Splashes of Ink on Blank Paper...

Went for CBP today. Had an outing to Knox SC with a few of the clients. Took the scenic route there and it was really beautiful! Like how I imagine a traditional English countryside will look like. Blame Enid Blyton for that. Haha. =) Stopped for lunch at a restaurant called Irish Pub Co. which really resembled an Irish pub, or at least what I think an Irish pub looks like anyway. The coffee's really cheap too. Just $1.50. And it was pretty good as well. =) Haha... really becoming an aunty... getting food/beverages/groceries/miscellaneous paraphernalia at a bargain can really make my day. Helped with the clients' lunches. And then we just walked around Knox.

When we got back to the centre, we celebrated a birthday with cake, music and various tidbits. Attempted to help one client wheelchair dance. =) The smiles on their faces just brighten up one's day... or the happy vocalisations that they produce... the simple joy is infectious... =) I think all of us had fun today. And time just seemed to fly! Haha. Slept on the bus on the way back though. Because it was tiring as well. I really have to say that I admire and respect the people who care for the clients every day. One can really see the bonds that have been established in the manner the carers greet the clients, the conversations conducted, the understanding of every gesture, every groan, every subtle nuance and facial expression... it's unbelievable. And it's really not that easy to develop relationships with such depth of emotion as a foundation...

Reached uni at about half past 3-ish, reached Halls at around 4. Reported my flickering and dim room light to the Operations Office. The repair was really immediate, and now the light in my room has never been so bright. =) Had corn and Indo mee and a few biscuits for dinner. And fruit tea as well! The instant powder type though. =P

Was wondering what would be a good project for the remaining 4% of the Portfolio. Maybe reflective pieces? Or maybe something more fun and less wordy? Hmm... still no real clear idea. Perhaps I'm more partial to the written option... but still keeping my options open. Sigh... 1 more day to SPC and it can be ticked off the list! =) What else to complete this sem...? Rural, CBP final written report and poster presentation, mid sems, end of sem, VIA, OSCE, Behaviour Change Project, HLSD Project. That should be it! Lots of assignments, no?

SPC and lectures...

VoxSynergy is a really good choir! Loved their rendition of Wonderwall, Angels and You're the Voice. I don't really know how to assess the technicalities of their singing, but I think they're good at conveying the emotions and meaning of the songs they sing. And if you're wondering where I heard them, they're on Battle of the Choirs. Which is on TV at the moment.

Anyway, went to church yesterday, and then went for SPC meeting. Printed notes, read PCL, the usual Sunday routine. Today was ok despite the 8am start. We ended at 1 today which was awesome. But I had another SPC meeting, which ended at about 4, which wasn't that awesome. Glad we had that meeting though. At least now we've settled the major issues regarding our presentation. Man, I can't wait for this Thursday to be over and ticking SPC off the list!

Had a lecture-PCL-lecture-break-lecture day today. First lecture was actually funny. I think the Pharmacology Department have some of the coolest lecturers here in Monash. After all, one rarely sees 2 lecturers including slides which poke fun at each other in their PowerPoint presentations. Or a lecturer who's self deprecating in a humourous way. Haha. The second lecture was so-so. Personally I think that the lecturer speaks a bit too slowly. But then again, that's just me. And I've been told that I speak too fast. So perhaps my judgement's skewed. Many students actually thought that there wouldn't be a lecture at 12. But there was one. The lecturer just arrived late. But he was a cool lecturer. And he discovered that prolactin was secreted by the uterus when he was completing his PhD. And he seemed like someone respected. And sarcastic as well. Anyway, he lectured us on the ovarian and menstruation cycle. And I repeated the word pro-opiomelanocortin in that lecture 3 times today. Haha.

Had lunch with Adilah, Ravind, Grace, Dilys, Ryan, Yun Ying, Yu Wan, Ivie, Li Ping and Jessica. =) Chatted about the randomest bunch of things today. And I got to eat the spicy bits of Li Ping's fried chicken from PeriPeri as it was too spicy for her. =) Thanks Li Ping! And Adilah brought chocolate cake and Ravind offered his butterscotch sweets around. Lunch was a happy affair indeed. I look forward to the breaks actually. Chatting aimlessly with friends is something relaxing.

