Poof

The plan is:

To simply pack up and go. 

Two Weeks

With the excitement of the new semester, time seemed to simply by and voila we are at the end of the first cycle. The next cycle isn't going to be a heavy one so we have been simply cruising, taking each class with renewed interest without the pressure to sit for an exam right away. I may say so but at the end of each obs class we heave a hugeeeee sigh of relief coz the teacher manage to keep you on your toes the entire time. ANYWAY, because of all that I've only come to realise today that I am just two weeks shy of turning 21 :) 

I haven't really been a big birthday person and I think that my parents are more excited about it than I am. It's just another day for me to feel bad about myself because I'm halfway to 42 :'( I wasn't on the '17 things before 17' or '18 things I did when I was 18' bandwagon because its just a bit overdone I reckon. But this year, I don't know... I really feel like doing something significant but not to the point I might just become hypocritical. Yeeeehooooo :) We shall wait and see!

Crybabies

Surgeons of tomorrow! 

Haha, this was when we had our Obs practical class. Wrong day to go to class with an empty stomach. Our patient was in labour for soooooooo long I was about to pass out from the wait. 

What I've concluded from this cycle is that Obs/Gynae really isn't my thing. The birth itself was pretty miraculous, praise to God it was! Albeit with slight complications which required pure Russian brute to  resolve, both mom and baby were safe :) But in all honesty, I was more excited about the bouncing baby with Angelina Jolie lips and I was disinterested in the mother. Sounds terrible but from an objective point of view, one could understand right?

Whadda?

The past few weeks have been hard for me to summarise but for some unknown reason, I feel happy for most of it. Do I owe it to the fact that I have no exam to sit for this cycle or is it because I seem to have everything under control? I highly doubt the latter because scatterbrains such as myself don't see trouble until we're in too deep. For all I know, I am in search of something more. 

Typical women. Always looking for mischief. ;) NO DOUBT I DO ENJOY BEING HAPPY BUT what have I done to deserve all this? There must be a catch. Somewhere somehow. 

September

It has been raining for more than 24 hours straight. Non-stop. It's cold. It's gloomy and it's cuddle weather.   There's nothing more that I want than to simply crawl under the plush covers with a book other than Obstetrics by Ten Teachers. Alas, right now I can only dream of such luxury.

In a strange way, I'm glad that I'm starting fourth year with a relatively 'relaxing' cycle: Obstetrics, Ophthalmology and Radiology. They are all definitely interesting and without the pressure of having to prep for exams in 4 weeks its a great way for me to progress at my own pace. However, I've come to realise (by the hard way) that it's not as easy as people claim it to be. The hospital that we've been assigned to conducts its classes 100% in russian language. It's not as if we haven't had subjects in russian but NOT ANOTHER ONE!? Give us a break. As if learning the subject isn't taxing enough. To learn it in another language is simply...Hmm.

So this month is going to be all about pregnant ladies. Which I love! Before I started on this journey, I decided that I was suited for more 'masculine' disciplines i.e cardio/surgery. But as I began to expose myself to different fields of medicine, I have felt a strange attraction to Paeds/Obs. Which I hate. Not the subjects but the idea of liking such a 'feminine' speciality. But right now I need to go into it with an unbiased disposition and see what happens. Disclaimer: these are merely my thoughts for myself. I definitely DO NOT think less of pediatricians/obstetricians.

After a week of classes, I'm also happy to have settled into the mind-numbing, rhythmic routine. Happy? Yeah, somewhat ;) Most might think that the regimentation of daily routine is like a prison and we do our best to escape. You just have to accept the fact that routine is both a saving activity and a tyrant.

Under my circumstances, spontaneity is difficult to achieve. I can't simply grab my keys, get in the car and drive off. Besides that, we have a complete set of activities lined up from day to day before we even think of doing anything else. That's why for me, things like making the bed, rearranging my books etc can be difficult to abandon when I am programmed with a self-imposed routine. It's not OCD. Its simply habitus. That just explains why a simple trip to the shopping mall or getting dressed to leave the house can bring about a childish sense of freedom. Routines are inevitable but we must also be able to put them in their place and see them for what they are. They're useful but they are only there for assistance. Never let them rule your life. :) 

"Periodically, something slipped. Some everyday principle of continuity, the humdrum element that told him where he was in his own story, faded from his use, abandoning him to a waking dream in which there were thoughts, but no sense of who was having them. No responsibility, no memory of the hours before, no idea of what he was about, where he was going, what his plan was. And no curiosity about these matters."

I go to seek a great perhaps. 

Colours

Disclaimer: 98% of photos were taken from inside a moving car with tinted windows and the roads were uneven and such so pardon the lack of sharpness blerghhhh. I tried. :) 

India's appeal really lies in its people. Friendly, polite, hardworking yet completely foreign. India's traffic however, is a completely different experience. They have an uncanny ability to duck and weave through traffic and are able to convert a 2-lane road into a 4-lane road. One reserved for cows. Cars, motorcycles, trucks, buses, auto-rickshaws, pedal rickshaws, cows, goats, pedestrians... Seriously, anything goes. Wouldn't be surprised to see an aircraft roll up next to our car.

