Road to Genting. Well, almost..

Ok lar.. since Li Wen bugged me for it, I'll give some preview first lar :p hehe.. photo taken from the bus.. sorry coz got a bit of reflection from the windows..

Camp theme verse: Acts 3:19
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

Anybody for bread?

On Sunday after returning from CF camp, went with Chris to have dinner at Hartz Chicken Buffet..
ACBC ("Act Cute Bukan Cute)
Haha.. and guess what we saw?

In remembrance of 16 April 2007

1 hour before CF camp

Just some random conversation on Friday..

Chris: Somebody from Year 1 is getting her hair bleached..
Me: Hmm.. do I know her?
Chris: Yes, you do..
Me: Is she lame?
Chris: Yes..
Me: Does this fella have any association with monkeys?
Chris: Erm.. Kind of I guess..
Me: Ok, say no more.. Point taken :p lolz

Stay tuned for CF Camp photos which are coming up pretty soon!

Renal clearance

There was this lecture yesterday by a nephrologist from Sunway Medical Centre. He was telling about this apek who presented with kidney failure. One of the characteristics of kidney failure is frothy urine (like alcoholic beverages, because of the protein present)..

So how did the patient describe his frothy urine?

"Doktor, tadi ar, saya pang liu minum beer."

^_^"

Encouraged..

.. after a temporary moment of emptiness.

The train station was empty and eeriely quiet. It seemed as if the last train has left long time ago. And yet, there was a man, standing at the edge of the platform, looking this way.. and there he was, stretching out his hand in an open invitation.

Looking forward to the CF camp this Friday.. hopefully it will really be a wonderful time of refreshing!

Something not so nice happened today to a friend of mine, but while having tea with him, (I don't know why or how) I was kinda prompted 2 share with him this verse that suddenly came to my mind out of nowhere (thanks to Liang, the CF prez who shared this last week)..

2 Kings 6:15-16
When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked.
"Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."

Waiting to see if the story continues the way it eventually did back then.. Hopefully a nice testimony will come out of this storm..

Midpoint of semester 3

Just as I did last year, guess I will need to rely on grace once again for the exams.. killer paper; with 10 anatomy questions from last year which we have forgotten and wasn't expecting, plus a few questions based on Australia's lecture notes (we haven't even received all our lecture notes - how to study?).. just our luck that our batch is being made the guinea pig..

Anywayz, went for Community Partnerships Placement on Thursday. Mine was SARC (Selangor and Federal Territory Association for Retarded Children), in Brickfields near KL Sentral.. basically our placement starts in July, and we are supposed to go there and help out in community service work while at the same time doing a Health Promotion Project to improve the state of well-being of the children there (basically this consists 30% of our year's assessment - even our exams are not worth that much, study so hard only 5% for the mid sem).. interesting to note that this is an experience that really opens up our eyes to the state of disabled kids in the country; the issues that affect them (eg obesity coz they eat a lot when they have nothing to do, they are withdrawn if you don't give encouragement and praise etc).. They have the potential to go the distance, it's just that they need to be given more attention, opportunities and dedication by their parents..

It's interesting to note that some parents are beginning to see hope in their kids (since they used to be confused by doctors telling them that their kids are going to end up as a vegetable, hopeless etc.. probably it was some local uni doctor from the old-school curriculum..) However, most parents are pretty caught up in the rat race and fast-paced life.. looks like we got a lot of work to do.. no doubt we can't do much coz of time and money constraints, but we shall start small and see how it turns out..

p/s: Other agencies include Spastic Children's Association PJ, NKF, Alzheimer's, Kiwanis, NASOM, Malaysian Care (Prison welfare) etc..

33

The question was why.. Why bring such grief to the world? Wasn't there a light that was supposed to shine and bring hope to you? Was there not a single person who cared for you enough to let you know that this is not the way? Or was it something that we all did not do enough for you? For some reason, you who chose to turn away from it all..

Is it about payback? When will we ever learn that it will not even up the score..

Peace. Something we all take for granted too often most of the time here.

May the loved ones of the 33 who are currently mourning find peace, rest and a heart willing to forgive.

To kill a cockroach

.. more or less like 'To kill a mockingbird' :p lolz

Anywayz, what hapenned was that Alvin came back from Penang to find a cockroach in his room (aiya, what to do since you open a grocery store with Milo, biscuits and stuff)..

So he went to great extremes to exterminate the pest..


.. and succeeds. (Aiya, who knows maybe the cockroach give chance only wan..)
All hail Alvin, King of the Cockroaches!