On an aside, I remember what Adilah said today... that we rarely go out and spend most of our time in uni... which seems quite sad. Haha. But I suppose such is the life we chose. =) And happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have, right?

Of routines and same old, same old...

Yesterday marked the end of Week 2 of Semester 2. And it wasn't too bad. My first lecture was at 9am for starters, which was a blessing, and I only had 5 hours of classes yesterday. And Ben Canny actually gave us the diagnosis for next week's PCL! Haha. Granted, it was a 3 hour lecture block and a 2 hour PCL, but still, thank God for all the little miracles. And I had delicious chicken curry which Wan Jie cooked for lunch! =) There was a slight moment of panic after PCL, when Tshepo told me and Stephanie that our revised CBP Health Promotion Project Proposal was due in yesterday itself. And the email reminder was also sent out yesterday itself. But thankfully, Steph had a copy of it in her email inbox, and we only had to alter 2 sections of it before submitting it via email. Anyway, after that was accomplished, I came back home. Cooked scrambled eggs for caregroup dinner and then slept a bit. But apparently not enough. Because Ivy said I looked dead tired yesterday. Haha. Sure felt like it too. And she had dire words of prediction for me. Haha. She told me not to wrack up a sleep debt now, because when med students become fully-fledged doctors, the sleep debt is astronomous. And I think that chicken has become such a staple at caregroup dinner that Joel only needed a quick glance over the dinner table yesterday to ask if yesterday's theme was No-Chicken Night. Haha.

Care group lesson was thought provoking, in the sense that it strikes close to heart. I realised then that no matter how hard I try not to, I still rely a lot on the first impression that someone makes on me - the general appearance and the superficial external features that one has plays a large role in the opinion I form of someone. And sometimes, the physical attributes of a person can be misleading. This brings to mind the titular character in Dorian Gray, whose youthful, innocent face masked a life that was mired in debauchery. Yet his charm and flawless physique inveigled people into trusting him wholeheartedly. For indeed, how could he be so unmarred if his way of life commanded nothing less than respect? And oft-repeated though this lesson may be, I think I need a reminder ever so often, that it is not the outer shell that matters, but the inner subtance that is vital. The heart of the matter is the crux, so to speak. The character of a person, that core of his or her being, that is what matters. The appearance may be less than attractive, but true beauty lies in the actions and interactions of a person, the sincere care and the warmth and the love he or she exudes, in all the little, seemingly insignificant deeds that he or she does, or sadly sometimes, the lack thereof. That's what I should look at. It's challenging, especially because I am a shallow person. Even the TV shows that I watch, I watch because the characters are aesthetically appealing. Just ask Kohila and Wend the extent of my shallow-ness. But I'll try. I'll definitely give it my best shot...

Man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart.

1 Samuel 16:7

Anyway, I have SPC meeting tonight to discuss and fine tune our oral presentation on Thursday. Maybe practise as well. It depends on how we're going for time. And hopefully, I'll get my Critical Learning Incident assignment back soon. What we have learnt so far, endocrinology, has been quite interesting . It is a little like chemistry, like Adilah mentioned. So far, so good. Haha. On another note, Mid Sem Exams are in approximately 1 month's time. Sigh... quite fast no?

Mummy's parcel still has not arrived yet. =( Want to eat preserved plums. Yu Wan and Fawn still have the ones that I gave them way back in February. And they even offered to give me one a day. Haha. But it's ok, I'll wait till the parcel arrives. And JPA has already give us our allowance for the next 3 months. Hooray!

Alrighty, signing off now. Haha.

Nothing Much Happened Today...

The title says it all. Haha.

I've been sleeping too late this past few days. Was very sleepy today. So I went to the John Medley Library and slept a bit. Haha. Had an interesting lecture yesterday. Admittedly it was a Theme 2 one, but I think it challenged my perspective. I found out quite recently that the bond onmy scholarship is not inclusive of the 2 years housemanship and 3 years compulsory service, which means that the total number of years I'll be in the public health system is now 15. And I had been complaining about that fact. Yet, yesterday's lecture reminded me of this pertinent question: why am I doing what I am doing? Who do I aim to serve ultimately? I'd been thinking a lot about the 'me', so much so that I've forgotten about the 'them' that I want to help. And I also believe that God will make a way if he wants me in a certain direction, that if He indeed has it in His plan for me to specialise, He will provide the means to that end.

