Books for the break

I am so excited to be able to leisurely read again that as one of my study breaks I started making a list of must read books in the NEAR future! -- there is a much longer list that I hope to read throughout my life.
I like most genre's but I have to say I love magic-realism (anything by Gabriel Garcia Marquez) and classic sci-fi (like Aldous Huxley, Asimov, Wells). Here is what I have so far:

Animal Farm - Orwell
The Red Tent - Diamant
The Good Earth - Buck
The trial - Kafka


What is your favorite book? Post suggestions in the comment boxes :)

Soundtrack

I've been keeping up with my runs and now I find myself wanting to go twice a day sometimes... probably because it's a break from studying. Anywhoo I've recently changed my soundtrack. I used to listen to high energy, fast beats, electro, latino music which would get me so energized after my run. But I realized that my body is not tired - all it does is sit on an extremely hard, wooden chair all day! So recently I came across an artist which I completely adore. Her voice and type of music is real, soothing and powerful. Adele; she is a UK artist with a passion for singing and poetry. Check her out here or on youtube!

the view from the road I run along... you now probably understand
why I go everyday

Each time I come back from my runs now I am relaxed and my mind is peaceful. I'm sure the gorgeous scenery and the sunset contribute to this but her music has made a difference in the way I run... its pretty incredible.









            

PS. I'm pretty sure I saw a whale today. I stopped at the top of the last hill to watch the sunset and there definitely was a big 'fish/whale' in the water. Couldn't tell without my glasses but apparently humpback whales migrate this way to give birth and raise their young.

Bonus

 4th set of exams are done! This is where my roommate and I spent the afternoon. It's one of the resorts on the island - a quick 10 minute ride up a ridiculously winding road to a steep cliff. Shearwater is a luxurious resort that lets students spend the day at their poolside and sway in their hammock for just $10 (which includes a free drink! :) ). Great way to relax and get away from campus. here's a sneak peak...Definitely my recommendation of where to stay if friends and family are coming to visit!

 

amazing view. It was clear enough to see the neighbouring islands - St. Eustatius and St. Kitts 

Block Weekend Rant

Block weekend is known around campus as the weekend of stress! No sun, no down time, no socializing. Block weekend is the time to solidify all that you have struggled to learn in the past two and half weeks.

I went to ‘My Store’ (the grocery store in The Bottom) after class on Friday and bumped into pretty much my entire class! We were all stocking up for the weekend with study snacks, energy drinks and quick frozen meals. The life of a student on a low budget.. great! My question is how are we supposed to eat healthy? We barely have time to cook and if we do it costs an arm and a leg from our bank loan to buy fresh vegetables…

So to the incoming class I would like to say: prepare to be spending double what you are spending on your weekly budget for food. The prices on Saba are higher, especially if you want fresh vegetables and snacks that remind you of home. My advice? Bring as many of your favorite non-perishable snacks as possible. (granola bars, nut mixes, almonds, dried fruit, powder mix for juice, cooking spices etc). You will find most of the foods you eat at home at the grocery stores on Saba but they may be a different brand.

The best day to go shopping is on Wednesday when the new grocery shipment comes in! Milk, bread, yogurt run out fast so be sure to go before Friday – if not there is always a trip to Big Rock (the bigger grocery store in Windward). All in all food is okay as long as you are not too picky. There is a pizza restaurant that delivers before 6:30 and there are a couple options close to campus like the school cafeteria, the coffee house and a Chinese restaurant. Just don’t come with expectations that the food will be the same as home… Chicken, pork chops, burgers and fish are okay. I would stay away from the BEEF!! It’s very stringy and tough as you will see as per my previous post…The experiment that went wrong

That’s my two cents on the food situation; back to studying J

Oh! You can check out the grocery store website at http://www.mystoresaba.com/About_Us.html.

Dear Class of May 2011, Packing

This by no means is a complete and comprehensive list. It is more of an idea of things I brought or wish I brought that would’ve been useful. The ValueMD blog has a whole thread dedicated to lists for packing. Mine will just complement it.

In terms of packing the easiest way for me was to make a lists so here we go…

School supplies:

If you are a person who likes to write out notes BRING PAPER. Paper is scarce on this island.

BRING PENS and other supplies you would think you need. School supplies in general are hard to get ahold of. Ie Highlighters and colored pencils. Cue cards – if you study off of them.

The desks in both dorms are provided with lights – I brought my own desk lamp but haven’t really used it.

I haven’t really printed much out but if you like paper notes there are people who use the library printers and pay for each page. Some people brought their own printers (be sure to bring enough ink supply if you chose to do so).

The BEST decision I made was to bring dry erase board – so if you like to draw out pathways and memorize by writing stuff out then it’s a great idea! ( I got mine from Staples just make sure that is has the double sided adhesive tape as you cannot nail anything in the walls- they are concrete).

A chair cushion would be helpful as the chairs in the dorms are hard wooden ones and once you sit 5 hours per day they tend to get uncomfortable!

I also brought small desk organizers – if you don’t have room you can just use the desk drawers and shelves (plenty of space!)

