And so it begins

This week marks the beginning of the much anticipated season of Carms. Short for - Canadian Residency Matching Service - this is the organization that looks after collecting and distributing all the minute details of our lives to residency programs so that we can all hopefully have jobs next year.

I use the term 'season' not just because it lasts so long...but because it almost takes on the guise of a season in the church. Much like Lent or Ramadan this is a time for self-reflection. One must answer the age old question - 'What do I want to be when I grow up?' This question has plagued university students for years. Almost as difficult to answer as 'Where is that weird smell coming from in the fridge' and 'Who's shoes are at the back door, and who did they come home with?!' The really difficult part is that it is not just picking WHAT I want to be, but also WHERE I want to be. That brings in the even older question of - 'Is the grass greener on the other side of the fence'. Do I want to stay at McMaster, which I know I love, or do I want to move somewhere new and exciting? I know you've all been on the edge of your seats for this decision since I've been agonizing over it forever...so here are the finalists (although I still reserve the right to change my mind every other day)

UBC: West is best! Good things: Mountains, an ocean, it's far away, a valley full of fruit and wine - it's like Eden! Bad things: It's far away and I may not actually be ready to be a wool wearing, skiing, hippy.

Memorial: East is...um...the beast?! Good things: hello...the maritimes!! Seafood, lots of drinking, crazy accents, fantastic music, and I will never look out of place wearing my rubber boots. Bad things: It's a big rock. Where the heck am I going to go when I get restless?!

McMaster: If you can walk and talk faster you can go to McMaster! (I guess that only really makes sense if you know the precursor - If you can walk and talk you can go to Brock...hehehe) Good things: Close to my family, I LOVE the program director, I could get a little house in the country and start a real life. Bad things: I've been here for 6 years. Do I really want my wall to be adorned with only maroon and grey expensive pieces of paper?

Queens: This is sort of the wild card. I can't really explain how it made it to the list. Good things: close to mom's 'summer house', great city, on the water which is always a bonus, really cool program, and I could work in bizarre places like Peterborough and Belleville where I have friends. Bad things: Random! What do I know about Kingston?

Ottawa: The home town appeal. What can I say - Ottawa is a great city! Do I want to live there forever? No. Could I be happy there for two years? I think so. Good things: Tulip festivals, the National Arts Centre, shopping at the Byward market...yup, that's a good life. Bad things: It's oh so much colder than my happy little Banana Belt in Southern Ontario. There are mosquitos, and politicians, and crazy Quebecois frogs...oh wait, I'm one too....I guess I have to take that bit back.

Notable in their absence:
Quebec: I feel that the french I remember and use frequently will not serve me well in a clinic. "Mes cahiers d'exercise sont dans la biblioteque" and "Combien pour un biere?" just don't come up a lot in a history of chest pain! Besides which, I'd have to change my name to Thibeault or something :P
U of T: Don't kid yourself into thinking that a good rural residency starts with a year at the Toronto East General Hospital!
The prairies: What can I say...sounds pretty flat and lonely.

And so now it's on to actually writing letters to all these schools. I suck at tooting my own horn. And really how do I coherently explain that I want to practice rural medicine because I've always wanted to?! I feel like that's not a good answer!! GAH! A special thanks to Ray for suggesting that I should include "my favourite drink is the Singapore Sling" and "I don't like green peppers" under the 'activities and interests' section of my application...I'm sure this will make my professionalism really stand out :P But let's face it, all I'm motivated to do these days is eat, and sew. So I think the final outcome of the season of Carms will be that I will have a pile of quilts and a layer of blubber to keep me warm during the long hard winter of interviews!

Finally, in a stunning turn of events - this will be my final post on residency choices! I reserve the right to complain about the process, but don't bother asking what is my top choice - cause I won't tell you. My daily changing inner monologue ranking first to final choices shall remain a secret, even after match day in March. Suffice it to say that I will end up where I am supposed to be....you will have to be happy with just enjoying the comical journey. Oh now don't be upset Dad - everyone should go on a trip without knowing the destination once in a while!

Lots of love
Pamela

Currently reading: Canadian Living...and dreaming of being a housewife
Currently listening/dancing to: The Black Eyed Peas
Currently digesting: Poutine from the Student Centre Cafeteria....like I said - layer of blubber!