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 Menesjärvi 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!!!)
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Sunday, May 4, 2014
יזכור
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#יזכור
What does it mean to remember?
Could
you imagine if sirens rang out throughout the United States on
memorial day? If instead of sales and an excuse to get drunk or take a
long weekend, we actually paused to think about those that fought to
protect my country? To consider for a moment those who were wounded with battle
scars, both seen and unseen? Those who died for the cause and those who
died in the crossfire? Those who had a name and those who had neither name nor possession to speak of but simply a hope for a better future? Could you imagine stopping
all of the traffic across America in order to take that minute or two,
just to remember? And yet here I am, in a place where even the concept
of waiting in line is all but foreign, in which people stop. And cry.
And feel. And remember. Because most have served, and everyone has known
loss. From the peace now activists on the left to the unyielding
settlers on the right, everyone comes together on this day, putting
aside differences to mourn. This is the burden that the Israelis share.
And in its purest form, it is nothing less than admirable.
The national
anthem carries the eternal hope of the Jewish people: "To be a free
nation in our land." Let us be clear. We are still far from that dream.
Billions wish to see Israel and the Jewish people no more. To deny that
is to turn a blind eye to reality. To ignore the injustices on the
ground here--between Jews and non-Jews alike--is to live in a fantasy as
well. Sixty-six years have come and gone, and the dream for this
country and my people to be "a light unto the nations" is far from
reality, just as the dream to be free of oppression and discrimination, both within and without,
seems to be constantly going dimmer. But on this day, seeing and sharing
in the losses and tragedies of my people, the dream begins to reemerge.
The light escapes the darkness. The will to fight on for freedom and
justice is restored. A prayer was said tonight: may we lose no more.
Allow me to amend that. May we lose all of our biases and stigmas that
lead us time and again to war, and through that may no more lives be
lost in the struggle, instead remembering those that have perished in
battle for only one thing: their pursuit of peace. And may the nations
of the world learn by our example that through a true dedication to
mourning and not to glorification of war, the longing for peace can
overcome all battle cries. And maybe some day, after the ringing wail of
the siren has pierced the heart of every individual around the world,
the ever-present words of Scripture may finally be realized: "nation
shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war
anymore." But until that day, I shall proudly honor those that have
fallen to terror on this soil. For this nation was not given to me on a silver platter, and I will carry the memory of those who fought to create a state free of tyranny and oppression. I will continue to fight to make that dream into a reality.
I sincerely hope that the count of those
who have fallen in defense of the State of Israel will rise no more, but
that peace will prevail even in the face of pessimism and negativity.
For as long as hate and mistrust reign upon us, the death knell will
continue to toll. May there peace for us and all the world.
יהי זכרם ברוך.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Time flies when you're a second year medical student!
My dear blogfellows,
How it's been two.five months since I've written my last post is astonishing to me, but so it is, and it is time for an update! I'm still chugging away at school, having just taken a (ridiculous) head and neck written exam and (not as ridiculous) head and neck practical exam. The former was a multiple choice test, questioning my logic of mostly the holes in a larynx/pharynx (what's the difference!?).
But beyond that, it was great to finish up first semester (and suffer the wrath of moadei bet at the start of the second semester). It just goes to show that I'm half way there, both through this year and my time here in Israel. It's crazy to think how far I've come, and how far I have to go (it's also crazy to think how unnecessary that comma was, but whatever).
Chicago was cool--actually, it was freezing. I had an epic travel saga to go with it (what would you expect? I'm even on hold with American Airlines as we speak!). I was supposed to fly Iberia (those of you that know me well know my feelings on the subject) but, due to expected inclement weather in Chicago on the Friday that I was slated to arrive in, combined with the close proximity of the flight's arrival to the Sabbath, I decided to instead find a way to maneuver a change to the ticket. And maneuver I did! I swapped out the IB flights for a British Airways/American combo to London and New York (I was even able to spend the day in London with a good ole friend from 日本語 class), then used award miles on a first-flight-out-last-flight-in to Chicago and Nashville, which I then was gratefully able to split in two. Had I booked into Chicago instead of New York, it would have cost me $500 more, but instead I got a voucher for the change! I then flew to Nashville for an amazing Southern road trip with a good friend from the college years, followed by a flight from Dallas back to Chicago.
