“Sports do not build character. They reveal it.”
John Wooden

23 Days


Sorry that I have not added anything lately. I have been very busy with school and studying. Things are really crazy now with 5 exams coming soon, with the first on this Monday, April 3rd. I have also been busy with flag football in the evenings. I posted some of the pictures tonight. My friend Kim took some. Our game is Friday afternoon.....hopefully we will win. It will be fun though. I hope everything is going well for you all. Let me know how things are going!

28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28


24 Days!

That is so exciting! However, I have to keep pushing through to succeed on my exams. Last night at church, Pastor Ed spoke about staying the course God has laid out for you, and for us, that is medical school. So....like he pointed out, my return date is very exciting but I have a lot to do before then. And I need to pray for God to help me focus and stay committed to what I have started. Therefore, my goal is focus, perserverence, strength, and thus success, of course all with God's help.

I hope you have a great week. I am looking forward to coming home and finishing strong here. Oh yeah, if I don't get to update, please pray for my dad. He has a detached rotator cuff that is being surgically repaired on Friday. Love you guys

There are things you do because they feel right & they may make no sense & they may make no money & it may be the real reason we are here: to love each other & to eat each other's cooking & say it was good. ~storypeople.com (I have used this before but it fits now)

I can honestly say that I had the best food tonight that I have had since I have been here. Shruti, my friend in the picture with me, cooked us a great meal. We had sauteed cabbage, lentels, white rice, and some kind of Indian wheat tortilla. It was delicious. We are eating mangos at our own homes for dessert. I can't reiterate how good the food was. She even let me bring home the leftover cabbage. Again, it was good I had to share it.

By the way, we removed the lungs today from our cadavers. Just a reality check. Have a good one and back to studying.

“People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built.”Eleanor Roosevelt (Eleanor Rossevelt had some great quotes. I have not yet posted my favorite of hers. However, I like this one very much. She was a hard-working lady with strong reserve, making her easily admirable.)

So I started playing flag football today. There is a game between the 1st semester/2nd semester and 3rd/4th semesters a week from Friday. It was a lot of fun but a lot of the girls have never played. Nevertheless, it was a good time. Our team is called 2-1 flavors. (Hence first and second semester). Because of that, the names on the jerseys are flavors. There are only two white girls, me and Erin, so my name is Vanilla and hers is White Chocolate. The shirts are going to be pink and black, we hope. That is good because Mom got me pink shorts. Won't I be cute?

Anyways. It was a lot of fun....I will definitely keep you updated.

“You must do the thing you think you cannot do”
Eleanor Roosevelt (I really like this quote a lot. I have started studying hard and going to the gym hard so it reminds that I can get through it if I puzh myself hard enough. I guess that is like anything in life. However, we just have to believe it.)

(Pictures: 1st: Me at the look out point in Roseau, 2nd: Gretchen at Scott's Head with the Atlantic Ocean on her Right and the Caribbean Sea on her Left, 3rd: Gretchen and I at Sunset Beach Club Restaurant and Hotel, 4th: Me and my friend Shruti at dinner, 5th: Gretch, Kim, Shruti and I at dinner at Sunset. I have many many more pics I will post in the upcoming days.)

Now that Gretchen is gone I will be able to update more often, but I do not promise everyday because I have only 31 days left of the semester and 4 tests in that time period. I had so much fun with Gretchen. The first day we went to a blood pressure clinic I had to attend, but she actually taught me how to do it at home. Actually she taught both me and Kim how to. She laughed about it saying, "I am actually teaching something to medical students." That night we ate at the Tomato, walked the pier on the ocean at PBH, and hung out here. On Wednesday, I had class to five and Gretch was going to go to the pool and beach. However, the sun did not come out at all. That is the night we went to Sunset with Kim and Shruti. Thursday was the best. My friend, Rosey...he is a local cab driver....took us on a complete island tour. We went everywhere....the Carib territory and bought lots of the souveniers and ate mangos and drank coconut juice.....the Emerald Pool which is a waterfall and swimming hole in the rain forest.....a little restaurant in the hills of Dominica that had great pizza......Scott's Head which is pictured above.....Roseau.......and back home along the west coast. We were gone for about 10 hours. We had so much fun and Gretch fell in love with the coconuts. She is really great sister and I miss her and worry about her dearly. I was glad she took her time and money to come and see me. It was really nice because my uncle Dean and Mom and Dad all sent her with money so we were able to do a lot more.

