interesting thoughts and adventures

Playing Doctor

2007-06-03T20:05:00.000Z

After all those doctor games I played as a kid now is time to do it for real... Yes, all the exam business is over and I could not be any happier about. This exam period like many others it takes a few days to get back on the ground to realize that its actually over.

So my next project will be playing doctor at the hospital in Reykjavík, the orthopedic department to be more exact. Im really looking forward to this challenge. I do realize that im going to be doing a lot of "first´s" this summer and im up to it. I was lucky to land this job at this department, I find it very interesting and have some experience from Hungary.

This particular department is also very doctor junior friendly, that is I wont be stuck on the ward taking care of paperwork but I will experience all sides of the field within the hospital from the ward, out patient, operations and shifts. It is going to be quite busy, I heard that the student who filled this spot last summer really had to work for it. Im all for it.

So tomorrow I will get a quick run around and know who to call when im at a loss :)

I will be reporting more on this adventure as soon as it happens.

doctor junior

Internal Medicine exam

2007-05-25T01:08:00.001Z

Today was the day of my Internal Medicine exam which I have been preparing for a while now. It has been much like groundhog day,

quotes from movie:
Phil (Bill Murray): I was in the Virgin Islands once. I met a girl. We ate lobster and drank pina coladas. At sunset we made love like sea otters. *That* was a pretty good day. Why couldn't I get that day over and over and over...

Phil Connors: Excuse me, where is everyone going?
Fan on Street: To Gobbler's Knob. It's Groundhog Day.
Phil Connors: It's still just once a year, right?

that is the same day over and over again reading books and notes. I have been at a loss of which day of the week it might be just the number of days until the big exam.

Yesterday I had for once in my life a serious stress feeling, which caught me by some surprise. I have been rather cool and relaxed for most of my medical studies. Im not saying that I have not had that butterfly feeling in my stomach before but this was more than that. I have always been able to look around at fellow collegurs and say to myself "wow Im glad im not in that condition".

Luckily no one saw me but I was unable to concentrate or do anything worth while, for a couple of hours.

Then the big day came and I did not perform up to my standards. I was really looking forward to putting the final dot to this chapter and walk away with a smile. That was not the case today, I felt horrible....

Once I read the essay questions on the first page I was in minor shock, 2 out of 3 were not ones I was expecting. Not saying that it was unfair but as you have to do for a big one like this is ask yourself what is more likely than not and polish those topics. Not my day I had realized in the first moments.

The following sentence I read was that in the true/false for right answer plus one, no answer 0 and wrong answer minus one.

I get half way through and seriously just wanted to get up, leave my desk and go home. But that was not the recipe for success after all this hard work. So I stuck it out and wrote all I could remember which I hoped to be enough to float me through.

As I leave the examination room I felt like I had rotten fish in stomach, a feeling of unwell.

There was not much else to do but go on with my day, but disappointed I was. That million dollar feeling I had been waiting for turned to be just that a dream.

Now in the aftermath of the situation I fairly calculated my possible score and it looks as though I will pass, considering the minus points dont out weigh my positive ones. Cause I didnt leave many blanks, thinking to myself again that I was making educated guessa which weigh more than the 50/50 the true false provides. Call me a gambler...

Sure enough im dead tired after this intense studying and todays emotional rollercoaster I cant sleep. So here I sit writing this message.

Tomorrow I gear up again for the final exam of this year, Surgery which is in weeks time. Giving myself all the chance to reach that emotional high of the million dollar feeling the last day of May.

Studying...

2007-05-16T15:19:00.000Z

Im here in the loft of the hospital writing this messagel. It seems that now a dayst I have to reach deep to find inspiration for stuyding. Had been home some days but more and more time was spent looking around the house, rearranging papers, napping on the couch and looking out the window and of course staring at my golf set.

So I decided to make a move to the hospital, a place I have always found inspirational. Its kinda working I mean im flipping through the pages making marks on some and more color...

I keep telling myself that I just need to keep going for a few more days, my Internal exam is the 24th and then the final Surgery Exam the 31st !!!

After that im done with exams for a while.

If any once has some inspirational words of wisdom or just something that could light my fire please comment

mar

Montenegro

2007-05-09T16:11:00.000Z

montenegro coast line

a closer look ...

It has been decided that the destination of my summer holiday is going to be Montenegro. After having looked at many interesting options this place was the pick of the litter.

The rough plan is to be there the last week of august and the first of september. No exact dates have been determined but a rough outline is as follows:

travel: Air travel from budapest via Montenegro Airlines to Podgorica or via SkyEurope to Dubrovnik, Croatia (which is only about 30km from the border), SkyEurope is more likely the cheaper option, estimated about 30k HUF back and fourth

accomodation: renting a house or apt down at the coast. there are many of these available. Will be more relaxed feel than a hotel. Plus just being able to take a trip to the grocery store and filling the place of food and Beverages. Price of this is not known at this time, just depends on how big a place to get, depending on the number of travelers. One place that holds 5 people in a cool place was 100 euro for the night, so very moderate pricing per person.

location: not completely nailed down, but most likely the northern part of the country (Herceg Novi). Want to be as far away from the albanian border as possible. Plus in that are are the most things to do other than lie on the beach all day. The beach is both sandy and rocky

price: It seems that the prices in Montenegro are similar to Hungary (maybe a little cheaper), so this does not have to expensive. Just depending on activities, If I know myself correctly I will be up for scuba diving, river rafting, renting a motorcycle and shopping.

So now is good time for those who are interested to check in !!!

Im expecting a great trip to this beautiful little country with a great heritage for tourism. Just what anyone needs to rest up for the upcomming school year.

traveling
mar

The beach

2007-04-09T13:39:00.000Z

Im starting to plan an end of summer trip and wanted to get some comments on who wants in and what place to go to. There are endless opportunites and my only request is that there should be water, ocean, lake, river or any other recepticle that I can swim in.

What I have been looking at right now is the following: Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Spain, Tunisia and Egypt. I know that this is a long list but all seem very promising. All have their special charm and all new to me. Me and Orsi are definite on this trip.

Date: will most likely be the last week in august and the first in september. I belive that the school starts the 11th.

If you are interested drop a comment below.

mar

p.s. a vacation just before school is just what everyone needs to charge those batteries.

FL bjórkveld

2007-03-30T19:27:00.003Z

FL Ball

2007-03-20T14:21:00.001Z

General Surgery

2007-03-02T15:52:00.000Z

I have finished my first week of general surgery and after a slow start I start to imagine my medical career as a surgeon. The first couple of days were a little bit slow. I have made a decision not to run around the surgery ward just to watch as many surgeries as possible. I have a slight problem with the pecking order going from Specialsist, ward doctors, kandidates to med students. It seems quite logical as I write it here but being the last in line is something that always gets to me.

So my plan is to learn as much about surgery outside of the OR and then capitalize on the few oppertunites that offer. I have already figured some times which are better than others, like on fridays, and getting to know the scrub nurses. Because if you are in with the nurses then things almost take care of themselves. Plus with time the doctors realize that you have something between your ears and see how you handle different things they become interested in teaching you things.

Whole lesson here as in many others is PATIENCE !!! which im guessing is going to be a life long goal.

slicing mar

Radiology exam

2007-02-26T18:15:00.000Z

This was the end of Radiology and I feel Im as smart as this fellow here

I just finished my Radiology exam and hope my score was better than any test this man ever wrote his name on. Its amazing how I will just make sure that I get the bic picture and then I stop studying. Im not saying that I have no dedication to what im doing cause I like it very much. Just when it comes down to mastering every small little detail I just cant make myself do it.

Im going to be looking at images all my life so I felt my responsibility at this time point was to cover the basics and know them well so I have a foundation to build on. We will see what happens and on the other hand the exam was really fair, no complaints there

x-ray
mar

Neuro Surgery

2007-02-13T00:27:00.000Z

My task this week is to be intorduced to the Neuro Surgery dept. Im quite thrilled with this field and goes without saying that this is one which has little or no room for mistakes.

For example today I say drilling into a mans skull, for medical purpose of course, to be able to biopsy a tumor. Ontop of this is all the new developments in the technical aspect of this field. I think im going to be impressed by this weeks process.

Tomorrow there is a specialist flying in from Karolinska Institute to do 2 aneurysmal coiling surgeries and of course yours truly will be there front row to keep an eye on events....

mar

this week: Urology

2007-02-06T00:33:00.000Z

I cant say that Urology was ever a field of medicine that interested me much and after my first day on the ward it stays the same. I do try to attend each and every dept. with an open mind...

I just came home from my monday nite football followed by the monday nite beer with Guzzi and Ljósa. Just a great way to start the week. The highlight of this weeks beer was the creation of "Stanley Mar" a charcter that will be long lived and much laughed at.... Screenwriting will be in progress real soon.

here are a couple of pics from last friday nite...

Hunch

Dolce with pink gloves...

Logason with old mans hat

loga n mar

mar

No scientific trip...

2007-02-04T21:13:00.000Z

Yeah, I didnt make it to the trip this friday. Seemed that I had forgotten i had an appointment with my hair stylist at mojo. It is such a ritual I was not even tempted by the free snacks and alcohol.

While at mojo I started to recall some events that we had discussed and the conversation turned into how long we had actually know each other...

It was a little bit hard since I had been his customer before he opened the icelands famous mojo. In the end we settled to early the year 1999.... yeah last century this started. Since then I have had 4 others touch my hair with any thing remotely sharp, which is not that many considering I have lived in Hungary for the past 3 years...

So a date with gummi at mojo is something I take religiously and will not be tempted by any free drinks...

long haired,,
mar

Scientific trip tomorrow..

2007-02-02T00:57:00.000Z

Tomorrow is going to be one of the infamous scientific trips. For those who are not follwing I will give a briefing on this:

Scientific Trips:
this basically involves one of the bigger companies in Iceland to invite selected student groups, medical students in this case, to come see their company. It starts with an opening drink and then a lecture on the companies status and future plans. Of course we just all sit there and feast on the free servings... which basically ends up as mini drunkfest on the house and then we all heard our selves to a local watering hole. At that time the medical students organization takes over the festivities with discount beverages for the nite...

One thing I cant truly explain is what the company gets out of this transaction, my educated guess would be tax cuts for benificial spendings... could be wrong...

latez
mar...

the camera should be on broad tomorrow since the Energy Corporation has one of the most exquisite buildings in all of iceland and of course the followers will be filmed aboard...

Tomorrow is thursday... wow !!

2007-01-31T23:11:00.000Z

Time is starting to fly again, maybe its just because I have been so busy ...

I have to admit that things are going better, that is today at almost 3 o´clock I was driving to work in Kef for an extra shift and I reached for the glove box to pull out my Ray Ban driving glasses for the first time in months. It has just been dark, dark and nite for the past months. I can already feel my mood lift and the energy level boost.

My sunglasses were so cold when I smoothly slipped them on, poor guys have been out in the car when it was so freezing that my front doors locked frozen and I had to climb in through the back doors.... that was quite funny.

I have set my landlord an ultimatem, that is I set a maximum on the rent I am willing to pay or else I go. I actually have a place to go now so I dont care too much what his decision is. I just told him that my loan fund gives me a certain amount of money each month and that does not even cover the rent. A 33% increase is just unacceptable. This event was on monday and I have not heard a word yet, not too surprising since he takes for ever to do stuff.

wish I had some pics of me climibing in the back seat of the VW, but just that was just hard enough....

mar

Surgery Rotation

2007-01-30T00:23:00.000Z

Yes, now I am moving on to the next biggest part of becomming a doctor, surgery. My clinical exam past friday went ok. Its always hard to get an accurate feel for an oral exam but for the most parts im satisfied.

