| Oh, Columbia... |
[Sep. 12th, 2008|05:09 pm] |
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Yesterday I went to hear Obama/McCain speak about 9/11 on Columbia's campus. For once, the sense of self-importance that New Yorkers (especially Columbia students) generally exude was actually warranted. |
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| So yes, |
[Aug. 3rd, 2008|03:26 pm] |
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I have joined a kickball team called the Pirates...only in Brooklyn. |
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| Time to celebrate! |
[Jul. 11th, 2008|08:39 pm] |
So, the incredible happened and I actually passed my boards.
Things are good. |
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| The nature (number) of the beast... |
[Jun. 18th, 2008|06:48 pm] |
So, it's me vs. my boards in about a few weeks. I really need to buckle down and tackle the beast. Instead (as usual), I've been finding all kinds of ways of procrastinating, including finding good deals off craigslist. I'm actually thinking about buying a real dresser...I haven't had a non-plastic dresser since I was in highschool...this is serious business. I've also been exploring the new area I live in which is a lot nicer than Spanish Harlem. I'm definitely a fan of the West side. I'm also very excited to have a window in my room, as it does make all the difference. I really like my new roommates (though I do miss having at least one crazy person around)...they're probably the most normal people I've ever lived with.
It was definitely nice to go home to Bakersfield...my sister had an awesome Harry Potter graduation party, as Erin can attest to. Also, it was a good time going to see Iron Maiden in the hills of the Irvine amphitheater, especially when they sang "Run to the Hills". This past weekend I went to Boston for the Gay Pride parade...which was a good drunken time like always (except for the fact that my friend left me and this other girl at the bar).
Now, sadly the celebrations need to come to an end until I've passed the N-CLEX (my boards). Wish me luck! I'm sure I'll need it. But as my brother says "Even people who don't know how to speak English, pass the N-CLEX". So, if I don't pass it, I'm not sure what that says about me...ha! |
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| Spring is on its way! |
[Mar. 10th, 2008|11:42 pm] |
March tends to be a good month, since it generally includes spring break, birthdays, St. Patrick's day and the inevitable onset of warmer weather.
And this March (thus far) is no exception. Two of the girls in my clinical group had a joint birthday party, which was a lot of fun, since we don't get a whole lot of time to hang out outside school/hospital. We've had more "grown-up" sort of get-togethers, such as potlucks, etc. However, I'm not sure what the reason is, but getting drunk with people, seems to be a sure-fire way to cement a bond with people. It may have something to do with the fact that people tend to stop stressing about the future and analyzing the past and are in the moment after they've had a few. Or maybe because it's just a good time for all. Regardless, I'm glad I've become such good friends with my clinical group, especially since in the beginning, I couldn't really handle them.
In other news, next week is spring break...which is awesome! That means that I should be doing school stuff since this is the last week before break. So the procrastination will stop, at least for now. |
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| How things are looking |
[Feb. 19th, 2008|10:53 am] |
Well, I thought I never would stay here come May, but now it's looking as though that could happen. School has been a lot better this semester, since it was a fresh start, and I don't feel like I'm trying to catch up (like last semester). I just finished my pediatrics rotation (which I loved) and I'm doing my community rotation (which I love as well). For my community rotation, I'm working in a clinic which basically gives care to homeless people. My preceptor is sooo awesome...he's this elderly gay gentlemen who's a little sassy, but not too over the top. Other than that, school has been ok, besides one dramatic event that's worthy of a teen soap opera. At times, I do feel like I go to a private, Catholic all-girls school, but the kooky students in my clinical group definitely have grown on me.
So, overall life's been good. I went to Boston two weekends ago to cheer up one of my friends going through a break up, which of course included a good amount of alcohol. This past 3-day weekend was good...my mom and my sister came to visit and we did all kinds of NY tourist things. Yay for 3-day weekends! |
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| As requested by Emily... |
[Dec. 2nd, 2007|02:00 pm] |
I haven't been posting much lately due to the fact there is so much going on I'm not sure where to begin.
It can be pretty much summed up by the popular Clash song: "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" (which can be played on a very fun game called Rock Band).
So I can peace out of here in May or stick around for another year and a half.
