Monday, September 29, 2008

My first tag...

Simple Rules:

  1. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
  2. People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
  3. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
  4. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.

So now, onto answering the tag proper:

1. I dislike wearing jeans. Which is why one finds me in trackpants or shorts (if the weather is warm enough) most of the time. I even think that slacks are more comfortable than jeans. Which is the reverse of what most people would say. I just feel that jeans are restrictive, and the material they are made of, a little too hard for my liking.

2. I like to keep my bed as clean as possible, which means most of the time, I do not sit on it or lie on it if I have not taken a shower. No eating on the bed either. And if I have just changed the sheets, I try as much as possible to not let the previous sheets or pillow cases to touch the clean ones. I've improved a bit with this, in the sense that if there is a blanket or comforter or doona over my bed, I am not as fussy about sitting on the blanket/comforter/doona, though I minimise that as much as possible. Pretty weird eh?

3. There was a period of time in my childhood when I really wanted to become a fashion designer. And when most of my day was filled with drawing random pictures. My dad used to bring home blank paper from his school for my siblings and I to draw on. I remember the many weird things we drew - ranging from layouts of our dream town to depictions of rooms at home. And then, as I got older, I tried to replicate faces from manga (Sailormoon was the craze when I was in primary school) and even later, I let my imagination run wild. Lol. There was also a time in Sunway where I was really enthusiastic about sketching portraits of real people from photographs. But it's pretty much in the past now. The only time I draw stuff here is when I play Pictionary, lol. =)

4. I think that I am a hoarder, a packrat, a collector, lol. Just so happens that the objects I keep have somewhat arguable value associated to them. In other words, most of the time, they're junk to the random observer. Things like wrapping paper from a birthday gift. Or the boxes that they came in. But to me, they have sentimental value, evoking nostalgic memories and eliciting fond remembrances of the time I had them/received them/ saw them. Sometimes, even a whiff of a scent can bring me back to fond times of childhood play and imagination, or teenage angst and insecurities, or of school time escapades, not that they were many. They serve like a stimulus to a movie in my head. And that is why I love all that I keep.

5. I tend to forget things people tell me relatively easily. Which is the reason why sometimes, I can recognise a face, but when I try to associate a name to that face, my mind comes up blank. And sometimes, birthdays slip my mind as well. That makes me appreciate Facebook all the more. Lol. I think for me to remember things well, I need both audio and visual inputs. Heh. Something to be changed? Lol.

6. I try to be early most of the time, whether it's for lectures or appointments with friends. I think with lectures and tutes, that's because I like to sit in a certain spot- most of the time, to ensure the most central view of the projected notes as possible. In R1, it's the 5th seat from the right in the central block, either the 4th or 5th row from the front. In the other lecture theatres, it pretty much depends on which side will the lecture slides be presented on. Lol. As for appointments with friends, I'd rather wait than have people waiting for me. Heh. I'd feel guilty if I'm late. Lol.

7. I like my 'me' time- time that I can spend alone in my room, with my thoughts, doing what I like- which ranges from reading fiction to watching anime or TV shows. My idea of a good time is precisely that. Yes, there are times which I spend with friends, when I enjoy their company very much, but there are times when I want to relax in the comfort of my room alone. Heh. I sound like a very boring person, eh? Lol.

8. I enjoy washing dishes. Yes, you read that right. I find it therapeutic to wash dishes. And iron clothes too. The repetitive motions and the difference before and after the deed is a form of release for me. Lol. Maybe I like it because there's visual evidence of improvement when sometimes it becomes difficult to see my life's purpose. Perhaps it's my obsessive and controlling personality taking over, where I have to have things done my way. Or it could just be that I am plain weird. Haha. Take a guess. Good luck with it though, because I'm not entirely sure of the answer myself. Lol.

Who do I tag?

1. Kohila

2. Wendy

3. Fiona

4. Li Ping

5. Ivie

6. Yun Ying

7. Yu Wan

8. Fawn

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Life's little blessings...

Unexpected blessings really made my day today. A thank you card and candies with a rose twined around the opening of the package. A stick of cotton candy that melts in the mouth. A blog entry that warms the heart with its earnest gratitude. Lunchtime filled with laughter and reminisces. Dinner with old friends catching up on current affairs. Seemingly insignificant things that add up to create a wonderful day. I am content. =)
Thank you, all the friends who made today special. And thank you, God, for giving me the opportunity to meet these people and call them my friends. =)

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Of hairdos and academia...

