Memorial service

Salam alaikom wa rahmatollah wa barakatoh
Dear readers,
I just finished my last anatomy exam for the year... I will take anatomy of the brain next year in Brain And Mind (BAM) next year. We took everything else this semester in Human Structure and Function (HSF)... I still have one more exam this Monday, then the triple jump, with which the course formally ends.

However, I am not blogging about exams now, but about a very special event happening this Sunday, "The Memorial Service"... It is an event held by our class to honor the donors of the bodies we studied anatomy on... The whole school is invited to witness us speak about our gratitude to the generosity of the donors... It is amazing how they chose to be giving and contributing to the society, even when they are dead....

We are going to give speeches, light candles, and place flowers near tiles with their names...
I know we will have a lot to say because, although we never got to meet them, we now know alot about them... At least that, without their help, we could not study anatomy, or become doctors...

Well... Got to go now... Talk to you later..

Best =)
Rana

It's been a long time !

As salam alaikom wa rahmatollah wa barakatoh

Dear readers,

It has been a long time since I last blogged... However, I can tell you my year was really busy and full of events... I saw cadavers for the first time, worked with tissue specimen, met patients, and discussed clinical cases.

It's almost the end of my first year in medical school. I am now doing HSF (Human Structure and Function), where we study Radiology, Embryology, Anatomy, Histology and Physiology... Yes, a lot of "ologies", but the nice thing is that we take it one system at a time... I think it's easier this way...

I'm having an exam this Sunday....Well, I have one exam, if not more, every week... I don't understand those who say Med school is easier than Premed... It's definitely more exciting, though.. You get called "Doctor" by patients, even when it's only your first week in hospital...

I'm also doing MPS1 (Medicine, Patient, and society)... Our second OP (Office Preceptor) session has just started... My preceptor is an internist, and he does post renal transplant councilling.. What I liked most on my first day, was his comment about women being more couragous when it comes to organ donations, and that, throughout his 20 years of experience, about 2/3 of donations were from women to their spouses or family members... Go big pink !!!

There is so much more I'll need to tell you about.... Stay tuned... This is just the beginning...

Regards,

Rana

April fool !

Salam alaikom wa rahmatollah wa barakatoh


Today was so much fun.... There were so many tricks played in the name of April fool day... It was our chance to have fun with our friends, and in some classes (our instructors)....

Tomorrow is the famous Coffee house day, with performances by many students, TAs, and professors... It's a chance to forget about work and show your talents....

Cornell gets nicer the more you stay in it. You simply get to know more people, gain more confidence, and define yourself as a member of the Cornell community....

We aren't all book worms (although its helpful to be one), but we all have skills that make us special and make our contribution to our society a must... We just have to work hard and add that extra color to the picture we live in....

I believe I'm getting to know life rather than no life =)

A lot !

Salam alaikom wa rahmatollah wa barakatoh

It has been ages since I last blogged... It's not that I didn't have any thing to blog about, it's more that there were too many things to write about that procrastination always defeats me !

First, it was preparation for MCAT during the winter break. Then a new semester, with its immunology, Orgo lecture, Orgo lab, Genetics, and Biochem.

I felt like swimming in a wavy sea... Whenever I'm done with something, another "hits" me....

After giving the MCAT, we had never ending assignments and prelims....Then, we applied for Med school... I am glad I am done with my interviews... Now, all I have to do is wait, which I hope was as easy as it sounds.....

I think I am being too dramatic... Life here isn't boring at all... Alot may be, but yet enjoyable... It's like a roller coaster, where you have to take a deep breath and survive gowing down the rails.....

We had l0ts of fun on the wacky week, where you have the pigama day, the wacky day, the international day, twin day, and Cornell spirit day..... They were all hilarious... In fact, it's hard to pass a day without laughing, there has to be a funny incedent that cracks you up....

I also found something special to spend my "free" time on... It's my club for CAM (complementary and alternative medicine).... We participated in the health day in North Western campus, we arranged a lecture series about herbal medicine & Qatar, we had a movie night to discuss Lorenzo's oil, we lunched a Logo competition among campuses and we're preparing to lunch our website, Yoga classes, and a debate soon !

I really enjoy working with people who share my vision of spreading awareness about this perpetuating issue (CAM), and my team is full of energy and innovative ideas.... I find them all amazing !!!

Well, talk to you soon, keep working hard & enjoy life

What cornell students like !

