reggae, and secondly when it starts early in the morning, and goes until earlier in the morning—with one neighbor picking up where another left off.
It definitely illustrates a difference between living in Nebraska where it's generally true that people have a large space buffer between one house and another compared to here. Houses here butt up next to each other like they're searching for warmth in a cold night or something. There are occasional houses that have a lawn, or distance between each other, but not mine. I think it just shows how ready I am for a small reprieve.
So, now my bags are packed. I've prepared some leftovers for Becky to eat for a week, and tomorrow I fly to Miami, overnight, and continue to Omaha on Tuesday. Then, it's time for good coffee, familiar food, family, and old friends. It's about time.
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