This week has been busy so far for me.....
Monday: lectures, PBL afternoon , choir practice and then performance at night
Tuesday: lectures, OSCE practice in afternoon, church prayer meeting at night
Today: OSCE practice early in the morning, CG meeting, case study, Haemato lab, PBL2 session (which I went through without any PBL notes!! :eek Turned out I left my PBL notes in the CSU room in the morning) *hits head Luckily I still had a set of lecture notes with me and some memory about what I read last night
I really hope to have a more relaxing day tomorrow and on Friday. 10:30 tomorrow, OSCE practice again.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Earning Money
Today, I had the opportunity to earn some money.
How- you may ask.
Well, by becoming a tour guide for IMU's Open day.
This was the first time I am doing this ever since I step foot into IMU- so I admit that I was a bit nervous at first.
Initially, it was rather boring just standing there and waiting for the visitors to come out of the Auditorium. And when they finally did, nobody seemed interested in having a tour.
But finally, just as I was about to go home, I decided to approach one lady who was standing outside the Audi and asked her whether she would be interested in joining a tour. And she said yes.
So I became the tour guide for the small family ( mother, daughter (who is in Secondary 4 and is already interested in studying medicine in IMU) and son who seems barely older than 5.)
The mother asked me a lot of questions- both about IMU and about medicine in general. Luckily I could answer all her questions seemingly confidently although I wasn't that confident on the inside. ( I not a very confident person so maybe this practice would build my confidence and self-esteem up). We managed to tour the top 2 floors- until we reached the Medical Musuem. And when the family stepped foot into the MMS.....they were so intrigued by it that they studied every single model in detail and asked a lot of questions about the models :P And the son decided to pry apart every component of the brain model, and the poor model ended up in an absolute mess. And I didn't know how to fix it.
But yeah, it was a pretty good experience for me.
On a side note- I confirmed today that my Haemoglobin (Hb) levels were very low after doing the Hb test. Maybe that explains the anaemia?
How- you may ask.
Well, by becoming a tour guide for IMU's Open day.
This was the first time I am doing this ever since I step foot into IMU- so I admit that I was a bit nervous at first.
Initially, it was rather boring just standing there and waiting for the visitors to come out of the Auditorium. And when they finally did, nobody seemed interested in having a tour.
But finally, just as I was about to go home, I decided to approach one lady who was standing outside the Audi and asked her whether she would be interested in joining a tour. And she said yes.
So I became the tour guide for the small family ( mother, daughter (who is in Secondary 4 and is already interested in studying medicine in IMU) and son who seems barely older than 5.)
The mother asked me a lot of questions- both about IMU and about medicine in general. Luckily I could answer all her questions seemingly confidently although I wasn't that confident on the inside. ( I not a very confident person so maybe this practice would build my confidence and self-esteem up). We managed to tour the top 2 floors- until we reached the Medical Musuem. And when the family stepped foot into the MMS.....they were so intrigued by it that they studied every single model in detail and asked a lot of questions about the models :P And the son decided to pry apart every component of the brain model, and the poor model ended up in an absolute mess. And I didn't know how to fix it.
But yeah, it was a pretty good experience for me.
On a side note- I confirmed today that my Haemoglobin (Hb) levels were very low after doing the Hb test. Maybe that explains the anaemia?
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Fear
During CG earlier this week, we were asked a question ' What do we fear the most? What are our innermost fears?'
Of course different people would have different fears. For example, some people are afraid of death, others are afraid of change, others are afraid of uncertainty, etc.
For me, I think my innermost fear is the fear of losing a loved one. And I only have one- my mum. I really can't imagine what I would do without her.
Other fears for me include fear of failing (I admit that I'm a rather 'kiasu' type of person ), fear of uncertainty. Talking about fear of uncertainty, I remember how I felt when I first left home to study in college. And the first time I left home to go overseas, far far away from the comfort of home. And having to meet new people, embrace a new culture, adapt to a new lifestyle, etc. I was afraid. I didn't know what the future held for me, whether I would make friends and settle down and cope easily or not. Will I be able to graduate?
The exact same thing applies to IMU right now.
