SGU -The start of medical school, January 2015
Day 1-2: January 9-10 2015
Travel from Redmond to San Fran.
Running late all morning with arranging last minute things and trying not to forget important information. Flight from RDM to SFO was in a small plane and I sat in front of two men, one 33 years old and one in his 50s. They had the most interesting discussion and I was very interested in listening. Upon landing in SFO, I attempted to get into the United club without success. I then found a little lounge that was empty and quiet and got comfortable and watched an episode of The Gran Hotel, Spanish drama/mystery series that is MUY excellente!!! The window seat that I was assigned to made for a nice view however the plane was surprisingly hot (possibly due to the fact that there were approximately 300 passengers and it was packed full). I attempted to sleep with my memory foam pillow and black out eye mask (amazing) but really only sat at an approximately 100 degree angle and tried to sleep for 5.5 hours. It was terrible. 
Arrived to Newark at 0730, saw lady liberty (she is rather tiny-but then again I was descending from the air). It is cold and snowy here. Proceeded down to baggage claim where I managed to get my three 50 pound bags pilled up followed by my two carry on bags and roll them up and down the elevator a total of 5+ times…person A-“you need to go to the 1st” floor, person B: “go to the 4th floor, basement, baggage claim, etc”. Needless to say I rolled my bags around and around all the while causing an increase in both my stress and blood pressure followed by an exponential increase in my disinterest in this airline and their system. I then was told I could not check my bags more than 12 hours from when my plane departs, keep in mind this is at 0730 and my plane is scheduled to leave at midnight…. So after a mixture of both cordial and freaked out behavior, I sat in a chair surrounded by my bags across from the United counter until they said that the computer would now allow me to proceed…at 11:30am. It was ridiculous. Shame shame shame. It is really amazing that a computer can dictate the functions of real humans. This is a sad sad occurrence that happens all too often. So, after a sleep less night, along with no water on the plane (even though I begged for a water bottle and the stewardess only gave me two small glasses of water-in which I soaked half up in a napkin and wiped down my head and arms and neck because it was so hot sitting crammed next to people-coupled with pushing 150pounds+ around the various floors to sitting in an exhausted state to hearing my name being called over the airport intercom requesting my presence “due to having lost a valuable item” then realizing that I lost my wallet….then asking every person who worked for united where to retrieve my wallet and none of them knowing-to finally finding the lady in charge who had checked me in just minutes previously-asking if I could show her ID to prove it was my wallet-but she had all my ID (with the exception of the boarding pass thankfully)
I boarded the flight to Trinidad-first class and slept most of the way (with the exception of eating my first class meal :) )
Day 2 of travels: January 11 2015
Arrived to POS, Trinidad
Airport is roughly the size of Redmond. The island is gorgeous.
No cell phone or internet functioning
Had to pay Liat Airlines 138 for my excess baggage-expected this though
Met a 5th term student named Preri-she seemed stressed and was making me stressed but did have some interesting things to say. I then began talking with another 5th term named Firas and he was much more calm and way more informative. We talked the entire layover and also had another 1st term student, sammir, sitting with us.
Flew to Grenada-I thought the pilot would land in the ocean that is how close we were in the small propeller aircraft.
Arrived to Grenada-it was hot-but not so bad considering I was in a long sleeve, sweater and puffy coat.
Came to campus-wow.
Assigned my dorm room-in St. David’s hall-SMALL! But it is mine and private so I am very happy.
I pray pray pray that I have grace in my health and no bugs bother me-no fever or illness. I pray for a good relationship with my roommates and have a good group of friends.
Registered, got all my books -a lot and HEAVY
Got my ID badge
Put my name down for a mail box
Signed up for every tour of campus and the local water fall, Entang falls for Monday
Met a vet student named Katie from CA, she is nice and I think we are very similar. We went and got local phone numbers then ate Subway for dinner-costing me a whopping $20. SO EXPENSIVE here!!!!!!!!! Lord-bless my finances and provide for food please!
Went to the dock after dinner and watched the waves-met a girl from India named Samana-she is a 5th term med student and tried to relay the importance of enjoying my time and the beaches here and balancing time. She was with a 1st term med student named R who is from Africa and is VERY social-he invited us out but I was way too tired and could not even comprehend spending additional money at a restaurant. I then walked to the end of the dock and sat with 2 first term med students, M from Michigan and B from Idaho. They were nice and we talked about the little cove and how they went hiking and dove into the water off the edge near the dean's office (it is where all the famous pictures of the university are taken) 
We sat there for a while and then all headed home when it was dark. I came to my dorm and became exceedingly tired-I was asleep by 8:15 I think-I fell asleep with my computer and phone-both writing things mid sentence. I then woke up around midnight realizing this and was so happy to stay in bed. The dorm is a little chilly so I am using both the comforter and the gray sheep blanket-I am comfortable in long sleeves and pants. I have my memory foam pillow and now my neck pillow because I woke with a terrible headache-I think from the position along with the busy weekend I have had. I took migraine medicine using the water and ice cubes that I had UV’d with my pen earlier. I then woke up just before 4am and have been thinking and writing and praying. I opened my little book on scriptures and read about assurance-very appropriate for this experience. “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” Hebrews: 11:1. This is very reassuring because I have a desire to do very well here-in fact I want to do exceeding amazingly well and learn and become a good student to then become a good doctor-of course fear and worry and self doubt try to creep into me and take over my mind-but I hold onto the promise that “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”
Start of my second official day on the island…it is 0500 and I think I should go back to sleep. I am waking up in a few hours to start my busy day that includes tours and asking more questions and figuring out my phone which is no longer working….well all I can do is take each moment as it comes and remember that things will work out. It may be tough and very very difficult at times, but the result will be something beautiful and so worth the strenuous journey.
My head ache has resolved and now, using my neck pillow and the cheetah hat, I am going to go back to bed listening to the rain and my sound machine. Good night (good morning)
Thank you Lord for this!
Ps.
I read my mom’s letter last night and LOVED it! I especially loved the three ingredients” Prayer, Patience and perseverance!!!
Lastly:
On an ending note:
I created this "blog" many many months ago-before I even applied to SGU-I created it after having read of another student's experience at SGU and really wanted to look into the school.
At the time the term "cultivate" was really pronounced in my mind so that was the title...I honestly do not know how to change the title...but here is the definition of that interesting word and I think it is very fitting that the timing of things has happened the way it has:
cultivate:
try to acquire or develop (a quality, sentiment, or skill)
prepare and use (land) for crops or gardening.
This is a journey of development-in terms of academic development and personal and spiritual growth.
-M.H-
First year medical student
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