DAD
So, are you one of the doctors seing Joe*
ME
Oh hello! I haven't meet you guys. No, I am Lola, the Medical Student who will be following Joe's case.
JOE
Yeah, she came down to the endoscopy with me.
MOM
Oh! That's great dear. Are you a MS from this school?
ME
Actually I am a MS from Mexico.
to the patient,
Im going to take a quick listen to your lungs, ok? Big deep breaths...
DAD
But you came here for Medical School?
ME
No, no, I am just here for a 3 month elective rotation. All my training was done in Mexico.
To the patient, while palpating his abdomen
Im going to press a little on you belly, please let me know if any of this hurts. Sorry, but I just washed my hands, so they are very cold.
DAD
But you studied in English then? Your school, its in English right?
ME
No, all my classes have been in Spanish, except for a couple that have been in English. But mainly just Spanish.
Cheeking the patients legs for edema, palpating pulses...
MOM
Oh my! We are very impressed! Congratulations! Your English is amazing. Really!
ME
blushing
Oh, thank you haha All those TV shows I watched during my teens are proving useful now.
FAMILY
laughing
They are!
ME
to the patient, while turning on my penlight
Open up your mouth please, quick peak
MOM
So how long until you finish Medical School?
ME
thinking
Well, actually ... er...
realizing it for the first time
Its just one more week. Next friday is my last day here, and then I just go back to Mexico for Graduation.
EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM
WOW!! Congratulations!! Oh! How exciting! Its such an accomplishment! You should be very proud you your self, and very excited.
ME
blushed and still in shock
er, yes... er... thank you
JOE
Are you really almost done? How old are you? You don't look old enough to be a doctor. You are very young.
ME
Well, im 23, but I have been in Medshool for almost 6 years now. In Mexico we start right after highschool. Plus I don't really GET my degree until 2011, Mexican law states that we have to do a year of social service after Medschool before receiving our M.D.
FAMILY
Oh that is such a good idea! That is great. Repaying to society the chance they gave you to learn and all.
ME
Thinking: Yeah! Great! Its easy to say since you are not the one working one year for frikin 75 dlls a month after paying a tuition of 8,000 dlls per semester!!
Yep. Plus, otherwise a lot of the people in rural areas wouldn't have access to any health care.
turn to the patient
Well Joe, You are looking much better than yesterday. Your labs look also great. The plan for today is to keep you NPO, until maybe noon, see how you do with the clear liquids and the advance your diet as tolerated. Ok? So, I have to go now, but I'll be back in a moment with the whole team. Nice meeting you guys.
DAD
Congratulations again. It is a great accomplishment!!
I left the room, and after a couple of minutes the Nurse (who was there the whole time) comes out...
So, are you one of the doctors seing Joe*
ME
Oh hello! I haven't meet you guys. No, I am Lola, the Medical Student who will be following Joe's case.
JOE
Yeah, she came down to the endoscopy with me.
MOM
Oh! That's great dear. Are you a MS from this school?
ME
Actually I am a MS from Mexico.
to the patient,
Im going to take a quick listen to your lungs, ok? Big deep breaths...
DAD
But you came here for Medical School?
ME
No, no, I am just here for a 3 month elective rotation. All my training was done in Mexico.
To the patient, while palpating his abdomen
Im going to press a little on you belly, please let me know if any of this hurts. Sorry, but I just washed my hands, so they are very cold.
DAD
But you studied in English then? Your school, its in English right?
ME
No, all my classes have been in Spanish, except for a couple that have been in English. But mainly just Spanish.
Cheeking the patients legs for edema, palpating pulses...
MOM
Oh my! We are very impressed! Congratulations! Your English is amazing. Really!
ME
blushing
Oh, thank you haha All those TV shows I watched during my teens are proving useful now.
FAMILY
laughing
They are!
ME
to the patient, while turning on my penlight
Open up your mouth please, quick peak
MOM
So how long until you finish Medical School?
ME
thinking
Well, actually ... er...
realizing it for the first time
Its just one more week. Next friday is my last day here, and then I just go back to Mexico for Graduation.
EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM
WOW!! Congratulations!! Oh! How exciting! Its such an accomplishment! You should be very proud you your self, and very excited.
ME
blushed and still in shock
er, yes... er... thank you
JOE
Are you really almost done? How old are you? You don't look old enough to be a doctor. You are very young.
ME
Well, im 23, but I have been in Medshool for almost 6 years now. In Mexico we start right after highschool. Plus I don't really GET my degree until 2011, Mexican law states that we have to do a year of social service after Medschool before receiving our M.D.
FAMILY
Oh that is such a good idea! That is great. Repaying to society the chance they gave you to learn and all.
ME
Thinking: Yeah! Great! Its easy to say since you are not the one working one year for frikin 75 dlls a month after paying a tuition of 8,000 dlls per semester!!
Yep. Plus, otherwise a lot of the people in rural areas wouldn't have access to any health care.
turn to the patient
Well Joe, You are looking much better than yesterday. Your labs look also great. The plan for today is to keep you NPO, until maybe noon, see how you do with the clear liquids and the advance your diet as tolerated. Ok? So, I have to go now, but I'll be back in a moment with the whole team. Nice meeting you guys.
DAD
Congratulations again. It is a great accomplishment!!
I left the room, and after a couple of minutes the Nurse (who was there the whole time) comes out...
NURSE
They think you are the cuttest thing ever.
*not the real name, obviously.
So yeah, I am the cuttest thing ever, old news. But internet, I finish Medical School in 5 days. FIVE. Holly shit! No more, Sorry I'm just a Medical Student.
Ever.
Ok, now I gotta go throw up.