I think the worst fear ever is the fear of the unknown. That's why people are afraid of ghosts and spirits and stuff. And that's why people are afraid of change, afraid of moving to a new place. You don't know what's going to happen next. The best thing you can do is to take it one step at a time.
And let God guide you step by step.
Of course different people would have different fears. For example, some people are afraid of death, others are afraid of change, others are afraid of uncertainty, etc.
For me, I think my innermost fear is the fear of losing a loved one. And I only have one- my mum. I really can't imagine what I would do without her.
Other fears for me include fear of failing (I admit that I'm a rather 'kiasu' type of person ), fear of uncertainty. Talking about fear of uncertainty, I remember how I felt when I first left home to study in college. And the first time I left home to go overseas, far far away from the comfort of home. And having to meet new people, embrace a new culture, adapt to a new lifestyle, etc. I was afraid. I didn't know what the future held for me, whether I would make friends and settle down and cope easily or not. Will I be able to graduate?
The exact same thing applies to IMU right now.
I think the worst fear ever is the fear of the unknown. That's why people are afraid of ghosts and spirits and stuff. And that's why people are afraid of change, afraid of moving to a new place. You don't know what's going to happen next. The best thing you can do is to take it one step at a time.
And let God guide you step by step.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
'Kuih lapis'
The preparation
Have you ever tasted 'kuih lapis' before?
During the Raya holidays, my maid and I decided to make 'kuih lapis' because we were bored :lol
It seems complicated to make, but actually it's quite simple.
First, you take out two huge bowls, and fill them with boiled water.
Then, you add in some sugar and stir. Add in some coconut flavouring, and stir. And then, add in some flour, and stir. (for both bowls).
Then, add a little colouring/flavouring into both bowls.
(meanwhile, heat up the 'wok', and the water inside).
When it's well-mixed, pour in the mixture into a cake tin. Use separate ones for each flavour/colour.
Then comes the most time consuming part, the part which requires your uttermost patience.
Spread the first layer on top of the tin, with the tin on a metal holder placed above the boiling water in the wok.
Cover the wok, and wait for the layer to turn slightly solid, before spreading the second layer ( of a different colour).
Repeat this until you have enough layers.
Let it to cool down, before placing in the fridge.
It turned out fine in the end, except for the fact that I accidentally poured too much red flavouring in, giving the kuih a very red colour!
Friday, October 19, 2007
Monday, October 15, 2007
Hari Raya Visiting
This photo was taken several years ago. To my left is my paternal grandfather.
These few days, I've been so well fed!
Have been visiting houses of relatives ( from my father's side) and tucking myself into the delicious kuih and rendang and curries and what not. Hehe....
The Malays really take the time and effort to make all these yummy cakes and meals.
And my mum's new shop is finally completed. And I've to say....it looks....amazing. Very professional. You've to go visit there to find out for yourself what I mean. ;) So many rooms! And everything looks very systematic.
I forgot to bring my camera during hari Raya visiting....so, no photos :(
And I forgot to bring my camera down to my mum's shop today. Was planning to take some photos of it. Oh well, maybe sometime later this week.
Friday, October 12, 2007
You know you're a medic student when.....
I got this from zzzyun's blog.....and thought it to be rather amusing....
1) You have ever said "Netter is god"
Huh? What's that?!
eta : ooh....I just finally realized what...or rather who....Netter is. Is it referring to Frank Netter, who drew all the complete anatomy drawings and produced the complete 'Atlas of Clinical Anatomy" ( or something like that). I have the book, but it's to complicated to follow! Maybe good for pbls....especially with Htin Aung....*winks
2) You can discuss autopsy/ anatomy over a meal
Ummm.....not really. I don't have a problem with doing so though.
3)You own a 4 color pen
Nope, just 2- blue and black
4) You use more than one color to take notes
Nope. I'm lazy.......
5) You have used up more than 6 highlighters in the past 6 months
I guess so....but don't we all? ;)
6) You have even highlighted something YOU wrote
Yes.
7)You retype handouts given in class
Haha, if only I have the patience and time to do that. There was a time I did try to rewrite the lecture notes. But didn't last long.
8) You haven't had a date in 3 months
I never had a date before in my life. Pathetic right?
9) You haven't had a date since entering med school
Please refer to above.
