Vermont Day 1: backyard organic farming and skiing

So I finally received the news last week that I was not accepted to the University of Washington school of medicine. Of course I went through the "grieving" process ... I was really sad, then really frustrated with this whole process, and recently came to terms with not taking it personally. I had to remind myself that my MCAT score, GPA, and personal background (experience in healthcare, extracurricular activities, etc) all got me far enough to an interview (even two interviews at UW). But there was one thing that Ian reminded me of that really made sense ...

The UW SOM is the only medical school for a 5-state region (Washington, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Alaska). Compared to other schools in the country, it is quite affordable. As a result, there are TONS of people from this WWAMI region who are applying to the program that are well qualified at other medical schools but who simply choose not to go because of family obligations, financial limitations, etc. What happens is they have a ton of re-applicants and accept these individuals the second time around or so. This favorable opinion of reapplicants ("look at the dedication and commitment you have for medicine/our school if you spent a whole year to go through the same process") was confirmed by people I know in medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy. And I know it's not the case for just UW too - it happens everywhere across the country. It's simply a numbers game and there are just physically not enough places in schools everywhere. Long story short, I'm refreshed for my Univ of Vermont interview next week having really come to terms with this initial disappointment. I chatted with a classmate who graduated from a top-10 law school and unsuccessfully applied to UW dentistry, and she and I had the same story. She asked me "Not in an arrogant way, but this is the first time you've really tried for something and haven't gotten it, isn't it?" And yes, that's quite true. No "upward trending GPA" for me because it was always solid from the start. No test and retest for the MCAT because my score was pretty solid the first time around self-studying for the exam. Working directly in healthcare for three years, neuroimmunology research background, physician shadowing, fun unique extracurriculars, and getting along well during the interview. Even if all the boxes are checked, it's still just a numbers game and there's nothing for me to do but to play it. But it's not over yet, and I'm not giving up no matter the result of the Univ of Vermont interview. I told myself, if it takes me one extra year or even two to achieve my dream of studying medicine, 20 years from now I won't be looking back and saying that I wasted my life. I am really starting to believe that.

Ian has been extremely supportive and said "Let's at least do some fun stuff out there, so no matter the result of the UVM decision, we won't feel like we flew out there just for no reason". Plus, it's fun to be out here in Vermont in the winter since I had the chance to experience the beautiful summer with everyone at Ian's family's property in Lake Mansfield (see last summer's post: http://drizzlemegreen.blogspot.com/2013/07/vermont-lake-mansfield-trout-club.html)

After jetting out from Seattle to Newark and transferring to a small propeller plane, we arrive in cute little Burlington Airport which has rocking chairs for passengers to watch planes taking off from the runway. "Cute, quaint Vermont" as soon as I step off the plane.

Ice scraper and brush included with the rental car. Makes sense.

We arrived at our hosts' place just up a dirt road from Richmond, VT (Between Burlington and Waterbury). 4 acre organic farm - super cool young couple J. and H.

Wood shed

They always say Vermont spring is a muddy time of year. Looking at all the cars around town I can definitely confirm ... ice melting and lots of dirt roads make for mud 

My favorite ever!!!! I loooove wood stoves. So cozy and warm in our little place

Living room of J. and H.'s home

Tired from our flight, for dinner we decided to head out to Waterbury just 10 minutes down the road for a hearty BBQ meal at Prohibition Pig. Ian tried their house brew

 We called it an early night and slipped into the comfy warm bed.

The next morning....

View out of our bedroom

Walked over to the chicken coop with H. to feed them

Abandoned bee hive in the tree above the chicken coop ... so cool!

About 50 chickens and two or three ducks

Duck egg (right) and beautiful pale blue chicken egg (left). H tells me that they get about 24 eggs per day!

These huge jars have sauerkraut and pickled garlic that they are fermenting

J made us a breakfast of eggs from the coop, grated potato hash, and pork sausage with fennel which came from pigs they raised earlier in the year. It was the most delicious sausage I've had.

J also owns a hot sauce company

 After breakfast we headed just down the street to Cochran's for my first try at skiing!

Getting fitted .. this guy helping us is in the physical therapy program at UVM and said he might see me around campus when I'm at my interview on Tuesday.

