To M206.....(and my orientation group)

My orientation group- The 'Anus-thetic' group

I remember exactly one year ago....I was lining outside the registration hall at the 4th floor of IMU's Bukit Jalil campus. My eyes darting around at the unfamiliar surrounding and scanning the unfamiliar faces. I remember the feeling of uncertainty, the cloud of doubt that was still hovering over me at that time. I had just rushed back to Malaysia from UK. I was supposed to do Masters in Neuroscience, and not medicine. It was a last minute decision on my part, after I was given only less than a minute to ponder over it. And I didn't know then whether it was the right decision or not, and whether I would regret it. And being the introvert that I am.....I didn't know whether I would fit in or not. (with people 4 years younger than me).

I remember telling my mum that I wanted to return to the UK! And that it was wrong, just wrong for me to rush back here, to start all over again, from year 1.

And I remember sitting there, looking and feeling confused, with my orientation group, as seniors walked freely in and out of the room. I remember asking myself what the heck was going on, what 'IMCC' thingy were these seniors talking about. And which of them were our O.Os? Well, my orientation group mates were looking as bewildered as I was! :giggles

And I recall returning back from a weekend in Kuching just to sit for my IELTS exams. And feeling lost as my orientation group were busy preparing the props for the following week. They'd had the time to bond throughout the weekend, and I barely had time to get to know them.

Well, gradually, I got to know everyone in the group- members and O.Os.....and then slowly got to know more and more people from my batch. And my housemates are the best housemates that I can find!

And I haven't regretted the decision to study medicine in IMU after getting a degree ( well, albeit the occasional complaining of 'I still have so many more years to go!')

Here is a dedication to each and everyone of my batchmates. M206 rocks!! We're the best.batch.ever. :P Ok, I maybe exaggerating, but yeah I love my batch.

Here's a dedication to all my PBL groupmates so far, my rotation groupmates ( rotation group A is the best!) and to everyone who has taken the time to talk to me :)

And thank you Lord, for making the past academic year and eventful and smooth sailing one for me. Now, as I proceed on to the 2nd year of medicine, and 3rd semester in the Bukit Jalil campus, I pray that you continue to give me grace in my studies and carry me through this hurdle. Amen.

One year has come and gone since I've stepped into the IMU. And I'll treasure the memories of the past year, and hope for more sweet memories in the upcoming year.

Lonely...

Yes, that's how I've been feeling lately.

Hums to the tune 'Lonely......I'm so lonely......I've nobody........I'm on my own'. Heh.

It just seems like I've got nobody to chat to over here in Kuching. My ex-classmates are all back in Australia, UK , or wherever else. ( I don't have much things in common with them anyways).
And my family, which I am usually very content to spend time with, well let's just say that they are all caught up in their own activities. My mum went to Brunei and Labuan for about 5 days. So every dinner it's just me and Uncle David who doesn't mind taking the trouble to pick me up for dinner every day without fail. Even his younger daugther now has her own stuff to handle- her own things to do.
So the only person I really talk to nowadays is....yes, my maid at home. Well, at least she has a companion in me.

The things is, I don't even feel like I belong here anymore. No friends back home in Kuching....even my own family....I don't feel like I have much things in common to talk about to them. When they talk about the centre's business, I don't have much to say or add in , because I am not working there. And when I talk about my studies/ medical terms/ etc. it's like I'm speaking in a foreign language to them. I'm the only person in my family who is university educated. And the only one who is English educated. As a result, I'm simply not in the same league as them. It's not that I'm looking down at them or anything, in fact it's the other way round.....them looking up so highly on me like I'm a VIP or something. Hey, I'm only a 2nd year medical student, I still have a long long way to go to even becoming a junior doctor. There's no need to treat me like that.

On another note, I don't even know my own car. I didn't know that it has a security system, such that I have to press the tiny red button beside the steering before I actually can start the car engine. How? I want to drive around town and hang out with friends like other teenagers, but there's no one to hang out with, no place fun to go alone.

At least back in KL, I have people to talk to, although I don't really have any close friends. My housemates, although they both have much more in common with each other than with me- well at least they never leave me out in their activities. :)

So, for the past few days, I've just been studying CVS (albeit very slowly), and watching Astro.
- the finale episode of 'Lost' was very good! So was 'D.O.C', the Sun-centric episode.
- yes, I watch 'Heroes' too. I've come to like it and enjoy watching it (although I'm not really into it yet). K..Hiro Nakumara is adorable, Claire Bennett is cute, Nikki Sanders is hot, Peter Petrelli is cool.... Ali Larter is such a great actress! Acting as two people simultaneously (of different personalities too), it's not easy.

