On the road...

United States of America, land of freedom and weird choices...
And so it was for Richard Jordan... This guy with a good job, good life, big house and cute girlfriend decided to move the relationship forward and bought an even bigger house (the one his other half sooo wanted but he hated!!!) and a shining diamond ring for the cute girlfriend...
Too bad she kindly declined the proposal and moved on leaving poor Richard with a house he detested and "girlfriendless"

After a blow like that someone would certainly just accept the fact and move on... Plenty of fish in the sea after all... or maybe not?

Well, Richard decided that for a while his heart would belong to the two passions which would never let him down: adventure and sports cars.
So here's what he did: he sold the much hated house, bought a Lamborghini Gallardo and set off for a 3-year adventure on USA roads with no exact destination (but carrying two guns) ...oh well!!!

When he almost ran out of money he had to decide what to do...
The beloved Lamborghini certainly wasn't to be sold, its value now way more than money could buy...
So Richard opened a motorbike shop in Dallas, put the Lamborghini in the centre of the new office so that people can admire it, got a new batchelor pad, a new cute girlfriend and told her that when he'll be ready to move into a house for 2 people he'll let her know... I'm sure, seen the circumstances, that she'll understand!!!

The bionic cat

I'm finally back in Edinburgh after a good visit to friends and family in Italy.

While I was away I have been pondering what to tackle in my new posts as so many things got my attention... after all I have changed the name of my blog to "a life and medical journey" so now I can talk about pretty much anything that takes my fancy.

So here is what I read about recently, joining two of my biggest passions: cats and medicine.

Meet Oscar, the bionic cat!!!





Oscar is a very lucky pet... while napping in a field, completely unaware of a combine harvester heading his direction, the poor kitty got his back paws chopped off by the machine...

Had these been other times he would have been put to sleep, but in this day and age there is hope, even for a cat!

So, during an ingenious world-first operation and state-of-the-art bioengineering procedure, his little paws were reattached... well, not exactly reattached but rather more rebuilt!


A neuro-orthopaedic veterinary surgeon created new kitten heels for Oscar which mimic the way in which deer antler bone grows through skin. These prosthetic parts are called ITAPs (Intraosseous transcutaneous amputation prosthetics) and are like pegs which get attached to the bones and covered in hydroxyapatite, a substance which encourages bone cells to regrow.
I have actually learnt about this during my 1st year as med-student and was delighted (to say the least) to see the name on an article and especially to remember what that was!!!

The skin then had to grow over the end of the pegs forming a barrier against bacteria and infections and Oscar had to learn to walk again (which for the joy of his owners, wasn't too difficult) and is now back to almost normal life.


Many of you may think that such a degree of specialisation for a veterinary surgery is wasted time and money (yes, believe it or not, I heard that comment!!!)
I don't agree, a life is a life, but to defend the cause it is certainly worth mentioning that this pioneering technique developed by a vet for our furry friends, has been adopted by human surgeons as well and is now in use to provide limb prostheses for human amputees.

I remember when I was a kid there was a TV series called "The bionic man", I never thought I'd see "The bionic cat" as well but I'm definitely happy to know it joined the family! :-)

Home

I have been reflecting for a while on the concept of home...

My life has brought me through many adventures... since when I was a kid I have been travelling extensively around the world, living in different countries, learning about different cultures, experiencing different lifestyles.
In every country where I have been I made amazing friends and I always felt welcome to come back at any time. There are very few places in this world I haven't been to.

One of the questions I get asked most frequently is: "What is your favourite country?"
I don't have an answer to that...
Favourite because of the culture? Because of the traditions? Because of the landscape?
It is so difficult to pick one over the other...

But the point really is, after having lived in so many places.... where is home?
Because when I travel to Italy to go see my family I always say "I go home"
When I'm in a different country and I talk to my UK friends I always tell them the date "I'll be coming home"
And just last month I said to someone that in July "I would have been home" (and I was referring to NYC)

Last night my flatmate Jenn cooked something with spices I used to taste when I was living in Brazil as a child... and I just felt a strong sense of longing for everything I have experienced while I was there.
Old memories came rushing back in a flash, memories of my entire family together and now, because it isn't that way anymore, I felt that one was the time and place where the concept of "home" was making sense...

So where is home?
And what is home?

I guess home means different things to different people in different times...
Somebody said that home is where your heart is...
I say that "home" is not a place but a state of mind, is where you feel you belong at a certain point in your life. You can have different homes at once... being it a place, a moment, a situation, someone's arms surrounding you, a warm familiar meal, a smile, a smell, a sight...

Home is something that you are familiar with, that you love and that makes you feel safe.
Home is your world, whatever it may be...
Don't put the concept of home in a box, it means so much more than just the four walls of your house!

And for the moment, I am enjoying one of my homes, in Italy, with familair food, smells, sights and the loving arms of my friends and family so tightly wrapped around me!!!

Love is blind... or is it?

This post is actually inspired by something a friend told me.
While having a chat he said he couldn't get over the fact that his ex girlfriend was now going out with a very "average Joe"... I mean, how could she possibly move from Mr Perfect to Mr "I-blend-into-the-background"???

Forgone conclusion: Love is blind!
But is it really? I gave it a thought...

Infatuation is blind, attraction can have impaired vision, but true love? I guess not...
True love is the one that sees the best, it can see into the depths of our hearts and souls with a clarity beyond compare.

Love is blind! Really?!
In most cases that's the furthest thing from the truth.

The partners see something in each other that is not ready visible to others outside the relationship, something that the rest of the world don't see... making the rest of the world blind, but certainly not love!

True love is receptive of all aspects of the other person with no exceptions, the lovers are not blind, they see very well, they see the good, worthy, solid facets of each other as well as the imperfect, annoying and challenging ones... they're not blind, they're just totally accepting of one another.

When infatuation turns into love it clears the vision to see deeper than outer attributes, we don't fall in love with beauty, we're attracted by beauty but we fall in love with the person.

The thing is that there is a very fine line between attraction and love and without some serious soul searching it's quite difficult to distinguish the two.
We are all attracted by the "idea" of love and it's not difficult to see how the desire to be in that euphoric state could lead one to mistakenly label a fierce attraction as "true love"
But love is an emotion that evolves over time. First we are attracted and then gradually we get to know our partner well and the initial infatuation translates into love.

I believe that attraction and infatuation deny any imperfection while true love embraces them
Love's keen vision doesn't miss a single detail.

Someone said "True love is not blind, it merely enables one to see clearly what others fail to notice". To that person I want to say thank you, you taught me a great lesson!

I'd like that job!

Well, everyone knows that being a student is not exactly the easiest life, especially if like me you're a mature student and you have to get a grip on your own...

You don't get a pay cheque, (yeah, SKINT is the word!), you have long summer holidays but may have to work during them, you may have to resit exams, your diet consists mainly of beans on toast and your healthy sleeping patterns cease to exist (for whatever reason that is!!!).

I remember when I left school one of my teachers said "You'll miss these days of being a student, it's pure bliss!" Ahem... I don't think so!!!
Don't take me wrong, I am a student now and utterly love it, but it certainly is not because the student life is easier than the working one.

And to prove my point I have shortlisted a few jobs I have thought I could see myself doing for quite a long time should this medicine malarkey not work out...

First of all what about that guy who won the race to become the caretaker of that paradise island in Australia? I could do that! Swim in crystal water (hey, I'm a dive master!!!) blog to promote the area (I'm definitely a blogger!!!) and relax at the spa (not sure I can cope with that but I'm willing to give it my best shot!)
£111,000 for 6 months of this torture? Yes please!!!