Here is my list of pros and cons as follows.
Pros of staying:
-get to see snow falling (as it is today)
-have more time to explore the craziness that is New York
-get to work at the most interesting clinical placements
-meeting new and interesting people
-getting to fly on a plane every time I go home (I do like getting on airplanes)
-I don't have to apply to another school to transfer
Cons of staying:
-have to deal with one more winter
-have to deal with the daily chaos that it is New York
-having difficult clinical placements with teachers who don't cut anyone any slack
-dealing with intense, neurotic, high strung people (and hope not to become one of them)
-Being a 6-hour plane ride from California
-I don't get to go to another school
The problem is that I can see the good and the bad for most things...it has always made my decisions not easy.
My gut says it's time to cut the cord and get out of here, but my head tells me that I should stay.
We'll see which wins out. |
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| My move to California...this time it's for real |
[Oct. 10th, 2007|12:24 am] |
So, I'm planning ahead this time because I'm actually going to do this.
Even though coming to Columbia was the best decision I ever made, I need to get out of here ASAP.
So it's like this: When I finish out the year (May), I can graduate with a Bachelor's in Nursing.
I'm going to move to California, not sure where yet. I'm thinking either L.A., Bay Area or Fresno (since I know at least one person in all of these places). I'm going to get a job and go to school part time to do the masters portion of my degree. So, let me know what you guys think of all of this.
Now since I've figured out my life, it's time for bed. |
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| Life in a nutshell |
[Oct. 1st, 2007|02:26 pm] |
So, a lot has happened since I last wrote.
1. I was in the hospital due to a medication reaction
2. I missed a week of school, which sucked, and now I'm trying my best to catch up. Missing a week in this program is like missing a month of normal school.
3. This clinical rotation is almost done...thank god. My preceptor sort of lets us run amok in the hospital, which is a little dangerous to say the least.
4. I've decided I hate Columbia and their bureaucracy...which I guess is at every school.
5. I've stopped drinking for a whole month (which is a long time for me) and I've feel so much better
6. Last but not least...I'm excited to go to Boston this weekend...it'll be good to get out of the city (it's sad that I think of Boston as not city).
Now, back to school. |
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| back at school |
[Sep. 6th, 2007|05:37 pm] |
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I was in India, Cali for a few days, and now back in NYC...I feel out of sorts still as my time zones have been changing constantly. Additionally, I'm doing my Ob-Gyn rotation for nursing which is intense. I have no idea about this stuff so it's interesting to learn and I feel like I'm learning a whole wealth of knowledge I wasn't really interested in. This was the only rotation I was concerned about since I'm so out of my element. Learning about midwives and how the medicalization of birth in this country is crazy. I definitely not at that stage in my life, but people are I have advice to give: seriously go to a birthing center (trust me I thought I would never say that)but being in the hospital which is a really good one....or be really really choosy about your OB-GYN. There's a movie produced by Ricki Lake who's a dula and it's called The business of Being Born...I think I might have to see it to educate myself (Caution: there are live births in the movie). If and when I'm in that stage in my life (which I'm not even close to)...I have learned a lot. Seriously, research your options. Other than that, post-partum is happiest floor in the hospital I've ever been in. Everyone's so excited about the newborns. A lot pregnant nurses work there and I can see why. Down sides...crazy mother and crazy babies (too much estrogen) for me. I could never work in this specialty because I was never interested in it, but I see why people would (specifically post partum). I'll let you know especially after I go see labor and delivery, how that goes and doing neonatal. Babies/mothers are crazy!! |
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| Countdowns... |
[Jul. 18th, 2007|01:30 pm] |
6 days until 80s guitar hero comes out.
12 days until the first of six finals in a week.
It'll be a challenge balancing priorities in the coming weeks.
We'll see what wins out. School or guitar?
