Bitter Spinster

I am currently in my 3rd week of paediatric posting. I've never liked paeds before and I still don't like it now. It's not that I don't like kids..I do..that maternal side of me is still intact, I believe (well, with me wanting quite a number of kids once I get married, proves that I do loves kids, no?). It is just that pediatric is so different from the typical adult medicine. With kids, all they do is cry. Or vomit. Or cry. Or, they turn blue. That as a presenting symptom makes your life harder. And if it's not vague enough, there's the whole management for them. Mind you, in paediatrics, the management is quite different and it's more ma fan. Tedious. Different measurements, different doses, all different lah. And to top it off, there are a few "categories" of children - neonate, infant, toddler, preschool, adolescent. They all have different numbers and range values that we, the medical students, are required to memorize. Sigh. As if we don't have enough things to memorize.
Ok. Enough whining.
I've attended a few weddings this month, and the most recent one was today, my classmates' wedding in Slim River. The aposthrope came after the 's' because I know both bride and groom. Both of them are in the same batch as I am. It is actually not uncommon for medical students to marry their own batchmates. One of the doctors even said that it's either the girls have to have boyfriends now, and get married right before/soon after they graduate or they'll become a spinster all their lives. And the boys have to help the girls with this as well (I am not sure if she was joking about this or not). It is because of the work demand as a doctor later that'll prevent us from meeting people and have an actual social life. In a way, it is kind of true...there are a few female doctors who became head of departments and even hospital directors are not married. And oh boy, are they bitter. They are bitter about life, and somewhat became socially retarded. Sigh. Hope I won't end up like that. I don't want to be a bitter spinster doctor.

*this is my personal opinion and I'm not going to stereotype or generalize this to every single unmarried female doctor.

Owh, btw, what do u think of my new layout? You loike?? =) I have no freaking idea where to get a nice-r layout (and no time too!) so I settle with the one blogger is providing. Easy, breezy, beautiful...hehe..


...And there's a poll at the sidebar. If you're free, just answer those three questions. I'm not the one asking. Nuffnang is. =)

M to the E to the L I double S A

HAPPY 23rd BIRTHDAY,
MELISSA ESME ANUWAR!!!!!
Love u bebeh! Will see you this weekend!! =))

Depressed, my dear colleague?

I found this article in The Star Online.

Monday December 1, 2008

Many medical students suffer from depression

By M. KRISHNAMOORTHY

KUALA LUMPUR: Many Malaysian medical students overseas who take examinations in a foreign language suffer from depression when they return.

Physicians for Peace and Social Responsibility (PPSR) vice-president Datuk Dr Abdul Hamid Abdul Kadir said that large numbers of young Malaysians were being trained in foreign medical schools in Indonesia, Russia, India, Poland, Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

At a forum on Saturday organised by the PPSR, it was highlighted that at least five such houseman are found to suffer from mental illnesses every month.

“These countries have varied systems of medical training and different types of patient care, based on the emphasis of the country. As a result, many of the students who go there undergo a culture shock,” said Dr Abdul Ha­­mid.

“Coming from different universities, backgrounds and experiences, they have difficulty relating and working, especially the weaker students,” he said, adding that there had been a sudden sprouting of many public and private medical schools.

While the schools have increased, however, the number of teaching hospitals have not.

Dr Abdul Hamid said that although there was an increasing demand for doctors, the standards and quality of patient care should not be compromised.

“These are the major concerns which the country’s healthcare and medical educational planners have to constantly bear in mind so that the value systems governing the training of our doctors are never lost sight of in the short term and the long term.”

Sigh, even though I'm training locally and I'm not one of the students studying in the mentioned countries above, mental illness is not something that is uncommon among medical students here in Malaysia too. But here, the precipitating factors are not as mentioned above. Our major precipitating factor that can actually lead some to the wackadoodledoo world is the amount of stress for examinations. Seriously. Tak caya tanye semua medical students kat Malaysia.

Tu la...buat lagi soalan susah susah... =p

This friend of mine.

Tengku Mardiah binti Tengku Marzuki.
She was one of my closest friends when I was 10. Biasalah...budak budak mesti la ade 100 bestfriends kan..hari hari pun tukar bestfriend...hehe..we have tons and tons of fond memories back in our school days in SKKT. We used to hang during recess everyday until one fine afternoon, she told all of us that she'll be transferring to another school. Sri Bestari. We swore to each other that we'll stay friends forever, signed each others' autograph book (haha..remember THOSE? kodi kottttt...), promise that we won't drift apart and keep in touch.

Us, before puberty. Hahaha..
L-R: Sakinah (cute gila pls!), Mardiah, Lynda, and I (don't laugh..tau la bughok gile..)

Little did we know, life was about to take place.

Through out those secondary school years, I admit that never once did we contacted each other, and never once I bumped into her anywhere. Until one day, she came to my school's prom night. That was the night that reunited both of us. We chatted for a while and since I was one of the organizing comittee, I was quite busy running here and there that night, I didn't have the chance to sit and have a real catching up session with her.