I'm so not looking forward to returning to IMU for Semester 3. I've had a look at our Respi timetable, and boy, is it packed! It'll take quite a while to get myself adjusted back to this lifestyle....being on holidays for so long.


p.s. My auntie 'booked' me to be a 'tour guide' for her, my cousin and a few visitors who are coming over to Kuching next week. I mean, it's a good excuse to go to Damai and have fun.... but I dunno why I'm not feeling so enthusiastic about that....it's like I'm feeling so lazy to do anything nowadays :/

p.p.s M207 orientation! Good luck to the organizing committee, I'm sure you guys will do a great job!!

Well, it's been a while since I've made any 'Emo' posts, heh?

e.t.a And after I make this post....all of a sudden I'm fully booked for the entire upcoming week.
:lol

A lesson to be learnt....

Sometimes, growing up, we have to learn lessons and experience things ourselves to further shape us and prepare us for the real world. These lessons, no matter how painful they may be at times, are an essential part of growing up.
As humans, we all make mistakes. Nobody is perfect. But we learn from our mistakes. If we fall, we get up and try again.

Anyways, I learnt a precious lesson yesterday- the lesson about not jumping into conclusions without further investigating the matter at hand. Don't assume that someone else is thinking (A) , when actually that's not really what that person is thinking about at all.

Yes, I should learn to handle such situations better next time! And not rush into hasty conclusions. *nods*

Anyways, the past few days have been sooo boring, so much so that this boredom is playing tricks with my mind and causing negative thoughts to enter.


p.s. Had a look at mum's newly renovated shop yesterday. Cool stuff.

Do you believe in.....

Ghosts?

Well, as some of you probably know, this is the 7th month of the Chinese lunar calendar. Which means that the restless souls are free to roam about in the living world, free to wander among us.

I do believe in them.....I mean I believe in the devil and evil spirits. They are always around, out to attack us....spiritually.

I never had any personal encounters with one...( nor do I wish for such a thing). I've heard plenty of stories though, of course.

KKB...the place where IMU students have to visit as part of the Rotation posting, has many spooky stories about it. People say that the Nurses hostel ( where the girls stay) is haunted, and that one of the houses at Taman Seruling is haunted too! As a result, us girls wouldn't usually go to the showers alone.

I don't have many personal experiences to share. Is the sound of someone hammering away at the next door house ( in Vista B) at 4 am in the morning included? *shrugs* Maybe.

I have one funny story though. You see, the night I returned to Kuching, my aunt and uncle were staying over at my place, occupying my own bedroom, and so I had to share a room with my mum, which also meant sharing her queen-sized bed with her.
I had a rather restless sleep, so to say. In the middle of the night, I felt a hand sweep across my face and jumped up startled. I looked over, and my mum was fast asleep. So, of course you know what I assumed it was.

Well, to cut the long story short, it turned out to be my mum after all, when I asked her the next day. Heh.


p.s. I am sick! Have running nose and sore throat :(

IGTA

Guess what IGTA stands for?

Yes.....I got tagged.....again! By Kelvin.

Anyways this is how it works:•
Each player must post these rules first.
• Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
• People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
• At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.• Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

I was thinking of doing a post like this anyways.....telling about random facts about myself.

1) I have a slight obsessive-compulsive disorder when it comes to washing my hands. I have to wash my hands with soap everytime I use the toilet. Am I just practicsing good hygiene, or have I gone overboard? People point out that it may be the main reason why I have eczema on my hands, but I simply wouldn't listen :( I use a very mild type of soap ('Dove') and the dermatologist I visited said that it was due to contact with strong detergent (read: not normal mild soap).

2) I have a bit of a hoarding disorder. I tend to keep some things for sentimental purpose. I tend to keep SMSes, emails, bochures, etc. for a long time without bothering to delete them- thinking that one day when I'm bored, I'll look through them all again and they would bring back some memories.

3) I LOVE junk food! I can gobble up an entire packet of crisps within half an hour. I'm not kidding. And whenever I go marketing with my housemates, a packet or two of 'Cottage Fries' is a must on my grocery list 8o

4) I like vegetables, but I don't like eating fruits. I don't know why. The only fruit I would consider eating are grapes, and well, maybe an occasional apple or banana

5) I had to undergo an operation to remove my tonsils when I was 5, due to tonsilitis. Had to be hospitalized for the operation. Being the naive and innocent person I was, I bought my mum's and aunt's story that we were checking into a hotel. When the effects of the anesthetic wore off after the operation, I remember the very first thing I said when I saw their faces was.....'I hate you all!'

6) I had to have stitches when I was about 4 or 5. You see, it was the first time I bathed myself then, and I applied soap on the soles of my feet. And slipped in the bathroom, knocking my chin hard on the floor, cracking it open. Had to have several stitches on the chin, WITHOUT ANESTHESTHETIC. My mum and aunt were practically pinning me down, as I howled in pain.

7) I love the internet. It's like my refuge, my comfort zone, my haven, the place I can wind down and relax. Maybe that's why I'm an introvert?

8) I have zero patience when it comes to reading books. I would tend to flip through to the last chapter and then know the ending before actually starting to read the book! Very bad habit, I know! The same goes to series/movies/ reality shows. I love to be spoiled!


