I've been in New York for a few weeks now, and I've made the effort to go to Central Park at least a couple times each week. Today the city was blessed with incredible weather--low humidity, a slight breeze, only a few clouds, and a high of 74. After class I attended a public health policy colloquium--today's topic was what medicine can do for writing, and what writing can do for medicine--and gorged myself on the incredibly well-catered lunch. Post-lunch, I came back to my room, picked up a couple books, and departed for the park.
A bit north of 73rd, I found a great spot to get some reading done. As I read medical poetry and studied "narrative medicine" I also did some people-watching. There was a tee ball team practicing, a few girls sunbathing, an old man "throwing" a ball for his dog to fetch with a Jai Alai-like sling, and a pair of young parents filming their kid's crawl up a hill. Looking up from the pages in my lap, I saw a man walking in a Bat Man outfit and carrying a matching lunch box. A minute after putting my head back down, I heard two kids sing "Duh na na na na na na na, Duh na na na na na na na, BAT MAN!" to which the man responded by crouching down, faking left, and taking off to his right, lunch box in hand, as if there were an emergency in the distance.
After finishing the reading for tomorrow's "Medicine, Patients, and Society" class, I turned northward and arrived at the natural history museum. I spent some time meandering, then returned southbound and walked down the Central Park Mall. There was a man performing in what seemed to be a traditional Incan outfit. He played a violin while spinning violently and singing like an opera tenor. It was one of the more unique performances I've witnessed in the past three weeks. Further south on the Mall, I saw a huge guy--more ripped than most cartoon superheroes--doing a dance on roller skates (not blades) and flexing every upper-body muscle he had (all 2,374 of them) to some sort of rhythm. Women slowly circled the buff skater.
I finished my park excursion at 60th, walked east to Park Ave and then turned north to 69th. Back on my home-street, I turned east and went back home. Here I am. I'm going to leave now to buy some food, come back home to cook it, and then go out for a trivia night at a local bar. Tomorrow is my birthday. Life is good.
12 September, 2007
02 September, 2007
My life is charmed
I've been in New York for just over a week and a half, and I've had an incredible amount of fun. Detailing everything I've done and seen would take longer than I have, but here's a decent abbreviation of my time in NYC thus far:
-Moved in and got settled--my room is actually larger than I expected and my suite-mate (Will) is a very cool guy, so all's well in the housing world.
-Went to see "Rent" on Broadway last Saturday, followed by drinks at the B-bar in midtown. Met with Ducey, Bangs, Joey Davis, and Kristin Lang later on in the night. Fun was had. In fact, a bit too much fun was had. I had to get back up to the Upper East Side (UES) by myself after we left the Pussycat Lounge. My first solo trip on the NYC subway turned into a bit of an adventure, and I wound up somewhere in Brooklyn. I got home just before 6 am.
-Did a city-wide scavenger hunt last Sunday, and I saw nearly every NYC tourist attraction there is. Went to a Mets-Dodgers game after the hunt.
-Visited the Guggenheim museum on Monday afternoon. Took a circle-line cruise around Manhattan on Monday night. Probably the most scenic boat ride I've ever taken, and the gorgeous weather and full moon enhanced the experience.
-Participated in orientation activities for the school, learned all I need to know to survive here at Cornell. Donned my first white-coat during our white-coat ceremony. I felt very doctor-like.
-I've eaten way too much NY style food, and I've enjoyed every bite. Pizza, chinese food, deli meats, bread, and produce are so much better here than what I'm accustomed to.
-I've walked/run through various parts of Central Park on numerous occasions. I still can't believe that in the middle of this incredible series of steel and glass there is a gorgeous natural setting for relaxation.
-Hard-core basketball is played in our basement, and I see a rivalry forming between first and second-year student teams developing. At this pace, I'll be in the best shape of my life in a few weeks.
-Saw the season-opening Gators game at the Gin Mill bar on the UWS (one of the official Gotham Gators viewing-party bars). I went by myself, but I ran into five friends from undergrad, and then ran into Joakim Noah on my way out. The scene was incredible...I still can't believe the number of UF alumni in NYC. I felt like I was in a slightly nicer Gator City watching the game.
