For Fellow Future Ortho Widows...

...And even moreso their ortho spouses,

I thought I'd share this resource Mr. is slightly obsessed with:

Orthogate

It has, I think, just about everything you want to know about orthopedic surgery in the US. I haven't spent too much time perusing it just yet, but I suspect it may come in handy in these upcoming months.

The Joys of Campus Living

I lived in campus housing all four years of undergrad. Of course, I went to a college with very little campus and had a 30-minute commute from my junior and senior year dorm to the classroom buildings, but nevertheless, I loved campus living. In sorority housing, I had 9 suitemates my sophomore year and 4 my junior and senior years. There was always someone nearby, and on sunny days, it was great to sit out in the park, doing some homework. (Actually, I was once pictured in the NY Sun reading in Union Square Park on an unusually warm February 29... I remember the date because I called a friend of mine, a current MS3, actually, whose birthday it was.)

I spent one year between undergrad and moving to the med school, and one thing I looked forward to was living on campus again! It hasn't disappointed. We have friends who live nearby which makes impromptu plans easy to make, and I'll often run into a familiar face in the lobby or at the bus stop. This past weekend, I spent much of both days lounging in the courtyard, getting more of a tan 2 days in New York than I did during my week in India!

However, while I enjoy the perks of a student, I'm still not one myself. I'm sure more people know who I am than the other way around. I've been introduced to most of Mr.'s class by now, but, as hard as I try, I don't remember them unless I've actually spent time with them. So, when I'm lounging in the courtyard by myself, knowing my actions or inaction might reflect on my husband, I often opt to act and be oblivious. I bury my head in my book and/or wear my headphones. While I always love to run into people I know, I don't want to inadvertently ignore someone I should have said hello to. Luckily, those people who know me well will approach me even when oblivious, so it all works out. :)

Meritocracy

Yesterday afternoon, I saw my boss get a call from the HR manager. A little while later she asked me to stop by her office. Our firm recently laid off a number of support staffers, so I was a little nervous as I made the 30 second walk to her office.

Turns out I was right and wrong. I was right in that her calling me into her office was related to the call she received from HR, but wrong to be worried. It was time for my review, and my boss gave me a lot of positive feedback.

No raises are being offered this year, but they are still awarding merit bonuses. The bonuses are smaller than they've been in the past, but that's to be expected in this economic climate. My boss, happy with the work I've been doing, secured the top bonus for me and seemed apologetic that it couldn't be more.

Here's how I feel about it, though - I'm glad I have a job. I'm especially glad I have a job where my work is appreciated and my efforts rewarded. I understand the budget is tight, so I don't mind the amount. What matters to me is working for an employer that tries to encourage hard work by offering merit-based rewards.
Last year I worked at one of those "too big to fail" banks. After all of the reviews were submitted and evaluated, my boss called me into her office. Everyone on support staff was getting a 2% raise. Everyone. ...Okay, so it doesn't matter that these people gave far more to the company and far out performed those people? The only reward is the self-satisfaction of a job well done? I mean, don't get me wrong, that self-satisfaction can be pretty rewarding, but I was annoyed with the message this was sending us. To me, this says that the company doesn't respect what the support staff does enough to recognize top performers. It then, in essence, encourages laziness and "just getting by". Which in turn makes the entire company run poorly.
That is one of many reasons I lost respect for my former employer and opted to return to my current one.
My bonus this year is only 1/3 the amount of my annual raise at the bank, but the latter felt like a slap in the face whereas this one feels like a generous reward. The difference is the reason for them.

I think it's awful that layoffs are taking place here, but I truly see them as a reflection of the time. Bonuses aside, this firm is well run with priorities in the right places. I'm proud to work in a meritocracy. And if there's any confusion, I'd still be proud even if I hadn't earned the top bonus. If American companies hope to survive this recession, they need to focus more on rewarding good work. A little incentive will go a long way.

Shameless Request

I hastily made a survey! About hot dogs!

It's for my advertising class, and I'd love if anyone who swings by here might take a peak at it and fill it out.

Click here to take the survey.

Thanks!

Susan Boyle & The Match

Like many Americans & Brits, I have watched - and been moved by - Susan Boyle's performance on Britain's Got Talent. The song she sang, "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables, has been in my repertoire since I was 15 and saw that episode of Dawson's Creek where Katie Holmes' character sings it in a beauty pageant.
While not the most challenging song ever written, it does provide a number of challenges. The range required spans the break many female singers have between their chest and head voice, so you have to use your mix voice for the higher notes so as to not sound like two different people. While trained singers tend to bridge their break rather seamlessly, I've found it an issue for amateurs and pop stars alike (Shakira is the worst about it!).
Also, a lower-tempo song, the phrases are sometimes on the longer side, requiring good breath support. Personally, I always tend to have breath support issues which are only made worse when I'm nervous. Now, I've been singing in public my whole life. I don't really get nervous performing. I don't really care if audience members don't love me; I just enjoy being up there. However, I'm a ball of nerves whenever I audition because if the casting directors don't like what I do enough, I don't get the opportunity to do something I want. Ironically, this tends to hurt my audition. The nerves make breathing even more difficult, making my voice crack and my phrases trail off far too early. I hate auditions, but they're necessary in order for me to do what I love.

Similarly, Mr. is having a rough time with anxiety over this upcoming year. Is he choosing the right day for Step 2 CK? Will he stand out at his away rotations? Will he get enough interviews? And finally, will he match? After reassuring him that he will match but if by some fluke he doesn't it still won't be the end of the world, I gently reminded him that a career in orthopedic surgery doesn't stop being stressful.
He replied, "I know, but then I'll be doing what I want to be doing. I'll be learning about and then practicing surgery."
And that's when I realized that, like me, Mr. gets nervous for auditions despite his confidence when he performs.

Part of what I found so inspiring about Susan Boyle was her ability to perform despite her obvious nerves. I listened carefully at the bridge, waiting for her to crack or take an obvious breath in the middle of a phrase, and yet she powered through. Though Mr. is nervous about all that is ahead of him, I'm confident it won't show during his extended audition for residency. Still, the countdown for the match has begun. 10 months, 3 weeks, 5 days.

Back from India!

I just returned back from a whirlwind trip of a lifetime earlier this week. Two friends of mine from high school (one who lives in Chicago and another who lives in Mumbai) and I traveled around India, visiting Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur and Mumbai.

It was a great experience on many fronts, but between the 26/11 attacks and it being the hot season, tourism was incredibly low. At our hotel in Udaipur, it felt as though we had our whole hallway to ourselves.

My favorite leg of the trip was Jaipur because of the people, the sights, the experiences, and the shopping. Here's a picture of us at Amber Fort:


I have too many stories to post, but I just wanted to stop by!

Come Fly with Me...

I hate abandoning the blog, but I'm off to India!

See you after Easter.

Too Funny (and True!) to Not Post

How to Date a Med Student