Anyway, had CBP on Tuesday. Gathered data from the houses and then went back to Ormeau Rd and fiddled with Microsoft Publisher. Haha. It was my first time. And found out that I'll be going to Warragul for my Rural Placement this semester. Met up with a few others going there as well. And some of them will be driving there and are willing to give others a lift. =) I'm extremely thankful for that. Had dinner with Jia Chee, Sharon, Yi Xin, Stan and Wan Jie yesterday. And watched Jamie Oliver kill chickens. Cute chickens. It didn't help that we actually had chicken wings for dinner as well. I left to do some of the dishes after that because I do not want to feel guilty everytime I eat chicken wings. After all, it is one of my main food groups here.

Was a simulated patient in today's Clinical Skills. And was told that I am a good actress. Haha. Never would have thought that one up.

I've been thinking about the friends that I have. I'm blessed in that sense. In Singapore, I met this crazy bunch of people who formed this tight-knit group which were like family in a foreign land. I was sad to leave them. But I'm glad that I decided to go to Sunway after Singapore because that's where I met these 2 really beautiful and wonderful people who have left their imprints in my heart and been my support and sounding pillars in my times of need. They've given me numerous incredible memories and their friendships are the most enduring. With them, I have no need for masks or subterfuge and just truly be myself. With them, even the most humdrum and boring events become exciting. Thanks you two! You guys know who you are. =) And I'm happy that I'm where I am now. I feel like I belong. Lunches together in school, catching up with each other, keeping one another up to date with the latest going-ons, studying together... these simple things are precious memories.

And I'm glad I met every single person that I did. Because each has impacted me. And I'm very much a better person when I'm with them. Here's to everlasting friendships that can withstand the tests of time! =)

Beginning Week 2...

Had an 8am start and a 6 hour day today, which consisted of lecture-PCL-lecture-lunch-lecture-histology prac . But I was surprisingly awake during all lectures today. Did not feel sleepy, even during the Health Promotion lecture. And I always feel sleepy during HP, or other Theme 2 lectures. Weird eh? Speaking of which, we had a streaker in said Health Promotion lecture today. But I have no idea which faculty he is from, or what cause he is promoting. Which defeats the purpose of streaking, I suppose. Although, he did garner a significant amount of attention, which , for all I know, may have been his sole intention in the first place.

Had lunch with the usual. And discussed the merits of a relationship of the romantic nature. Whereby Jian and Wan Jie attempted to get me a 'boy', so to speak, more so on Jian's part. And me shooting them down whenever possible. Haha. Apparently I am a very cynical person for doing so. And I have very... unusual interests, likes and dislikes. Haha. Note: I do not disagree with them. I think I'm a little weird myself too. Haha.

Am now stuck with a cold and a cough, though I'm not the only one, judging from the chorus one can hear in a lecture theatre, especially one with great acoustics like South 1. Seriously, when one person coughs, it reverberates throughout the whole lecture theatre. I have to apologise for contributing to the cacophony that prevented many from being able to hear the lecturer. Most of the students rushed to the Histo prac to get seats for the 1-3pm session eventhough the 2nd years were already alloted classes. And no one left even when Nigel asked people to leave. Ah well, I suppose that will be the case until Anatomy practicals resume. I can understand why people do not want to wait for the 3-5pm practicals, but sometimes, I feel disgruntled because of that.

Walked back home with Fawn and she told me about what she and Yu Wan did last night/ yesterday. They baked muffins for their apartment complex, left them at the doorsteps of people who weren't in and requested a form to be filled up, stating whether their neighbours would be interested in being their friends. Haha. That's quite random, but cool at the same time. It takes a lot of courage to be the initiator. To take that first step, that very first act on which most people's opinions about you will be formed. The very basis for the image others will have constructed in their minds' eye. Scary, no? I'd be too filled with trepidation to actually see the plan through, if I were in their shoes. Haha. So, I must applaud the 2 of them.

