THE SIMPLE LIFE

"OH HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN..."

I realized that it's been a while since I've last posted. I wanted to - believe me, like Ivan, there were times that thoughts came to my head where it would have made a good post but alas, there are only so many hours in a day and much of it needs to be focused on school.

Ah yes, school...where to start. This week was suppose to be a pretty crazy week but it's almost over and I came out pretty intact (at least until 6:30 rolls around). While writing my sensory test on Monday, I kept on repeating to myself "I don't care" after every single answer i circled. Needless to say, this was not the best attitude when writing a test and I got a mark that was fairly disappointing for the amount of effort I put in. I had spoke to Helen the day before about my attitude towards studying, education and marks; and as a direct result, I did what I always do - a complete 180 in hopes to change things. Obviously, the key is finding a balance between my goals and my motives behind the goals.

I am thankful though, extremely thankful that there are still people caring about my well-being and praying for me back at home. I'm thankful for the wonderful group of girls that I live with - that we can get along, joke, and study together. I enjoy the fact that at 11pm on a thursday night, a third of our class is crammed into a lab, willing to quiz & help each other in preparation for a test.

I have realized that I am going to know more about the eye than I ever wanted to know. Who ever knew there was so much involved with an eye? The more I learn, the more confident I am in the competency of my eye doctor. Heck, if you had to know all this stuff to be able to practice - kudos to you!

Classes are great here. In anatomy, they actually test your knowledge through a clinical perspective (ie. you're given all these symptoms and you have to diagnose the problem). In biochem, I'm learning everything that I had learnt in my old biochem class BUT from the perspective of the eye. Same with physio; we learn all these different systemic diseases, their ocular implications and the reasons behind them. In optometry class, I'm learning how to read prescriptions and in optics class I'm learning how to determine the presciptions as well as how it works. This class is by far the coolest. Our prof can look at any person in class with glasses sitting on their face and tell their prescription without touching anything. He can also tell you which type of lens and coating they have. And he can figure out anyone's prescription without any instruments whatsoever. Yes, by far the coolest. My last class is sensory - the doozy class. It's not very fun because the entire first month we've learnt about light bulbs. I can tell you more than you ever need to know about the different types of bulbs. But I have to admit, you'll never find a prof more enthusiastic about the subject. This class would be even more torturous.

I have my first anatomy practical tomorrow. I've never had one before but apparently it's fairly common in the states. There will be models set up at 30 different stations and we have 1 min 15 sec at each station to identify parts/relationships/functions/etc. Wish me luck!

One last note, my parents are coming to visit me on thanksgiving for my b-day. How awesome is that?! If anyone else would like to hitch a ride, there's still room in the car & an extra bed. THe only stipulation is that you have to bring something for me! *grin*

Thanks all for now. Stay tune for more mispronunciations of this Canuck!