What did I see on this road trip, you might ask. Well, it was quite the adventure. Took in some of the Honky Tonk and learned about the legends of Country in Nashville, visited the various caged birds of the Cypress Grove Natural Park in Jackson (TN), dipped down into Mississippi (I also dipped into the how-to-spell-MS chant), got to experience the home of Elvis Presley and more in Graceland, saw the Mammoth Cave and the Louisville Slugger factory, the Gibson guitar museum, the Dallas science museum, the Bill Clinton Presidential Library and the monument to the Little Rock Nine in Little Rock, AR, and so much more! Plus I got my fill of Taylor Swift, as well as the ability to experience all the women that Reba is. Between the celebration of a friend's birthday, the experience of a southern Shabbat hospitality experience, and the amazing culture and patience that the South provides, I'm happy to report to all my Yankee friends that the South is a place worth visiting if you want to turn the tempo down.
I then got home for a couple of days of R&R, extending it just a bit into the second half of the year. My bad. Because it dropped to negative forty-something (incidentally, I went out in just a long sleeve shirt during that stint to grab the newspaper, something I signed up for to get a "free" Bulls jacket and then subsequently cancelled--it was pretty cold outside). And they cancelled all of the domestic flights. On the plus side, they let me choose whichever flight I wanted for the return to make up for it. And I chose Royal Jordanian. Why? Who knows. I can now add it to my list of airlines I have flown (and really do not plan on flying again, although perhaps that was only my personal experience). But we learn from every experience.
And now, as I embark on the journey into the systems of the brain, I soon expect to begin reciting the old adage:
Brain, brain,
Go away,
Come again another day.
Until next we meet,
David
How it's been two.five months since I've written my last post is astonishing to me, but so it is, and it is time for an update! I'm still chugging away at school, having just taken a (ridiculous) head and neck written exam and (not as ridiculous) head and neck practical exam. The former was a multiple choice test, questioning my logic of mostly the holes in a larynx/pharynx (what's the difference!?).
But beyond that, it was great to finish up first semester (and suffer the wrath of moadei bet at the start of the second semester). It just goes to show that I'm half way there, both through this year and my time here in Israel. It's crazy to think how far I've come, and how far I have to go (it's also crazy to think how unnecessary that comma was, but whatever).
Chicago was cool--actually, it was freezing. I had an epic travel saga to go with it (what would you expect? I'm even on hold with American Airlines as we speak!). I was supposed to fly Iberia (those of you that know me well know my feelings on the subject) but, due to expected inclement weather in Chicago on the Friday that I was slated to arrive in, combined with the close proximity of the flight's arrival to the Sabbath, I decided to instead find a way to maneuver a change to the ticket. And maneuver I did! I swapped out the IB flights for a British Airways/American combo to London and New York (I was even able to spend the day in London with a good ole friend from 日本語 class), then used award miles on a first-flight-out-last-flight-in to Chicago and Nashville, which I then was gratefully able to split in two. Had I booked into Chicago instead of New York, it would have cost me $500 more, but instead I got a voucher for the change! I then flew to Nashville for an amazing Southern road trip with a good friend from the college years, followed by a flight from Dallas back to Chicago.
What did I see on this road trip, you might ask. Well, it was quite the adventure. Took in some of the Honky Tonk and learned about the legends of Country in Nashville, visited the various caged birds of the Cypress Grove Natural Park in Jackson (TN), dipped down into Mississippi (I also dipped into the how-to-spell-MS chant), got to experience the home of Elvis Presley and more in Graceland, saw the Mammoth Cave and the Louisville Slugger factory, the Gibson guitar museum, the Dallas science museum, the Bill Clinton Presidential Library and the monument to the Little Rock Nine in Little Rock, AR, and so much more! Plus I got my fill of Taylor Swift, as well as the ability to experience all the women that Reba is. Between the celebration of a friend's birthday, the experience of a southern Shabbat hospitality experience, and the amazing culture and patience that the South provides, I'm happy to report to all my Yankee friends that the South is a place worth visiting if you want to turn the tempo down.