We did not see each other again after our those polite hellos and this single photo of us were snapped.

Us, after puberty, before makeup and fashion sense.
L-R: Didi Harun, Nadiah Alwi, Eunice, Me, Mardiah

Until, again, we were reunited. This time it was in ASASI. We may not be as close as we were in primary school, but it was enough for me to know that we have a history and we've had our fair share of joy, laughter, and tears together when we were kids. Mesti lah ada soft spot for childhood friend, kan?
Mardiah is the epitome of a lady. Beautiful, intelligent, sopan (bak kata Zaza, tak macam kita yg tak senonoh ni! haha), soft spoken, and sadly for every single single guy in this world, just recently unavailable.
It was her wedding last Saturday night. And just like her, the wedding was beautiful. I only managed to congratulate her and did not get to say a proper wish to her as the que was really really really long.
So, Mardiah, if you're reading this, I wish you a wonderful and amazing life ahead, together with your dearest other half. May Allah bless both of you and your family. Bring more cute babies into this world, k? Hehe..Take care, dear. =)

See? Told you she's beautiful.

Lenka

I've been playing and listening to her song "Trouble Is A Friend" religiously everyday ever since the first time I heard it in one of Grey's Anatomy episodes recently.
Hear it and it will haunt you too. Hehe.
I can't embed the video here, so click HERE if you wanna listen the song k. After you're done with that, click HERE for another dose of Lenka.
Enjoy..=)

I want....

...THIS!

Chanel 2.55
*DROOLS*

115...

http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/5234461/2/istockphoto_5234461-final-exam.jpg

...days left I have til my finals.

It may seem like I still have ample of time to study but seriously, I don't. Really. Not when I have to sit for the MBBS final exams where the papers will consist of ALL 5 years' syllabus at ONE go (damn u integrated system!) ; AND I will have to face 2 examiners for one long case and 3 short cases (each case 10 mins - back to back!) all from different departments! YIKES!
The problem with me is, I know that I have to study, but it's kinda hard for me to pick up the pace.
And just to compare the level of knowledge between me and my colleagues, I'm still unsure of the drugs in the SSRI group but THEY can tell you not only the generic and trade names but they can even tell you the DOSAGE without looking at the book!
I'm so dead.
Dead.

...and just to make life seem even more gloomy, my external hard drive just crashed. That's where I kept all my downloaded series and movies; and I haven't even watch half of them.
Maybe it is just God's way to tell me to go and study.
Yes. That must be it.

AND....

I MISS MY BETTER HALF!!!! Life's pretty dull, empty and lonely since he went back to Paris 3 weeks ago.
='(


-Sorry peeps...I must have taken my whining pill today. And I'm also kinda hormonal nowadays; hence the synergistic effect.

Last holiday 'til finals..PROMISE! =p

How was your Diwali celebration and that long weekend we all had? Mine was filled with a lot (prolly too much) of fun under the hot blazing Terengganu sun..hehe..I went to Awana Kijal with Adan and his family for a short holiday/weekend getaway; just when I needed some time out from the books (well..I did study for a few hours this month! Hoo-rah-rah)..We did the whole she-bang..the banana boat ride, the swimming in the salty sea water, the swimming in the from morning til hitam, ate authentic Terengganu food (Mee chalong? anyone?)...all those lah..I had a blast..and I got to spend more time with Adan (now, that's a plus!)
Uncle KA and Aunty R, if you're reading this, thank you for having me there!!! =)



And of course, what's a photo-op on a beach without the jumping session?

One more...

...and it's the hardest one of all 6 resolutions I made for this year.

1. Go to Paris and visit Adan.
JANUARY

2. Buy myself a new car.
JUNE

3. Earn more money. Or, learn how to save money at least.
I'VE BEEN EARNING A FEW RINGGIT FROM NUFFNANG. NOT TOO SHABBY =)

4. Understand central nervous system. I really suck at CNS...tolong!!

5. Go to Singapore, Indonesia OR Thailand
WENT TO SINGAPORE WITH ADAN AND IZAN

6. Holiday with friends
PENANG PENANG PENANG!! =)

I hope I'll be able to strike off number 4 soon, as my final exam is just around the corner!

The Week After

I am still dizzy from all the ketupat, rendang, kuah kacang, lemang, roti jala, and whatnots consumption. Not to mention, a few tonnes heavier.
Raya was rather quiet but not a bit less meaningful than previous years. My family (sans Farahin) celebrated raya in PJ and Rawang this time around. Nothing extraordinary however..same routine, same delicious raya spread, same relatives; just that this year, there's a new addition in my family - the uber adorable Adelynn.
I was (and still am) quite surprised to know that there are uncles and aunties that love me much and think that I am still eligible to receive the paket hijau...and there I was, thinking that I am considered "old" to still receive those..But who's complaining, kan? hehe..The packets were filled with a generous amount, if I might add..hehe..Terima Kasih, ye! =) Starting from next year, it'll be my turn to give out the packets pulak..
Here are a few pictures taken at Dalia's, Arshad's and Zaza's house. =)