End of a chapter: Goodbye Melbourne (for now)

Hmm.. back in Malaysia after a year in Melbourne.. I must say that a lot has happened in just a year..So many ups and downs.. A broadened perspective on Christianity and many lessons learnt. It is not just about being a church-goer (or some might say Sunday seat warmer), or attending CG, or helping others. It's more than that.. Looking back, I am thankful indeed for the chance to study in and experience one of Australia's best cities, for the friendships and memories in my batch and also CG. I felt so blessed despite my moments of inadequacy..

Am inspired after reading my friend's blog post quite some time back, which made me realised that there were times where I blindly place emphasis on doing things, rather than what really matters; relationship with God. Then, there is that occasional lack of faith, "God-can-wait" mentality, plus the negative-minded judgemental thinking of others(ie I'm better than you). There are many things which I took for granted, failing to be thankful for the little things that count. Yes, like a friend has said before I left, I have my own issues to deal with.. I'm beginning to realise what some of them probably are.

So one thing I'm pondering now is; "Now that I'm back home, how have I changed in the past year? In what ways can I put it into practice?" It will be tough, especially before classes resume in Sunway.. This year will be a challenge, I have my own goals as part of my New Year resolution.. I don't know whether I'll fulfil them all at the end of the year (one has already been fulfilled). If yes, I don't know how or when, but I'll look forward to it and put my trust in Him.

Yes, I miss Melbourne. I miss Australia. I miss CCM, my CG mates and my shepherd (ehem, haha..). But it's the beginning of a new year, with new hopes, and new things to look forward to. We'll see what happens.

p/s: Oh yes, I do intend to expand and improve on my lameness.. lolz :p

Happy Birthday to me

How did I spend my 21st birthday? Woke up at 6 am. Took the 8 am bus to KL to help out at the Monash pre-departure briefing at The Regent, Bukit Bintang (2 - 5.30 pm). Unfortunately forgot to bring my camera to snap some photos. Overall, the briefing was successful. (With so many questions that the students could have asked, I couldn't help but wonder why the first thing that always comes to the minds of med students is "What books do we need to buy?")

Anyway, helped to hand out some CCM brochures and got some of the new 1st year students to fill in their particulars and any areas which they may require assistance in when they arrive in Melbourne (ie accomodation, airport pickup, shopping, banking etc). And praise God! We got 28 contacts, 7 of which are medical students.. Well, like Rachel said, it does not really matter whether they are Christians or end up becoming one, or whether they join CCM or not.. do it for the glory of God and to bless them.. but do pray for these people during orientation :-)

Hopped on the 7.30 pm bus back to Kuantan and arrived at 11.30 pm. Tired.. but on the whole, a day well-spent..

Why I need my Streamyx broadband

1. Photo uploading.
2. Youtube.
3. Stuff to read for QT.
4. Can blog in the comfort of my own home.
5. Can MSN at night, since that's when most people go online.
6. Need to update my antivirus.

Currently stuck at the cyber cafe in the mornings, smoky and noisy.. Takes a few more days to fix my TM Net..

They think we are robots..

Have been following the news lately on the working conditions of housemen in Malaysian hospitals.. If UK, US and Australia can recognise the dangers of long working hours and hence limit the working hours of doctors to 30 hours per shift, 80 hours per week, it is hard to see why Malaysia, with an improving healthcare system and more doctors poised to join the profession, cannot follow suit. As an additional insult, it was quoted in the papers:

“We want to see those from local universities having high quality and with the necessary soft skills, having commitment and willing to work as a team,” he said, adding that housemen must be prepared to work on call for 36 hours at a stretch.
“Doctors have to look into the welfare of patients before their own comfort. If not, they are not being fair to the patient.
“If you cannot work, don’t be a doctor, look for another job.”

Medical graduates doing their housemanship are being accused of treating patients without care, lacking in dedication and commitment, and taking unapproved leave of up to 15 days.
Due to such complaints, every year, about 5% of the 1,400 housemen do not qualify to become medical officers and have had to extend their training by six months to a year.

How can you expect doctors who are tired and burnt out to provide quality healthcare to patients? Read this in today's The Star newspaper.

One of the reasons for me to contemplate taking the USMLE in Year 3..

Holding back

..... Something's just not right..
It shouldn't be like this..

