Spring has Sprung In Milano

With Minnesota being under yet another winter storm warning this morning I count my blessings while I sit in the sun at Cascina reading transcripts from my anatomy lectures. Spring has for sure sprung here in Milano. The weather is turning towards summer as I look towards my next set of exams. April started out cold and wet raining almost every day for the last week of march and the first week of april, but a last the sun and heat has started to come

Easter came and went this year with little pageantry, as I was hard at work studying for my histology exam, which was only about a week and a half after Easter Sunday. I did however get to have a few special things.

I went to the pastericeria (pastry shop) the day before and picked up some tasty treats for brunch. I also went to mass which I found out once I got there did not start till 11(normally it is at 10:30, I would have known this if I had gone to mass the week before when they give out the schedule for the next week) so with some time to kill being the good student I am (wink wink) I had my notes with so I sat in the church and decided to read. Big mistake. There is a reason most Italians show up right on time for mass especially on a holiday and not a minute early. If you are early you are asked to help and asked I was. I keep to myself at mass most often I go alone but I do say hi to the other parishioners. I do stick out as most of the parish is from the Philippians so, because I was early and they knew I was American I was asked to do the first reading. (side note for those who do not know me very well. I hate reading out loud I normally memorize speeches I have to give so I don’t have to read them). My response was well I don’t know I am not very good at it. I was then greeted with a quick but father (the priest) would really appreate it we don’t have anyone else. Well when he said that I had to do it. I managed ok I think. None of my friends were there so I couldn’t ask anyone but no one seamed upset or confused so I suppose it must have went ok. 

After mass I met a friend back at my dorm to make brunch and study. I had a tasty pepper filled with egg and some of the pastries as well as a yummy big cup of coffee. I was able to facetime with the family back for a while which was very nice to see them all. Later my friends and I did a quick dinner at the local Chinese restaurant so we could study are little butts off.

A very traditional thing in the United States is to get a basket full of candy for Easter. Well here you get a big chocolate egg I mean big which has a present in side. These eggs are wrapped in shinny paper with themes from princess to batman. Needless to say I knew i had to send them home (it took a whole month there tho). As you can see they all enjoyed them very much. Molly got some new bling bling. Anthony got a transformers frisbee and Vinnie got a spring loaded hot wheels car. Sadly Vinnie's egg got totally smashed on the way back to Minnesota.

                                                  

                                             

All the studying really paid off. I managed to do well (A-) on my histology exam so I do not have to take it again. This also means I officially finished all my exams from my first semester in medical school. I was able to take a day off from studying and then back to work because I had to type up a lecture transcript that was due a few days later as well as catch up on the work I had put aside while studying for histology. So back to work I go, but with the turn in weather studying has moved out side and my tan is oh so slowly coming back. 

Along with the new semester starts new classes. One of my favorite classes is Introduction to Surgery. In lecture we learn basics like wound care and infection prevention. The tutors and professors do their best to keep it interesting. There is also a small group practical aspect to the course. In the practicals we are learning how to put in bladder catheters, sutures and vein punctioners. My group hasn't done the sutures yet. The catheters are on a model dummies, which was pretty uneventful. However the same can not be said for the vein puncher. We practiced on each other for this part. it wasn't too bad really. I rocked it the only thing was I didn't realize how deep you have to puncher so I came stopped to early and have to go a little deeper. My partner missed the first time. It didnt hurt really at all but I ended with a bruise and some slight swelling for a few weeks. Now I am as good as new. :)

Until we meet again
-M-