2 Days, 9 Hours, 40 Minutes

Posted on December 8, 2011 by Sarah

 

While walking on the beach one day last week, and feeling particularly home sick, I found this little piece of sea glass.

It is shaped like the state that I grew up in, the state that I love and the place I will always call home.

I tried to position the little sun spot on my camera lens right over where Reno would be, but it proved harder to do than I thought. My black dot landed more towards Lovelock. Oh well.

We will be landing in Utah for two wonderful weeks with my husband’s family first. Then, it’s only a matter of time until I will see the beautiful snow-capped Mt. Rose and bask in the beauty that is Reno.

Categories: Home | 1 Comment

Catching Up

Posted on December 6, 2011 by Sarah

This week has been a little stressful. And the blog has born the brunt of the damage.

But now that the craziness has subsided, it is time to catch up.

Here it goes! Our week in pictures.

Three Thanksgivings

The 24th came with classes and a regular old day for David. He was, however, able to come home to study with the Macy’s Parade on mute in the background. Meanwhile, I was cooking something up.

We were able to talk for more than 3 hours with family and hear David’s brother announce the great news that he is engaged!

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Then, on Friday night, we went to the King’s castle for an after-Thanksgiving feast with our wonderful friends (who just also happen to be neighbors). Thank you Natalie and Jade King for hosting!

Finally, on Sunday evening, 30 people crammed into the Durham home for a feast packed with thanks, good times and a real turkey made by the talented Stephanie Scurlock.

The previous Thanksgiving meals has chickens as their cheap centerpieces. These little turkey birds are pretty pricey here (Think $40 for 6 Lbs.)

P.S. We all chipped in for the turkey.

 

A Giggle-Filled Girls Night

 

While the boys were studying for the Test-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named (Pathology), the girls got together for some old fashioned fun.

We rolled our hair up into curlers, put on pink lipstick and talked about girly stuff until odd hours of the night. It was an estrogen fest for the ages.

 

OH the Kids!

 

I have been called as a teacher for the primary children (4-8 years old) in our small church branch. Sunday, the children donned dish towels and pillow cases to pretend they were in a Nativity Scene.  I am pretty lucky to be working with such cute (and well-behaved) kids.

 

La Sagesse

 

I went to another beach this Saturday. Big news, eh? But this was no “other” beach. It’s shores jut up to a line of resort and jungle as it curves into a dark, sandy cove. Now this was a beach! So glad I went. We spent the morning boogie boarding on the unusually high waves and eating lunch on the beach.

 

And then, there was this guy …

Who somehow made it into our apartment and scurried into the shower. Don’t worry, we caught him in a jar and gawked a little before setting him free.

Hope you all had a great week!

Less than 100 hours before we land in the USA!

Categories: Discovering Grenada | Comments Off on Catching Up

A Thanksgiving Story

Posted on November 24, 2011 by Sarah

Gather ‘round friends and family and let me tell you a tale of triumph and thanksgiving.

Our story begins with two pilgrims who, after a few hugs and tears, said goodbye to their friends, their family and their home. They were setting out into the wild in search of a better life; one where they could provide for a family and fulfill God’s sacred commandment to rear their children in love and righteousness.

They traveled across the Atlantic Ocean, only to find a land that was slowly sliding into the dead of winter. As the days dragged on and the pilgrims tried to adapt, the icy northern wind chilled them to the bone and the ache of homesickness and cold almost made their hearts stop.

But they were determined. And in the middle of the winter, they found comfort in the other pilgrims who had set out on a similar journey. Somehow, with the temperatures dipping below zero outside, the little band managed to find warmth and happiness with their new-found friends.

While it seemed to drag on, winter wouldn’t last forever. With happy hearts, they finished their work (and finished it well, might I add) and hopped back on a plane to visit home.

You didn’t think we were talking about the Mayflower, did you? 😉

After a beautiful summer with family and friends, it was time to say goodbye again. With more tears and hugs, the pilgrims traveled off to their next destination – a land just as foreign as the first. But much warmer. In fact it was hot as hades. With mosquitoes nipping at their legs and locals herding goats around as their pets, the pilgrims felt a little lost in this new land whose streets don’t show up on Google Maps.

As the traditional Turkey Day approached, the pilgrims went hunting for the perfect bird. They soon discovered, though, that bagging that perfect bird would have left their wallets bleeding red.

So they opted for an easier chicken dinner instead.

Surrounded by, well, each other, the pilgrims gathered all the food they could for their table. The cranberry Jello flowed and the pilgrims enjoyed a feast like none other. In the comfort of their little warm, safe home, they realized that no matter how far away, they were very, truly blessed.

We thank God every day for your love and support. But especially on this Thanksgiving Day, we express our gratitude for the big things in life – you!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Categories: Holidays | 1 Comment

Somethin’ Fishy

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Sarah

Every Grenada tour book has one little entry called “Fish Friday.”

After riding the waves on a catamaran, tip-toeing though “gun fight” alley and slipping past shady looking locals, we found the fish.

