Indiana First Impression...

COLD and snowy!  Apparently I missed the Christmas snow.  I am a spoiled California brat!  I can't believe people live under 40 degree F temperature!  Ha ha.  I know, I know, I do go skiing and such and love it.  But, I was not expecting 5 degree F when I stepped off the airplane!  Yesterday morning was around 8 degrees and today is about 22 F.  And the news said 'wind chill factor' brings it down to about 0 to -1 degree F.  And then, guess what else the news said... 'warm season is coming!' Really?!  Yeah, its coming... its called Spring and it is coming in like 4 months!

You know, I don't think people know how to respond to Asians in this area of the country!  I had some people think I am 12 years old!  People!  I can't even begin to tell you that if you guess that I was in my early or mid twenties, I would be flattered, but anything in the teens, I am actually offended!

And, this morning, I was having one of my complementary breakfast in the hotel, and apparently I have already finished my food, the hispanic cleaning lady came up and reached for my plate (btw, a very kind thing to do), and she said it very clearly, as if she has been practicing for this moment...  Ohio-go-zy-i-mas...  I paused and said 'hum'.  Then she said it again as if I haven't heard her... Ohio-go-zy-i-mas...  I gave her a nod and left.   HELLO, that's Japanese for whatever-it-is... and I am not Japanese.  But, I appreciate the effort.  I thought to myself, man, if I was in California, that would never happen, even in redneckville...  Then, I thought to myself, yeah, Californians are probably too afraid of offending people and error on saying nothing...

Wow, these Indianians are just so blunt, I tell you!  Or, tactless?!  I'll give them a few more days... ha ha ha...

It has been a long time...

You know, I first created this blog to sort out things in my head... I guess now I am busy enough that thoughts my head just constantly gets buried. I really miss blogging. However, my most recent development is my knowledge, skills, perception, and depth of understanding when it comes to osteopathy. I've recently went to the Cranial Osteopathy course and the Cranial conference by the American Cranial Academy. I had so many new revelations there and met so many very interesting people... which made my time very enjoyable there.

I loved getting to know some individuals deeply and connecting in various ways that are quite unusual for me, but in ways that spoke to my heart and soul. I felt that there were definitely magical moments that will treasure in my heart for a long time... they are definitely imprinted in my journey to become a better osteopathic physician. My love for osteopathy grows tremendously every day! Now, I am seeing and approaching my patients with such a different and refreshing perspective, that I even get refreshed each time I think that way.

I also love the modern practice of medicine and surgery, and enjoyed learning that, but, the addition of osteopathic principles give all of it a spunk!

Another thing I started to do is the idea of grounding... more contact time with nature and earth. Connecting in nature. I started going down to the beach and walk and meditate in the ocean waters before work. Just of few times a week makes me feel refreshed and centered. I get to pray, sing, think about our Father's love for us, and appreciate the rhythm of God's wonderful creation, which our existance are intertwined in.

I love it... living the life... time of peace and connection, with those around me, and with my family and my Creator.

Life is flying by...

Lingering

4th month in residency

Thoroughly soaked in Fun

Enjoying learning from my attendings

Loving operating with the surgeons

Pleasure working with fellow residents

We cook gourmet

We sing worship

We watch movies

We frolick at the beach

We play games/ball/frisbee

We camp

We BBQ

We massage

We fellowship

We hug

You know what they say...

Time flys when you are having fun!

The pain and hail and sleets seemed so fast in the past

But, the present seemed to be slipping all the faster

Perhaps wind is blowing by

Perhaps the ground is oily

Perhaps I'm shy and not grasping every beauty that walks by

Perhaps my heart still needs some time

I know I am doing a lot

But, somehow feeling I am also missing a lot

On my mind:

Tap show

Violin caroling

Sing out loud

Hosanna

What a beautiful voice

Tag

My name is George...

Ventura Update

Hey everyone! Man, I haven't posted a blog in such a long time. I have been having so much fun at the residency program. Living on the beach, full view of the California Channel Islands, beautiful sunsets, surfs, city night lights, happening downtown, fresh fruits and vegitables, wonderful people, small town, and my absolute favorite job in the world... what else can I ask for?!

It is now almost end of my 2nd month in resideny. First month I was on inpatient Medicine-Pediatrics. Now I am on Surgery. The unique thing about this place is that most of the residents wanted to be completely self sufficient to practice full spectrum medicine in the middle of no-where. So, the training here shows it. We, residents, run the whole hospital. We are also a regional trauma center... so, here are some of the things I've been doing this month: help run traumas, doing surgeries (either primary or first assist), primary c-sections, did the burr hole into the brain, making scalp/skull flaps with the brain surgeon, suturing up the face and reconnecting tendons with the plastic surgeon, doing orbital implants, general surgery stuff, being the only surgery resident on-call at night in the entire hospital, my hands on the brain, doing and managing chest tubes/tracheostomy/central lines, enjoying delicious hospital food, quality reading times, playing the violin and guitar, hanging out with attendings, Bible studies, OMT, acupuncture on my fellow physicians... anything else...

