The Interview

It's been three years.

Back when Roxas Hall was yellow.

Three years, since four strangers from different places and walks of life met at the huge, dimly lit Room 201. They had sets of intelligent yet probing eyes positioned at them, waiting for them at the very end of that hall.

Enter Ed, Lou, Anj, and Dan. They were among three other people who just entered that same room. All seven of them were directed to sit in the chairs in front of those waiting for them at the end of the room, which was the only part illuminated.

It felt like an interrogation, kind of like those you see in the movies.

Then, it began.

Igbaras Rotation: Week 1

For all those wondering how my first week of internship was, it wasn't not as terrible as I thought it would be. First of all, the Delta Fours is one of the three groups assigned to the community. Second of all, we were assigned to the lovely town of Igbaras, Iloilo!

My mother told me that they used to do their community rotations in Igbaras too, way back in the early 80s. No wonder why people are so accustomed to having lost-looking kids clad in white walking around town. Lol

Here are some of the highlights of our first week there. It was full of sun (like sweltering heat of probably around 90 degrees or more), mountains, trees, food food food, lovely people, Karay-a (which I'm trying to learn), and of course the feel of community medicine.

Lovely view of the mountains at my back!

Introducing: Delta Fours!

Like I said, internship has begun. Do you know what else has officially begun? My unique relationship with my duty groupmates, a.k.a. these three people: Mela, JV, and Daniel! Apparently we are the only four people with D last names in our batch, JAX 2015, so we decided to just go with that and name ourselves Delta Fours. (It all started with labeling our boxes of gloves and masks. Lol!)

Now before I start to blog about our adventures this year, I think it is rightful that I properly introduce them to you all first...

Hello again!

Ironically, internship year has already begun. So what in the world am I doing back in my blog?

I originally planned for this blog to be full of my travels, weird experiences, and "big moments," when I put this up about exactly a year ago. Somehow, more important things came in the way and this became hidden among the bowels of forsaken things in my medical-school-laden memory. Well, except for the occasional posts each with a few months of nothing in between.

Fortunately and unfortunately, my first rotation is in the community. To make the long story short, it is one of the most relaxed rotations of the entire year. With all this time in my hands, I shall try to catch up where I left off with my travels during the past year. It may be a bit too late for most, but based on where I'm coming from y'all gotta cut me some slack. *Winks*

The past months have been great. I can't wait to share them with you.

Thanks for dropping by!

Love,

Ella

West Village, Manhattan, NYC. May 2013

25 Things Doctors' Kids Can Probably Relate To.

Yes that's a girl. Lol I didn't have much hair.

My mother is, yes, a Filipino doctor. Though she is one of those "born for this" physicians, she still is my own mother. Now in order to spend time more with me during her training and work when I was young, she usually took me to work with her when she could.

She used to sneak me into the physicians quarters where I would talk with the other residents, as if I was their age. She took me to medical missions where she treated many patients for no amount of money (except for when they insist on the occasional chicken and farm produce). She also introduced me to hundreds of nurses, aides, and ambulance drivers who were some of the best people I knew as a kid. That, among several other strange things were what I had to go through as physician's daughter.