I took the MCAT this week. I had been scoring really well on my practice tests. And the real thing was quite a feat to accomplish—4.5 hours. I have to say that I think that it was at the same level of difficulty as the practice tests, but with the all the test-day pressure, it seemed at times a bit harder. I think if I had to guess, I’d say I probably got a score somewhere around my average. We will have to wait until May to find out.
I came out of the test with a bad headache because I’d been squinting for so long. I proceeded to have lunch at Borough Market, then walk along the Thames to Green Park. Lovely day, lovely walk. It’s good for that test to be over. I really hope I did well enough to not have to take it again.
This past week, I have been relaxing. I went to the Victoria and Albert museum on Monday, but I found the art tour we had about Constable to be really boring. I also went shopping for some new clothes yesterday.
A little rest, a little catch up, a little work on some stuff that’s been put aside while the MCAT loomed (for example, my book). I’m glad to be free, and I’m glad spring is continuing to flourish. Even if it is chilly outside. It makes the flowers stay fresher longer.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
nehT dnA
The next week went well. I studied a lot for the MCAT; I took several practice tests and ended up starting to get much better scores.
I spent Easter weekend with my aunt and uncle in Sussex. We had a lovely time. They picked me up in the afternoon from the station in the town where they live, and we had a nice cup of tea and did some catching up. For dinner we had a lovely roast leg of lamb and some nice wine—I haven’t drunk much since I started studying for the MCAT. On Easter Sunday we began with smoked salmon and scrambled eggs for breakfast, which was beautiful. We then took a drive to Shoreham-by-Sea. The countryside in Sussex is so nice—it was chilly, but the hills are so green. We took a walk along the sea, which was beautifully blue, then we drove by the art deco airfield there. Next, we drove to a little town and had tea in a Tudor-style house that had been turned into a restaurant. We then headed back home via more beautiful countryside and houses. I remembered that I get a little carsick on English roads—lots of sharp turns and the like. The hedgerows do not help—they’re too close to the road and really get blurry when you go fast. I studied for the afternoon, then we had another nice dinner of pork chops, some more wine, and then we watched a mystery show on TV. I left the next morning, rejuvenated a bit and very glad that I could spend time with family on Easter.
That week, I went with the students to the Tate Modern for a bit of a break from studying. I love that museum. I especially love the surrealists and the avant-garde painters from the 30’s-60’s. There is a section now called Poetry and Dream which really caught my eye.
That weekend, we had a special event at our house. We had several alumni from the region come to tea. It was interesting to meet with people from different time periods at my school. We had some beautiful scones and clotted cream and tea as well.
I’ve also begun volunteering regularly on a ward at the hospital. I love the lady who manages things there (she’s Irish and very down-to-earth). I love the patients there too—I had a really good day last week were I talked to an Italian lady, a lady who escaped Germany in 1939 whose parents were killed in Auschwitz, and a Kiwi gentleman and his wife. I loved it. I’m so glad I’ve decided to get into medicine.
I’m trying to keep up the working out three days a week—running and lifting weights. I wish I could get back into training for a triathlon this summer, but part of me cannot be bothered until I get back to the US.
I also had dinner at a friend’s that weekend—she made a cheese-less veggie lasagna which turned out really well. We had a great evening of fun chatting, jive lessons, videos, and much hilarity. Great to take my mind off of the upcoming test. One week to go.
I spent Easter weekend with my aunt and uncle in Sussex. We had a lovely time. They picked me up in the afternoon from the station in the town where they live, and we had a nice cup of tea and did some catching up. For dinner we had a lovely roast leg of lamb and some nice wine—I haven’t drunk much since I started studying for the MCAT. On Easter Sunday we began with smoked salmon and scrambled eggs for breakfast, which was beautiful. We then took a drive to Shoreham-by-Sea. The countryside in Sussex is so nice—it was chilly, but the hills are so green. We took a walk along the sea, which was beautifully blue, then we drove by the art deco airfield there. Next, we drove to a little town and had tea in a Tudor-style house that had been turned into a restaurant. We then headed back home via more beautiful countryside and houses. I remembered that I get a little carsick on English roads—lots of sharp turns and the like. The hedgerows do not help—they’re too close to the road and really get blurry when you go fast. I studied for the afternoon, then we had another nice dinner of pork chops, some more wine, and then we watched a mystery show on TV. I left the next morning, rejuvenated a bit and very glad that I could spend time with family on Easter.
That week, I went with the students to the Tate Modern for a bit of a break from studying. I love that museum. I especially love the surrealists and the avant-garde painters from the 30’s-60’s. There is a section now called Poetry and Dream which really caught my eye.
That weekend, we had a special event at our house. We had several alumni from the region come to tea. It was interesting to meet with people from different time periods at my school. We had some beautiful scones and clotted cream and tea as well.
