spring time mania

So much has been going on here in Anchorage. I have already sent a total of thirty boxes to Jason. It takes about a month for them to get to Rochester, and with him coming here for my internship graduation I need all the boxes to be gone the first week of June. The people here are so incredibly nice. I make a new friend every time I go to the post office.

 

My Alaska Psychiatric Institute Rotation is complete. It was a bit overwhelming. More because it was so short and they tried to fit everything in. I really loved working with the adolescents though. It is so amazing to hear what a teenager’s life is like in the villages compared to what my life was like as a teenager. At times I find it frustrating, but then I remember it’s what they know and I am making a judgment and most likely if I had grown up in a village I would do different things and enjoy much different things. There is also a Baptist Priest coming to anchorage soon to protest outside the native center because he is calling the natives heathens. It’s so upsetting. I can honestly say that my experience with anyone from a Native Alaskan background has been a positive one once they get to know me and I get to know them. Many of them are religious now, and they went through so many horrible events. I know many of my patients and colleagues plan to go protest against the priest and I am seriously considering it too.

 

Spring is here in anchorage though, and the sunlight is increasing drastically. It is now well after ten before it gets dark, and when I wake up at 5 am it is lightish. We gain about 5-7 minutes of sunlight a day. I am having some trouble falling asleep now. The mornings are great though. There is still snow on the mountains but for the most part the snow and ice ha melted in the valley.

 

As the internship year comes to a close I am no longer taking on new patients and instead working on transfer summaries for my patients to go to the new students coming in. It’s sad too. I mean I’ve worked with some of them all year long. I wish the best for them all. In more personal news Jason is also spending this time interviewing for his fellowship. His Alaska interview will be May 9^th and I am keeping my fingers crossed for that one. He has some good options though. They interview early for palliative care, so he won’t actually start until the summer of 2015. The places he has gone though have talked with him about helping me to find a job in the area if he chooses to come there. That is kind of awesome.

 

This week has also been kind of special for Jason and me. It was our first year anniversary. He sent me flowers and a stuffed animal. They were supposed to be delivered to my home, but ended up having to be delivered to work since the company doesn’t deliver after 3 PM. We also got to see each other after nine weeks. We went to Seattle and it was so amazing to see him after so long. I love traveling with him too. We always get a hotel with a full kitchen and do our grocery shopping and cook together. We also go to the gym every morning. I can run again! I am taking it slow, but I did three days back to back in Seattle. Plus we went on an amazing hike on a mountain to Bridal Falls. It was supposed to be easy, but we were jumping over streams and climbing up rocks. I was pretty sore after that. We also did some shopping, and I got some Kate Spade shoes for commencement. They are hot pink which I fitting since I defended my dissertation in a hot pink suit. Anyway just two weeks till I leave to go back for commencement. I am hoping the redwings are still in the playoffs, but they aren’t doing so hot. It would be great to go to a game though. Oh and I know what else is new. I have red hair again! Anyway, I hope all of you are doing fabulous and I look forward to seeing my Michigander friends in two weeks!!!!!

I is growing up!!!!!!!!

Okay so my life is boring lately. Actually I’m sick and staying in plus it’s a negative 10 outside so who wants to be out doing anything? I have been thinking a lot about who I was last year at this time and who I am today. This all started because we had to review applicants for internship. It’s crazy to think that this time next year someone else will be in my spot and I will be off trying to get those post doc hours for licensure. Anyway, this time last year I was dating someone else, just finding out my tendon was torn, was a crazy mess defending my dissertation, and anxiously hoping to get interviews for internship. I’d say I’ve learned quite a bit, some funny and some not so funny but for those who care to read I thought I would post.

1.     Relationships don’t have to be hard, if you find yourself beating your head over and over again maybe take a step back and realize you’re not compatible.

2.     Some friends you can fight with for years, but then when its over you’re like sisters again. These are the friends that really matter.

3.     It isn’t cold until its in the negatives, the rest of the time all that’s required is a jacket as soon as it hits 0 better start putting on the hat and gloves

4.     Sometimes its true, when you let someone go if they come back to you then they’re yours (okay not okay with the owning language of this but you get the gist)

5.     Any and every unhealthy food can be modified to include cauliflower or almost

6.     Empathy can be hard when you’ve never been in that person’s situation and having empathy for someone who can’t have empathy for another is even harder (does anyone even follow that)

7.     This too shall pass, for heaven’s sake I thought my life was horrible flying from place to place and interviewing and then sitting around anxiously awaiting where I would be going for internship. It passed I’m halfway through my internship

8.     Sunsets and sunrise is pretty anywhere, but nothing compares to Alaska

9.     If you see something in the road it could be a moose (haha doesn’t apply to non Alaskans)

10.If you tell an Alaskan you’ve never had something or never tried an activity be prepared to be gifted whatever you’ve never had or to have them suggest y’all go do whatever it is you haven’t done (and probably right away)

11.Take a risk, go beyond whats comfortable, you’ll never know what you’re missing out and you just might find what you were afraid of trying fits you perfectly

12.Bears are not that common to see in anchorage

13.Men in anchorage hunt women like they hunt animals “ you you’re a woman, you’re mine”

14.Most people in anchorage are trying to escape something if they weren’t born here, but sometimes this also means they just want connections with others

