Midterms done!

So midterms are done!!!! I feel like that movie where the kid runs outside and throws his papers into the air and pumps his fist as if to say "done!" Well, I am officially half way done with my term here on the island! We had an exam every day for 5 days and needless to say, when the week was done I was thoroughly wiped! I know, last night I was planning on going staying in and my friend Nick called me up around 11 and said "Be ready in 10, we are coming to pick you up!" Then he hung up.... so no rebuttal was made on my behalf and there I was 10 min later at the bar with some good friends... truth, I was very happy I went. I have met some really amazing people down here that have nothing but the best interest at hand for me and are trying to help introduce me to the way to LIVE island life while being a student...

Aus, Chris, Adam and I having a drink at the Beach House

So far so good I can honestly say... occasionally you are tired of the same old scenery around campus... walking to class and back to your dorm, then over to Taylor to study... the time absolutely FLIES by and before you know it the week is done! That week turns into two weeks, then a month then the month quickly speeds by the term  and before you know it you are on a flight back to JFK... So I'm sure you wanna hear about the grades.... I did well... I'm waiting on one more grade in Physiology but I the other grades that I got were good... after the midterm break we drop two classes and only have 4 classes from here to the end... so I am going to go for it all and try to do straight A's for my final grades.... why not right??? We study at Taylor... its about 40 feet from the dorm where I live and its also about 40 degrees in there! They have the air-conditioning skyrocketed in the buildings on campus... I bring a sweater and socks to put on my feet and recently I begun wearing pajama bottoms while I study... yeah thats right! I wear pajama bottoms when I study in public! I must say too, its quite a sight! So, if you ever think "Hmm... I wonder what Justin is doing right now on a Caribbean island??" know I am in my pj's with socks and flip flops and a hooded sweater on studying in Taylor Hall... trust me, its not exciting! After midterms we did go to the beach though... which was very nice! A ton of classmates all went and it was more than needed....

So now its about 9 pm and I am sitting in my room exhausted... Saturday night and guess what I am doing?!?!?!?! NOTHING! and I am going to love every second of it! Probably watch some football games online and just eat some ice cream... very exciting here in Grenada!

I do want to show you some pics here... so Im just going to put up pictures and insert captions underneath them...

OHHHHHH..... this pic deserves justice though... Ok... so today Chris, Adam and I were walking in downtown St. Georges when I heard those "island drums" playing, so I just walked into the place and this guy, around my age, was playing the drums... he smiled at me and asked how I was doing and I told him I was always interested in learning how to play those drums! He just handed me the drummer sticks and off I went! I was playing those drums like mad! Of course, what I was playing sounded awful, but for those couple of seconds in my head I sounded great! Plus, I have always wanted to play those, and having a chance to finally do it was awesome.....

This is a picture that I took while I was in town.... this is how they sell bananas in Grenada!! haha, I know my mom is probably looking at this photo and saying NOW THAT is what I call a farmers market!!! Yeah, you just walk up, tell them you want a couple, they take a machete and hack you off some and off you go! Fresh bananas!

So I told you all I was going to get a photo of those reggae vans that drive you around... this is just the side of one, but yes you can read... the side of the van says "blingers." I thought this was priceless..... but the inside of the vans are bare bones... just room for the people sitting and thats it!

This is just a tent of goods at the market in down town St. Georges... if you see one of them you know what they all look like... just a lot of locally grown things... mostly spices.  Grenada is known as the "Isle of Spices" and they truly are plentiful on the island and in these markets... everything is Nutmeg this, and Cocoa that... really is cool because if you are into cooking and preparing your own food then this truly is a must see for you because you can pick up some one of a kind stuff here...

Come on now... what would a post be from me without a pic of me on the beach!!!!!

This is just a quick shot of me and my friend Christine.... we are hanging out in my room with a bunch of people... this is after midterms... I think in this photo you can really see how tan I am... 

Like I said before, I have a great group of friends down here and when we hang out it is always a good time... very relaxing.. its definitely needed from the vast amount of hours we put in studying...

This is a good shot of what my weekends look like... thats Chris in the background.  My desk consists of thats right... 3 books, 3 three ring binders and a TON of notes to skim through and learn haha.  We go there every single say of the weekend (Taylor Hall) and basically study until we can't keep our eyes open any more. 

So with this I am going to leave you... until we talk again! Hey, I have a question for you all reading my blog... is there anything that you all want to see or hear about on the island??? I am always open to exploring and trying new things out and with all of your input I think it would make for only a more exciting adventure down here. Just comment and lemme know how you are doing too! I love to hear from all of you in the states.... Family and Friends....

Talk to you all soon!!! 

Im BACK!!!

The kid is back!!!! hahaha

Whats new everyone?!?!?! Just got back after a long days studying... I could have sworn I was on a Caribbean island! I haven't seen the beach in forever, all I have been doing is studying!

OK! I know what you all are thinking... but sometimes I need a break from studying and the Anatomy book that is about 800 pages doesn't make a good pillow.  We just had an Anatomy exam this Monday that was very hard.  Out of about 100 questions, there were many that could have gone either way with the answers... we shall see how this course shakes out in the end.  Our courses include Biochemistry as well which is another tough nugget... right now we are reviewing glycolysis and the TCA cycle, which I know some of you reading this blog right now know all about it but its very tough for me especially coming from a business background.  The cool part about some of the courses we are taking now is the clinical correlates.  For instance, we are learning about the cardiovascular system right now in two classes and hearing about what can go wrong and how physicians fix these problems is amazing! It is here, I get a small glimpse into what the light at the end of the tunnel will entail.  

I'm going to put some pics of the island and island life up here in about 10 min....