A decade ago, I had turned thirty. I had completed my training. I had entered the workforce. Adulthood had begun. I had hopes. I had aspirations. Instead I met failure. I met disappointment. In reflecting on the past decade today and crafting a vision for the next I intend to be kinder to myself. I […]
Strength in What Remains by Tracy Kidder
Strength in What Remains was a book recommendation for physicians. It tells the story of Deogratis Niyizonkiza who leaves what would have been a promising life behind when as a 24 year old medical student he has to flee war-torn French-speaking Burundi for the streets of New York City with only $200 in his pocket […]
Top 10 Influential Books in my Life
I usually ignore social media challenges but today I was challenged by a good friend on Facebook to share my ten most influential books. This friend likes to read the kind of non-fiction books that a college professor of any discipline would choose to assign for his courses. As you can clearly see from my […]
Exploring De Oude Kerk in Amsterdam
The Oude Kerk (Old Church) is the oldest surviving building in Amsterdam. Part of my fascination with it is that it’s right next to De Wallen, home to the Red Light District. It seems to me that that area has always been derelict. The church was consecrated in 1306 as Saint Nicholas Church, with Saint […]
Black in Amsterdam
Isaac Israel. Portrait of a Wounded Soldier (1882) Rijksmuseum. Depicts a Belanda Hitam (Zwarte Hollander) originally from Elmina, Ghana When I was deciding on a European break this summer, I purposely decided against Barcelona or any other locale that I envisioned I could be mistaken for a prostitute simply on the basis of my dark […]
My Turn To Weigh in on Obama’s Win
Growing up in East Germany, Gorbachev, Reagan, and Thatcher were my world leaders. I knew nothing about them and their politics yet I liked each one. Bush Senior was a blur and Clinton was memorable only because I was living in Ghana at the time of his first win (1992) and a lot of Ghanaian […]
Random sorrowness of life
I have previously blogged my growing dissatisfaction with my life as it is here, here, and here. It all started here. This year has been an intensive exercise in attitude adjustment. It’s been a real struggle to stay positive. In any case, I want to talk about physicians today. I’m truly disappointed with my lot. […]
Neglected & forgotten spices & seasonings of Ghana
Summer in New York City is synonymous with a whole cadre of street festivals where artists and vendors sell their wares and one can usually buy something cool like the magic wrap skirt. I recently went on an outing with my mother and sisters to the Lexington Avenue Street Fair and came across a display […]
Zenzele: A Letter for My Daughter by J. Nozipo Maraire
I first encountered this novel when I was a college student in the late 1990s. But did I read it then? No! I was too busy trying to get into medical school. I finally got around to reading it over the past few months (it shouldn’t have taken this long) and now I wonder what […]
Bronya is Over!
Yes people, I really did come to Ghana to do clinicals. Ghanaians have already gone back to work. “Bronya” is over! Until next year. Actually, probably until March 6th as this year will be the 50th anniversary of Ghana’s independence, so people will really be partying. Too bad I won’t be here. Ghana has come […]
A lover of mangoes. A woman - smart, without pretense, lefthanded, Afropolitan - navigating this thing called life. An unapologetic believer in social justice and karma. Choosing to radiate positive energy and be true to myself. Here, my musings.