I am currently doing my fourth month-long away elective in Portland. I now realize that while I know I don't want to stay in Ohio for residency, getting out of Ohio for 4 whole months probably wasn't the best plan. I was exposed to H1N1 in multiple hospitals. I lived in environments that involved sharing bathrooms down the hall with french scientists, hippie medical students, and occasionally a lizard. I had to buy both warmer and cooler clothing depending on my location and inappropriate packing (how could I predict what I would need for the next 4 months when I left Toledo?). I had to shop in weird unfamiliar grocery store chains. Today, I felt homesick and trekked down a steep hill to get some Chipotle like they have back in good old Colorado. I got back to the co-op where I am currently staying and settled down to watch yesterday's episode of 30 Rock. As I watched Liz Lemon substitute a scented candle for deodorant, I saw myself in her character.
(There was a video here before the NBC nazis took it down: it was Liz Lemon smelling her armpit and then rubbing a scented candle on it)
Later when she went to Georgia, I was reminded of how uncomfortable I am in the unfamiliarity of each new location I visit.
(There was also a video here: it had Liz Lemon sick with Jack handing her a bottle of medicine. She then says, "What is this? Peppy Bismilk? Why is everything a little different here? I HATE IT!")
I feel unkempt, and less organized in general in all these new locations. While I really enjoy visiting lots of new locations, I am afraid I may have tired myself out too much before interview season. Here are a few things I learned about each of the cities I visited. This information does not include any opinions about any of the residency programs because it's interview season and I'm not stupid.
San Francisco: Expensive city. Don't go into the woods in golden gate park after dark, and also before dark. I don't like Ethiopian food. I really like "hot chocolate" brownie desserts.
Tucson: Really hot. Lot's of different desert wildlife: snakes, lizards, scorpions, coyotes. The desert museum is not actually a museum - it's a zoo. A cactus can be pretty. Also, when I said there were scorpions, I want to emphasize that they were IN the house, yuck.
Denver: Best city ever. I love being home.
Portland: I've only been here for a week. I live right next door to the hospital so I don't really get a chance to explore. I am excited to see what the city is like this weekend. So far I only know that it is wet, the fall trees are really pretty, and there is a pretty high chance that there are bed bugs based on the bites on my legs and arms. :( Also, there are a LOT of hippies here, and that's saying something from a girl who went to college in Boulder.
--By Farrah, who never thought she would admit that she misses Toledo. Also, bonus points to anybody who recognizes the lyrics in the title.
6 comments:
Hello, I am a program director from a prestigious university that you applied to. I find this blog unprofessional. Residency NOT GRANTED. Be careful what you write on the internets!
Love,
Program Director
JK - it's me Mariam!! HAHA
that was really unfunny.
I feel left out cos it says it won't show the videos outside the US :(
Tucson sounds awesome.
The first video shows liz lemon smelling her armpit and then rubbing a scented candle on it.
The second video has the following lines: "What is this? Peppy Bismilk? Why is everything a little different here? I hate it."
Do you feel included now? Do they even have Pepto Bismol in the UK?
Before I read your "Do you feel included now?" question I was honestly thinking to myself "I feel more included now"!!! Thanks :)
No idea what Pepto Bismol is though I'm afraid.
Oh man I would literally die if I saw a scorpion in my house. There was some sort of centipede like thing in our basement and I freaked out so bad that I think I've terrified Kiera permanently towards bugs. I have some serious guilt over that.
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