Exam

I took my surgery exam under rocket fire today. We were interrupted three times with warning sirens/radio warnings and had to move to a more protected room. It's strange and unsettling. In comparison with this stress the exam seemed simple.
-K

Safe

I am safe. But very sad. There is a strange calm that I feel despite the rockets hitting the outskirts of Be'er Sheva this evening. I am not worried about anything except my surgery exam tomorrow. But I am sad. That this conflict is happening. That I am so near it. That there are people at home that are worried about me.
I will do my best to stay safe. I am currently in no apparent danger.
-K

Made Me Laugh Out Loud...

Some Things Should Be This Easy...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/04/opinion/04kristof.html?em

Failure

My intentional and unintentional meditations of late have been on the subject of failure. Failure is probably my biggest fear... it has at times, especially in the past two years, paralyzed me and therefore prevented me from taking the steps to actually prevent another perceived failure. I think I also have a tendency to subconciously think, "If I know I haven't put in 100% effort then it isn't really a failure, because I know I could have done better." This pseudo-logic of my subconcious, in the light of day, is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. But I think I've been letting it influence me anyway. So, as of last night, I'm going to try to stop the cycle. I'm going to try to welcome failures as an opportunity to improve, and opportunity to really give something a 100% effort... the second time.

Help for Friends

My friend, Sera's organization, Circle of Health International (COHI), is trying to win a cash award from American Express Members Project.
YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE AN AMEX CARD HOLDER to nominate COHI. Anyone can go to the link below, and nominate the project that we are seeking funding for.
It's called, "Nurses Deliver, One Mother and Baby at a Time." It will fund the training of nurses and midwives in COHI's current field sites: Israel, Palestine, Sudan, and Pakistan. Here is all you have to do:
1. Click here: http://www.membersproject.com/project/view/VCIESL
2. Nominate the project, "Nurses Deliver, One Mother and Baby at a Time".
3. Send this message to everyone you know, and ask them to do the same.
There will be another step on September 1, when we all have to VOTE for COHI. Don't worry, I will remind you~Thanks so much, and lets go win COHI some much needed funding!

Olympic Disappointment

It's hot here in the Negev Desert. Hit 98.9 F today. And while I would like to write about something more profound, the basic truth is that it is terrible that NBC blocked international IP addresses from access to their Olympic coverage. We can't watch. I'm sure there is Israeli coverage but I don't suscribe to cable, let alone own a television. It's a sad day when an American girl can't cheer her country on because she happens not to live in her native land at this moment.

Back to the Holy Land

Today I leave Seattle and return to Israel, via a weeks vacation in NYC. I'm excited to go. I'm ready for my third year of med school. For learning in a more practical way, for being mostly done with lecture-format education. Based on the last two years, I am sure the next two will have a lot of ups and downs but I'm also pretty sure it will fly by!

Links to some newer pictures!

So loading pictures to Facebook is much easier than to this site... so here are the links to the albums that don't require you to sign up for Facebook!

http://bgu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=41198&l=e2ee2&id=549681281

and

http://bgu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=41199&l=1981b&id=549681281

Bombing in Dimona

Most importantly, I am fine. While Dimona is only a half hour from Beer Sheva, it is a whole half hour away from Beer Sheva. It's strange to finally have this come to pass... I am living in Israel when there was a suicide bombing. I suppose, in some ways, it was only a matter of time. I think I expected to be more frightened or... something... On the other hand, more people died this week in a random shooting in an American mall... so random violence really doesn't seem more frequent here than at home.
Apparently med school has sucked the rest of my will to write out of me... Just thought family and friends should know I'm safe...
K