"But I know all about love already. I know precious little about kidneys."

As you can probably tell, school is back in session. The school has been doing some crazy things, which Farley has been ranting about on his blog: the print center and grades/registration. I, on the other hand, have been so frustrated that I can't write about it in detail. I'll be too feisty for my own good, but here is a small summary. Waiting for over an hour and a half to pick up your printed up lectures, doesn't make a time-limited medical student happy; nor, does having different letter grades on every copy of your transcript. There were people who thought that they passed because of the discrepancy letter grades who found out that they in reality didn't pass last semester AT REGISTRATION! Can you even imagine? Apparently 30% of the class didn't pass, so I'm thrilled/proud to be moving on even if I didn't get the 4.0 I wanted.

Onto bigger and better things, we are starting the semester with a bang: Neuroscience and Renal Physiology. Neuroscience is VERY interesting, but also difficult, especially since I've never taken it before. One of the Behavioral Science professors suggested getting a coloring book of the brain to help learn the structures of the brain and their relationship. I love books and buy books like I used to buy shoes while I was working, but I was a bit hesitant to buy a coloring book to help me learn neuroscience---Boy was she RIGHT. It has been so helpful to color the brain structures. I think that any of the many children at my old job could do a better job coloring, but I am learning so I guess it is working. Perhaps, I could deliver medical school coloring books to children everywhere and they will be well on their way to completing their MD--just like me!

On to Renal Physiology: my favorite quote about the kidneys, ""But I know all about love already. I know precious little about kidneys."--Aldous Huxley "Antic Hay" At this point, I don't know precious little about the kidneys, but I'm willing to claim that I know all about them either. I guess I have a few weeks to learn all about them--then I'll think I know all about them only to realize in my 3rd and 4th year clinical rotations that in reality, I really know precious little about the Kidneys.

The professors this semester, so far, are great. I am loving the anatomy, which is a shock considering how much I enjoyed it last semester. I guess I think hernias are more interesting than the origin, insertion, innervation and blood supply of every muscle in the limbs--YUCK (Farley would disagree, as he LOVES boring muscles). I just feel like everything we are doing so far is so much more clinical and "doctorly." From everything I've heard, this semester is much harder than the last and that the next two won't be as horrible, but this semester is also much more interesting than the last (which helps one motivate herself to study). I have one disappointment so far this semester: I'm not back in the study groove yet. I was so efficient last semester and had such focus, especially toward the end. I'm not yet as efficient as I was, which is frustrating. I suspect that since this is only day four of the semester, I will get back in the groove in the next few days.

It is the first time I've really been homesick since coming down here. It was hard to miss the birthdays: Mom, Dad, Grandma and little Bella; however, I've been really homesick this week. I think it is because I missed Mother's day and my birthday is this week. Two fun things in one week and I'm down here rather than with my family! It's okay, but I just miss everyone so much right now. However, Farley has planned something for Saturday (the special day) and I'm not sure what it could be as there isn't much to do on the island. I'll let you know what he has up his sleeve!! Perhaps we are returning to St. Lucia to enjoy another sunset, like the one below: