My dear friends,
I want to first thank each and every one of you for your amazing support and encouragement as I decided to take a leave of absence from medical school to pursue a business degree. This process has been a rigorous and challenging one, but I am more convinced everyday that this was the right choice. I have been studying basic courses of finance, marketing, operations, and managerial organization, as well as how to "brand" myself and my image. To be honest, it feels like I have to act like a pompous jerk to be able to tell everyone how much more amazing I am than all of the other applicants to a job, which is a weird feeling (but it's okay, 'cuz I am). And it's paid off, because starting this January, I'll be working part time as a financial analyst for a group called Radiology Protocols, which is on the forefront of streamlining medical processes. And I'll be continuing to teach a bit at the local Hebrew school, too, which I really love to do!
So...Iowa! I bet a few of you are wondering what life is like over there. Well, the corn is really good. And we midwesterners always have an air of kindness to us (see, branding!), and you can really see that in the people. Obviously, Jewish life here is fairly small, especially compared to Israel and NYC, but I make due with what (and who) I have and try to do what I can to increase yiddishkeit a bit around these parts.
What else can I say? Business is really an entirely different field. When I talk about NPV or the Star Model or Kotter Model or utilization, I (almost) feel as if I'm talking about PPIs or gram stains or oncogenes. It's amazing how unique each field is, and I really appreciate the diversity of interests among people in our collective societies, and how much we depend on said diversity to function. We continue to advance intellectually (although perhaps not socially, and I blame borders and religion for that) and diversify through specialization, and as long as we attempt to use these tools for the good, it's only up from here.
Oh, and my adventures! So many things to write. Let me summarize the events since last I wrote:
May 2014: I returned home for two weeks in expectation of remaining in Israel over the summer to take the USMLE. While home, I received an email from Tippie MBA to apply. They catered specially to the one free day I had in the US, and the rest, they say, is history.
June 2014: I frantically packed (and had some nourishment along the way due to the amazing cooking skills of my roommate Brett), got a small cage for my bunny, and hopped over to the airport with an overfilled taxi of 3 70lb bags, a carry-on suitcase (filled with my glassware and probably weighing more than one of the suitcases), a backpack, a suit bag filled with much more than a suit (shhh), and, of course, the bunny. How I managed is beyond me. Then I get to the desk and they ask me for my paperwork (and, of course, I have none, because the CDC has no restrictions for rabbits from Israel). The agents in their broken English (mind you, this is Iberia, so they speak Hebrew and Spanish mostly) attempt to glean knowledge from the US policies on pets, mix up "rabbits" with "rabies" (and other such foibles), call upstairs (God?) who doesn't want to take responsibility, fight with one another for a good hour and a half, and then tell me to go pay for the rabbit but that he'll never make it and "good luck." (He did, of course, and now keeps me company in Iowa.) The day after I arrived home, I proceeded straight back to the airport to head to California (via Boston, of course) to meet up with good friends for a fun road trip along the California coast, seeing new places (Mystery Spot!!!) along the way. I also was able to hop over to San Francisco to see a good friend, and then to Seattle to witness a beautiful wedding, before flying back from there (via Charlotte, of course) to Chicago.
July 2014: Most of my days were spent busily at home. Not too exciting.
August 2014: After finishing up some stuff at home, I packed and headed out to the new frontier of Iowa City, meeting my 4th year medical school roommates (3 years running now!) and getting settled into the community. I took care of my loan paperwork (terrifying total!), bought and assembled some furniture (chair, desk, bed frame, box spring), stocked my kitchen, and headed off to a wonderful orientation week (MSIH could learn a lot from it). And then, of course, classes began.
September 2014: An incredibly long month, September was! The classes proceeded per usual, I began teaching Hebrew and Sunday school, I started my summer job search, and I continued to meet my classmates. I invited quite a few people each week to Shabbat dinner (a wonderful tradition of open invitations that I still keep in Iowa) and prepared myself for the High Holydays.
October 2014: School began moving much more rapidly. The Japanese class I was auditing seemed to have a test or quiz nearly every other day, and we had finals in the middle of the month as well. I was learning a lot, but I was getting ready for a vacation. Luckily, the holiday of Sukkot made for a great excuse to head back home for the start and then to St. Louis to visit friends for the end.
November 2014: I had the privilege to visit Minneapolis for Net Impact 2014, a conference in which I was able to learn more about sustainable and responsible business and hear from some of the biggest names in industry. Hearing from the likes of Unilever CEO Paul Polman and Mayor Betsy Hodges gave me the inspiration I needed to continue moving in my path (whatever that means) in pursuit of a better tomorrow. And the number of others there pushing for reforms and sustainability in business was inspiring as well. It just goes to show that no industry should ever be painted in broad strokes. Finally, I escaped the cold of Iowa City to reach the warmer Arctic Circle (I kid you not) near Lake Menesjรคrvi in Finnish Lapland with a dear friend of mine. We saw incredible things, like the Aurora Borealis, snow-capped forests, Santa Claus(!), and he even saw a reindeer. The sheer quiet and beauty of the north was utterly incredible. It really is just unspoilt nature at its finest.
Unending Silence
Through the brooks and pines alike
Frozen Wonderland
December 2014: As the semester (and this unyielding entry) came to an end, we celebrated our time together this semester with noontime drinking (and I took my audited Japanese course final in said state), a Chanukkah/farewell party, and cheers for a happy holiday season and wonderful vacations. I told my classmates the story of Chanukkah, and we kindled the lights and ate some latkes in celebration. We had a wonderful time. And now, it's time for more adventures a bit further south. But first, a couple more days of relaxation and celebration await.
From me to you, have a fantastic holiday season, and I cannot wait to update you next on my journeys--one south, and one east.
Saludos,
David
(P.S. My computer's data got totally erased, and dropbox didn't save it like I thought it would...sorry for the lack of pictures!!!)
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