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Loading ...Hello there my small but loyal readers…you came back! 
Actually, there has been major crap going down over here that has been distracting me in the worst way. I really vented in the last post, and while things aren’t 100% settled, the outlook is at least more positive, even if I don’t have everything go my way. I have at least gotten confirmation from the associate dean that he honestly supports everything in spirit and will do what he can. In the end, that goes a long way, so I’m better off now, but I had to work for it.
Unfortunately, others don’t see it the same way. I really don’t want to post another negatively-themed topic because I do have positive things to share, but I have to get this off my chest first. Feel free to skip if you don’t want to be shown the underbelly of dealing with medical student immaturity, particularly those from a foreign med school where, let’s face it, fair or unfair, they don’t always have the cream of the crop.
One of the meeting places for a lot of foreign medical schools is ValueMD. UAG has a forum there, but it’s pretty uninformative; the Carribean schools dominate this site. Last weekend I literally got a call from my wife saying, “They’re talking about us on ValueMD.” “What?!” I asked incredulously. “That’s impossible, I don’t post there.” Well, sure enough, there was a thread surrouding yours truly and calls attention to what I basically wrote here. It was started by a classmate who might be going through similar issues and has tried before to get absences excused to no avail, so it was more than just fear-mongering on his part. I don’t share the same opinions about everything that he wrote, but the sentiment and facts are true.
Well, imagine my surprise when I read replies such as the following:
First, no one told anyone to get his wife, girlfriend, etc pregnant. Adding one more [avoidable] expense while in medical school is, in my opinion, just plain stupid. I have no sympathy.
[Ok, no problem yet. Misinformed, but easy to ignore --enrico]make a choice, be a man, face the consequences and stop complaining for your lack of family planning skills while in med school. condoms are very important during med school
…planning your life is maturity. Knocking up some chick while in medical school is not. Furthermore, why is UAG “good enough” to attend to get your medical education, but suddenly inferior to the point one would want to leave the entire country of Mexico because only the USA is good enough for a baby delivery? I have no sympathy for stupidity. I am sorry.
Well, I had it at that point. I created an account, (’hexokinase’ for those that go read that ugly thread) and posted, trying to dispell what obviously has been a runaway train of misinformation and negativity, as you can see from the progression of venom above. I even referenced the original post where it said about “my wife” and “first baby,” and leave my wife out of this, this isn’t “some chick I knocked up,” and don’t even get me started on these trolls’ assumptions of what our family planning should consist of.
So, other than point out people’s lack of reading comprehension skills, I basically said back off–that’s it–but the chum was in the water, and the sharks came to feed. “Well, just pray that the kid is noting [sic] like its father. If you hate all my posts based on one in which you do not agree, I would have to say that your spawn has more maturity than you.” Ummm…I made one post, and the word “hate” or anything hateful wasn’t in it. But now you’ve already taken to calling my unborn daughter “spawn?” It’s on now, fucker.
Which was obviously a mistake, because bottom-feeders like this thrive on exactly that kind of attention. I seriously chalk it up to being alone, out of sorts, still adjusting to things w/o Claudia, which gave me more time to focus on things I shouldn’t. But the fun didn’t just stop there. At the same time, due to an email thread about a certain “political” issue at our school regarding test review, I sent a message that was both as a role as an elected class officer (I’m an AMSA rep) and some of my personal opinion. I think the vast majority of the recipients were in total agreement with me, at least one in particular went way further than I did in terms of ruffling a certain person’s feathers.
Imagine my surprise when I came home to this sent “anonymously” the next day:
Did you see the question on how obesity causes hypertension, heart problems and many things. Its very important that a physician not be obese I think. How about you? Tell me your thoughts? Isn’t it an oxymoron. I often have even heard that obese people have a problem getting residencies. It is really sad, but does our image reflect how we are as physicians. Perhaps. Because we have to practice what we preach. Do you?
I had to say I was shocked, not because this actually hurts me, but because the level of childishness and cowardice (not to mention atrocious grammar) to send pot shots like this on such an “easy” target. My weight? PLEASE! Do you think an “anonymous” email is actually going to hurt my feelings, that saying in other words, “You might want to reconsider medicine if you’re fat,” will actually sway me in the least? I’m fat, rememeber? It takes more than some schoolyard “nya nya” to move me. I will not go into my past on this at this time, but trust me when I say I’ve overcome many obstacles to achieved what I’ve achieved in my life. This immature pissant is nothing in terms of meaning, but to be embarassingly honest, with everything else going on, with everything else on my mind about the baby, other classmates, legitimate problems at school with administration, etc. etc. to get several anonymous emails about a myriad of things (not all from the same people, but all with the common purpose of attracting attention to themselves) just wore me out. I didn’t blog, I studied little, and I generally just passed the days for a while.