10) You have not been able to remember the normal term for something because you were thinking of the medical term (ie reflux for heartburn) -
Hmm....maybe it did happen to me before, but I forgot....
11) You get more sleep in lecture than at home
I'm glad to say that I do pay attention to lectures nowadays
12) You know the correct spelling for pruritus
Is it 'puritus' or 'pruritus?'
13) You also know what it means
Haha, yeah, I know what it means. Acute inflammation and neutrophils come into mind.
14) You have ever asked a question in class
I never had the guts to do so :( In front of a class of 167 students
15) The prof. didn't understand the question
Sometimes people find it hard to understand me.
16) You didn't believe the answer the prof. gave
We have to learn to trust those more experienced than us!
17)You went to look it up to see if they were right
I wouldn't be bothered to do so, hahah
18)You can't hold a conversation on anything other than medschool
Actually, come to think of it, it might be quite true....although of course not all the time. I use goings on around the uni as a conversation stimulator.
19) You skip class to study
I used to do so in school,. but because now it's 2 lectures per day, seldom.
20) You've said you didn't do well on a test on which you beat the mean
Hah, I wish I can beat the mean! Well, I did once only, and I was pretty honest than.
21) You spend more than 15 hrs a week on e-mail
E-mail, no. Internet yes.
22) You have a callous on your finger from writing
Yes! My middle finger on my left hand
23) More than one professor know you by name
I try to keep myself very low profile
24) When you ask a question, a new professor has said "Oh, I've heard of you"
Nah.
25) You can name more amino acids than past presidents
Yeah.
26) You use more than 5 acronyms an hour when talking
Yes! I think every IMU student the same.
27)You actually know what PERRLA stands for
Nope! Sorry....
28) You know all the steps of the TCA cycle
Have learnt that before, but kindof forgotten.....I hate biochemistry!
29) You do not read PTA as parent teachers association -
I read it as Persistent Truncus Arteriosus :D
30) You can remember the muscles in the forearm
Umm.....biceps? triceps? Deltoid?
31) You know the structures in the urea cycle -
as I said.....I hate biochem!!
32) You know the dermatome distribution
Nope, I don't know what is dermatome
33) You can't remember what you had for breakfast
Well, I do remember that I skipped breakfast......as usual.....
34) You can'3t spell world, much less backwards
World. Dlrow.There you go.
35) You've ever been sexually aroused by the breast shadow on an X-ray
I don't know about guys, but I'm a girl, so no.
36) You equate "morning stiffness" with Rhematoid Arthritis
Ummm.....not really, although it could very well be a symptom...
37) You actually know normal values for plasma Na
No!
38) Missing class causes you extreme stress
Umm....not really....
39) You have seriously asked someone "So how does that make you feel?"
I'm not a very straightforward person.
40) You have asked will this be on the exam
Yesh.
41) Just after the prof. said it wouldn't
More like before.
42) You identify with Deb on E.R.
I don't watch E.R. Oh....and neither do I watch 'Grey's Anatomy'.
43)You have made a medical joke
I can't make jokes :p
44) no one laughed
People seldom laugh at my lame jokes
45) You wear your stethescope around your neck on the bus --
I don't like to show off, so no.
46) You don't even know which way the thing goes in your ears -
Omg, I admit that I actually didn't know until the long holidays when I practised taking BP
47) "SOB" means shortness of breath to you
SOB also means Shine On Brightly!!!
48) You have gone to student health with suspicion of a disease you have studied -
Hehe, refer to my blog post a few posts back.... ;)
49) within 3 days of the lecture
Refer above
50) You have answered a question in class - nope
asked by the professor - I'm not that smart
More to come!!!
1) You have ever said "Netter is god"
Huh? What's that?!
eta : ooh....I just finally realized what...or rather who....Netter is. Is it referring to Frank Netter, who drew all the complete anatomy drawings and produced the complete 'Atlas of Clinical Anatomy" ( or something like that). I have the book, but it's to complicated to follow! Maybe good for pbls....especially with Htin Aung....*winks
2) You can discuss autopsy/ anatomy over a meal
Ummm.....not really. I don't have a problem with doing so though.
3)You own a 4 color pen
Nope, just 2- blue and black
4) You use more than one color to take notes
Nope. I'm lazy.......