Ian getting set

Hand lift to the top

Here we go, at the top of the bunny hill for my very first run

Inside the little chalet for a break of coffee and grilled cheese made with Vermont cheddar

By the end of the day I was comfortably stopping and cutting my way down the second run which was decently step!

After skiing, we headed out to Stowe. I had my first taste of this cute town when visiting Ian's family's lake house nearby.

I definitely remember this shop!

We are gonna go maple sugaring tomorrow!

Awesome stove!

inside the Stowe Mercantile ... hey! It's our host J.'s hot sauce! 

Stopped by the Harvest Market (still in Stowe) for a little après-ski snack

Yes, those are the ovens that the bread is baked in! 

My small piece of pâté, a cheesy bread twist, coffee cake, ginger beer, and coffee

Beautiful covered bridges in Vermont 

Love the contrast of the bright lit buildings and the super dark sky

Cochran's sticker added to my water bottle! I survived skiing. Damn my legs and ass are going to be sore tomorrow ...

Tonight: cozy by the wood stove fire, having a dinner of steak tartare (meat from a neighbor's farm) and freshly made potato wedges, and maybe some biochemistry final studying.

If there's one thing I really like about Vermont, it's how you are able to experience a really beautiful and quaint rural environment, but without the really conservative element that is usually present in places that are this rural in the rest of the country. Vermont was one of the leading states in same sex marriage equality, is moving towards a single-payer healthcare model, and supports local farming and environmental protection. Everyone is so friendly ... I've never seen so many people having nice conversations with their neighbor on the plane and I was offered a brief ski lesson today on the hill by a random lady. I'm really glad we are spending an extended amount of time here before my interview so I can really get a feel for Vermont. So far, I'm liking what I'm seeing. Only interesting thing ... it's pretty "white" up here! Really different from anywhere else I've lived. Finally, despite feet of snow, it's actually not that cold. Seattle winter temps, basically. I expected feeling like I'd freeze to the bone. Maybe it's my extra layers and anticipating that cold that makes it seem less cold.

Time for the tartare dinner! Looking forward to tomorrow's outing on the hunt for maple syrup

Very sad news as 2013 comes to a close

It's been months since my last blog post (I swear if I had a nickel for every time I've written that...) but it's time to update with some mixed emotions.

2013 has been a wonderful year. We started the new year in Japan visiting mom and dad, and moved back over to Seattle upon our return. I hiked part of the Hoh River Trail, took the MCAT, applied to medical schools, started a new job that I love, and took another long-distance train trip.

Let's start with the happy stuff. First, the fun part: our Amtrak Coast Starlight train trip down to San Francisco!

Awesome wall art in Pioneer Square as we walk towards King Street Station here in Seattle

Departure: King Street Station in Pioneer Square/International District

Newly remodeled interior - all of the original molding and detailing was restored. Looks great, and really calls back to the days of train travel

Our superliner, double decker Coast Starlight train

On the other platform I spotted the BRAND NEW Amtrak Cascades route Talgo trains! Sweet! Eugene, Oregon, through Portland, Seattle, and up to Vancouver B.C.

 The "Portland Car" of the Cascades route

Our dining car

Passing under the Tacoma Narrows bridge as we work our way down the coast ... so foggy

In the observation car 

Lunch: Santa Fe salad....

... and a ciabatta turkey sandwich

In the afternoon, arrived at Portland Union Station and stepped outside for some fresh air

I love me some MAX trams in PDX 

Couldn't figure out how this sun dial works.

Dinner: herb roasted half chicken with rice pilaf. It was actually very delicious, moist, and tasty! Dare I say better than roasted chicken at some restaurants?

Ian's short rib with three peppercorn sauce

All in all it was a wonderfully relaxing (albeit long) trip. I read halfway through Ender's Game, gently rocked by the swaying of the train with the gentle "click clack" of the tracks in the background. Although I grew up being accustomed to the incredible efficiency and speed of Japan's bullet trains, sometimes it's nice to be forced to slow down - no doubt the case with this 22 hour trip. We arrived in San Francisco to beautiful sunny skies and 60-degree days.

