Diary of a Caribbean Med Student

I finally know what the appeal of oxtail is to the Caribbean People. With the stringy meat falling off the bone layered in chewy collagenous glory, who wouldn’t like it? Well, maybe not everyone, but to me it was good. As long as there’s a good sauce on it, anything tastes good right? Today was the first time I lunched… Continue reading

It’s amazing how time flies by. Only two weeks remain of lectures before Block 4, and a week and a half after that, finals are done. I will have taken and finished my first semester of med school ever. In exactly a month from now, I will be flying over the vast blue ocean back to my home in Georgia.… Continue reading

Recently, a reader sent me a message asking me if it's true that "all you will do is study" in med school and whether or not it is possible to find balance between life and studying. I'd like to share my answer to all... Continue reading

I've put together a photo tour of apartments within walking distance of AUC that students usually choose to stay, in hopes this would help those who are looking into apartments as well. There are several places one can start when looking for housing... Continue reading

As much as I like living in the dorms, it is the time of the semester in which I need to start finding off-campus housing to stay for the remainder of my stay in St. Maarten. This place has to be somewhere where I can tolerate and enjoy living for a year or more, if I don’t move back onto… Continue reading

After we complete our first five semesters of Basic Science training on the island, we go back to the states (or Canada) and take the USMLE Step 1 board exam within a semester's worth of time. Once we pass the exam, we work with our clinical advisors and schedule our clinical rotations (aka "clerkships") for our third and fourth years of med school... Continue reading

Today we took our last histo exam and finished our first class ever in medical school, Histology. It feels great not needing to worry about another class now but I cannot celebrate yet. I need to now focus on the anatomy and MCB exams next monday. Nevertheless, everything seems a little easier, now that we only have two classes and… Continue reading

One concern many prospective students have before coming to AUC is whether or not St. Maarten is a safe place to live. Crime does happen on the island, and for that reason it is a legitimate issue... Continue reading

A couple of readers have asked me about what the procedure was like when I applied to AUC, so here, I'd like to address it. The application process for AUC is very swift and straightforward. This is because after AUC receives your online application, they assign all applicants an admissions advisor who guides you throughout the whole process and answers all... Continue reading

About: Anguilla is a British Island about 8 miles away from St. Martin. It is accessible by a 30-minute ferry from Marigot Harbor. Unlike St. Maarten, Anguilla is very rural, and very flat. There is a different type of charm and mentality here, and the beaches are beautiful. Highlights: You HAVE TO go to Shoal Bay East (not to be confused with Shoal Bay West). It is often considered by travel magazines to be one of the top 10 best beaches in the world. Continue reading

The picture says it all. I am in dire need for grocery shopping. My roommate and I have decided in the beginning of the semester to rent a car every three weeks to stock up on groceries for the next three weeks. For the first time around, I overestimated my appetite and bought more than enough of what I need.… Continue reading

Not long ago I received a question from a reader asking: Would you recommend the dorm or apartment for first semester. Can a parent live with me in the dorm for a few days when I move in at the start of the semester? I've decided to post my reply here because I'm recently in the process of finding an apartment for next semester, and have had enough experience living in the dorms. Continue reading

Here are the long awaited pictures from my family’s visit to St. Maarten during the September 2009 American University of the Caribbean White Coat Ceremony. Thanks Jason, Justin, and Irene for your pictures! I had a memorable time and appreciate the support! In the pictures are my two brothers Jason and Justin, my mother, and my girlfriend Irene, Irene’s mother,… Continue reading