PEST

Here comes the usual compulsory pre-exam stress trauma (PEST) rambling post (borrowed the idea from Li Shun :p)..
Date: 18 April 2007
No. of lectures remaining to cover: 60
Amount of anatomy and PCL homework left: kinda lost count..
Yes, there have been quite a bit of irritating incidents and people for the past week or so..
Need to read up for study buddy (if there is any this week)
I think my books are at home, I'm now in the computer lab and it's raining..
Feeling really really stressed, but thank you for Phillipians 4:13
:p haha.. gambate everyone :-)

Happy Birthday dude..

Last week was Aiman's (one of my housemates) birthday, so we kinda celebrated it with him..
Me and Chris barging into the room at midnight to sing Happy Birthday.

Aiman the Handsome gave us a treat at the mamak..Here is one of the scenes from that outing.. Note how Alvin is trying to teach Nadia how to read the menu which is in BM :p
Me and my blur sotong look when the photo got taken.. note Faheem and Chris :p
I don't get what is so wrong about this photo..

”Too often we are so preoccupied with the destination, we forget the journey. Our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.”
Rafael Benitez, Liverpool FC Manager

Something funny from IMU

I know this has been quite some time already, but still wanna share..

What a farce

We have 5 hours straight of lectures on Friday morning, and 4 hours straight after lunch.. meaning that we only have 2 hours of lunch break.. During our lunch break we had a presentation by Monash University Student Association (MUSA), which boiled over and got out of hand when the Head of Clubs and Societies got on our nerves and threatened to deregister us for not doing as he says (he wants us to run MUMMedS as a club, since our constitution says we are only a club and we come under him, although we would prefer greater autonomy and flexibility to handle student welfare issues as well like MUMUS in Clayton.. aka like a student body) tempers flared, there were walkouts, profanities uttered, fights almost broke out.. man, damn emo..

i didn't notice until last night that the emo-ness seem to continue and boil over in our forum where even the MUSA committee came under fire..

Senior lameness

Until Sisca told me yesterday, I didn't know that one of our lecturers can be lame too during PCL :p

Dr Quek: Where are the rest of them? Stuck in the jam ar? Aihz, maybe coz not enough bread..

Wah lau eh..

and oh, I came up with another one during the clinical skills lecture:
Dr Nor Liza: Aha.. that's why you guys should pay attention..
Me: How do you want us to pay? By cash, cheque, money order, credit card?
*kena belasah by Ben after that* :p lolz

One thing about medical students..

One trend I noticed which is bound to continue for quite some time (probably due to the explosion of medical knowledge and self-directed learning), even though we did not really use much of books in Australia for 1st sem.. no offence ar (just an observation, coz I was once a first year junior too :p)..

2 months ago at the pre-departure briefing (for new students leaving to Australia):
First question: "What books do we need? Do we buy them here and ship it down to Australia? Or do we buy over there?"

Last month during the Monash Malaysia transition camp for the 1st years, as well as being posted on the student forum:
"Eh, what books do we need ar for 1st semester?"

2 weeks ago at the histopathology lab:
1st year meddie: "Do we need to know all the 'Theories as Tools' stuff (ie medical sociology)?
Senior (not me, but a friend of mine): *in a sarcastic way* "Oh yes, you need to know what year Karl Marx is born, where is he from, how many people are in his family, what are his hobbies, who is his wife etc.."
1st year meddie: *nods head and scribbles down on paper* "Some more? What else?"
Senior: "NO Lar!!!! What's wrong with you??!!" *feels like ripping off his hair*

Last week at the library:
"I'm not as smart as the rest of my friends.. I don't know what is pili or fimbriae, and what do they do (Lecture on Introduction to Microbiology).. I need a microbiology book.. No, I probably need 2.. Maybe this biochemistry book will help too.."

2 days ago at the library:
"Hey, what is the BEST book to use for genetic diseases and to study Mendel's law and stuff? Our notes are severely inadequate leh.. With regards to the topic on cells, we don't have to know about photosynthesis and the Calvin-Benson cycle, do we?"

PENGSANZ... ^_^"

Disclaimer: This does not refer to all medical students, it's only a generalised observation.. I apologise beforehand to anybody who feels offended, traumatised, emotionally affected etc (let me know if you guys want it to be removed)

Why humility you ask?

Funny that I made this New Year resolution 2 months ago:
Pride has been an issue all this while in my life. I admit that I have been kiasu in my studies and have the tendency to impose my expectations on others / think that I'm better than thee in certain circumstances..
So God, I wish to try my best to be a more humble person this year..