I then got home for a couple of days of R&R, extending it just a bit into the second half of the year. My bad. Because it dropped to negative forty-something (incidentally, I went out in just a long sleeve shirt during that stint to grab the newspaper, something I signed up for to get a "free" Bulls jacket and then subsequently cancelled--it was pretty cold outside). And they cancelled all of the domestic flights. On the plus side, they let me choose whichever flight I wanted for the return to make up for it. And I chose Royal Jordanian. Why? Who knows. I can now add it to my list of airlines I have flown (and really do not plan on flying again, although perhaps that was only my personal experience). But we learn from every experience.
And now, as I embark on the journey into the systems of the brain, I soon expect to begin reciting the old adage:
Brain, brain,
Go away,
Come again another day.
Until next we meet,
David
Friday, November 22, 2013
Time for an update!
Hello blog followers! How nice it is to check in once in a while and reflect on this cool Beersheva Friday morn. Currently I'm studying during a short lull in a busy week, one week before the next anatomy test and without the results of our pulm (respi) results, and I'm beginning to feel the stress of the second year in full form. Yesterday, for example, I met with arnona reps, attended class, has an AMSA meeting during lunch, cleaned up some of the arteries and veins of a cadaver, worked with a neighborhood child through the Perach (פר"ח) program, cleaned up the bunny cages (both mine and the cage with two bunnies I'm currently bunnysitting for, with the owner), ate, headed to visit all of my friends from last year's production of "Beauty and the Beast" at their rehearsal, learned some more Tractate Eiruvin with my friend Moshe, and (finally) met up with a friend. For better or worse, I did not awaken to my alarm this morning and missed my field trip bus to a refugee village, but it'll give me a little more time to study and finish writing this post!
Beyond that, life is pretty ordinary, albeit stressful with the upcoming exam (as is every week this year with an exam every 3 weeks), and I'm getting excited to go home and traveling over winter break in just under a month! I'm excited for seeing my friends and family, for my road trip, for Anchorman 2 (the sequel to the greatest movie of all time), for catching up on some good books, and for enjoying a little bit of me time! And that's pretty much it! I hope all is well with all of you, and please let me know on your end what's going in in your life.
Beyond that, life is pretty ordinary, albeit stressful with the upcoming exam (as is every week this year with an exam every 3 weeks), and I'm getting excited to go home and traveling over winter break in just under a month! I'm excited for seeing my friends and family, for my road trip, for Anchorman 2 (the sequel to the greatest movie of all time), for catching up on some good books, and for enjoying a little bit of me time! And that's pretty much it! I hope all is well with all of you, and please let me know on your end what's going in in your life.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Vesamachta Bechagecha
There is a unique commandment to follow during the holiday of Sukkot: Be happy! What a funny thing to have to do. And yet, after finishing up anatomy, a break and a chance to enjoy the holiday season was just what the doctor ordered.
As many of you know, I love to travel and try out new things. So, when I found out that Finnair, a member of my Oneworld Alliance, was flying direct from Tel Aviv to Helsinki this summer, I thought it would give me a great chance to try it, and another new carrier for me, Turkish Airlines, on a journey to the northern lands.
I landed on an early Friday morning into Helsinki airport, after a restless sleep and a poor meal on board (Finnair was in the middle of a strike). I charged my phone, walked around, waited 5 hours, and then boarded a prop jet to Turku (little did I know, it was only 2 hours by train). But I found my way, got to the bus stop, and realized that I had not converted my change! Lucky for me, I asked a kindhearted lady where the change place was, and she told me not to worry and that she would take care of the fare, else I would miss the bus. She then walked with me until we found an exchange place, refused to take money back, and gave me tips on what to do. She helped me get in the mood for what would be an amazing trip.
That Friday, I took a stroll around the city and then made my way over to the Turku synagogue, where I spent Yom Kippur. It was an amazing experience, and the people were so warm and friendly. After leading a havdalah service, I ran out of the synagogue to catch my train 15 minutes later. Needless to say, after downing half a cup of wine after fasting for 25 hours, I needed to stop a few times.
I continued north to visit Santa in Rovaniemi, the 1st of what would be 4 night trains. I got my rail pass' money's worth. I crossed the arctic circle, went back south to use one of the oldest Finnish saunas still in use in Tampere (Rajaporrti), played golf in two time zones and across two countries in Tornio, shopped at the northernmost Ikea in the world in Haparanda, Sweden, and so much more! It was a whirlwind, but luckily, I was able to snag a sleeping car from Tampere north to get a bit of shuteye. The night before, someone decided to continually speak on their phone while sitting on the overnight car.
