The very kind doctor

It was only last week when I was bugging a GP in a local clinic near my house. Before the posting, I thought that it was going to be awkward, and that the doctor would ignore me at times, busy attending to her patients. But I was wrong. Maybe everyone else was lucky like me, still, I must say that the whole week I spent in that clinic was quite an experience. Despite the fact that there were times when there will be no patients for about an hour, I still learned a lot from the whole time in the posting. The doctor was very kind. Too kind at times I suppose, especially when she ‘belanja’ me burger-daging-special’ and ‘air kotak’. But those were not the reason why I enjoyed the posting (only partly, maybe). More importantly, after each and every patient, she would explain to me what was happening, what she suspects and what were the drugs she prescribed to the patient. Of course, at times she would get those patients who would complain of general illness (diarrhoea, fever, flu etc) only to get an MC for the day. It would be obvious though, especially as the doctor could easily browse through the patient’s previous records. We had a laugh every time these kind of patients come. Like I said, when there were no patients we talked about studying medicine and we compared the conventional method of studying back in her days at medical school and that of mine in IMU. She didn’t believe in IMU’s system by system approach but later on convinced by my explanation. The best part was when she showed me her collection of medical books she used for her studies, as she kept some of them in her clinic. To my surprise she also used Snell’s Anatomy book, the older version of what I’m using now. Overall, my assumption that the doctor would reluctantly accept me as a student in her office is absolutely wrong. Not only did I got to observe and discuss the cases with her, she also gave me the chance to practice some physical examination skills on the patients. The only regret would be when I was not able to see SAKTI brass band perform in Johor Marching Band Competition last week as I was attached to this posting. Nevertheless, the experience I gained during the past one week in that clinic should justify my absence for sure.

Sakti Band in My Heart

Akmal posted here about last Tuesday's Johor State Marching Competition, which I missed! But I've got a good reason why i missed it (will be explained in later posts). Suddenly my heart sank into those unforgettable bittersweet memories of almost 5 years in my school's brass band, which later developed into a wind orchestra. If it's not for my Y gene I would have shattered to tears as I recall the never ending adventurous and amazing journey of my friends and I, as we practised with our instruments till late at night, standing tall against the heavy criticism from some teachers and schoolmates, like how Akmal have put it,

"Go SAKTI band, make us proud! dont let 'the stupid jealous students n teachers of SAKTI' ruin your spirits..

SAKTI BAND forever in my mind~"

It's Hazy - Don't worry

Looking out from the veranda of my apartment I realize KLCC and Menara KL is no longer visible. In fact I could barely see any distant skyscrapers beyond the KL Putrajaya highway. With some burnt smell in the air, like most of my friends, I would agree with what the 8 o'clock news told us, the haze has come back, after about 3 years ago when it last clouded our vision and choked our breath.

So what's with the haze? Looking back, I remember when I was at Shah Alam last time it hit us, it was so awful that we were given an emergency break from our studies. So, are we getting a time off again soon?

No matter how it may progress, better or worse, let's not make the haze a terrible cause to concern too much about. What can we do? Live in a bubble?

Don't worry, I'm pretty sure there's still plenty of oxygen in the air to go around for everyone.

Most Ideal Moment

A lecturer from UKM asked us in our literature class today, "What is the most ideal moment in your life?" I know, it's weird, we're medical students, what were we doing in that literature class in the first place? Well, let's just say we had a few options for our selective course and we picked english literature. Anyway, getting back to the question, when it was actually asked in class, no one readily voluntered to share their answer with everyone else after a minute of contemplation. Until i tried, and i said,

"The current moment - the present." That's when i find my most ideal moment in my life. "Provided that my current moment is a happy one"

Let's think about it, why should our ideal moment be in the past? Are we regretting our current situation? Or why should it be an event in the future? Like one answer from my classmate, "When i get to see Man U play and win at Old Trafford" Then what? After you've watched the match, then what? It's not that we can't dream of anything, If it's going to be the best moment of our life, why limit it to only watching our favourite football team, or even favourite bands live like Coldplay or Arctic Monkeys? I try to be realistic here, as i've always have been. If i have a choice i would pick the best for myself of course! If i could, why can't i live everyday finding every single day special? Like posting this, i'm glad that i'm capable of putting my thoughts into such an organized writing although no one (such as an english teacher) asked me to do this. I simply enjoy doing it!