Timesaver Tip #4

Write Things Down!

Writing things down improves your ability to retain information and gives you time to process the information that you are writing down. Thus you waste less time trying to remember it 

Looking Outside

I really love the view from my window so I though I would share... from the inside looking out. Enjoy! 

Timesaver Tip #3

Eliminate all distractions for a set time. 

Distractions are everywhere. They arrive via email, cell phone, coworker inquiry, etc. I’ve found that cutting out all distractions for a set time is one of the most effective ways to get things done in less time. You can’t remain in hiding forever, but you can be nearly four times as productive while you are.

Via DevineCaroline

Timesaver Tip #2

Use productive shortcuts. 


People who claim that there are no productive shortcuts in life have been brainwashed. There are productive shortcuts for almost everything you do. Finding and using them can save you a few minutes here and there on a daily basis. If you use a computer, learn the keyboard shortcuts for the programs you use most often. If you can permanently delegate one of your regular tasks to someone else, do it. Is there a route to work with less traffic? How can you hit two birds with one stone?
Via DevineCaroline

The Fresh Kitchen

I had lunch with my boyfriends mom and an his friends from back home. One of those people is the wonderfully talented personal cooking instructor Nicole Muvundamina. She is like your personal trainer for the kitchen. Cool right. Checkout at all the pretty food and wonderful advice she gives at The Fresh Kitchen

Snap Pea Salad with Sumac Berries

Chewy Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies

Timesaver Tip #1

Group similar tasks back to back

Switching gears between different types of tasks can be tough. It takes most people several minutes to get into a productive mental groove geared toward a specific type of task. Therefore, it makes sense to group similar tasks in an effort to minimize the number of rough patches, and thus wasted time, between task orders.

Via DevineCaroline

Thirty Ways to Save Thirty Minutes a Day

By: Marc and Angel Hack Life

We’re all way too busy. We live and work in an age with infinite online and offline demands for our time and attention. And the end result is that we’re left with little free time to just breathe and be.

Sometimes our days are so crammed with things to do that an extra thirty minutes at the end of the day represents the difference between sanity and insanity. If you’re anything like me, you wish there were few more minutes in every day. Well, the good news is that there are always minutes to be saved and various ways to save them. Save enough of them every day, and you’ll have a few extra hours at the end of the week. Via DivineCaroline


I'll be posting sometime saving tips that I find helpful throughout the year. Enjoy! 

Its been too long....

Alright, I am back! I have been recovering from losing my dad this summer which is my I abruptly left Haiti and it why I stopped posting. I just did not have the energy.

I also fell in love and started a serious relationship with the man that I am certain is my future husband. He is the most amazing man and so perfect for me in every way. Thank you Jesus!

So my apologies but sometimes you need to take a break from the world to soak in and live life even when its hard. The school year has started so break is up. But I will be posting faithfully! I promise....

Peace and Love to you! 

Haiti Day 10: Malaria & Hypertension

I saw my first case of malaria today but I can't count the number of cases of hypertension. Hypertension seems to start so young here. Our youngest case since I have been here came in today, an otherwise healthy 18 year old male. He was brought in by his mother. The others have been young women. They all came in complaining of headaches, which we could have guessed given their high blood pressure readings. The patients were placed on anti-hypertensives and advised to monitor their salt intake.

I have asked the nurse and the doctors about what seems to me to be an unsual phenomenon. I came to Haiti with the impression that infections diseases like Malaria were much more prevalent then chronic diseases like hypertension. By I stand corrected. So why the discrepency?

Malaria has come with the rainy season and for the most part, can be controlled at home. People are so familiar with the signs and symptoms of malaria that it's hard to misdiagnose: intermittent fever, red urine, extreme thirst.

The doctors responded to my question as followes: hypertension is pervasive because of the stress of living in poverty, the fear of violence, the lack of opportunity, and the list goes on. The nurse responded to my inquiry by saying that if anywhere would have hypertension it most certainly would be Haiti.

Haiti Day 9

We've been seeing several patient with upper respiratory infections, colds, It's rainy season which more often than not equates to cold/flu season here. Our patients are typically women and their children. Today I saw something that piqued my interest from the cultural anthropolgy perspective.

I father came in with his 6 year old son. Typically when a young child comes in we ask his parent all the relevant question relating to the onset of disease, signs, and symptoms. Mothers often answer these questions in more detail than is necessary. This father on the other hand was concerned about his son's health but could not anwer a single question about the nature of his illness other than what could be discerned from the physical exam. Fortunately, he wasn't seriously ill. We ordered so comfimatory test and all was well.

