1. The hospitals are huge in New York City.
2. They also have a lot of elevators. However, not all of the elevators travel to all of the floors.
3. This elevator system is befuddling until one remembers which elevators go where.
4. Some people get pretty upset if they miss an elevator.
5. Some people seem to stand next to people as if they were in a crowded elevator, even though they are not.
6. Space is at a premium in New York City.
7. My apartment is tiny, but suits my needs well.
8. Oddly enough, for living in a walking city, this is the longest commute I’ve ever had to work/school in my life.
9. The people-watching seems more rich on the subways than on the buses.
10. I could listen to New Yorkers talk all day.
11. I have yet to distinguish the different accents of the boroughs. (But I will.)
12. The weather is really warm.
13. My skin is the darkest its been (due to a lack of sunblock) since I lived in Sacramento.
14. Thankfully, I usually tan and don’t burn.
15. There are some who believe that the way some women dress in this city will result in them burning in hell.
16. A lot of people dress fashionably here.
17. Dressing “fashionably” does not necessarily mean that one looks “good”.
18. Some people wear accoutrements that have a greater dollar value than my entire outfit for a day. Or my entire wardrobe, for that matter.
19. I confess that I feel both astonishment and revulsion upon recognizing just how much money some people have.
20. I’m still not sure how college students and other low wage earners make in this city.
21. The interns look so young.
22. I feel old. There aren’t a lot of “fellows” running around.
23. I’m wearing a white coat again. The last time I did that was about four years ago. I like the reintroduction of pockets into my life.
24. People are not meaner in New York City.
25. In fact, people are pretty nice.
26. They’re more outgoing. So outgoing that I’ve been picked up by random men more in my first week living in New York City than in the last six months I lived in Seattle. Maybe even the last year.
27. However, these pick-up lines have included things like, “Hey! Look at me!”
28. People do yell at each other more freely, though.
29. I have yet to be yelled at.
30. I have been in the middle of several yelling matches already.
31. People resort to ad hominem attacks when yelling at each other.
32. Like, “You don’t understand English! You must be stupid!”
33. But they all seem to get over it quickly.
34. Other spectators do a great job keeping straight, uninterested faces.
35. I try not to laugh. I feel like a spectator.
36. That’s because I am a spectator.
37. I walked fifty blocks home today (cf. #8).
38. The reason why people can get away with all the jaywalking here is because of all the one-way streets.
39. There are a lot of fruit stands on the streets.
40. Thus, I think I’m actually eating more fruit here than I did in Seattle.
41. Food is expensive here!
42. Loaves of bread are all well over $3.00!
43. Apples are close to $2.00 a pound!
44. Small oranges go for five for $2.00!
45. But the pita bread is cheaper.
46. There are a lot of donuts in boxes for sale.
47. The pizza is delicious.
48. The pizza is cheap.
49. I’ve already eaten pizza from at least six different establishments since I’ve moved here.
50. I can’t believe I actually live here. Really?
3 Jul 2008 | 2 comments.
Transition.
Yes, I’m sort of ignoring the blog. There is, of course, a lot I could write about as I have just relocated to New York City. However, the will to write is lacking and there’s a bit too much transition happening right now (new job, new living quarters, new city, new people, etc.).
More one-liners on Twitter. Sort of.
1 Jul 2008 | Comments?
Good-bye, Seattle.
It’s mostly sunny with a bright blue sky, fluffy white clouds, and cool breeze. Mt. Rainier clearly looms in the distance. The lakes are sparkling and dotted with sailboats.
This is the way I want to remember Seattle.
I turned in my pager a few hours ago and will be attending a commencement ceremony in a few hours. To be fair, graduating from residency doesn’t have the lustre of graduating from college or medical school. There are no mortarboards, no hoods, no parading around in black robes. We haven’t completed school; we’ve “merely” completed more training. My understanding is that there will be food, drinks, mingling, and some informal speeches.
Tomorrow morning, I hop on a plane and move to New York City.
People excitedly ask me if I’m excited.
Yes! Of course! I’m thrilled!
And I’m scared! Terrified! Anxious!
And very sad about leaving my dear friends and my life thus far in Seattle. While I can say good-bye with grace, it’s not easy to do so.
Though people may part, the relationships—dynamic things they are—continue. That may mean letters, phone calls, or maybe even a visit… and even if none of those, there are the memories of these individuals that carry forward. There are the phrases that I adopted from the speech of others, the way I teach and explain ideas, the comments that I will remember whenever I do something (e.g. “I will always remember you and your notebook, Maria… the way you randomly pull it out and scribble things down”), the priceless advice I have received, the bad jokes I have heard, the warmth in knowing that people care for you as much as you care for them.
There is more I can say, but I shan’t.
I’m going to miss you, Seattle. Thank you.
24 Jun 2008 | 8 comments.
I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Doctor.
