Second Year Blues

[The Pill Counter]

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Anyone one else who went abroad found the second year a tougher adjustment than the first? Last year was adventure and excitement, but now time away is feeling sooo long, with a couple of years to go. I guess there's a big difference between a year abroad and a whole degree abroad. Still wouldn't change a thing, but still something to think about.

 

[neilc]

dude, i feel your pain....my second year was the worst! it sucked for so many reasons...being away from home, freinds and family just got worse, the classes were harder, the excitement had worn off, still didn't see any patients, biochem, tired of the freezing cold, realizing i was only a bit more than 20% done, biochem.....did i mention biochem? damn, i hated that class!

things do get better though. after the lag period it becomes a lot more like home. what i did (and still do) to deal with it is mainly keep in touch with family and freinds on a regular schedule. i use MSN messenger a ton. i study and use my homesickness as a motivation. the more work i get done early, the sooner i get home. also, third year is just so much more fun. you finally feel like you are in medicine, and learning things that you will use quite a bit more than the basic science stuff.

also, do some stuff that is fun where you are. i am sure it can't be too tough to enjoy australia. i would love to be near a beach right now! enjoy it while you can, cause as much as you want to be home, you will look back on these days with fondness. give yourself something to remember!

have fun, and good luck! you will make it!

 

[BellKicker]

What you guys are doing is admirable and certainly not an easy way to become doctors.

Hang in there, Pill Counter.

 

[Annette]

My second year was rougher than the first. I realized how much I hated living in such a fishbowl, all the mosquitoes, the heat, the classes, and having instructors whom I didn't respect anymore. And then there was the class 5 hurricane and NO evacuation plans. 🙄 To help me through it, I decided to take advantage of the tourism things more- nada pina colada's with luch, lunch on the beach, couple of boat trips, etc. Plan a celebration of something with people you like so that you have something to look forward towards. (Our class started "half-way day" for the day that was in the middle of the semester.)

Third year I think is the worst. Starting clinicals, you know nothing, don't know the way around the hospital, isolation, and not even knowing what expectations are of you! I swear there wasn't a single rotation where I didn't cry at least once.
There are times when you answer the question correctly, and you begin to think you might just be able to master this stuff. The fourth year is nice, except for the match.