-Had drinks last night on a rooftop bar in midtown with great views of the Empire state building, the Chrysler building, and the rest of midtown Manhattan. Moved on to an 80's bar called Joshua Tree with my classmates. It was incredible fun to dance like a fool and sing along with a great 80's soundtrack at full lung capacity with a bunch of my future colleagues.
Later on tonight, I'll be heading with some new friends to a Greek restaurant in Queens and then to the Czech Beer Garden, which is apparently an experience that must be had to call yourself a New Yorker. Tomorrow I'll head to Coney Island while I still can, because the historic park is closing down in the near future. Classes start Tuesday and end on December 22nd. And so the rest of my life begins.
I've had a great time in large part because of all that New York City has to offer. The most important factor, though, in why I believe I'm going to be sincerely happy here for the next for years is the quality of my classmates. Everyone I've met is uniquely incredible, all with knowledge and experiences that blow me away, each with a tangible sense of humanity, and every one possessing a peculiar sense of humor that will be able to diffuse the stress bound to accompany a medical education. I feel truly blessed to be here, and I'm excited to give my all over the next four years. I know my classmates are going to push me to my potential, and I know my school has all the resources I could possibly need to make that potential a reality. Oh, and in four years we get to have our graduation commencement in Carnegie Hall.
I hope life's treating everyone-I-haven't-spoken-to-in-a-while well. I'll try to post a bit more often than I have been lately.
-Moved in and got settled--my room is actually larger than I expected and my suite-mate (Will) is a very cool guy, so all's well in the housing world.
-Went to see "Rent" on Broadway last Saturday, followed by drinks at the B-bar in midtown. Met with Ducey, Bangs, Joey Davis, and Kristin Lang later on in the night. Fun was had. In fact, a bit too much fun was had. I had to get back up to the Upper East Side (UES) by myself after we left the Pussycat Lounge. My first solo trip on the NYC subway turned into a bit of an adventure, and I wound up somewhere in Brooklyn. I got home just before 6 am.
-Did a city-wide scavenger hunt last Sunday, and I saw nearly every NYC tourist attraction there is. Went to a Mets-Dodgers game after the hunt.
-Visited the Guggenheim museum on Monday afternoon. Took a circle-line cruise around Manhattan on Monday night. Probably the most scenic boat ride I've ever taken, and the gorgeous weather and full moon enhanced the experience.
-Participated in orientation activities for the school, learned all I need to know to survive here at Cornell. Donned my first white-coat during our white-coat ceremony. I felt very doctor-like.
-I've eaten way too much NY style food, and I've enjoyed every bite. Pizza, chinese food, deli meats, bread, and produce are so much better here than what I'm accustomed to.
-I've walked/run through various parts of Central Park on numerous occasions. I still can't believe that in the middle of this incredible series of steel and glass there is a gorgeous natural setting for relaxation.
-Hard-core basketball is played in our basement, and I see a rivalry forming between first and second-year student teams developing. At this pace, I'll be in the best shape of my life in a few weeks.
-Saw the season-opening Gators game at the Gin Mill bar on the UWS (one of the official Gotham Gators viewing-party bars). I went by myself, but I ran into five friends from undergrad, and then ran into Joakim Noah on my way out. The scene was incredible...I still can't believe the number of UF alumni in NYC. I felt like I was in a slightly nicer Gator City watching the game.
-Had drinks last night on a rooftop bar in midtown with great views of the Empire state building, the Chrysler building, and the rest of midtown Manhattan. Moved on to an 80's bar called Joshua Tree with my classmates. It was incredible fun to dance like a fool and sing along with a great 80's soundtrack at full lung capacity with a bunch of my future colleagues.
Later on tonight, I'll be heading with some new friends to a Greek restaurant in Queens and then to the Czech Beer Garden, which is apparently an experience that must be had to call yourself a New Yorker. Tomorrow I'll head to Coney Island while I still can, because the historic park is closing down in the near future. Classes start Tuesday and end on December 22nd. And so the rest of my life begins.