Next up is 14 weeks of all kind of cutting people who are alive. I do have much experience slicing up dead people from all those sternious hours in the autopsy room of Pathology in debrecen. So now is my chance to advance my skills....

I do have quit the OR experince only being a 4th year but that is only to build..

Im gonna throw in some pics from last weekend, since this weekend was not too available for celebrations since I was working all weekend. I did see the chance to wet my whistle a bit on saturday nite but for some reason the camera didnt see too many flashes.. but here is some visuals

logason... n dolce kisses

G.Steins, gimme another

Hunch að taka smá kríu fyrir átökin

ljósan

mar

The visuals from friday nite

2007-01-20T17:32:00.000Z

It was a nice little reunion and great fun...

finally spiced up the page with a little lide show

mar

Friday nite Party nite

2007-01-20T00:35:00.000Z

I just got home from my shift at the hospital and am putting on my costume for the nite... I have some peeps im going to meet downtown.

I will be taking my camera with me in case I have trouble recalling tonites events in chronological order 2mro ;)

so keep posted for some party pics 2mro

party mar

Læknadagar / Doctor days

2007-01-16T21:45:00.000Z

This week is the biggest Icelandic doctor confernce of the year and as a upcomming medical student we are invited to join. I was sitting there in the conference center of one of the finer hotels in Iceland when i drifted away and started to think where am I ???

the situation was just a litte funny, there I was sitting among about a hundred doctors at a confernce discussion about the political decions in health care. It was a little surreal, there I was ...

I guess this is what the future with holds. Im just moving closer and closer to my dream of becomming a doctor. As a little kid this was just a dream, like most kids dream of future professions.

It was clear cut when I was five that I was not going to be a fire man running into burning houses, not a police man running after bad guys but a doctor and here I am...

mar

a little cheesy but true

What has been going on...

2007-01-14T21:42:00.000Z

I excuse my lazyness for the past few days, so here goes a summary of what has happened in chronological order:
Monday:
I start the hospital again in the Gastroenterology ward with my classmate Joel, Ingunn the hot assistant doctor and an interesting specialist who made everything more intersting.

Tuesday:
I go to the emergency room to admit a patient, in the chaos that is there I decide to take care of the blood test before moving him to the ward, NEEDLE PRICK !!!!
I felt like such a dumb ass fucker for poking myself with a used needle, in my defense it was a tricky situation but at the end of the day there I was with a bleeding index finger... So that whole process gets going, my blood was drawn, notification and so on... I was even a little defensive and pissed off when everyone was telling me what to do...

Wednesday:
I have personal clinic and present my case in front of the group, which went well except for the fact the specialist was not by my side as he should have. Got a good grade anyway...

Now to the shittiest part ever...
I receive an e-mail from my girlfriend stating that she is not comming to iceland to live with me, this is 4 days before she was supposed to arrive, most definety the shittiest thing anyone has ever done on my part.
That was the end of that... Im single again

I get home and start feeling really sick, seems I caught some kind of gastroenteritis and spent the whole evening and nite throwing up my duodenum, jejunum, ileum and possibly a part of my colon through out the nite, Horrible

Thursday
A day of recovery

Friday
Back to the hospital and then off to Kef for my weekend shifts at the hospital. Of course on the way there an enormus snow storm hits the road and I barely make the 42km journey. Just blinding snow and freezing cold all over the place.

Saturday
Working which is not bad, i like what i do at the hospital, except for the fact they dont have the decency to pay me sufficient amounts of mone for my hard work...

Today
Working and now finally home in time for some studying. I have a big practical exam in Internal Medicine on the 26th of this month.

So all in all a pretty shitty week, I cant imagine but the weeks ahead will be much better and I will just build myself a big snow house and move in there since my landlord decided to raise my rent kr.20,000 per month. Im getting the fuck out of here as soon as this test is over. I dont know where yet but all that will come clear soon, I feel confident that my luck is bound to change.

on to better days,
mar

Good to be back at the hospital

2007-01-08T23:50:00.000Z

It was so nice to be back today, I guess im really in the right field of work. I spent 2 weeks off for the holidays and just couldnt wait to be back. I was even so excited that I took one of my extra shifts at the emergency room tonite...

just to top it off came home and met a couple of friends for beer after wards...

im gonna sleep like a baby tonite...

mar

This one made me laugh, so will fellow nerds

2007-01-07T15:26:00.000Z

I just cant get out of bed before noon... and the really screwed up part is that after peeling myself off the sheets around 2 o´clock im still dead tired...

Getting back in gear

2007-01-06T13:39:00.000Z

So the new year has taken off and im trying to get on my horse again. It seems that all I did overt the holiday break was: Eat, Work, Drink and Tsjill endlessly...

So now that its time to get back to reality im all mixed up, just want to sleep during the day and awake at nite. Doesnt seem to be that much different in daylight here in Icelands since its basically dark all the time. But on monday I have to start going to the hospital again and they work on the normal clock.

So I have been trying to turn this around but just cant get out of bed before noon, today was the best day so far. So I guess im making some improvement.

That takes me to the studying part, I had deviced some great plan of how I was going to study overt the break. Of course that plan failed miserably like most other holidays. I think its best just planning on taking a break cause then you are not dissapointed you didnt do something.

I have a practical exam in Internal Medicine in 3 weeks, so I really want to get on the ball for this. Its going to be an interesting and good exam. Since now I should be finishing my Medicine rotation so its time to put all the pieces together. Of course it does not mean I will know everything but the basics; the problem solving, examinations and history taking should be mastered.

Now there are big snowflakes falling outside my window, I guess the winter is finally here ...

mar

The Old Year

2007-01-04T22:51:00.000Z

I have finally come to my senses and decided to throw in some pics from last year or last weekend. It just happend that the new year was on the weekend so it ended up being a 3 day out event for me.

I really felt that I got all the partying out of my system for a while. Just something strange that happens around the holidays when you are working a lot you get wound up and think the answer is out having a beer. Sometimes it is but most of the time its not...

so here is a bunch of pics from this past weekend

mar & logason

ljósa´s dance

mar & deiba

two alike "whats goin on ?"

bessi & mar

ljósa & logason

berglindos beauty

found a party hat...

mar & selur from .hu

lilja & logason

this is just a few from the collection but should do for now to show the feeling of the weekend, lots of late nites and fun.

happy new year to all that i have not met or talked to yet or for those who are just taking a peek at the pics.

new year
mar

Christmas Beer

2006-12-27T18:46:00.000Z

What a better way to end the christmas holiday but to meet with some friends and put down some cold drinks. After all the festivities and working all days I was ready for some time off to relax.

My new camera came in real handy to capture some moments and is a sign for what is to come on this blogg. Since the last camera died it has not been as picturesque

the fox n mar

endless love

fox n lady friend

Joakim was back in town

so much nicer to have the visual...

camera man,
mar

Ho ho ho and happy holidays to all...

2006-12-25T13:05:00.000Z

I just woke up from a festive last nite... lots of food and presents.

I wish everyone happy holidays all around the world...

róbert mar

Survived the darkest day

2006-12-22T18:09:00.000Z

Yesterday december 21st was the winter equinox, which translates to the darkest day of the year. Doesnt mean a lot in most places around the world but here in Icealand we are talking about darkness, since our little island is creeping real close to the north pole. This adds up to about 4 hours of daylight, from 11-15 and the chances of seeing the sun are slim.

I was fortunate enough to see the sun yesterday on my way to work, that is right before a hail storm hit the highway and I ended up going about 40kmh since the visibility was none.

here is another picture of the sun around these parts in winter

This brings me to another fascinating part of living next door to santa claus is this ...

Just the other night i was peeking out my window in the city and saw the most amazing northern lights. The color waves were just ripping through the atmosphere at blazing speeds. I dont remember ever seeing such a site. Wish I had a good camera with me to capture this. I have a feeling that santa is going to give me one this year :)

some wikipedia info for those who have no idea what causes this masterpiece

Auroral Mechanism

Auroras are now known to be caused by the collision of charged particles (e.g. electrons), found in the magnetosphere, with atoms in the Earth's upper atmosphere (at altitudes above 80 km). These charged particles are typically energized to levels between 1 thousand and 15 thousand electronvolts and, as they collide with atoms of gases in the atmosphere, the atoms become energized. Shortly afterwards, the atoms emit their gained energy as light (see Fluorescence). Light emitted by the Aurora tends to be dominated by emissions from atomic oxygen, resulting in a greenish glow (at a wavelength of 557.7 nm) and - especially at lower energy levels and at higher altitudes - the dark-red glow (at 630.0 nm of wavelength). Both of these represent forbidden transitions of electrons of atomic oxygen that, in absence of newer collisions, persist for a long time and account for the slow brightening and fading (0.5-1 s) of auroral rays. Many other colors - especially those emitted by atomic and molecular nitrogen (blue and purple, respectively)[1] - can also be observed. These, however, vary much faster and reveal the true dynamic nature of auroras.
As well as visible light, auroras emit infrared (NIR and IR) and ultraviolet (UV) rays as well as X-rays (e.g. as observed by the Polar spacecraft). While the visible light emissions of auroras can easily be seen on Earth, the UV and X-ray emissions are best seen from space, as the Earth's atmosphere tends to absorb and attenuate these emissions.

finding some upsides of winter
mar

Lars von Triers "Boss of it All"

2006-12-20T18:49:00.001Z

2/5 stars for this little danish film and I cant really recommend it for the rest. I can say that the plot was interesting but that just wasnt enough for the hour and 40 mins this played. It was quite interesting to be at the movies in Iceland and find myself reading the text, the movie was in danish. Yet again underlineing that the spoken danish language is so far from my own icelandic, almost didnt understand a thing even after the hour and forty.

Dont get me wrong, there were definetly some good laughs but I can just imagine that if your mood was not set right or if you were watching this at home it´s a good chance it might have been cut short.

Tomorrow is my last day at the hospital for this year... time has been flying but the break is going to be nice. I will do my best to be there on time tomorrow, has been extremely hard to get out of the bed this week. Im kinda blaming it on the dark considering that tomorrow is the shortest day of the year.

Not expecting to see the sun at anytime ...

darkness.
mar

Getting closer to x mas

2006-12-19T20:52:00.000Z

This weekend was hard work, mostly for my liver. I was out with my friends both nites. Having a good time in downtown Reykjavík.

My location here in the city comes in quite handy and serves as the ideal meeting place to slam a few drinks before hitting the downtownt.

I have started my last week at the hospital for this year and will officially be on x mas break on friday. I have to use this friday tu the fullest to get all my x mas shopping done, not that I will be buying a lot of gifts but I still have to get it done.

Sure enough I will be working this x mas as the ones in the past. I guess I should just stop complaining now cause this is how its going to be for the rest of my life propably considering the fact that Hospital and other health providing services never close. The upside is that I will getting some good money and that I will be spending a lot of time at home and dont have to be driving back and forth.