I am having so much fun, living in paradise, and working with such a great residency and hospital staff. I can't ask for more.

One thing I do struggle with is quality time with God. Please pray that I would make that into my schedule.

Today, I found out that there is a Wilderness Medicine Society that does all sorts of expeditions and teaches other physicians about wilderness medicine... man, I am all ear!

Thanks for reading this blog, I hope to hear from you soon too.

Oh... PS, my brother is getting married at the Wynn, Las Vegas! I will post pictures soon! I am so proud of him!

Tail

My time here in Cottonwood/Sedona is nearing the end. I will be parting ways with the natural beauty, the big hooked-up bachelor pad, my favorite fireplace (my constant hangout and companion), and all the great ER staff. I am heading back to Phoenix for a test on Friday, and will be coming home to California. You know, living the way I did for a month, with all my necessities taken cared for... I think I've had enough. I am ready for a new change: a change of scenery, a change of location, and a change of crowd. I am looking forward for Christmas with my lovely family, and also to finish my interviews for residency.

This last few days in Cottonwood/Sedona has been pretty cold and raining... there were even piles of snow in Sedona on my hike a few days ago... and today, there are snow covering the mountain behind my hooked-up bachelor pad. It makes me want to make some trips up to Colorado or Mammoth to go snowboarding... man, I remember snowboarding at the French Alps a few years ago... no experiences before or after has ever compared to how exhilarating that ride was!

Ok, so, I am ready for some holiday family love. Cheerios mate.

Thanksgiving thoughts...

Today is Thanksgiving day and I voluntarily worked a 16hr shift in the ER. I remember last year on Thanksgiving Day, I was in New York, off of Broadway Avenue crowding with the several hundreds of thousands of people at the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. I remembered floating in the streets with seas of people and buying chestnuts and 'street dogs' from street vendors. I remember the festivities of "Christmas in New York," the picture of the dreamy 'American Christmas' depicted in all the movies about Christmas. Christmas in New York is a dream.

I realized that without a dream, without family and loved ones around, it is really easy for me to not celebrate a holiday. What would a holiday mean anyway, if you cannot recall it later and share it with people who actually know what you are talking about?

I remembered festivities of Thanksgiving Day in years past. The extravagant 'mom prepared' dinners with a smorgasbord of food: juicy ham and turkey, yam, beans, cranberry, handmade mash potatoes and gravy, hotpot, special bread roles, fancy salads, homemade dressings, delicious desserts... and much more filled every corner of the table. Around the table would be a gathering of all sorts of characters from grandpa to aunts and uncles to family and friends and guests. The Thanksgiving tradition usually included my dad reading the story of the original Thanksgiving feast with the pilgrims and their first winter at the dinner table. Then, we may get together afterwards to sing songs and share what we are thankful for during that year. We would usually make part of sharing God's goodness to invited guests who were not believers in Christ. Sometimes family games would be involved. Then, the evening would usually conclude with giving thanks to our Lord in prayer and then all our friends and guest and family get a box of food to take home. (Or, it would be turkey for 2 weeks straight for us)

As we have grown up and moved all over on our own schedules, I don't remember having a usually family Thanksgiving feast in a few years. I must have to admit, I really missed that. I miss being able to share special memorable and unforgettable moments with those that I love and those that pour their love on me.

For this season in my life, I am finding myself, a little bit more grown up, and a little bit alone. Holidays and special occasions are merely just a memory and topics of brisk passing conversations in the hallways at work.

Today was an interesting day. We had had a lot of rain up here in Cottonwood and Sedona area. As a result, there was a huge pile of car accidents that plugged up our ER for the entire day. Many people came in with life threatening illnesses are necessarily admitted to the hospital for observation and treatment... and having to miss out on their Thanksgiving family gatherings. Lots of car accidents, car flips, substance abuse, and lots of other sick people... Some we just have to medically clear them to leave the hospital and go on with to rejoin their family for the Thanksgiving dinner. Many people, however, do not get to enjoy the festivities, which included a whole team of doctors, nurses, ER techs, respiratory therapists, radiology techs…

When you are enjoying your Thanksgiving feast, do give thanks for those who continued to work on holidays to provide the rest of us the peace of mind to enjoy special time spent with family. Be thankful for things you don’t remember to be thankful for! That was my new appreciation…