Well I better go study. I have been slacking today and I have lots to do. I will add more later.

“A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost.” Marion C. Garretty


My sister is here so I have taken little time to update here. I apologize for that. However, we are having a good time. Last night, we ate at the Tomato with Shruti and Kim. Gretchen had eggplant parmesan and I had cheese lasagna. After that, we all walked down the grass trail from campus the PBH beach. We walked out and sat on the pier for a little while. It was nice because of last night's full moon. Afterwards, we took the school transport home. I showered and Gretch helped me with my research for PBL today. I was so tired from the exam on Monday and having a long day, I fell asleep around 11, not long after showering. Gretch went and smoked with Saman. That is the last thing I remember. She, Gretchen, did tell me she planned on going to the RUH pool today. I hope she gets to but it is quite overcast today. We are planning to go to Sunset Beach tonight. That is the place I ate on my birthday. I will post pictures as soon as I get some.

Ross University School of Medicine

Semester 1, Mini 2

TOP TEN

1. How do you say Lipofusion granules in Chinese?

2. What is the difference in claw hand, ape hand, preacher's hand, waiter's tip hand, and how can you really tell the difference? They all look like bad fists.

3. If there are already so many Dr. Patels, how many more will there be after our class graduates?

4. How can 12 Physiology questions make or break your grade.....They broke mine.

5. Now what where is the C7 dermatome in the hand, Dr. King.

6. "We no have affair. He is the father of my children!"

7. Fight or Flight; Sex, rest and digest.....Which do you think is better?

8. Exactly where is the Gluteus Maximus......?

9. Suicide was the first lecture after the first exam. What would you do if your patient answered yes to: "Are you planning on hurting yourself?"

10. According to new W.H.O guidelines, a blood pressure of 120/80 is prehypertensive. Therefore, now, almost everyone is prehypertensive.

"I am not judged by the number of times I fail, but by the number of times I succeed: and the number of times I succeed is in direct proportion to the number of times I fail and keep trying.”
Tom Hopkins (I am not sure if it was the air or my camera but I thought this was a nice picture.)

Well, bored reader....whoever you are....., I am taking a moment to update. Nevermind that I had two exams today and still have one on Monday. I am sorry though. I had a histology lab practical and anatomy lab practical today. I do not know how I did in histology but I think it was okay. I feel I passed it, though. I did, however, get an A in anatomy. That made me very happy because not only is it 20% of my anatomy grade for the semester, but I really like anatomy. Something about it 'sticks', so I am glad I was able to prove that to myself. On Monday's exam, we have biochem (which I need to bring up), physiology, neurophysiology, anatomy, histology(embryology, cell biology, histology), and DPS(doctor patient and society). I need to get studying, to say the very least. However, you know how it is when you take a test or do something 'taxing', your brain wants a break? Well that is how I feel now. But I still need to study....Anyways, I know that does not interest anyone really. Just wanted to let you know.

I am really excited. I get to come home in forty one, 41, days. That is very exciting. However, my sister, Gretchen, the one constantly posting crazy things on here, is coming on Monday. I am so excited because I want to show her so much and share everything about my life. I want to do that with everyone....JT, Dad, and so many others..(mom has already seen most of it). I am just really happy she is coming.

Well, I better study. Good Night!

“A friend knows the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails.”
Donna Roberts (That was tonight's sunset....Isn't it beautiful?)

I spoke to one my best friends in the whole world tonight, Dana Beasley Brown. She is one of those friends that I have not talked to in months, but the instant we speak, it is like I just saw her. It was a great "pick me up". I really needed to talk to her. She always makes my heart smile. We were roommates in college. We played flag football together and were in each other's weddings. I really, really miss her. She is so much fun. I also got to speak to Sarah tonight....my steadfast, always there.....friend I can not live without. It was a good night for me....

