Off to Bristol

Oh it has been a hard week. More immunology- which we had an exam on on Friday- it was not nice! I still havent been swimming (how lazey) and I missed rock climbing theis week for a Surgsoc comittee meeting. But on Saturday a bunch of us are going down to Bristol to watch a big hockey match- NAMS,.. which stands for something like National Assocation of Medschool Sports??? But basically it is another excuse to have a jolly good drink!
The German Market is back in town. It is the largest German market outside of Germany and it is here pedaling all of its Christams wares... all very nice- Stollen cake, Bratwurst- very nice sausage, gulvein- nice mulled wine, and great beers!!! (all a little expensive though!)
Well I ought to go as we are off to Bristol in a bit. I will post again soon!
I so can't believe that we only have 3 weeks left until we break up for Christmas holidays... I guess that means I will be seeing some of you soon (at Medlink!).
Until then- bye!
D

Immunology Strikes Back...

Just as we were all getting into the rhythem of our work along came a module of Immunology- a fascinating subject... just very complicated. We are being tought by some top people in the field, fantastic scientists- and extremly inteligent, but unfortunately poor teachers and lecturers.... so it is quite a demanding work load- especially as they seem to be cramming it all in within the next few weeks! So as you can imagine we are all learning about antigens and antibodies and that sort of stuff (plus a whole lot more- it goes a lot deeper than that!). The good news is that it is so intense that behavioural science and disabilities studies (yawn) are off the timetable for a few weeks. Another good aspect of immunology is that we have to learn a lot of clinically significant stuff- and then apply it in PBL sessions... so it is getting more and more relevant to what we actuially came to medical school to do!

It is just so good to have a weekend... I thought my brain was going to melt on Firday!

I have started to go rock climbing on Wednesdays with the Wilderness Medicine Society (a national organisation so they will have one at almost all medical schools- get involved, it is tres cool!). I had to do a test on Wednesday to get upgraded from a novice to a "beginner climber" but I was passed for belaying... for those in the know it is not a great leap of achievement, but for someone who is terrifid of heights and has never rock climbed before- I am pretty pleased with myself. The only problem is that Wednesday nights are student nights at a new club called Oceana (they have one in Nottingham and some other places too- it is really cool) so I am conflict... which one should I go to???
Oh well, besides that I also got elected onto the Bham Surgsoc comittee (sorgsoc= surgical society)... I don't really know what I am doing yet- but am sure I will be pointed in the right direction eventually.
Next week is a big Hockey trip down to Bristol... I have misse dhte away events so far this year (as I have been lame and had other things on) but I want to go to this one so I shall hopefully keep my diary free for then.
NOw back to the grind stone... lots of work to do as we have an in- course assessment (basically an exam that counts for 20% of the module) next week.
Bye for now.
D :)

6 Weeks in

So far into my first term of my second year... it still feels like yesterday I was settling into my first year!
Since last time I posted I have been doing a bit more teaching BLS, a bit more lectures- although these are getting a bit boring now... everyone seems to be wandering about not really know what it is we are supposed to be doing- longing for something more clinical to happen to us all. My first day of 2nd year Firm 1 was dissappointing. Whereas last year it was all shiny and new... this year it seems "same-y" I really want to do something exciting and see some patients but we had a rather more mundane discussion on blood pressure- but to be fair they had to ge that out of the way as we will be assessed on how well we can take blood pressure in January. Next session will be loads better (I hope!)
I have had some prosection- jsut some general stuff really, but valuable none- the - less.
The Automatic are performing at our Guild (like the Fratellis last month) but unfortunatley the day after I have a presentation and the day after that I have an exam... possibly not terribly sensible to go and see them- but we will see... they are tres cool!
Last weekend I want to the Lake District to do a course in Basic Expidition Skills Training (BEST) by the Wilderness Medicine Society... it was really interesting, we went on some fantastic walks - in such a beautiful area, but at the end there was an exam which I am a little worried about (I hope I have passed!). then tomorrow I have another tour to do for the Medschool. It sees so odd (but cool) to give the tours that I went on after my interview- although that was 3 years ago now (gosh I feel old!).
Oh well. I have to go and play some hockey now... then off to Jump around- a 90's night in digbeth, a pretty posh place to go out.
Bye for now.
Duncan