Hot and sour soup makes me feel comfortable and warm inside. The tangy flavor of the vinegar and the heat from the chili garlic sauce is just the right combo of umami that I crave everytime I want a meal. Every time I make this I feel like I can have a whole gallon. I’m just going to delve right in to my personal recipe.

Ingredients

1/4 cup Maggi soy sauce

1/4 cup rice vinegar

8 cups low sodium vegetable broth

2 cups chopped shiitake mushrooms

2 cups chopped wood ear mushrooms

1 block of tofu of your choice (cubed <0.5 in)

1 can of julienned bamboo shoots

2-3 tbsp chili garlic sauce

1 tsp white pepper

1 tsp chinese 5 spice

1 tsp ground ginger

1/4 cup corn starch

1/4 green onions (chopped) for garnish

Optional

2-3 eggs

So I usually pour 7.5 cups of broth into a large pot with the vinegar, chili sauce and soy sauce right away on the stove at medium-high heat to try and bring to a boil. The other half cup of broth I mix with the corn starch and set aside.

While I chop and prep my mushrooms, I add them consecutively as the broth boils. Stir for about 2-4 mins and add the tofu and drained bamboo shoots. Let it heat up for another 5 minutes or so.

Add the ground ginger, white pepper and chinese 5 spice to taste.

Optional-turn heat to high, crack the eggs into the boiling broth and stir for 2-4 minutes.

Turn the heat down to low-medium then pour the mixture of cornstarch and broth in slowly and stir for another few minutes until incorporated.

Garnish with chopped green onions and there you have your delicious hot and sour soup.

You can either make your dumpling wrappers or you can buy premade wrappers. This time around I bought mine but if you want to make them it is as simple as about 3 cups of flour to 1 cup of water and knead the dough. Then flatten to size and shape of a dumpling wrappers approximately 3 inches in diameter.

The filling will need these ingredients: (this will likely make almost 100 dumplings so plan accordingly to have that many wrappers or make that many)

Sesame oil and other cooking oil

1 tbsp Ginger (either fresh or powder)

1 large white onion chopped finely

3 cups Shiitake mushrooms chopped finely

2 cups of Nappa cabbage chopped finely

2 cups of Chives chopped finely

1 1/2 cups of sweet potato noodles or glass noodles of any kind also chopped

6 cloves of garlic (minced)

1 tbsp white pepper

1/4 cup soy sauce or to taste or I think a good alternative is liquid aminos

8-12 eggs beat well

1/4 cup Fukein cooking wine

This is the kind I use

1 teaspoon sugar or 1 tablespoon maple syrup (I like how maple syrup adds depth)

I started by chopping all my ingredients first of course and putting the cooking oil on a large wok or deep pan. Then I add the aromatics (ginger, garlic and onion) I cook the onions until translucent. You can now add the shiitake mushrooms and cabbage and add some wine and half the soy sauce and white pepper. Cook until mushrooms are fully done. Add chives just to heat and mix in.

In a new pan scramble the eggs and break up until fine, I personally add more soy sauce and garlic powder to the eggs but this is not necessary it will be salty enough.

Put all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

In a pot boil water for the potato noodles or glass noodles. When the water boils cook noodles until ready. Strain the noodles and run cold water until noodles are cooled and bouncy. You may chop the noodles to 1/2 inch bits which will be mixed with your dumpling filling.

Add the noodles to the mixing bowl with the other ingredients.

I would now add the maple syrup and the rest of the soy sauce and the sesame oil to personal taste. Feel free to adjust the flavor as you like with more garlic, ginger or pepper as well.

Mix well.

Now you have a delicious filling to put into anything and they are also really good stir fry noodles if you decided not to cut up the noodles.

You can wrap the dumplings by using a dab of water and pressing the edges together after putting about 1 1/2 tablespoon of filling.

Or you can pleat the edges if they are not pressing together all the way.

I would freeze the dumplings and boil the next day or if you’d like to enjoy right away I would steam them so they don’t break apart in the water right when you cook them.

