Freedom. AT LAST! Somehow this itsy weeny CA had ballooned into a huge mugging affair… I had this impression that EVERYONE was working really hard… and consequently I was spurred into studying as well. Not that all that studying paid off… for PHYSIO the essays were horrible, especially since I hadn’t written for a test or assignment for YEARS. (okay, months) But I guess I’m happy with anat and biochem J

Fred Claus. I dunno what made me watch this movie, but I did. Like Jonathan put it, it seemed rather rubbish at its first moments, but it showed its merits later in the plot. The plot, in itself, is highly improbable, full of improbable twists and turns (that made me cringe, at first, and still had me puzzling long after). I mean, how does someone change his view of his entire life after listening to just a few words from a stranger? (ref: scene where Fred Claus is in a self help group for people overshadowed by their powerful siblings. Bill Clinton’s “brother”, Sylvestor Stallone’s “brother” make their debut appearance. Fred Claus reflects upon their words and changes his entire opinion of his brother) and not to mention the fact that Fred Claus managed to deliver like millions of presents to ALL the children in the world in the matter of ONE night? With a tiny sleigh for all that load! AND doing all that even after losing contact with headquarters?! Ok laugh at me for pointing out all these silly details, I’d admit that I’m kind of cynical about some stuff.

The counterargument. The movies saving grace? Great entertainment with lots of corny jokes with a take -home message to boot! Really fun watching Fred and Santa, two grownups, throwing snowballs at each other. And I suppose it is nice seeing everything end happily ever after, with everyone overcoming their differences. Sounds just like a fairy tale! Haha. The bottomline is I did enjoy the movie somewhat though I probably won’t see it again! As charlene put it (even before watching the show) – “It’s just a nice chrismassy kind of show”. I hope I didn’t misquote that.

Borders. I visited it after dinner at home J Waha its so convenient to have such a comprehensive bookstore so near my house!! Though I would prefer the library, since the books at Borders aren’t exactly affordable. And now that it’s the hol’s, I need to find new reading material! I’m getting lost about what exactly to read. Who to read. And Where to obtain the books. And I want to get a travel guide to Sydney. Cos I’m going there next week! J

The end. A happy ending to the end of CA ONE.

Rotaract Volunteer Programme

On Thursday it was my first visit to NUH as a volunteer. I was totally unprepared, save for the crisp new shirt I was wearing. Luckily Jon helped me print my volunteer tag and even reminded me of the timing for my shift J

Things started out really slow. Jon and Ami were more or less the people I knew best volunteering at my slot, so I sort of hung around with them. Not surprisingly, the three of us were unsure of how to start or approach patients. It was like, “let’s find someone that looks friendly and bored”, but we were surprised (pleasantly of course) that most people didn’t need people to talk to; they either had family members around or simply wanted to rest. And at first I felt almost redundant, why had I bothered at all? But after almost 30 mins “orientating” ourselves, Ami took the plunge first, followed by Jon and I. For some reason, the first few people I met weren’t particularly keen on talking (perhaps due to the hesitant look I had?). But then things started picking up, we started learning the trick of finding patients who seemed approachable and willing to speak. But sure enough, the patients who yearned for company were around, we just needed to pick them out! It was a good session overall, except for the tentative start.

Hmm. That’s about it. I wanted to recount a funny incident but I realise I can’t describe it adequately. The emergency exit joke seemed so funny then but I can’t describe it without sounding lame. Nvm then (:

Green day

Green day

Following yesterday’s successful og lunch (for a few of us) at pgp canteen, our og decided to hail today as lakota day! So today, the whole og (or at least the part of the og who were informed) wore green! Photo opportunity, despite the gaps in the green of orange, white and … Good sign of lakota’s og spririt eh? ;P

Following the photo session, first session with our new PBL mentor! Suffice to say, the session was really swift and decisive, and we finished in record time (50 mins?) compared to what we were used to (2.5 hours!). Comparing the two tutors, the first possessed contagious enthusiasm, the second is really knowledgeable. For a case study on “near drowning”, I got assigned “the consequences and treatment of cyanosis”. But I later realised cyanosis was just a symptom of hypoxia!!! So how?

The next highlight of the day was MALAY LESSONS!!! Which were very confusing, very fun and which really did weird things to my brain. I think mugging anatomy is not even half as hard as learning basic Malay!!! Haha but maybe I’m not used to the language yet… but some excerpts will help jog my memory:

· (Pointing finger at me) “Awak mugger!” – jon

· “Huntu di belakang awak!” (“ghost behind you!”)– a classmate when asked to form a malay sentence using what we had learnt.. to which the teacher replied with a hearty “terimah kaseh!”

· “saya suka cakap” (“I like to talk!”)– another classmate.

Saya suka belajar Behasa Melayu! At least it’s a good reason to take a break from physio anat and biochem…

The duke-nus interview went along quite well today.. and it was certianly interesting to be informed about changes in the medical landscape so pertinent to me in my face by the vice dean of education of the GMS himself.

haha i am tempted to reveal the details but since i am merely a photographer/cum morale booster for LY, i shall not spoil the article for pulse...

some interesting points I gathered:

• there are 26 ppl in the pioneering class (if i rmb correctly), with 17 singaporeans
• the fees are 35k per annum for 4 years after subsidy
• the students use ganong for physiology. (but they supplement with guyton coz ganong's "incomprehensible")
• they use papa moore for anatomy!
• they finish biochemistry in like 6.5 weeks
  
• they have tests everyweek that are counted if i'm not wrong, and a major test every four weeks
• interestingly, they get to dissect specimens themselves at SGH

And that’s the end of this post. I will *try* to be more mugger tmr. Oh, and happy birthday Jason and Sheila! :P:P:P