South Dakota terminology

The Peace Corps advised us to return home mindful that we would find a unique, and at times foreign, culture awaiting us. Here are some takes on life from South Dakota:
1. Theft: When someone takes your purse out of your unattended grocery cart. (In other states, this is called charity)
2. Town: Any place with a name, a grain elevator, an implement dealer, and a bar.
3. High speed information: ladies' society "prayer" meeting.
4. Headline news: "Man catches 63 fish over license limit"
5. Pot Roast Pizza: The local parlor's specialty; yes, corn, mashed potatoes and roast on a hand tossed crust...
6. State sport: rodeo (again, no joke)
7. Old maid: high school degree and STILL no ring...
8. Foreign land: well, you've heard of WESTERN South Dakota...
9. Claustrophobia: excess of 10 people per square mile (state average).
10.Family doctor: a medical doctor who treats children and senior citizens, and delivers babies! (in other states you need a 5 physician team to do all that!)

A stranger in a strange land: me!

The ducks stayed in South Dakota.... maybe I should too

I have, for several weeks, been hoping for acceptance into the University of Virginia's prestigious pre- medical post- baccalaureate program (yes it sounds like an old Detroit church name; too loooong). With experienced advising staff, hands on shadowing opportunities, and an excellent reputation for undergraduate instruction, 85% of the those in the program go on to medical school for a reason. The natural beauty of Charlottsville, warm weather, and the architectural beauty of Virginian mansions to boot cannot be ignored. I had been praying for favor, reading the director's research articles, and perfecting my only suit. Last week, I visited a cousin in Sioux Falls, as her husband, an internist runs the free clinic. I knew something was up when their house was on Euclid; a street always in the older, almost historic and always diverse part of town. True enough, every house on the street was unique and theirs; a purplish brown Victorian, overlooked and blended in with the sunset. Full of books, family pictures, and some well fed cats and dog, the house also had subscriptions to the New York Times and the Economist. My cousin showed me an empty but furnished apartment in the finished basement and told me I was welcome to stay there and do my coursework in town. It was tempting The next day, I was using a computer in the Sioux Falls free clinic as I followed my cousin in law on his patient rounds. As we were discussing prevalent STD's in the area, I opened my email. Yes, I was accepted into the University of Virginia's program. I did not dwell on it, however, because we were off to examine a suspected hernia. I met with the head of the clinic and worked out an internship using my past experience in social work. Could the mandatory volunteer time with other students at the University of Virginia free clinic really be better? The previous morning, I had visited Augustana College, a good liberal arts college in Sioux Falls, to see if they offered the courses I would need. The friendly admissions counselor, with the good Dutch name of Dykstra, didn't reprimand me for tardiness, but brought me to the head of the science department. Yes they had a premedical program; with about 90% of graduates getting into medical school. Yes they had worked with "nontraditional" applicants like myself. And yes, there were some scholarships available. With 5 days to decide; I realize that there are benefits on both sides; I do want to feel at home somewhere. I am tired of moving around. I would love to stay in Sioux Falls. I hesitate, however, to rely on my cousin and her husband and Augustana in place of an officially put together pre-packaged program from the UVA. So far, I feel differently every morning, but I have chosen Sioux Falls for two mornings in a row.....