I also received one of the muffins that Fawn baked yesterday. Sort of like a Get Well card because I missed church yesterday. So sweet of them, no? Haha.

Shared some pharmaco stuff with my MISU friends and ate dinner and dessert. Haha. I still have a lot of cabbage in the fridge! Wend, you like cutting cabbage right? Can I just send them over to you? Haha. No carrots though. =P So that's all for now, I suppose. Not too bad a Monday I suppose. =)

Of steamboats and pasta...

My sore throat's better thanks to Wan Jie's honey and panadol. And an early night's sleep. Haha.

Just came back from caregroup. We had a steamboat dinner today, and maybe too much food, because there were lots of leftover vegetables and beef that didn't make it into the steamboat. Haha. But it was good fun. And sorry, Wend, I didn't bring my camera, so no pictures.

I was on reception for Pasta Night. It was quite hectic, especially when we were trying to settle registration and sorting into teams for games, but we made it! However, there was a period of time when the line snaked from the doors of the main dining hall to the stairway in Campus Centre. I was very very tired by the end of Pasta Night though, so I went to bed immediately after I got back. At around ten last night. Early, no? Quite an achievement fo me actually. Haha.

Before Pasta Night, I actually got to catch up with Lionel and Jia Chee. Something I actually haven't been able to do in a while. It was nice to be able to chat with someone about random things. You never know what you may learn from those conversations. Like how bringing food from home isn't quite Singaporean culture, which I can understand or like how The Kitchen in Campus Centre has really delicious but still affordable Danish bread. =)

Also got back my results today. Did ok, but it could have been better. But the process of actually getting the results was... interesting to say the least. Anyway, the second-year students were only allowed to collect their results from 3-5pm today. However, most of our PCLs ended at around quarter past two. So, there was this large group of students waiting near reception at CMHSE which was growing larger by the minute. And then, we were told to clear the area, either by going up the stairs or by leaving CMHSE. So, I left to stand at the bottom of the stairs, along with a group of people. Our rationale was the fact that we were on the stairs, technically speaking. Later, a member of the staff asked the people on the stairs to line up by the reception counter because us obstructing the stairway was a fire hazard. So, I lined up by the counter and waited to get my results. Anyway, as I was waiting, Elaine went up the stairs, and I think the number of people waiting to see their results shocked her. I think if I was in her shoes, I'd be flabbergasted too. We basically formed a line that stretched to the second floor of CMHSE. Haha.

So yeah, my life's pretty boring at the moment. No, scratch that, my life's ALWAYS the same old, same old. Not that I'm complaining though. Haha. What can you expect when one of the most exciting things to happen to me is the whole rigmarole of getting the results? Haha.

I am... ?

My new nickname is... wait for the drumroll... musclewoman! Haha, Jocelyn and Fawn named me because of my 'ability' to open bottles of pasta sauce. Haha. Anyway, today was not too bad, just that I was quite tired and I think I'm getting a sore throat. Bleargh! Tomorrow, I've got an 8am lecture, and a clinical skills tute from 1-3pm. Haha. 4 hour break. Will probably go to John Medley library. The beanbags there are the sit-and-don't-feel-like-getting-up-for-another-hundred-years type.
Had lunch with Li Ping, Adilah, Ravind and Grace. First time in a long time. They were filling in their Rural Preference Forms. I had already submitted mine yesterday, so I just listened. Met Jia Chee as well and got invited to their new place for dinner, most probably some time next week. I slept a bit in the afternoon after class, completed my PCL task, studied a bit, listened to music, then went to Ivy's to help cook bolognaise sauce and there, got my new moniker. Haha.

I'll most probably turn in after showering, because I smell of garlic and onion and tomato sauce. Haha. Plus 8am start tomorrow! I really don't function well in the morning. Sigh.

PS: Kohila, Dark Knight!!! DARK KNIGHT!!!

For Wendy...

Disclaimer: I did not write this poem, nor do I make profit off it. =)

Sometimes when things don't go our way
We get so upset it ruins our day

It's hard sometimes when we feel bad

Not to think about our troubles and not to get mad

We have to take the bad with the good

I know that it's hard but we should

I understand what you're going through

If you need me I'm here for you

So cheer up and don't let things get you down
Focus on the good in your life, there's plenty to be found.