Then I read about this girl from Birmigham who has landed the dream job (literally!!!) to test designer beds everyday - £1000 a month...
Such an effort really, having to spend every single night in a bed manufactured for the Savoy hotel and then blog about the experience, not only about the quality of the bed, but also looking into what brings a good night sleep. Blogging again? Bring it on!!!
This is actually something that I could do whilst being a med-student.
Studying all day and working all night... quite a hard job but I feel I could devolve myself to these obligations oh so well!!!

And then my absolute favorite: candy tester in a sweet factory!
The job entails tasting secret recipes... I've always wondered how it would feel to be like Charlie at the Wonka's Factory and this would give me the chance to know... Heck, I would even do it for half the pay cheque provided they did give me free access to some kind of gym during my free time (you know, just to keep fit for the job!)

Again I could combine work and studying. What better way to describe how good a sweet is than by explaining the joy it brings in depressing moment such as exam revision time?!
I'm not sure if this is the best job but it's definitely the sweetest!!!

See? There are alternatives to depressing jobs and sure enough I want to be a doctor and will give it my utmost but, in case things shouldn't work out for a reason or another ...I HAVE OPTIONS!!!

Stupid law...

Sometimes we all come across some kind of rule that we find stupid, it happens to everyone at some point or another so tonight, just for the fun of it, I have decided to look up stupid laws...

I have to say, I guess whoever makes laws must have smartened up and made a few changes since I wasn't that impressed with what I found but 3 very special (...read STUPID) ones got me really giggling.

Here goes:

Stupid law number 1 ~
It is illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament in England

Reason for this is apparently that the Parliament is a Royal Palace so anyone kicking their bucket in there technically would be entitled to a state funeral.
Does that mean that if you look a bit sick they carry you out quickly? "Sorry sir/madam are you aware that it is forbidden to die in here?" Oh dear England!!!

Stupid law number 2 ~
In the Netherlands you are allowed to smoke cannabis but not tobacco (in public places)

Really?! YES!
There is a very strict zero tolerance to tobacco smoking in Dutch cafes and restaurant since a ban came into force in 2008. Apparently this law was written after a guy got fined by the local police not lighting a hand rolled cannabis joint... the fine was applied not because he was smoking but because the police found some tobacco mixed in with "the grass"...
Talk about being liberal!!!

Stupid law number 3 ~
Tibetan monks need permission to reincarnate

In one of history's most absurd acts of control over Tibet, China banned Buddhist monks from reincarnating without government permission.
No, this didn't happen centuries ago, the law was written by the State Administration for Religious Affairs in 2007.
I'd like to see exactly how that can be enforced... and how the high officials may explain a beautiful sacred animal passing by and obviously blowing raspberries at them!!!


Where is this world going?!?

Brush your teeth or you'll die!

Oh well, that sounds a bit extreme doesn't it?!
Imagine a mum using this sentence while trying to convince her kids to brush their teeth before going to bed... What about a little chat with social services about motherly attitude?!?

Truth is though that, however small the overall risk deriving from poor oral hygiene, it has been proven once again that there is a very strong link between people who don't brush their teeth and heart disease.

As a matter of fact, the results of the latest and greatest study here in the UK, found that people who rarely or never brush their teeth are 70% more likely to suffer heart diseases as those who brush twice a day (all of this even when keeping into consideration, smoking, dietary and lifestyle habits)

The offenders are also more likely to test positive for proteins linked to inflammation, which plays an important role in clogged arteries.

Now, as a kid I was never too keen in listening to mum shouting at me when I "forgot" to brush my teeth, but growing up things change and you realise that stinky breath is not one of the qualities the guy you really like may find particularly attractive!!! So, morphing into the lovely, stylish me, I did end up making a date with my toothbrush and toothpaste every time I eat something...

However, stinky breath is one thing and heart disease is something a bit more serious (even if on the long run the 1st one becomes kind of annoying!!!)...

So yeah, please, make good friends with your toothbrush, if not for your health sake at least for those whom you talk to during the day!!!

Change

I've been away for a few days because my life has been so busy.

I have been seeing friends, sleeping, cooking for Scotland, sightseeing and especially I've been applying some changes to my surroundings. There is something quite therapeutic about change itself... particularly for a girl.

Normally when some events of a certain magnitude happen, some things that required a considerable amount of energy spent -whether physical or emotional- to counteract the effects a girl will go to some sort of extremes (changing the haircut/colour according to research being the first!)

You'll be relieved to know that I haven't done anything to my hair (well, got the highlights touched up but that was already on the girlie "to do" list!) but I have been emptying my closets, moving furniture around, refurbishing my bedroom and changing some of my habits.

Too many memories of what was before are not good especially if one is after a new beginning.

So in came a new mattress, bedding, mirror, and an amazingly gigantic print of the Brooklyn Bridge at sunset which brings a smile on my face just by hanging over my bed.
My hallway is now full of bin bags, ready to be delivered to charity shops, packed with old clothes that don't fit anymore or that just haven't been worn for a long time and some have already been replaced with new, happy, summery ones (and shoes!!!)

I have taken to go for long walks, I have missed being outside the 4 walls of my flat so much.
Don't take me wrong, med-school is fantastic, but it sucked my life for the past 7 months and now I'm just ready to take advantage of every single free moment I have and dedicate it to myself!
I finally am back to my wonderful healthy diet of home cooked meals and I've left behind corrosive energy drinks and awfully caloric chocolate bars... Now I bake my own treats!!!


I have never suffered of low self esteem, and for this I have to thank the good foundations that my family has given me while growing up, teaching me how to always feel proud of myself even if things didn't work out the way I wanted them to, just as long as I had given it my best... and since that's what I do, I have no regrets about anything that has happened in the past months.
But I can tell you something, it is great to walk around holding your head up high, taking life on and being able to see change not as the end of something bad but as the beginning of something great!

Amongst all of these changes though is good to have some strong anchor points, things that you know you can rely upon and won't change for a long long time so I thought about my family, my friends and then I took a picture of my new bedroom layout and felt so happy to see my cheeky cat Sushi being the same old poser always in the middle of everything... Certainly I will always be able to count on him for a good laugh when needed! :-)

Blood needed!

Today while I was listening to the radio I heard an ad looking for blood donors. Besides the drama of the ad, the idea behind it is really good. Blood is a necessity, without it you can't exist! Simple as that!

I can't donate it because of my travelling history and the fact that I'm anaemic but there are so many potential life savers out there and they really should give a hand.

The problem though seems to be that our country is not good at enticing people into donating their precious red lymph... The "save a life" mantra doesn't work that well here so focus should be given on HOW to reward people for their gift.

Granted, I may be a bit biased in my opinion, but I have been living in this country for slightly over 5 years now and, looking for inspiration on a sort of suggestion to help the cause, I came across this: A USA city is encouraging the public to donate blood in exchange for beer.

Well, I think that's genius! What more could attract a Scotsman than the idea of trading their blood for a pint?! That's officially a brilliant idea! I am pretty sure I even read somewhere that they give you a pint of Guiness after your blood donation in Ireland!

Some people think that blood is yucky and well, they can't stand much the sight of it, but did you know that if you replaced your blood with something much more exciting (like Fanta!) you would probably die within 5 years? Shocking but true! HAHA!!!

Come on people, we have more than enough blood in our bodies for it to be ok to part with some!!! There are people in hospitals who need it... and maybe one day that person could be you!
So here is my cunning new plan for the Blood Donor Bank employees: go and recruit people to donate their blood when they are the happiest — at the neighbourhood pub!

Since we're in Scotland, it may just be your best option!!!

Fact: Dogs Can Detect Certain Illnesses

Oh well, as I expected I have been accused of favouring cats over dogs (surprise!!!) so I decided that to put things right I had to find something special about dogs as well...

Besides the funny, loving, crazy personalities they display, that is!!!

My dad owns a golden Lab (or maybe I should say that the golden Lab owns my dad!) and they are inseparable. Leo is the sweetest, most clever, adorable pooch I've had the chance to have around. Yes, my opinion is very much biased but, same as for cat owners, your pet is always the best!