Im going to the movies tonite for the first time since comming back to this island, just happen to have a couple of tickets that I need to use before the 21st of this month... This time im going to see Lars von Trier´s new movie "the boss of it all"
always seems to be easier to go see a movie for free since the expectations are none... will get back to you on review for this film..

mar

Extra Shift

2006-12-14T00:12:00.000Z

I got a call just before noon today form the hospital and they needed someone for an extra shift. I decided to jump on it to increase my x mas bonus this year. Shift started off nice and for a change I had only 5 patients. But the 6th one turned out to be a lively one...
A young patient was admitted for a suspected apendicitis, my initial diagnostic plan was to just observe him till the morning, but ended up assisting the surgeon in an acute appendectomy. This was also my first. It was a quick one and everything went as planned.

This was maybe not the best timing since I was planning to use the extra time to plan my presentation for the oncology dept which is supposed to be tomorrow. I have to present a couple of cases and of course I did not find the time to prepare. So I have to pull this together tomorrow before noon. Kinda bad that I was only notified today after I had already planned to take the extra shift. I would have thought that atleast a couple of days would have been appropriate since this is a regular thing at this department. But what the hell I should be able to pull this off somehow.

The upside today is that I was able to get out of the next 2 weeks that were intended for oncology. Instead I picked up Pulmonology next week and GastroEnterology the first week after the break. I was thrilled that this worked out like this. Even though I am slightly fascinated by the whole cancer idea this setup at the oncology clinic is not to good. Its just a never ending bedside round with endless amount of patients and only one specialist. Ontop of that it seems that all the top guys are at a conference in the USA at this time... So I had to call it !!!

mar

Debrecen University

2006-12-11T22:55:00.000Z

Here is video on YouTube.com that shows my school, pretty interesting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OldcYt37ae8

would like to hear some comments...

mar

Gargantuan Snowflakes

2006-12-10T22:25:00.000Z

I caught a little bit of the christmas spirit on my way home from the gym tonite. As im walking back to my car I start noticing that its starting to snow again and the weather is pretty mild. I hop into my station wagon and start to drive back home and the flakes just keep getting bigger and bigger.

It was starting to feel like christmas, one stroke of the windshield wipers only took care of about 3 snowflakes. They must have been the size of a pet dog... just pounding down covering the ground in white almost instantly...

Hope I dont have to dig my car out tomorrow :)

tomorrow I start my 3 week oncology clinic, which to tell the truth im not so excited about but I plan to keep an open mind and get the most out of it. I will be sure to share my experience of this soon...

mar

Something funny... if you are not Indian...

2006-12-09T22:13:00.000Z

As my little bachelor pad is here in the 101 Reykjavík area alot of interesting and not so interesting things get dumped in my mail box. Since there is only one mailbox for this whole house and all the other residents are non icelandic speaking I get the pick of the litter each day.

There are 2 free newspapers and one of them I flip through religiously and the other one with a more tabloid feel just gets pulled in by chance, mistake or a colorful cover page. But even though it makes it to my table its no promise I will take the time to read it, but it suits the #2 bathroom trips very well.

So today was one of those days, im sitting there going on with my business I come across this picture

catches my attention and I go on to read the article. The title being "India: The Condoms Are Too Big" and of course I chucke but go on reading. New research has shown that the intenational sized condoms are generally too big for Indian men. In the prospective study 1200 Indian men were involved from all social classes (which is highly complex) found that 60% had 3-5 cm shorter penis´s then the international condom model. This has opened the discussion if they should start sales on differnt sized condoms in the region.

Now this answered many questions in a few lines
1. why there are a billion indians
2. the whole bollywood film scene with 3 hour love stories without a kiss
3. why I have never come across an indian porn film (not doubting they exist)

So all in all quite an informative trip to the john, not that I had lost some sleep over these questins in the past ;)

the resarcher
r.mar

p.s. amazing how things just come to you when your mind is set, in my internet surfing an hour later I come across another interesting article about some French developers who intend on making a custom fit condom machine. To make a long story short you stick your Johnson in this contraption and it sprays this latex material around your manhood and forms a custom fit condom. the hope to have this on the market in 2008. Now i could imagine this would be a hot item on the internet.. haahha
and there was no details about how to get this lovely third layer of latex off when done with

Divorce Letter

2006-12-09T18:20:00.000Z

It seems like everybody is doing it so why not give people some ideas...

here is the link for a better copy of this letter, a little hard to read still but definetly worth it.. hahaah

http://b2.is/?sida=tengill&id=202833

End of another week...

2006-12-07T19:21:00.000Z

Its the end of my ER week which has been really exciting. I just got an answer to my request about extending my ER by two weeks. The answer came back negative, since this rotation is supposed to be focused on Internal Medicine not Emergency medicine. I can understand that in a way but I just feel that I would have learned so much more in 2 weeks in the ER instead of 2 weeks in Oncology.

I just have to make sure to be open minded about this Oncology dept and make the best of it. I can already see a huge plus being that its located in the hospital right next to my house, that is already an extra 15 mins of sleep :)

I just got back from playing football OUTSIDE, yes its possible to play football outside in december in Iceland. It was a lot of fun. I just wish I could play more, its hard to keep the touch fresh when I only play every now and then ....

The weekend is a mystery since I have no work anything could happen. I have been telling myself that this weekend would be best spent studying and relaxing after a crazy busy weekend last week. But then again anything could happen...

r.mar

Working my ASS off

2006-12-04T23:54:00.000Z

This title pretty much sums up my weekend, work, work and more work.

It started on friday, a double on saturday, a crazy sunday and the finishing touch tonite. I really feel now how much this has drained me. Worst thing about it is when I show up at the hospital, the place I really enjoy, when I feel that im just not that interested due to tiredness.

So fucked up that even when I get home from a night shift extermely tired I cant sleep. It always takes me a couple hours atleast to be able to gear down and get to bed. I can be lying there yawning my face off but still no sleep. I wont go as far as diagnosing myself with any form of amnesia but it kinda sucks. Especially when the next day is usually full of interesting things that lose their interest due to my state.

Then again a lot of people work their asses for a living much to my delight

And this one here just to sum up my X mas spirit, it seems as I get older x mas just seems to sneak up on me, but i thought this one was worth a smile :)

Cookie Monster

2006-11-30T00:03:00.000Z

With all my healthy habits I have a overwhelming weakness for cookies. In most instances when a box, pack or jar is open I tend to cham away until there is just the crumbs left...

Who doesnt remember my all time favorite Sesame Street character Cookie Monster, he is propably my best resemblance.

I went to the store this evening to buy something, since my fridge and cabinets echo from emptyness these days. Before I knew it I was standing at the register with a liter of skim milk and a pack of cookies.
I even made an attempt to get the healthier ones...

Since this famine situation in my little bachelor flat here in Reykjavík I eat approximately 3 meals at the hospital to keep nourished.

cookie monster

Another Milestone...

2006-11-28T20:15:00.001Z

I feel so lucky to be experiencing so many new things during this long medical education. Today I shocked a man´s heart with 100 Volts of electricity. I note that he was not dead, just had an irregular heart beat that was being shocked into its normal rate.

It was quite amazing, I had actually been looking forward to doing this, what a nerd :)

It like many other things that seem almost impossible become so natural once you have done it once. Ok maybe not natural but you realize that its not that big of a deal, its just another process or a procedure. I admit that this one is of high responsibility but just keeping your calm and cool all things fall into place. I also have a great insructor at this time...

then to top of the day a nice game of b-ball with the boyz...

r.mar

Got to love America

2006-11-27T23:43:00.000Z

i just received a phone call from my dad, he was located in the mall shopping for me. In my quick thinking I thought they have everything in america...

Of course they didnt have indoor football shoes in Virginia Beach.... ahahha hahhhah

So nothing else to do but get on the world wide web and order so the loyal postmen will have time to deliver before my grandma packs her bags for iceland...

so these guys are going to be traveling across america ...

Its amazing this internet shopping, its completly addictive. Its impossible just to buy one thing, as soon as you stuff one thing into the virtual shopping cart they come up with 3 other things that you could possibly need... its crazy..

r.mar

Surprisingly good Monday

2006-11-27T19:42:00.000Z

Monday is one of those days that dont earn much popularity with most people. I will not go so far as to say that I hate mondays but sometimes it can be a little tireing. Luckily my schedule is usually interesting enough that im always looking forward to the week ahead.

This monday I was not expecting anything great, especially after tumbling head over heels in my bed last nite trying to get some sleep. I belive i finally got some rest at around 3 o´clock, that is after reading, eating, bathroom, laundry folding and etc...
So of course I was quite tired in the morning, but no good reason not to get off my ass and get to the hospital on time.

So today turned out to be good, its a lot more comfortable going back to a department that you already know and most people have seen your face. This is my second week in cardiology and still learning a lot and great to be able to follow up on patients that I have admitted and for feedback information from them.

Also im going to play inddoor football tonite which im looking forward too. I often forget how much I miss playing. Just to imagine that my life evolved around a football for about 16 years and then I just quit one day.... WTF

I was even so motivated I studied a bit when I came home from the hospital... that is not a first but one of a few times....

footballer
róbert mar

plus i got a pair of these on the way from USA, grandma is comming home from my dad´s
Im pretty sure if I was a girl I would be a harcore shoe collector

End of a working weekend

2006-11-26T23:23:00.000Z

Im definetly a little bit tired from this weekend, but nothing compared to last weekend which included 2 nites of heavy drinking. This one was a walk in the park compared to that.

So what is ahead ?

My second week of Cardiology starts tomorrow morning, which im greatly looking forward to. The specialist on my team has earned top marks until now. I will be learning a great deal more in the comming week. This one will be a short one cause friday is a day off.

Which is pretty good timing since I will be attending a confernce of Otitis Media on thursday, which I think is just a sophisticated way of having a party with some educational purposes. I guess this is what life has in store for me the rest of my career, not bad ::::)

My frequent trips to the gym have been great, boosting my energy level through the roof. I had been in a mild slump or I just wanted to sleep all day in this darkness that is pouring over iceland in these early winter months.

Then next weekend is another working one, this time at the hospital in Keflavík. The bonus with this that I will be spending most of my off time at my mother´s place hanging out with the family. Which is one of the great benefits of studying here in Iceland...

róbert mar

Sleeping in late...

2006-11-25T17:33:00.000Z

It was so nice to be able to sleep in late this morning or actually this day. I was not up until 13:30, just in time to have some breakfast and on to the gym.

So fresh to workout shower and then head off to work. Only problem with that is my long golden locks of hair freezing immediatly after I walked outside. Luckily that was a short trip to the car and then from the car to work.

I have been dreaming crazy dreams the past week, dont know what the situation is. I usually dream or that is remember my dreams every now and then. But this past week has been crazy, even waking up in the middle of the nite.

Funny thing is that my dad called me in the morning early, about seven to be exact. Just to say hello, then he asks me if I never dream and I said yeah. Then I just had to call it since it was way to early just for a chat. Right before I fall back asleep I realize that I was having a bad dream that he saved me from...

dreamer,
róbert mar

Easy Friday Nite

2006-11-24T23:35:00.000Z

Wow, its a real weekend and im not going out for once... !!!!

I have actually been looking greatly forward to waking up on a saturday and not be hung over from hell. Seems tomorrow is going to be the day after all. I just got off my shift at the nursing home, was called this morning and offer this shift ontop of tomorrow nite and the next one.

The cash is going to come in handy, the flipside to all this is what I would be doing if I was not working. That is since I live downtown Reykjavík I can basically feel the vibe if there is something going on and frankly that is always the vibe in this city. So there I would be systematically killing my oh so needed brain cells, spending all my money doing so, having a blast....