Dedicated to my dear friend, Wend...

Cheer up girl!

A New Start...?

So, the first day of uni has come and gone. Had an 8am start today, just an introductory lecture with the lecturers of the various departments. Anatomy doesn't start till Week 4 (according to the lecture) or Week 9 (according to the one and only Nigel Wreford) this semester. Then, PCL. Half of my PCL mates I've worked with last semester. The other half are apparently a mixed group. Brendan and Rohit's partnership of Signs and Symptoms Through Pictionary no longer exists though. Haha. And then another lecture. Nadiah and I went in the wrong direction though. Reminder: Lectures after PCL in sem 2 are in South 1 not R1! Haha. Lunch break which I spent at the CCM counter. Lecture again, then there was supposed to be a histology prac which never happened. There was this large crowd of students waiting outside the locked histo lab for approximately 20 minutes. Then people started to leave. I stayed on for a while to catch up with Alyaa, Ameera and Adilah. And the most interesting thing that happened to me today was when Rohit said he and his friends were not leaving till we left. Apparently, when international students leave, one can be sure that there won't be a class. Haha. Yeah. Anyway, so I walked back with Adilah. Updated each other on what we did during the holidays and how fun the Sunway times were. Haha.

Anway, today wasn't too bad. I'm in the group which gets the better timetable on Mondays but the worse one on Thursdays. Hopefully I'm in A1 and not A2. A 6 hour gap in between a lecture and a tutorial is just... frustrating! So, keeping my fingers crossed on that one. Finished watching L Change the World, arranged for blood donation in Engineering Hall on Thursday for 10.50am (hope I don't forget about it), read Star Online, surfed the Net a bit - the usual checking of emails and reading Kohila's and Wend's blogs and spamming their cboxes, got the sheet music for Love in the Ice, which unfortunately doesn't sound really right, played the piano for a little bit, then study, and now blogging.

All in all, not too strenuous. I LIKE! Haha.

Order in Randomness...

Been listening to DBSK's Love in the Ice on playback. They're live performance is pretty good, and the lyrics are beautiful, sort of like poetry. But then again, I've always liked songs about ice and snow. I want to learn how the keyboardist accompanies the song. Haha. Kohila, you've got me addicted to this song! How? HOW?
Other than that, what happened today? Church, then came back home (or to be more accurate, my room), slept a bit, now waiting for people to email me the times that they are available for counter duty tomorrow. Church = Date with Jesus! Haha.
School starts in 10 hours 34 minutes according to the clock on my laptop. I don't think I've really completed anything I set out to do during this winter break. And I foresee the coming semester to be hectic, energy-sapping and a challenge. Mental and physical fortitude! That's what I need. Along with self discipline and diligence... if I want to survive... because not only do we have to study the MED2042 material, we also have to start revising MED1011, MED1022 and MED2031 contents for the VIA. I shudder at the thought of the VIA we'll have to sit in 4th year. The amount of information we'll need to know by then!
I found it interesting to note that 4 out of the 5 members of DBSK are Christian or have Christianity stated as their religion. Fascinating, no?

Family...

With Mummy and Papa at KLIA before my flight to Melbourne earlier this year.

Family photo during Chinese New Year. I look grumpy though. It was one of the very rare times the whole family got together.

With Mummy and Che-che at the Twelve Apostles, Great Ocean Road.

Mummy and Che-che at Loch Ard Gorge, Great Ocean Road

Mummy and Che-che in front of Farrer Hall.

With Mummy at Melbourne International just before she and Che-che flew back to Malaysia. =(

Mummy and Papa! <3 =) Miss you both...

Sydney Pictures Part Trois- Food and Misc.

Kohila's cooking: Beancurd with mushrooms, carrots, and broccoli. Yum yum!

Kohila's cooking: Chicken baked with a special marinade. Also yum yum!

Pancakes on the Rocks: Pancakes with Thai Chicken. Was really good. Supposed to take photo of the Hot N' Troppo pancakes we also ordered, but was too busy eating them. Haha.