*list deleted since nobody seems to be in the mood of being tagged....hehe! ;)
Instead, I'm gonna make this into an open tag- which means that anyone who is up to doing this tag can do it.

Happy 21st Birthday to.....

Praveena Sundram......a batchmate of mine. Don't know if she reads this.....but thanks so much for inviting me over to your huge birthday bash!! I feel priviledged to be a part of it =)

Just know that you're a great person- so warm, friendly, kind, caring, independent, mature, responsible.....

It's really great knowing you from working together in the Uni Editorial Board.

The birthday bash was great.....with buffet dinner, Astro and disco dancing!

I've got something to admit.....I had much difficulty in selecting my outfit for tonight! I raided my entire wadrobe.....took out all the blouses and skirts that I have ( which weren't that many)
and tried them on one by one, seeking both my housemates' advice. It was a tedious procedure, I've gotta tell ya.....so much so that I told myself that no way was I ever gonna go through all this trouble to dress up anymore, unless it is for a very important occasion.

One blouse couldn't fit me at all, another one showed my tummy, the other one didn't really suit my pink skirt. The other three blouses....I didn't think they were special enough for the occasion.

I ended up trying on both my housemates' tops and blouses. :lol They didn't suit me at first, due to the fact that the bra I was wearing wasn't suitable for tank tops. Finally, my housemate taught me that I could remove the bra strap. Then it was perfect. I ended up wearing Fang Han's white and brown tank top. It was really forcing me to step out of my comfort zone, but in the end, I think all the trouble I went through was worth it! I was a transformed person, at least for tonight.

Enjoy the pics!! ( sorry for the poor quality- there's something wrong with my camera)

Li Cin, Maggie, me, Alicia and Fang Han
Me and 'Leng Zai' Seng Chye- who was my orientation group's IMCC
Chong Bing, Li Cin, birthday girl Praveena and me
Fang Han, Alicia, me


Me and Joon Heng
me and Cousin Mervin
me and Tracy
me and Sarah Yuen
me and Jeremy Er

The birthday girl blowing the candles
The birthday cake! (It's the shape of a key, to represent freedom)
What a nice house she has!

eta : Oh great.....just realized how messy my hair was.

Dealing with angry patients

This is part of our Rotation posting. For my rotation group (Group A), this is the third rotation activity, after the visit to KKB and the community medicine activities.

I, for one, wasn't looking forward to this activity, mainly because I dread getting scolded. The number of times I've been scolded by someone other than my mum can be counted with one hand.

Anyways, in the morning.....Miss Reiko Yeap gave us a briefing about how we should go about dealing with these angry patients, how to soothe and calm them down.

However, it is easier said than done.

We were divided into 3 groups of 7 people, and 3 simulated patients rotated between the 3 groups.

The first patient to enter the room , a Chinese lady ( which I think I've seen act as an SP before) didn't seem that angry. So she wasn't that scary at all. She even burst out laughing when one of us asked a silly question. But I somehow didn't have the nerves to volunteer to go up to deal with her yet. Redhuan, Yee Wei and Kwan went.

I finally volunteered when the second patient, an Indian guy. He looked like a person who is angry and irritated for real. He didn't even smile at us. I didn't know how to calm him down. He wasn't happy and kept on demanding that I explain why he had to wait outside for 2 hours. I kept on saying that I was sorry to hear that and I would look into matters. But he didn't seem satisfied with that. And when I explained that maybe there were a lot of patients waiting outside....he retorted back......'I was the only patient waiting outside!'
Well....umm....what can I say? lol
And when I first said that I'm sorry, but things like that are 'unavoidable'......oops.....BIG mistake.....he capitalized on that immediately.

Anyways, the third patient- another female......was by far the funniest one.

She described a nurse who mistreated her as ......'the one with a lot of pimples on the face.....the fat one.....'

When it was Nurul's turn....she said ' Do you know who am I? I am a Datin.... Datin Maria!!'

And the funniest part- was when she talked about her husband.......'You know.....Datuk is very 'demanding'. Maybe that's one of the reasons for my chest pain.'

Ok, at that point, the rest of us in the room couldn't suppress our laughter any longer.

Anyways, it turned out to be quite a fun activity, with some hilarious moments and some scary moments.

Hopefully, we will be more prepared to face the many different types of patients we have to deal with in the future, when we go out to the real world.

Barcelona/Bath photos

a) Catalunya Square, Barcelona
b) At the Cathedral in Barcelona
c) At the Roman Baths
d) I forgot the name of this house.....Casa something......anyways, this house is well known for its architecture
e) at the bay area, Barcelona
f) in the zoo, Barcelona

More pics up later!

To dear Lynn Xuan....

Happy belated belated 21st birthday!!! =)

We took you by surprise, didn't we? ;)

May God bless you always!

p.s. You can grab these photos, no prob

p.p.s Wilfred didn't snap the photo of us in your balloon filled room!