First things first: HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEND DEAR! Hehe. It's a turning point in your life, eh? Hehe. Anyway, hope that you are happy and healthy in Sunderland. May all you wishes come true and may God pour out His blessings unto your life. =)
So...
Assignment status: HLSD and remaining optional piece for portfolio left to do. My plan is to finish them by this week. Which might be a challenge, because I have absolutely no idea what to do for the optional piece. Maybe something like 10 things I wish I knew at the beginning of Year 2...? Hmm... creative juices that I may/may not have, please flow!
Anyway, on Saturday, helped Jessica, Nooi Hoay, Li Ping, Ivie and Adilah with their hair for Med Ball. Lol. I had so much fun! I even learnt how to curl people's hair with a hair straightener, of all things, lol. Hehe. And baked cinnamon bread with Wan Jie. It tasted more like cake, but oh well. Cake's pretty delicious after all, so we did not really mind. Heh.
Sunday was church, then I had a headache, so I napped in the afternoon. Woke up and studied anatomy for Monday: Posterior Abdominal Wall. Apparently, because the left gonadal vein drains into the left renal vein which then drains into the inferior vena cava (IVC) compared to the right gonadal vein which drains directly into the IVC, guys' left testicles hang lower than their right ones. Why this is so is currently not substantiated. Lol. See the nuggets of information we get at our anatomy practicals?
It is: 5 weeks to the EOS.
5 weeks and 5 or 6 days to OSCEs.
6 weeks to VIA.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Bon voyage, mon ami...




Just a quick one for my special friend, Wend, who will be flying off to the UK in about 10 hours' time. Bon voyage, have a safe trip, don't forget to get up and walk about every so often, make sure you have your passport, visa, confirmation of enrolment, all important personal documents... and enjoy yourself immensely! Lol.

"May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds."
-Edward Abbey (1927-1989)-
Naturalist and author

Have fun, dearie, and it the time of your life! Of course, don't forget to give your truly your contact number, ok? Bon voyage, mon ami...




Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Captured memories part deux...

Harajuku Sunday aka Ida's birthday with Grace, Sophie and Fawn...

Harajuku Sunday with Steph...
Joab's birthday earlier this year..
Liz's birthday...

Jocelyn and Zepeng's birthday...

In church...

With Liz, Fawn, Cherlyn and Zhi Lin...
With Liz...
With Angela, Yu Wan, Fawn, Cherlyn, Zhi Lin, Lester and Sam...
With Cherlyn...

Captured memories...

Celine, Fawn, myself, Steph, Swee.

With the Brisbane skyline...


With Steph...

In the city...

With Yuwan, Fawn, Ian Lim...

With Yuwan and Fawn...

With Yuwan and Fawn...


With Yuwan, Steph, Fawn, Rebecca, Jean Marc, Callie, Esther, Mei, Celine, Sam, Hannah...

With Steph, Fawn, Cheryl, Chiann, Cheryl, Yuwan, Hannah...


Hannah, Steph, Fawn, Jean Marc and Li Chun...

All the picture were taken in Brisbane during the Easter break when we had Oceania Convention. Quite some time ago, lol.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Voiceover from One Tree Hill season 6 episode 3: Get Cape . Wear Cape. Fly...

"Quentin Fields was a basketball player. He was also a son. A brother. Somebody’s teammate. Somebody’s friend. I never knew Quentin Fields and I guess now I never will. Did you ever wonder what it would be like if you weren’t you anymore? If you were suddenly gone how would your world react? Whatever you imagined was wrong. There’s nothing romantic about death. Grief is like the ocean: it’s deep and dark and bigger than all of us. And pain is like a thief in the night. Quiet. Persistent. Unfair. Diminished by time and faith and love. I didn’t know Quentin Fields but I’m jealous of him because I see how his absence has affected the people that did know him so I know that he did matter to them. And I know he was loved. People say Quentin Fields was a great basketball player. Graceful. Fluid. Inspiring. They say on a good night it almost seemed as though he could fly. And now he can."
As written by Samantha Walker played by Ashley Rickards.

Monday, September 15, 2008

You squeeze my tears out...

Need I say more?

Routine and rest...

Assignment status:
Completed Behaviour Change, CBP reflection, CBP-HPKM final report, Panel Summary and Rural Case Study. Started CBP Hypothetical and one of the extra portfolio pieces. Still have one more extra portfolio piece and HLSD to complete.
Good news today: I received my mobile phone in the post today! Thank God! Now I just have to recharge and I can change my facebook shoutout. Lol.
Miscellaneous:
Happy birthday, Sheldon! Not sure if you even know of the existence of this blog, but still a wish needs to be conveyed. Hehe.
Happy Mid Autumn Festival everyone! A little late I know, but still... hehe. Special wishes to Kohila and Wendy. Because they are special to me. Lame, but true.