Just how ironic that is, I guess im never going to grow to old for that.. hhahahh

Another reality check tonite is that there is a month till x mas, life is just flying... Then another year, then a big exam, then surgery practice and more huge exams... and then I will hopefully be getting my first job as an assistant doctor this summer. WOW, not a bad year that is ahead. But best is to take it just one day at a time and enjoying it to the fullest and learning as much as possible while at it.

Dont want to end up as some incompetent doctor somewhere....

róbert mar

MySpace

2006-11-23T22:43:00.000Z

MySpace seems to be a whole nother dimension. I have found myself on a couple of occasions just surfing away on the internet clicking one window to the next until im just completely lost and the sun is down.

The creators of this have made this incredible friend promoting service for all to pick a character and play. Some even find the cover behind the computer to really let themselves go...

I on the other hand had this idea today that once some time is available im going to create a character and play in this virtual fantasy. I will be completely unknown to all with no connections to begin with and just wait and see what bites the hook. Im really looking forward to this little experiment. I have not woked out the details but it will finally be great to put out this character who is going to be uninhibited in all ways, what you see is what you get...

At this moment im thinking of a wannabe songwriter who doesnt know where to begin, but in a risk all fashion he will use all his so called sex appeal to make his dream come true. I will let the friends network pile up slowly but surely and maybe one day I will just give up the stethoscope for an electric guitar and a solo career .... hahahhahahah

myworld
róbert mar

p.s. its quite possible that the recent success of the Borat movie is what is sparking this idea. I hope around x mas I will have time to kick start this adventure...

Cardiology

2006-11-22T23:46:00.000Z

This department has a taken a turn for the better. Before starting I had big expectations and was really looking forward to these two weeks, but after the headless run around on monday I didnt know what to expect. The patients were too many and all over the place.

Today a new cardiologist shows up and is going to lead the team for the next 2 weeks. Straight from america, where the program is all about organization, and ready to work with us. I was learning from the first second he started to speak.

So now im looking forward to this time again...

I had a rather dissapointing afternoon, initially I had planned to take an extra shift at the nursing home. Since I terribly need money and especially since its getting close to x mas a month which inevitably is always more expensive than the others. Im usually very organized and have a real good idea of where im going to be and doing for the next weeks. For some reason I decide to take a second look at my work plan for the hospital in Keflavík, only to find out that I am supposed to work at two places at the same time.

Ontop of that I usually have to skip some part of the program at the hospital which concerns the departments and other lectures. That can be rather upsetting since we are only 19 on the Internal Medicine program, its often obvious when there are no shows and of course I misss other important educational stuff too.

So when I arrive in Keflavík Hospital after clearing the other shift, everyone seemes surprised to see me. I start wondering what is so interesting and then of course it comes to light that the shift had been changed at some point and I was not on.... Thanks !!!!

I was a little glad to be able to go back home but not the 50km back for nothing... I made a good day out of it and stopped by my mom´s place. Sure enough she was able to make it much better by pulling out a frozen cheesecake all the way from the Cheescake Factory in Boston. For those of you that have not heard or tried this lustful restaurant I recommend putting it on the "to do list"

r.mar

Snow keeps comming down...

2006-11-21T16:24:00.000Z

The winter is really here in Iceland, not a big surprise since someone back in the day decided to call this island Iceland but there is actually another story behind that all together. It seems that icelanders have not had a hard winter is some time and everyone was caught by surprise last saturday nite. It was quite the downfall, about 20cm in 4 hours...

So yesterday I decided to go out with a shovel and broom and go search for my car. I had a pretty good idea where it was, but started by checking the license plate before digging it out. There just happens to be 3 cars that have the same shape and even one of the same color.

It was a little fun playing in the snow, now im starting to think if I should try to get someone to bring home my snowboard from Hungary.... I have to ask nicely if that is going to happen..

snow boy
róbert mar

Point well made

2006-11-21T16:09:00.000Z

I received a couple of honest comments about the last blogg published and I decided to remove it immediately. Sometimes you forget that its not only your friends that might read your posts and I decided not to keep such a sensitive matter out in the open.

I would like to thank the ones who were brave enough to speak out and it goes to show that I appreciate and listen to the people who might be affected by my writings.

I decided a long time ago that I was not going to keep up a blogg which listed my daily events from waking up, having breakfast and going to sleep. I wanted to have real life matters but as that also follows a fine line I intend on being more careful in the future.

róbert mar

Haematology

2006-11-12T22:57:00.000Z

Another week starting tomorrow and another department. This week I will spending in the Haematology department. Im hoping for an interesting week. Not to sound too crazy but some of the blood diseases and cancers I find really interesting.
I made change in my schedule to be able to this dept since in the 14 weeks in Internal Medicine I dont have time to go to all departments.

Who would have imagined that all that histological and clinical biochemistry was going to come in so handy but that is what is going to make this week so much fun. So for those young doctors out there or med students just hang in there. There seems to be a purpose for all the sour moments we have to endure in the long medical education.

Here in Iceland there is much attention paid to the clinical aspects but in my case it feels so good to actually know the disease down to the biochemistry. It must be stated that the details and specificity of my med school is so much greater than possibly 10 years ago. It seems we know so much more and the technology and research just keep getting better.

This post might not be so interesting for the common reader so I decided to throw in a pic and a sign to what is to come. My plan for growing old is playing golf with friends, fishing, driving a big luxury car and drinking whiskey.

And all this while wearing a hat, here is my preview

Skype

2006-11-09T17:12:00.000Z

For anyone who might not know what this means should go immediatly to skype.com and check it out...

and for all my friends around the world put me in your contact list and start talking for FREE

its quite a good deal

my user name is rmarjohannsson

call me

World Class

2006-11-08T21:19:00.000Z

Yes, believe it or not this is the name of my gym here in Iceland and propably the best one I have ever trained at. I have nothing to show for it because all you need is a retinal scan to get in the place, which is really cool.

I thought at first that this was a real snobby way to show off, but now realzing that how many people go through that place in one day its quite appropriate. Considering that none of the staff have to pay attention to this fool proof scan..

Its amazing what a good effect some real exercise has on me, cause now its starting to get dark here in Iceland. And of course the temperature is dropping. This has usually been the hardest thing I have to deal with living in here. But after a good work out I just leave that place full of energy. Even likely to come home and cook a healthy meal, clean my place and even do a little reading before going to bed... Just so good in all places

I have recoverd from this strange stomach pain I was suffering from on tuesday. Had a really good day at the hospital today. At the end of me and a colleague made a trip down to the laboratory, which I call almost everyday to get results. There we were taken with open arms and learned a great deal of tricks and new knowledge about how to get about with ordering tests and adding to them when neccissary.

Even the head doctor and biochemists offered us some research possibilities if we were interested. Hence a great end to a good day.

After that I attended a meeting held by the Icelandic Medical Students Association where we had a healthy discussion about the upcomming summer and the job placement program.

A real healthy day all around. Now I just have to prepare a short presentation about Arthritis which I have to present tomorrow.

healthy
róbert mar

p.s. proud to see that the count on this blogg is approaching 10,000 which either means I have lots of friends that have nothing to do or that my writings actually reach a level of interest that is good enough to keep people comming back. Either option is a good one and I will do my best to keep things up and even improve. One thing that has been lacking lately is the pictorials, that is easily explained by my little Sony Cyber shot that recently died on me after years of great service. So of course a new one is at the top of the x-mas list...

Apple Is Back

2006-11-07T22:26:00.000Z

Finally my cute little MacBook is back in my hand, it had been greatly missed on its journey back to USA. Only to be spotted by the customs again on its way back. So basically all this hassle was not worth the trip...

I ended up paying the customs tax anyway along with being without a computer for a month. Just my luck these days.

It seems that my luck has been a little short lately. I would even go so far as to consider myself a rather lucky person overall or not that lucky. But this past week has been rather dissapointing...

1. I get a nice fat speeding ticket on tuesday night which is going to cost me
2. My computer was spotted by the customs for the second time around
3. I spent one day at Infectious diseases Clinic only to end up with a serious stomach ache last nite
4. I was fined for not paying my tuition on time, even though im not even at the University this semester
5. One of my guitar strings busted last week...
6. The exhaust system on my little station wagon is starting to make a seriously disgusting loud noise

that is all I can remember for now but seems to be quite enought to underline a string of bad luck, what do you think ???

unlucky
róbert mar

Busy Week

2006-11-03T16:57:00.000Z

This week has gone extermely fast but has been deadly... I have been on the gerontology clinic all week, except for monday which I skipped :)

Ontop of this I have been taking 3 evening shifts here at the hospital, the third one which im serving now. Its gonna be a good nite ones I get off tonite..

But I will make sure to hurry slowly back to my little bachelor pad in Reykjavík. I was pulled over for speeding the other nite. So I awaite a hefty fine for my driving. Which I personally feel was some serious bullshit.

I was crusing home on a tuesday night, not a car on the road and im really ready to jump into my bed. But im driving at my usual speed aroudn 100-110 km/h, the speed limit is of course 90. I get pulled over for going 100 which does not sound so bad, but it just happens to be a 70 zone... pretty much fucked

And to top it all of the cop was a real dick ...

Im usually a pretty cool and calm guy, but was rather pissed even when I got home...

speedster
róbert mar

Gerontology

2006-10-31T19:31:00.000Z

This weeks clinic is old peoples medicine or the fancy name of Gerontology. I thought this was going to be some crap but the first day turned out to be rather great.

Well to be fair I must throw in the fact that I skipped the first day. Decided to stay home and rest up after the weekend. Had been working a lot and saying good bye to my guest who has been here for 3 weeks.

So today my first treat was to run into Eggert´s dad early in the morning, which was quite the treat. Always so good to see a face that you know when you are wandering around a new place and dont know where to be or what to do...

This week is going to be busy or that is gerontology all week plus 3 evening shifts at the hospital in kef (tues, thur, fri). But that leaves saturday night to sum up the week with a nice party to top it off...

old folks,
róbert mar

Radiology

2006-10-31T19:23:00.000Z

Now that X-rays, CT´s, MRI´s and US are behind me I can look forward to more clinical days ahead. This week was really interesting and can I thank my classmates for most of the fun.

It seems that some of the radiologist that they hide down in the basement in a type of quaranteen develop some a rather specific characteristic. Some could easily call boring.

The quote of the week would have to be the introductory meeting in Domus Medica, where one of the heads made this bold statement "the clinic is dead..."

I was quite shocked to hear this even though I had been warned or been told this story from the previous group. How on earth could this guy be so arrogant and even ignorant to speak these words about his collegues work. Even though radiology has been growing a great deal in the United States, in the fear of lawsuits of course, it is by no means rational to say that your experience and gut feeling has no value, even though not very scientific....

I thought at some time that I could consider radiology but this one week did not do that dream any good. Just felt that there was no one there inspiring or marketing this field. At one moment the question was popped "Why do you think no one is interested in Radiology in Iceland, unlike many other countries?"

I for once chose not to specualte verbally about this matter. I guess im getting more and more political with age ???

No-Ray
róbert mar

Iceland Airwaves 2006

2006-10-24T11:32:00.000Z

Well the weekend is over and must I say that it was a good one. Long and strong the party started on thursday, I had a shift on wednesday, therefore missing the first day of the festival. Every nite was packed with events and biggest problem being which one to go see, I guess not a bad problem to have.

