Category: journal

Cendol Hunt on a Monday Afternoon

the sun was scorching hot today, just like yesterday, and the day before yesterday, and the day before the day before yesterday… classes ended earlier today; got my last shot of Hep B vaccination, and off we went in search of cendol, because my classmate Mior was craving for it. ended up at this mini pasar petang (because it’s not pasar malam) at the roadside, where there were probably 7-8 stalls selling deep-fried snacks, noodles, cold drinks etc. – basically all greasy unhealthy food, or, as Phil will say, crappy Malaysian food πŸ˜›. but Mior wanted cendol and we just wanted to snack, so who cares about the LDL that would deposit itself on our arteries. so we found a place to sit, ordered food, and enjoyed them under the good ol’ Malaysian sun. as i sat there perspiring like a caveman with hyperactive sweat glands, i realized – this must be the first time for a very, very long time that i actually hung out at a place like this (i.e. open air, roadside, no shades except for the huge umbrellas they put up) at this ohmygod-so-hot-can-die hour. usually the me i know would run the opposite direction and choose an air-conditioned place to chill. not that it’s a big thing, but i feel a little more “Malaysian” than my usual self, if that’s even the right word to describe how i feel. for once, i don’t mind the heat, and because of that i’m highly amused by it. or, could it be, subconsciously i was just trying to feel less guilty about not practicing for the half-marathon as i was supposed to today by choosing another activity that has the same outcome of sweating profusely and soaking self in salt water?! hmmm…

in any case, Mior’s cendol craving wasn’t fulfilled as the stall has closed. looks like there will be another makan outing in the name of cendol fix. πŸ™‚

on another note, i really should brush up my BM. even the foreigner classmate is ganging up with the rest of them ejek-ing my lack of proficiency. T.T

Yoga

My Mr. Bear is just so cute I couldn’t resist putting this photo up. πŸ˜€   Our visiting professor does yoga and we got him to conduct a couple of sessions when he was here with us. It was so much fun, I can’t remember how much I enjoyed it and how much I missed it. Hopefully one of our classmates who teaches yoga can start a class with us on a regular basis. It’s high time we put words into action; thinking about it but not doing anything is just as good as nothing.

1.5-Day Breather

Professor: “So. Do you know what they call those who graduated last from medical school?”
Student: *shifty eyes* [silence]
Professor: “They call them ‘doctor‘.”

Everytime they see our stressed-out faces studying for an exam, our professors would remind us of that simple yet profound fact, and it would make me feel a tinge bit better whenever I hear that. It doesn’t necessarily change anything or make us less nervous about exams, but it cracks us up a little, or at least it does me.

It’s been six months since I started school, and I have to say, it’s really different from the college life I used to know. Back then I studied just as hard, but there was never really any pressure to retain the stuff I learned, whereas now the notion sits there, at the back of my mind. Not that anyone is enforcing it in any way, but because we’re learning knowledge that will serve us for the rest of our professional lives, we need to constantly remind ourselves that we have to internalize the knowledge – ideally, that is – rather than just memorize and regurgitate for the sake of passing exams. And so, as we adjust to this mindset, learning has been fun, interesting, and rewarding. Exams are still a dread, we still have to work hard for it, we still need to pass all of them, but it’s no longer a deterministic factor in anything we do. I like it this way so much more. And thank goodness it’s only pass-or-fail grading system!

On Monday we completed our first Genes to Society (GTS) block on immunology/microbiology, and our professors were kind enough to give us a one-and-a-half day break before we start our global health intersession tomorrow, which will go on for the rest of the week. Next week we’ll be diving into hematology/oncology and though I have no idea what the schedule is like, or how tough it’s going to be, I look forward to it. Today has been a lot of fun- I learned how to photoshop my photo and create the pic below; I went to Sg Buloh Hospital for a briefing on an HIV awareness event coming up soon in Brickfields (in which we will be volunteers); then ended the day with a nice dinner and dessert.

The next few days will be full of lectures and group discussions back-to-back from 9-5, and tomorrow I probably would regret not spending today reading up on all the articles on global health, but for now I couldn’t care less. Shall savor this moment for a few more hours. πŸ™‚

Away from Mother Ship, Venturing Out

So, very early on in our medical training, we’re taught communication and general history taking skills as well as physical examination skills with the help of simulated patients. Now after about 3 months of that, it’s time to put them in actual use. Well, kind of. We’ll be venturing out to the “real world” as we’re posted to our designated clinics once a week for a 3-hour session, observing and learning from our preceptors. Hopefully it won’t be all observing but that we’ll also get to do stuff too. I personally want to work on my history-taking and interviewing skills, and all the other basics. Mmm can’t wait. It should be fun!