If you think that the brakes must be overworked form all the traffic-dodging, you are probably right. But the horns are equally overused. I also don't think they believe in using indicator lights. The culture is, without a horn, you are pretty much crippled on the road. Honestly, I salute the hyper reflexes and hyper agility of indian drivers.

Despite the increased risk, motorists seem to not worry that much about safety. Few motorcyclists have safety helmets on, few drivers wear seat belts. The lax in traffic control seem to be the very cause of this. The cure for this seems pretty far-fetched with the level of corruption present today. Best to leave it to their goddess of traffic to watch over them :)

Bite me.

What else do I have to do to be taken seriously?
When someone asks for help, I try to be helpful and offer my suggestions and opinions without any ulterior motives or whatsoever. The least you can do is acknowledge it, I'm not asking you to follow it or listen to it but at least say thank you and you will consider it. I've said this countless times before, I have no tolerance for people without common courtesy. I'm not even that close to these particular people so its not 'okay' for you not to be courteous just because we've become too comfortable with each other or whatever la.

I hope I'm not jut being bitter. But I think others might feel the same way!

Fooooooood

With a large portion of the population being Hindus, its no surprise that the bulk of the food we had on the trip was vegetarian food. According to the locals, some do eat meat and are vegetarians only on certain days.
The first meal we had in Chennai was of course, home cooked indian chicken briyani. Mrs Usha's mother made various accompaniments mainly tandoori chicken, grilled fish, eggs in an EXTREMELY SPICY gravy, and also the best cucumber raita I've ever tasted. No photos though because we arrived pretty late in the evening and all I could think of was sleep. Boohooo :(

What I've learned is that Indians take their food seriously! Cooking is considered and art and mealtimes are often regarded as occasions for families to get together. Apparently if you are seen in a restaurant, people will assume that you are a 'bad wife' who doesn't know how to cook for her family. Lol. There are a lot of misconceptions about Indian food. Usually, fattening, oily, spicy, rich, hot and difficult to cook. Well, I know little about the cooking part but what I know is that only a small amount are bad for you i.e indian sweets. Grains and legumes are the basic ingredients in a host of dishes with only slight changes to create a wide variation of dishes.

Clockwise from top: Vaday soaked in some gravy, briyani, sambar (now I know what its supposed to taste like), rice curd, gulab jamun, vegetables, dhal gravy, and spicy tapioca chips. All the dishes above are supposed to be eaten with rice, but we decided to skip it. 

The infamous Masala Tea. Masala infused tea with milk. 

Palate cleanser of some sort.  Slightly minty/herby with a sugar coating.

Fluffy fluffy vaday! Loves.

Deep fried vegetable

Don't know what this is. Rasgulla maybe? like flour balls in thick syrup with pistachios. VERY VERY SWEET. I prefer the Gulab Jamun (deep fried milk balls in sugar syrup). It was at just the right level of sweetness. 

Okies dokes, thats all for today's post :)

Meow!

This cutie insisted I scratched her head while she emptied her bowl today. The whole time. Refused to eat when I stopped. 

தோசை

தோசை - Dosa : A fermented thin pancake made from rice batter and black lentils. 


Alternative names: Dosa, Dosay, Dose, Dosai, Dhosha, Thosai, Tosai, Chakuli

Mrs. Usha, the lady who welcomed us into her home for 3 days was gracious enough to make us a stack of dosay for breakfast. As scrumptious as they were, the sheer amount of it made it hard for us to clear our plates! She says that on average, one should have at least 4 pieces for breakfast. But after 2 pieces each, mum and I gave up. Haha. Despite contrary belief, pure south Indian food is fairly healthy. It is only the altered ones available to us in Malaysia to suit our taste preferences, that are laden with coconut milk and saturated fats. 

We had nothing but Indian food for the entire duration of our trip. So I guess I wont be having anymore indian/mamak food in the nearest future. Having intense craving for sashimi now. Mmmmmm. Noms.  

India; Chennai

The decision was pretty sudden, and probably has no rational reasoning behind it. And somehow it felt right at that very moment even though I had to cancel previous engagements. Thinking that the same opportunity might not come again in the nearest future and with only 3 years left of med school before I immerse myself in the unrelenting Malaysian healthcare system for the rest of my life, I handed in my passport and applied for an Indian visa. It could be that, or it could might have just been the need to start the new academic year with a bang. Something new. Something different.

Madras, or rather India for the matter, is synonymous with heat, music, colourful sarees, temples, bharatnatyam, and of course Indian food. But somehow I have a suspicion that southern city will manage to bring something different to her visitors with every visit.

The city is heavily populated, and the amount of motor vehicles on the road is a massive amount which probably is the main reason as to why the traffic is HORRENDOUS. I will delve into that in a separate blog post hehe. All I could do was make sure I was not in a car on an empty stomach.