5) You have used up more than 6 highlighters in the past 6 months
I guess so....but don't we all? ;)
6) You have even highlighted something YOU wrote
Yes.
7)You retype handouts given in class
Haha, if only I have the patience and time to do that. There was a time I did try to rewrite the lecture notes. But didn't last long.
8) You haven't had a date in 3 months
I never had a date before in my life. Pathetic right?
9) You haven't had a date since entering med school
Please refer to above.
10) You have not been able to remember the normal term for something because you were thinking of the medical term (ie reflux for heartburn) -
Hmm....maybe it did happen to me before, but I forgot....
11) You get more sleep in lecture than at home
I'm glad to say that I do pay attention to lectures nowadays
12) You know the correct spelling for pruritus
Is it 'puritus' or 'pruritus?'
13) You also know what it means
Haha, yeah, I know what it means. Acute inflammation and neutrophils come into mind.
14) You have ever asked a question in class
I never had the guts to do so :( In front of a class of 167 students
15) The prof. didn't understand the question
Sometimes people find it hard to understand me.
16) You didn't believe the answer the prof. gave
We have to learn to trust those more experienced than us!
17)You went to look it up to see if they were right
I wouldn't be bothered to do so, hahah
18)You can't hold a conversation on anything other than medschool
Actually, come to think of it, it might be quite true....although of course not all the time. I use goings on around the uni as a conversation stimulator.
19) You skip class to study
I used to do so in school,. but because now it's 2 lectures per day, seldom.
20) You've said you didn't do well on a test on which you beat the mean
Hah, I wish I can beat the mean! Well, I did once only, and I was pretty honest than.
21) You spend more than 15 hrs a week on e-mail
E-mail, no. Internet yes.
22) You have a callous on your finger from writing
Yes! My middle finger on my left hand
23) More than one professor know you by name
I try to keep myself very low profile
24) When you ask a question, a new professor has said "Oh, I've heard of you"
Nah.
25) You can name more amino acids than past presidents
Yeah.
26) You use more than 5 acronyms an hour when talking
Yes! I think every IMU student the same.
27)You actually know what PERRLA stands for
Nope! Sorry....
28) You know all the steps of the TCA cycle
Have learnt that before, but kindof forgotten.....I hate biochemistry!
29) You do not read PTA as parent teachers association -
I read it as Persistent Truncus Arteriosus :D
30) You can remember the muscles in the forearm
Umm.....biceps? triceps? Deltoid?
31) You know the structures in the urea cycle -
as I said.....I hate biochem!!
32) You know the dermatome distribution
Nope, I don't know what is dermatome
33) You can't remember what you had for breakfast
Well, I do remember that I skipped breakfast......as usual.....
34) You can'3t spell world, much less backwards
World. Dlrow.There you go.
35) You've ever been sexually aroused by the breast shadow on an X-ray
I don't know about guys, but I'm a girl, so no.
36) You equate "morning stiffness" with Rhematoid Arthritis
Ummm.....not really, although it could very well be a symptom...
37) You actually know normal values for plasma Na
No!
38) Missing class causes you extreme stress
Umm....not really....
39) You have seriously asked someone "So how does that make you feel?"
I'm not a very straightforward person.
40) You have asked will this be on the exam
Yesh.
41) Just after the prof. said it wouldn't
More like before.
42) You identify with Deb on E.R.
I don't watch E.R. Oh....and neither do I watch 'Grey's Anatomy'.
43)You have made a medical joke
I can't make jokes :p
44) no one laughed
People seldom laugh at my lame jokes
45) You wear your stethescope around your neck on the bus --
I don't like to show off, so no.
46) You don't even know which way the thing goes in your ears -
Omg, I admit that I actually didn't know until the long holidays when I practised taking BP
47) "SOB" means shortness of breath to you
SOB also means Shine On Brightly!!!
48) You have gone to student health with suspicion of a disease you have studied -
Hehe, refer to my blog post a few posts back.... ;)
49) within 3 days of the lecture
Refer above
50) You have answered a question in class - nope
asked by the professor - I'm not that smart
More to come!!!
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Being random
Referring back to a couple of weeks back...... http://ailingsblurbs.blogspot.com/2007/09/i-failed.html I was very sure that I would fail my CVS/Respi exam.