As we prepare ourselves for the adventures and challenges in the next year or so that we can only imagine, one of our professors shared with us the following video from TED. It conveys a simple message, which is to stress the importance of a doctor’s touch in a patient-doctor relationship. Couldn’t be simple enough, yes, and perhaps it may seem like an ordinary, redundant point to make, but in reality it may be under-appreciated or under-practiced in this fast-paced technologically-driven world that we live in. And so, I just thought it’s a good reminder for those of us who will be embarking on our new adventures soon. πŸ™‚  Good luck everyone!

Melancholy and What’s Left Unsaid

I must have mentioned it more than once, that I feel that Chinese songs are mostly melancholic. Don’t misunderstand, I used to love listening to Chinese songs, and still do, but I think as I grow older I can’t handle as well all this emo-ness that those songs brings out in me. What I used to embrace back then, I find myself avoiding it. It’s strange how we change in time; most of the time I feel I change for the better, but in this case, my aversion of intense emotions and feelings, I feel is not a good thing. Could I be hiding something from myself? What is it that I’m so afraid to face and what am I running away from? I have no idea, and I just don’t have the time to go down that rabbit hole right now. Some day, maybe, I’ll muster the courage to find out.

This evening on my way home I saw the rainbow and it filled my heart with warmth. Its colors lightened up the part of town that I was driving through and made everything else irrelevant. That stretch of bumpy road is a glimpse of many glaring disparity and stark contrasts, but I suspect the people there would’ve felt the same warmth when they see the rainbow. With the melancolic tunes playing on the radio, I thought to self at that point of time, this is enough. I am thankful.

Calcium by 30

Yesterday during class discussion, professor mentioned that women should start taking calcium supplements at the age of 30, because we lose calcium faster and at an earlier age than men. So if you don’t wanna get osteoporosis or don’t wanna shrink so soon, start taking your calcium pills- a minimum dosage of at least 1000mg.

Conversation that followed that discussion-
me: ah i have 3 more years to go before i have to start taking those calcium pills…
classmate A: don’t worry we’ll remind you when that day comes! 
me: …!!!
classmate B: yeahhh definitely! we’ll get you that for your birthday present!! hahaha
me: …!!!!!!
classmate C: haha yes, tell us what brand you like, we’ll get that for you! 
Conversation dissolved into fits of laughter. Gosh, to think that my physiological age has peaked before I equip myself with sufficient knowledge to give back to the society! Aging- it’s a concept that doesn’t rest well with many. For the most part, I’m fine with it, because with age comes wisdom (well. not necessarily. but hopefully it is so in my case :P). But to know that someday our organs will deteriorate slowly, and that it’s part of the life cycle and we can’t do anything about it – well that part isn’t that nice.

Having said that, when the laughing and thinking lines become a permanent fixture on my face, when I’m 5cm shorter than my already-not-so-tall stature, when I’m just a bag of bones and not much else, I just hope to be a good-natured, fun-loving, healthy self who has a thing or two to teach or share.

[photo from istock.com]

All in good time though. All in good time.

Life in Numbers

Multivitamins I take every morning after breakfast – 7
Number of bumps between home and school – 17 or 18 (lost count)
Distance in km from home to school – 38 ish
Average time spent commuting from home to school and back every day – 2.25 hours
Average sleep every day – 5 hours
Times I caught myself saying “I’m hungry!” – twice/thrice per day
Times I actually feel hungry – uhh.. probably every two/three hours
Weight I lost – -1 or -2kg
Days since I last went for a run – 20+

Life- there’s more to it than those numbers of course. I just find myself having very little to say these days. Not at my best form right now, still trying to settle down at the new place, catching up with school work, etc. Don’t like the fact that I don’t get to work out, need to find a way to do that once I’m settled down. But for now, am going out for my weekly indulgence – best Penang hokkien mee  in town! Yummmz πŸ™‚

Back to School

It’s not so much the idea of being back to school that excites me, but more of the fact that I finally get to learn all that I want to learn, and do what I want to do. Here’s to another four years of late-night mugging, pots of coffee, exams, sleepless nights and interesting stories. Here’s to ‘a new beginning’! πŸ™‚ 

End of August and Such

Almost two-thirds of the year have gone by. So much has happened since the start of this year; hopefully more good things will happen in the next few weeks. Can’t write much bout it yet until it really happens. For now, I can only hope for the best.