So well, looking up interesting facts about dogs I found that:
- Two dogs survived the sinking of Titanic
- When a dog bays at the moon, it is following its basic instinct to call the pack together
- The phrase "raining cats and dogs" originated in 17th Century England when many dogs and cats drowned during heavy downpours of rain and when rivers burst their banks. Their bodies would be seen floating in the rain torrents that raced through the streets giving the appearance that it had literally rained "cats and dogs"
- Dogs have sweat glands in between their paws
- Dogs are about as smart as a two- or three-year-old child. This means they can understand about 150-200 words, including signals and hand movements with the same meaning as words

The fact that attracted me the most though (and actually that put together a bit of medicine too!) is that dogs are able to recognise some human illnesses and give warning to their owners.
This makes our pets not only great companions but also quite helpful!

It sounds like a Lassie TV episode, but it's truth and not fiction.
Dogs for example can sniff out a dangerous drop in blood sugar in a diabetic owner and alert the person to take action by pawing, licking, whining, or barking.
A few dogs have even been trained and placed as diabetic service dogs as, according to their trainers, their nose for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is correct 90% of the time.

Dogs are being trained to be alarm bells for an oncoming epileptic seizure too.
As in the case of hypoglycemia they have a talent in smelling the chemical changes in their owner and alert them that something is happening.

So now that I have done my job and put things right with a little post about both cats and dogs I'll leave up to you the choice of your best friend. After all it's just about what you prefer, they're both able to love you, fill your life with fun and keep you entertained for a long, long time!

...and please people, I have no intention of writing a post about canaries, rats or gold fishes so no more complains!!!

Fact: Cats Kiss With Their Eyes

Today the weather hasn't been exceptional and I have spent a little bit longer at home than I've been used to in the past days...
While wondering what to do that didn't involve watching silly TV programs, I decided to think about ideas for my blog.

I thought about something medical but I do really need a little break from medicine now that I have just finished my exams so I decided to go for one of my other passions which is cats.
I have loads of funny stories to tell about my furry angels (turning to monsters sometimes!) but I wanted something a bit more factual that would make this amazing animal a bit more known to people.

I found a lot of interesting facts about them which are both interesting and enlightening such as:
- The nose pad of a cat is ridged in a pattern that is unique, just like the fingerprint of a human
- A cat will almost never "meow" at another cat. This sound is reserved for humans
- A falling cat will always right itself in a precise order. First the head will rotate, then the spine will twist and the rear legs will align, then the cat will arch its back to lessen the impact of the landing
- Never feed your cat dog food. Cats need five times more protein than dogs do
- Cats are "righty" or "lefty" just like people

But the thing that really got my attention is that apparently cats kiss with their eyes!

I have noticed it in Sushi, Storm and even little India but I thought it was just my imagination, every pet owner thinks their pet has a loving look in their eyes... But, as it turns out, feline experts all agree on the fact that cats communicate with a slow blink.

With their own kind, it's a peace sign, meant to put other felines at ease.

When aimed at humans, their seductive blink shows affection and even love.

I wondered about it a few times especially with Storm. We got him as a scared little kitty never keen to be held or cuddled and then slowly handled and loved so much to turn him into one of the most loving cats I've ever owned... the twist in this change of behaviour? It only happens with me. He stares at me for hours, without failing, and even after he has been fed he still comes close and just sits close and looks at me with this loving stare in his eyes, slowly blinking.

People can definitely return the love with a long gaze and slow blink as to "blow a kiss" back to their cats using their own language. Well, now I know how to respond!

Smiles

Today the news said that this hot spell won't last much longer so I felt compelled to go out and enjoy it. I put on my summery pretty clothes, chose what music to load on my mp3 player and headed towards town for breakfast at Starbucks.
There are several dotted around the city centre but my favorite one in right on the opposite side from where I come in, I like that one because it allows me for the longest walk.

Under the news that our beloved rainy Scottish weather will be back soon (hurrah from the population of S.A.D. suffering individuals - for those not familiar with the acronym that stands for seasonal affective disorder... indeed SAD!!!) there was a little blob about the power of smiles. Not much, just a couple of lines saying that a smile is contagious...
I have always suspected it but today I was determined to put the theory to the test... and with a sun like this who wouldn't want to smile!

Have you ever noticed how the word "smile" itself actually assumes the position of a smile on your face after it has been pronounced?!

So I started my little uphill walk and I was indeed wearing my smile... And it became clear from the very first 5 minutes that the theory is right, smiles are contagious!
But they are so much more than just contagious...

I had people smiling back at me, I saw people who weren't smiling until when they saw me doing it and then kept on smiling after I had passed by, like if I had reminded them that even just the fact of smiling brings some glimpse of happiness into your day.
I had people nodding at me like in sign of approval, people whom I had never met before (and no, not creeps!).
I got even stopped by the local TV to be interviewed about my opinion on public transport here in Edinburgh and got told that, after looking around for a while, the crew thought I'd be a great person to talk to since I was obviously happy!

And I was!

Sun was shining, I was wearing something pretty, I had my favourite coffee in my hand and I was bringing smiles to my city...

Smiling makes other people happy and you make yourself happy too, I have tried it and I can vouch for it! Smiling is always your best option... now the only thing you have to do is to go out and try it yourself!

Hello Blackberry!

Blackberry is a fruit... why did they name a phone after a piece of fruit is really obscure to me...

I was trying to find a reasonable explanation for my brother about the name: "Erm... I suppose a blackberry fruit is black with little blobs... so the phone is black with a keyboard!"
Yeah well, sorry, that's the most intelligent thing I could come up with!!!


I have wanted a Blackberry since I can remember but it was not in the range my phone provider held so I always opted for other sort of phones. The one I have now is a touch screen one and it's mildly annoying since in winter my fingertips get so cold that the screen doesn't recognise the touch and I end up looking like a maniac trying to punch a message into the poor defenceless phone which doesn't really care!!!

Since my contract ended today I was due a phone upgrade. I went into the Orange shop and found out that the Blackberry is now available to get.
No-brainer decision there than... I'm getting one!!! Except... there are about 15 different types of blackberries to "pick"! Bold? Curve? Storm?
Since the name unequivocally leads me to think about the fruit, you can imagine I was relying on all my inside strength not to burst out laughing at the poor guy who was trying to explain the difference between the different "berries" as, in my head, I see them all hanging from a bush!!!

I asked for a few minutes alone with the handsets (you know... to think!), looked at them all, picked them up and tried to find differences that could be decisive in my choice but nope... not a clue!!!
Until when the sales guy must have realised that I was indeed unique (to say the least!!!) and had this eureka moment... Left my side, went into the back store and came back with him, the winner, the berry that stole my heart, that caught my little fashionable, terribly stylish Italian soul... The white Blackberry Bold!


And all of a sudden I saw how "Bold" and "berry" can go together, I saw he was different, a "berry" with a twist, and he was going to be mine!




So welcome into my life you beautiful, pearl white Blackberry, though you're albino and not black, I think you and me are special and we'll get along very well as long as you, of course, promise to always recognise the touch of your mistress!!!

A summer stroll...

Summer has to be my favourite season...
And no, it is not just because of the heat or the light though they most certainly are welcomed and very much enjoyed, I love summer because of what it brings out in people...

Today I went out for a little stroll with my brother... I love walking in Edinburgh, no matter how many times I go there I always manage to see something that captures my attention!
Today was not different.

While gently strolling through Princess gardens Dani and I stopped to admire how beautiful the outline of the main fountain was against the amazingly blue sky, absolutely breathtaking!


So we had to take a picture together right in front of it, and don't we look smashing?!