On Wednesday, after a restful evening on the train, I arrived to Helsinki, went to check out the city and some of its sights (including the Helsinki synagogue and the Chapel of Silence), and met my classmate and friend as she arrived off her flight from Tel Aviv. We proceeded by train back to Turku after a warm welcome to return, stayed there and celebrated Sukkot with the community, and then made our way by boat/cruise ship to the island of Åland for the weekend. It was very cold to camp out there, and we were glad to take a boat from there on Saturday night to Sweden. Due to port confusion, we even were able to get a stateroom with a porthole!
On Sunday and Monday, we went around Stockholm and saw much of the old architecture and history of the city. Even though I have been to Spain, France, and Holland, never have I seen a city so quintessentially European. It was absolutely extravagant. We walked around plenty, had a few hobo meals of tuna, veggies, and crackers in the park, and finally spent a night (my only one) in an actual hotel. We left the evening afterwards, and that was that!
Some of my reflections on the trip:
1. The Jewish communities in Europe still feel persecuted and under an anti-Semitic grip, and, it would appear, rightly so. There has been a continual rise of anti-Semitic activity in Sweden with the rise in immigration from Arab countries (not to mention the innate conditions). In Finland, it was generally more relaxed, albeit still secure, mostly due to Finland's historically low anti-Semitic history and its small numbers of Jews, of which most have made aliyah.
2. The people of Scandinavia are very much all about their own business, but when push comes to shove, they were almost always extremely helpful and attentive to our needs, with an air of professionalism that I have never truly experienced until then. The cities are diverse and well-kept places, with smaller numbers of homeless people than other countries (in fact, with my understanding of Finnish policy, they are totally provided for and because of that, we did not see any at all on the streets). The Finnish north is proud and strong since, after all, when dealing with regular temperatures of -30 in the winter, what else could you be.
3. Language education in Finland is astounding. They are required to learn Finnish, Swedish, and English, plus may learn others in high school and very often do. And their English was really amazing, perhaps even more so than the Swedes, even though they do not take Finnish.
4. It's cold in Scandinavia. I was there during an unseasonably warm fall and I still needed a heavy jacket some days. I could only imagine December there.
5. Santa is obviously Finnish. I mean, I met him, he was a kind, old, and jolly guy of the Caucasian persuasion, knew exactly what to say, and was planning away toward Christmas in just a few months. He had all his stuff together. I liked his accent very much.
6. Finnish food and language are weird. I tried "squeky cheese" or "breadcheese" with cloudberry jam, which is traditional fare. It tasted like jam and squeaked. But okay, the language is at least fun, if not impossible. It's only slight relation is to Estonian. And Angry Birds is an obsession, as they have the world's 1st Angry Birds theme park and Angry Birds stores and merchandise all over. What a fun place! Reminds me of the manga obsession in Japan.
7. Fart in Swedish is "pace" or "speed," while infart and utfart are "entrance" and "exit," respectively. It's funny. I'm four years old.
All in all, I loved my trip and would love to go back. I saw my first end-to-end rainbow just before dusk on Friday night in Åland as the sun gleamed down on the city. It was absolutely stunning. That said, I still did not see the Northern Lights, and hope to return someday to do so. But as for now, cardio calls, and it's back to M2.
Chag sameach to all who are celebrating the holidays!
-David
As many of you know, I love to travel and try out new things. So, when I found out that Finnair, a member of my Oneworld Alliance, was flying direct from Tel Aviv to Helsinki this summer, I thought it would give me a great chance to try it, and another new carrier for me, Turkish Airlines, on a journey to the northern lands.
I landed on an early Friday morning into Helsinki airport, after a restless sleep and a poor meal on board (Finnair was in the middle of a strike). I charged my phone, walked around, waited 5 hours, and then boarded a prop jet to Turku (little did I know, it was only 2 hours by train). But I found my way, got to the bus stop, and realized that I had not converted my change! Lucky for me, I asked a kindhearted lady where the change place was, and she told me not to worry and that she would take care of the fare, else I would miss the bus. She then walked with me until we found an exchange place, refused to take money back, and gave me tips on what to do. She helped me get in the mood for what would be an amazing trip.