I had some good histology study time.. But after I take the practice questions, I feel like I do not know anything. It is now 10:43. After I finish talking to Sarah, I am going to review Physiology and maybe Biochem...both are crucial to my grade. I did badly in Biochem on the last exam, so I need to bring it up. In Physio, we only have 12 questions that account for 20% of our grades....Therefore, I need to do well in both of these (and the others but these are my focus tonight and probably tomorrow.)

I hope everyone has a good week. Feel free to email me (nataliehenderson21@yahoo.com, nataliestewart21@hotmail.com or nataliehenderson@rossmed.edu.dm) or call me 706-534-8934. Wish me luck this week!

“We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.” ~Frederick Keonig

I just wanted to say hello for today. I am really busy. I have two practicals on Friday and one on the thirteenth. Needless to say, I have a lot of studying coming my way now. I am up too late now.. It is twelve forty five now. I guess I will be sleeping late. However I have been looking over Neurophysiology. It is giving me a bit of trouble. It is a little overwhelming how much I have on this test....Physiology, Neuro, Anatomy, DPS, BioChem, and Histo. Plus the Histo and Anatomy Lab exams...I hope to do well. I don't like to do poorly. School is what I am good at....I was never great at sports or that pretty or thin with a nice body...but I could do school. I want to remain consistent and be good at school, because I know the other things are probably worse now. Well good night.

“The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.”
Walter Bagehot

I took this from my porch. There are great rainbows here. This one is faint compared to the normal ones.

I was told again today I ask questions that are too 'deep' and 'direct' because I aked a girl if she had dual citizenship between the US and Guyana. She did not know what it meant so Joyce told her not to worry about....I ask really involved, direct questions. I think this is ridiculous. My Gosh....what would life be like if no one asked you the hard questions....and that was not a hard question....YES or NO. Anyways. I am getting very frustrated about it. However, I know who I am and obviously most of these people do not and do not care to. The last thing I would do is hurt someone by asking them a hurtful question. Regardless, it is getting old. I don't walk around pointing my friends strengths and weaknesses all of the time. AHHHHHH!

Moving on. School is going pretty well. I have class tomorrow till noon and then I am going to spend some time in the lab. After that I have my peer tutoring session. I have a lot to learn before March 13....I know more than I admit...However, I need to hone the details of some things. Saturday I have a mock practical exam that is used to practice for the real test which is a week from tomorrow. Forty percent of my anatomy grade will be decided on March 13th between the written and practical exams....what an intimidating thought.

Well I better get back to studying and take a shower.

“They say when you are missing someone that they are probably feeling the same, but I don't think it's possible for you to miss me as much as I'm missing you right now”

I know, I know. I will be home seven weeks and one day from now, is 50 days! 50 Days! However, that exciting fact does not make me miss my husband and family and friends any less. I don't have much time to miss people but when allow myself that thinking time, I miss them terribly. In between now and then, I have 5 practical exams, 2 regular exams, and a final exam. Quite Daunting and a bit overwhelming! Sometimes it feels like I am never going to be finished with school. I know I will but it is frustrating sometimes. Anyways, I just needed to express that.

I received three packages from my dad today. It was very exciting. I had to get a cab in order to get it home. I missed class but have already watched the class on my computer. I did not miss too much. I have not had time to go through the boxes but I am excited about doing it tonight. I, however, have class till five today. We have this small group thing called PBL (problem based learning). I mean, it is ok. They give you a clinical case and you have to work to diagnose it. The annoyance becomes apparent when you are trying to study for an exam but have to do research for PBL. However, on the bright side, it is worth 5% of your grade in every class, so it has the potential to bring up your grade if you perform and research as you should.

I am excited about my sister coming. She is coming in a week and a half. I booked her a cab ride today with the nice guy who took me home today. He is going to take me to the airport on April 20th. His spaces are already filling up for the end of the semester. I am glad I was able to get that out of the way.

Well, I better go. I have one hour left on the reservation of Lippincott's Biochemistry book and then PBL in an hour and a half, plus I have to eat somewhere in that time frame. Bye guys, miss you.