So many people have been trying to get me to go to Medball. But my heart's just not into it this year. I really rather much prefer helping people dress up and look pretty. Don't ask me why. I have not the slightest idea myself.
I feel old... tired and achy all over. I want to grasp youth by the horns, but instead its slipping through my fingers like sand. Yet, I cannot seem to muster up the energy to want to try out, explore, travel... I'm comfortable where I am and I long to remain where I am. Sometimes, I wonder if this will be a regret later in life. And sometimes, I just want to sleep so badly that it all doesn't matter anymore.
I feel like I lack strength in so many areas, and the ensuing exhaustion wears me out. And sometimes I feel like I wear different faces to different groups of friends. This should not be the case. But somehow, it just is. And despite knowing that it has to change, I do not really do anything about it. Heh. But no worries, I will survive! =)
Anyway, I've got no class tomorrow, but maybe I'll go to school for dissection. =) That's really all for now. Till the next post, ta!

Friday, September 12, 2008

Busy...

It's that busy time of the year. Hospital selections for next year due in Sept 22, Panel Discussion for Rural due on Monday, HP-CBP poster submission on Tuesday, Behaviour Change Project and Case Presentation for Rural due Sept 26, Human Life Span and Development due October 6, HP-CBP final report, reflection and hypothetical due on October 17th and 2 extra pieces for Portfolio. Heh. Assignment time. And exam dates are out: Finals on the 30th of October, OSCEs on the 5th or 6th of November and VIA on the 7th. Not much time left.
Sometimes I wonder where all the time went, you know? It never ceases to amaze me how time flies. In approximately 2 months' time, I'll be finished with 2nd year, provided I pass all the exams, etc etc. And it scares me a bit, I have to say. I wonder if I'll be prepared to face the working world in 3 years' time. Sometimes I feel inadequate, like I'm not good enough, like I'm going to be a Grim Reaper rather than a healer. And I know that I should take it a day at a time, and to do my very best at that, but the whispers of doubt linger, you know? Sort of like a persistent detractor in my head. And I wonder if I'll be a good doctor.
Anyway, the School of Rural Health has asked me to contact them about my handphone. Keeping my fingers crossed that someone found it. =) If not, I suppose I'll have to consider getting a new one. But I'd really rather get my old one back. Heh.
And a special message to Wend, have faith dear. And try not to worry and fret. Enjoy Malaysia. And leave the rice cooker unless you can really see yourself cooking lots and lots. May it be a wonderful, unforgettable experience for you. And may the roads before you be challenging, but nothing you cannot handle. Bon voyage dearie! *hugs*

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Rural Pics

The Warragul students on last day of placement...
Standing: Myself, Matt, Marj, Yoni, Tamishta, Tshepo, Jane, Adam...
Kneeling: Tessa, Camilla, Kutlo, Cheryl, Anneke...

In a less wacky pose...

With Tamishta and Cheryl...

At this dam that Marj led us to... the sun was shining that day. =)
Light...
With Cheryl...
With Tshepo...
With Justina...

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Update...

So I'm back from rural. Which in all respects isn't too bad, I guess. Had panel discussions, oral case presentations, farm visits where cows poo the same time they are milked, plastering sessions and an interesting final night. Also had my hair styled and flicked by Camilla and lost my handphone. =( Which means that anyone who tries calling my handphone will not be able to reach me. Heh. I'll wait for a while first, hopefully someone wil find it and inform Rohit. And I can get it back. The phone has a lot of sentimental value to me. All the SMSes sent by my sisters and Kohila and Wend are in it. So losing it will hurt.
On a brighter note, the final night was great. I helped Tessa bake cookies and everyone played Boggle. I also supplied the rest of the Warragul people with water as they drank. Lol. It was fun getting to know them better because none of them are people I normally hang out with, so I was a bit overcome by trepidation when I first went there. Haha. But the last night we spent in Warragul was great in establishing friendship, building bonds and breaking misconceptions. And now, I have gotten to know more people better.
Tomorrow's Father's Day in Australia, 3 months after it is celebrated in Malaysia. I sent Papa a card in June. I did not send him one last year so I tried to make his card this year more meaningful. Hope that was successful. Also went out to dinner to celebrate Jessica's 20th birthday. Had minced pork noodles in Boxhill. And cake. And bubble tea. And had a lot photos taken, though none by yours truly. Haha. I reckon with Yu Wan in the midst, it's overkill to have another person taking photographs.
I'll try to put up pictures soon. Lol. =) Ta for now!