In late 2001, Britney Spears released her single, “I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman” off of her Britney album (which also included the text message-friendly single “I’m a Slave 4 U”). This song is a ballad about adolescence, when one is struggling with identity versus role confusion (hat tip: Erik Erikson).
In early 2002, an Asian female put on a blonde wig, wiggled into tight pants, and wore a halter top that revealed her navel a la Britney Spears and, seated at a piano, sang the following song at the medical school talent show:
“I’M NOT A GIRL, NOT YET A DOCTOR”
I used to think
I needed A’s on everything
But now I know
That seventy percent is A-OK
Apathy quickly takes over
That’s when I realize
I’m not a girl
Not yet a doctor
I just need to pass, every single class
To earn my MD
I’m not a girl
I’m a second year med student
It’s time that I
Started to study for the USMLE
I’ve slacked off much more than you know now
Sp don’t think that I will do fine
I’m not a girl
Not yet a doctor
I’ll just do my best, and hope I pass this test
To earn my MD
I’m not a girl
But if you grade my test closely
You will see the answer’s right
This girl will one day earn her degree
(I’m not a girl) I’m not a girl, but my transcript has all P’s
(Not yet a doctor) I’m just trying to find the doctor in me, yeah
(I just need to pass)
(Every single class)
To earn my MD
I’m not a girl, not yet a doctor, no no
I just need to pass, every single class
To earn my MD
I’m not a girl, ooh
Not yet a doctor
Ah, an ode to mediocrity. How delightful it is to find these gems when sorting through items in preparing to move.
I particularly like how I specifically wrote in the “yeah” and “ooh”.
21 Jun 2008 | 3 comments.
A Slice of the Big Apple.
(There seems to be so little time, but I do not want to forget and I’ve been so remiss about writing in general—)
During my visit to New York City, I
>> secured an apartment. It’s small. It’s a studio. It’s amazing how much it demands for rent. It’s even more astounding how much money I dropped in the span of five minutes to secure the place. But now I have a place to live. (I don’t understand how college students and people who earn minimum wage live in Manhattan. I will be making a comfortable salary as a fellow and that still only got me 300 square feet. Astounding.)
>> ran a five-mile race through Central Park. The temperature was apparently only 70 degrees, but the humidity was a swampy 93%. I felt significantly uncomfortable at mile two… and, subsequently, I downgraded my goal to “Keep running and don’t walk”. I was hoping to enjoy the sights of Central Park, but I spent most of the time concentrating on my breath due to the discomfort of the run.
I ran with over 5,000 other people. Basically, a small town was running through Central Park that morning… and most of the city didn’t even know about it. That’s incredible.
And, as uncomfortable as the race was while I was running, that endorphin glow kicked in afterwards and I felt pleased with accomplishing this swampy, sloggy goal. (The Beau’s cheerleading was also helpful. Very helpful.)
>> ate a lot of bad food. And by “bad”, I mean:
- burgers at White Castle (since I’ve only heard about this mythical White Castle… this chain has not made it out West)
- fried appetizers and an ice cream sundae at Friendly’s (at the encouragement of my East Coast comrades)
- a cheeseburger and black and white malt shake at the Shake Shack (by far the tastiest “bad” food I had—the shakes are wonderful!)
- over-frozen soft-serve ice cream at Carvel
>> ate interesting food. And by “interesting”, I mean:
- mango chicken with cooked cricket (the cricket was not supposed to be there)
- Ethiopian food
- green tea ice cream at the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
- “real” bagels (yum)
- “real” pizza
- lots of fruit (to make up for all the “bad” food)
- Brazilian empanadas
>> watched the sun set over land while at the beach. I find this discombobulating, as the sun sets over the ocean on the West Coast. That the sun set over land instead of over water is novel to me. (Thus, “watching the sun rise at the beach” is on my List of Things to Do in New York.)
>> did a lot of people-watching. People generally move faster, talk faster, stand closer, yell louder, sigh more often, dress snappier, spend more money, make more eye contact, show greater attitude, share more personal information, complain louder, have better manners, talk with cool mid-Atlantic accents, and seem more preoccupied in New York City. More data collection to follow.
>> got a tetanus shot. Health clearance and whatnot. Please note that even physicians have difficulties with getting into those gowns “with the opening facing the back”. Not user-friendly.
>> had coffee with Joshua. Joshua is the kidney doctor who writes frequently about kidneys and efficiency. Another demonstration of the power of blogging—it is highly unlikely that he and I would have ever met if this internet thing did not exist. He’s smart, friendly, well-dressed, and can drink five shots of espresso in one sitting. I’m sure he’s already considered how the caffeine affects his renal function and his productivity. Bloggers are thoughtful like that. (…?)
The relocation happens in less than one week. Goodness. And I am not confident that I will get everything done by then. Keep the good juju coming—I need all the pixie dust I can get my hands on.
19 Jun 2008 | 2 comments.