Now I have my respiratory physiology exam in literally under 1.5 hours, and I’m blogging this. I’m telling you, I’m in la la land, but that’s for the next post, which I promise is positive, because the biggest reason I’m in la la land is because I’m gonna be a daddy next week and the plane ticket is in hand!! More (and better) later, I promise.
Medical School, Personal | enrico | 
May 12, 2006 11:51 am
By claudia, May 12, 2006 @ 12:39 pm
Nice, you are too kind.
Thing is, as you know there are alot of wives here in Guad. and we help each other out as best we can. There are many that are in various stages of pregnancy, some with their first, some second and and some with their 3rd child on the way. We all have different due dates and for various reasons, some have their children in Mexico, some have them in the States. Either way, we support each other and do not judge one another for our choices.
We share doctor information, hospital information and all other kinds of stuff. I chose to have our baby in the US for many, many reasons. That being said, you know I adore my OBGYN in Mexico and have no fear of having baby there, but blessed with the oportunity to chose being with my support system, an older first time mommy with a guaranteed complicated birth (not the mention the Rh factor that Mexico did not catch after 2 blood tests) I am happy with my decision. Geez, even the local Mexican housewives of our neighborhood told me to go to Texas and be with family that can help with baby care after the C-section.
You handled these troll well dear, I just wish people would grow up and stop hiding behing anonymouse emails to get their rocks off. But that is the nature of the internet, brings out the cowards in droves.
In the end, UAG is a decent enough school, not the best, not the worst. Mexico is what it is, love it sometimes, hate it other times.
The Wife
By keepitreal, May 12, 2006 @ 8:02 pm
wow…just read the post on valuemd. couple of observations.
1. its funny how the guy who talks the most amount of b.s is some jerkoff that isnt even going to school here.
2. the same jerkoff spams that website like no other.
3. valuemd is a terrible source for information regarding uag. the people who post there have their heads up their asses.
if i see this cabrillo guy around uag, hold me back cuz im gonna kick his smartass all the way back to the rathole he crawled out of.
By Gold Star M.S., May 14, 2006 @ 3:08 pm
It is extremely unfortunate that the level of maturity is so obviously lacking, as it does here sometimes as well. I wonder, is it simply foreign schools? Gets me thinking, how are some of these people going to survive as doctors? I’m sure they will somehow, but they’re gonna suck at it. This is one of the thoughts that keeps me going. When do people grow up and stop putting down others in order to mask their own insecurities? Honestly, I don’t think they do. That’s why there are always those kids at the schoolyard who have to bully people. They don’t just acquire it, they’ve learned it from their parents.
Anyways, a kid. That’s some scary shit, at least for me. I’m only 24 and can’t imagine how it would change every aspect of my life. I know from friends of mine that it’s a positive life changing event, but at the moment I admit that I’m too young to see it as such. Seems to me that it’s a hinderance for getting done what I’ve set my goals on. What are your thoughts on this? Thanks.
By Gold Star M.S., May 14, 2006 @ 3:09 pm
Oh, and let the threads go. They’re gonna type what they want anyways. Like your wife says, you’re too nice.
By Gregorio, May 14, 2006 @ 4:36 pm
Dearest medical travelers,
I am currently a firat year student out of Ensenada Med school in beuatiful Baja California where the 19 year old students joke about us Americans and everything else all day long, especially during examinations. I just think it a cultural and age thing as you alluded to. I have found the American students here to be just as critical and funny, downright brilliant and at time obnoxiously cruel. I guess its just a personality thing when you have to attend so many classes together and the professors refuse to speak any English on campus. They dont know that we give their foreign sudents 50 to 75 percent ouright grants in aid at our colleges for 4 years and rarely ever deport a student even though 25% never file any legal paperwork. Anyways I hope you guys can study cuz our ears are so filled with spanish that by Saturday afternoon we are ready to take a rebellious nap if existent. I just wish the studnts would invite me to some of their parties. Suerte