As I've been doing better with eating healthy and being much more conscious of my daily hydration (still need to continue working on this), I feel that I am now ready to add regular exercise to my routine. One step at a time, right? Having had a wonderful experience with the staff at Sports Basement in SOMA when we used to live in San Francisco, I returned with the mission of getting properly fitted for running shoes. Again, the staff was awesome and I found exactly what I (think I) needed. With laces tied up, the following morning, the cousins and I went for a jog from the Presidio over the Golden Gate Bridge. Why not kick off the year with one of the most beautiful runs in the world? Maybe this memory will keep me going throughout the year with these shoes ...

Ready to begin on the Presidio side! What an unbelievably perfect day 

Where else can you go for a casual morning jog and look below to find Fort Point ... former battery ready to sink invading ships trying to enter San Francisco Bay?

Fort Point foreground, city skyline in the background

Made it back!

I was a little excited and went a bit too fast starting off, considering that I've never run before. But hell, with scenery like that it's hard to hold it all in :-p I ended up making the 1.3 mile run to the second tower in about 12 minutes. After a rest, we jogged much slower back to the start. Successful first day of running! I hope to continue this into the year, making it a part of my daily life. I feel good and enjoy it a lot (don't worry, I still enjoy sleeping in too).

Now it's time for the sad news ...

Dad had called ojiichan and obaachan (grandpa and grandma) in Japan to wish them Happy New Year last night. In Japan, new year's day is the biggest holiday when everybody is home and eating osechi-ryori (new year's dinner). Naturally, it concerned him when nobody was picking up the phone at my grandparents' house. Eventually when he was able to make contact, we received news that my grandfather had passed away the previous week. Dad was not able to get the message since his Japanese cell phone does not have international service in the US. The funeral and cremation had already taken place, and grandma was trying to figure out what to do next. Even worse, our uncle (dad's brother) was also hospitalized for inability to keep food down or eat. Despite clear head scans and liver/kidney function tests, he was continuing to lose weight. An endoscope/colonoscopy is scheduled for next week.

Mom and dad immediately packed their bags and rescheduled their flight back to Japan for early this afternoon. I expect they should have arrived right about now. They will head north to see grandma.

I'm very saddened by the news, although it was only a matter of time and was to be expected. Dad said grandma found grandpa the next morning with a very peaceful look on his face. He was able to pass quietly in his own home.

More than anything in the world, I'm so glad that Ian and I went to Japan last winter (beginning of this year, 2013). And we still pushed to see them even when mom and dad asked "are you sure you really want to go all the way up north to the countryside for Ian's first time in Japan when there's so much other stuff to see/do?"

I guess all of this is a reminder of what's truly important to me and what is so trivial. I want to continue to live for the now - traveling and experiencing new cultures, to learn new crafts or instruments or languages, to continue setting goals for myself. I want to be more patient, to listen better without assuming first, and to let things go more easily. I know I can occasionally get bitchy about little things (sorry Ian) for absolutely no reason, but my grandfather's passing is just another reminder that when it all comes down to it, such little things like sweaters on the floor are not life or death matters.

I remember when grandpa grew morning glories and named them after us every summer when Bryan and I would visit. He collected the seeds and gave them to me on one trip, and I have continued to grow those same seeds from that same garden ever since, in all the different places I've lived ... first in Phoenix, then in Seattle, then in San Francisco. Now when I grow them again, they will be the fourth generation that I've raised. While we all sat at the table and mulled over the sad news, Bryan asked me if I still had those seeds and if he could have some. I cried at that memory that we all shared. I will never forget you, Ojiichan. How you'd plan our trips down to the minute, and the schedule would be derailed within the first 10 minutes out the door. The way you tended so carefully to your small but beautiful garden every morning, cultivating moss on the old stones and Bryan and I tearing up that moss to look for pill bugs when we were younger. The way we begged to ride your little moped around town. The times we spent, sweating in the hot, humid Japanese summer while you tried to teach us calligraphy. The day we went to the fish market and I couldn't stop looking at the goldfish and you bought us some. How we made tea for you every morning and you gave us the verdict on our brewing technique. The way we'd jump up and down while your classical music records were playing and they'd skip around and make funny noises.

As 2013 comes to a close, I only know that there's much more life to explore - and you will be in my heart always. Here's to you, Ojiichan