My new home... Sedona, AZ

After a month in the ICU in Phoenix, I am moving on. I have just moved into a 6 bedroom house in Cottonwood (a small town right next to the beautiful Sedona), and I have this huge house all for myself for this month... Anyone want to join me? Free house to stay. I am always looking for good company :)

This rotation is E.R. I hear that there are some really good mountain biking trails, world class, kinda like the ones in Moab, UT. So, I can't wait to take my crossbike and my mountain bike out for some good ridin'. *Pictures of my new house*

I have a busy year coming up: Medical Acupuncture class in Phoenix in 2 weeks; 2 residency interviews in Northern CA in 2 weeks; 1 interview at Ventura County MC; Cambodia in 1.5 months; 5 weeks in South America in a few months; 1 week of Osteopathic training in Chicago... Well, what else can I add to my itinerary? Oh, graduation from medical school in June...

My new buddies: Lewis (head down) and Clark (head up)

The Sarah Palin Fan Club

I got this link from my mom. If you like Sarah Palin, here is a video of her interview at the Wasilla Assembly of God Church in Wasilla, Alaska where she grew up. It is a very uplifting message, and if she does get elected, I think she will bring a new perspective into Washington.
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1766638341
Here is a link to more about Palin: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/11/beck.palin/index.html

Palin, the GOP VP nominee...

Wow, did you see her speech? That was comical! I want to vote for her as President! I am not sure I like Obama or McCain, and I definitely don't like Biden. So, I vote for Palin! Go Alaska! Hee hee...

My brother is ENGAGED!

Yup, he popped the big question today!!! I am so excited for him and his fiance. I am so excited!

Ahhh...

Just an update from me. I am now done with both of Step 2s' of medical board exams. It feels so good. I am now packing up and getting ready to move to AZ for 6 weeks starting tommorrow. As I begin my fourth year in medical school, I am very excited again for another year of rotations (working/learning under specialist-physicians in different fields every 2 to 4 weeks). My year is starting off with General Surgery and will end with 6 weeks in foreign lands. I am going to be on the road most of the year... So, stay tuned in, I will try to bring you on all my adventures :)

Ventura Beach & Pier

Man, Ventura is beautiful! Taylor and I rode our cyclocross bikes from his house down to the beach trails and back, about 14miles, it was soooo nice. Ventura has a lazy beach town feel with people walking all over the place in. I am enjoying myself.

Time Off

This past weekend was nice and relaxing in Yosemite with family. We spent some time hiking and hanging out by the river. We also saw an evening program given by the photoartist Art Wolfe. He was presenting a recent production called Travel to the Edge with Art Wolfe, that is going to air on PBS. I thoroughly enjoyed his presentation as he took the audience all over the world: India, Andes, Patagonia, Somalia, Madagascar, and finishing off with South Georgia Island. All the travelling, sceneries, people, cultures, and nature are truly amazing. The beauty of God's creation, and the wisdom behind all the beauty makes my heart pound with excitement as I sat at the edge of my seat during the entire presentation. Let me tell you, he's got my second most favorite job in the world, traveling the world meeting cultures and taking photos! Be completely immersed in the cultures and getting to know the people, animals, and nature... it is awesome! (I am doing my most favorite job in the world, studying to be a physician.)

As I get back, now I am on the road again. This time, to Ventura to visit dear friends. I have decided that I wasn't going to pay the money to drive to Ventura, enduring the traffic and subpar drivers... so the next best option is to take the train! It was actually a pretty beautiful and relaxing ride and only cost 25 bucks round trip!

Ok, I know you are just itching to see some pictures of Yosemite, here they are. One note, I got to go on a photo workshop given by Art Wolfe, and sponsored by Canon, so I took some of these pictures with a very nice Canon SLR digital. Art Wolfe gave the group some really good advice on how to start taking a good picture.... alright, I'm gonna give them to you:

1. Artists like to take pictures at the margins of the day, 2 hours after sunrise and 2 hours before sunset... it is because the mild light give everything color. They also say that if it is overcasted you can shoot all day. They think the middle of the day and sunny days are the worst time for photo composition, because the light bleaches out all the colors and everything turns grey. It's true.
2. When taking pictures, think composition. Think that you are telling a story or convey a feeling by your picture. Don't just point and shoot. Include objects in your pictures that point and direct the viewer to the message. Play with putting things into and out of focus. Use a line of direction, such as a dead tree... put the camera on the tree and point it to a waterfall or something to guide your viewer to the fall, instead of putting the fall in the middle of the picture.
3. Always use a polarizer filter, it can take out glare and enrich color in your photos.
4. Always think LIGHT first. When you see a subject to be photographed, think where is the light source. You can convey different emotions and feelings by photographing a subject from different angles with various lines of shades.
5. Always think the big picture, don't just think about the subject... think about what you are including in the background of your subject... should it be in focus or out of focus... Art gave an example, that many people in Yosemite goes right to snapping the picture of a grazing deer without realizing that there is a huge tour bus in the background.
6. If you want to make the waterfall appeared 'silky,' you have to prolong the exposure time of the picture. One way to do that is to increase the aperature setting, the F-stop, try F22. Another way is to lengthen exposure speed, try setting a lower ISO like 1/30. (normal film speed is around 1/200 to 1/400)
7. "When I can make the photo appear to be a painting, magic happens." - Art Wolfe

I think these starting tips would make us better photographers...