Chosen Generation Dinner: Masquerade

Theme Song: I Will Be Your Friend
by Michael W Smith

Verse 1
So many memories and so many miles
The road that stretches behind us
We've had some laughter and our share of tears
But all these moments unite us

Chorus
I'll be your friend for a lifetime
Against the wind and the rain of every season
Won't walk away in the hard times
I will be your friend
I'm saying I will be your friend

Verse 2
Sure as the river runs to the sea
High as the mountain that reaches
You were there by my side till the end
(and) helped me on my feet again

Bridge
So in the valley walk on
Don't have to face it alone
Cause in the hard times
We keep growing strong
As we learn, as we live
That we live when we give

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Despite the Boxing day tsunami and Easter day earthquake that occured, God so loved the world that in the hottest summer season in 50 years, battered by the worst bushfires, He Australia gave the best Christmas gift ever on 25 December.. tonnes of RAIN !!!!

Want to take this opportunity to wish everybody a very belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2007!!! Sorry haven't been blogging much coz not much internet access..

Addendum

For those who remembered my previous post on AMC accreditation achieved for Monash Malaysia, you can find the summarised report here.

Victoria burns

The weekend was a scorcher, with temperatures peaking at 42.1 degrees (hottest sumemr day in 50 years) thanks to the bushfires. Then, came the rain on Monday, and it was freezing cold. Yesterday, it was smoky, with haze blanketing Melbourne (kind of resembles back home in Malaysia)..



Today? The wind threatened to blow my clothes off.

Melbourne weather. Enough to drive a med student anxiously waiting for his results nutz.

View from the scenic lookout
From left to right: Rachel, Ian, me, Lilea, Michael, Ivy, Lionel

Strawberry farm (too bad didn't get to pick strawberries because of hail damage.
Cherry picking


At the beach



Umm.. father and son? :p
Ian: How in the world does this camera work?
Lilea and Ivy: Oi, playing hide and seek ar? The grass not tall enough for you leh :p lolz

We got AMC accreditation!

A friend of mine received an email from the AMC:

Dear Ms Lim,
The Australian Medical Council resolved on 24 November to grant accreditation to the Monash Malaysia course.
This decision be on the AMC website in due course.
The teaching of the Monash medicine course geographically in Malaysia will commence in 2007.
Regards

Karin Oldfield
Medical School Accreditation Officer
Australian Medical Council
Ph: (deleted)
Fax: (deleted)
email: (deleted)

and the best thing is, in another email received from the faculty:

I am pleased to tell you that we have just been informed by the
Australian Medical Council that they are giving full and equal
accreditation to the Monash MBBS degree in Malaysia as they are giving
to the degree in Australia.

Now that AMC accreditation has been attained, MMC accreditation will most probably follow suit. One hurdle down, one more to go: Singapore Medical Council (will be a challenge due to the Malaysia-Singapore politics and hardcore NUS people who mostly make up the board). Note: Singapore does not recognise any qualifications that come from Malaysia.

Jacinta's 21st Birthday

Ok, we celebrated the birthday of Jacinta, one of our dear CG members, earlier last month. The theme: Around the World / Multicultural. Enjoy! Pictures courtesy of Anto and Robby..
Food, glorious food..












Chronicles of CG6b:The 'Datuk', the coffeeshop owner and the Sarawakian village head chief :p
















Me and Angelina (Miss Himalaya Singh ;p lolz)

Me and the birthday girl
Group photo

30 years from now..

haha.. i was browsing other university's website and guess what I found? :p lolz
http://www.uq.edu.au/uqresearchers/researcher/leonggm.html

Lately..

I know I've not been blogging properly lately.. I've been busy - should find some time to write stuff and post photos.. but anyway, I shall post about some songs i like.. I like Michael Wong.. yea, I know I'm a banana (ie i don't know what he is singing in mandarin).. but I still like his songs (he's so famous now that Tourism Malaysia used him to promote Visit Malaysia Year 2007).. here are some of his songs that I like.

Global warming

Last week it snowed in Dandenong and we got hit in the city by hail stones (Ouch, I have been asking for it for months and now I know what hail stones felt like). This week, it was 39 degrees (freaking HOT). Last month we had an earthquake measuring 2.5 on the richter scale. Read the signs?

More funny things from across the Causeway

Dedicated to friends and people from NTU.. if any of you knows the lecturer :p
p/s: The funny bit starts after 1 minute 30 seconds, but I hope you guys don't mind watching the first minute to know what's going on.

Funny stuff from across The Causeway

haha.. i know it's quite some time already, but enjoy this comedy video from Singapore!

Romancing the tulip - Part 2

Romancing the tulip - Part 1

Remember the tulip farm photos which i promised? Sorry for the delay, here they are:



Oh, that's just me trying to be funny :p
Shaun, me, Cheryl and Kristy

The sign says it all

I can't think..

Half an hour to my OSCE... can't really say i'm prepared.. i'm just hoping to get it over with today.. the stress has already given me enough sleepless nights, numerous toilet episodes and trembling hands..
What in the world am i doing here?