Fish Friday is a little gathering of fishermen who batter and fry their catch and serve it up to waiting tourists. It is also located one heck of a long way away from where most people live.

You have two options for your journey of adventure to the land of Gouyave. (pronounced Guave). You can hire a taxi or drive yourself up a windy, dark jungle road for about an hour and a half. Or you can charter one of these beauties:

Our catamaran took us across the waves in style and delivered us on the shores of Gouyave after an hour of stunning star gazing.

Just before landing on the fishing boat-speckled shore, our captain gave us a stark warning.

“Do not come back to the boat by yourself. Do not wander off on your own. Understand?”

We all nodded obediently, not understanding until later why he was so serious. The part of town that we landed in was nicknamed gun shot alley. Because … well … you know.

After wandering a few blocks though the streets of good old Grenada, we found a few tents and the day’s fried catch.

Not being the fishiest person around, I got the fish cakes and biscuits. Shredded carp was mixed with a ton of herbs and spices and deep fried into a patty. Then, I asked them to sandwich the fishy dish between one of their home made biscuits. Multiples of the mouth-watering experience cost me a grand total of $2 USD. Awesome!

We hung around for a while and sampled all that the fish mongers had to offer. Most everything is fried and cooked to perfection, including the huge lobster tail. From fish kabob to the battered snapper, it was all pretty good, and cheap.

If you do choose to go, you might find it a little anti-climactic. I mean, it’s just a few tents and fried fish in some old Grenadian alley way. But the lack of grandeur and the local-ness of the whole thing made it fun.

We had a great time!

Categories: Discovering Grenada | Comments Off on Somethin’ Fishy

The Jesus Bus

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Sarah

On our way to church last Sunday, we hopped on a Reggae Bus, looked up and saw this:

 

The ceiling of the small bus had been painted with a large image of Jesus Christ. he was rather large and imposing for such a small little van-bus.

It was an interesting way to start our Sunday.

 

 

Categories: Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Long-Distance Birthdays

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Sarah

Birthdays in the Cooper house usually include silliness, your cake of choice and a chicken and cheese casserole that clogs the arteries and provides a gateway to Nirvana. In short, they are awesome.

Last night I got to spend a blissful two hours on Skype celebrating this stud muffin’s 22nd. You sure know how to throw a party lil’ bro – even from 3,000 miles away.

Happy Birthday!

Categories: Family, Holidays, Home | Comments Off on Long-Distance Birthdays

The Clinical Years …

Posted on November 16, 2011 by Sarah

“Once you start asking questions, innocence is gone.”

~ Mary Astor

 

I was always the person to have life planned out years ahead. So when St. George’s University offered term 5 students a lecture on the clinical years, this 4th term student’s wife crashed the party.

It wasn’t a fun party.

I learned that the Glenns will not be in California next Fall. The Kern Medical Center clinical program in Bakersfield is only available to students who start in January. We started in August.

Our second choice is Detroit Michigan, which accepts 16 students. David’s class is more than 500 people strong. If we don’t get that, we will end up in New York.

Here are a few of the other notes I took at the meeting (all information subject to change on SGU’s whim):

  • A clinical center is a hospital you can stay at for the whole third year. The clinical centers are in New York, New Jersey, Detroit, and Bakersfield California. If you don’t get placed at a clinical center, you move around from state to state every 6 weeks or so. You can learn more about the whole thing by clicking this link.
  • Because New Jersey is, well, New Jersey, it’s clinical centers will not accept students who did their first year in England, aka, us. If you want to eventually practice or apply for a residency there, that’s just fine. No third/fourth year of med school though.
  • The third year of med school is tightly controlled. Hence, you have to go to a hospital that SGU approves. Your soul belongs to them for a year.
  • The fourth year is controlled by you. Move around, go wherever you want or stay where you are. But where you go has to be on SGU’s list – see all the entries under US Major Affiliated Hospitals here.
  • During year 3, SGU has enough clinical centers for 70 percent of its students. Other people have to travel state to state every 6 weeks or so to one of the “US Major Affiliated Hospitals.” SGU sets up this moving schedule for you. Yippee.
  • Academically, it doesn’t matter where the student goes – it’s the resident or attending you get stuck with that will make your third year heaven or hell.
  • 10 percent of the class ends up choosing England for their rotations. There will probably be more this year since foreign students aren’t allowed to come to the US to do their clinical years anymore.
  • 10 percent of the class drops out, takes a leave of absence, etc.
  • Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield will only take students with a 3.2 GPA and above and a USMLE Board Exam score of 210 and above. Oh, and they only start people in June. David will take his USMLE in July. That’s why we can’t go.
  • St Johns Hospital in Detroit will only accept people who have passed the USMLE. If you want to go there, your scores have to be in and processed asap. New York hospitals will take you with a “pending” USMLE score, then maybe kick you out of you didn’t pass.
  • If you want to practice in England eventually, you have to do more than half of your training outside the United States. So all those who want to eventually set up shop in the UK are coming back to the Grenadian hospitals for their fourth year of med school. Whoo hoo!!
My friend Kelsey (who is in fact a 5th term wife) and who is actually going through this process now, wrote a great blog on it here. Check it out!
Also, if there are any current clinical years people out there who want to correct me, please leave a comment! I might not like what all this info means for me and our family, but Mrs. Plan Ahead would rather know now.
Categories: School, St. Georges | 3 Comments

A Cultural Tsunami

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Sarah

This weekend I ate Grenadian Lambie, clapped along with an Indian cultural dance performance and rode in an Iranian friend’s car seat.