I've had a great time in large part because of all that New York City has to offer. The most important factor, though, in why I believe I'm going to be sincerely happy here for the next for years is the quality of my classmates. Everyone I've met is uniquely incredible, all with knowledge and experiences that blow me away, each with a tangible sense of humanity, and every one possessing a peculiar sense of humor that will be able to diffuse the stress bound to accompany a medical education. I feel truly blessed to be here, and I'm excited to give my all over the next four years. I know my classmates are going to push me to my potential, and I know my school has all the resources I could possibly need to make that potential a reality. Oh, and in four years we get to have our graduation commencement in Carnegie Hall.
I hope life's treating everyone-I-haven't-spoken-to-in-a-while well. I'll try to post a bit more often than I have been lately.
09 August, 2007
2 Weeks
There are two weeks now remaining before I move to Manhattan. I'm more excited than ever, and I've dreamt almost nightly about the city and how my life may be for the next few years. At the same time, I've been thinking more about the things I'm leaving behind in Florida. Most of them are things I'd gladly put down a giant garbage disposal if it were possible--the unbearably moist heat, St. Augustine grass, mosquitoes, the Florida Mall, Sand Lake Rd. traffic, tourists, and FSU fans. I will miss some things about my current home, but very few of them are inanimate. Here is a brief list of Florida features I'd take with me if I could:
1. My family
2. My friends
3. My dog
4. UF athletics
5. Orlando International Airport
6. Fishing
NYC has two very large airports, but neither of them compare to OIA's cleanliness and comfort. I thought for quite a while about this list, and while there are other aspects about Florida and Sunshine-state culture that I enjoy, none of them are absent in New York. I'm quite truly not a fan of our Florida weather, but I do love the change of seasons, colorful falls, and snow. I enjoy many of the ethnic cuisines available in Orlando, but to say these won't be available in NYC would be ridiculous.
After putting together this list, I've focused on each of these 6 items while I can still enjoy them. I've been to the airport a few times in the last weeks, my dog and I play for at least 4 hours daily, I'm well-read on UF preseason practices, and I've spent as much time as possible with my loved ones. That leaves fishing, which I did yesterday. My dad and I took the SeaSpirit II out of Daytona Shores for a half-day trip with hopes of bringing home dinner. It was a much slower fishing day than normal, but we did pull in 9 fish total. In fact, we were more foturnate than most people on the party boat. There were two guys, though-buddies, it seemed-who raked in at least 16 fish, including a large flounder and a huge cobia. The cobia chased down one of their yellow-tail snapper, and one of the ship's mates hooked the beast with a long pole and hoisted it into the boat. The cobia thrashed around until the mates smashed its head with a baseball bat to ensure quick death.
I made the mistake of saying I'd clean the fish myself rather than having the crew do the deed. I've filleted fish before, but for some reason these snapper proved difficult to skin, and the bones were impossible to remove until the fish had been baked. Anyway, freshly caught fish is a meal I enjoy more than any other, and there's something primevally satisfying about catching, skinning, and cooking your own food. Here's a photo synopsis of the trip:
The dock just after sunrise:
The day's "keepers":
A couple of my snapper:
Very tasty dinner:
1. My family
2. My friends
3. My dog
4. UF athletics
5. Orlando International Airport
6. Fishing
NYC has two very large airports, but neither of them compare to OIA's cleanliness and comfort. I thought for quite a while about this list, and while there are other aspects about Florida and Sunshine-state culture that I enjoy, none of them are absent in New York. I'm quite truly not a fan of our Florida weather, but I do love the change of seasons, colorful falls, and snow. I enjoy many of the ethnic cuisines available in Orlando, but to say these won't be available in NYC would be ridiculous.
