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I enjoyed writing on my blog so much that I almost forgot there was a Welcome Mixer at the Rotunda at 6:00pm. So by the time I remembered, it was already a little late. I left at 8:00pm. During the short walk there, I saw my roommate walking back and he said the food was just about gone! Caribbean-style beans… Continue reading AUC Welcome Mixer Today was formal orientation where the higher officers of the school officially welcomed us. For three hours, they introduced us to the honor code, the school policies, activities and services offered on campus, and general information. Here are some of the speakers today: Continue reading Formal Orientation 
I received an email from a friend asking about accreditation of Caribbean medical schools, so I thought it might be helpful if I posted my answer here for anyone who has similar questions… Continue reading The Accreditation Process of Caribbean Medical Schools 
After the Wellness Workshop, some friends and I went to go explore Cupecoy Beach, less than 10 minutes walk from campus. When we got there, we saw some nude (European) sunbathers on the beach, so we took pictures of the rocky coastline instead! A lot of times I prefer places like this over beaches. A beach isn’t intellectual. The cliffs,… Continue reading Intellectualism and Cupecoy Coast 
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 Registration Day!! I looked in the mirror today and realized I looked a lot smaller than I did when I worked out at UGA. So I headed over to the small fitness center across from the dorms. It was the first time all summer that I had worked out and I lost a considerable amount strength and endurance. The gym has all… Continue reading AUC Fitness Center 
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 Far From “Substandard” 
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 A Quick Tour of My Dorm 
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 My First Day In St. Maarten 
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 Hello from Benji, Irene, and Michael! 
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 Flying Over The Caribbean 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 Customer Satisfaction 10/10! 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 Blog Library 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 Thanks For Your Support 
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 How I Got Into The World of Medicine Like any other couple in love, Irene and I like sending cute-sy little text messages to each other at random times during the day. Once I get to SXM, though, I won’t let the fact that we’re in two different countries become a barrier to this wonderful mode of communication. Text messaging costs extra on Skype, so one of my… Continue reading Text Messaging from Abroad 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 Ten More Days! 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 Hotels in SXM 
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 abroad, you need to get… Continue reading Cell Phone in St. Maarten 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 Continue reading Transportation in St. Maarten |
My name is Benji and I am a third-year medical student at the American University of the Caribbean, located on the Dutch side of the beautiful island of St. Maarten. I am currently completing my clinical rotations in the US as well as the UK. I hope you enjoy my site as I share with you this exciting and challenging phase in my journey. Thanks for visiting Diary of a Caribbean Med Student!
    
If you would like to help me keep this website up and running, any donations will be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Benji
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