Bye Bye Macon

It is always hard to say good bye. Today as I leave you Macon I take a bit of you with me, in me. You have been my home during my residency, my karma bhoomi. I have lived here for 3 years. The city where I lived the longest during my stay in USA so far.

Thank you Macon for accepting me to the Med center as a resident

Thank you for making me strong and confident as I lived by myself

Thank you for my beautiful home( in the woods as I like to say) that was so comforting after those exhausting long hours at work

Thank you for Tobesofkee lake where I enjoyed some post call days 

Thank you for green beans, fried okras  and of course the blueberry cobbler  

Thank you for the warm Southern hospitality that I experienced living here

Thank you for being big enough for my needs but still with the small town feel

Thank you for everything

I will miss Y'all, like real

I ain't lying Y'all

        City life is millions of people being lonesome together- Henry David Thoreau

Journey in Medicine

After all these years "that day " has arrived. Graduation day -- end of my current training period. The day that I was looking forward to so eagerly and so desperately. It feels surreal. Yes I have achieved my dream. I always wanted to be a physician, since I was kid. I still remember the day when my grandmother gave a doctor play set as a birthday gift. 

I do not want to sound pompous. But as I look back I remember all the years of hard work and dedication. I know what "burning the midnight oil" means. I remember the sleepless nights before the exams and the relaxation after they were done. I remember the anxiety before the day of results and the excitement after moving on to the next year of medical school. I remember living in the dorms, away from my family. And I remember the last day of medical school, the good byes with a heavy heart.

Since I started medical school I felt I was climbing a mountain. I believed reaching the top of the mountain was my goal. Today I feel something different. I realize that the real goal is to survive at the top. A new journey  begins when I step into the "real world ".

During my encounters with patients I have learnt so much from my patients. I have grown not only as a doctor but matured as a human being. Patients and families have seen me through my learning years, stood by me and had faith in me. I have laughed with my patients and giggled with them. I have smiled with them and cried with them. My friends and co workers have seen me in the best moments of my life. They have also seen me struggle through some tough times. They have seen me healthy and fit, weak and sick. They have seen it all.

Hundreds and thousands of doctors have been on this path before. Thousands will be on this path in the future. It is not static. It is an ongoing journey. The same journey but different people, different paths, different experiences. But somehow woven together in the field of medicine.

Today I Thank God and my family and friends, my teachers and co workers for being so supportive and helping me achieve my dream. Completing my current training successfully makes me feel like a free bird. But a free bird who has new horizons to explore and soar higher and higher.

Class of 2014

3 Street foods in one day - everyday ! Turkey part 4

This post is a part of a series of posts where I share my experiences during my recent trip to the exotic city of Istanbul, Turkey.


Exploring and wandering the streets of Istanbul became a daily routine for me. There was always so much going on around me. However I never felt lost in this city. Sometimes I just sat on a park bench or at a restaurant . I just observed the locals and tourists ,cars and  vendors around me. I tried to soak in the chaotic surroundings. The bustling city grew on me every single day. Apart from the history buff one thing that was remarkable was the street food. My observations led me to the conclusion that street food is a big part of the way of life here. It has its very own special place in Istanbul.

In a nutshell here are my top picks of street foods that I indulged in on a daily basis while in Istanbul - 

Kestane 

It was interesting to see the bright red carts everywhere on the streets. Curious I asked in English-- ''what is that ? " The answer was hand gesture stating no English. The cost was 5 lira for 100 grams displayed on a card in the cart. I decided to give it a try. It was the roasted chestnuts or ''KESTANE '' in Turkish. It is a popular snack especially on cold days. The weather while I was in Istanbul for just perfect for a handful of roasted chestnuts. I ate Kestane numerous times a day. The nuts are roasted on wood fire and this gives them a distinct taste. It was hard to resist the temptation especially when you passed a cart.

Handful Kestane

Misir 

There is no better street food than corn while walking along the Bosphorus. The corn is served either grilled/roasted or boiled. And of course with a dash of or even plenty of salt if you like.( P.S.  It reminded me of those college days with my friends at Rankala lake in my hometown. )

Me enjoying the corn

Salep

I had already heard about Salep prior to my trip. So when I saw a cart selling Salep I immediately ordered one. My first taste of the popular wintertime drink and it was the best. A generous dusting of cinnamon on top did not mask the taste of the drink itself. ( P.S. I did not ditch the Turkish tea even though I enjoyed the Salep )

Salep

So while in Istanbul the streets and narrower lanes, especially in the Sultan Ahmet area are worth exploring. You don't need to research online or check trip advisor reviews...the aroma will guide your way !

Tea Lovers Paradise- Turkey Part 3

This post is a part of a series of posts where I share my experiences during my recent trip to the exotic city of Istanbul, Turkey.

What was offered as a conversation starter, more so as a welcome gesture at the hotel on arrival ended up being an addiction for me. Well you have heard about my love for tea here and here. But the ''Turkish Tea" was a whole different experience - a savory one indeed.

Turkish tea is served normally without milk. It is black tea, may be because it is cultivated on the Black sea coast??? I had this tea at so many different places during my stay in Istanbul. The taste was different every time. I was amazed by the varied taste of the same tea. As much as the taste is interesting the way the tea is brewed and served is unique too. It is served in a beautiful tulip shaped glass container with a saucer and a small spoon.  Sugar is always served on the side as cubes. And lastly it is made in a special two stacked kettle called "caydanlik." All in all a very particular way of brewing and serving tea.

Check out my pictures enjoying the tea.