I asked the doctor about the exam. He said that mother are just more observant than fathers. And that was that. I wonder if thats the case else where. Are mother's more observant than father's back in the states too?

Haiti Day 8

Missy, one of FHM country Coordinators, came to visit today. She wanted to make sure I was getting the most out of my month here and adjusting well. She joined our morning prayer and worship at the clinic. Then we chatted about my experiences here.

Later that day she brought me 2 gifts: a great stethescope and a Haitian Hymnal! She made my day.
Afterwards, she drove me into downtown Port-au-Prince (the Del Mar area) and we had pizza and slurpies at a Epi D'or Resturant and ended our trip at a local super market. The super market was like a mini-Walmart and a Haitian store wrapped into one with the merchandise costing about as much as it would cost in the states.

It was a long drive due to the traffic so we were able to share our different motivations for being in Haiti. Missy's journey is an interesting one. She and Pastor Luke (pastor of the church that I attended yesterday) are examples of people that are working fulltime in Haiti in response to God call in their lives. I admire their determination.

Haiti Day 7

I went to Church today, service was from 6am-8:30ish. Church is on the compound so there is need to go more than a few feet to attend. In all honesty the service is so loud that I could probably here everything from the comfort of the roof or perhaps my bed. But there is something to be said about communal worship that can not be replaced in my mind.

I was ready for Christian community. I did not realize how much I craved it until last night. All the other longterm volunteers (volunteers committing at a month or more of their time to serving the community) and I decided to have a daily Bible study. The plan going in was to have BB lead both worship and the study since he was a theology school grad. We now decided that we will share responsibility as we feel led (and he will of course be our guide). I have my private time with God but I really enjoyed  the study.

I woke up feeling refreshed and perhaps seeing Haiti with new eyes. This is truely a beautiful country. From the roof the guesthouse this morning I could see the mountains. They seemed to be snuggling underneath a thick blanket of clouds. The air was is crisp and the green of the mountain side seems to roll on forever. I have to pinch myself, am I really seeing this. Am I really here?!

I snapped out of my daydreaming when I heard the pastor welcoming the congregation. I looked down and it was 5:50am! Wow! To my surprise they were already starting service. Church starts on time in Haiti!

I ran down to the church to catch the beginning of the first hymn. It sounds familiar. And my mouth breaks into a smile. I'm going to like this church I thought to myself. The church is non-denominational, but has Baptisit leanings and even uses the same Haitian Hymnal that we used in my church back in Florida.

My only regret is that I did not bring my Haitian Hymnal. I recently purchased one but left it in Chicago. Fortunately they sang some common hymns and ended service with my all time favorite hymn. It was a bit more complex but it is afterall my favorite so I enjoyed it.

The BEST part of the service by far was the sermon, it was given by a visiting pastor. He spoke about the value of children. He reminded the congregation that all children are precious gifts from God that should be watch over, cared for and guided with the utmost care; we will all be held accountable for the gifts that God has given us.

That was my Sunday...Be Blessed & Stay Blessed :-D

Haiti Day 6

The clinic is closed on the weekends. So today marks my first day off since I started. But the days here begin with the rooster's crow and the hustle and bussle of the city can be heard from every direction, so I am up before 6 everyday. Fortunately, I am a morning person and I welcome the cool morning breeze we've had this week. It has been unusually cool in Haiti; in fact, it has been cold enought to wear a hoodie all week.

I have been spending my spare time reflecting on the cases that we have seen in the clinic, getting to know the long term volunteers living on the compound, and catching up on some reading.

As it turns out my cousin has been detained with some pressing personal matters so we will have to meet up next weekend. That works. I am going to get back to my reading, there is nothing like a good book on a rainy day.

Haiti Day 5: Uh Oh...I think I'm in trouble

I spoke to my mother briefly a few days ago to let her know that I was safely in Haiti. Unfortunately that was not good enough for her. She has been worried sick over me. And to make matters worse I  mistakenly gave her the wrong emergency contact number. So what did my Haitian mother do?

She gets a hold of the only relative we have in the city of Port-au-Prince in hopes that I have run into him in one of the clinics. He is a doctor who has worked with the clinics that I am affiliated to. But I have not met him as of yet. This troubles her so she sends him on a wild goose chase to find me. He obliges her and ends up in the neighboring city of Leogane. Family Health Ministries is headquartered in Leogane. He asks for me and discovers that I am not there.