And the life lessons that came my way was like "Wah lau eh".....

There was actually a moment when I felt embarassed as one of our lecturers made a sarcastic remark during the election campaign (I was speaking to the 1st years).. (actually I understand that it was in the name of humour, but still embarassing leh)

I think I kinda messed up the LAN-MOHE meeting today coz I misinterpreted some of their questions and did not say much after that..

.. and i got mocked and ridiculed by a few while helping to distribute CF brochures on Clubs and Societies day.. I also noticed that in front of the CF booth, the students will suddenly develop a particularly weird walking pattern: they either increase their walking speed (typical Malaysian driver lar k?), or do a sharp turn in a direction away from where you are standing.. funny leh..

Hmm.. brings back the memories of CCM Clayton.. ok yes, I didn't like it, but what next?

Lesson learnt

Basically, to cut the long story short: Humility and grace.

Anybody planning to do postgrad in US?

This is for you.

Of Flowers and PCLs

Since I'm quite free after 1st week, followed Ben to visit his church (Glad Tidings AOG, PJ) on Saturday. Felt really awesome.. presence of the Holy Spirit was really overflowing there.. Next, went to Hope PJ on Sunday. Stayed back for bible conference in the afternoon, and the wonderful lessons on 'A Renewed Church' and the performances..

Honestly I don't like to walk into a PCL unprepared (which happened this week unfortunately).. also, a bit hard to start my engine again to contribute more and be more confident since it has been 4 months since leaving Australia. There was a gathering lunch for Years 1 and 2 to mingle together. The theme? Flowers. (I came in a green shirt as a leaf :p, since the guys were labelled as unsporting, how about WE do the theme next time??)

There were a few lessons I have learnt this week.

Since I don't know which area to serve in, went early for CF prayer meeting on Thursday to try it out. Amazed at how the words just came despite me not knowing what to say (although I must admit, need more practice since I kinda lost it a little at tne end after becoming self-aware and self-led). Might want to go for worship team.. Problem: Can't play guitar, can't play keyboard, don't know as many songs apart from mainly Hillsong and Planetshakers.. Willing to learn, but hopefully pride does not rear its ugly head as it did the last time..
CF Theme of the week? Persecution@home.com
Sounds familiar?

The CG I went to was rather small. Yea, yea.. I know.. some people may grumble as to why there is no fellowship dinner, the environment (Clayton ministry house seemed a lot better both physically and spiritually), the size (I mean, what can you do with 5 people?). Honestly, I was guilty of that a little initially, but I think it's more of teaching myself to be humble, to learn to appreciate the fact that we are already more fortunate to be able to gather as such, as well as to think of what I can do for the CG rather than asking "Why is this CG not as fun as Clayton?" But honestly, I had fun on that Thursday night.

There was something I asked Him. And I had a feeling His reply came in 3 waves:
Wave 1: While at GTPJ on Saturday, Numbers 22 (story of Balaam)
Wave 2: Matthew 6:19-24
Wave 3: CG last night, Genesis 11 (Tower of Babel)

Part of what was mentioned has already started to be fulfilled. Wonder how will it turn out next week..

Speaking of next week, it's going to be a challenge. Seriously.
Consecutive classes from 9-5 on Monday and 8-5 on Wednesday. Need to prepare for the CBP interview. And of course the issue mentioned above.

Continuity of lameness

I shared this joke courtesy of Chew (Hope Melbourne) with my batchmates:

US, China and Malaysia were embarking on an archaelogical expedition to discover the possibility that their ancestor's means of telecommunication were more sophisticated than expected.

US dug 100 metres underground and found remnants of copper. Their expedition leader proudly exclaimed, "Wow, I didn't know that we have cable back then, even before the telephone was invented. This is amazing!"

Not to be outdone, China dug 250 metres and found shards of unique glass. Their chief said, "Wow, we have been experimenting with fibre optic back then! This is so cool!!"

Malaysia dug 500 metres and found nothing. Their team leader proclaimed, "Wow, we are even better back then! ... We got wireless!

The joke was supposed to end here. Somehow, Ben managed to do a sequel to it:
Singapore being kiasu and couldn't sit and watch, decided to conduct their own expedition. They dug, and dug, and dug until they couldn't anymore, and found a piece of rubber band. The Singaporean team leader said, "Hey guys, we also got broadband!!"

*sweat* ^_^"