Back from the (Blog)Dead

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I'm back!

For those of you who did, thank you for expressing your sadness over the dead state of this blog the past couple of months. I am touched that you find my blog posts captivating to read, and our lives worth keeping up with! The Jeongs have been surviving, thriving, and striving.

Surviving.
Whew, MS2 (2nd year of medical school) is no joke! During MS1, I struggled to keep up with the immense amount of information that was force-fed to us every day. The material wasn't actually difficult, though; it was just too much, too fast. This year, the coursework is not only highly accelerated, it is also difficult to learn. For example, in 2 1/2 weeks, we learned about every single bacteria that has ever infected humans: their biological characteristics, how to grow and identify it in a diagnostic lab, how it causes disease, how to diagnose it, and how to treat it. And then we learned about antibiotics: mechanisms of action, side effects and toxicities, warnings, and what doctors use each drug for. Needless to say, my brain is being challenged and stretched. It is a steep learning curve that hasn't exactly leveled off yet (does it ever?). But I am passing my classes, and I thank the Lord for that.

Hubs is loving seminary. Let me rephrase that. He is absolutely loving his studies, enjoying his classes, and staying on top of his schoolwork. I am thankful to have a husband who finds joy in studying, excitement in attending class, and eagerness to share everything he is learning with me. I sat in on one of his classes a few weeks back, and I had to keep reminding myself that this was a lecture and not an extended sermon! It was good. :)

Our house has become a little messier, my cooking is less frequent and more basic-survival-mode, and our leisure time is very limited. But God has been good to us in our marriage, and through Christian community. Surviving.

Thriving.
I recently had my first recorded patient interview of the year. First and second year students practice their doctoring skills by interviewing "fake" patients (paid to act as patients) in a simulated hospital room. The interviews are recorded, then watched in our small groups with peers and professors, who provide feedback about what we did well and what we need to change.

It's slightly embarrassing to show your video to others, but thank goodness I'm not the guy who worked up a good lather of soap in his hands before realizing that the water didn't turn on; or the girl who asked her post-menopausal patient for the date of her last period (she said, "I went through menopause. I don't get periods."), and then immediately asked if she was on birth control (she just looked at the poor student.). Oh wait, that was me. Let's just say, I've learned a lot since then.

A month ago, we had to interview a patient and then guide them through their diagnosis and treatment plan. We weren't told that the patients were instructed to challenge our plan and demand another form of treatment. After fumbling around in the beginning (I nervously introduced myself by my maiden name and earned a confused glance at my white coat, which clearly said "JEONG". I guess "Pak" is easier to say when I'm flustered?), I got myself settled. The interview really took off from there! I genuinely enjoyed the interview, and got super excited when I found out that I had just learned about my patient's case in class that very morning. It was one of the best [fake] interviews I've done, and the first time I used what I'm learning in class to help a patient out. It brought back meaning and motivation to my studies, which, frankly, I need a lot of. I'm itching to get to the end of second year and finally hit the wards, but I think I'll let myself enjoy this process of learning a little more - because this year, what I learn can actually be applied to someone in need. Thriving.

Striving.
Hubs and I are striving to become more sacrificial, more forgiving, and more proactive in our relationship with each other. We've been extremely busy since this school year began, and we let too many things fall by the wayside: our weekly family worship times, praying for each other, showing our love with acts of service, and spending time together (outside of studying). We want our marriage to continue to grow and mature, especially in this busy season of our lives. We love and crave your married advice and encouragement, so please feel free to send them our way!

There - I've finally dusted out the unused pages of my blog! Here's to more frequent (albeit shorter) updates from the Jeongs - cheers! :)