A lot of fresh bands and displays, just having bought the all access pass you allow yourself just to wander around not putting in too much effort into where to be...

I will give a more detailed rundownd of events act by act later...

I will spend no time explaining what the Airwaves festival is cause if you dont know you have been living in a cave for the past 5 years...

This weeks clinic is Radiology, I guess the best part is that the program is only till noon every day...

r.mar

Ob & Gyn exam

2006-10-20T14:16:00.000Z

With the least amount of preparation for a final exam ever I enevitably had to show this thing. As explained in my previous posting life has been a little hectic lately. So all this turmoil had a serious effect on my preparations for this final. But with my senseless taste of irresponsibility I at some point figured that I just had to wing this one. I know for an outsider any doctor winging an exam is not a real comforting thought.

So I had no time to study, all I could do after the clinics was sleep and ontop of these two I have no interest in becomming an Ob&Gyn doctor. So if you add up these 3 you get a whole lot of just skimming throuhg notes and books without much serious studying. Im not saying that I didn read, but in comparison to other big exams where i spend a number of days without interuption in preparation this sound highy irresponsible.

I had gathered some info about the exam settings, here goes:
8 different stations, 20 min each and of those:
5 clinical cases oral (14pts each)
2 written questions (10pts each)
1 video with short answer questins (10pts)

max points 100, 50 minnimum.

So in my head im thingking; I have spent 7 weeks there this summer, but that was 9 weeks ago. Then I was like HEY, if I didnt get the take home message in 7 weeks then im just an idiot, so here goes.

I put on a nice shirt and just show up as informed to do. I completely amaze myself, each station better than the next. The written ones were not that great, considering that I did not care to write too much... hihih
Video was of a laparoscopy which was almost a dead give away, not that the professors had any intention of making this really hard.

So with some critical self evaluation I scored 74 points. Now that put a big fat smile on my face because this was a real test of what you can do for real. Real situations where you decide what to do for these women, find out whats wrong and treat them all the way from pregnancy to birth, cancer to cure and etc...

OB&GYN completed, but not my bag Baby
róbert mar

Grilled and Thrilled

2006-10-20T13:55:00.000Z

Yes, these opening words here above are just that relating to my first day and week on the clinical course at the University of Iceland. It was finally time to make a move to the departments to start my rotation in Internal Medicne.

My first stop for 2 weeks is Nephrology, which seemed ok. Honestly realizing that I didnt remember too to much about the physiological function of the kidneys, considerng that it was right up there in difficulty of the female hormonal cycle. Both costing me long hours of scratching my head and flipping back and fourth in a number of literatures....

The First Day,

It all began with an informatory meeting at 8:30 monday morning, all the big shots from the Internal Departsment where there talking about their aims and responsibilities and of course ours as well. That was a real treat, starting to get the feeling that I will be a real doctor one day. Then off to the dressing room and picking up my white coat. I arrive in the nephrology clinic at about 9:30, walk into the office and introduce myself. My supervising doctor looks at the clock and says "is this how its going to be this winter, showing up at this hour....".
I just start laughing and start explainging my case he could care less but lets it slide. Soon after we start the rounds and questions come pouring over me, kinde like the saying when it rains it pours. I cant answer too many of the ones set before me. A little startled to tell the truth. We come to the second patient and we are listening to the heart. So right there in front of all (Specialst, attending, nurse and patient) I got asked what I hear. I honestly disclose that I didnt hear anything abnormal. I get a suprised look and then asked to try it again. I come up with the same result after another round of spreading the stethoscope all over the patients chest and so does my college who had joined the round at this time, not much to the specialist delight.
"What year are you guys on ??? Have you not been reading anything, this is your main tool as medical doctors..."
I just start laughing, not much else to do in the situation.
"This my young students is an S4 (an extra heart sound), now who knows what that is ?" was the follow up question. I make an educated guess that it has something to do with the mitral valve. As I let these words slip I see yet another disgusted look on the specialists face.
"No gentlemen this is.... and he explained the whole shibang, (for those in the business its a rebound noise made from a stiff left ventricle).

So the round goes on much like this but we became more and more accustomed to the stabbing questions and responded mostly by right/wrong answers and laughter.

That day was really something, but as I walk back to my little apartment just around the corner from the hospital an subliminal feeling rushed over me. I finally felt that after this year ill be somewhat of a doctor. This had always been a dreamlike feeling but now it seemed so real.

So the rest of the week was better and better. Even though I collapesed into the couch everyday after comming home at 16:00. Just the mental stress of no task being effortless just took its toll on me.

To make things worse I had an final exam in OB n Gyn the following friday...

the rookie...

Workshop over

2006-10-06T18:40:00.000Z

I finished my workshop today in hematology today. It ended with a small exam where you had to identify which disease were presented with the lab parameters and blood smear. It was interesing to be able to apply your knowledge after a 2 day seminar.

I almost feel confident that I could do this in practice and actually make a real diagnosis...

So next on my agenda is to prepare for the Ob & Gyn exam, which is going to be on friday. The only problem with this is lack of motivation and not knowing what is expected of me, again.

I hope to get some inside info about this exam so I can prepare better or to be able to find some motivation. Then again I spent 6 weeks at the department this summer so I would think I know the basics.

There are going to be ten stations, some oral, some with patient and some written. Plus class participation is going to be valued...

róbert mar

Thanks to Everyone...

2006-10-05T00:35:00.000Z

I want to thank everyone for their best wishes on my b-day today...

the was a little busy and I was not able to reply to all. Started off by fixing my car which I was rather proud of myself for doing. Just to imagine after 27 years I was barely able to identify the differnt parts of the engine, but after the latest car fixing I learned enough to be able to save the day.

Then an evening shift at the hospital..

Im sure glad to be home and have my big bed waiting for me... its a little empty but that spot will be filled soon...

thanks
róbert mar

Happy B-day Me

2006-10-04T13:04:00.000Z

Yes this day 27 years ago my very young mother gave birth to me... wow to imagine that I have been bouncing around this earth for all this time.

Well people cant say that I have been wasting too much time not doing anything. I think my list of adventures, accomplishments and screwups is far beyond what some people dream of and frankly could die happy about...

To this memorable one I got an early b-day present. Situation was I was driving home from work last nite in terrible rain and cold. I have just arrived into the heart of Reykjavík and my lovely 95´WV station breaks down again... SHIT

I was lucky enough to be able to push it across a huge intersection without being killed and put it in a good spot. These things always happen at the best times...

All I could do is smile and walk home in the cold rain only to open up a cold beer to go with it and smile some more. Things could definetly have been worse...

happy b-day to me !!!! jibbí

b-day boy
róbert mar

Success at the Cancer Center...

2006-10-03T19:43:00.000Z

I have served all my services required by the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Iceland. As I noted in my last blogg the cancer center was my last stop in the rotation.

So there I was ready to get my demonstration in the Pap smear. I was expecting to spend most of the day in the waiting room thinking that the women had no interest in having me in the room. But much to my surprise and enjoyment the older women were much more understanding. So I was able to be there about 70% of the time, which is just great.

"He has to learn one day the young one..." was a popular line this morning. I just smiled and prepared the sample taking.

Sure enough I had tons of questinos and so the exams were a little bit longer than expected or the schedule allowed.

Long story short i took my samples and fondled some breasts... checked off my list and now i should be getting ready for the final exam.

r.mar

Icelandic National Cancer Institute

2006-10-03T08:09:00.000Z

Its 8 o´clock in the morning and I just finished my cheerio´s breakfast. Making my preparations for my last day of the Ob & Gyn routine. While I was there this summer the cancer search center was closed. So now im making up the last day of the program.

I will spend the day with a specialist at the center, which means taking Pap smears and mammograms all day...

I bet these women are just dying to meet me there and letting me retreive a handful of cells from their cervix and squeezing their breast between two cold metal plates in the mammography.

i already know what the story is going to be, but after having spent 7 weeks at the department, there is nothing I take personal anymore. All I want out of this is just to be able to do a few samples and pictures for myself, since im going to be a real doctor one day.

I will give you the real scoop once this is over .... My experience in the past is that the ladies are not very fond of a young handsome doctor any where close to them in this situation. Amazing how good looks can take away your professionalism.

the young dr
róbert mar

Apple

2006-10-02T18:35:00.000Z

I have decided to go agains the mainstrem in computers and got an Apple MacBook...

This machine is by far one of my cooles gadgets I have but it seems that its going to have a slight price. That is after having been working with a PC for so many years there was so much I knew about it and the operating features. But now with a new system its going to take some time to get up to full speed and be able to capitalize on all the new features. But after having read through the manual it´s gonna be quite worth it.

At the same time a little strange to be close to a startes capability after having graduated with a programming degree on a PC. I do have the option of running an Windows system on this machine but Im definetly going to give this new one a run for the money.

Its just that after being introduced to the Ipod back in the day, I started to see the mindset of the apple company. Must say that I was much impressed and that was one of the reasons i made this decision.

After a trip to the apple dealer here in Iceland, with the intention of inquiring about the problems with the compatibility with other computes especially other PC´s which there are few to none. The salesman just showed me this MacBook, after that it was all over. I had to have one of these and like most things I have to have I get ...

mac róbert mar

the weekend...

2006-09-29T16:05:00.000Z

Wow, time is starting to fly here in Iceland. Must admit that the first months seemed a little slow. I guess it was just all these new things going on and I had to be so attentive. But now things have settled quite a bit, the first test is out of the way, i learned my role at my jobs, my apartment is almost how I want it to be.... So in other words things are good.

And its another friday again, which is quite pleasing. I dont have any serious plans yet but everything is open. I will tomorrow go and get my couch and bed for my apartment, which is the last strings to be pulled in that situatin. My lovely little bro is going to assist me in this.

I should be starting to seriously prepare for my Ob&Gyn exam which is on the 13th of october... In that case im doing that right now, Im at the Icelandic National Library writing this message and about to pull out the notes and go over...

Another treat for the weekend is that I will get my new computer. I have been without one all summer or since i got back home and it has been difficult at times. Maybe that will make me appreciate having one even more...

But I decided to void from the norm and buy a apple computer...

róbert mar

2006-09-26T06:11:00.000Z

a little sponge, for some color...

Graveyard shift

2006-09-26T05:47:00.000Z

Here I am at 6 o´clock in the mornign still awake from the previous day. I was called today and offered to take an nite shift here at the nursing home. I just couldnt say no, since I need the money and that the official clinic at the hospital has not started.

Im also a little bit greedy on capitalizing on my tax free income limit this year. Every month you collect a bonus that you can work for tax free. So all my months from the beginning of the year have been adding up, but the catch is that at new years this sum is cleared. So now im making a big effort in baggin all this bonus...

So to justify this act, I claimed to use the nite to study... but sure enough i did not open the book once and im not going to a single lecture tomorrow...

that is my story....

late nite,
róbert mar

p.s. i promise to start putting in pictures once I get my laptop, seems the visits are much more when the blogg is more picturesque. Maybe no surprise that people who dont know me want to read this

First one at Lecture today

2006-09-25T13:16:00.000Z

For those who know me academically know that lectures are not my main way of information gathering. That is partly due to poor perfomance and language abilities of some professors in Hungary. But even here in Iceland I have been lazy to make the effort and prefere to study when Im in gear...

To the teachers defense here in Iceland, i give them a much higher grade for performance and especially an A for effort. They really care about teaching us what they know.