BONUS: My dumpling sauce recipe

Chili crisps/ flakes

1/4 cup soy sauce

1 tablespoon maple syrup

1 lime worth of juice

garlic powder to taste

Onion powder to taste

1 teaspoon Sesame oil

You just mix these ingredients together and you have an amazing sauce! It’s really delicious and a fun quarantine project.

I love myself as I am
I love my self when I grow,
Sometimes I stress when I cram
Yet you support me that I know

No one can be complete all the time
Just look at how I wrote this rhyme
I want to help us become more brave
Not entrapped like a slave

I do wish for one request
Do not respond under duress
I want to know if I must go
It might leave me with some woe
but I am certain I am great
I can find another mate

Not right now for time to heal,
Just to make sure it is real
In my thoughts I can see
Us together and set free

I am responsible for my emotion
Please don’t carry a prenotion
I know you said you are confused
What I feel can be excused

But I want someone who is strong
To tell me when things go wrong
I do not blame a single person
For when my anxiety is sure to worsen

What I want is a straight reply
Not someone who tries to hide
There will always be some struggle
I believe that we can juggle

If you do not agree with me
I am willing to let things me
I do not like ambiguity
I want to know with acuity

I will proceed with my life
Regardless of times of strife

Stage 2: Anger aka Phoenix

It did not take much time
For me to arise from the ashes
From when you committed the crime
Now you don’t just bat your lashes

I don’t want a reply
I demand something more
Someone must apologize
For the burdens I bore

I grow stronger every day
Now I’m no longer a slave
Somehow someway
I became more brave

With or without you
It would not take long at all
It’s incredible but true
Because you dropped the ball

I thought I would cry at night
Without you in my life
Yet I have taken flight
After pulling out the knife

Resurrection is great…
Though, I thought it was fate

Stage 3: Bargaining

Feelings flying up and down
Smiles turn to a sudden frown
Time heals all wounds they say
But it feels different day to day

Some days my scars are deep
My heart ready to take a leap
Others I can barely care
Like the cuts dissolved in air

I choose to live the life I love
Granted from the stars above
Sometimes the world can be so cruel
Leaving me hanging like a fool

You are never coming back
Why am I even keeping track
My hope is that you’ll miss me
I can’t say I don’t agree

What am I bargaining for
When I know that I want more
I must value my own desire
Every offer does expire

Stages (should be depression)

Well stage four should be depression
but I feel I can skip this progression
I have so much that I care for
Keeping me grounded at my core

Heart break does not need all five
Maybe since we’ll both survive
All I wanted was for us to thrive
I have the will to stay alive

While I know it can be good
But I feel it is well understood
It’s a place that some may need
I just live the life I lead

Healing (aka Acceptance)

I lied in the previous stage
In heartache depression comes first
With the loss of self comes rage
Until it is at its worst

Fear and anxiety consume you
Unrecognizable to what is true
The heart broke before the knife
Because you did not have your life

You noticed the knife was hot
Cauterizing the broken spot
It was mending the heart
With pain at the start

Now the heart is healing
Again ready for feeling
Though I must be weary
Before I accept this theory

Now I choose to be me
Instead of trying to flee
I am grateful for the clarity
Thank you for the remedy

So I wrote these poems because I am going through a break up during quarantine. I vowed to myself that I would really reflect and work on myself and one of those ways I worked on myself was writing and journaling more. I used to do a lot of writing and I have been pretty absent because of school and potentially this relationship. I’m not going to lie I was the person who was dumped and if you all find this helpful for your stages of grief in a break up, leave a comment or something. I really enjoyed writing these despite the circumstances. They were fulfilling my emotional release and it was easier for me to cope and get over the breakup faster. I know I have not fully healed since there has not been enough time but writing helped me accelerate my sense of self and made me feel grateful for what the relationship was rather than resentful for its end and I hope to be like the Phoenix and arise from the ashes renewed and with a new sense of purpose. The poems are the true meaning of rebirth and I hope you enjoy them.

Thanks for reading, let me know what you think!

