All Ants

This blog entry is dedicated specifically to the ants of Dominica.  You got your flying ants, you got your medium-sized-hard-to-kill ants and your size of the head of a pin ants.  Briana and I have had to deal on several occasions.  Often at night, when I'm in the throws of studying and the large, neon light is buzzing overhead, we get a rush of these flying ants that the locals call "rain ants."  They are attracted to the neon.  We have a large fan set up in the room and the ants (once they enter the room) are blown back and pile up on the floor, bed and anything in between.  Early on I realized that a hefty dose of OFF killed these on contact.  Whenever I'd see one or two start to filter through the screen I'd shut the windows, reach for the off, head out on the balcony and go to town.  

     Often we will come into the kitchen at night or early in the morning and find what looks like tiny pieces of pepper scurrying around.  They are, in fact, ants and the only real solution is get rid of them.  Initially, I felt bad about it:  "They're just being ants; just doing what their meant to do," I said to Bri one night.  Her reply:  "And we're doing what we're meant to do: have dominion over them."  I had to laugh at that one.  It came right out of the mouth of someone who's had to deal with ants getting into everything.  After the ants invaded my backpack (to the point where when I got to class and unzipped my bag to get something I'd fine 7 or 8 going crazy) I lost the mercy I had for them and it became all out war.  Lesson learned:  don't put blopops in your backpack overnight and expecting them not to be devoured.  

     I quick update on school:

Things are very busy.  I did not do as well on the first exam as I had hoped.  Initially I was really discouraged by this.  After talking with fellow students who performed in much the same way, I was greatly encouraged and realized that I have to learn from that, not be brought down by it.  What did I learn?  Well....#1 thing:  med school is not undergraduate school.  Of course I knew this, but I still had some old habbits and some poor ways of doing things.  It's all about high yield in this biz.  You've got to plow through the stuff and create a study product.  It is easy for me to get too involved in a subject I really like which can be very detrimental to other subjects needing attention.  The Lord has me in His grip in all this; not letting me fall off the path.  He has truly been there for me and been faithful in what I like to call "keeping me honest."  Not only that, but He has given me great friends and a community of believers in RCF.  I am grateful.  

      Well, time for bed now.  I've been at it for a solid 7 hours.  Hope you all are well.  Thanks for reading.

     John