So now at the start of a 2 week long session of lectures in surgery and medicine, I decided to show some color. So I was the first one there today, before anyone else. Even so early I considered that I was in the wrong location...

But at one o´clock the attention had run out and i left early, lectures were scheduled through 5 today. But im dedicated to build up stamina for the up comming lectures.

Plus I have to start preparing for the Ob & Gyn exam on the 13th of October...

the listener,
róbert mar

Back on my Wheels

2006-09-23T22:31:00.000Z

Yes, I never thought I would be so glad to back under the wheel of my 95' VW Golf station. But since thursday it has been just a real treat. Sure enought the transmission gave out on my a week ago, this hellatious sound was just screaming from the gearbox.

I knew that this sound was not up to any good and could not imagine having the damn thing break down in Reykjavík somewhere being shit out of luck. So I started working on getting a new gearbox, which is quite interesing. I say interesting because you start to deal with people who you are not used to and frankly dont know exist. Here im talking about junk yard folks... a special breed.

My main ended up being Jan, a proud polish junk yard owner in Keflavík. His icelandic not exactly up to par but i got the message through that I needed a new gearbox. I start running around the lot which contained numerous piles of cars . As im tippy toing around the lot in my flashy white nikes and expensive jeans avoiding puddles and mud.

Sure enough in one of the piles was a car like mine with a transmission, Jan the Polishman informs me that i can have it for kr.20,000 which is about $300. I said that I would take it and start thinking of my next move, how to get it into my car. As im pulling out of Jan´s junk yard, i hit the brakes and pull back in. Drop the offer to Jan, the gearbox and the switch over to my car for kr. 40,000 and that was the end of it...

In the mean time I had borrowed my mom´s old car which is in the process of being sold, a 99´Jepp Grand Cherokee, a pretty nice ride which I had adjusted to. But just the freedom of driving my own again was quite the thrill. If I crash, loose, scratch or whatever its solely my problem... love the independence....

junk yard,
róbert mar

ENT is over...

2006-09-21T19:32:00.001Z

Amazing just 3 weeks into the semester and already one subject done with. Or not really done, but the 2 week clinic is left and then the practical part of the exam.

But to have covered so much information in the first 3 weeks is pretty good. The clinic is where all of the real learning is going to take place.

Now to my first exam at the University of Iceland, didnt know what to expect. In the end it was totally fair. For my sake I could not have scored too much higher with the information I had prior to the test.

To celebrate I met up with a few collegues at café Óliver...

róbert mar

ENT is over...

2006-09-21T19:32:00.000Z

Test Next Week

2006-09-15T17:30:00.000Z

Wow its already creeping up another test... after past june I didnt want to see another exam, test or quiz for the rest of mylife due to a highly stressful exam period.

But here it goes again, I will take my written test in ENT next wednesday. The preaparations are going well I think, not really sure what is expected. I mean i have an idea of what is going to be on the test. I will do as always just making a good plan and sticking to it. That should be enough for this little thing. The written part will be 70% and the practical 30% examined later on...

Im back on the shift at the nursing home picking up some extra cash. I will be here one and one shift this winter ontop of my other job at the Hospital. This job is a real piece of cake compared to the run arounds at the hospital. So its pretty much just a little time out, I get hot meals, computer with internet, a little experience and I get paid. not the worst deal... especially since all the practical work with school has not started yet...

I have it a lot easier than the other kids in my class, since i dont have to take the Clinical Biochemistry test on monday, boy was i glad about having checked that one off the list ;)

róbert mar

Keflavík Hospital

2006-09-09T15:07:00.000Z

Yes, you read it here first ... I have a new job to work with school. The contract has been signed, I will be working a 30% position as a nurse in the hospital in Keflavík. As soon as i move away from my little home town to the big city I get offered this position, which i couldnt say no to.

So here I am tackling yet another challange and learning new things. Its gonna be quite interesting when I finally get my doctors license and start working in a hospital as a doctor I will have worked every position except for the cleaning. That also gives me tons of experience but also the hospital work from every possible angle...

The work here is quite interesting and I will be learning alot. From all the basic things of nursing like drugs, needles and bandage replacement I also have the chance to follow and ask the doctors all kinds of questions about the patients.

Another bonus working here is that I get to meet so many doctors, who I will be able to call for advice once i get my first assistant doctor position...

nurse man
róbert mar

LJósanótt, late entry

2006-09-08T22:27:00.000Z

Ljósanótt, or nite of lights is the biggest festival in my little home town of Reykjanesbær, formerly Keflavík. It has been going on for the past 6 years and getting bigger each year.

So this year was no exeption and I had to be there since I was on the island. The first few steps were difficult since my health from the previous nite was not top knotch. But me and my little bro sat at home pounding beers until I was up running and time to hit the town.

The town was packed like ever before and I met all the people i dont get to see. Hugs and kisses all around, with loads more drinking into the night and morning...

A great nite all in all, even though i was stumbling back to the house around 10 in the morning....

lite nite
róbert mar

first week was fast...

2006-09-06T15:18:00.000Z

First week of school went really fast, not the time spent sitting there listening to lectures, but everything was new. And when things are new you have so many things to pay attention too.
Luckily all of the first classes are held in the same room so I dont have to spend time being lost, just the first day.

The end of week one was ended on a nice party. First there was a class party, not group party like in Debrecen, but the whole class which is only 40 people. Then off to Pravda, a club in downtown Reykjavík where there was the initiation for the first year. We showed up a little late so I have no idea who is on the first year and not....

Ironic thing is that i shoe up to the party without a jacket because the weather was just so great. Then as we start to head downtown to the other party I feel a little chill and decide to come by my place and pick on up. I do so and no problem, cause I knew that later one I would freeze my ass off. Sure enough at Óliver I was burning up and decide to take off the jacket and rest it on the nearest cahir. Then of course when it comes time to go to the next place, NO JACKET !!!!

róbert mar

First few days of school

2006-08-31T14:19:00.000Z

First impressions were good, it was a little strange to see the group at first. It seems that 3 years of a multicultural and lingual group really grows on you. Now all of the sudden all the students are caucasians and all speak the same language...

I quickly realized that no matter how good the lectures are I dont like going to them. Sure enough only a little more than half of the class was showing up anyway. So I think I will make an effort to go to most of them, or atleast half of them.

My main aim is just to get to know my new classmates and to get a feel for what is expected of me. The problem at the Ob & Gyn clinic this summer was that i didnt know what i was supposed to do and what i was not supposed to do... and i had no collegues to hang out with and ask silly questions.

There will be a party on friday, an initiation party for the first year, and of course my class is going to have pre party. I think that will be the best way to mingle in the group.

Another big event is that i will move into my apartment on friday or begin to do so. It has been a long wait, have been living in a guest house in a single room with 7 germans, a spanish and french girl for the past month. It has actually been interesting, i have gotten to know them a lot better in the recent week. Seems that the germans are not as bad as i predicted...

I stick to my judgementals self with the option of gladly changing my judgement once proven otherwise... heheheh

róbert mar

First day of school..

2006-08-27T21:22:00.000Z

Tomorrow will be my first day of school here at the University of Iceland. I get to be the new boy in town all over again, which is rather strange since im starting my 4th year of medicine. But none the less im really excited about this.

First 3 weeks are going to be lectures in Radiology, ENT and Haematology. After this there will be a test in ENT. Lucky for me i will not have to sit the Clinical Biochemistry since i have already completed that course. That is going to give me few more hours of sleep or more time at the gym in the first weeks.

After this I have chosen to begin with the Internal Medicine block which will last the following 10 weeks. This format is going to suit me well, start everyday at 8 in the morning with a morning meeting in the appropriate deparment. Do rounds and ward work until about 4 o´clock.

Its really unfortunate that I have not been able to blogg this summer while experiencing so many things in the Ob&Gyn clinic this summer. I will definetly throw in some stories but im afraid they are not going to have as much emotion and exhileration as if I had just experienced the events. I dont know what the problem was but for some reason i was not able to add entries from the computers at the hospital nore from home.

I will make sure to keep it up, because im experiencing so many first with new adventures, jobs, roles and what not...

back to blogging
róbert mar

Ob & Gyn day one

2006-07-10T20:09:00.000Z

I survived my first day at the hospital with the most common casualtied of course. Casualties including not knowing where to go, where to be and where anything is. But with some help I was able to get my outfit, which is extremely doctorish, that is white pants and shirt with a lab coat. Dont think I have ever looked so respectable...

Morning meeting gave some idea of what went on at the department and it was nice being able to follow most of what was going on. Because the fact is that im entering this part of my rotation without the theoretical knowledge, that i just have to read and pick up as I go. Dont think its going to be any problem but I was worried about being lost in the beginning but that doesnt look like its going to happen or rarely at worst.

It seems that a lot of that stuff that was covered in Debrecen is really stuck in there somewhere and on the spot I will recall some amazing info.

I was delighted to hear that my first day was going to be spent in the surgery room, some place that has become quite common after my Debrecen experience. So as soon as one of the doctors was not available I was quick to pick up the slack and offer my services. Someone thought that scrubbing in would be some problem but I assured them it was not. Got in there and assisted with a vaginal histerectomy. Then I saw cervical neoplasia removals and more abortiosn than I cared to see.

At the end of the day I got my picture taken for my ID card and then I was handed the key to my office, which is not mine but since I am the only student there at the moment im going to call it mine until I have to share ....

day 1
r.mar

World Class

2006-07-08T23:26:00.000Z

I made my virgin trip to WC in Laugar today, for those of you that are not familiar this is the new all inclusive gym in Iceland. It is absolutely gigantic, today when I was running after my workout I counted about 57 treadmills before I got to tired to count more.

I went all out and bought the one year pass immediately, felt kind of weird because it was one of those moments that underlined the fact that im not going to come back to Hungary in the fall. I must say that I had mixed feelings about it.

Went to look at an apartment today and it was ok, small and cosy in a pretty good location down town. But sure I found a serious downside, which is that the apartment is not certified. This basically means that its a lot more expensive since I will not be able to get fund from the government on a unapproved apartment. That was not exactly what I wanted to hear, so I dont know what will happen with that. Paying kr. 65,000 per month all out of my own pocket didnt really rub me the right way...

I have another apt. that will be available September 01, which is right by the hospital, that looks better but just the fact that its about 2 months away is not the best. I mean I could stay at home and just drive back and forth, takes me about 45 min each way. Not the way I had envisioned it but it´s one solution to the problem.

I will start at the hospital on Monday and Im getting ready for some great experiences... Im sure once I get going everything will start to fall into place...

r.mar

Land of Ice

2006-07-08T00:09:00.000Z

Im finally done with all of my exams and am back home in Iceland. It has been a really difficult and challenging 2 months for me. I have never been this challanged mentally in my entire life. I had experienced a great challenge through my athletic career but this was of a different kind.

I talked to one of my supervisors at the Ob & Gyn dept. at the hospital today and I think this is going to be interesting experience. I was thinking of keeping my bloggs active for these 7 weeks I plan to spend there. Cause im sure that I will be experiencing so many things that will be interesting to others. Or in other words I will be able to make a grabbing story from true material. That is of course protecting everyone´s idendity, since Im taking a professional stance...

from Iceland,
róbert mar

One More Week...

2006-06-23T00:02:00.000Z

I have one more week of studying, my last exam is next thursday. It has been a challenging 2 months and im ready for it take an end. I must admit that I have learned more in these months than I ever could have imagined.