That Friday, I took a stroll around the city and then made my way over to the Turku synagogue, where I spent Yom Kippur. It was an amazing experience, and the people were so warm and friendly. After leading a havdalah service, I ran out of the synagogue to catch my train 15 minutes later. Needless to say, after downing half a cup of wine after fasting for 25 hours, I needed to stop a few times.
I continued north to visit Santa in Rovaniemi, the 1st of what would be 4 night trains. I got my rail pass' money's worth. I crossed the arctic circle, went back south to use one of the oldest Finnish saunas still in use in Tampere (Rajaporrti), played golf in two time zones and across two countries in Tornio, shopped at the northernmost Ikea in the world in Haparanda, Sweden, and so much more! It was a whirlwind, but luckily, I was able to snag a sleeping car from Tampere north to get a bit of shuteye. The night before, someone decided to continually speak on their phone while sitting on the overnight car.
On Wednesday, after a restful evening on the train, I arrived to Helsinki, went to check out the city and some of its sights (including the Helsinki synagogue and the Chapel of Silence), and met my classmate and friend as she arrived off her flight from Tel Aviv. We proceeded by train back to Turku after a warm welcome to return, stayed there and celebrated Sukkot with the community, and then made our way by boat/cruise ship to the island of Åland for the weekend. It was very cold to camp out there, and we were glad to take a boat from there on Saturday night to Sweden. Due to port confusion, we even were able to get a stateroom with a porthole!
On Sunday and Monday, we went around Stockholm and saw much of the old architecture and history of the city. Even though I have been to Spain, France, and Holland, never have I seen a city so quintessentially European. It was absolutely extravagant. We walked around plenty, had a few hobo meals of tuna, veggies, and crackers in the park, and finally spent a night (my only one) in an actual hotel. We left the evening afterwards, and that was that!
Some of my reflections on the trip:
1. The Jewish communities in Europe still feel persecuted and under an anti-Semitic grip, and, it would appear, rightly so. There has been a continual rise of anti-Semitic activity in Sweden with the rise in immigration from Arab countries (not to mention the innate conditions). In Finland, it was generally more relaxed, albeit still secure, mostly due to Finland's historically low anti-Semitic history and its small numbers of Jews, of which most have made aliyah.
2. The people of Scandinavia are very much all about their own business, but when push comes to shove, they were almost always extremely helpful and attentive to our needs, with an air of professionalism that I have never truly experienced until then. The cities are diverse and well-kept places, with smaller numbers of homeless people than other countries (in fact, with my understanding of Finnish policy, they are totally provided for and because of that, we did not see any at all on the streets). The Finnish north is proud and strong since, after all, when dealing with regular temperatures of -30 in the winter, what else could you be.
3. Language education in Finland is astounding. They are required to learn Finnish, Swedish, and English, plus may learn others in high school and very often do. And their English was really amazing, perhaps even more so than the Swedes, even though they do not take Finnish.
4. It's cold in Scandinavia. I was there during an unseasonably warm fall and I still needed a heavy jacket some days. I could only imagine December there.
5. Santa is obviously Finnish. I mean, I met him, he was a kind, old, and jolly guy of the Caucasian persuasion, knew exactly what to say, and was planning away toward Christmas in just a few months. He had all his stuff together. I liked his accent very much.
6. Finnish food and language are weird. I tried "squeky cheese" or "breadcheese" with cloudberry jam, which is traditional fare. It tasted like jam and squeaked. But okay, the language is at least fun, if not impossible. It's only slight relation is to Estonian. And Angry Birds is an obsession, as they have the world's 1st Angry Birds theme park and Angry Birds stores and merchandise all over. What a fun place! Reminds me of the manga obsession in Japan.
7. Fart in Swedish is "pace" or "speed," while infart and utfart are "entrance" and "exit," respectively. It's funny. I'm four years old.
All in all, I loved my trip and would love to go back. I saw my first end-to-end rainbow just before dusk on Friday night in Åland as the sun gleamed down on the city. It was absolutely stunning. That said, I still did not see the Northern Lights, and hope to return someday to do so. But as for now, cardio calls, and it's back to M2.
Chag sameach to all who are celebrating the holidays!
-David
Friday, May 31, 2013
Reflection Time
Dear blog followers,
Tadiyass! That's hello in Amharic, one of the words I wanted to learn before my volunteer experience at the local absorption center this Shabbat. Definitely one of the cool parts of learning here are these opportunities.
