Back on the Grid!

Hey Friends!

I’ve resurfaced and am back on the grid. Woohoo. This round of exams was particularly rough and I studied until I couldn’t see straight (literally), then tried to balance the stress of sitting the exams with the much more tempting fun of having a bunch of ND alums in town for the ND-Ireland Reunion. So let’s start there, hm? First of all, the people who were in town were wonderful. I haven’t seen a few of my classmates in 4 years, and it was great to catch up on everyone’s lives. PS: two newly engaged couples and one recently married couple… Awesome! It was great to see everyone who was in town!

The ND 10-year Ireland Spectacular was done to the nines. And while I could not attend all of the events (studying and taking exams sadly takes precedence), the ones I did attend were put together in traditional Notre Dame pomp and class. I went to the first big dinner on Friday night that was hosted at the Mansion House just off of St. Stephen’s green. It was the “Big” dinner with the most non-ND people in attendance, and was kicked off with a bobble-head U2 band welcoming people from the street. Both of the major ND-Ireland supporters, Charles Naughton and Don Keough were in attendance with their wives and gave lovely speeches to welcome and reflect. Provost Burish also had some wonderful remarks before Fr. Scully blessed the meal with an unusual but pleasant grace. After dinner there was a performance by an a cappella Irish music group with voices that gave me chills, totally amazing.

The next night was the ND Alum Dinner in Dublin Castle. I had never actually been in the castle before that. We received a tour to begin the night, followed by a wine reception with a string quartet. The meal was in the banquet hall, and absolutely delightful. But the night actually continued with a party at the top of the Guinness Storehouse complete with a live band and free flowing pints. I perhaps stayed out a little later than I should have on both nights, but it was well worth it.

On Sunday, there was a Folk Choir Mass (they stopped by on the European tour to bless us with their voices) hosted in Trinity’s Chapel. I have to say, I was struck by the clergy in attendance. President Jenkins (on a brief touch down in Ireland) presided over the mass, flanked by both recognisable Notre Dame priests and representatives of local Irish priest (all of whom I’ve met numerous time before in my time here in Ireland). Most notably, the recently elevated Cardinal, Sean Brady, drove down from Armagh to attend and receive an honorary degree (along with Seamus Heaney). I wish I could have been a part of the other daily activities, but… school comes first.

I had four exams this term: REGUB (standing for Renal-Endocrine-GenitoUrinary-Breast), which was a hodge podge of just about any pathology you can think of; CNSLM (Central Nervous System and Locomotor) which was relatively well confined and taught; the dreaded HLTM (Hemopoietic/Lymphatic and Tropical Medicine); and then the TOSCE (team objective structured clinical assessment) which is a nice way of saying, go play doctor while this guy with a clipboard hovers and grades you. I can’t say that any of the exams went stellarly (though I’m still awaiting the results), and REGUB was just about the most difficult exam I have ever taken. I’m just crossing my fingers that I don’t have to re-sit any of them.

Once exams were finished, eighteen of us packed up and shipped off to the Aran Islands. Mark graciously invited us to crash in his cottage (and crash is a good term for it). I won’t lie, at night there were bodies everywhere (it’s not a large cottage). But it was a wonderful break. I needed to get out of Dublin, and the Islands are the perfect example of the beauty that drew me back to Ireland. We could not have asked for better weather either. I (again) left the Islands sunburned. I think it’s a curse or something, but a curse I can live with. I think the highlight of the long weekend was the bike ride we took around the Island (that manage to be 20 plus miles by the end) that included the round tower, Dun Aengus, and the beach. It was rough going at times, and I (shamefully) had to walk my bike parts of the way. But it was a glorious day. We grilled each night, went to the local pubs, and bought out the Island supply of Corona. Again, God bless Mark for letting all of stay at his place. I’m not sure I’d have the courage to do so.

I’m in the middle of a two-week rotation on General Surgery, which is a lot of fun. I love surgery (telling, I think). And have been in theatre a bit and doing a lot of patient work-ups. After this, I move on to two-weeks of Respiratory Medicine, a big OSCE (solo this time) that determines whether or not I can go on to the senior cycle of medicine in Sept. I haven’t managed to become stressed out about this one, I think I’ve used up all my stress for the year. But I’m on the wards in the hospital every day now, so I’m getting plenty of practice.

The day after I finish with the OSCE, I’m on a plane for NYC to attend my cousin’s wedding. I’m extremely excited about that. I’ll get to see some of my extended family that I haven’t seen in ages, and it’s a wedding! Happy Family Time.

My plans for the summer aren’t entirely exciting. I’m in MN for the majority of the summer studying like it’s my job, because well, it is my job. I’ll be sitting the Step 1 USMLE (medical boards) at the end of August (the 29th… at the moment). It’s an 8-hour test, and carries a good deal of weight when I apply to Residency programs in the States. So… I may be just a little stressed out about it. The last few weeks of my summer look to include an ND game (yay!) In July, I’m hoping to get up to Detroit to spend a few days with the lil’bro and to celebrate Emilie’s wedding with a second reception in her new husband’s neck of the woods. Since I wasn’t able to be at the wedding (fell right in the middle of exams, much like the 10-year), I’m so excited to be able to celebrate with them.

Other random stuff:
• Meg and Tom, my little though no longer little cousins, are in town next week! Fun!

• I may be breaking up my studies with running, perhaps to the tune of marathon training. I’m toying with the idea of running Dublin in the fall. But the idea of another marathon is a little daunting… But aren’t marathons always daunting?

• My parents will be closing on the new town house sometime in June or July! It means changing all of my permanent mailing information and everyone else changing the place they mail me at my parent’s house. Don’t worry, I’ll get that address out when I have it.

• I’ll be spending next year in my second term as the Sec/Treas of the Surgical Society at RCSI. I had promised myself I wouldn’t do it again, and I caved and agreed to run again. Oh well… c’est la vie. I do get to meet a good number of Consultant Surgeons throughout the year, and the committee this year looks to be solid. Fingers crossed, eh?

• Even though my season ended with two broken ribs this year (they’re all healed up now, I promise), I’m going to be playing basketball for UCD again next year. My coach (Sean) won his dream wedding, and we’re all so excited for him! Plus, I just can’t stay away from the courts.

That’s about all I’ve got for right now. It has been a long time since I’ve caught up with a good number of you, and I’m going to try to take time to call people over the summer when I’m back home and it’s financially feasible to do so. I miss you guys! There are times when I kick myself for going so far away for medical school. And there are frequent times when I long for a good chat with people who know me as something other than Liz the (sometimes crazy) north-american medical student. I’m looking forward to being home for so many reasons, but most of them involve being closer to people I love.

Peace,
~Liz