15.Malls aren’t necessary (omg I did not just say this!!!!! Online shopping is wonderful)

16.It is sometimes safer to pull out those figure skates and skate your way to work rather than drive

17.4 wheel drive is awesome

18.plowing is a luxury that the lower 48 rely on

19.I enjoy saying “they’re from the lower 48 and other such things”

That’s it for now. I’m too tried to think of more although I am sure there are plenty more. I’m posting some pictures I’ve taken so far since I got up here. Can’t believe it’s almost been half a year

sunrise 10:15 am

sunset 3;15 pm

sunset 3;15 pm

sunset 315 pm

sunset 330 pm

sunset 3;30 pm

sunset 3;30

anchorage airport it’s like a museum

beach with jason at kincaid

jason at the beach kincaid

a moose jason found

a moose jason found

moose

bears and moose in the hospital oh my!

So there hasn’t been much happening since the camping trip really. I got kind of sick and took Saturday to rest some and relax. I did start exploring the trails behind my condo that night though. There are so many! Still haven’t seen a moose or a bear yet though. Sunday I went to a meetup group at the cemetery. Yes you read that right cemetery. It was really cool actually. They actresses and actors playing the parts of the people who are buried there. They had the first police chief, the only civil war vet, a story of a mining disaster, and so many more. It was really quite interesting.

Monday was the start of HR orientation for the hospital, and the same happened today. Yesterday was boring except for learning about some of the cool benefits we get through providence. Today was maybe more interesting. They talked about how in the past bears and moose have come into the hospital and that in order to coax them out we must get federal permission because it is their native habitat. We also got to hear the harpist that plays for the patients. She was amazing!

Tomorrow starts my work in the FMC, but mainly it will be more orientation this week. I can start calling and reviewing patient charts from transfers on Friday. Then next week it will be a full week of FMC, and then!!!!!! FRIDAY I FLY AND SEE JASON!!!!!!!!!! I can’t believe it has almost been two months since we said goodbye. I really wish he were here with me. AK would be so much more fun with him. Okay that’s all for now. Hopefully my life gets more exciting this weekend, and Pavel can go on some more adventures.

the actor playing the first police chief

the civil war vet in the cemetary

the actor talking about the mining disaster

the actress playing a woman who was part native part Swedish

Jordan sent this to me

I wasn’t mauled by a bear!

So the big trip is over. Wow! That pretty much sums it up for me. I was terrified this entire week would leave me feeling sleepy and grumpy and hungry without my usual gym routine and my usual foods to eat. I can’t say that is really what happened though. I definitely left to meet people with a pretty negative attitude. When I got to the residency to meet the people from Anchorage who were all driving together, Dr. Dewane and Dr. Parett were very welcoming. I rode to the restaurant with Vang, Ginny, and Ginny’s husband. Then everyone slowly got in from their respective placements. There are five of us in Anchorage (3 at the FMC including me) 2 in Fairbanks, and 2 in Nome. The first night was kind of overwhelming, and I have to say it was the first night since I got to Texas that I cried about missing Jason. That first week after I said goodbye I was constantly randomly breaking into tears. Since then I miss him tons and might get choked up, but haven’t cried. It’s weird it would be the first night of camping that would cause this reaction, but I figure he is the person who manages to center me and make me see the big picture. I really kind of needed that at the moment. I went to bed a little sad, and woke up to rain. The first day was filled with paperwork, but I immediately seemed to bond with Jordan who will also be working at the FMC with me. We started talking and came up with the idea to have a prom when Jason comes up in the fall since neither Jordan nor Jason has been to prom. We’ve invited jenn and the other interns and even have a logo. It should be fun, and also a little silly of course.

The rain did let up, and I got a chance to walk with Hailey who will be the leader of our process group from Fairbanks. That was great, and then I jumped rope and did some abs. That immediately made me perk up. I found ways each day to get in some exercise from walking miles, to jumping jacks, and lunges. I stayed more alert that way. I also wasn’t eating very much. I ended up eating egg white omelets I made for myself almost every day. I initially loved them, but now I can’t eat another.

I have to say the week was surprisingly good. The other interns are amazing, and we seemed to bond. I was scared about that. I know I am a bit more quiet especially around new people and new situations. Eventually we just kind of bonded. It will be fun to see how we each grow over the year and hear about the different things going on at our different sites,

I did not see any bears or moose! I want to. I think everyone else has now. I am not sure I am cut out for long camping trips. It was okay the first day or two, but I really wanted my bed and shower and gym. The shower was kind of gross and it was cold. I also really hated waking up at night and having to walk to go to the restroom. Anyway, we got back today at 11. I have the weekend to relax some, and then it is HR orientation at 7:30 am Monday whooo fun, not. I have it again on Tuesday, and then I will finally be in the clinic on Wednesday.

Other than that there is not too much to say, Pavel has been nominated as our mascot this year. Jason and I will be seeing each other in thirteen days in Seattle. Then only three weeks and he will be with me in Anchorage. All I have to say is I am so excited to sleep in my nice big bed tonight!

pavel was ready to get home

meier lake at 11 pm

Hailey Jackie and me the last night (yeah its after ten and still sunny)

camp fire bonding

Pavel roasting a marshmallow for his smore

pavel playing life guard at the lake

pavel about to go for a swim

we are having prom when Jason comes up, Jordan made the logo for us