Sol

Oh, the sun. The simple, simple sun.

Originally, one of the things that excited me most about the prospect of living in DC was that I would experience the cold. That I would need a coat and that I would see snow. SNOW amigos, snow.

Right before heading out to my UA Med Phoenix interview, DC took a nosedive from highs in the mid-70’s to lows in the 40’s. Surprise, winter. No fall. No ¾ lengths sleeves and cute light jackets. No folks, we are in full on coat weather*.

The last week, the highs were in the 40s and it rained nonstop everyday. Until I landed in Denver, I had not seen the sun in five days**. That shit did not even happen to me in Germany. I at least got a peek at some sun for a while each day.

It may be a long winter…

*Thanks to a miracle called Clay’s mom, I purchased to coats on Monday, the day before temps dropped.

**The sun is back in DC!!!

Home?

First interview was two weekends ago – and it brought me back to where everything started, Nogales & Tucson.

Prior to arriving, I thought it would be great to see my family and friends. What I did not realize is how at home I would feel here.

I love DC. I love the feeling of the city. I love the food (oh, the food) and museums. The monuments. The music and the clubs. The metro, the bus and the bike ride to work.

But I have come realize that it is not home. It is a vacation. It is a break. I have not submitted any applications to local schools. I will not be here next year unless I do not get into medical school.

Meanwhile, Tucson feels like home. It is not that I know the streets, or that so many people I care about are there. It is an intangible feeling that stirred in my gut and chest as I flew over Mt. Lemmon.

Sure, if I get accepted to some amazing program and get a great scholarship, I will attend that school. I can make that home because it would not be some hold over until I actually start what I want to be doing. But coming home reminded me that there is something to be said for a sense of place.