Now im really starting to feel the long term affect of this. I am only able to sudy about 8-10 hours a day (with plentiful breaks of course), after that I am completely dead. This world cup has really been keeping me alive or something to break up the day. The deal is that I watch one game a day and its the sunshine of the day.

Speaking of sunshine, the weather here has been just lovely everyday, as I enjoyt the suns´s rays through the big glass window of the library. This heat reminds me of the good ole days when I lived in Florida.

One problem that started this week is that I can´t sleep. I can be lying in bed to tired to go to sleep. Now I find this phenomenon quite interesting. I hope this is not a sign for what is to come for the rest of the exam period. I do feel the stress of this last test comming up but not to the point I shouldn´t be able to sleep. All I can do is study everday until the test and see how far that gets me.

Now I have been reading more about the things im intersted in, mostly concerning the subject of pathology. While sinking myself into this endless subject its the oncology that interests me most. Cancer is truly an amazing progression of how perfectly healthy cells can turn against its master and end in death. Sure enough all kinds of questions have been popping up in my head about this cancerous formation. The worst seems to be that the situation is so complex I am not able to find the answers myself, have no one to ask or confer with, or the most striking NO one knows.

There is a lot left to answer in the progression of tumors and their treatment. Im really confident my boys back home in Iceland, Decode Genetics, will be able to provide some major pieces to the puzzle.

now if that I could just fall asleep....

sleepy,
r.mar

No more metal mouth !!!!

2006-06-19T21:32:00.000Z

Yes, today was a big day. I finally got my braces off....

Yes, you read correctly, I got my braces off. Might seem a little bit funny since I will be turning 27 next october. Might say that I am a late bloomer :)

I didn´t quite get that million dollar smile I was hunting for but they look a hell of a lot better than they did before the treatment. Its not exactly finished but I am finished with the Hungarian dentist and orthodondists in this place, not that they are completely bad, but there is definetly some room for improvement. But none the less I might be smiling more in the future.

People always tell me that I never smile and I alwasy replay that I smile when there is something to smile about. But from now on Im going to smile for no reason or even just because this metal entrapment is off my face... jibbí...

still one more test to deal with, Im searching deep within to find the motivation and self discipline to hold it out. Im sure that Im going to make it...

smile
r.mar

One More

2006-06-16T19:12:00.000Z

Now all I have to worry about these days is my final test in Pathology. This happens to be the biggest one this semester according to higher years. But Im not sure that I agree with that.

Fact is that it is largest amount of material, that is it takes couple of days to quickly review all the topics. But on the other hand you dont have to know the topics as well as in many of the other subjects, people are getting away with knowing just a little here and a little there. Which I think is just reasonable related to the amount of material and detail emphasized. Not that im going to going to go half ass.

That brings me to my problem, even though I have only one thing to focus on, its getting harder and harder to focus. Im arriving at the library later and later everyday. Now getting there at 11 o´clock is almost a great day. Realizing the situation I have just started to read at a comfortable speed and just looking up something I might not understand or am interested in. With this I hope to gain understanding which will not fade in the matter of seconds after the test. Because I realize that im not going to be able to go over this many times like other subjects. Understanding will be key and I cant imagine that a mere understanding for pathology will get me no less than a pass on the final exam.

So in the sunny weather today I went shopping for some shoes, always appropriate to reward yourself for a job well done, Picked up a pair of white Nike summer shoes. My old whites were overdue on time but served me well when needed in the past...

Dont you hate it when you have a great piece (pair of shoes, favorite shirt/jacket) and time starts to do its thing. It becomes used and builds character at first but then when it goes beyond that point, you can never find the same one again !!! why is that ???

r.mar

Apt in Reykjavík

2006-06-14T21:47:00.000Z

Hey guys, im comming home in 3 weeks and I need to find an apartment for rent in Reykjavík. Im looking for something in the vicinity of LSH or are 101 ...

If you have any leads or info please comment below.

róbert mar

Started patho preparation

2006-06-12T22:20:00.000Z

Test today I finally returned back to the library after a weekend off. I was just dead tired after finishing the clinical biochem. Unfortunately the weekend was not long enough to refuel completely as I got of to a slow start.

But it was a start. So basically the plan is to get up early everyday for the next 3 weeks and get to work. All I can to is stick to the plan and I know everything is going to be ok.

I am starting get a little agitated over not finding an apartment in Reykjavík for the upcomming school year. I will be home in about 3 weeks and best would be to have something set up before I get there. Cause as soon as I get there im going to start my Ob & Gyn practice at the hospital. The first couple of weeks there are going to be the most difficult as I learn the basics and get adjusted. Worst comes to worst I will live at home with my family and have to drive to work, which is about 45 mins each way. Its not the best but I will do what I have to do...

r.mar

University of Iceland

2006-06-10T10:57:00.000Z

Now for the biggest news ever to be published on this little blogg ...

I will be in Iceland for the next year, yes you read it here first. I have officially been accepted by the Erasmus program to travel back to my home country and continue my medical studies there. So for the 2006-2007 school year I will be at the University of Iceland.

It was made offical two weeks ago, I have not quite realized this since I have been studying hard for my final exams for one month now with 3 more weeks to go. I am really excited about returning to Iceland.

The University of Iceland was my first choice but after not scoring in the top 48, I ended up in Debrecen, Hungary. It has been a great 3 years here and im going to miss it for sure. But I believe that my clinical practice in Iceland is really going to pay off. On the other hand im thrilled about being able to experience the University life in Reykjavík. For those who dont know my story, I have lived in the USA for almost 9 years. So I felt it was time to get back to my roots and live the life in my nations capital. I have never lived in Reykjavík before and I believe its going to be great experience.

Another fact is that even if I decide to work in Iceland in the future its going to be while before that happens. I still have 3 more years of the general medicine program, of that one spent in Iceland. After that it will be time to specialize, which I have no idea what to specialize in or where to do it. As of now USA, England and Scandinavia are all good options. And knowing myself as good as I do I will propably end up chooseing a nice lengthy specialty.

So for friends here in Hungary, it has been a great time and experience and I will be back before you know it. For friends in Iceland be on the lookout for me to return and stay for a while. And for my new colleagues in Iceland that I look forward to meeting.... Im sure that I will make new friends in Iceland that will be able to share this nerdy medical humor that has been developing for the past 3 years.

please comment as you please about this vibrant confirmation

icelandic,
róbert mar

Clinical Biochem : Check

2006-06-09T12:20:00.000Z

Yes, that is another test I dont have to worry about. Funny thing is that I didn´t even have the energy to worry about this last one.

But today I put the finishing touched on Clinical Biochem Final. It was actually a really nice test which included 3 parts. First was a lab diganosis from a patients results. Second part was a theoretical topic and the third a labratory topic. I did pull one of the theoretical ones i was hoping not to get. I ended with a three on the exam, which is satisfactory but I can blame myself for not securing the 4 or 5, just sometimes the basic stuff slips away and you cant recall it. Well it happened a little bit today.

Prof: "Well it was a little rocky so now you stand at a satisfactory, I can give you another question but that could go up or down."
Me: "Even though gambling is not quality of a medical doctor and precisely why you teach this course to evaluate precise values, I will have to take the extra question !"

Sure enough he pulls one of the few questions that im not sure of, but luckily in two parst so I was able to keep the satisfactory... ahhahah ahah

Now only 2 more exams to go and then Im done done and done !!!

World Cup starts in 3 hours !!!!!!!!!!!

r.mar

Something new...

2006-06-05T08:05:00.000Z

In the totally boring life of a medical student in exam period comes some insignificant news for you. Finished another exam today, Rheumatology (part of internal medicine)...

It was no great display of my knowledge since it was rather slim. After the big Micro test it was hard to get going again. But I decided to spare one day for this one, its not a big exam but still 70 topics and an oral exam. This will be the toughest exam period of my medical school so I just try to knock some of these small ones out without spending too much time.

Then again for those that dont know Rheumatology is a dead end medical field. Basically patients come in without fatal symptoms, and they have a variation of 5 diseases which are all related. Then you diagnose both clinically and by biochemical studies. Then you have an array of 4 drugs 1) NSAIDS (painkillers) 2) steroids 3) immune suppressors and 4) antibodies

With all four you can just hope to relieve the symptoms and in an eventful case slow the progression of diseases. And you usually never know what the cause of disease...

yee haw Rheumatology
róbert mar

Microbiology Done

2006-05-30T16:54:00.000Z

Finally something worth while to write about....

Today I finished my Microbiology Final exam, which is a great relief. Just at this same desk as I write from now I was sitting last nite wondering how this was going to turn out today. And frankly I was not the usual confident Róbert Mar like I usually am. My strategy for all exams is to be well prepared and go and show off my knowledge. But this time around I just didnt feel I had a good grip on it.

The fact is that micro is just a book to remember and not too much applied knowledge which is usually my stong point. The memorizing is not my ace of cards to say the least. But sticking to my guns by never postponing exams I showed up early in the morning with a smile on my face ready to do my best.

When it came down to it I knew plenty, even though one of three topics was one I was not keen on getting. Overall assessment was a : GOOD

You can just imagine how far into my bookshelf my micro notes and literature are now !!!

r.mar

Fantasty Football for WC 2006

2006-05-22T07:28:00.000Z

Hey everyone lets get together and go to fifaworldcup.com and sign up for your World Cup fantasy football team. You select 23 players, 3 from each time and then you collect points as these players perform in their matches.

Once everyone has created a squad we create a group and compete with each other !!!

Its free and lots of fun, I tried this for the first time in the Champions League and you get so much more involved in the tournament. Once you have selected your squad there is not much to do, so this is not comparable to the stock market, even though changes are allowed before each players match..

check it out and play

the group will be created soon...

r.mar

Another Football Sunday

2006-05-21T22:22:00.000Z

Sundays have started to become one of my favorite days of the week this semester. Not only for the fact that there is no department at school threatening me not to sign my lecture book for not showing up for class. But the FOOTBALL !!!

Yes, me and the icelandic boys play every sunday at this artificial field owned by the university. Every weekend the quality of football is getting better and better. I can say personally that my touch is getting better by the week. Not to talk about the over all form of the group the first sunday way played, it was a lot of huffing and puffing all over the place and shear luck if 3 passes were completed within one team.

So now I start dreaming again about joining a club in Iceland to see if I still have what it takes to play at a high level... As embarrasing and ridicilous it is I have lost some sleep over this.

Not that I regret the decision of becomming a doctor, but it feels often like an unfished task. Or I think the main problem is how I left the sport back in the day.

I was a big player on my High School football team back in Florida, god knows what year. But I had to return to Iceland for my senior year and was not able to finish that stage and to move on to the College lever where I already had some offers from small Colleges. But I allow myself to wonder what kind of offers I would have received if I played one more year ....

I think in these situations it is hard to make everything work out, all the pieces must fall into place at the right time, health, money, visas and family.

Now that im pushing 27 next october I think its best I keep my focus on the medical books. Im sure I can have a enjoyful, respectable and fulfilling career doing this.

Speaking of which I must return to reading the phone book, oh I mean the microbiology book...

r.mar

Not Much Going On...

2006-05-20T20:13:00.000Z

Yeah not to many things going on these days, have been a pretty good boy and been able to stick to the books lately. Inevitably this is not going to last and I will be out on the town doing something silly, hopefullly not too silly so that it will be edited from this blogg.. haah

No report from the predicted Hungarian b-day party, since I ended up not going. Was waiting around for a while, high on the FA Cup win of my Liverpool boys. But then something just came over me and I decided not to go.

