I kind of lost track of this whole blogging business when I started my rotation at Childrens’ psychiatry last summer. It’s in BiggerTown, meaning I’m looking at a one hour commute from TinyTown each way. Which, as it turns out, is killing me rather effectively – apparently I’m a commute-wuss.
The rotation was awesome, however. I wish I could have stayed there longer. After that I started at the psychiatric clinic in BiggerTown, which is, believe it or not, bigger than the one here in TinyTown. (I know. Be still my heart.) I was worried about that rotation, since the colleagues in both clinics tend to think the worst of each other, but I found I actually like it there.
Many patients are sicker than the ones in TinyTown (since the two psychiatries are basically one clinic, so the more difficult cases are sent to BiggerTown) and many of them have been waiting for an appointment for a long time. TinyTown’s clinic works more smoothly, is more tightly knit, and after severe reorganisations and a lot less funding, BiggerTown is still building its outpatient clinic. Which is where I want to work. It’s challenging, but as long as I can work with patients, I’m fine.
It’s been pretty exhausting, seeing at least four patients a day I’ve never met before. Now I start having patients come back for follow ups, so it will get a bit easier. The nightshifts are actually fun (no, you’re not allowed to quote me on that).
So, it’s a lot of work, but at the same time I learn loads, and it’s so great to feel that I’ve chosen the right specialty.
Right now I’ve spent a week in Germany with my family because of my grandmother’s 85th birthday. It’s hard, she’s not doing well, and I don’t know how many more times I’ll be able to see her. I want to save up more money after the summer when I get my Fancy Specialist Salary, so I can travel to Germany more often, but what with increased loan payments I don’t think I can make it there more than twice a year.
It’s my last evening here today – I will have to leave early tomorrow and fly back home. Looking forward to it in a way; I do love my family and miss them, but I also miss my apartment and being able to do what I like. I haven’t been able to keep up with my lent fasting here because, routines – meet the window, window – please let the routines through. I hope I can back into it on Tuesday latest.
Popularity: 85% [?]
