Game Point

This evening....as I was tuned in to the TV while doing my daily exercise....I managed to catch the exciting part of a woman's singles badminton match. (for the Olympics)

The thing that caught my attention was the fact that one of the two women battling it out in the badminton court was Malaysian.

She was Wong Mew Choo, and her opponent was Lu Lan from China.

Of course, being truly Malaysian, I just had to give my full support to Miss Wong.

Apparently, Lu Lan had won the first set easily. They were now in the second set.

Not long after I tuned in, Mew Choo managed to make it to game point, with Lu Lan just a few points behind her. Just one more point to score, to force Lu Lan into a rubber game. Not that hard right?

But guess what... of course Lu Lan just had to snatch back the service. And equalized. Game point has been moved from 21 to 23. Then Mew Choo snatched back service again, and scored another point. Game point again for her, But before she could score game point the service went back again to Lu Lan, who again equalized. Game point moved again from 23 to 25. But Mew Choo, being the fighter she was, again got back the service and equalized too. This went on for so many times, me and my maid were almost screaming at the TV. I was feeling soo nervous for our Malaysian shuttler. The atmosphere in the stadium itself must have been electrifying!
Both women just refused to give up, but both couldn't seem to capitalize on the game point. Mew Choo had game point for 9 times, Lu Lan 4.

Until they reached the score of 26-26.
Mew Choo, who had game point, again failed to convert it to a score. Finally, Lu Lan snatched back the service and went on to score two more points and win the match and proceed to the semifinals.

It was the most intense and nervewracking badminton match I had ever watched!
Although she had to bow out of the competition, our Malaysian shuttler had shown the true spirit of 'Malaysia Boleh'- never give up till the fat lady sings.

p.s. I have been following my favourite events, namely Gymnastics, swimming and diving.



Wong Mew Choo reaches for a shot during her women's singles quarter-final badminton match against Lu Lan of China at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games


Lu Lan of China celebrates winning her women's singles quarter-final badminton match against Wong Mew Choo of Malaysia at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Let the Games begin!!

For the next 3 weeks or so, the eyes of the entire world would be focused on one particular city, Beijing, China. The venue for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.

The Olympics, the time when people all over the world are gathered together in unity for one single vision....to go for gold.

Tears of joy, tears of glory and triumph being shed as the national anthems of various countries will be played in various sports venues.

At the same time, some tears of sorrow and disappointment will also be shed.

Records, both olympic and world, waiting to be broken.

204 countries taking part. Thousands of atheletes. Hundreds of medals- gold, silver and bronze to be given away.

Let the Games Begin!!

Men vs women

Men are created to have dominion , to have work, and to have success.
Competency, efficiency and usefulness are a big thing to men.
A man's sense of self worth is defined through his ability to achieve results.

A man is project based but a woman is feeling based.
By nature, a woman values love, beauty, relationships.
A woman's life is about sharing of emotions and feelings.

A man's principle: If it ain't broken, don't touch it!
A woman's prinicple: Let's make things better!

Men are motivated and empowered when they are needed and when their expertise is required.
Women are motivated and empowered when they are loved and cherished.

Men want respect, and women want appreciation.

When encountered with a problem or tough situation, men need to retreat into their 'caves'.
Women on the other hand, need to talk and have someone to listen to their problems.

Women forgive in installments, men forgive in whole.

extracted from 'The Relationship series' sermons by Pastor Kevin Loo, founder of City Harvest Church Malaysia.


p.s. Readers, tell me how much you agree to all these statements. I actually find them all to be quite true indeed. I realize that I do have all the characteristics of a woman :)

It's amazing....

Some things never fail to amaze me....

a) How so many young people do not mind queuing up for at least one hour and squeezing with the crowd.....to attend ....a Christian concert! I was really amazed tonight by the HUGE crowd of young people that queued up to attend the Passion conference cum concert at the Sunway Convention Centre today. So many young people in this country so in fire and having so much passion for Christ. Young university students jumping up and down and raising their hands loudly proclaiming their faith and love for the Lord and acknowledging How Great Is Our God. Cheering when they hear the Word of God. This is living proof that God is real and is working in the lives of people around the world daily. Young people , a whole new generation from all around the world declaring their love for Jesus. Praise the Lord!!

Chris Tomlin and Charlie Hall leading a praise and worship session which was nothing short of amazing. Louie Giglio reminding us once again about God's grace and love for us.

The thing that touched me the most out of the entire event was when Louie read out the diary of Ashley, a 22 year old university student in Florida, USA. She was just an ordinary party type girl in one of the top 10 party universities in the country. And she thought that Christians were weirdos. Until one fine day, God sent a 'weirdo' named Krista to live with her. And Krista wasn't like other Christians, according to Ashley. She was kind to her and accepted her as she was. Krista patiently explained to Ashley that God was for everyone, and that God loves every single person, no matter what their faults are. Ashley began wondering whether God could really love a messed up person like her.

Until one day, they both watched a sermon by Louie Giglio together. Something touched Ashley's heart. Could God really love a messed up person like her?
She accepted Jesus into her life. All this happened within 3 weeks.

3 months later, she died in a car accident. But her short life hasn't gone completely to waste. She has found her salvation. Ashley's parents decided to let Louie have Ashley's journal.

God works in ways we cannot comprehend.


b) How God loves such a small and insignificant person like me, who has so many weaknesses,
and wants to use me to do great works for Him.

Just look at the huge crowd in the background!

Back from kkb

Hey guys and girls,

I'm back from KKB, short for Kuala Kubu Baru. You see, it is part of our Rotation Posting.