After putting together this list, I've focused on each of these 6 items while I can still enjoy them. I've been to the airport a few times in the last weeks, my dog and I play for at least 4 hours daily, I'm well-read on UF preseason practices, and I've spent as much time as possible with my loved ones. That leaves fishing, which I did yesterday. My dad and I took the SeaSpirit II out of Daytona Shores for a half-day trip with hopes of bringing home dinner. It was a much slower fishing day than normal, but we did pull in 9 fish total. In fact, we were more foturnate than most people on the party boat. There were two guys, though-buddies, it seemed-who raked in at least 16 fish, including a large flounder and a huge cobia. The cobia chased down one of their yellow-tail snapper, and one of the ship's mates hooked the beast with a long pole and hoisted it into the boat. The cobia thrashed around until the mates smashed its head with a baseball bat to ensure quick death.
I made the mistake of saying I'd clean the fish myself rather than having the crew do the deed. I've filleted fish before, but for some reason these snapper proved difficult to skin, and the bones were impossible to remove until the fish had been baked. Anyway, freshly caught fish is a meal I enjoy more than any other, and there's something primevally satisfying about catching, skinning, and cooking your own food. Here's a photo synopsis of the trip:
The dock just after sunrise:
The day's "keepers":
A couple of my snapper:
Very tasty dinner:
07 August, 2007
Friends
There's a new study, described by Newsweek (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20149020/site/newsweek/), published by Virginia Commonwealth University that suggests there's a large genetic role played in how we choose our friends. The study focused on males age 8-25, and the investigators found that not only do genes play a role in choosing friends, but that this role grows even more influential as we age. The study's authors say that as a child, environmental factors limit our choice of companions--your parents need to approve of friends, you can't travel to meet people so you befriend your neighbors, and you see your classmates every day. As you grow older, though, you get a car, go to a large university, and move away from your family. Without the same environmental limits you were faced with as a child, your genes are free to shape your choice of friendships.
This study made me very happy because it is one more tidbit of evidence that I am an incredibly lucky person. For the most part, my closest friends are those that have been my friends since childhood. Two of my best friends were with me in elementary school, and two others in middle school. I have built strong friendships with people I met in high school and college, but for the most part I still feel closest to my oldest friends. This made me think--not only did I happen to meet people who fit my environmental limits as a kid, but my genes still "approve" 12 or 13 years later. I feel, quite sincerely, like my friends were placed in my life to help fulfill it. I've learned so much from my closest buds and have grown immensly with their help. I'm incredibly excited to move to New York and start the next phase of my life, but I'm torn that this phase is making me move away from my friends. I know most young college graduates go through this very experience, but honestly, I feel I'm probably closer to my friends than most college graduates are.
Anyway, I guess this post is just one big thank-you to my friends for being there, and for having qualities my genes endorse.
Also, since I've been quite bored lately, I've been watching dissections from the anatomy course at the University of Wisconsin (where my PI did med school). For anyone interested, here is the link:
http://www.anatomy.wisc.edu/courses/gross/index.html
This study made me very happy because it is one more tidbit of evidence that I am an incredibly lucky person. For the most part, my closest friends are those that have been my friends since childhood. Two of my best friends were with me in elementary school, and two others in middle school. I have built strong friendships with people I met in high school and college, but for the most part I still feel closest to my oldest friends. This made me think--not only did I happen to meet people who fit my environmental limits as a kid, but my genes still "approve" 12 or 13 years later. I feel, quite sincerely, like my friends were placed in my life to help fulfill it. I've learned so much from my closest buds and have grown immensly with their help. I'm incredibly excited to move to New York and start the next phase of my life, but I'm torn that this phase is making me move away from my friends. I know most young college graduates go through this very experience, but honestly, I feel I'm probably closer to my friends than most college graduates are.
Anyway, I guess this post is just one big thank-you to my friends for being there, and for having qualities my genes endorse.
