Japanese Commercial ¶ 23:20

Well, it's that time of year again...the spring/summer transition has always been a busy time for me. I've moved every year i've been in the US and this year is no different. It's always a time of change and reflection with the school year ending and graduation ceremonies to attend I look back and think about the path I've taken and the decisions I've made. At the same time the summer brings iwth it a whole different tone...freedom, adventure, it's my time for travel and for new experiences. My first two summers after college were spent in Japan and my last 2 in Jordan. Each experience impacted my life and my decisions in unexpected ways. In med school I spent my first summer in Europe traveling through western europe then up to finland and my second summer driving around california and the 4 corners area with that crazy bulgarian. Now I face my 3rd summer and find myself unprepared for this change. Mentally, I was anticipating these big changes AFTER my 4th year...the transition from med student to MD and residency. Now i find that I will be in cleveland for just 2 more weeks and the year I had envisioned and the time I had anticipated with friends has slipped through my fingers. It's been replaced by a summer of tests and language studies and a year of tackling my own research project in a foreign country. My classmates will, for the most part, graduate without me next May...we've been through so much together these last 3 yrs, it'll be strange not to finish things up with them as well.
But all in all I'm glad this opportunity has landed on my lap. NOt only will I get to travel once again, but I'll be doing work in my primary field of interest. It'll be good to see if I can hack it in the international health world and in teh refugee camp setting. This is my chance to make all my pipe dreams a reality and it will surely open the necessary doors should I decide to continue with these goals. and as an extra bonus I have another year to digest the last 3 yrs of medical school and make some key decisions in what kind of physician I'd like to become. It's all come at me too fast, especially this 3rd year. I need time to process.
Things are busy and scary, but I think I'm ready for my year off and ready for my crazy adventure in teh middle east ¶ 03:20