It's definitely quite a different experience from the crazy freezing walk we took on Christmas night when everything was icy and the streets were deserted...
Today was hot, not a cloud in the sky and there were so many people around, children playing in the gardens, splashing water from the fountain... People holding ice-creams, wearing smiles and like if they were at some kind of seaside resort, several walked around proudly without their t-shirts... aahhh... have to love Scotland for this, a ray of sun and people lose all sense of shame! They all wear sunglasses, all turn to the sun like sunflowers and all breathe in deep this rare moment of fullness...
And I feel right at home because that's exactly what I love about summer (though I refrained from walking around topless!)

And look who made its appearance!!! The tram was on Princes Street... Mind you, it wasn't going anywhere... but it was there nonetheless, as a gentle reminder to people that this madness is going ahead and we should all cheer for joy. There it was, Mr Tram in flesh and bones (or better in metal and glass) looking quite sleek and I have to say I'm not that impressed but I'm happy to know that at least something is happening on that front and I look forward to be proven wrong!

With all that heat and being about lunchtime Dani and I went into Browns on George Street for a full Scottish breakfast. I couldn't even eat half of what I ordered but Dani thoroughly enjoyed his while I was looking for something inspiring to photograph... and my eyes focused on my cranberry juice.
Have you ever noticed what an amazing colour it has?!... it looks quite like liquid rubies, the colour of a sunset on the Pacific Ocean ... so I had to take this picture and believe me, it was as tasty and refreshing as this picture looks!


After another little while we decided that the crowds were a bit too much and it was time to go back home for a little siesta (yes, we are Italian!) but not before taking one last cheeky picture of me and my new little acquaintance, resting in the sun, guarding the entrance to the gardens, providing entertainment for the kids and finally kindly accepting to become my friend...

What a lovely day Edinburgh has gifted me again with, never fails to surprise me!

Now what?

After a very stressful, very demanding time in my life I found myself resting for a few days with really nothing much ahead to have to think of...
And everything is organised, everything has a slow pace, everything is just not a source of worry... and I find myself wondering where all the big problems I couldn't get my head around just a few days ago went...

When all is suddenly still, after the world was spinning so fast you felt mildly sick just trying to keep your head above the water, you can't help but ask "What now?"

No more exams to prepare, no surgery to think of , no hospitals shifts to attend, no lectures to follow...
And your mind is free to actually look objectively at all those little issues that came with the "big guns" and that added to the stress and that obviously had NO solution no matter from how many perspectives you tried to look at them.

And now they're vanished... or better they're still there but they are not menacing anymore...

Now it's so clear what is the right thing to do, now that the walls have been teared down you realise your strength, your place, your path...

And the only acceptable answer to the "What now?" question can only be "Now ME!"

From the patient's side...

Well, here I am, back and with the intention of being back for a while!
Stress is over, school's out and I have nothing but summer ahead...
And loads, and I mean LOADS, of time to look around and get inspired for new blog posts. Goodness knows how much I have missed writing...

So here goes, my first post in way too long!

I have just arrived home from a short stay at the hospital... Just a few hours, from 7.30am till 6pm. I had a little procedure done, nothing serious or worrying at all but best for my health, I suppose.
"Normal" people wouldn't worry about stuff like this, "normal" people would laugh about the procedure and "normal" people probably wouldn't even notice the needle...

But I'm not NORMAL and I am a needle phobic.

So I stressed about this for the past 6 months, stressed to a level that affected my studies, my life and my relationships.
Don't take me wrong, a few more things came with the needle phobia that were heavy stressors, but definitely that didn't help!

However, me being me, I always look for the bright side of the situation and this had to be that I got to see "the other side" of my profession, the patient side...

It's all good to power through procedures, paperwork, explanations, drugs, observations and clinical notes when you're a medic... So easily forgetting that what is pure routine, daily bread and butter for you is actually a possibly distressing, very rare event in somebody else's life.

Today was my turn... I did experience all aspects of the journey and every single one of them taught me something.

I do see now why support is the key to success.
I had my brother with me and that made a big difference in the way I was feeling. As brave as one tries to be, having a loving familiar face around truly gives the surroundings a brighter hue.

The waiting room was nice and inviting and the group of us all having to get the same thing done smiled at each other with some sort of understanding.

Once in the ward privacy was assured around each bed and the surgeon and anaesthetist came around to say hi and ask a few questions.

I had seen the surgeon a few times before getting to this point and seeing his smiling, reassuring face was definitely a high of the morning. Not like I really thought that morning had any highs at all, seen my fear, but at least I was sure he knew what he was about to do and that made me feel a heck of a lot better!

Then was the turn of the anesthetist to whom I told about my extreme fear of needles and he said he could actually put me on general gas anaesthesia and then put the needle in once I was "over the edge".
It took me a while to assimilate the concept of "over the edge", imagining all sort of things ranging from extremely scary to hysterically funny but what I can tell you is that, after finding out that I wouldn't even see a needle, my pressure dropped down to normal from a very worrying high!
Now it makes so much sense when I learn in class that stress can lead to some serious problems.
I have experienced it, I'll remember when I deal with my patients.

The staff in the ward was amazing, to the point that when I said I was freezing they got me under the covers and hooked up to a warming machine... I didn't even know such thing existed but it did me a world of good (even if I could only stay in this cocoon for 5 minutes as my turn arrived for surgery).

The trip to theatre was sweet, with a nurse holding me. There is no written rule about it besides understanding what the patient wants. I needed protection, she offered me hers... and I was grateful.

The anaesthesia room all of a sudden was huge! But it is only huge when seeing it from lying on a trolley cot. I have been in several ones as a staff member... oh how the perspective changes totally when you're the patient!
You notice the bleeps of the machines, the different drug vials laying in order the counter, you notice the typical smell, that of iodine, that always lingers in this area, the tubes of the machines, the cotton balls, the tape that you already know will end up on your eye lids, you notice that there are so many people around you... too many!!!
I'll remember this as well... too much of a crowd is unsettling and for a little bit I felt like that...

So I loved the anaesthetist humour teaching me how to get high (though in this case I should say low!) on gases. I felt like a kid... "Let's play a game Dona, breathe in, hold your breath... the longer you hold it, the sooner you'll fly!" Fly??? Where?? Off the trolley... He smiled at me and then I heard the noise fade and everything went fuzzy, the world was all of a sudden gentle and about two seconds later I felt the so distinctive pressure of the blood pressure machine's cuff tightening around my arm... Surely I shouldn't be awake enough to feel that...

...Oh but I should!!! Because almost 3 hours have passed from when I walked down to theatre, I've been out of there for 8 minutes and apparently, while still half asleep, I managed to ask for some chocolate cake to be brought in just for me... Not once, not twice but three awesome times!!!
If it wasn't that the word "shame" rarely features in my vocabulary, this would have been the perfect moment to experience it... too bad it just isn't me!!!
I was back up in the ward about 20 minutes later, much sooner that they expected me to be. I'm sure that's thanks to all the loving prayers my friends have said for me in the past weeks. I surprised everybody with an incredible speedy recovery from the anaesthetic, I drank, I ate and I walked in a way that is hardly seen after surgery so I'm thankful to everyone... God is exceptionally good to me!

The nurses were so caring, bordering motherly and eventually I did get my chocolate. Though it wasn't cake I had about 5 squares of deliciously filled blocks and just sat on the bed to enjoy the virtual cuddles coming in from my friends through phone messages. Technology can be such a blessing!

I peaked under the night gown to see if the surgeon was a liar such as the nurse promising me the heparin injection in my tummy would just be a little scratch and instead had me screaming from pain and then bent for the next 20 minutes from the burning...
The surgeon promised me he wouldn't leave a scar... I looked... He didn't lie! Hero!!!
I remember one of the first things I heard him telling me was "If a surgeon is not vain about his work than run!" Man was I happy to have him as my own personal guardian angel...
There is absolutely nothing that can be seen, not even a dressing, I only have a tiny steri-strip looking back at me disappointed as I'm not taking it too seriously!!! In retrospective, it was doing its job properly and still is...