Also, since I've been quite bored lately, I've been watching dissections from the anatomy course at the University of Wisconsin (where my PI did med school). For anyone interested, here is the link:
http://www.anatomy.wisc.edu/courses/gross/index.html
23 July, 2007
YouTube debate
So tonight is the CNN/YouTube debate for democratic presidential hopefuls to be held in South Carolina. I find myself extremely excited over this relatively new form of public discourse. First, and maybe most importantly, I think the use of online tools like YouTube and Wikipedia will influence more youth to be more informed and involved in politics. I was watching a sample of the YouTube questions submitted, and many of them came from kids who aren't yet 18. Seeing this gave me a slight glimmer of optimism for the future of our country.
Another reason I'm excited about this style of debate is, as CNN has discussed, the public has submitted questions that the press may not have considered. Further, I think the sight of a person who has a particular concern adds a sense of humanity, and therefore urgency, to the decisions politicians make. Video of an injured veteran sitting in a wheelchair and asking about health insurance is worth more than a thousand words.
There are potential problems with this style of CNN/YouTube debate. A board of CNN execs had to go through the 3000 submitted videos and select about 75 that will be available for moderator Anderson Cooper to use. Whenever a single entity (in this case CNN) has the power to design a debate, there runs the risk of a bias. At the same time, though, more traditional debates had even fewer people (often just the moderator) choosing which questions to ask. Until political parties can convince their presidential candidates to convene in city halls around the country and allow townspeople to ask uncensored questions, I suppose this YouTube style debate is the best we can do.
Anyway, feel free to agree or disagree with me about how awesome this new debate style is. Watch the debate tonight and tell me what made an impression on you.
Another reason I'm excited about this style of debate is, as CNN has discussed, the public has submitted questions that the press may not have considered. Further, I think the sight of a person who has a particular concern adds a sense of humanity, and therefore urgency, to the decisions politicians make. Video of an injured veteran sitting in a wheelchair and asking about health insurance is worth more than a thousand words.
There are potential problems with this style of CNN/YouTube debate. A board of CNN execs had to go through the 3000 submitted videos and select about 75 that will be available for moderator Anderson Cooper to use. Whenever a single entity (in this case CNN) has the power to design a debate, there runs the risk of a bias. At the same time, though, more traditional debates had even fewer people (often just the moderator) choosing which questions to ask. Until political parties can convince their presidential candidates to convene in city halls around the country and allow townspeople to ask uncensored questions, I suppose this YouTube style debate is the best we can do.
Anyway, feel free to agree or disagree with me about how awesome this new debate style is. Watch the debate tonight and tell me what made an impression on you.
18 July, 2007
I had more hair in high school, but I'm glad I'm not still 16-year-old me
As part of the move-home-from-UF/move-up-to-NYC process, I've lately had to sort through many boxes to decide what to bring with me, what to trash, and what to store in the 157-degree attic. I also went through some of my boxes already in the attic to see what could be tossed, and found a boxful of papers that brought me to tears with laughter.
Hidden among other high school memorabilia (yearbooks, student newspapers, awards, etc.) I found some old notebooks and legal pads. Apparently, I had used these notebooks and pads as sounding boards for my deepest, most darkest emo complaints. I perused some of the stream-of-consciousness my 16-year-old self had vomited through a pen, and I found the experience delightful. What a mess I was. Poems with sketches of landscapes and roses. Whining about girls. Gripes about typical high school dramas. Grievances galore. Seems I dealt with the same perceived problems most teenages do--I just dealt with them internally rather than spreading rumors about my foes. While I'm sure that wasn't good for my health back then, it DID provide a source of great laughter in the present.
The main reason I found these writings so funny is that I thought I had been more mature than the average schmuck in high school. Now I know better. I had very little respect for those who disagreed with me. I had not a clue of how to deal with emotional strife. Most importantly though, I could tell by reading my old notes that I had no sense of gratitude for just how good my life truly was. I doubt 16-year-old me would have been able to laugh at 11-year-old me.
So now I'm wondering how I'll interpret this blog or other writings in five or ten years. Will post-med-school Nick be shocked at pre-med-school Nick's shortcomings? I hope so. At the same time, though, this episode has made me very aware of my desire to make my future self proud. Maybe in 2017 (assuming the Mayans were incorrect about the whole 2012 affair) I'll be able to look back at my personal development without being ashamed of the version.2007 Nick.
