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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.