Saturday Night

This has been a great week:

Sorting out CaRMS documents. I have to PROVE that I am a Canadian, and that I did an undergraduate degree, and that I passed my ACLS. I didn't bother to prove that I can speak French, that's easy enough to prove in person. Du fonne, toujours.

For some reason they also wanted a photo of my smiling mug.

So that's done. The application and schools selection and letters are just about finished. Still panic-inducing every time I log in. Because what if I don't get accepted to a surgery programme? I can't picture myself doing anything else at this point, I have the "surgery bug" (as one of my mentors put it) so badly.

Working on a research project, just silly grunt-work, but someone has to do it. Chart reviews, not much judgement required. Nice to be involved with anything to do with trauma.

Got my airline tickets to England and Africa. My husband's uncle is getting married. And then I am off to Malawi. To deliver babies and do gyne clinics in a very badly underserved area with a doctor who has been there forever despite her annual threats to give it all up and move back to the States. She's a star.

Bought car parts on ebay. And earrings. And The World According to Garp on DVD.

Caught up on some sleep. Studied a little. Start in hepatobiliary on Monday, and am a smidge nervous.

Panic!!!

I have just logged onto CaRMS and spent an hour or so filling out forms. I am now officially in FREAK OUT mode (and if I knew how to get those letters to jitter and blink in red and green, well that would express things much better). I cannot imagine that in five weeks I will be altogether sorted and ready to take that next giant leap which is residency. Although, I suppose I am as ready as anyone. At least I'm sure about my choice of programme.

Still, it is A BIG DEAL.

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On the heading to Malawi front, I have deposited my grant, and my adorable husband and I have been baking apple pies like it's going out of style (or like the apples are threatening to become a mouldy muddy mess in the corner of the kitchen). And we have managed to raise over $150! Not bad for something that started out as a pleasant afternoon apple-picking at Rougemont.

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Just started my Trauma surgery elective. Wooohoo!!

We start at 645am. Booo.

I have a fun team and the staff are great and also young!! Wooohoo!!

I am on call three of the next four weekends. Booo. Including the Thanksgiving Monday holiday. Double booo.

Confused? You betcha.

Ndipita ku Malawi

(I'm off to Malawi)

Not now, but eventually.

I'm just realising that it's coming sooner than I think, mid-November. Two months only. I had better get cracking.

I'm doing an elective in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mulanje Mission Hospital in Mulanje District, with Dr. Sue Makin. I am beyond excited, and a little apprehensive.

I have also just recieved my token for CARMS. I had better get cracking on that as well.

Yoicks!