Birds of a Feather

Adam's parents live in Zhubei which is part of Hsinchu county in northern Taiwan. For the first few days in the country, we explored the city and got to experience a bit of the day-to-day life. The street markets boasted an array of colors and smells. Still, there were many Asian versions of Western conveniences like Costco.

One of my favorite things about the Taiwan visit was the FOOD (surprised?). On one of our first nights we went to a restaurant that specialized in cooked duck. The duck was chopped up at the table then went into several different dishes including lettuce wraps, stew, a noodle dish and more.

For another dinner, we went to Yakiniku for Japanese-style barbecue. It was fun to sit shoeless at the sunken table and stuff our bellies silly. When we weren't chowing down or stocking the fridge, we played lots of games like Mahjong and watched the entire first season of Modern Family.

On a somewhat rainy day, we went to New Taipei City in the Yingge District, known for its pottery. It was a lot of fun perusing all of the porcelain dishes and clay teapots. If only I had a bigger kitchen!

Christmas in Taiwan

For the holiday break I had the special opportunity to join the Tuttle family in Taiwan. Mark and Cathy have been calling the island nation home for over a year since Mark took a job manufacturing LEDs abroad. Adam and his sister Emily had visited last year, but for her boyfriend Alex and me, this was the first time exploring the country.

Before getting into the nitty gritty of the travel itinerary, I'll share a bit of the seasonal celebrations. Despite the foreign territory, we still kept things classic with some very traditional traditions. We decorated the tree (complete with festive headgear). Cathy made us fashion-forward aprons which we used while frosting sugar cookies.

Since we were traveling on Christmas day, we opened presents a couple days early. Even though I wasn't sure if he would find his way across the Pacific, Santa was very generous and thoughtful. While my own family was scattered around the world, I felt very grateful to be with the Tuttles and sharing in their own annual rituals.

Holiday Cheers

In our second Christmas cooking party (remember last year's Paula Deen affair?), we gathered in the name of Gwyneth Paltrow. Using her GOOP newsletter as inspiration, we whipped up a variety of concoctions to "nourish the inner aspect." I made some tasty individual pumpkin cheesecakes (see recipe).

As my psychiatry rotation ended, I geared up for my final "shelf" exam for a core clerkship. I also got away for a whirlwind 24-hour trip to Denver for a residency interview. I had the chance to meet up with childhood friend, former neighbor, and ob/gyn intern Sarah Chisholm. Back in Houston, Brandi, Peter, and I wrapped up 2011 with the Houston Symphony's A Very Merry Pops. Quite a festive affair!

Enjoying the Ride

 December got off to a great start in Los Angeles as I continued on the interview trail. With stops at USC and Loma Linda, I was able to spend some time with Adam and play hooky from my psychiatry rotation. Both programs have a lot to offer and would be a great place to spend the next three or four years of training.

Adam and I took advantage of the quality time together over a delicious Japanese BBQ dinner at Tsuru Hashi. We also ate brunch one morning at Old Vine Cafe in Costa Mesa. Even though I ordered too much, the food was super tasty. The creamy cheesy grits were sensational. YUM!

 We also spent a day at Knott's Berry Farm, which was a major throwback to my carefree days as a five-year-old. With a donation to Toys for Tots we gained access to the Snoopy Christmas-themed Knott's "Merry" Farm. Starting off with a heart-racing drop on the Supreme Scream, we made our way through the park's rides and attractions. Unfortunately, I soon realized that I no longer have the stomach of a five-year-old. Note to self: bring anti-nausea meds if I return in another 22 years.

Seattle Smiles

After Thanksgiving I flew back to Houston through Seattle to make a very important stop on the interview trail. When I first arrived I paid the Seattle Art Museum a visit, which was cool. Then I headed to the main attraction: University of Washington. Though the emergency medicine residency program is brand new, it was very interesting and exciting to hear what they have planned.

I had a couple awesome dinners with north Idaho friends- Hillary Chisholm (above) and Laura Phillips Jensen (below). Hillary is in her fourth year of medical school at UW and will "expand" to spend another year figuring out what she wants to do for residency. Laura is an ED nurse at Harborview living in a beautiful home with her husband and dogs!