Have you ever wondered.....

What has Dave been doing for the past 22 months? Today, we're going to shake things up a bit...Dave is going to be doing the blog because who better to tell about the AUC experience than someone who has been living day and night at the school for the last 678 days....did I forget to mention we only have 52 left, ok sorry back on track!

Hello everyone, it's me, Dave - your future doctor. Today was officially my last day of formal class here at AUC forever. I can finally breath, though not relax, and prepare for my comprehensive exams, finals, and subject-specific shelf exams. Almost done! With that in mind, I have decided to show everyone what a typical day looks like through my eyes. Ready? Put on your thinking caps, 'cause here we go...

Every morning, Reece and I get ready for our school and head out without waking Ashley - aren't I a good husband? Since his school (Caribbean International Academy) is on the way, we walk together and complain about how hot it is as our shirts soak with sweat before we even get there. We depart, I say 'good morning' to the school guard, then head toward mine. This is the first view I get as I approach AUC...
Entering the school grounds, I cross the courtyard and make my way to Lecture Hall #4 - the room on ground-level on the right side of the picture.

Fact: There are 5 lecture halls for the 550 students attending lecture every day, each lecture hall designated to 1 of 5 different semesters.
Additional fact: the vast majority of the students are American; the remainder being Canadian, Russian, and various other countries.

Into class we go. And there they are. Slowly, but surely, the classroom is filling and soon class will begin. The topics have ranged through the semesters from anatomy and molecular-cellular-biochemistry to pathology and pharmacology (and much more in between). Classes are typically from 8:30 AM to 12:00.
Fact: Most of our professors have extensively taught in American medical schools and some have graduated from Harvard Medical School as well as completing residencies at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. There's no shortage of medical knowledge here!
Whew! You survived class with me so far, but remember, the day has just begun. Now it's time to study!! After class, I run home for a quick bite of lunch. At this time, Ashley is just getting up to start her day -- okay, maybe it's not that bad. A bagel with some cream cheese, salami, and swiss cheese - not to mention any other snack item I can jam into my gut within an hour - then it's back to school. First we must stop off at my locker and grab some books...just a few.

Fact: there's an awful lot of studying we have to do.
Okay, got some books? Now it's time to head up to the library and study, study, then study some more. It may not look like much, but every medical book you need is right there at your fingertips. All you need to do is pick it up and memorize...uh, I mean learn it all.
I'm getting a little tired, time for a study break. Walking out of the library, you can stop and look down onto the rotunda. People-watching is a good way to take your mind off of medicine. Oh, look, people are lining up to buy a cup of coffee - they must be just as tired as me. Perhaps I should join them, but first we need to go outside and get a breath of fresh air.
Ah yes, the sights of the island. Always relaxing, not to mention very helpful with clearing the mind. Why study in America when you can study with this as your background?
Hey, we're taking too much time for a "short" break. Back to the books! I study, or sometimes stare at the books and hope the information will mystically jump into my brain, until 6:00 PM. Eat the dinner that Ashley has slaved away at, kiss everyone goodnight, then go back to study until 11:00 PM. Next day, same thing. Over and over, for the past 22 months, that has been our daily routine way out here in paradise.

My time here has been very intense, especially if you include all the hurricanes, tropical storms, and earthquakes. It's been non-stop studying since day 1. As I said, today was my last day of lectures, and soon I will have to take the USMLE Step 1 (my board exam). I am looking forward to starting my clinical rotations, yet it's worrisome at the same time. There's just so much knowledge I have to retain. With the help of Ashley, our boys, and our families, these next few years will be exciting.

Thanks for tagging along with me on our brief journey in a day in the life of David.