Chennai is rich in history and its affluence has not been masked by the progression of time. Every street, every corner and every neighborhood tells a different story. It is not uncommon to see tall, ultra-modern glass buildings wedged in between time-worn Hindu temples and bustling markets. Seems a bit outlandish but it seems to work for them and that is what makes it a truly remarkable thing to experience.

More to come!

Hey 3rd year,

You've been a helluva ride. The PUSH you gave me was the best thing I've felt throughout my education here. And dear God, the REWARD you gave me just made everything that much sweeter. I just hope that the knowledge and lessons I've learned are here to stay. I think its safe to say that this year is the first time that I actually feel like a medical student. Somehow the disrupted circadian cycles, caffeine overdose and panda eyes is definitely something I am going to miss :) Time to gear up for KL!

AND HEYHO ITS SUMMERTIME!!

“There comes a time when every man has to make a choice. Whether it’s a professional choice…Or whether it’s a personal choice. In the end, it’s about integrity. And it’s about chasing after what you really want. Even if that means showing you both care a little. And sometimes…well, sometimes you just have to do what’s right for your friend. Even if it means sacrificing your own happiness. When it comes down to it, you just have to be proud of the decision you make.”

Dear Dad,

A million thanks and a million 'I love you's will never outweigh your sacrifices and love for me, Nini and Lily. 

We are grateful to have someone as caring and charismatic as you as a father. No one will ever come close to matching your colourful character. :)

p.s Lily's picture she drew for daddy:

Kthxbai, back to pharma :(

Midnight Blurps

Funny how with examination, priorities have shifted, with most allocating time only for the basics i.e prayers, eating, pooping and sleeping. A year ago, I knew that getting through 3rd year wouldn't exactly be a leisurely stroll in the park. I'm not complaining in any sense. In my opinion, this experience is truly a test of character. This certainly isn't for the fragile-hearted.

I hope that I won't lose sight of my goals along the way. Looking farther might be an incentive to some, but for me the short term goals are necessary to help me stay on track because sometimes, the future just seems a tad too far away. :S No doubt it will dawn upon us soon enough, but right now it isn't what I really need.

In all honesty, I am ashamed with the way I study. Cramming has proven effective in certain cases. But in most, its simply a recipe for disaster. I have tried studying consistently for the past 8 months but the phrase "the more you study, the more you realise you don't know" is undoubtedly and inconveniently true. Bahhhhhhhh. (not like ive been studying that hard anyway pun la -.-. sometimes, i do enough to simply get by. hmm)


I apologise for the incoherence but this noodle-head is simply posting up this crummy blog post to avoid memorising pages and pages and pages of drugs.

Exam Updates:
5 final papers this semester: Pat physiology, Pat anat, Pharmaco, Internal Disease andddd Gen Surgery.
Done with the two pathologies and I am extremely grateful to God for how things turned out :)
Now its time to channel the last bits of my energy towards Pharmacology and Internal Disease. Easier said than done because currently I'm running on an almost empty tank. Bahhhhhh. I honestly am dying for everything to be over and just sleep for 26 hours straight. And nurse my panda eyes. And start running again. And lose the exam spare tyre.

Okay, I've probably wasted enough time typing out something no one will ever read because I'm assuming I've lost all the readers once used to have (which is not many to begin with) due to the long period of inactivity T.T.

Blackbird and Monkey have been locked up indoors for the looooooooooooongest time I hope they haven't lost their profound love for beauty and light ;)

Till next time :) xxox

Good things never last. 

Dear reader, Despite the inactivity, I still see a trickle of traffic keeping this page alive. Yay, thanks to those who visit, whom I assume could only be my parents trying to check in on me :) Well, the past few weeks have been full of holidays, one of the many reasons I like spring term. Started with the intervarsity games holidays, then Hitler's birthday, then labour day, and lastly victory day which is today. Unfortunately, snd sort of festivity will have to wait thanks to numerous impending colloquiums, credit tests and last but certainly not least - FINALS! With only 4 weeks till my first paper, I foresee sleepless nights in the weeks to come because in all honesty, I have been slacking quite a bit. T.T Ah wells, last minute full on cramming has always been my thing. It's efficacy is debatable, but it has sat well with me in the past. No reason it shouldn't this time, right? Since we are on the topic of medicine, I have recently found out that my tolerance for caffeine has decreased significantly. I admit that I used to chug down coffee without the sightest worry. Now, I have to think twice if I should drink tea or not. Meeps. I used to take about 3 cups of coffee a day on average. I used to not be able to function without starting my day with a cup of coffee. That went on up till I started feeling bad after a few cups of coffee. Palpi, anxiety, nervousness, chest pain,tachy etc. My heart was going so fast, I honestly felt like exploding. Today, I feel that way after just half a cup. I have been trying to avoid caffeine, and I did, a few days at a time. That was until my last episode which lasted for about 2 days. Eventually I resolved to tea but even so, the sharp shooting pains still persists. So yeah, I hope I've managed to waste your precious time by making you read about my weakening heart. Byebye!