One other thing that was engraved in my head today is that patients want to be told the truth. and whatever you say can indeed be "used against you" in any further conversation.
Tell the truth, don't sugar coat it... be empathetic AT ALL TIMES but don't tell only half the truth. The nurse said the injection wouldn't hurt, she said it knowing very well that heparin burns a lot, and it was agony (well, agony for me!)... Not fair towards the patient... A little scratch doesn't cut it, I'm not a kid! Anybody would appreciate "this will burn a bit" rather than a lie, at least you're mentally prepared... don't end up jumping on the chair, especially after I told her how afraid I was of needles!
Routine sayings should be abolished! Some injections are a little scratch, some are hell, man up and say it!!!

Though, in the name of fairness, I also have to admit that the ward was full, she was really busy, I was most probably a little pain in the rear side and she was superb in anything else from walking me to theatre, checking on me constantly and getting me chocolate!
Because of this she's forgiven... and to be honest, it would be lovely to have her by my side should anything else happen to me.

This could have been a very bad experience but it wasn't and it's all thanks to the amazing staff that took care of me, every single one of them.
And that's the sort of doctor I would like to become one day, one able to encompass all the caring qualities I've been shown by everyone today.

Anyway, on the way home my brother Dani and I stopped at Blockbuster because I have been saying since when the academic year stared that, during my long summer break I would have finally caught up with movies, TV series and -after all the hard work- just mindless activities for a while.
... and since I'm forced to be under "house arrests", legally well drugged up for a few days, I guess the 20 books I still have to read and the 6 DVDs I got are going to be my time fillers! :-))

Well, I've had a few interesting weeks running up to today so I know how it feels to be stressed and a bit powerless... I've had a very enlightening day in regards to what are the annoying and reassuring bits of a surgical procedure so I can safely say that, after having been "on the other side", I definitely know this was an experience worth living for the priceless learning aspect of it! I'm sure this will make me just that little bit more of a better doctor in the future...

And this, my dear communication skills lecturers, makes for an amazing piece of reflective writing!!!

Mediocrity

Mediocrity... Is something I don't understand...

Mediocrity, the way I see it, is not reaching your full potential as a person. Unfortunately I see a lot of it and it has nothing to do with not having the possibility.
If you do your best with what you're given you're not mediocre, if you put everything you have into a dream, a project, an idea than you've defeated mediocrity... But if you continually find excuses not to get out of something that you don't like, than you fulfill the stereotype... completely!

The dictionary defines a mediocre person as "not exceptional in any way especially in quality or ability, size or degree" but to me it goes beyond that... There are so many people out there that live half way between where they were placed and where they could be.
They choose to achieve only a part of what they have the potential to do and sit there complaining of how they don't like the situation they are in, or even worse thinking they are better than those around them.

It's not what you have that brings you out of mediocrity - you can still be a very mediocre filthy rich person - but your value as a human being is completely wasted.

Too many people are happy to just sit in the middle, choosing to be a half-hearted professional, member of the family, worker, believer, atheist, performer, participant in this life...
I'd have a lot more respect for them if I'd see them putting everything they have and are into developing any of these sides as much as I may not agree with some of them.
What are you doing with your gifts? Are they making you a better person? What are you contributing to what is surrounding you?

Mediocrity is the easy way out of everything. A mediocre being absorbs what it can but without giving anything in return... I much more like those "glow-in-the-dark" stickers, they don't make it obvious that they are collecting light but when the darkness comes they shine through because they are able to utilise it when it's needed.

A better person will use the ability he/she has been gifted with to make something of them. These are row materials to be used and it takes work to transform them into something of value... if you dare you breach the wall of mediocrity, if you work for it, even if it's hard, you're the better one off, if you are not afraid of giving it your best shot, even if it looks impossible, than it doesn't matter if you make it or not, it's what spark you put back in the life that has been given to you that makes you shine as the person you are now choosing NOT to be...

Get up from your bottom, have the courage to take the steps it takes to better yourself in whatever field you need to, don't settle with 99% if you can get 100% because, even if 99% is an excellent achievement, if you have the potential of getting to 100% and you don't than you're still mediocre!

Ode to Starbucks

I'm sitting in Union Square which, for those of you who are not familiar with NYC, is a little bit like "everything-you-can-find-in-the-city-concentrated-in-just-a-few-square-meters" sort of place... Around the square you can find to name a few: a make-up shop, a whole food shop, a shoe shop, an acting academy, a pet shop, a few clothing shops and lots more,,, basically, if you never wanted to move anywhere once you got here this would be the place to place your tent in and just enjoy!
In the middle of the square there is a park, all around there are very often market stalls selling foods and all sorts of other things and then, of course, there are 3 Starbucks... And I mean, THREE!
I'm sitting in one of them and I thought, being in the land of USA, I had to write about such a staple!
I got to know Starbucks in Europe, funny enough... But it's only after I started to travel over to the US that I realised the mass phenomenon that this "coffee shop" chain represents... And I did have to put coffee shop in inverted commas because Starbucks is so much more than that!
Coffees are indeed sold but that's just the background of the full operation, what I would call the "bucks"... ah but the "Star" is something else!!!
The "Star" is the people meeting in here, to chat about happiness and disappointment over a warm drink, the people who come in to warm up in a freezing day and those who come in to escape the boiling heat of a mid-summer afternoon...

The Star is also the opportunity one has to use free Internet...
"Well, what's the big deal?" You may think... Many other places offer that as well...
Ah yes, but there is a Starbucks pretty much at every corner of every street... It's like a faithful friend you know you can rely on wherever you go. And that of course mean every little corner of the world... how convenient!

And then there's the food... The dozens of different sizes, flavours, colours, calories, shapes and funny name ones... Watching your line? If you get the reduced-fat-double-cinnamon- little-swirl you are only getting about 200 calories compared with the amazing chocolate-vanilla-envy-pound-cake that will bill you about 350 of them...
And it's all written down for you, so you don't blame them for getting fat... you know, like they do with McDonalds!!!

And if you go on the Starbuck's website you have the whole specification of every single ingredient, percentage, weight, and anything else you can think of for every single drink they offer.

I tried the Dark Cherry Mocha today for the first time... Maybe if I had gone to the website and realised the amount of calories and fat it carries I wouldn't have bought it but, after all, one must try everything in life and so I did!

I do understand the big fuss over the drink... it does things to you (like my friend Ben says!)
namely it warms your thoughts, it transports you into a cherry blossom garden, it embraces you with this sweet but not too potent fragrance and then the coffee aroma hits you and you realise that the little smile building up on your lips really is a gift of Starbucks...

Maybe I'm a bit biased in my opinion... There are many excellent coffee shops (much much better than any Starbucks!) with home baked goodies and not mass produced like here...But come on, let's be honest, at least the green round sign symbol of this big giant, always guarantees what you'll be getting and that's a place to relax, have a great chat with friends, offer you comfy seats, and maybe, just maybe, bring you somewhere else like it did with me...

Junior WHAT?!?

So here I am, back in glamorous NYC to attend an unexpected seminar at the now familiar Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

The trip over has been a little adventurous... Starting with almost missing my connection flight in Paris because of delays due to snow (yes we got snow in Edinburgh at the end of March!) and my suitcase getting misplaced by the airline resulting in me having to frantically look late at night for something half professional (yet stylish!) to wear at the seminar today... Not like I'm complaining since Air France will be refunding the money spent!

This said I at least managed to arrive on time at the hospital this morning without getting lost at all (I'm getting good at this NYC living madness!) to register for the seminar and joined the line to get my name badge.

For those of you following my academic path, I am actually still a med-student and though I have been studying around medicine for a few years, I have only started at St Andrews in September and am 2 and a bit full years from getting any sort of a degree... basically I am nobody you should trust yet!

