Month: August 2009

Registration Day!!

Posted on August 31, 2009March 25, 2011 by Benji Ho

Orientation Time! This is the time in which I will be trained to become a medical student. Out of all the schools I’ve attended, AUC is by far the most diverse. I am amazed by all the heritages represented in the student body. Just today waiting in line to register, I met a Bahamian guy, a downright Texan, and a… Continue reading

AUC Fitness Center

Posted on August 31, 2009April 14, 2015 by Benji Ho

As aspiring physicians, we are people who should be not only championing health but also keeping up with our own health as well to be a model for our patients. We must practice what we preach. This is especially true in med school when we could get too focused in the books and not allow ourselves a break to move… Continue reading

Far From “Substandard”

Posted on August 30, 2009February 13, 2011 by Benji Ho

Today I met two first semester students who said that AUC is the top choice school they applied to. The guy was definitely not lacking academically. He made a high 36 on his MCAT and he found going to a school like AUC very appealing. He also decided late that he wanted to go to medical school and by applying… Continue reading

A Quick Tour of My Dorm

Posted on August 30, 2009November 8, 2011 by Benji Ho

Hello all! Here are some pics from around campus and my dorm. Matriculants can choose whether to live in a single-bedroom suite or a two-bedroom suite during their first semester at AUC. I chose the latter since it was $800 cheaper, and I liked having a roommate. I have my own bedroom and bathroom. Plus, the two-bedroom suites have balconies… Continue reading

My First Day In St. Maarten

Posted on August 29, 2009November 8, 2011 by Benji Ho

Grand Bahama, San Salvador, Turks and Caicos, Virgin Gorda… As I counted the islands below me, it slowly sunk in me how far away from home I was going. I’ll be away from my loved ones: my friends, my family, and Irene, and I’ll miss the suburban lifestyle I was used to in all its sprawling glory. As the plane… Continue reading

Hello from Benji, Irene, and Michael!

Posted on August 29, 2009March 24, 2011 by Benji Ho

It’s great. I just leave Skype on and they just leave Skype on and we just continue doing what we need to do. How great of a distance is two worlds apart anymore in this day and age? The portal is open and life goes on on both sides.… Continue reading

Flying Over The Caribbean

Posted on August 28, 2009December 15, 2013 by Benji Ho

About: We often focus too much on the destinations that we forget the journey is often times the best part, and the sky is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Highlights: When you're flying from the States to St. Maarten, you'll pass by the Bahamas. It's a joy seeing all the different islands below and imagine what it's like living on a tiny dot in the middle of the vast ocean. Remember to have your map out ready! Continue reading

Customer Satisfaction 10/10!

Posted on August 26, 2009December 12, 2011 by Benji Ho

Earlier yesterday, I received a call from Mr. S of AUC offering any advice or help on any last minute questions I may have had before I head down to the island. I hadn’t had any in particular, so I made one up on the spot. I’d like to commend AUC for having such great communication with matriculants. During these… Continue reading

Blog Library

Posted on August 25, 2009February 12, 2011 by Benji Ho

Lately I’ve been searching and reading through numerous blogs of Caribbean medical students, from large schools like St. George’s University to smaller ones like St. James School of Medicine. I would like to create a comprehensive list, essentially a “blog library” where prospective students can reference to get a taste of what life is like in each school in the… Continue reading

Thanks For Your Support

Posted on August 24, 2009February 12, 2011 by Benji Ho

I just booked for us to stay at the Royal Palm Beach Resort when my brothers Jason and Justin, my mother, my girlfriend Irene, and her mother come visit. I found a special deal through hotel.com where if we book for 4 nights, the entire stay is half off, so I took it! The hotel looks much nicer than my… Continue reading

How I Got Into The World of Medicine

Posted on August 23, 2009December 4, 2012 by Benji Ho

Only four more days remain before I fly off to the American University of the Caribbean to begin my medical training. The past few days I have been feeling calm and reflective as I trace back the events of the last four years to find a conclusion to yet another chapter in my life. How did I get to where… Continue reading

Ten More Days!

Posted on August 18, 2009March 25, 2011 by Benji Ho

Ten more days. I just cannot believe how time has flown by, not just this summer, but these past four years as a post-bacc, and the quarter century that it took for me to realize my dreams. After years of planning, learning, and preparing for my future, reality has suddenly hit me. I am actually going to medical school. Should… Continue reading

Hotels in SXM

Posted on August 17, 2009March 5, 2014 by Benji Ho

Great news! My family and Irene’s family want to come visit me during my white coat ceremony weekend for about 3-4 days, and so the past few days I’ve been reading countless hotel reviews on tripadvisor. I looked for hotels in Cupecoy, Maho, or Simpson Bay, all within 3-4 miles of AUC. As they will be out and about throughout… Continue reading

Phone in St. Maarten

Posted on August 10, 2009April 24, 2014 by Benji Ho

Calling Locally in St. Maarten Any phone you buy in the United States will be “locked” so that the SIM card is only compatible with the phone company that you have a contract with. The United States is one of the few countries I know that does this. Therefore, if you want to use your cell phone from the states… Continue reading

Transportation in St. Maarten

Posted on August 10, 2009April 25, 2012 by Benji Ho

Moped? Car? Bike? Public Transportation? Which of these would be the best deal in terms of cost, accessibility, comfort, transport, time, and safety? 1. Moped

Cost: $700-$1200 to buy new. Saves on gas money. No insurance or road costs necessary if tank is under 50cc.

Accessibility: A moped can drive anywhere and park anywhere. During traffic jams, a moped can

Banking in St. Maarten

Posted on August 10, 2009May 12, 2014 by Benji Ho

As AUC students, we are eligible to receive US federal student loans to pay for our tuition and living costs while at school. In a nutshell, basically we request to borrow a certain amount of money every two semesters from the government. The school takes out a chunk of what we borrow to pay for our tuition. Then, they refund… Continue reading

My Last Night in Athens

Posted on August 6, 2009November 8, 2011 by Benji Ho

On my last night in Athens, my friends Roberto and Stefy and I had a nice evening picnic on Herty Field in the historic North Campus, complete with home-made sandwiches and wine. Afterwards, we toured the Founder’s Garden, Latin American Garden, and discovered other beautiful places that we had overlooked during our semesters at UGA. Of course, we rang the… Continue reading