Chicken and wonton laksa at Paddy's. Not bad. The wonton had prawns in them. Can really taste it.

Kohila's wall. Like literally, her wall. Not Facebook wall. Haha. Yes, I know, LAME.

Recycling to a new level! Turned into a piece of art. With random-funny-meaningful quotes on it.

At the airport before my flight. =(

Sydney Pictures Part Deux

The Chinese Garden of Friendship.

Front view. This is the place where we saw duck violence in action. Unfortunately was too engrossed watching it to take pics of it. =(

In the ferry. Where we nearly froze. But got loads of pictures in return. Haha.

Pic no 1: City from the ferry.

Pic no 2: Also City from the ferry. Pretty eh?

Pic no 3: Ship at one of the ferry stops.

Pic no 4: City with the sky at sunset.

Pic no 5: The sky is more obvious in this one.

Pic no 6: As mentioned, I have altogether too many pics of Harbour Bridge and Opera House.

Pic mp 7: Opera House from the ferry.

UNSW lower campus. Their campus looks so much nicer than Monash's. But I really don't envy those who have to run between the upper and lower campus. Just thinking about it makes my muscles ache.

With some ball thing-y in UNSW. Thought it was cool. Haha.

This building is special! Apparently if you use a specific meter and walk along it, you can hear music, courtesy of the markings on the glass wall, which I did not manage to get in the pic. But cool concept, eh?

Cool building, no?

Proof that I was there. Ahem. Thanks for taking the pic, Kohila!

Coogee beach! In winter. Thankfully on a warmer winter's day though.

If you follow the trail, you can arrive ar Bondi. After 2 hours or so of walking though.

Pretty lace effects again. Sand and sea! And breeze! And Chish and Fips! Haha.

Best friends forever!

Best friend in the world!

Two of us = Randomness!

Beach fun!

Shoeprints in the sand! Haha.

With Gong Chan! Adorable, isn't he?

Where I stayed. Extremely comfortable room.

Sydney Pictures

At Circular Quay wilth the Harbour Bridge in the background.

Attempt no 1 at taking a picture with both of us and the Sydney Opera House in the background. As is evident, the Opera House is missing from the picture. Result: FAIL! Haha.

Attempt no 2: Part of my face missing. Haha. Result: FAIL!

Attempt no 3: Part of the Opera House missing now. Result: FAIL!

Finally gave up and asked for help from a group of tourists who were also taking photographs there. Just our luck, they did not speak much English. But they were kind enough to help us take the pic. Finally! =)

Harbour Bridge from a wharf at Circular Quay. See the 2 stone structures at the left side of the picture? Those are the pylons. The Pylon Lookout is right at the top of them.

Kohila is better at taking pictures. Haha. No missing faces, no missing landmarks. Result: PASS! It was quite scary sitting on the platform. We could actually feel it bobbing in the water. But fun at the same time. =)

City skyline from the Pylon Lookout. Pretty eh? The sky was blue and it was sunny and warm that day. =)

Yet another City pic from the Pylon Lookout. Haha. Looking from ground level, the Lookout really seems scarily high. And the you climb the many steps up and the feelings of trepidation increase. But when you reach the top, the view is breathtaking. =)

Another City pic from the Pylon Lookour. The right side of the picture shows the cars (which are minuscule in this pic) on the Harbour Bridge.

A continuation, so to speak, of the picture above. The left side of this pic is the right side of the pic above.

Like how the boat created foam. Haha. Like lace. Also from the Pylon Lookout.

Sydney Opera House as viewed from the Pylon Lookout.

Harbour Bridge from the Pylon Lookout. Before you reach the top of the Lookout, there is a museum of sorts about the Harbour Bridge. Lots of interesting information. Like how it created jobs during the Depression, how different things were back then in terms of safety conditions, etc. If you look really closely at the left side of the bridge, you can see people climbing it. Scary, eh?

Both of us at the Pylon Lookout with City in the background. Like I said, Kohila is waaaay better at taking pictures. Haha. =)

I've just realised that most of the pics in my camera are of the Opera House or Harbour Bridge. Haha. So, to not inflict torture on people reading this blog, I'll upload only the nicer pics. =)