So last Friday the guys at work bought me a steak for lunch and sent me on my way, hopefully never to return to the ranks of construction work. I left work, went to the gym, showered, drove home, and threw my work clothes from that day straight in the trash. Due to the wonders of Facebook, along with an almost overly social group of classmates, I was forced to make the transition from construction worker to med student (i.e. tone down the cusswords) in about two hours so that I could attend the M1 (first year med student) party at the Barleycorn.
That initial party was strange, to say the least. I don't typically go alone to bars where I know absolutely no one. Typically, everyone you pass by at a bar doesn't make eye contact and extend their hand to meet you. And when you meet people, you don't typically exchange a couple of minutes of small talk and then move on to the next shakeable hand. But this was the story of Friday night. I met a lot of nice people, though; I just hoped they would all be wearing nametags next time I saw them.
Back in June we received our Blackboard usernames and passwords so we could do the pre-matriculation program called "Fast Start". Part of this program was an unofficial guide to the first year, written by M2's (2nd year med student, see the pattern?). At least 5 different places in that guide stressed over and over "go to the social events during orientation week", "orientation week is the best week of the year", "my best M1 memory? Definitely orientation week", etc.
So here's the story of orientation week so far:
Day 1: Does this look like a face you can trust?
The first day we gathered in an auditorium. I was one of two people wearing a tie. Several of my eventual small group members were wearing shorts and t-shirts. I told Joanna that they would probably step it up a little the next day, and the other guys wearing slacks (and that other dude with a tie) would probably step it down. I decided that I would still wear the shirt and tie all week as planned. No offense to my classmates, but it's really not about what they think of me. It's about making a good first impression on people who are going to be evaluating me for the next four years and potentially helping me land a residency or job down the road. Nothing notable from orientation that day except how over-the-top everything in our new building is. We have THE best, biggest, and most technologically advanced facilities of any medical school in the country with the opening of the new building this fall (in jest, the dean said that would probably last a couple weeks).
I actually helped install some of this glass.
There are infinite places to study in this place.
I don' think this picture does justice to the size of that screen.
That night was a gathering at the Brazenhead at 8. At 9:40 they had to buy another keg because they had already finished the first four. I felt like I was forcing myself to be there. The few people I've gotten to be friends with, it was nice seeing them in that social setting, but after making an appearance I was ready to go. Most of my classmates are 22 or 23, graduated high school in '03, '04. I have enough to answer for when the background checks come through, so I don't feel the need to get rowdy every night this week and jeopardize all my hard work.
Well, it's noon on Wednesday, and not only is this getting too long, but I have a social event to get to (golf outing at 1). I guess I'll have to write a part 2 at the end of the week.
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