Fortunately, I mentioned his name to the program coordinator on our way to Haiti so when he was taken to her she recognizes his name and gives him my number after failing to contact me herself on the emergency phone that she issued me. As it so happens I rarely carry the emergency phone on me out of fear that I might lose it. Once I got back to my room, I realized that I missed 8 calls and was a bit disurbed.

I eventually touched based with my cousin. He was very pleased to finally get a hold of me and has invited me to his home for the weekend. We both called my mother soon after that conversation. She reminds me to stay in touch and be safe. I promise that I will and inform her that I will be hanging out wiht my cousin. I am looking forward to seeing another part of the city. I'll let you know how it goes.
I love my mom! Yes, she can be a little over zeolous when it comes to worrying about us, but when all is said and done. I know it comes from a place of love. And I know she would go to the ends of the earth and back for me.

Haiti Day 4

I feel much better this morning.

I am currently in one of the clinics in Port-au-Prince run by Family Health Ministries. I work with three doctors and 2 nurses who shift betweend different clinics in the region. On my second day here I worked with pulmonary physican. He did a lot of primary care work: he has to meet the needs of the people. As it turns out there are a lot of uppper respiratory issues in this population. He had me listen to their lungs and even advised me on the steps (just as I had learned them during my physical exam skills course). My only regret is that I did not bring my stethescope. I can hardly make out the rails etc. that we are getting with the stethoscope I've been given.

Yesterday, I worked wiht a ob/gyn. Again taking a history and basic Physical Exam (PEX) skills were absolultely necessary for diagnosis and treatment. I thank God that I get another shot at PEX, I promise to make learning the details a priority. The clinicans here would ask questions like "what is the color of your sputum", they checked lymph nodes, and listent to lung and heart sounds when necessary.

The main tools we use are: stethescope, otoscope, thermometer, and blood pressure guage. Its great!

K I have to get to work.
Peace

Haiti Day 3

I have been coughing all night and day and I feel miserable. My body is achy too, but that may be due to the exercises I did this morning. No fever, just a sore throat and dry cough. I'm blaming the fans and the dust. I will not use the fans tomorrow!

People at the compound/guest house that I am staying in have been asking about my health so I must look sick too...and here I was proud of myself for never-ever getting sick when I travel. There goes my record, and in Haiti of all places.

I hope that my desicion not to take anti-malarials doesn't come back to bite me.

The doctor that I worked with at the clinic prescribed some antigrippe cough syrup stuff that taste pretty nasty so its probably good for me and some antihistamines. I am going to take some Benadryl and try to get some sleep.

Haiti Day 2

I received a warm welcome from the staff today. They have prayer and worship at 7:30 every morning before work. They pray for the nation, the patients, and the work that they are doing in the clinic. I prayed and worshiped along with them  and have been invited to join them every morning before work. They sing of the same hymnals that we use at my church at home.

In some ways Haiti is different and yet so similar to home: the food, the singing, the language, and the good natured humor reminds me of my home church. But the infrastrucre and the regular black outs are different...

 I told the staff that I only speak Creole no French, no one seemed to mind. One staff member tried to speak to me in English and was told to stop putting on aires and speak Creole. This made me laugh. He is apparently the chatter box of the team. I have been introduced to everyone but I am so bad with names that I will have to be more attentive when people are spoken to so as not to insult anyone by failing to call them by name.

I worked with a doctor today that was exceptional. I later learned that he also teaches at the medical school, which may explain why he is such a great teacher. He was so patient with me and explained everything to me. He evern allowed me to examine patients and asked me what my questions to acertain what I knew.

I shared my plans to work and teach medicine in Haiti with him. I wondered if he thought they were feasable, apparently I have nothing to worry about. So I am going to focus learning as much as I can  in medical school and leave the rest to God.

This is truely an amazing experience. And to think that I have only been here for 2 days!  

Haiti Day 1

I made it! I feel like I am coming home....to the mother land!

I got to the airport in Miami super early and met the undergraduate student from Duke who will be working as a team outside of Port-au-Prince. I recongnized one of the students from my time at Duke. I met another student who happens to be the president of the organization I started while I was an undergrad: The Haitian Student Alliance. Wow, they are really doing well.