Considering that it was fresh Saturday morning with no hangover. I was like wow so this is what a weekend with unlimited drinking feels like and I just decided to enjoy the whole weekend without a headache...

Now the biggest thing on my agenda is the upcomming Microbiology Final Exam. Decided to get this one over with first since I have the least love for this subject. Figured that late in the exam period I would be in no mood to be memorizing bacterias, viruses, parasites and worms. NOT to mention the kick stating of the World Cup on june 9 !!!

That is gone be some tough challenge to keep my eyes of the television during that month of festivities. My exam study program kicks off on monday, this is where I get up at 7 and hit the gym before starting my day of reading. It really works out good for me, the first 3 days are a little rough getting up and going to work out, but my body soon adapts and starts to kick start in the mornings... recommend this trickery for any one who want maximal concentration and who has a tendancy to lie around before noon.

So with this plan I figure one match a day is quite acceptable, cause quite frankly I am not able to just program my brain for too too many hours a day, now just if this was the Matrix way ...

róbert mar
the microbiologist

p.s. sorry to hold out on the pictures but my 800Mhz computer is allowing some basic functions these days...

Relaxed Friday

2006-05-13T17:26:00.000Z

Yes, once the pressure has been off I have been doing some much needed realaxing. Friday I did have a small task to do, that was the BST practical exam. Lets just say that was a walk in the park. The only problem being getting there and back, those of you who know this prime location of the kutja Clinic know what im reffering to.

After that I made a quick trip to the library and it was just so nice to read something other than pharmacology. I was quite thrilled, not so to make sure I took my standar 30 min nap .... hahah

Picked up a dvd and stayed home in the nite, first friday nite in a long time that Im not seen at one of my regular watering holes...

Tonight Im supposed to go to a hungarian B-day party... it will be interesting to see how that turns out. Since the party is about 20 km outside of Debrecen, im definetly reaching out of my little bubble.. will report on that a.s.a.p

r.mar

One Big One Down

2006-05-11T14:35:00.000Z

This morning did not start of like a good day, I almost overslept. Not a real big deal but today I had one of my big exams. I had planned on waking up early to go over my notes before my Pharmacology final.

Not feeling too confident I figured going over my stuff one more time before the test would not hurt what so ever. I jump out of bed, eat breakfast and throw on a shirt and tie. I have one thing about going to oral exams, this time the only thing that I had going, is to make sure that my look is up to par. That first expression with the examiner is key...

That done I have to move fast to get there on time, once there I realize I have an hour to spare since the exam started at 9 not 8, much to my pleasure. I all dressed up go over to TB and flip through my Pharmacology Made Ridicilously Simple book. I remember some drugs but a lot of them I can hardly recognize...

So not with the greatest of confidence I move back to the Pharmacolgy building to find two girls there that are also waiting for the exam. They are one nerve wreck, by that time I had unbelieveably cool and ready for the test. Not that I suddenly remember my stuff but realizing that I had 1) made a plan 2) stuck to the plan 3) studied my ass off and 4) dead tired of reading the pharm topics. So there was basically nothing I should feel bad about. If the examiner would not feel I was ready I would just bite that bullet and come back or I would make an ass out of myself, which quite frankly I could give a rats ass about.

I pull my topics and its a dream come true, I got one of the best ones available ! I saw an excellent exam comming up, the rest is history....

the pharmacologist
róbert mar

Pharmacology Final in 2 days

2006-05-09T00:12:00.000Z

At the moment im spending all the time I possibly can to study for my pharm final. It is going but how fast and how productive can be debated. It seems that I am unable to cram all of these drug names into my head.

Or that is I can do it, but then again some hours later its like I have never heard that word before. That goes withou saying how helpful the names of these things are. For example trying to remember a drug name you can´t even pronounce it make life a little more difficult.

I plan to stick to the plan and use my time wisely and just go for it on thursday. It has been my style since I started this whole mess and I don´t feel the need to change. If it doesn´t go the way I want it ill bounce back and take it again after the weekend.

I just cant imagine spending the weekend still with this final on my back

here is quote from Batman Begins which is quite appropriate. this is Mr. Wayne (older) talking to his young son, who will then become Batman. Here goes "and why do we fall down, so we can learn to pick ourselves up"

r.mar the pharmacologist

Lazyness

2006-05-06T21:02:00.000Z

How is it possible to be too lazy to go to bed ???

Yes, today was a slow day mainly due to last nites events. It seems that I pushed the limits of Jack Daniels and Cola last nite. Losing number of the total drinks... But a good time indeed. then again I dont go out to have a bad time.

It all started at Glussi´s place for an Icelandic grill where I enjoyed good company, food and beers. After that I jumped over to EGO for what I thought was supposed to be Szabi´s B-day party but was mislead, his party being next saturday. But there was indeed a good party going on with Jack Daniels bottels all over the place. There is some major flaw with icelandics and free drinks, we just dont know how to hold back in these seldom situations.

I end up at McDonlads drive thru at 5 in the morning, noted that I only eat that shit while severely intoxicated. On back to my place with the American, Sandont, Raven and Boogzina. First mistake there was not to realize that Babycakes was home and asleep, but since we didnt see his keys on the hanger I autmatically assumed that he was with a lady friend.

Only to meet him today at TB to find out that his sleep was cut short by the obnoxious crowd downstairs.

I peeled myself out of bed before noon to go pick up some pharm notes from the maple only to be at TB at noon, which was just amazing time on a few hours of sleep. Stuck my face in the books until 8 o´clock, starting to feel the pressure of the pharmacology final next thursday.

Im having great trouble remebering all these drug names, but not surprisingly considering the fact that there are about 400 hundred to be noted. Well see how that gets along... ahahahh

r.mar

Dont know shit about parasites, viruses or worms

2006-05-02T17:08:00.000Z

After my last post one might have thought something about these critters. But now once home from the test it seems that I dont know shit about it after all.

Situatoin was that I needed 72% percent for the to have a high enough average to be exempted from the written part of the final. Now that seems to be a lot of optimism...
Who dares to ask about minor pathogens, like I care. I actually didn´t even read over that stuff...

Next on the agenda is a final exam in Pharmacology, which is a much better and interesting subject than those critters. Im sure im going to have nightmares and pick my bed mates better from now on knowing about the percentages of women with Trichomonas Vaginalis !!!

But what is that rubbery thing for anyway ;)

Worms

2006-05-01T18:48:00.000Z

Yes, the topic of my next test is worms.... or I could name a few genus and some technical shit but no one woud follow.

But microbiology has not been one of my favorites during this year. For me it seems to be focused on who can remember the most at each given time. I have been doing ok at this game but once you feel that the next day all is going to be forgotten its hard to force yourself to study.

On top of that the material for this test is viruses and worms. And reading about these worms and other critters that harbour our bodies, suck our blood, destroy our cells and grow to great lengths in the intestines... Just gives me the creeps. Just to clarify I am not one to be called sensitive but when the clinical diagnosis involves thing like uncoiling a meter long worm from the skin, larvae in the perianal region and worms swimming in the vitrum of the eye... I just get the chillz.

Luckily for the most part these parsites are found in remote places around the worls where sanitazion is poor and medicine is not available.

Even the black and white illustrations in the book are kinda scary, you see this worm with hooks, four mouths and flagella... ontop of that its a hermaphrodite which can reproduce by itself given the right conditions...

How is that for a bed time story...

r.mar

End of another school week

2006-04-28T05:30:00.000Z

I can´t say it enough times how fast time is going, now the end of the 11th week of school. That only means that the exams are getting closer and that I will be back in Iceland soon. Im really looking forward to returning home for the summer.

This summer is going to be an interesting one, I have arranged for Ob & Gyn practice this summer. So that is basically my first time in the hospital and I dont know what to expect really. But im real excited about it to say the least and it is going to be quite the challenge. At some moments I feel like I know a lot about medicine but other times I feel like an idiot that doesnt know anything at all. I think that this feeling is shared among other collegues, since medicine is a big field and the level of specialization in each is just getting more intense.

Speaking of intensity, one of the things I enjoy the most about preparing for exams, is when you take one subject and really sink yourself into it without interupption. Then at one point all the pieces start comming together and you start enjoying so much. I had this experience with pharmacology yesterday it all started to make sense....

This weekend is pretty much going to be studying Microbiology, well maybe a short nite out tonite and football on sunday. That all depends on how the studying goes ;)

róbert mar

Hungarian Beauty

2006-04-25T20:51:00.000Z

Yes, it is time again for me to reflect on yet another aspect of this beloved country. This time I want to shed light on the female population. In my 3 years here I have seen quite the number of women that is at school, on the street and at the bars.

But I tell you with the rising sun and higher temperatures these girls just seem to get hot all over. You start asking yourself "where did that come from ?".

To explain myself and this phenomenon; it seems that the hungarian bodies are a force to be reckoned with. So genetically the girls here are thin with small arms, which is quite a feminine look. Luckily for us guys the western wave has not reached this part of the world where young girls are getting fatter and fatter the more west you go. Here we still enjoy the slimness of the east.

But where are these girls in winter ???

I belive that these thin finesse bodies are hidden under an old thick winter coat with a oversized home knitted scarf all over the place. I must comment that the fashion here is not what I am used to in my parts of the world and frankly fashion is not up to par. That does not include everyone but for the most part yeah... The reasoning for this lack of fashion, since hungary is a lot closer to Paris or Milan than Iceland, I can only think of two reasonable things 1) local taste or 2) economics.

With their bodied covered all that is exposed is the face, which I cant say is bad, but just very far from what I grew up seeing. The girls I grew up with considering beuatiful had high cheekbones, blonde hair and blue eyes. But it definetly not safe to conclude that I am unpleased with the situation, because beauty is to be found here too, just a different flavor.

If I had to choose one thing and one thing only for the female population here would be to learn another language, preferably english but just any other that you can speak. I could care less about a 30 page essay without a single grammatical error just hold up a conversation.

róbert mar

comments welcome from all, hungarians alike

Evil Machines

2006-04-23T21:20:00.000Z

My computer is continueing a steady decline to hell. I dont know what to do next. I reformatted the beast a couple of weeks ago and that did nothing... I had decided then that was the last procedure I was willing to do for this thing.

Now it just keeps giving me more hell every day... Grrrrrrrrrrrrrhhhhhh !!!

But on a positive note there is a new member to the O.C. household. I have to say that this one has to be the cutest on of us here :)

Elma got a miniature pincher, which basically is a mini me of doberman breed. Like I said the cutest thing I have seen for a while. Now we have this four leggerd K-9 running arond the house at lightning pace only about 4cm of the ground.

I will be putting in pics a.s.a.p but at the moment my computer is not providing this service

róbert mar

Sweet Budapest

2006-04-22T19:24:00.000Z

I just returned from Budapest, which I have to say is one great city, filling my duty as a citizen of Iceland. Jói, Glussi, Anna Bryndís and I went to vote today. There are elections in Iceland in one month but since I will be here taking my exams it had to be done today.

But what I really want to talk about is budapest... everytime I go there I like it more and more. It is now my mission to make sure that I study there in the future.

Today was an exceptional day 24°C sunny skies, got a haircut @ Hajas Fodrasz, mouth watering lunch at Tom George my favorite restaurant. What else can a man ask for...

Pictures from this trip are comming in shortly, jói was the man with the camera today..

róbert mar