I’ve also begun volunteering regularly on a ward at the hospital. I love the lady who manages things there (she’s Irish and very down-to-earth). I love the patients there too—I had a really good day last week were I talked to an Italian lady, a lady who escaped Germany in 1939 whose parents were killed in Auschwitz, and a Kiwi gentleman and his wife. I loved it. I’m so glad I’ve decided to get into medicine.
I’m trying to keep up the working out three days a week—running and lifting weights. I wish I could get back into training for a triathlon this summer, but part of me cannot be bothered until I get back to the US.
I also had dinner at a friend’s that weekend—she made a cheese-less veggie lasagna which turned out really well. We had a great evening of fun chatting, jive lessons, videos, and much hilarity. Great to take my mind off of the upcoming test. One week to go.
sgnituO dnekeeW
Almost three weeks later, I can finally emerge from my hole and begin my weekly updates again.
Lots of things have happened since my last post. To facilitate your reading, I’ll upload them in chunks.
Back at the end of March, I met up with my aunt and uncle again one Saturday. The weather was quite good that day—perhaps a little chilly. We began at Borough Market, which is fast becoming one of my favorite places in London. Cheeses. Pastries. Vegetables. Fruits. Meats. We got a coffee and took a look around Southwark Cathedral nearby, stopping for a while at a Norman ruins excavation at the side of the church. We proceeded from there into the City of London to find Wilton’s Music Hall, a real old-fashioned music hall. We discovered its pockmarked yet (several decades old) brightly painted exterior down a small side street, then set off to find a cafe for lunch. We returned to the music hall for a performance of Sentimental Journey, a musical about the life of Doris Day. It was very good for a semi-professional cast. We then went for a walk along the Thames and found a pub for a beer and some crisps and later a restaurant for a lovely dinner overlooking the river.
I was extraordinarily lucky that the next day I met up with an American friend from my time in Australia. She had visited the week before on her way to Paris, and we went to a lovely Chinese restaurant for dinner and chatted for a few hours. She returned, and we spent the day hanging out. We started with a lovely brunch, and then we went to the National Portrait Gallery for an exhibition of Irving Penn, which contained a very interesting array of portraits of famous people from the 20th century. We then took a stroll down the Thames and encountered a chocolate festival where we bought chocolate eggs. Then we ventured to the Tate Modern for a gander at an exhibit that was really interesting. It was meant to represent existence—a big steel cube with no light, open at one end. You walked into darkness, then turned around and walked into the light amongst non-lit faces and bodies ambling toward you. Really good.
We walked to Borough market next, but it was closed, so we had supper at a Russian tea room.
The play this week was Waiting for Godot, with Sir Ian McKellen. The play reminded me of the pacing and general mood of Our Town, which I despise. It was probably the best production of that play that I will ever see, though, as the acting was superb.
This week, volunteering went well enough. I worked in the emergency department doing odd jobs for the housekeeping staff. Not much interaction with patients.
I also saw Alice in Wonderland in 3D. It was good.
Lots of things have happened since my last post. To facilitate your reading, I’ll upload them in chunks.
Back at the end of March, I met up with my aunt and uncle again one Saturday. The weather was quite good that day—perhaps a little chilly. We began at Borough Market, which is fast becoming one of my favorite places in London. Cheeses. Pastries. Vegetables. Fruits. Meats. We got a coffee and took a look around Southwark Cathedral nearby, stopping for a while at a Norman ruins excavation at the side of the church. We proceeded from there into the City of London to find Wilton’s Music Hall, a real old-fashioned music hall. We discovered its pockmarked yet (several decades old) brightly painted exterior down a small side street, then set off to find a cafe for lunch. We returned to the music hall for a performance of Sentimental Journey, a musical about the life of Doris Day. It was very good for a semi-professional cast. We then went for a walk along the Thames and found a pub for a beer and some crisps and later a restaurant for a lovely dinner overlooking the river.
I was extraordinarily lucky that the next day I met up with an American friend from my time in Australia. She had visited the week before on her way to Paris, and we went to a lovely Chinese restaurant for dinner and chatted for a few hours. She returned, and we spent the day hanging out. We started with a lovely brunch, and then we went to the National Portrait Gallery for an exhibition of Irving Penn, which contained a very interesting array of portraits of famous people from the 20th century. We then took a stroll down the Thames and encountered a chocolate festival where we bought chocolate eggs. Then we ventured to the Tate Modern for a gander at an exhibit that was really interesting. It was meant to represent existence—a big steel cube with no light, open at one end. You walked into darkness, then turned around and walked into the light amongst non-lit faces and bodies ambling toward you. Really good.
We walked to Borough market next, but it was closed, so we had supper at a Russian tea room.
The play this week was Waiting for Godot, with Sir Ian McKellen. The play reminded me of the pacing and general mood of Our Town, which I despise. It was probably the best production of that play that I will ever see, though, as the acting was superb.
This week, volunteering went well enough. I worked in the emergency department doing odd jobs for the housekeeping staff. Not much interaction with patients.
I also saw Alice in Wonderland in 3D. It was good.
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