The flight to Haiti was short and safe. We then were taken to a nearby hotel to eat and clean up before going our seperate ways. On the ride over, I couldn't help smiling whenever I saw something that reminded me of my previous trip or something I read about Haiti. The Haitian in me was contented and the cultural anthropologist in me was having a field day! There is something about Haiti that makes my heart skip a beat. I think its love :-D 

Of all the places I have been, India is the only other place that reminds me of Haiti. One of these days I am going to sit down and parce out what it is about India that makes me think of Haiti and vice versa.

I was given a hand held phone and dropped off at the Haitian Outreach Ministires (HOM) compound/guest house (which is steps away from the main clinic I am workign in) and told that I would be in good hands. I was honored that I would be given so much freedom as compared to the undergrads. I was also surprised at myself for not being more anxious about being left alone to navigate a new environnment that seemed to be in the middle of nowhere given the winding off road path we took to get to HOM.

As God would have it, I truley am in a safe place. I have received a warm welcome from the guest house staff and residents and can't wait to meet the staff at the clinic tomorrow.

Its my Birthday!

It a rainy cool Wednesday. I got to class a little late and I am a little unclear about what is happening in class, but life is so good. I wish I could share how good life really is.  All I can say is that God is good! 

I've had to make some difficult decisions. The last year has certainly been more difficult than I could have imagined and frustratingly so, but I think I have learned a lot about myself. I think I am well situated to learn and grow in ways I did not realize I need growing.

So, what am I thankful for and hoping for this Birthday? 

THANKFUL...

1. I am thankful for an unshakable faith in an amazing God! 
2. I am thankful for ways in which I am changing and growing as an individual and as a future physician. 
3. I am happy to be alive and loved by people that I have known all my life and people that I have only known for months. 
4. I am thankful for another year of health and access to my life's ambitions

HOPING...

1. Increased patience, discipline, and tolerance for new and different experiences 
2. More people to love 
3. Growing faith community at school 
4. Continued health 

The 7 UPs

1. Wake Up  Decide to have a good day. 'This is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.' Psalms 118:24

2. Dress Up   The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. 'The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.' I Samuel 16:7

3. Shut Up Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking. 'He who guards his lips guards his soul.' Proverbs 13:3

4. Stand Up . . . for what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything. 'Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good...' Galatians 6:9-10

5. Look Up . . to the Lord. 'I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me'. Philippians 4:13

6. Reach Up  . . for something higher. 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.' Proverbs 3:5-6

7. Lift Up . . your Prayers. 'Do not worry about anything; instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING.' Philippians 4:6

Inspired by BREATHE

Trust in the Slow Work of God

Reposted from Journeys in Truth and Grace

Above All,

Trust in the Slow Work of God

Above all, trust in the slow work of God.
We are quite naturally impatient in everything
to reach the end without delay.
We should like to skip the intermediate stages.
We are impatient of being on the way
to something unknown,
something new.
Yet it is the law of all progress that is made
by passing through some stages of instability
and that may take a very long time.

And so I think it is with you.
Your ideas mature gradually. Let them grow.
Let them shape themselves without undue haste.
Do not try to force them on
as though you could be today what time
-- that is to say, grace --
and circumstances
acting on your own good will
will make you tomorrow.
Only God could say what this new Spirit
gradually forming in you will be.

Give our Lord the benefit of believing
that his hand is leading you,
and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself
in suspense and incomplete.
Above all, trust in the slow work of God,
our loving vine-dresser.

Amen.

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, a French Jesuit, paleontologist, biologist, and philosopher. 1881-1955

Learning to Learn in Medical School

Image by Stuck in Customs via Flickr

Hi everybody

My medical school bestie, Brandi J. just gave me the book that may save my sanity! She sent me a link to the online book: SuccessType in Medical Education. The author uses a well known personality types theory to demonstrate the most useful way to study and learn in the medical school context. After 10 years of working one-on-one with medical students who really struggle with effective study strategies, he has decided to share this method with the world. Pre-meds eat your heart out!

This is a must read for premeds, science majors, and medical students of course. I have included a link to the PDF below: 

http://www.ttuhsc.edu/som/success/page_book%20chapters/successtypes%20in%20medical%20education.pdf

You can thank me later :-D

Working in Haiti for the Summer

I recently received funding to work in some clinics in Haiti for the summer! YAY! I am so excited. I give you the details later but for now celebrate with me! 

I plan to do a weblog of the trip on this blog. 

Stay tuned :-D

Updates

I have been gone for some time there are some entries in the pipeline. I will work on getting them up

Quote of the Week

If you come here to help me, you're wasting your time. If you come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together

-Lilla Watson