Be Curious

"There is something which all the greatest artists and writers, naturalists and scientists, voyages and explorers, poets and pioneers, share. It is an interest in the external world and the ability to contribute something creative to human life in this world by means of taking parts of the world to pieces and putting them all together again. The ability to observe, and the ability to see the little things that seem trivial at first, may become amazingly important and meaningful. Out of little observations huge ideas may grow; and if a mind, made receptive by training in the use of the sense, can store away a mass of observations, the time will come when the whole collection can be unrolled, connected together as a great novel is planed, in a compelling pattern that tells us something new."

- Harold Gatty 

The themes of exploration and adventure are constant companions as we travel from place to place on this grand medical school journey. There have been places where curiosity comes easily and places where those themes seem to lose their hold. The trick is to keep them alive regardless of the ease or difficulty. 

We went from a developing country with Rastafarian farmers roaming among 9 volcanoes in tropical heat to an off season deserted and frozen beach town with flat farm land leading to endless ocean. Then we went from swaths of highways coating alligator filled swamps with faceless houses gated in on either side to hillside homes serving as an escape from NYC with classic bridge and skyline views. 

The places in between those temporary base camps were just as diverse. 

Each place requires a new curiosity and provides a fresh perspective. Much like people. In all of our moving I am working to cultivate the ability to see the little things amongst the larger happenings. Because, as Gatty says in the quotation above, "the ability to see the little things that seem trivial at first, may become amazingly important and meaningful. Out of little observations huge ideas may grow." 

Dominica (view from Segment 8)

Ocean City, MD. (bayside view from 32nd st.)

Everglades, FL. (view from the drive to Shark Valley)

Great Neck in Long Island, NY (view from a hill on my run)

Tiny Scenes from The Studio

Capturing little things around the island on paper this time! 

Recent Studio Activities

"The Study" half of us is now in the throws of 3rd semester of medical school here on our little island. He's knocking 'em out of the ballpark one by one. The recent blog-silence is due to finals, a wonderful break, and ramping up for the beginning of another semester. Now we're back and we can really shake it down (name that oldies song...).

We've found it a useful practice to set goals for the semesters; four month stints of working toward specific items. A great way to reach for the end of the semester with gusto, four months seems to be a manageable amount of time to accomplish some solid goals or steps towards larger ones. We write them down on our white boards so that they stare at us each day, willing us to go on. One of our goals this semester is "Thrive in calamity with peace."

This semester I've set out to be more active in creating. I posted last semester about the insecurity and impatience of trying to create while figuring out the basics of living. Now I feel a little like I've got a better handle on life here and want to use those hints of freedom to make things. 

Here are some recent sketches and organic material paintings. The first two are Andy's birthday gift and card. Both are on pages from an old book on Neurology that the library was giving away. The pages I chose have to do with the part of the brain that enables you to see. (Mt. of the Holy Cross is a mountain in Colorado which holds a special place in Andy's life. The snow falls in the shape of a cross towards the peak of the mountain.)

A birthday card... and a reminder of life outside of med school. 

A student at orientation. 

A sketch

Re-sketched and painted like the murals around the island. 

sketches from Roseau.

A professor at 3rd semester orientation 

A delightful professor at 3rd semester orientation 

Professor and student at 3rd semester orientation. 

A student at 3rd semester orientation. 

Waiting for Liat... 

Boat sketches from our sailing adventure over break

Boat sketches from our sailing adventure over break

Boat sketches from our sailing adventure over break

Boat and island sketch/water painting from our sailing adventure over break

A new rock. 

The entrance to one of my favorite hikes: Mourne Diablotin 

The PBH pier and Secret Bay. 

Portsmouth harbor, Douglas Bay and Cabrits hills. 

Heartfelt Updates from The Study and The Studio

"The Study" Update: Just Keep Swimming... 

Medical school in the Caribbean feels like an island on an island. 

My fingers are increasing adept at describing the anatomy and physiology that fuel human life.  Biochemical pathways for cellular energy, protein synthesis, and deficits that lead to disease are an ever-growing scaffolding in my mind. 

My fingers are increasing inept at finding the words to describe what fuels my drive to study for the elusive patient I will serve years down the road.  The daily grind of rise, shine, and study actually leaves little time for cultivating a day to day determination for the all-encompassing endeavor of medical school.  

Fortunately, the years of anticipating, dreaming, and waiting for a chance to enter medical school entrenched a zealously that helps me treat every day like game day even as our schedule makes every day seem more like Monday.

Some days I maintain a hustle just so that my mind does not deflate from defeat.  This is training season.  Board exams will be here before I know it and on that day of mental reckoning I want to step into that test center in full confidence that my preparation involved ever ounce of determination I could muster.  Even more so, on that day with my first patient I want to serve them with my full strength cultivated by a history of preparation and hard work.  

