I did not own a car when I lived in Boston .We could not afford to buy one then. I always took advantage of the great public transport, mostly the subway and sometimes the bus service. The convenient and efficient public transport makes living in this city a breeze. I used to run across the street when I saw the "T" coming to the station across my apartment. Everytime I saw a "T " approaching the station I ran. The "T" driver saw me many times running and just smiled as I boarded the train. It sort of became a routine. I used to hate waiting for the next train ( even though "T" came every 5-10 mins ).
I enjoyed wandering on the streets, trying to hop in and out of the train aka "T" aka the various lines(green, red, silver, blue, orange ). I felt like a bird soaring high in the sky, flying from one tree to another. Then resting on a branch, looking at the view, soaking in all that beauty and then flying higher and higher. I started exploring all the new places, museums, malls and shops all on my own, all day long.
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| At the green line "T" station |
Sometimes my train rides were exhausting but I used to look forward to them. During one such train ride and exploring places along the train line, I landed in the Longwood medical area ( LMA ) one day. I ended up at the Countway library of medicine which since became my second home. I studied there 7-8 hours a day, every single day, 3 weekends a month. The studious atmosphere in the library helped me gained momentum to study for my exams. Today as I am close to finishing my residency I still remember my entire USMLE journey. The journey that started at Countway Library in Boston.
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| Near HMS and Countway Library |
I was a frequent visitor to the LMA .It is centered on Longwood avenue. HMS( Harvard Medical School ), Harvard teaching hospitals and numerous medical facilities are located in this area. Hence the name "Longwood Medical Area" ( its obvious folks ). Last year I had an opportunity to rotate through Boston Children's Hospital as a pediatric resident for a month. It was fun being able to live in Boston again, this time in a different neighborhood. It was one of my best months in residency. The competitive spirit , doctors motivated by ambition, the discussions and conferences loaded with knowledge and the wonderful fellows I got to work with made this month a memorable experience in my professional life. It was like a dream come true. Prestigious academic institutes, world famous hospitals and genius doctors at their best, all happening right there, around me.
I lived in the " Fenway " area and could walk to work. (P.S. -I do not like driving and love to walk ). As I walked to work everyday I saw doctors, nurses and medical staff everywhere. It was nice to see people in blue scrubs everywhere, in and out of the hospitals or even Starbucks for that matter. I took a different route everyday as I headed back home from work. I enjoyed my walk to and from work exploring the different streets in the neighborhood. Sometimes I walked along the BIDMC hoping that my husband may get off of work and might be exiting the building the same time I was there ( P.S. that never happened ). Sometimes I went to HMS , sat on the lush green grass and just stared at the building. I felt like the walls were talking to me, narrating the history of medicine. The landmark contributions in medicine have all happened here. Some detours ended up taking me to Jamaica Plain( JP ). I sat there enjoying the picturesque pretty view on one of the benches overlooking the pond. Days when I decided to take a longer route I went to the Museum of Fine Arts and then back home.
All in all I made the most of my stay in Boston. I enjoyed every moment of my days in Boston. This city has so much to offer. It has something for every need and every taste. Boston is the city of my dreams. It has a very special place in my heart.
