Coming to Terms

Time to end the little hiatus and deliver some more posts. It has been a revealing couple of months lately, with a lot of change, with the majority being positive. From skiing to rectal exams, I have got to experience a whole lot of new things, so I'll share the best bits down below.

3rd Year Baby!
Alright, so I've come to that point in my medical studies where I can for a brief moment peek my head up above the books for a second and get to experience some "real" doctor work. Every Wednesday we have a 4 hour shift of Internal Medicine here at the regional hospital in the Endocrinology Ward. So it is a whole lot of old people with diabetes and hyperthyroidism and what not, but it makes a good change from only reading about it. It is here, however, that the language barrier becomes more evident, as there is no chance that a 60 year old Polish woman is going to know any English. It becomes necessary to use a translator when taking patient history and that does hinder a little the patient-doctor relationship. However, using the little Polish I do know combined with a friendly translator gets the job done. Guess it will be up to me to learn some more. 

My attractive classmates getting ready for some Internal Medicine

Rectal Exams

All you men out there know, that there comes a time in all of our lives, when we have to live with the fact that another man has stuck his index finger up our anus, and into the rectum. Rest assured my fellows, you are in good hands. Using the hospital dummies (as in the dolls, not the patients in the psychiatric ward) we practiced proper technique and what to feel for in regards to prostate tumors. Now these dummies felt very life-like (I am guessing) so it was definitively a bit scarring, but as the Americans say:

Peter displaying proper technique

Skiing

As most of my readers know, I am Swedish. Born in Jönköping and raised in the metropolitan hub that is Hagafors, deep in the Småland Woods. Being Swedish, one really should know how to ski, but that is one thing that evaded me as I grew up. Granted, moving to Mozambique at the age of 11 didn't help things. In any case, this was a wrong I was most adamant to correct, and thus I jumped at the chance when my good friend Nicklas asked if I was up for some skiing around New Years. We packed the car and drove up to Sälen, a Ski resort in the Swedish mountains, locally known as fjällen. It took me a little while to learn, but after a couple falls and mishaps I got the hang of it, and managed to ride some of the steeper slopes. Exhilarating would be an understatement, knowing that at any given moment you could crash and crack all your bones has a certain magnificent feel about. Keeping this up, it is just a question of time until I become an action junkie. Also, the stunning scenery at the top of the mountain added that extra little bit of magic.

Furthest North I have been in Sweden, and this place is only half-way up the country.

So 2014 is up next, and from the little I can tell of it so far, it is set to be a pretty decent year. Time will tell!

Oh, and in other news: A Swede at Arsenal!

Realistic Caution out the Window

Life can be very hard as an Arsenal fan. No trophies, top players leaving the club and joining rivals, losing to lower division opposition, you name it. In the midst of it all though, there is always the hope that one day it will all be better. A light at the end of a dark and dreary tunnel. Tonight is Champions League, a luxury that is  a current uncertainty as far as Arsenal is concerned, with 4th place in the EPL not currently secured. Thus, it is only understandable that I approach this coming match with more than a hint of caution. I don't want to get over hyped just to get sucker-punched by a Mandzukic header or a beautiful Ribery golazo. Caution and modesty is the way I planned to approach this game. This, however, is football, and there really is no room for being luke-warm. So screw that approach.
As the kick-off approaches I cannot help but being overcome with a feeling of positiveness  and a belief that the "impossible" can be done. Even though my brain is telling me that this is not going to end well, my heart holds on to the smallest of hopes. For once, my heart is absolutely right, this is football, this is Passion. There is no room for half-hearted support or pessimistic caution. Supporting my team all the way tonight, hope lots of you guys will be able to watch what will undoubtly be a great game. Up the Arsenal!

In other news, found another great mix I thought I'd share with my fellow Chillstep fans. Great for studying, relaxing etc.