Lately, I've mostly been talking about things I've been doing. For a change, I'm going to do something I really don't enjoy doing very much--talking about my feelings. See, this year is almost done, one more of my life, and I still can't be sure I made the right choice in attending medical school this year. It's been exhausting, to be sure, and probably would have been even more so had I been studying even half as much as some of my classmates. But with only four weeks and three tests left to pass to complete the year, I can say that I have just about completed another year of medical school still without the certainty of what I want to be when I grow up. I can also say I am thankful for a pass/fail medical school education.
Don't get me wrong. The possibilities are endless: family practice, specialty practice, pediatrics, policy, administration, global health work--just to name a few. But pastry chef, architect, construction worker, software programmer, and manny are just as viable (especially since mannies make more than doctors on the Upper East Side). I'm even looking into pursuing an MBA at some point during my medical school career so that I can better manage and administer health care over a broader populace of those in need. I hope to be able to do that either after next year or after the year after. Since I am here, after all, I should try as hard as I can to make that difference in society.
And yet, despite the potential options, I still feel uncertain. Sometimes I feel like I'm just riding the wave of school, not fully in it, just being dragged along and doing what I need to survive. Sometimes I find myself seeking out some sort of external validity, only to find that it is internal validity that I really seek. It's rough at times, but it's easier at others. Participating in LOGON's Beauty and the Beast earlier this year was a useful and fun (albeit occasionally stressful) distraction. Teaching Spanish was a great way to feel that I didn't lose out by choosing medical school over Pardes' teaching program, since I still got that chance to teach; it was also one of the only things I truly enjoyed doing this year. Volunteering and day trips, Shabbat meals, hanging out with friends (a small but awesome bunch), Game of Thrones, reading, blogging, and random other activities kept me happy and strong throughout the year. But none of these things ever hits the target of my struggle. I still don't know if this is where I belong.
Allow me to provide a bit more context. I applied to college with a strong desire to be a part of the JTS sphere and community, not really caring too much or even liking the atmosphere of Columbia. And yet, by my second year, I was regretting my decision of applying to JTS. By my third year, I was significantly more happy with the Columbia side of my education, becoming more involved on campus and growing closer with new friends there. By my fourth year, it was clear that, had it not been for CU, I should definitely have transferred out of JTS immediately. This is not to say, however, that JTS is not for everyone. For some people (especially for students who did not attend Jewish high school and had to take the old Core Curriculum), JTS had the potential to be one of the greatest programs that exists, truly the "best of both worlds." But for others, such as myself, who were languishing away in those boring core classes, it was simply not worth the money or time (or busy work) we were putting in. That's just how it is. But unlike at JTS, here I honestly do not know where I would put myself on this fence. Perhaps I need to wait and see. Perhaps, by this point next year, or in two years, I'll be happy I stayed. Or perhaps I will regret not following my heart and wasting all of this time, money, and effort. Who knows? In November, I was this close to jumping ship and leaving, going so far as to even ask if the job offer I was given at the end of last year was still on the table (it wasn't, perhaps God's way of telling me that I closed one door by opening another). The rockets, at least in that regard, came at an opportune time, allowing me a mental break to recover and recollect before returning for finals, and I flew to Japan and did just that.
I suppose, then, that I have not arrived at any greater conclusion after writing this piece, but that it shall stand as a landmark for me to look back to. Hopefully, down the road, I will laugh and never regret my decisions in my graduate school education. I cannot say for sure either way right now. What I can be sure of is that I have some great friends and family who have been my supporting anchors, despite my philosophical ramblings, and for them I will be eternally grateful. For now, though, I have to get showered, ready, and off to the absorption center. As they say (albeit informally) in Amharic, ciao! And feel free to share your thoughts with me as well--I'd love to hear them.
-David
Tadiyass! That's hello in Amharic, one of the words I wanted to learn before my volunteer experience at the local absorption center this Shabbat. Definitely one of the cool parts of learning here are these opportunities.
Lately, I've mostly been talking about things I've been doing. For a change, I'm going to do something I really don't enjoy doing very much--talking about my feelings. See, this year is almost done, one more of my life, and I still can't be sure I made the right choice in attending medical school this year. It's been exhausting, to be sure, and probably would have been even more so had I been studying even half as much as some of my classmates. But with only four weeks and three tests left to pass to complete the year, I can say that I have just about completed another year of medical school still without the certainty of what I want to be when I grow up. I can also say I am thankful for a pass/fail medical school education.