I think it has been hard to deal with what’s going on in the world today but from the medical student perspective I can only live my life and strive to be more productive so that I can be the change in the world for others. I haven’t been the most diligent quarantineer because I do go outside for walks and hikes more often than I should but I try to maintain that physical distance. However, my tips and tricks are great for anyone just stuck at home too! I started this during week 2 of quarantine and it has made life easier and even enjoyable. I love the community on Instagram and all the encouragement I’ve had from people I love to follow. The positivity is just so great! So here is my way that I cope and even thrive with the coronavirus quarantine.

1. Track your habits and make them daily goals- I used to maintain a habit tracker before medical school and it was the best for my mental sanity. It allowed me to feel productive for that day and I love the physical presence of a notebook with check boxes. If you aren’t an artist, you can always opt for any of the habit tracking apps.
2. Work out!! Even if you’re just doing like 10 push ups and 10 crunches. Do something to get your heart rate up a bit and it will make you feel immensely more accomplished and maybe even stick it on your habit tracker
3. Try to improve a skill- maybe you are trying to learn a new language, maybe you have always thought about picking up an instrument, or crafting, sewing, art, whatever it is. Stimulate your brain and grow from it, especially if it is something you are passionate about. I have personally picked up my flute from high school far more times this past week than in the past 8 years. I’m also using Duolingo to hone my Japanese skills. I learned how to sew last week and made masks to donate which brings me to my next coping skill.
4. Volunteer your time- for me this has always been something that inspires me to do more in the world and whether it’s childcare for a health worker and first responder or volunteering at the food bank. It is a great way to make yourself feel productive and help others who are taking care of all of us.
5. Meditate- I know this might not be for everyone but I think it is very important for this time to meditate a little and improve focus. This will help with sending and receiving positive vibes and just more compassion for the world since we are all probably a little angry or anxious from our lack of freedom. I recommend the Stop, Think and Meditate app. It’s pretty nice and the meditations aren’t that long. A lot of people use Insight Timer as well. I have logged in for the past week and it has been very helpful.
6. Read- Learning anything is always a way to progress in the world and reading is one of those activities that is not just a distraction but also an activity for personal growth. I think that reading has always brought me new perspectives and allowed me to enjoy my current situation while being present in a new world.
7. Video chat and stay connected with family and friends. This has been one of the most comforting tasks for the past 3 weeks and I know it might continue. The continuance of connection allows us to feel present. While we might be physically isolated we are not mentally and emotionally isolated from the world. I am so grateful for the technology we currently have and this has been one of the best ways to cope with any feelings of loneliness.
8. Start or continue a passion project- My passion is to help others and ease the burden of others while also being able to provide some advice or education. I use my blog to do that and I am in medical school after all. These are methods I use to spend my time and feel the most achievement while also being productive in my life goals.

So I guess whoever is reading this I am really grateful to all of you because you are able to help me fulfill my passions. I feel like I write these for myself most of the time but I appreciate it when I can help someone else. I love you all and I thank you for reading!

Heart Transplant

I’m not certain at what time,
you committed this cunning crime
You have stolen my heart
Like a thief does with fine art

When we reunite I feel it returns
Accompanied with stomach churns
It is not the only complication
Since my heart has palpitations

With each embrace, I feel it flutter
As the rest of me, melts like butter
Your kisses, while they are so sweet
Make it skip a systolic beat

I’m sure if I were to read my EKG
I’d have a fib to the first degree
As a doctor, I must find a remedy
Aspirin or fibrolynic therapy?

There’s no relief from this solution
It’s not the correct treatment execution
I realize now what I must do
I give my heart back to you

It seems I was the original crook
I didn’t even know what I took
After a careful review
I see my heart belongs to you

At first my goal was to just introduce as many topics as possible because it is kind of a lifestyle blog, but as school has become more intense I geared a few more posts about my journey and my learning process. I really just want the blog to grow into a space where I can just give you as much information as possible. There is more to come like Army residency information, How I applied to HPSP and DCC/BOLC information and I would love to have the motivation to post it all.