I find it good training to be posted to such a rural area at this early stage of our medical studies. It helps prepare us both mentally and physically for what we would go through when we are being posted to rural areas when we become Medical Officers in the future.

It was nothing short of interesting.......

What do you want me to talk about....the good side or the bad side of kkb?

Oklah....I'll give you the good first ;)

1) We witness a delivery!! Well, several actually, but we girls actually were there for an entire delivery process on Sunday night. It was enthusiasm on our part too, changing to our lab coats right after dinner and walking back to the hospital wards, waiting outside Ward 5, and pestering the nurses there every once in a while :p It looked like such a painful process!! The mother was letting out intermittent screams of pain. She was in the second stage of labor and the two nurses (maybe one midwife?) was encouraging her to push. It is...amazing how huge a vaginal hole can be during delivery....
The placental delivery is the most gross part. So much blood involved, so messy.
The most painful part seemed to be when the nurse was stitching up the episotomy wound. The mother was wincing in pain.
The baby, a boy, just couldn't stop crying from the moment he was born until we finally left the ward actually the entire procedure.

2) Learning stuff
Ok, not the most interesting thing, but that is the main reason we went there anyways. To clerk patients......taking their proper history and performing physical examination on them. I was paired up with Jon, which was great :) We worked well together as a team. Today Dr. Lim (whom I like) went through some physical examination with us as well.

3) Food
The food in kkb isn't bad at all. (excluding lunch in the hospital canteen, hahah). We went to 98 restaurant during the 1st and 3rd night, and visited the Pasar Malam on Tuesday night. So much delicious food on sale! :p

4) Friends
Last but not least, the group of people you are stuck in kkb with :p They make the stay much more tolerable. My 7 roommates- Alicia Sii, Doreen, Sandy, Vivien, Pei Chii and Sara Teh.....it's great being in a room with them :)
The late night snacks, movies (since Pei Chii, Doreen and I brought our laptops), the chatting, Sandy singing song from 'A Walk to Remember' over and over again while counting down the no. of days left till we leave kkb....... Getting to know Sara and Doreen and Pei Chii and the Malay and Indian girls better.....
The surprise birthday party for Lameena.
And thanks Doreen for letting me place my laptop at the boot of your car all the time! :p

And the bad....

a) Insects:- mosquitoes, creepy crawlies everywhere

b) Cold showers

c) Dirty toilets- one of my biggest pet peeves, I've to admit. I take toilet hygiene very seriously!

d) The nurses.....they are not the friendliest bunch, mostly just ignoring us medical students.
Oh well....guess they are too busy with their daily work....

KKB
sweet and sour pork
chicken and tofu
More food!
Group photo- urrghhh why so blur?! :/
Me and Lameena
the nurses's hostel

an adorable newborn baby girl

GP posting

Now for some updates about what has been going on recently in my life.....

Last Friday....completed Literature selectives....handed in individual and paired portfolios. (I would like to take this opportunity to thank Lynn Xuan- don't know how I would have done for the paired portfolio if not for her).
The group video presentation on Friday went on well. (I wasn't prepared to talk in front of the audience though- it was a last minute offer on my part). But yeah....Lenster and Mervin especially did a very good job with editing the video. (I know next to nil about editing so I couldn't help much). I really enjoyed watching the other groups presentations as well. I think every group deserves a pat on the back for a job well done.
I don't regret at all chosing Literature as a selective...I really enjoyed the course =)

This week from Monday to Friday, I am having GP posting here in my hometown Kuching. I am attached to Dr. Kang, a very experienced General Practioner here. I remember quickly writing my name down for his clinic the day the GP list was circulated, because he was the only GP from Kuching listed there!
Initially, I didn't even plan on coming back here to Kuching. I didn't want to come back for one week just for GP posting, return back to KL for 2 weeks, and come back to Kuching for another 3 weeks before returning back to KL for the start of semester 5. But I couldn't find a partner to pair up with over there.....and transport is a huge problem. So to solve all matters, I booked a flight back here.
Dr.Kang turns out to be a very nice doctor. He has been practising for about 40 years now. He graduated from Birmingham University and has worked in the UK for quite a bit before returning back to Malaysia. He seems very experienced in dealing with not only patients, but also medical students. He taught me and explained to me a lot of things. When he is performing a procedure on a patient, he would explain in detail to me what exactly he is doing. And he let me take history from some patients. I got to observe rectal examination, haemorroid ligation, taking blood, abdominal examinations, breast examination, ear, throat and mouth examination, and more.
Today he discussed with me about the topic hypertension, which he asked me to read up on yesterday. Tomorrow we will be discussing about diabetes. :p
He told me stories about his experience as a doctor.
The best thing is the he is a Christian as well....so we had even more things to discuss about.

There are 4 nurses working for me...including one older male nurse. They all had been working in this clinic for more than 20 years average. This amazes me how dedicated they are to the doctor! They are all very friendly as well, talking to me and making me feel at home in the clinic. (and even making me the occasional cup of coffee!) And the male nurse especially....he lets me take the blood pressure of the patients and interview them after that.

So yeah....that's about it for now...I have 2 more days of GP posting left. Then it's off to KKB (Kuala Kubu Baru) hospital for 3 days and 3 nights next week and then the other rotation activities.

I feel blessed =)

p.s. Ermm.....it has been a bit quiet around here lately, hasn't it? ;)

Why?

One of the most common questions asked in daily life. Why? Kenapa? Wei shen me? Por que?

Why does this happen to me?

Why do I always score borderline grades? Is it because I don't put in enough effort in my studies? Or is it due to using an ineffective study method? Or is it due to some other reason?

I don't know.

*throws hands up in frustration*

But at least I always pass...

But is it ok to just be happy with a pass result? Hmmm.....