Don't get me wrong. The possibilities are endless: family practice, specialty practice, pediatrics, policy, administration, global health work--just to name a few. But pastry chef, architect, construction worker, software programmer, and manny are just as viable (especially since mannies make more than doctors on the Upper East Side). I'm even looking into pursuing an MBA at some point during my medical school career so that I can better manage and administer health care over a broader populace of those in need. I hope to be able to do that either after next year or after the year after. Since I am here, after all, I should try as hard as I can to make that difference in society.
And yet, despite the potential options, I still feel uncertain. Sometimes I feel like I'm just riding the wave of school, not fully in it, just being dragged along and doing what I need to survive. Sometimes I find myself seeking out some sort of external validity, only to find that it is internal validity that I really seek. It's rough at times, but it's easier at others. Participating in LOGON's Beauty and the Beast earlier this year was a useful and fun (albeit occasionally stressful) distraction. Teaching Spanish was a great way to feel that I didn't lose out by choosing medical school over Pardes' teaching program, since I still got that chance to teach; it was also one of the only things I truly enjoyed doing this year. Volunteering and day trips, Shabbat meals, hanging out with friends (a small but awesome bunch), Game of Thrones, reading, blogging, and random other activities kept me happy and strong throughout the year. But none of these things ever hits the target of my struggle. I still don't know if this is where I belong.
Allow me to provide a bit more context. I applied to college with a strong desire to be a part of the JTS sphere and community, not really caring too much or even liking the atmosphere of Columbia. And yet, by my second year, I was regretting my decision of applying to JTS. By my third year, I was significantly more happy with the Columbia side of my education, becoming more involved on campus and growing closer with new friends there. By my fourth year, it was clear that, had it not been for CU, I should definitely have transferred out of JTS immediately. This is not to say, however, that JTS is not for everyone. For some people (especially for students who did not attend Jewish high school and had to take the old Core Curriculum), JTS had the potential to be one of the greatest programs that exists, truly the "best of both worlds." But for others, such as myself, who were languishing away in those boring core classes, it was simply not worth the money or time (or busy work) we were putting in. That's just how it is. But unlike at JTS, here I honestly do not know where I would put myself on this fence. Perhaps I need to wait and see. Perhaps, by this point next year, or in two years, I'll be happy I stayed. Or perhaps I will regret not following my heart and wasting all of this time, money, and effort. Who knows? In November, I was this close to jumping ship and leaving, going so far as to even ask if the job offer I was given at the end of last year was still on the table (it wasn't, perhaps God's way of telling me that I closed one door by opening another). The rockets, at least in that regard, came at an opportune time, allowing me a mental break to recover and recollect before returning for finals, and I flew to Japan and did just that.
I suppose, then, that I have not arrived at any greater conclusion after writing this piece, but that it shall stand as a landmark for me to look back to. Hopefully, down the road, I will laugh and never regret my decisions in my graduate school education. I cannot say for sure either way right now. What I can be sure of is that I have some great friends and family who have been my supporting anchors, despite my philosophical ramblings, and for them I will be eternally grateful. For now, though, I have to get showered, ready, and off to the absorption center. As they say (albeit informally) in Amharic, ciao! And feel free to share your thoughts with me as well--I'd love to hear them.
-David
Friday, May 24, 2013
Wow, it's already coming to the end of May...
Hey all,
It's been a while (this seems to be a recurring theme), but here I am, almost done being an M1, having somehow passed all but one of my exams (for which I still have appeals to do and only then a retake for me and my other classmates, should we need it). Not too shabby! I also just gave my Spanish students their final exam yesterday, much to their chagrin (they hated the essay writing), but I'm sure it'll all turn out okay (after all, I am their grader).
Right now, we have begun learning via the systems methodology, meaning that we cover one system per three weeks, culminating in an exam at the end of that period. Much better, in my opinion, although slacking off no longer is an option (not that it ever was in theory, which is why I'm just saying this for myself more than for you :). We're currently studying endocrinology, and it's boring, just like most of the stuff has been to me this year. I'm really looking forward to next year, when we actually get down and dirty, dissecting corpses, etc. (save anatomy, I'm terrified of that test). But you gotta learn all of this to be a good doctor, and I hope to be just that!