USB or external drive comes in useful

Personal Supplies (room and kitchen):

- febreeze spray, incense, dryers sheets for clothes or room freshner

- clothes hangers

- laundry bag

- multi-plug outlet

- if you are residing in Hillside and have room in your luggage bring a non-stick frying pan (If you are in Matthew Dorms you will be stuck with the microwave and fridge – rice cooker is always a good idea.)

- Foramen Grill!! Amazing and useful for fast cooking and making hot sandwiches

- small cutting board – if you cook, even just a little it is useful instead of cutting on plates.

- sticky hooks for hanging/ decorating your room

- over the door hooks for towels and other clothes (great and take up very little space)

- cleaner for glasses (if you wear them – serves as a dual cleaner for computer)

- cheese grater à not supplied in the kitchen and you would be surprised how many times I wanted to use one (especially if you cook)

- extra razor blades

- EXTRA pair of shoes for anatomy lab (closed toe preferably)

- travel coffee cup

- zip lock bags, elastics

- spices that you cook with at home – they are expensive here!!

- ENTERTAINMENT: DVD’s, favorite TV shows because you will need a break and the library has a very old selection of movies and the internet is quite slow to stream.

In terms of clothes bring comfortable clothes because you will be sitting in class from 8-12 then go home and sit (again) to study. Bring one/two nice outfits for the white coat ceremony and the midway party; as well as clothes for going out to dinner and hanging out J (yes you will have time to do this once you get used to the pace!!)

Running shoes for hiking/ working out.

My rule was to bring clothes that are easily washed and packed. But I didn’t go out shopping specifically for island clothes – bring what you have.

Make sure to bring cardigans/ sweaters since they tend to keep the classrooms blasting with AC.

Oh and bring a tank top/ undershirt that you can dedicate to smelling like formaldehyde for the next 4 months!!

I realized I never posted pictures of our dorms so check it out below -- this is Hillside 1. I think you will get your dorm assignments soon.

Part 2 will be focused on food on the island!!! 

the last stretch

First semester is coming to an end I am ecstatic about heading home! Looking back time flew by but there is also one more very hectic month ahead.
This is a short post as I don't have much time tonight and nothing new has really happened. The normal study, study, study schedule has been in place... with a couple more running breaks than usual :)

As my semester is ending it means that another class will be taking my place in May. I remember that it really helped me to read about what other's had to say about the island - what to bring, what is provided, how the food is... and so on. So I've decided to dedicate the next couple of posts to advice for the newbies! If any of you are reading, comment below this post with any questions you have and I will gladly answer them in the next month.

For me, keeping up my energy and spirit of studying for the next exams will be the most challenging. Worked too hard to get to this point... one last push.

In the middle of nowhere.

An avid hiker who was visiting Saba Island for its trails.

My roommates and I decided to take a study break this Saturday and explore the island. We started off thinking it would be a short 1 hour hike along the mountains surrounding ‘The Bottom’…. We must have taken a wrong turn somewhere because it was around a 2 hour hike!! We ended up hiking to the top of the hill behind our dorms and saw a great view of the village.

The changing vegetation throughout the hike was incredible. I have never seen such a rapid change from rainforest filled with huge leaves and moss to an open field of long tall grass and then to a tropical patch lined with palm trees.

So excited!!

The hike itself was not easy – especially climbing uphill for one hour! But being in the middle of a forest hearing only the songs of birds, buzzing of insects and seeing yellow and black striped butterflies flying all around you was very relaxing. At times, surreal. Fantastical. This is where I go to school…

cool insect :)

Lots of spiderwebs around. I loved the lighting around this one in particular...

This part kind of looked like a jungle. It had hanging branches making curtains of greenery all around. 

The beginning of the hike

we found a fruit... not too bad tasting

These things were HUGE!

geico!! It just stood there looking at me

We made it!

Our hiking was a success. Hopefully we can do the Mount Scenery hike soon! Just waiting for a cloud-less weekend. If not there is always getting certified in Scuba diving! 

Photos!!

As promised here are some pictures from the swimming adventures :)... Also my first sunburn!

hitchhiking is a common event on saba. Sitting in the back of a pickup on our way down to the ferry dock.

Rishi... relaxing

Mark and his crazy hair.

the boys of Hillside + Hardik

the gang :)

Sunshine

I realized sunshine is key to being in a good mood and relaxation (it also has to do with body regulation by the pineal gland as we just learned today). Yesterday, I stepped out of my third set of exams and I couldn’t stop smiling. Partly because we were more than halfway through 1^st semester, partly because I did well and because I was in the Caribbean… which meant I could take a 25min walk and jump into the Caribbean sea.

That’s exactly what we did! We went down to the ferry dock, swam and soaked in the sun (the ferry dock is the best place to swim since there is no real beach on Saba island – apparently there is one near the airport that comes and goes with the tide in the summer season). Our only half day off was extremely relaxing. After our swim we ordered some pizza and just hung out. Great ending.

This morning, I am sitting in histology class as I am writing this and I look around to see that there aren’t that many students left. However, it’s great to see that those who are sticking it out have the drive and passion to drop everything familiar, adjust to living on an island and find the time to enjoy themselves in between the craziness of medical school… maybe enjoying themselves a little too much as many couldn’t wake up for class this morning J

Well more of my random thoughts later… time for anatomy.

Pictures will come as soon as I get ahold of them - I forgot my camera in the dorms