It was a cultural tsunami.

Unfortunately I forgot my camera for all of these events. So it’s time to paint you a picture with my words … and borrow other friend’s photos from their Facebooks.

Thanks pals.

Friday was the little Indian talent show called Sitaron Ki Raat.

It wasn’t so little. My mild expectations for a laid back night were blasted when the hundreds-strong crowd pressed into the lecture hall for a night of all things Punjabi. Apparently there is a large Indian contingent represented at SGU. Speakers blasted the staccatos of the sitar with a heavy drum line while bhangra dancers, comedians and song-smiths had entirely too much fun on stage.

Here is a video I was able to track down on YouTube of this year’s performance – my personal favorite from the lengthy show.

 

In the mix, they tossed a performance by the orphan children of Bel Aire Home along with a hip hop routine from the school’s dance club. The Bel Aire children sang Katy Perry’s “Fireworks” while members of the audience waved sparklers in the air. I will never be able to listen to the song again without getting a small lump in my throat. Those children are so inspiring.

On the way home our wonderful Iranian neighbor Sayeh offered to give us all rides home. To make everyone fit, I offered to ride in the car seat. I don’t know that this counts as a cultural event, but we all had a good laugh and it was a great ending to an impressive night.

 

Festival Time!

The next day was the St. Georges Branch Ward Festival. A woman in the ward runs a Lambie and Lobster farming business and shared some of her catch with us.
In case you are wondering, Lambie is not related in any way to those fuzzy little white things that go Bahhh. In fact, it is that muscle that formerly occupied the Conch Shell that now decorates your bathroom. If you want to know more, you can click here. 
Sis. Tessa is an amazing cook. The shredded lobster cocktail was amazing! And for being a muscle (which I usually gag on) I ended up liking the lambie.
It was a great weekend filled with a few fun firsts and memories.
Categories: Discovering Grenada, Sitaron Ki Raat | Comments Off on A Cultural Tsunami

A Bushy Bus Man

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Sarah

Dear Mr. Bus Driver,

You gave me quite a start when you jumped out of that tree! For a moment, I thought your dangling brown boots and worn jeans were those of just another Grenadian – recovering from a beserko weekend bender.

So you can imagine my surprise when you rolled out of that tree and stumbled over to the school bus – the same lonely bus I had boarded about 10 minutes before. You know, the one you left running, unattended with the radio on full blast?

With a jerk of the door, you asked, “What time is this bus supposed to leave?”

“Eight-Twenty,” I replied, as the face of the green digital clock at the front of the vehicle flashed 8:25 a.m.

My surprise melted into frustration when you started to protest. The driver who had just stumbled from a tree was sure I was wrong and was going to prove it. After five more minutes of arguing, you plopped down behind the wheel and with a huff you said, “We will go to the campus, but I will show you! We will check the schedule posted there and you will be wrong.”

I wasn’t.

With a mumbled, “Oh,” and no eye contact, I watched you, Mr. Bus Driver, ascend your perch behind the wheel and take off again to collect another unsuspecting rider.

I was frankly shocked. The bus drivers aren’t all like you. In fact most of them are pretty darn nice. But it was a Saturday and this was Grenada. The weekend brings the “replacement” bus drivers who apparently jump from small bushy trees after … well, I don’t want to know what you were doing up there.

This is just a warning that you might want to watch your back oh-great-bush man. Because the next time I see your boots dangling from that tree and the keys dangling from the ignition, I am going to avoid the argument and just drive myself.

 

Sincerely,

Sarah Glenn

P.S. I called your boss.

Categories: The Bus | 5 Comments

Happy Halloween From the Goofy Glenns!

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Sarah

It’s as hot as Hades down here and the little devils are running wild.

Well, today they were.

Halloween in Grenada is a foreign concept. I guess the worship of all things creepy and cute is an American thing. But we did our best to bring fall to the island of eternal summer.

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My first party was Saturday night when a few friends gathered in a reserved lecture hall for fun, food and Hocus Pocus on the big screen.

Here are some of the costume highlights.

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Then came the 31st, when more than 50 kids descended on the SGU campus wearing their Halloween best for the Significant Others Fall Festival.

The afternoon was amazing. Students’ children got to trick or treat around the SGU faculty’s offices. I’m pretty sure if they had tried to go around their neighborhoods, kids would have gotten a few more tricks (and funny looks) than treats.

A room on campus was also filled with crafts, treats, cookies to decorate and scary snacks to munch on.

As the orange sun went down over the ocean, David and I settled in for a nice quiet night at home. Happy Halloween from the Goofy Glenns!

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