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The New Guy in Town...

Hi Everyone! (or should I say "Howdy"?) I will be joining you soon for the fall term from Austin, TX. Is there anything I should know before I take the proverbial plunge? Any and all advise will be greatly appreciated!

thanks,

Aaron

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Permalink Reply by Sara Szmodis on July 24, 2008 at 8:40pm: Hi Aaron:

Welcome to the mayhem! A few things that have helped:

1. Be ready for big changes. Chinese medical school affects all aspects of your life--your work, your diet, your relationships, your sleep--everything. Allow for that and go easy. I see that you're already a bit into this so this is probably a no-brainer.

2. Have a life. It is really really easy to get swept up in the grind so it's good to have something that forces you out of the building and away from the books.

3. Take a mental health day (or 2) if you want. You won't miss anything earth-shattering. Promise.

4. Take the advice of the upper class folks. The just-graduated T10 folks saved my booty more than once.

5. Do your dishes. :)

6. You don't learn theory in Theory, diagnosis in Diagnosis, single herbs in Single Herbs, etc. It takes time to accumulate and integrate knowledge--don't get impatient with yourself if you appear (to you) to know less than you think you should or you think other people do. It will come. And everyone else is struggling the same struggle with you.

7. Make friends with your classmates. These people will be with you for 3 1/2 years so alienating them in the first trimester is a bad idea. You don't always have to like each other but respecting each other makes life about 10,000 times easier.

Again, welcome. If you need or want help as you settle in, ask.

Cheers,
Sara; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Aaron Sellers on July 25, 2008 at 12:43pm: Hey Sara, thanks for the 411. So, who takes the best notes? I'll be sure to send a fruit basket or something....schmooze. Seriously, I mostly need to find a comfortable domicile close to school. Anybody out there need a superstar roommate?

Over,

Aarongitis; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sara Szmodis on July 25, 2008 at 2:33pm: You're welcome. I would advise classmate bribes with dark chocolate for notes and if you happen to be the best notetaker, ask for Green &Black's Maya Gold. I know someone who is looking for a cool upstairs neighbor (not a housemate)--ping me here privately for the details.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sung Woo Kim on August 16, 2008 at 10:50pm: Hey welcome Aaron. As a fellow student who's just finished my first year (3 Trimesters) of school, I very much agree with Sara's comments.

Luckily for me, my brother & his wife already went through TCM schools so they mirrored what Sara said above. Especially the part about taking mental health days!!! Seriously, it really helps (and this is coming from former Type A personality).

The only one other thing I'd add is that you don't need to buy all your books before starting class. Try to buy them used cuz you'll save a LOT of money. Some books they have on required list aren't really required so I'd advise you to wait till you actually get a class sylibus before ordering books.

We also have another ex-Austin student by name of Will who went to TCM school in Austin. He transferred 2 semesters ago but took last semester off to travel to Costa Rica (lucky guy).

See ya in fall!

SWK; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Aaron Sellers on August 16, 2008 at 11:26pm: Mental health days....to avoid the daze. Yes, I will be applying the mental health salvation practice. Thanks for your words of wisdom. About the books....I like to keep the books at school, in the library... reference material. I can't schep all the extra weight on my bike anyway.
Thanks for your response. Do you know of any apartments for rent????

homeless,

A-ron; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sara Szmodis on August 17, 2008 at 6:39pm: I just wanted to pop my nose in again and say that the required book list for the CA Board Exam is lengthy--accumulating them a bit at a time is advised. I tend to keep mine safely at home, toting only the HB Kim text in with me when I really really really need it.

The Board book list is usually available in the library as well, should you be interested in it.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dawn on August 30, 2008 at 5:28pm: Get lots of sleep before school starts! Welcome.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Aaron Sellers on August 30, 2008 at 11:44pm: no rest for the wicked, none what so ever. will you help me find a place to live in Berkeley?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Aaron Sellers on August 30, 2008 at 11:44pm: no rest for the wicked, none what so ever. will you help me find a place to live in Berkeley?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dawn on August 31, 2008 at 8:54am: There is potentially a room for rent coming open, but I won't know for sure for a week or 2. Besides that, my best recommendation is to check craigslist.com daily. I've found almost all of my places through there. I will keep my ears and eyes open. How close to the school do you need to be?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Aaron Sellers on September 1, 2008 at 9:28am: Hey Dawn,
I would like to be within a bike ride to school. Right now I'm staying in the Sunset!!! right next to the Pacific ocean. Its beautiful, but the commute is going to make me bonkers. I could rent a room, but Im clinically/certifiably neat...so roommates usually hate me after two weeks. (just kidding). I"m on the job....see you at school?

Aarongitis; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dawn on September 1, 2008 at 9:33pm: Hi~

Yeah, it would be nice to live that close. I actually live an hour away. Good luck finding a place. I will keep a look out.
See you at school~
dawn

P.S. Good luck taking care of that inflammation, aarongitis...; ▶ Reply to This