Yesterday was also the graduation of the 4th years from MSIH. It was so sad to say goodbye to my dear roommates, Noam and Ali, as they leave for bigger and better things in the States. I wish them so much luck! I also just filled out my summer sublet form, which will let someone stay in my apartment in July, just as I stayed in my friend's apartment last July. We're coming full circle slowly but surely, it seems.
We had a very cool Oncology week a few weeks ago, which was extremely inspiring. The doctors and professors that spoke to us really had a lot to say about the field, its trials and tribulations, and what it means to truly be a doctor (which, as I was reminded again yesterday at graduation by the speaker, Dr. Nuland, means to teach). I hope I can become a caring and loving doctor for my patients as they seem to be for theirs.
Meanwhile, I've been working a bit on guitar playing. No songs yet to attach, but I hope to at some point, if you can tolerate the terrible combination of my voice and my guitar. And what else? Oh, it's summer here, meaning it's getting pretty HOT (80's and 90's most days now), but it still has more to go. This is a desert, after all. But it's good. Perfect time to ride my bike with my new (and as of yet unstolen) bike seat (although they did steal the cover off of it--bike related theft is probably the most common crime around here, but otherwise the area is pretty safe and not worrysome).
So, that's about it. I hope everyone across the pond and the world is enjoying themselves, and I want to wish you all a hearty Shabbat Shalom! Attached are a few pics from things I did these past few weeks--Beersheva's first glow run, a huge Lag Baomer bonfire and BBQ at the Rambam synagogue, MSIH's first bowling tournament, and playing pool with a friend who came to visit all the way from Switzerland!
Much love,
-David
It's been a while (this seems to be a recurring theme), but here I am, almost done being an M1, having somehow passed all but one of my exams (for which I still have appeals to do and only then a retake for me and my other classmates, should we need it). Not too shabby! I also just gave my Spanish students their final exam yesterday, much to their chagrin (they hated the essay writing), but I'm sure it'll all turn out okay (after all, I am their grader).
Right now, we have begun learning via the systems methodology, meaning that we cover one system per three weeks, culminating in an exam at the end of that period. Much better, in my opinion, although slacking off no longer is an option (not that it ever was in theory, which is why I'm just saying this for myself more than for you :). We're currently studying endocrinology, and it's boring, just like most of the stuff has been to me this year. I'm really looking forward to next year, when we actually get down and dirty, dissecting corpses, etc. (save anatomy, I'm terrified of that test). But you gotta learn all of this to be a good doctor, and I hope to be just that!
Yesterday was also the graduation of the 4th years from MSIH. It was so sad to say goodbye to my dear roommates, Noam and Ali, as they leave for bigger and better things in the States. I wish them so much luck! I also just filled out my summer sublet form, which will let someone stay in my apartment in July, just as I stayed in my friend's apartment last July. We're coming full circle slowly but surely, it seems.
We had a very cool Oncology week a few weeks ago, which was extremely inspiring. The doctors and professors that spoke to us really had a lot to say about the field, its trials and tribulations, and what it means to truly be a doctor (which, as I was reminded again yesterday at graduation by the speaker, Dr. Nuland, means to teach). I hope I can become a caring and loving doctor for my patients as they seem to be for theirs.
Meanwhile, I've been working a bit on guitar playing. No songs yet to attach, but I hope to at some point, if you can tolerate the terrible combination of my voice and my guitar. And what else? Oh, it's summer here, meaning it's getting pretty HOT (80's and 90's most days now), but it still has more to go. This is a desert, after all. But it's good. Perfect time to ride my bike with my new (and as of yet unstolen) bike seat (although they did steal the cover off of it--bike related theft is probably the most common crime around here, but otherwise the area is pretty safe and not worrysome).
So, that's about it. I hope everyone across the pond and the world is enjoying themselves, and I want to wish you all a hearty Shabbat Shalom! Attached are a few pics from things I did these past few weeks--Beersheva's first glow run, a huge Lag Baomer bonfire and BBQ at the Rambam synagogue, MSIH's first bowling tournament, and playing pool with a friend who came to visit all the way from Switzerland!
Much love,
-David
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