Apparently the American bunch doesn't think so as when I got handed my badge for the day my face almost dropped at the title "Junior Doctor - UK"

Junior WHAT?!?
Oh dear!!!

Taken completely by surprise I stood there wondering if it was the case to actually rectify the obvious mistake made... I so wish I was a junior doctor but well, I still have quite a way to go and certainly I don't deserve the title... though something at the back of my mind told me it would be really cool to walk around the hospital and have people looking at that badge and think "Wow, she's a doctor!" (like they would... ;-)) and what harm could it do since I'm not expected to talk to anybody or touch anything anyway today?!

So I decided to shut up and live in the illusion that for a day I actually knew a lot more than I do... Except it didn't last long... My incredibly honest conscience had the best of me and, 10 minutes and 4 curious people later, I headed to the registration desk to point out that I was not ALAS, a doctor yet!
The lady looked at me in complete bewilderment and said "Oh, but you are!"
"Erm, no..." I tried to explain "I wish I was but I am not..."
She gave me a big smile and kindly explained to me that a Junior Doctor here is actually a doctor in training, someone who has completed the first stage of training and passed their interview and been accepted into the program I'm following...

"Ah!" that was just about all I managed to say... So I found out that after all a "Junior doctor" here is the equivalent of what a "Baby doctor" would be in the UK
I always knew Americans have to do things bigger!!!

So I did spend the day proudly wearing my badge and for a few hours I felt a bit like Dr House, though he's an MD (but maybe here I'll be an MD next year and it will mean something completely different!!)

Cat Nap!

Have you ever fallen asleep at work, at school, at a rock concert?
Well, believe it or not, I've done all three!

And lately I've been struggling a bit to keep my eyes open in the afternoon, just after lectures, when the lunch break has finished and that amazing concept that is the afternoon siesta seems such a wonderful idea... after all I'm Italian and we do that at home!

So I've delved into some serious research of why (besides the gruesome exam revision schedule I've compiled for myself) should I feel so tired always at the same time of the day and see if I could find a reasonable answer.

Well, it turns out that "It's all part of your body's biological circadian rhythm that defines your sleep and wake cycles," says Michael Breus, a clinical psychologist, board-certified sleep specialist.
According to Breus, your body experiences a drop in core temperature and mental alertness about eight hours after awakening; this is similar to what you experience before bedtime... it's science!

Aha!!!
So it's not just me being lazy
But why Nap?

I find out that naps have been shown scientifically to benefit almost every aspect of human wellness, from lowering your risk of heart disease and repairing cells to the more obvious ones of lifting your mood and stamina, knocking down stress and making you more productive. And because naps can do that they can help you live longer, stay more active and look younger....

Nap to stay young?! That's an argument I'll support!!!
But there is more...
Apparently brain activity stays high throughout the day with a nap while without one, it declines as the day wears on and napping benefits don't even stop there!

By sharpening your motor skills and neuromuscular coordination, napping can make you better at just about anything you do, from dancing and playing the piano to driving a car, making quick decisions, responding to stimuli or danger, exploring the Internet, and typing frantically on a computer like I'm doing now...

Behold the power of napping!
So the nap is making its case as a beneficial part of our UK culture too!
Whether you call it a cat nap, power nap, kip or siesta, you can now have a true scientific reason to go to Sleepytown, population: YOU!

And if those around you give you much grief, suggest that someone sounds grumpy and needs a nap.
Anyway, researching this article was exhausting -- I think I'll grab a little shut-eye joining my 3 kitties that have already adapted delightfully to my new findings and are enthusiastic supporters of these new ideas... yawn... Goodnap.

Stowaway

Following the suggestion of a dear friend I have decided to post a funny story just to let the world know I am indeed alive, if a tad busy with life!

So, two days ago I was running late as usual on my timetable getting ready for university.
Make-up on, half dressed, hair still wet from the shower but with my backpack already packed from the night before so at least I didn't have to worry about that... Except, I still needed to put the flask with my soup in.

Oh dear! Run to the fridge, choose the soup, warm it in the microwave, put it in the flask and put the flask in the bag.

Almost ready to go now...

Shoes on, hair almost dry, a last touch of lipstick and off I go to pick up the bag.
Up on my shoulders and... why is it so heavy?!? Never mind, must be just that I'm tired!

Eh... did it just move?!?

Right, bag off my shoulders, I notice I didn't close the zipper properly... Opening big enough to allow... No, it can't be... Or maybe yes...

Open the bag... and yes, there HE was...
I found my little stowaway in my backpack!!!

"Were you thinking of coming with me to uni?" I rhetorically asked...
The answer is a loud, proud purr... And of course no movement hinting that he had any intention to come out of the bag.

Sushi, my little monster got so close to get taken into an anatomy lecture today that I really wonder (having already found him once playing with my stethoscope) if he's pursuing a medical career same as me!

Sorry little one, you'll have to stay home for now but I promise to share all my notes with you as soon as I'm home!

You snooze, you lose...

... and in this case it's meant literally!!!

I got news that a group of geeky friends have invented an alarm clock that donates your money for every minute longer you'll spend in bed... oh dear!!!

This clever clock is on sale in the US through ThinkGeek and it has an unpronounceable name such as Sn?zN?z.
It is connected directly to your bank account and, when you buy it, you have the option of choosing who will receive the money and the amount given.
Every time you'll hit the snooze button (the one that allows you to spend a few more minutes in bed before ringing again) sleeping will become expensive and possibly the thought of it is likely to get you out of bed fast!

To maximise the "speed"effect I'd suggest choosing someone you don't particularly like as the receiver of your money, this may really get you on time to that all important date you have with your office desk in the morning... Anything rather than giving money to someone you loathe!

Or alternatively you could choose a charity, and then, maybe, cheekily be able to convince your friends that you're not really a lazy person, you just have a good heart and stay in bed for a good cause!!! ;-)

Good luck with that!!!

I did it my way...

When I set off to NY I had great ideas in mind blog-wise...
I was sure I'd get to every evening with so many things to comment on and manage a great post on all experiences.

But as it usually is the case, not all the best laid plans turn out the way you want them to...
Indeed I got to each evening with my head full of ideas but also there was so much more to these two weeks than just telling the world what I had been up to... So many characters I met, many places I saw, many things I experienced (and so much exhaustion!) that it turned out impossible to make an account of every single thing I did during the day...
So I have decided to write posts about random stuff I'd come across and then, only at the end of my stay, make a whole general post about my two weeks in the Big Apple.

Since I didn't want this to sound like a shopping list, instead of mentioning every single place I've been to, I'll tackle whatever I did by feelings... I hope this will make it even more fun for you to read.

To start with I had fun, and loads of it!
Fun because I was with a friend who is like a brother to me and sharing things with "family" always makes them special. We wandered all over Manhattan and a bit outside too, went ice-skating at Central Park and oh it was quite sore when I fell!
Fun when after a 4 hour tour of the Rockefeller Centre, NBC Studios and Observation Deck we finally got out on a different side of the raod from where we went in and looking at the building we didn't even recognise it though we had been in for such a long time!
Fun trying to emulate poses and looks of the Broadway show billboards, taking pictures everywhere, meeting new and old friends for some good NY banter, and definitely fun experiencing the local cuisine. I had a pretzel for the first time and Umby had some cheesecake...
And the inescapable Starbucks that literally haunts every single street corner and that inevitably became our favourite breakfast meeting place.
Fun experiencing the real NY with the best tour guide ever, Laura! She has been such a source of inspiration, laughter and definitely adventure!



Then we got emotional!
Because of the homeless people in the street, because of the awful "fashion furs" trend that people seem to wear more and more especially in the city, at the poorer areas in NY, at the cold we suffered that made us think how fortunate we were, having to experience it just for a short time while there are people around who have no choice...
Emotional under the Statue of Liberty and its meaning and at Ellis island and all it represents.
In its big lounges it was almost possible to still hear the voices of the people who spent many days there, sometimes weeks not knowing what was going to happen, sometimes being separated from their families, ready to start a new life in a completely unknown place and realising how the "American dream" for many turned out not to be a dream at all...
We got very emotional at Ground Zero, the place where the two twin towers stood once and though they are rebuilding new skyscrapers we could only bare the sight of it for a few minutes and then had to leave...

Then it got serious!
Thinking about the future, where our roads will take us, where we come from... serious reading all the little signs our wonderful God put on our paths. My med-school, Umby's performing career, the hospital, the Lee Strasberg school... What is it going to be? Are we making the right choices and what are we leaving behind?
And then, is it really up to us? Though one still can't help but wonder...




Then it was frustrating!
(...or maybe not too much...) trying to figure out how to get somewhere using the subway which is very straightforward once you understand how it works... though it takes some time to get used to...
And then all the madness every time we got close to any sort of landmark: take off your jacket, take off your scarf, your shoes, your belt, open your bag, stand over here, no, that's too close, go back a bit, don't move, don't talk and sometimes don't even breathe!
"Do you have anything explosive on you?" Erm... let me think... NO!
Go there, come here, show me your passport, ticket and even your eyes...
And then you can get all your stuff back to start the whole thing again just as you go round the corner.
I understand that security is very important and if we did find annoying having to go through all that just a few times, imagine the poor guards who have to say the same thing day in day out to thousands of visitors... No wonder they sound a bit mechanic in their dealings!!!

And last but not least, it was heart-warming!
Thanks to Umby, Laura, Luca, Giorgia, Lara, Silvia, Stefania, Francesca, Tad, the friends at the pizzeria Keste' (who despite the exotic spelling make possibly one of the best Italian pizza you'll eat in NY!)
Their kindness, their friendship, their smiles made these two weeks absolutely exceptional and we already can't wait to go back in July and for a whole month


There is still so much of the Big Apple that needs to be bitten and we thoroughly look forward to it!

Limelight

Tonight I made arrangements to meet a few friends for dinner.
It's restaurant week in New York when all the most expensive, most renowned, most famous restaurants open their doors to the "commoners" and for a mere $35 one can get a 3 course dinner. Even though one shouldn't forget to still add the cost of drinks, taxes and tips the experience is well worth it!

So, for such a special occasion I decided to dress up to my best!
Since when I arrived in NY two weeks ago I have been wearing nothing but jeans (safe the suit I had on today at the medical conference) so the pretty and floaty skirt I choose for such a night feels just right.

I put on my make-up, gorgeous dangling earrings, do my nails, a touch a sparkling body cream, black stilettos on and none of these Hollywood actresses has anything on me!
As I start walking down the road I catch a glimpse of myself reflected in the American Eagle shop window and I smile, I look good! And of course the "Italian-from-Milan" princess inside me is fairly content.

I even manage to collect a couple of compliments as I walk towards the restaurant and though of course I don't respond (ladies never do!), I nod in self-approval...

But, as I bask in this moment of happiness, with my head in the clouds, surrounded by the bright lights of Times Square, I completely forget that I am wearing a skirt and walk straight on to one of those subway grids...
Yeah...
You guessed it...
My skirt lifted right up to my head and it took me a while to realise what was going on!!!
So this time instead of a couple of comments I get a full blown applause and cheers from the people who were in Times Square assisting to a charity concert for Haiti!!!

Could I have picked a more inappropriate moment to do such a thing?!? Possibly not!!!
Me being me I'm sure my face (and hopefully just that!) will be remembered for time to come here in the theatre district!

Oh well, I got my 5 minutes of glory in Manhattan, not many people can say that... but I'm back in my jeans already and will stay that way till when I'll get used to the evil subway drafts (or learn to watch where I go!)

The power of the mind

While checking the news form the medical world today I came across this rather interesting article that according to me put things right back in perspective where they belong.

The article explains of a new method used that unlocked communication with patients trapped in a vegetative state. Apparently scientists have been able to reach into the mind of a brain-damaged man and communicate with his thoughts.

This state of awareness was also detected in other patients who had been diagnosed as being in a vegetative state.

Without going too deep into the mechanics of this system it is sufficient to say that the method uses functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging that shows brain activity in real time.
It was thought till today that patients in a vegetative state are awake, not in a coma, but have no awareness because of severe brain damage.

A control group was asked to do some basic motor "imagery" association such as imagining to play tennis or imagining to be just roaming the streets.
As different parts of the brain are activated when we do vigorous movement and when we don't the doctors associated the tennis game with a "yes" answer and the roaming with a "no" answer and were able to make contact with the patients who then managed to answer several questions this way.

Besides considerations on the fact that this method will be able to allow communication with patients on what way to go with their future treatment, it also opens the doors to deeper considerations such as termination of life.

Too many times the life-aiding machines are switched off because it is thought that there is nothing else to do. Too many times communication with the patients is given up because we can't understand what is being said... Out of 60 patients tested with this method, 43% were able to communicate (with 100% success in accuracy of their answers interpretation)

So, though it's still early days, though research still needs to be perfected and pursued, this just goes to show how quick sometimes we are in dismissing the power of our mind!

Overheard in New York

One has to love New York and its people... There is such a variety of ideas, cultures, backgrounds and humour that it is almost impossible to go around town and not pay attention to conversations of those passing by, especially if like me you love to learn the local "stuff".


Yesterday has been a day full of jems... I heard a few more but these four really put a smile on my face.... I'm sure it'll be just the same for you!




Black guy on the street: Hey girl! You lookin' fine... I'm gonna do things to you... Yup, lots of... things!
His friend: Like, what you gonna do to her?
Black guy on the street: Things man, I said things!!
- In Union Square


Dad: Don't tell me what to do, you're not the boss.
Little daughter: You're not the boss too!
Dad: Then who's the boss?
Little daughter: Obama is the boss!
- At 46th & 7th


Older lady to a little barking dog: Shut up! This is not your sidewalk!
- In Times Square


Middle-aged woman: So, is she like, skinny pregnant?
Friend: Yeah, she looks like a model
Middle-aged woman: Good! There is just no excuse to gain weight during pregnancy!
- In Starbucks at the Rockefeller Centre

The new Alcatraz

The name Alcatraz brings to mind the famous prison holding the most dangerous criminals and from which allegedly it was impossible to escape.
With this in mind it is possible to see why scientists have chosen this name for an encyclopedia that analyses all bacteria causing hospital infections.

This idea of listing all characteristics of every single bacterium responsible for hospital infections started at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. They decided to catalogue the DNA sequence of each and every single bacterium in such a way that it will be possible to compare it with those already present in a database. This process will be fundamental in helping to understand the history of the infection and what caused it.

In this way it should be easier to decide what antibiotic to prescribe to cure the infection as some bacteria have now developed a high resistance to some of them.
Many pharmaceutical companies are also adhering to this program to help create antibiotics able to wipe out any sort of infection.




This however is only one of the options that university research is exploring...

Another breakthrough discovery arrived from the university of Parma, in Italy, where researchers unlocked the principle behind dental caries sequencing the entire bacterium responsible, the Bifidobacterium dentium. It was hard to understand how a bacterium that is normally located in the intestine could survive in the oral cavity: by analysing its genes, it was seen how instead it could metabolise sugars in the saliva and resist to the active ingredients of toothpaste and cause damage to the teeth.


From all of these researches was born Alcatraz - the Genomic Encyclopedia of Bacteria and Archaea. Ideally this encyclopedia will manage to list all microorganisms present on the earth collecting data on each one's DNA...

One would hope that security would make it more difficult to "escape" from there than from the real Alcatraz!

Runner up, and up, and up...

