with love, calista

Week 1 of School // Surgical Technologist

Tomorrow will complete week one of school, and let me tell you, it hasn't been easy! In fact, the first day we went over material, I swear I was looking at my professor like a deer in headlights. I had no idea what he was saying, I was just trying to hurry and scribble down as many notes as I possibly could and hoping to make sense of it later. The thing about starting a medical program like this is, these classes are completely foreign. Typically, you go into a harder math or english class and you already (or at least you should) have a general grasp on the subject. Surgical Technology is something I've never been lectured on or taught, making it all brand spanking new. Sure, I know some of the science and some of the medical terms (thank you medical terminology) but the actual processing behind it? Absolutely not.

Anyway, after the first day I came home and scrambled to make sense of the chicken scratch I called notes. I read several pages in one of our giant text books, took even more notes, and then called it a day. I felt a sense of relief on day two, because it was much better. It was starting to click and it made me good. Then day three came, which was a two hour class and then a three hour lab. I was so excited for the hands on part of it, but completely overwhelmed when my lab professor handed me a sheet of paper with 28 surgical instruments listed. Not because of the 28 that were there because I figured, 28? That's easy! It was after that when she said, "this is 28 of 500 you will have to learn." You could imagine my surprise - I swear my jaw hit the floor. Today was the second day of lab, and we actually got to physically see the instruments listed on that sheet of paper. The hardest part is so many of them look the same. They're so similar and you literally have to inspect the teeth, the smoothness, the weight and other characteristics that are extremely detailed in order to tell the difference of them all. I mean, how many pairs of scissors can you actually have?! Are that many pick ups that necessary? Why do some forceps look like tweezers and some look like scissors? Don't even get me started on the giant retractors. Then, what I thought were blunt knives, were actually knives without blades. Yep, there are several different blades you have to know too. As stressful as it may be, I've never been more excited. I ENJOY the studying. As soon as I get home, I start reading and practicing and taking notes and studying the instruments. In fact, I haven't turned on the TV one time today. This is so important to me and I want to excel in this so badly and be the best I can be. Pre-Clinicals start in October, and I can hardly wait. It's going to be such a rush to be in the operating room.

This is only the beginning.

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diary

Food for thought.

I'm not even sure how long of a break it has been, but I do know that it's been a long one. I doubt many people even read this blog, so that's okay. Honestly, it makes it even better when it comes to posts like these - I know not many people are reading what is going on and that makes it easier to hit publish. The thing is, I have started hundreds of posts, and I feel so good about them when I start them, but I will get half way through and hate everything I just said and delete it. I'm hoping I can get through this one. Let's just start with the month long vacation I had. I drove across country back to Oregon on June 30th with my brother. We were pulling down my mom's drive way in just 42 hours on July 2nd. I will never forget that day. Everyone (including Shae) was outside preparing for our huge 4th of July party. It was so heart warming to be coming home to that. Anyway, I was in Oregon for a couple of weeks. That was amazing. I have grown into a person that would rather spend time with my family then friends. I look at it this way, I talk to my mom at least twice a day on the phone and all day through text messages, some of the friends that were wanting to see me only talked to me once every other month or so. I did see some amazing friends, though, and it was great. I missed everyone so much. The greatness of Oregon was nothing once I got to Alaska. I felt home and alive and where I wanted to be. It had been 8 years since I had been back and it kind of took me by surprise that I felt so at home there. Especially when we got to Pelican. Part of me felt like it wasn't real because my grandpa Claude was no longer there. My aunt, she kept telling us to imagine him out hunting, so that's what I did. But then days would pass and I could no longer use that excuse. He was gone and not coming back. We were in his house that felt just like his house and I so badly wanted to hear his giddy little laugh as he walked down the stairs like I had seen so many times when I lived with him. It was easier being around so much family. I'm pretty sure that was the most populated Pelican has ever been. The population is 80 people, and there was close to 300 there at one point. It was crazy, but it was fun. So much happened in those 5 days in Pelican. I had amazing nights with some of the best people, and even amazing days. I was surrounded by people and a community that I love so much. My heart will always be there. Leaving was pretty much the worst. I had to go to the bar and get drunk to make it a little easier. I remember getting on the ferry, getting up to the top deck, and looking out at this small town and wanting to damn badly to just walk off the boat, leave my life behind and stay there forever. That moment passed when I was joined by my cousin, and then flashes of my marriage, my job and school came coming back to me. I swear that town puts a spell over you. Nobody ever wants to leave. There is a sense of peacefulness about it. You have no internet, no cell phone service and you can only make local calls unless you have a calling card. Everything about it is remote and you have to make your own fun outside. There are no cars or trucks, it's all walking or you have your own quad or golf cart of some sort, there are no police, and a little bar called Rosie's is kind of what keeps the town alive. It's hard to explain, but it's amazing. It really is. Coming back to North Carolina was a huge buzz kill. Luckily my mom and cousin came back with me. They left yesterday and now I'm alone for the next month. I haven't see Shae since June, and won't see him until September. Okay I saw him four days when I was in Oregon but that barely counts. So I am sitting here in our home, alone, it's quiet and I really just don't feel right? It doesn't make any sense. I am hoping that once school and work starts that this feeling will subside, but I just feel like I'm not happy with my life anymore and that scares me. We only have two more years here and it honestly feels like a lifetime. There really is no point to this post. It's just me rambling and letting my thoughts out. I really need to take a shower and get ready for the day so I will leave it at this.

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