A Piece of My Childhood

Guess what came to my doorstep today? The 24 volumes of Disney's Wonderful World of Knowledge (copyright 1973)! When I was trying to update my profile for this blog, I remembered that one of my favorite books is volume #14 of this series. As I flipped through the fairytales now, I can remember myself as a little girl reading the book over and over again. I fantasized about being Cinderella, Rapunzel, Princess Briar Rose, the Little Mermaid, the girl with the red shoes, etc. I lost this book at least 20 years ago. You see, in our house everything disappears ;). Our family is just not very particular when it comes to neatness and orderliness. At least that's the excuse I say to myself whenever I come home to my place that always looks like a tornado has just passed by hehe. If ever you have wondered why I have not invited you to visit, that is the reason :). But anyways, thank goodness for eBay, I now have my favorite book again. I just need to get a bookcase for the collection so it will have a proper place in my house. I am saving it for my future daughter(s). But don't you fret my feminist friends. I will not let them grow up to be damsels in distress. They will also hear the politically correct bedtime stories where women are so capable and there's no "living happily ever after" myth with Prince Charming. :)

Coming Home

Greetings from South Hadley! Ten years to this date I graduated from Mount Holyoke College in this lovely town in western Massachusetts. It's great to be back, to see old friends and walk familiar paths of times past. My journey here in the United States started in this place. I can't help but to shed a tear or two as I reminisce where I have been and look forward to where I am going, excited about all the promises of the future that still lie ahead. I was sixteen when Mount Holyoke gave me a life-changing scholarship. From a small town in the Philippines, I was given the chance to cross the seas to a new world. I look to and draw upon that 16-year old self whenever the going gets tough, whenever the future seems so uncertain. I remember how I was back then, so certain that I will get to wherever I want to go, certain that the path I am taking is the path that God wants me to walk on. They say that to whom much is given, much is expected. I have been truly blessed with so much. I think I am ready to give as much as I can now. Maybe this is what growing up is all about. I can feel within me that I am ready to be transformed to be a nurturer after years of being nurtured. I am ready to share and live my faith unapologetically. I am ready to strive for what is best for all concerned. I may not have the answer to the problems of this world but I surely want to be of help to you as our paths cross. I know it's hard to reach this ideal self but I just want to say for the record that I am trying :).

Weekend Update

George just sent me this pic from our mini-reunion in Chicago! (7/12/06: Gracias George!)

I spent the last weekend in Chicago. I attended a special worship service geared towards the unmarried brothers and sisters in the faith from the whole district of Northern Midwest. It was a very spiritual service, a good reminder that I am indeed truly one of God's children :).

During the socializing afterwards, I met a sister from Milwaukee, WI who will be applying to medical school this year. I told her to try Indiana. Maybe God wants us all to study in Indiana since there's another sister in my class from the Portage, IN group worship service. I also finally met the sister from Chicago who is a neuroradiologist. She got her fellowship from Harvard so she was encouraging me to apply there when the time comes for me to do a fellowship. Long shot probably, but like she said prayers are powerful.

I was also able to attend the Sunday service in Park Ridge, IL. It was my first time to attend service there so I was really excited. I can now check it off my list of places of worship. I also saw a family there who used to attend the Boston congregation. I have not seen them since I graduated from college so it was really nice to see them again. Interestingly enough, I am actually going back to Boston next weekend for my 10th year college reunion!

After the service, I then headed to the Magnificent Mile to meet a high school classmate. I have not seen him since high school graduation,14 years ago. He said he was wondering why I never showed up at homecoming reunions. He didn't even realize that I just live in Indianapolis. He thought I was coming to Chicago all the way from the Philippines. We had lunch at the Cheesecake Factory by the Hancock tower. He is now almost in his last year of residency for Family Practice. It was nice of him and his wife to spend some time with me that day. It was actually their wedding anniversary. Thanks George and Julie!

The End of the First Year

I got the results of my final exam in Physiology last night. It's with a sigh of relief that I want to share with you all that I have officially finished my first year of medical school! Some days needed more prayers than others. I am so thankful that somehow I have managed to get through.

I now have more time to update my blog so I welcome you to follow along in my journeys. I'll also attempt to post some pictures to liven up this blog :). So here's what I have been up to in the last week. We took that exam in Physiology last Friday. I hurriedly finished the test and headed off to Louisville, Kentucky to attend a Bible study at a friend's house. The serial number of the brethren there is just 25. It is so nice to see them active in doing missionary work. You can also feel their love for the brotherhood. I attended the Louisville group worship service from May-July 2003. Louisville is about 2 hours south of Indianapolis.

Last Saturday, I also participated in our medical school's spring house calls where we helped to beautify the yards of neighboring elders. I learned how to plant flowers so I am hoping that I can work on my own yard pretty soon.

Sunday, I invited a friend and the minister's family to the zoo. We all had a blast. The dolphin show was fun. We also rode a roller coaster and I think I get the award for being the loudest screamer. I am not too comfortable with coasters but I figured that the zoo coaster is just a baby coaster so I should be able to handle it well. Not! hehe

Tuesday, I started my job as medical informatics intern for Clarian Health. Clarian Health is composed of hospitals associated with our medical school. I share the job with 3 other fabulous medical students. We will be training doctors and residents on how to use "PowerChart" which is basically a customized electronic medical record system. It looks like this summer is going to be fun.

Ok that's it for now. I am still finishing up my work for my company. My contract as a service coordinator (SC) for the state will end June 30 since they don't want independent SCs anymore. I could have chosen to be a regular employee but with med school and all, I am deciding against it. So I'm just trying to tie up loose ends so I can start on a new venture. I will be contracting physical therapists to work for my company in a month or so. I am not really aiming to make a lot of money yet but I think this would be an interesting business exercise.

I am really looking forward to sharing the stories of my life for a year or so. I have to set a limit so I won't be afraid that I am divulging too much. :) I hope your days are as bright as mine.