Medtertainment in the Midst of Studying...

I have a renal-resp-cardio final exam in 2 days. So no, this is not a real post. I will post 'for real' sometime next week -there will be plenty to talk about! For now though, a glimpse at some quality 'medtertainment' of late... even if you have not been to/never will go to medical school, they are enjoyable. Some good witty fun.

Cardio is Sexy: http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=GVxJJ2DBPiQ
Breathing is Dreamy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kP2OuZ_vI_s&feature=related
Kidney Stone Dance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFfPWerPvBs&feature=related

Back to the books...

Changing World. And Yesterday's Thoughts on It.

When I say yesterday, I am not trying to poetically refer to the past or history. I mean, yesterday quite literally. There was an urge to write, so I did it on a piece of paper with a pencil at Starbucks.

Just before I relay that entry, I wanted to tell you that today, as a volunteer with Project Genesis (which I have discussed in previous entries), I accompanied the woman I work with to interview a nurse who works for Medecins du Monde for a mini-documentary she's doing on healthcare rights, etc. This nurse, through MM, which also has psychologists, a couple of volunteer doctors and probably some social workers, actually goes on the streets of Montreal with a small suitcase on wheels and a backpack, to deliver basic care (vaccines, UTI medicine, etc) out of a little 'clinic' to communities that have been marginalized by the healthcare system -mainly people who live on the street / street workers, prostitutes, and Natives/First Nations people. Really, it was amazing to hear about her story and heartening that there are actually so many people like her and so many organizations like this one in Montreal, that don't even exist in other parts of Canada. This is why I am proud to be a Montrealer.

Anyway, this was what I had to say yesterday (my thoughts on Obama's glorious win, and on delicious food).

Caramel apple cider is delicious. I don't think many people know about it or realize how wonderful it is, but really... apple pie in a cup. Life is good today, the world is sweet. Yes, I'm going on four hours of sleep, renal is kicking my ass so far and I don't feel like studying, but it's a beautiful, warm, sunny day in November. And last night Obama made history -first elected African-American President of the United States of America. The media at least keeps framing it this race-way. But it is really so much more than that, like charcoal-grey, thick, cottony clouds blowing away, out of the way, and beneath, the glow of a vibrant world with hope renewed all around. He is a man with a vision of peace, justice, alliances and prosperity for his people; he has spirit and his charisma is infused in every poetic world uttered, words that will move more than hearts, and, inshallah, will summon more than tears from the people's eyes -joy, hope and real, profound change. Not overnight of course, and not without many a grueling challenge, but slow, gradual positive transformation. It is amazing.

I have been wishing everyone 'Happy Obama Day' today, and I wish you the same. At the very least, you must concede that he is a reasonable, intelligent man who brings good will, which is refreshing in itself in American political leadership at the highest levels (I refuse to contaminate the manuscript of my soul with unworthy names, but we all know who I refer to here). And as I've said to many of my friends today, if our idiotic Canadian Prime Minister insists on kissing the Americans' ass, well, at least it's worth kissing now.

Speaking of kissing, I miss it. I also miss a capella and choir concerts, the Kirkland House JCR and courtyard, walking past Widener and Au Bon Pain in the morning, and concoting new culinary experiences out of ready-made dining hall food to the admiration and envy of my beloved blockmates. I was reminded of this last yesterday night in particular.

We had a potluck dinner meeting for Physicianship Apprenticeship that though fabulous, went a little later than I would have liked (from 6:30-11:30. yeah. for reals.). However, the company and conversation was great. And oh, the food! Copious amounts of baguette, Brie, Camembert, goat cheese and Swiss. Plentiful Italian red wine (no worries -water, jasmine and pear green teas were my choice of beverages). Bruschetta with pesto. Mixed greens with baby tomatoes, kalamata olives, bocconcini (tiny mozzarella balls) and balsamic vinaigrette. Green string beans cooked with tomato, garlic, sauteed onions and parmesan. Pasta primavera -fusilli with tomato, onion, zucchini, garlic and mozzarella. And to round out our Italian-themed night... butter chicken! Yup, one of my favourite South Asian dishes (speaking of which, after a 4-month-long craving, I finally managed to get some quality jelabi, which is an Indian fried sweet that is bright orange from sugar, lemon juice and saffron -really yummy). The butter chicken though -random, but impressively tasty. And for dessert: strawberries, pineapple and apple with dark chocolate fondue, and mango-peach sorbet swirled with vanilla ice cream. I know. No wonder it took five hours!

This week is very meeting-heavy on the whole though. But also fun plans with friends. Also, I did quite well on my respirology midterm (shukar), so the med school life is moving along. During Physicanship today we discussed homosexuality, heterosexism, homophobia and gender, in society more broadly, and in the context of the doctor-patient relationship. Very interesting, especially at the end when two patients talked to us about their experiences and answered questions. One was a 40-something married lesbian woman with three young children (sperm from anonymous donors), and the other was a 60-year-old gay man, from a Catholic-to-the-bone Quebecois family, who has been a teacher for forty years.

Anyway, time to catch up on that renal [I said this in the original entry yesterday, and it remains true today]. As they say on Grey's, seriously.