Salam alaikom wa rahmatollah wa barakatoh

I thought some of you might be interested to know what activities we do aside from studying.....

Well, we try to do a lot, only a few actually happen ! I mean, many great ideas come up, but for the idea to become reality and for you to work out all the logistics, the idea might be delayed or forgotten about....

Generally, the activities we do tend to have a medical or charity nature. Thus we have several clubs that deal with fund raising, orphans, spreading awareness, or integrative medicine.....The events conducted by these clubs can have audience only from other colleges or from all over Qatar.

However, we also have clubs dealing with religion, photography, journalism, debates, and others.

The idea is, if you are interested in an activity that isn't offered by an available club, you'd probably want to start a club of your own........Follow these steps:

1- Work out the mission of the club
2- Invite interested members
3- Work together on ideas that would meet the club's mission

It's a lot of work... but also lots of fun....

In my next post, inshallah, I'll tell you more about the kind of activities that can, and have been conducted in our dear Cornell. I'm also telling you the reason why I choose a frowning baby to represent my blogs...............STAY TUNED !!!!

Allah hafez

Rana

One semester to go!

Salam alaikom wa rahmatollah wa barakatoh

Yes, I'm done with all my exams for the semester. Now, I only have to sit back, relax and enjoy my winter break..........

Oh! but I still have to study for my MCAT exam in January, and finish my medical application.............. I wonder when do we get a real break from school!

I think that once you decide you want to be a doctor, you're officially waving your right in vaccations longer than a week!! ....

I mean think about it.....When you're in premed you have long breaks but have to use them in research, prepartion for MCATs, or in other extra curricular activities.........When you're in med, the longest breaks you take don't exceed very few weeks, or so I heard.

Well, I guess if you realy want to "know" life, you have to experience a bit of "no" life. Plus, work isn't all that bad....At least you don't get to be bored, and you always have people around you, even if you're all doing "work".

I personally had lots of fun working on my medical ethics final project. One of my group was hilarious. I laughed more than worked, and we got to watch lots of amusing videos about research on human subjects........Here are some....ENJOY!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=696pPtcCztk&feature=PlayList&p=4E4D80E7BA95EC0B&playnext=1&index=21

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8gCJ4K4tnE&feature=PlayList&p=BBD83CFC59799335&index=0&playnext=1

Allah hafez

Rana

Finally, time to blog!!

Salam alaikom wa rahmatollah wa barakatoh

Respectful readers,


After my first week in school, I come to recall last year. This year I had a chance to attend part of the orientation for the new freshmen, to show them the appropriate uniform to wear in lab (i.e: a mask instead of a niqab, rubber gloves instead of cloth ones, scarfs have to be tucked in the lab coat...etc.).

I looked upon this large class, viewing the different faces from different walks of life. It reminded me of my class, and how I felt when I came. I was nervous, as lots of people were as well, not knowing what to do or what to expect. Am I going to succeed in this school, and have good relationships with my colleagues and faculty? Or am I going to be dismissed, just because I looked different, or hadn't attended a challenging American school as lots of my peers had?.

It's quite relieving to remember this now, after my first year has passed. Well, school was really hard when I first came, and I struggled with everything. However, I always had very understanding faculty and staff to always help and support me. I also had some wonderful friends, who helped me a lot with my academics, and helped me acclimate...

Honestly, I learned how to progress in school from my friends. By working with them, I learnt how to meet the due dates, and how to tackle hard assignments. This doesn't mean that now I know everything, or that I'm top of my class (not even of the top quarter, to tell you the truth!). I just learnt that that doesn't matter so much. You don't have to be top of your class to be a good student. You just thrive to learn, and try to understand the material you're being taught.

As I always say, go to your faculty for questions and advice on how to make progress in your courses. Reach the student affairs (specially the wonderful Ms. Donney), for any problems you're facing ( social or anything). Form groups with some of your friends to work together on assignments. You'll find that life isn't as vague as it used to be. May be very tough, but still enjoyable. ( I always refer to that as Cornell's theme "a lot of work, but lots of sun as well")

I end this with words from two great professors I had (or still have):

1- "You might not be the best student, but you can be the best MD". (Dr. Rishel, Calculus)

2- "When patients come to your clinic, they won't ask you whether you were on top of your class or not, they'll just be happy to have a good doctor there to help them". (Dr. Pungente, Organic chemistry)

Allah hafez (always make dua / pray !!)

Rana