With my mission of just trying to be helpful in mind… I realize that I am bank rolling a nonprofit and it is accruing a deficit since I don’t really make money from affiliations or advertising. I don’t have that much traffic, but I was hoping with the traffic I do have, I could get a few donations (new widget at the bottom of the site) that would really help me out in terms of expenses related to blogging. One of the expenses is site hosting I am currently using sitegrounds which increases in price over time. I mean if you want to make a blog too you can use the link and we could get a deal together.

Anyways… I built this blog by buying a domain from google, you can also get it from GoDaddy or Bluehost but I chose google because it just seemed easier. After you register your domain you can get site hosting to keep your website running on the interwebs. I am not really sure how this works, it’s kind of voodoo magic to me but it worked and somehow my words are all over the internet. I think there are tons of hosting sites and I was honestly going to switch to FatCow but I heard they don’t have fast servers and learning how to back up my WordPress site which should only take an hour has taken me a lot longer because I don’t have the brain space after hours of studying hahaha … I feel like I need to learn more about this but as a medical student I have very limited time and I already do so much outside of school to keep me sane. So… while this is a blog post about how I started the blog it is mostly a plea for donations or for someone to transfer my blog for me. I feel like I need to admit when I need help myself and this is one of those times I am brave enough to post about it.

If you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading and I really appreciate everyone!

I hope I can give you enough inspiration to do anything you want because I definitely need that same inspiration sometimes. I love you all!

1. Contact the dean or director or admissions administer of the school or program you are waitlisted at.

My suggestion is to contact their office directly by phone or find some way to meet them in person. I know my people skills are much better than my email-writing skills and communicating through spoken language can help elaborate your intentions. After getting a hold of them make sure to set up an in person one on one meeting with them. I suggest talking to the dean in person because they have the most power with how the school is run. This actually works because I have personally done this for the school I am currently attending. I met the dean in person, got her card, contacted her secretary, made an appointment, went to the school and met with her and she got me an interview date set up through the portal within 24 hours of the meeting. I mean I still had to interview, do well, get waitlisted again and then accepted in the next 5 months following this meeting but I knew my chances were much better because I had been proactive in contacting the people in charge.

2. Continue to monitor the status of your application

Checking in regularly in a non-pestering manner is a good way to let them know you are still very interested in going to their school. I was not a person to be super picky because I only had a few choices based on my application stats but interest and feel are key. Stats are not the main factor involved in the application process, I know this based on the countless research I have done and the many fellow students I have encountered on my journey into medical school. I took the time to watch a ton of videos, read dozens of blogs, go to AMA meetings and talk to my fellow classmates as well as students from other schools. They all varied in their stats but the one thing I felt they had in common was how passionate the ones that got in with lower MCAT scores or GPA were. They are better communicators for sure and they had a spark of excitement when you talked to them. I would like to think I have the same electricity when communicating casually, so my suggestion for regularly monitoring would just be friendly emails or phone calls once every couple weeks or so after the interview.

3. The letter of interest or intention

A letter of interest or intention should be sent towards the end of the application cycle maybe a month or so before the schools or programs have made a final decision for their class selection, this is because students with multiple acceptances will have to choose and more movement will happen with waitlists. I believe the best time for this is April/May just before the new application opens so you have time to reinitiate the application process in case it is not meant to be at the time. I keep this as a back up option because I know I had to apply more than once to learn about how to approach the application. It is a learning process I took a lot of time and resources to even come to, but hopefully, you won’t have to do this the hard way like I did. Ok… I get it you want to know how to write the letter… Here is my general guide for that letter:

1. Reintroduce yourself and your interest in that particular school.
2. Explain all the reasons why you will choose that school in particular if you get in

This is including but not limited to: things about the program that you’re really excited about, how much you love the location, whether or not you have friends and family in that location or at the school already, how much you’re committed to their mission- I know mission statements are really vague, but I would say look into the nuance of each mission statement and find a story about yourself that can demonstrate how you fit into their mission and just elaborate like crazy. –Sorry I go on so many tangents–

Schools knowing that you love the location might also be a part of the mission- like the schools I interviewed at in Indiana and Idaho see previous posts for more details on those interviews. Another reason why telling them you have family and friends in the area is a good idea is that schools want to know that you have a supportive network. This gives them better outcomes. Economically, the school does better if you do better, they do not want you to fail, they want you to succeed and do well. It looks better for their school and makes them more attractive.

