Insanity

Well, we bought our return tickets for second term in the fall. It was a nonrefundable, nontransferable, huge wads 'o cash, I-really-hope-finals-go-well purchase.

I really had some misgivings about getting them and I had to remind myself:
1. I have some confidence that I am going to pass.
2. We can always take a Grenada vacation if I don't.

What is funny to me is that neither scenario was plausible to me while I was planning this endeavor. I never, in my wildest dreams, thought I would have academic difficulty and I REALLY didn't think I would like living here as much as I do.

The SGU experience has been just surreal to me. I still pinch myself that I am actually in medical school. Then, I also have to remind myself that I brought my family to an island off the coast of Venezuela, 3000 miles from home, with only a small idea of what to expect, where we would live, where the kids would attend school, and what we would eat. I was just thinking about this at 4 am this morning as I was wrapping up my studying. At this point, I'm just shaking my head, curiously, wondering what the blink was I thinking???

Even more interesting is that you could not pay me, and I mean even a hefty sum, to go on vacation to a beach somewhere. I absolutely despised even the thought of a cruise, a beach resort, anything resembling sand and palm trees. Give me a backpack, some food, and and a tent and drop me off in the Alaskan wilderness. That is my idea of a vacation. Now, I think I have warmed up to the beach scene. What I love the most is the constantly changing ocean. Everyday brings a new discovery, the hue of the water, the timid fish, the course volcanic rocks, the misleading tides, the voluptuous waves, the painted sunsets, the beat-up boats, the intense Caribbean storms. My hubby and I both have been enlightened of the benefits of ocean side living.

So, back to the craziness. My sis and I were talking about why we are like this and we surmised that there is definitely a certain amount of insanity in our family. Our Grandma on one side lived in a logging camp in the north woods of Wisconsin and our other Grandma's family lived in the rugged mountains near Turkey. Our own mother climbs mountains by herself and our brother backpacked the world for a couple years, spending the majority of it in an Ashram in India. While I have been tamer in my pursuits, I still had my share of adventures, which I won't mention now, but I am sure I will write about in the future. One thing is for certain. We are not ones to shy away from a challenge.

Two weeks till finals. My time to rise to the task at hand. Then, maybe we can think about a nice, calm, relaxing beach vacation..... ok, it still gives me the willies. I think I'll stick to climbing mountains.