If the thought of a broken escalator fills you with dread you may consider staying away from the race I'm talking about!

Today people from 19 states and 17 different countries met in the lobby of the Empire State building for the annual Run-Up race from the foyer to the Observation Deck located on the 86th floor. The race covers 1576 steps... Now, I don't know about you but when sometimes the elevator in my building is broken I really don't relish the idea of climbing the steps to get to the 5th floor... But to the 86th?!? This event isn't really calling my name out loud!


This said it is quite typical of the extremes you can encounter in a city like NY where anything is "normal" and everything moves at such a pace that it takes a while for your head to stop spinning.

There was no shortage on New Yorkers who completed this race under intriguing circumstances and my appreciation goes to Ginette Bedard who completed the race in only 22:35, Ginette is 76, of French origins and she apparently just said "Oh la la!" once she finally reached the top... what a legend!

Safe for emergencies the ESB's staircase is only open once a year on this occasion so the runners always race through stale air and with a cloud of dust at every step. Considering how freezing and humid the air is at the 86th floor the runners end up racing into a big cloud and all remarked how wonderful that is.

This is an invitation only run and people wishing to participate should contact the New York Road Runners Club stating they wish to join... As much as I'm in awe of the people attempting the race, something tells me that I won't look up their number anytime in the near future though...

Every girl's dream!

This afternoon, my friend Laura and I had to go and personally check out the 18th Annual Hot Chocolate Festival at the City Bakery.

I have to say that us girls did it out of the major sense of duty that drives us, going to sacrifice our line to gain knowledge on this very important event and spread the word.

Since 18 years, almost every day of the month of February there is a new flavour of hot chocolate (only 3 flavours are repeated) lovingly prepared and offered to the public...
To my surprise (NOT!) the majority of the people in line for the tasting were girls...

Here is this year's list of days and flavours:

1st - Lemon
2nd - Chili Pepper
3rd - Chinese Cinnamon
4th - Espresso
5th - Ginger
6th - Banana Peel
7th - Caramel
8th - Vanilla Bean
9th - Earl Grey Tea
10th - Moulin Rouge (pomegranate, espresso, dark chocolate, lemon)
11th - Tropical
12th - Bourbon
13th - Milk Chocolate
14th - Love Potion
15th - Vietnamese Cinnamon
16th - Hi Ho Pistachio
17th - Milk Chocolate
18th - Darkest Dark Chocolate
19th - Creamy Stout
20th - Happy
21st - Sunken Treasure
22nd - Ginger
23rd - Arabian Nights (cinnamon, liquorice, cardamon, pepper, coriander and a variety of tea leaves)
24th - Ode To The Polar Bear
25th - Beer & Brown Sugar
26th - Shangri-La
27th - Banana Peel
28th - Festival Finale (TBD)

If you are wondering about some of the favours such as Ode to the polar bear or Sunken treasure they are a mystery to me as well... :-S

On arrival we are greeted by chunky marshmallow curtains... I have never seen a marshmallow that big and wonder what would ever happen to them if I dared taking them home to my furry kitty friends... something tells me they wouldn't last long (and yes, I'm referring to the curtains not to my pests...)

That's quite fascinating though possibly not very practical to keep...

The bakery is big and it's starting to get crowded. It's that time of the day when a cup of tea (in this case of hot chocolate) is a need more than a want and people coming out from their offices, or in town for any reason, would think it a good idea to join the queue for a gulp of this rich, thick and perfumed treasure to warm the soul.

Today it's Lemon Hot Chocolate day and my brain rebels at the idea of anything citrusy mixed with anything milky but I also think that it must be something worth trying if it's the flavour chosen to open the festival... After all, one wouldn't want to scare the clients away on the first day!!!

So Laura and I shoot a quick video with our cameras at the entrance for Laura's Blog and get in.
Laua's blog is in Italian but, if you have even a basic understanding of the language, it's well worth a visit as all of NYC best hidden secrets are revealed!

We immediately notice the TV crew of Channel 4 news on site to report the event, this must be really good!

We join the line of people waiting and finally, when after a very long while a lady comes to ask us if we still had to pay, we realise that we were standing in the wrong spot and completely skipped a massive queue extending all around the main counter on the other side of where we were standing... I know this may sound typical Italian but this is actually typical of Laura and Dona... no bad intentions, just a bit ditzy!!!!

We order our chocolates and I say yes to a marshmallow because I belong to the school of thought that if one has to sin, the sin has to be worth to be committed!

When the cups arrive this is what we see:

The marshmallow in my chocolate is a white brick, same as the one they used for the curtains. Should I eat it? When I finally decide to pull it out from the chocolate my fingers feel the softness of the texture, my nose smells the very distinctive vanilla perfume it gives off and when I bite into it, it just perfectly melts in my mouth... I have never tasted anything like that... and to top it off it starts to offer me a bit of that lemon flavour my hot chocolate is supposed to taste of.

And I'm surprised... very pleasantly I must say!

Against all odds, lemon and chocolate marry extremely well, the drink is soothing, a bit exotic and I do polish the mug till the very last drop.

Unfortunately I have to go back to the UK on the 6th February but if the rest of the month is anything like today I may even consider go plea with Air France to move my departure date to the 1st of March and beg my classmates to take notes of all the medical lectures I'd miss during the month... After all life is made of priorities and who could ever deny that something like this is every girl's dream?!?

The strange case of the missing towels

The hotel I'm staying at in NY (The Paramount) is amazing. Located just half a block from Times Square, this is the ideal location to enjoy sightseeing, fine dining, great shows and a fabulous atmosphere.

I don't have a bad word to say about anything. The room is spotless, the location great, the staff super friendly, the wi-fi really fast... except... I have been missing towels for a week now.

For some strange reason every night I come back from my day out and I have to call in at the front desk and report that the towels are missing from my room... And every night, just about 5 minutes after my chat to the front house manager a housekeeper knocks at my door with a warm set of fresh towels...

Still, it is beyond me how I had to ask for them for 6 nights in a row.

I'm annoyed, frustrated and to be honest also a bit baffled at this continuous lack of attention from the housekeeping department.

Have I upset anyone in such a way I deserve to be left without towels? Is my room under a spell and it becomes invisible when the housekeeping girls replenish the towel supply? Do they think I only need to shower once a week????
I'm puzzled to say the least!

Last night I even heard the front of the house manager speak to the housekeeping manager and giving her strict instructions on how to make sure I have towels in my room at all times... So why do I never have them?!?

Tonight again I'm towel-less when I return from a hard day out shopping, so I go and speak to lovely Amanda, the manager. I am not amused but keep it decent as I know it's not her fault. There MUST be a problem somewhere, I can't believe this is happening in such a hotel and after so many reports.

Five minutes later the housekeeper brings in new towels, five minutes after that Amanda shows up at my door to inspect the room and with her there is a guy from room service bringing in goodies to help quiet my frustration (ice-cream and hot chocolate, a girl's dream!!!)

Look here, look there and the towels are nowhere to be seen... Until... Amanda walks to the very end of the bathroom, looks straight in the mirror, tilts her head slightly to the left side and says: "Oh, but they are here!"

Here? Here where? Where in the name of goodness are these towels?!
"Here -she says- behind the mirror!"

BEHIND THE MIRROR?!?!

Yes, behind the mirror... and I:

1) Feel like an idiot for every single time I went to complain for the lack of towels in my room
2) Cringe at the potent laughter I know this post will raise with my followers
3) Know that I may look like a numpty to everyone present in the room at this moment but cradle my shattered ego in the concept that how in the world was I supposed to find the towels behind the mirror anyway?
4) Can't wait for everyone to leave me alone with the goodies they have brought up because, even if I possibly don't deserve them, I am fairly pleased I got them
5) Think that maybe tomorrow I may go down and see Amanda at the front desk asking for towels just so I don't lose the habit!