I had imagined that taking the OKAP exam as a second year would be a lot easier, having accrued an entire year of ophthalmic knowledge. Instead, I felt less prepared this time. In fact, upper classmen traditionally perform less well on these exams – possibly because we have less didactics as intermediate residents, or perhaps because we no longer have the fear of failing and perceived ignorance as a junior. Either way, I was just glad it was over. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to celebrate, as I had to catch my college friend’s wedding in New Jersey that very evening. Just minutes after the exam was over, I hopped into our car and was speeding down I-95 through near-zero-visibility rain. Even our best efforts was not enough for Melody to experience her first Jewish wedding, although we did manage to quickly change at the wedding site in time for the reception to catch up with college friends. At home, we also started to embark on adventures in Dragon Age 2, where we decided to play as a force mage rather than our usual stealthy rogue motif. With a cast of unlikely companions – a busty pirate, an rage-filled elf-warrior, and an apologetic blood mage, we’ll be looking forward to some dragon-slaying excitement ahead.

I thought it must’ve been an April Fools’ joke when the forecast predicted snow. Sure enough, there I was walking home with snow flakes on my nose – in April! I’ve just about had enough of this crazy weather as I began cramming for the OKAP exam. Despite neglecting my wife and leaving her to cook and clean, I did manage to squeeze in a few weekend breaks together. Last month, we went to Chicago for her friend’s wedding at the Trump Tower, which featured hip hop dancing to Bollywood music, Ganesh ganache for dessert, and the most concise Indian wedding ceremony I’ve ever attended. Last week, we scarfed down Cajun gumbo and crawfish etouffée at Tupelo, before going to watch competing college a capella groups get Pitch Slapped by Berklee’s vocal talents at the regional ICCA (like in Glee!). This weekend, we celebrated Melody’s birthday at Eleven Madison Park in NYC. We were blown away by the innovative tasting menu – a 4 x 4 grid of “themes” for four courses. My choice of “Foie Gras-Lobster-Beef-Chocolate” was a foie gras terrine and custard duo with pineapple accents, sautéed lobster with carrots, beef tenderloin cooked sous vide then roasted, and a chocolate peanut brittle (i.e. butterfinger) with popcorn ice cream. Melody’s “Oyster-Cauliflower-Squab-Pear” was raw oysters with chive jelly, cauliflower seared and poached with almonds and fruit, squab breast and leg confit with foie gras, and poached pears in liquor with gingerbread crumble. The amuse bouche consisted of cheese gougères, dashi soup served from a teapot with sesame crisps, scallop ceviche, citrusy hamachi on rice crackers, and goat cheese lollipops coated with a beet powder and playfully set in a pot of grass. The memorable meal ended with mignardes like carrot cake macaroons, basil-passionfruit kisses, and mint chocolate squares.
The attention to detail was incredible, from the delicate plating to the professional wait staff. After waving bon voyage to my parents for their upcoming trip to Europe, we returned to Boston as I prepared to hit the books again.