Well, the results were released yesterday- which was much sooner than I imagined. Good news is I managed to pass!! Phew. I don't know what I would do had I not passed. (I've never failed an exam in IMU before).
Bad news is, I barely managed a pass. Meaning that- I merely scrapped through the exams.
A lot of people did better than me- and most people got Bs ( as usual).
I am thankful that I passed when I really thought that was going to fail. But I have to study harder for future exams. Yup.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Continuing with my random streak, (which started off with the ear piercing last week), I decided to cook spaghetti for my housemates, and my cousin. First day, the tryout- I dumped the carrots in too late, so the carrots weren't cooked enough :p Following day, my housemates helped me out, and this time it was more successful- and so I invited cousin Mervin over- since his birthday is coming soon.
And I suddenly decided to join the choir too, today.
Well, the results were released yesterday- which was much sooner than I imagined. Good news is I managed to pass!! Phew. I don't know what I would do had I not passed. (I've never failed an exam in IMU before).
Bad news is, I barely managed a pass. Meaning that- I merely scrapped through the exams.
A lot of people did better than me- and most people got Bs ( as usual).
I am thankful that I passed when I really thought that was going to fail. But I have to study harder for future exams. Yup.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Continuing with my random streak, (which started off with the ear piercing last week), I decided to cook spaghetti for my housemates, and my cousin. First day, the tryout- I dumped the carrots in too late, so the carrots weren't cooked enough :p Following day, my housemates helped me out, and this time it was more successful- and so I invited cousin Mervin over- since his birthday is coming soon.
And I suddenly decided to join the choir too, today.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Guess what I did....
Yep, guess what I did today.....
Besides going to church and attending the SJC rocks musical (which was really great, btw......it touched on many important daily issues in life. The actors and actresses were great!)
And besides going to Carrefour.
Yes, I decided to re-pierce my ears. It was a very random and last-minute decision of mine. It actually wasn't my idea at first.....I wasn't intending at all to pierce my ears today. But then housemate Fang Han suddenly voiced out her longing to get her ears pierced today, (which can be considered a big surprise since she's not the girly type) so I decided to accompany her. And yes, I ended up going first because she was too afraid of pain.
I wasn't worried about pain. What I'm much more worried about is....the long-term effects of the piercing. You see, my skin is very sensitive, and almost anything can trigger an allergic reaction to my skin. I had pierced my ears before, when I was much younger, but then my ear holes became inflammed, and so I had no choice but to remove the earrings. And the holes gradually closed up after several years.
Hopefully I'll have better luck this time around! I do want to look pretty, or at least presentable, you know! Just a little something to raise my self-esteem. (That will be another topic altogether).
The photo can't upload at the moment- so that'll have to wait
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok....I've decided to add in more about the SJC Rocks musical. Performed by the students of Subang Jaya College, and based on the very popular 'High School Musical'- it features the daily lives of high school students. Quite an ordinary plot... But then the performances of the actors and actresses really blew me off! They far exceeded my expectations.....it was indeed a very strong and solid performance by them all. Hats off to the cast of SJC Rocks!! They must have rehearsed numerous times for the actual thing.
And the issues touched on by the musical.....about self-esteem....how we always tend to think 'How I wish I can be like this girl.....how I wish I can be as pretty and smart and popular as her'. I thought to myself....that was sooo me! Lol And the single mother-son relationship was also very touching for me, growing up in a single mother household as well.
*a huge applause to the SJC Rocks cast!!
Besides going to church and attending the SJC rocks musical (which was really great, btw......it touched on many important daily issues in life. The actors and actresses were great!)
And besides going to Carrefour.
Yes, I decided to re-pierce my ears. It was a very random and last-minute decision of mine. It actually wasn't my idea at first.....I wasn't intending at all to pierce my ears today. But then housemate Fang Han suddenly voiced out her longing to get her ears pierced today, (which can be considered a big surprise since she's not the girly type) so I decided to accompany her. And yes, I ended up going first because she was too afraid of pain.