With regard to the incident that prompted me to write the post ‘Weak’ some time ago, I finally made my stance clear and said NO. There was this lady who kept pushing her products to me, forcing me in a polite-but-pushy way (but still forcing nonetheless!) me to buy. I gave in the previous few times (which made me mad at self all this while). Not that those products are of bad quality or that I don’t like them, but the fact that she kept shoving it to my face annoyed the hell out of me. Where is the consumer’s freedom? Even if I like and want it, I have every right to decline buying it for whatever reasons I fancy. But no, to her I must buy from her, else she’d give me an attitude! Anyway, this time I stood firm and told her straight up – NO. In a just-as-polite way as she did trying to get me to buy, I told her to save her breath because I wasn’t going to buy no matter what she said. Holy cow, you should’ve seen how her face changed! It turned from an angelic smile to a bitchy green face, asking me why I didn’t want to get it. Like I owe her an explanation for that! Wanted to say “because I simply refuse to do so, and there’s nothing you can do bout it”! Or “because I just don’t like your face”. But didn’t. Refrained self from being nasty. Unnecessary. And so, at the end she said something which pretty much can be translated to “well fuck you” – if you know how to read facial expression and filter through the cynical remarks. I came so close to retort, but again decided against it. Not worth it, plus, I’m extremely proud of self for standing firm. When I got the message across and caused her to give up on me, I’ve clearly won in this “battle”. Victory! Heck yeah, don’t you come messing with me! Just because I’m nice most of the time doesn’t mean you can be a bully like that! 
So yeah. Even though I was verbally assaulted, I was glad I didn’t give in after all. Gave self a little pat on back, and walked out relieved. In life, there’s always going to be people like that. Got to learn to protect self from those who will take advantage of us without hesitation. As for that lady, if she hadn’t been such a foulmouth at the end, I’d have given her some tips on how to sell to people more effectively. Oh well.

TGIF

man it’s been a longggggg week! couldn’t wait for it to be over, and now- thank goodness it’s the weekend!! part of me just wanna stay at home and chill and do nothing, but another part of me wants to go out and explore. for the past two weekends I’ve been traveling to and fro KL; the trips were worth it, but i need my sleep. πŸ˜›   pardon me for the dearth of posts lately, work has taken up most of my time (and energy!) the last thing i wanna do when i get home is to sit in front of my laptop.

it’s my grandaunt’s birthday today, we’re having dinner with her. waiting for my brother to head for dinner together. so while i wait, here i am! πŸ™‚   some pictures:

my best friend who’s just married πŸ™‚  

 brother and brandon who came back from US for vacation.
 chean my ex-roommie in US, whom i hope will someday invent the tastiest dessert that has zero calories πŸ˜€
small get-together. the rest couldn’t make it. fun nevertheless!
(brandon’s asam laksa wasn’t that good though.)ο»Ώ

ο»Ώok about time. i gotta go! more next time! byeee.

On My Way Home

Forgot how great it is to have wifi connection, with my laptop on a proper table and chair, (and air-con!! can’t do without in this climate); it makes me appreciate this moment all the more. It’s the afterwork rush. Today is just like any other day, but I decided I should spend some alone time after work. And so, here I am, sitting in the Bishan library enjoying the wifi, surfing, reading emails and news that I have accumulated over the week. Ah, peace and quiet. This is happiness! πŸ™‚

Last weekend was spent at the Mint Museum of Toys, followed by dinner and movie – Green Lantern. Pictures of the Toy Museum will be up as soon as I’m done editing them, and thoughts on the movie will be written separately. So many things to do, never enough time. Ever since I started work, I feel like I’m rushing through everything. I rush to work, I rush to get job done, rush for lunch, rush to gym, rush to go home. I feel like I’m part of the local crowd. And if I slow my tempo down, I feel a little out of place.

Time, is such a precious commodity. Time waits for no one. And as I sit here, wondering about time, catching my breath, and just paying attention to my being here, perhaps I’m missing out on many other things. Perhaps. But I don’t care. They can all wait. Right now I could use some quiet moments.

A Sad Case of Abuse

Last week Mediacorp aired a video they received about 3 months ago, of an elderly lady being mistreated by nurses in Nightingale Nursing Home at Braddell, SG. They stripped her naked and left her under the ceiling fan which was turned on – full-blast no less – for a good 30 minutes. Then they literally swung and threw her on the bed when transferring her from wheelchair to bed, and later on slapped her when the said lady groaned in pain.

I am pissed. I’m seething!! How could anyone treat an old fragile lady like that? How could such an outrageous act be allowed to happen? Where is the nurse manager in charge? Was she the only one being treated like that? Could there have been more cases as such? How long has it been going on? What the f*** is wrong with the nurses??? And hello it’s a private nursing home! People actually pay to have their family member taken care of, not thrown around like a ragged doll! I truly hope that nurse gets deported and her license revoked. She and everyone else who conducted such crime. And I sincerely hope the Ministry of Health really look into this matter and make sure it doesn’t happen in other nursing homes.

Looks like my job just got tougher, more challenging. The repercussion of that incident is sure to be felt by us too.

Anyway- check out the video if you like: click here.