PA School and NY Update

Well I have survived an earthquake, hurricane, faculty strike, two exams, right around 100 hours of class, a hospital visit for bug bites and fever and many delayed subway rides... and I still love it here.

As for school: It's 40 students in one room, professors change so we don't move, either freezing cold or burning hot depending on the day, no windows... it's like jail except we choose to be there and don't want to be dismissed. We had to buy cushions for our seats because our butts and backs hurt so much by the end of the day and several of us suffer from stomach cramps from having to shovel food in and then sit for hours. I know this all sounds terrible, and while it isn't the most exhilarating adventure I have ever embarked on it is definitely fun in an odd and nerdy way. Plus, I add my own kick to it with my small group of girlfriends by making nicknames for everyone in class like the "fashionista" and the "novelist." Anyway...

I'd say the hardest part of being here, besides the non-stop studying and pressure of not failing out, is trying to understand all of the different accents I encounter on a daily basis. I swear english is no one's first language here, which makes listening to professors even more difficult. Let's start with yesterday (Monday) we had 6 hours of class with one professor who sounds like she was born in Portugal, moved to Chile then grew up in India and taught in Russia (not kidding). Professors switched and we had anatomy with a Native New Yorker- who I have the hardest time understanding and had to ask my classmates if there was supposed to be an "R" at the end of some of his words (they laughed since I am the only out-of-stater who obviously struggles with the harsh accent). Today I had 8 hours of cardiology class with a very nice African American man who talks with a more "black-person" accent and extremely fast... I repeatedly have to ask him to repeat himself. Then I finished my day with 3 hours of pathology taught by a WHITE Jamaican man who uses "fuck" every other sentence and manages to say "up the butt" and "poop" during each slide of his powerpoint which makes the entire class giggle like middle schoolers talking about boners.

Tomorrow eight of us are going to the hospital for the first patient-encounters, myself included- as Ms. Gansar (weird). We will be taking patient histories and vital signs while dressed up in our white coats and introducing ourselves as PA students to patients that have already told their stories ten times and do not want to be bothered by any more people. But hey we all learn the hard way not to check ourselves into a teaching hospital.

As for NY living... I have successfully tried 4 cupcake shops, found the best donuts I have ever tried in my life (dangerously close to my apartment) and have yet to eat at the same place twice. If all else fails I will just become a food-blogger.
My roommates are great. One of them is now one of my best friends- our connection is strong and weird. The other girl is very much about herself but we get along just fine. No boys in my life for the first time in a long time, it feels good but can be lonely. Michael and I do have dinner about once a week - nothing romantic going on however. Since there are 8 boys and 32 girls in the program, looks like I'm gonna be single for a few years.

And that is that for now. I miss you all and hope you are staying well because everything I learn makes me feel like you are each extremely sick with something.

From August 31, 2011

Well I just got home from what was officially one of the proudest but scariest days of my life. Today was my first day of PA school where I sat in a desk in the freezing cold air conditioning and listened to my future professors tell me how difficult my life was about to become with an un-set class schedule that could change at any moment and more than 100 tests in my first year. They made sure to tell us that there are psychiatrists at our beck and call for free specifically for our program.

As we walked up to have our white lab coats presented to us the professor speaking reminded us of what the coats represent: that we are now healers, people that are looked up to and needed.

Then we stood there and took an oath that read:

-I pledge to give my whole effort toward the study and practice of medicine
-I will place the patient's needs before my own
-I will endeavor to relieve suffering
-I will seek new knowledge diligently and will use it only to help others
-I will adapt my behavior and attitudes to those consonant with the practice of medicine.
-I will acknowledge my mistakes and seek to learn from them
-I will respect all my faculty members, fellow students, preceptors and patients as individuals, without regard to gener, race, national origin, sexual orientation or religion
-I will assist other students in meeting their professional obligations; I will accept their help in meeting my own
-I will care for all who are in need, without regard to those issues that divide us
-I will seek to improve my community
-I will maintain my own well-being so that I can help others
-I therefore commit myself to a life that will bring honor to the Physician Assistant profession: a life of service, selflessness, integrity and humility.

Before it all ended our professor stood in front of the room and thanked all the family and friends for "sacrificing us." Since we will not be seeing you all much or in touch as much as usual. She thanked everyone for their support financially and emotionally. There was no promise of our health or life in the end, just simply a "Good luck class of 2013, you will be released in November of 2013 a little bit older, and G-d willing, much wiser."

So I just thought I would share this special day with you all as 38 other students and I signed our lives away. I love and miss you all and please do not take it personally if I don't keep in touch well. And please NO DEATHS, WEDDINGS or BIRTHS for the next few years- I want to be there.
Love you all,
Britt