3. Update them on the things you have accomplished since the start of your application, it’s been about a year since that application was submitted and you have done something more if you are being proactive. I wrote about my solo travel experience and some volunteering, a new job and an internship I took on all within a year. A year is so much time and demonstrating that you took that time to grow and learn is a way to illustrate the type of person you are. You don’t even have to talk about medically related things, if you spent a year having a lot of fun making a YouTube channel, hiking a bunch of mountains, making a ton of knitting projects, learning how to master recipes, getting yoga certified, starting new hobbies, learning a new language< just random things on my bucket list…> then write about it!! It’s a space to share what kind of person you are and how human you can be.

4. Lastly, conclude with something about how you will add to their school culture while also assimilating well, and a statement how you would love the opportunity to be a part of that culture, thank them for their consideration in your application and sign.

Notice how I didn’t give an exact template! That’s because we are all unique and what each one of us says is going to be different. We are all applying to different schools, have different hobbies and goals in life.

So those are my 3 steps on improving your chances to get into the school or program you desire. As always thank you for reading and I wish you good luck on your journey!

If you have any questions or would like me to make a YouTube video on this topic… and reopen that floodgate write a comment below. I will answer at my earliest convenience. Also you may find me more responsive on my instagram @alifeinair

People are all around you; girls scantily dressed are dancing without a care in the world and the guys are surrounding them with a drink in their hand and glowsticks around their necks. Everyone smells of sweat, alcohol and the musky scent of marijuana.

While the room is full of people, sounds and smells, you feel a little out of place because you don’t know anyone. It’s like you are outside looking in. This is the most alone you have ever felt in a place so populated.

When you feel this way… just remember, this is a privilege because no one is judging you. It’s an opportunity to open up, let loose and have fun. You can join the crowd by sharing a common goal–to have a good time. If you remember this, you’ll never feel alone, we are all dancing for one purpose and in unity. Your muscles allow your body to sway and bounce to the beat. You stop caring what you look like while you are moving and then you start to notice the loneliness becomes euphoria.

“Focus on your breath” she continues.

You try to follow along obediently, letting your chest rise and fall with each tide, but you can’t help but wander your thoughts to what happened the past day, weekend, month, year. Maybe a sudden memory from the distant past begins to creep up. When it is a fond memory you smile at the thoughts and quickly return to the task at hand, but when it is grim…you somehow become more still.

The grim memory, while the recording plays is actually the best opportunity. An opportunity to reflect, remind yourself of how you are older, wiser, stronger. You’ve moved past it. Now that you’ve had the time to remember, you can release the negative thoughts. Why are you holding on? You don’t have to anymore. The moment you recognize that, a weight lifts from your body through your chest. Blood pulses and it feels like a magnet pulling something from your vessels out into the universe.

“Tense your muscles… and relax” she drones. What a coincidence! Your mind was wandering but somehow the recording is asking you for the exact motion you are performing.

You think to yourself there is no such thing as a coincidence… everything happens for a reason. Whatever the reason… you fall asleep.

It’s a little like depression without the sadness. You just let life move on while not feeling attached to anything. Everything lacks passion.

It’s the feeling after realizing you are alone in the world and you only have one person to keep you accountable for anything.

Parents, those who used to nurture and support you no longer worry about you. In fact, you now realize they used you as their project to keep them from feeling it, but without them… you feel it.

Sometimes you feel it after you have an epiphany about your friends. How quickly they forget! You thought you were close, you built so much rapport and now that’s gone.

It is not synonymous with loneliness because that would imply negative emotion. It is just empty, but why is feeling it such an oxymoron? Shouldn’t you feel nothing?