I wasn't worried about pain. What I'm much more worried about is....the long-term effects of the piercing. You see, my skin is very sensitive, and almost anything can trigger an allergic reaction to my skin. I had pierced my ears before, when I was much younger, but then my ear holes became inflammed, and so I had no choice but to remove the earrings. And the holes gradually closed up after several years.
Hopefully I'll have better luck this time around! I do want to look pretty, or at least presentable, you know! Just a little something to raise my self-esteem. (That will be another topic altogether).
The photo can't upload at the moment- so that'll have to wait
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok....I've decided to add in more about the SJC Rocks musical. Performed by the students of Subang Jaya College, and based on the very popular 'High School Musical'- it features the daily lives of high school students. Quite an ordinary plot... But then the performances of the actors and actresses really blew me off! They far exceeded my expectations.....it was indeed a very strong and solid performance by them all. Hats off to the cast of SJC Rocks!! They must have rehearsed numerous times for the actual thing.
And the issues touched on by the musical.....about self-esteem....how we always tend to think 'How I wish I can be like this girl.....how I wish I can be as pretty and smart and popular as her'. I thought to myself....that was sooo me! Lol And the single mother-son relationship was also very touching for me, growing up in a single mother household as well.
*a huge applause to the SJC Rocks cast!!
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Anaemia?
So this week marks the start of a brand new system for us sem 3s- the Hematology system. For the next 4 weeks or so, we would be learning everything about our blood system.
As I read the lecture notes and do PBL, something is bugging my mind.
Read:
Symptoms of anaemia:
tiredness,
lethargy,
feeling faint, and
breathlessness.
Poor concentration
Pallor
Tiredness and lethargy? Check. I feel tired and lethargic all the time, especially when I exercise.
Feeling faint? Yes. Particularly after exercise.
Breathlessness? Same.
Poor concentration? Check
Pallor? That is only for serious cases right? But then again, more than once, people have commented that I look pale.
Hmmm...... How about the couple of times , especially recently, when I go to the nearby park for a jog, and end up feeling to tired and weak to even walk back to vista? How about coming back from a casual basketball practice yesterday feeling faint by the time I reached home? How about not being able to donate blood each time I tried to- because tests indicate that my serum iron levels are low? Is there any explanation for that? Not enough sleep? Not bothering to take my vitamins?
Anaemia is the condition whereby our body fails to produce enough red blood cells and haemoglobin in our circulation. As a result inadequate oxygen supply is carried throughout the body, resulting in the above mentioned symptoms.
Could I be suffering from anaemia? If yes, which type might it me? Iron deficiency anaemia? Pernicious anaemia? Megaloblastic anaemia? I'd better get a blood test done.
And in the meantime, I'll continue doing my PBL.
eta: gosh!! Today's PBL was soo draining! Didn't help that the faci has to interrupt every single point we make and ask us zillions of questions- all which I do not know the answer to.
As I read the lecture notes and do PBL, something is bugging my mind.
Read:
Symptoms of anaemia:
tiredness,
lethargy,
feeling faint, and
breathlessness.
Poor concentration
Pallor
Tiredness and lethargy? Check. I feel tired and lethargic all the time, especially when I exercise.
Feeling faint? Yes. Particularly after exercise.
Breathlessness? Same.
Poor concentration? Check
Pallor? That is only for serious cases right? But then again, more than once, people have commented that I look pale.
Hmmm...... How about the couple of times , especially recently, when I go to the nearby park for a jog, and end up feeling to tired and weak to even walk back to vista? How about coming back from a casual basketball practice yesterday feeling faint by the time I reached home? How about not being able to donate blood each time I tried to- because tests indicate that my serum iron levels are low? Is there any explanation for that? Not enough sleep? Not bothering to take my vitamins?
Anaemia is the condition whereby our body fails to produce enough red blood cells and haemoglobin in our circulation. As a result inadequate oxygen supply is carried throughout the body, resulting in the above mentioned symptoms.
Could I be suffering from anaemia? If yes, which type might it me? Iron deficiency anaemia? Pernicious anaemia? Megaloblastic anaemia? I'd better get a blood test done.
And in the meantime, I'll continue doing my PBL.
eta: gosh!! Today's PBL was soo draining! Didn't help that the faci has to interrupt every single point we make and ask us zillions of questions- all which I do not know the answer to.
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