10 Turkish words I learnt during my trip

This post is a part of a series of posts where I share my experiences during my recent trip to the exotic city of Istanbul, Turkey.

giris- entrance

cikis- exit

girilmez- no entry

bay- male

bayyan- female

saray- palace

camii- mosque

fistikli- pistachio

cevizli- walnuts

su- water

Istanbul, Turkey Part 1

I will share my wonderful experiences during my recent trip to the exotic city of Istanbul, Turkey in a series of posts.

I am back from my trip to Istanbul. I am tired and jet lagged. I have to be at work everyday for next 15 days. But the trip and the whole experience is worth all of this. This is one of the best trips I have been on so far. I wish my trip was longer.

This city is so much fun. The sheer magnitude of history that has taken place here is just beyond imagination. There are so many historic sites to visit, all over the city. Beautiful mosques, huge palaces and impressive architecture. I enjoyed the magnificent views of these places as I savored delicious food . I indulged in drinking the Turkish Tea every day , multiple times a day. I sort of binged on the Turkish delights and desserts even though I prefer spicy food over sweets ( hence the chubby cheeks ). And is it necessary to mention that I took full advantage of the immense shopping opportunities at Grand Bazaar and Spice bazaar.

The hustle and bustle, tourists and locals, shop owners and street vendors all made my trip a memorable experience. Definitely a must place to visit I say !

Concrete Words - My iPhone Dilemma

This post is part of a series where I choose and write about a particular "Concrete Word "

Concrete words are terms that identify things and events that can be measured and observed. Concrete words are tangible in some way. So I decided to write about such "concrete words ".

I came across the concept " concrete words" on the Internet. So I decided to choose a concrete word and write about it. I was excited about this but then could not decide on one particular concrete word. The door, the staircase, the car, the parking lot. Nothing appealed to me. I pondered over it for days but nothing seemed to inspire me for a blog post. And then suddenly I found one . It was sitting right in front of me,staring at me. It is always with me. It is in my purse, in my white coat pocket, in the car. It is besides me always when I sleep. Sounds like a riddle?  The answer is my iPhone.

My iPhone is certainly a huge part of my daily life. As I mentioned above it is just inseparable. But then I thought ...well I always complain about being technologically illiterate or may be being a 1st grader in that sense( no more a secret I guess ). Do I really need an iPhone?

In iPhone's defense I can check emails instantly which is so convenient. I can quickly glance at social media updates like Facebook statuses and twitter posts. I can chat with friends on what's app anytime I want. I certainly can use google maps for directions. At work I can check medicine dosages, drug interactions and pill pictures on apps. Many times I use the fancy calculator apps ( eg. osmolality or midparental height). I have numerous different apps to help me stay  fit, track my calories and log my exercise . I can google anything I want. I can take pictures and share them instantly with friends .The iPhone helps me wake up in the morning to whatever tune I like( or dislike ) and get going to start a new day. I can make numerous to do lists and edit them constantly. Last and most important I can text and call my husband and my family back home in India.  So all in all an exhausting list of most important, some not so important things in life that I use my iPhone for. 

However when I think of my pre- iPhone era which is not too long ago( 2 years to be precise ) I was doing all of the above back then. I used a GPS while driving around. I never had any trouble reaching the destinations that I went to. I had two cameras both of which took excellent pictures. I used a pediatric handbook to help me with my basics. I used desktops at work to access Uptodate, Lexicomp  and Epocrates. I did and still do own a laptop . I did and can use it for all the above listed things.

But my candy bar and flip phones( not so smart phones ? ) gave me much more than just sending texts and talking to people. I always had some ME time. As I would wait in line at Starbucks for an order I used to enjoy the wait. I use to love the aroma of fresh coffee beans being crushed. I was mindful of the efforts the barista put into making that perfect chai tea latte to my taste as I savored my chai . Now I just sip it without noticing any of the above. Why? Because I am busy checking facebook updates and twitter feeds. At home when I sat across the table for a Friday night dinner with my husband I loved his company. I felt his presence. We used to initiate a random conversation, laugh and giggle or fight and argue over a topic. Now we both are physically present at the dinner table . But we are engrossed in checking social media updates on iPhone. Ironically we are interested in what our friends are doing right now in different parts of the world while we hardly acknowledge the person sitting next to us. On weekends when we went on road trips I loved looking at the beautiful nature peeking out the car window and even feel the fresh air kissing my cheeks. With an iPhone now on our road trips I am bound to google outfit ideas. I don't realize that this should have( and can be ) done prior to our trip or later for another trip.

So why do I need an iPhone? Is it a fad? Is it peer pressure ? Is it that I don't want to be the only one at work without a smart phone ? Is it embracing the changing world and scientific advancements? Is it convenience and saving time ? The answer is YES to every single question listed above. But I believe that the most important question to be asked  is - can I still do all that I do without an iPhone?  The answer is indeed YES to this question too.

But let me be honest with you. At this point it is hard for me to let go of my iPhone entirely. I find it just impossible to switch back to a candy bar/flip phone.There might be somebody who can but I personally am not ready to make that change. However I can make a conscious decision. I am going to be mindful of the moment. Being obsessed with and addicted to iPhone I am loosing on these precious experiences. Experiences which once meant so much to me. These experiences which will create good memories for a lifetime looking back at which will make me smile. Years later I will remember the breath taking views on our drive up to the mountains. I will remember the picturesque fall colors. I will not remember that twitter feed from our trip to Smokey mountains. None of  the hundreds of facebook statuses I looked at sitting in the log cabin will mean anything. I will cherish the quality time spent with my husband. I will remember our dinner dates that made us feel like newly weds so much in love. I will admire the smile on his face and his witty remarks during our conversation that I fell for. The moments and experiences which are so magical and precious, rejuvenating and refreshing.

So it is up to me to make a choice. I can choose to be dumb by using the smart phone or I can be smarter and not let the Iphone ruin MY life.