Art Wolfe giving the tips; my application of increasing exposure to create silky flowing water of the Merced River

Pictures of the meadow

Dead tree; Vernal Falls, did you notice that there are 2 rainbows? It may be hard to see, but, there is one 'positive' rainbow (the brighter one on bottom) where the colors appear red to violet from top to bottom, then there is the 'negative' rainbow (the faint one on top of the brighter one) where the colors appear violet to red from top to bottom. I didn't knew that until my dad showed it to me! Go dad.

The Mammoth Sequoia tree, this one on left is call the Grizzly Pine, it is said to be around 2,700 years old! This tree has been here before the time of Christ and through many world disasters and wild fires. It is said that the Giant Sequoia Trees are immune to bugs, other life forms, and fire. The way they die is usually by falling over. The picture on the right is of the 'faithful couple,' that is literally 2 trees growing into one.

I've enjoyed the natural wonders, I hope I've inspired some naturalist photographer in you :)

Peace out!

Simplicity is calling me...

After almost a full week in Tulsa, I am getting a better picture of what life is like here. I figured that Tulsa and Okalahoma City, the 2 largest cities in OK, probably feels like a big city for people from these parts of the country (and those who have never seen LA, SF, or NY){I love both the large cities and the countrysides} However, for me, I'd consider Tulsa almost the countryside or may be a small town. There is a center of town with some high-rises, and some old looking churches, but, most of Tulsa are industrial and quiet neighborhoods. Due to the recent thunderstorms, Tulsa is quite green, and there are water in the creeks. There are lots of tall green trees, little creeks by the road, frogs croaking in those creeks, not much bugs (probably eaten by the frogs in the creeks), green pastures, open lands, cute houses, and mansions... I'll show you some pictures when I go explore this Saturday. The temperature is mild at around 65-75F, occassionally overcasted and some loud thunderstorms. I like driving here, it makes me feel that I am driving in some country place... very green and natural, and houses are mostly built out of bricks and stones. Gas is around $3.19 to 3.29 per gallon.

As for work, I am working 1.5 weeks in the clinic and 2.5 weeks in the hospital. I have been working with many doctors here and had good exchanges of conversations and stories. My overall impression of people here are that they are very nice. They also tend to be much gentler when it comes to medical education, not much pimping. I am enjoying the clinic work, everyone is very nice, but, having to rotate with a different doctor every 2 hours doesn't give me much time to adjust to each of their personal styles. I learned that about 30% of their graduates end up in the mission field long term. All the residents and staffs are Christians. Almost 20% of residents are from a foreign country... but they alls have amazing stories of how they know Jesus. A lot of them hangout together when off work and routinely go to Bible studies together. They also make it a habit to pray with their patients both in the clinic and in the hospital. Having been here for a week, I get the feeling of going to a church when I go to work... I really feel the 'togetherness' when I see how everyone interact here; like a family. The director of the residency shares spiritual guidance and calls the residents his kids.

I am getting use to the 'southern twang'... well, you may catch me with an occassional bad grammer or two when I get back... In general, people are not as superficial here and not as focused on appearance as much as... let's say, Newport Beach. (what kind of a standard do you have, SoCal boy?!)

Ok, I do have some life stuff that you can pray for me about: rejuvenation. As my third year in medical school comes to an end... I am feeling exhausted! I really feel I can use a good vacation and relaxation right now. I felt that I have put in a lot of energy this past year on various rotations, working hard, pulling 80-100 hour weeks on majority of the months (like all other med students), loving what I do, loving interacting with patients and their families, surviving tough life ordeals with God's/family's/friends' help... well, all that has just about drained me. I still have 2 end of the year exams to take at school at the end of May, and 3 medical board certification exams in the beginning of July and August. I still have to invest a lot of time into studying for these... ahhh...

So, I hate complaining, but, perhaps you can lift me up to our Father for some extra strength and energy and also restoration and rejuvenation in Him. Pressures of life never ceases, I feel that Wisdom from the Lord teaches us to grow and mature with our difficulties and not to avoid them. So, here we go.......