High school me:
Hidden among other high school memorabilia (yearbooks, student newspapers, awards, etc.) I found some old notebooks and legal pads. Apparently, I had used these notebooks and pads as sounding boards for my deepest, most darkest emo complaints. I perused some of the stream-of-consciousness my 16-year-old self had vomited through a pen, and I found the experience delightful. What a mess I was. Poems with sketches of landscapes and roses. Whining about girls. Gripes about typical high school dramas. Grievances galore. Seems I dealt with the same perceived problems most teenages do--I just dealt with them internally rather than spreading rumors about my foes. While I'm sure that wasn't good for my health back then, it DID provide a source of great laughter in the present.
The main reason I found these writings so funny is that I thought I had been more mature than the average schmuck in high school. Now I know better. I had very little respect for those who disagreed with me. I had not a clue of how to deal with emotional strife. Most importantly though, I could tell by reading my old notes that I had no sense of gratitude for just how good my life truly was. I doubt 16-year-old me would have been able to laugh at 11-year-old me.
So now I'm wondering how I'll interpret this blog or other writings in five or ten years. Will post-med-school Nick be shocked at pre-med-school Nick's shortcomings? I hope so. At the same time, though, this episode has made me very aware of my desire to make my future self proud. Maybe in 2017 (assuming the Mayans were incorrect about the whole 2012 affair) I'll be able to look back at my personal development without being ashamed of the version.2007 Nick.
High school me:
14 July, 2007
The title
So this is my entry into the world of online publishing. Being the first entry in the blog, I think I should explain the title.
The Long Walk is the title of an incredibly inspirational novel, written by Slavomir Rawicz, which details the author's journey from the Lubyanka prison in Moscow to labor camp 303 near Yakutsk, Siberia, and then his escape on foot through Siberia, across Mongolia, past China, over the Himalayas, and into the safety of India. I highly recommend the book as a testament to that which can be overcome when someone has a goal at mind and in their heart.
Rawicz's goal was freedom and more than a few hundred grams of black bread a day. I have some goals, too. I've accomplished some goals I've set, and I'm sure there will be more to come. While I'll probably never hike without supplies from the Arctic Circle to India, I DO plan on accomplishing a few important things in my life. And while the obstacles in my path are a bit less daunting than the Gobi Desert or the Himalayas, they exist nonetheless. So, I chose The Long Walk as the title of my blog to serve as a constant reminder of how incredibly powerful the human spirit really is. That sounds corny, but I've become more corny over time, so I really don't care. Med school and residency, along with the ups and downs of health, happiness, and relationships, will be my own personal microcosm of The Long Walk. So there it is...the title of my blog.
I'll close this first post with a few pictures.
Where I am:
Where I've been:
Where I'll be:
The Long Walk is the title of an incredibly inspirational novel, written by Slavomir Rawicz, which details the author's journey from the Lubyanka prison in Moscow to labor camp 303 near Yakutsk, Siberia, and then his escape on foot through Siberia, across Mongolia, past China, over the Himalayas, and into the safety of India. I highly recommend the book as a testament to that which can be overcome when someone has a goal at mind and in their heart.
Rawicz's goal was freedom and more than a few hundred grams of black bread a day. I have some goals, too. I've accomplished some goals I've set, and I'm sure there will be more to come. While I'll probably never hike without supplies from the Arctic Circle to India, I DO plan on accomplishing a few important things in my life. And while the obstacles in my path are a bit less daunting than the Gobi Desert or the Himalayas, they exist nonetheless. So, I chose The Long Walk as the title of my blog to serve as a constant reminder of how incredibly powerful the human spirit really is. That sounds corny, but I've become more corny over time, so I really don't care. Med school and residency, along with the ups and downs of health, happiness, and relationships, will be my own personal microcosm of The Long Walk. So there it is...the title of my blog.
I'll close this first post with a few pictures.
Where I am:
Where I've been:
Where I'll be:
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