I am thankful to have a partner sharing this journey with me.  I am grateful to be known and at times reminded of who I am beyond a study robot.  That’s enough left brain exercise for now, back to the study…

"The Studio" Update: Re-rooting and Patience 

Something interesting is happening. I wasn't quite sure what it was until recently. After a few weeks, a few long walks up steep hills, and a few conversations with wise people, I think I'm getting a glimpse. 

I've been quietly frustrated with my seeming abundance of time and corresponding lack of production, inspiration, and energy when it comes to making things. "So much time and space and new resources: What is wrong with me?"... is the mantra subtly threading through my everyday. It is a mantra that can creep in for all of us in different ways. We have certain expectations of ourselves and of situations. Then, in the situation, we wait to see those expectations filled rather than what the actual experience brings. We build a social construct in our mind that becomes a faux-Truth even before the experience can produce the actual reality. 

Beginning in December of last year, I was uprooted and replanted. I graduated from a Masters program, welcomed my fiancé back from 4 months apart, got married, turned 30, and moved to an island. When I got here 2 months ago, it was as though I put my hands on my hips and stood there watching, waiting, expecting to see fruit bloom as soon as my feet hit the ground. Well, where was the fruit?! I'm adventurous, creative, and now I've got time. What is wrong with me? Stupid tree. It doesn't work anymore. Great, now I'm on an island with so much time and I'm worthless. Am I drowning or acclimating? Acclimating, obviously, right? RIGHT? Get on with it!

My lack of patience astounds me. My wise sister said maybe I should recognize mini-wins each day (like the day I figured out how to change the propane tank on our stove and carried the 50lb. thing all the way home just to prove something to myself). Maybe I shouldn't try to be producing creativity in the midst of figuring out the basics of living, of surviving (like how not to get run over while crossing the street or crossing in front of an angry donkey). The daily hardships of this place are real but hardly seem so to outsiders since my pictures mainly exude the beauty of this Nature Island. How do I explain things? How do I communicate (an act of expressing something inside of me) through my artwork that which I haven't yet ingested? 

Like any adjustment (losing a loved one, moving, getting married, new job, new kid...), patience is key and expectations can kill the possible joys in your new reality. I am grateful for a partner who shows me this patience and one who can see my fears and emotions I try to hide oh so well. 

A Bamboo Tray

A bit ago I went beach exploring with my British friend, Naomi. While wading in a little alcove I found a bit of dried bamboo. Here it is on the beach as I found it, rough and broken.

I looked at it with excitement: a TRAY! Oh how cool, I thought naively, as I later realized. 

Why, you ask? Well, because those who carve know that DRIED bamboo is very HARD and green bamboo is what you choose to carve with because it is soft. 

Oh. 

Well, I went ahead with my plan. No stopping an idea over here. 

I took it home, cleaned it, and let it dry out.

Then, sitting on my roof, I whittled, cut, and sanded the stinkin' bamboo for a few hours until it was just as I wanted it. Other than a few blisters and sore hands, I was quite pleased. (And more knowledgable about choosing things to carve.) I might paint the exterior... but right now I'm enjoying the au natural look and might keep it. Now to find food safe wood oil on this island... 

Practical Creativity: Rice Coin Sacks.

Dominica uses the East Caribbean Dollar, fondly (maybe?) referred to as the EC. One US dollar is 2.70 EC or 10 EC is about $3.70... whichever way helps you figure out the exchange. I use an iPhone just to be sure I don't think too much. Just kidding... I'll figure it our eventually. 

Anyways, why am I telling you about the exchange?! Because they use a lot of coins here. The dollar coin and the .25 coin is often the change given and the littler coins (.10, .05, .02, and .01) are tossed around here and there. Andy and I only had wallets for paper dollars and the change was starting to get annoying. Pockets, cups, table tops, and our backpacks had coins jingling. Now that makes it sound like we have a lot of money. Don't be deceived. Those coins were mostly .05 cent coins I picked up on the street (yes, I washed my hands). Anyways, we needed coin sacks. 

"DANGER: No jumping. No running here."
(Because the planks of the dock aren't all attached and its shallow/there might be a piece of wood or metal under the water... obvi.)

Tribute to an African hero.

Before I got around to purchasing two coin sacks, I took a trip to the beach. There is no jumping and no running here (see the sign in the picture above...) but there is plenty of exploring. I found a tribute to Nelson Mandela, a "party hut" to rent for... parties, and a piece of an old plastic rice sack.

RICE SACK?! ..... COIN SACK!! So, after scrubbing the plastic sack, cutting out coin sack templates, and taping the edges, I hand sewed them and put a tie on mine and a button hole on Andy's. Zero dollars, one broken needle, two hurt fingers, and a few hours later: two rice coin sacks! 

Note to self: next time use someone's sewing machine. Sewing through plastic and masking tape is... rough. 

The rice sack I found and made into our coin sacks. 

My rice coin sack. (pre-button)