Sleep's not even in the running. |
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| School update |
[Jun. 30th, 2007|11:26 am] |
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So, I should be studying since I have a test on Monday...I'm already starting to feel burnt out. I've been having at least one test (most of the time, I have two), since the 2nd week of the program. It's been intense going to school 8 hours a day, and then finding the time to cram. People keep asking me about New York, and I wish I knew, since I haven't had much time to explore/do tourist things. However, I'm happy that I'm back at school and I know (finally) that this is what I should be doing. It's nice to finally know that. I can't believe a month's gone by, and this is actually only my second weekend in New York. I've been already been back to Boston 2 of the weekends for various events. It's always interesting when you move to a new city and are starting over, but it's nice to know that I have friends to hang out with in Boston. People in school are pretty intense (definitely Type A) personalities, and sometimes I ask myself what am I doing here with these crazy people. I have met some cool people, though...it always takes some time to settle in. I'm really looking forward to the month-long vacation. I'm going to India for a few weeks, and I'm thinking about going to CA for a few days, we'll see. |
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| The forever-long orientation... |
[May. 31st, 2007|02:01 am] |
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So, I'm at orientation. It started at 8:30 this morning and won't end until 4pm and sadly we have this same schedule for tomorrow and Friday...and this is just orientation. I was talking to some people and they knew other people in the program who said that this summer was the worst and that they would go home and cry...I hope that's not true. I don't like crying. There are so many people from California...it's kind of weird. Apparently, a lot of people from CA didn't get into state schools for nursing so ended up coming out here. Who knew CA state schools are harder to get into than Columbia? Good thing I didn't even bother applying to those (the so few that there are). Campus is nice, but I feel oriented enough. I wonder if they would notice if I took the rest of the day off. I'd rather explore NYC. |
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| Officially... |
[May. 29th, 2007|12:00 am] |
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I've moved into my new place in NYC...if anyone's ever in the area, let me know. It was an adventure driving down from Boston to NYC and it went pretty well. Hauling stuff up 3 flights of stairs was not very fun, but it's over. Now to unpacking. I already miss California, and I just got back. I heart Californians. Now I think I might go and pass out for the night. |
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| (no subject) |
[May. 7th, 2007|05:39 pm] |
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So, it's actually happening. I found a place to live in New York (which is sort of early for me). I'm excited and relieved. I've heard horror stories of looking for places in NYC, so I'm glad that's over with. I'm also glad that I won't have to think about it when I go to CA next week. So, I'll be living near Central Park, which is cool and one of my new roomates was one of my old roomates in Boston, which is nice. It finally has hit me that I'm moving, and it was nice to spend Cinco de mayo there. The weather has been beautiful...summer is finally here and everyone seems so much happier. Yea! I get to quit my job next week and the timing couldn't be better...I'm starting to get bored here, but I will miss the people and kids here(they're awesome). However, I'm definitely looking forward to vacation. |
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| (no subject) |
[Apr. 20th, 2007|01:28 pm] |
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Sadly, My Space has been banned at work. So now I have to find a new activity to keep myself from doing actual work. Any ideas? Maybe I'll start posting more. I kind of want to quit my job sooner than I was planning to, so I can just hang out in Boston. But then there is rent to pay, so that could pose a problem. Ok, I'm going to try and do something that I'm actually paid to do. We'll see how it goes. |
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| Excitement is in the air! |
[Mar. 13th, 2007|08:03 am] |
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My friend is coming to visit all the way back from China...this weekend will be a combo of celebrating my friend's birthday, St. Patrick's day and a welcome back extravaganza. This is my favorite time of year in Boston...I think I will actually miss it. Then, the next weekend I'm throwing a guitar hero party for my birthday...it should be awesome. I'm so excited...I can't really concentrate at work...I'm going to try, though. |
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| So....crazy news!! |
[Feb. 9th, 2007|07:03 pm] |
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I just found out I got into school (Columbia...nonetheless)...which is really crazy because my app was 3 months late. So, I guess I'm going back to school?? More winters and the loans will pile up..yea! |
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| New Year's Resolutions |
[Jan. 10th, 2007|12:33 pm] |
I don't usually make these, since I don't ever follow through with them, but these are two resolutions I really should try to keep.
1. Don't get so drunk at the office Holiday Party that people at work start giving you the nickname "Wild Woman". (There are even pictures, which is even worse).
2. Don't get so drunk the night before New Year's Eve that I injure myself and have to hobble around like an old woman on actual New Year's Eve.
It looks like there's a theme arising. |
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