It's that time of the year.

I must admit, I was more excited before the exams. Couldn't stop thinking about seeing my family and friends again, the things we would do, the bonds we would rekindle etc etc. I'm still excited and happy now, and yes I miss everyone back in Malaysia to bits. But after looking back at my year in Adelaide, the feeling's a litte subdued. It's difficult to explain. Everyone here is nice and friendly to us IMU students. I'm very grateful for that. I'm happy to have made some wonderful friends here and I hope that our friendship shall continue to grow as the years go by. But part of me feels.... empty. Numb. It's not this place, this new country. It has always been like this no matter where I go. A feeling that I don't... belong. It's my fault actually. I still can't put my finger on it.

Flight out's at 3.30p.m. Gonna be AWOL for a bit 'cos my new house still doesn't have internet.

1572480 minutes.

26208 hours.

1092 days.

156 weeks.

36 months.

3 years.

In an ideal world, we would be sitting together under a cherry blossom tree now. With only the wind and gifts of nature to surround us.

2 papers down, 2 more days of OSCE to go... *sigh*

Yesterday's MCQ paper was insane, so horribly sadistic and vague. Calling it difficult is an understatement. Like seriously, half of the questions I wasn't sure about and the other half were about things I never heard about. 180 questions in 3 hours = one big headache. And each question is preceeded by like a paragraph of vague history and a medley of symptoms and lab results. Then they ask you the choose the BEST diagnosis/immediate management/treatment/drug combination + dosage/diagnostic investigation/probability of patient having X abnormalities/etc etc etc. Choose the best answer from a list of answers which are mostly correct. Wtf, a student's worst nightmare.

More on my exams in my next post. This one is about an event that's equally (if not more) sad. While I was drowning in stacks of medical jargon, this was going on in my beloved home country. God bless Malaysia.

Transcript of Malaysia's Information Minister's interview with Al Jazeera News on the Bersih Protest:

Oh no..... one more day to exams!!!

Can't study anymore. Brain slowing down already. I have this weird feeling like caterpillars in my stomach right now. On Monday, those caterpillars will turn into butterflies and they shall emerge a-fluttering.

Thank goodness for that nice juicy mango I bought from the market last Saturday. Sweet, ice-cold mango: the perfect stress reliever. =) Written papers will be on Monday and Tuesday. It's going to be held in this hall somewhere near the Adelaide Showgrounds. According to to Irwan, it's this mega-huge hall that can fit a thousand people inside. And once you're inside, it's so quiet you can hear a pin drop... He says it's going to be a 'very interesting, fun experience'. Fun, my foot. My future as a 5th year med student is on the line! Omigosh and here I am blogging...

Thursday and Friday are the OSCEs, or as I describe to my mom: The "DAATTTTTT" examine patient "DAATTTTTTTTT" examine patient exam. Of all the hospitals they chose to have it in, they chose the Lyell McEwin Hospital! Which is like 54 bus stops from the city. And since yours truly's surname starts with "C", I'll be in the first group on the first day, i.e. at 8.00a.m.

Okie, this will be last post till after my exams (I think). Good luck to everyone (including those ppl having exams back home). See you on the other side. =) Ganbatte!!!

To my 2 'brothers'...

When I first knew you guys, I was taller than you. My my, how you've grown. :P Here's to the two people whom stood by me in times of need and shared countless of joyful moments with. Being the weird social retard that I am, it's a blessing to have met you guys. *God that sounds so corny! Are you pukng yet?* Anyway, happy birthday Vee Han and Andrew. Sorry for the combined post though I can't remember a year where we didn't celebrate your birthdays together. Miss ya lots. =)

While my dear housmate is laughing horrendously loudy and maniacally in his room watching Rowan Atkinson/Xena/Power Rangers/High School Musical...

Came across an interesting post in Kennysia.com (actually most of his posts are interesting). Click here to read it 'cos I'm too lazy to type too much about it. Furthermore it's a week till my end-of-year exams and I still have tons to cover. :P

Anyway Kenny was asking his readers whether the modern woman still needs a man in her life. In this age of feminism and female empowerment, women can pretty much provide for themselves. Women have better education, awareness and are able to support themselves financially. Three cheers for that. :) So what the heck do we need men for anyway?

The comments he got were of course pretty expected. Men need women and women need men. It's all part of the balance of nature/great circle of life/will of the Almightly/sadistic fate we've been dealt with since time immemorial.

Hehe... but I liked some of the comments by the readers. :P



http://www.kennysia.com/archives/2007/11/why_do_men_and.php#c385107
"In my point of view, no matter how independent a woman is, she still needs a man... It's a balance in nature... Women are born fragile and delicate we need the strength and masculinity of a man to nurture and love us. No matter how strong or independent a woman is to the eyes of the public, she may just be a fragile glass in her heart.

Also no matter how advance technology is, nothing can replace the touch of a man, the kiss of a man, the love of a man and of course, without men how are women going to reproduce?

Some feminist may be angry with me for betraying my own sex, but honestly I'm glad men exist in this world and I honestly admit that I very much depend on the love of my man.

Man needs Woman
Woman needs Man...

This is the fact and the balance of life, everyone please stop lying to yourself..."


http://www.kennysia.com/archives/2007/11/why_do_men_and.php#c385108
"Because we have higher level emotional needs. Being the only female in my research group, it is both flattering and frustating. Discounting reproduction (how unromantic)issue, women certainly are becoming increasingly self-sufficient, hence, it is inevitable "we can do whatever you can do". We see it everyday : from female bus driver, engineer, CEO (i.e. woman power in male-dominated industry).

BUT hey! This does not mean the other group of women - who loves to bake cake, plant peace lilies, and who are determined to spend the rest of their lives loving and tending for their family - are no longer out there.

It's just a matter of choice and circumstances. We go into male dominated world for various reasons : love the challenge, love the work, financial independence etc. But deep down we know nothing can beat the joy of raising our kids. Of being there watching their first piano recital and making lunch boxes.

So trust me, as much as we, working women love our job, we are born to be feminine. We need to return home from office and complain about our boss to a patient husband (and you NOT to disagree with us under any circumstance - no matter how unreasonable we are). We love them for changing the bulb though we can do it anytime. We love to leave all plumbing works to them in exchange of making the best dinner. Sure enough we can carry own our shopping bag, but it is lovely to have you carry it for us.

we need to NEED you."


http://www.kennysia.com/archives/2007/11/why_do_men_and.php#c385109
".....There's a hole in a women's heart that only guys can fill in. Ok lar got another hole also lar but that is not i wanna talk here :P. Women need a guy to acompany her, listening to their braging, their happyness and so on. but most guy cant do this for more than 5minutes. for me 30minutes would be nice, after 30minutes it'll get boring coz the same thing will keep repeating untill she feels ok."

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So Darling, if you're reading this... thanks for listening intently to all my rantings throughout these years. Even though it's the same thing over and over again, even though you'd rather be playing computer games and even though your ear is getting so red from pressing it against the phone... you steadfastly hung on without a single complaint. Love you lots!!! Just another 16 days and you won't have to listen to me rant on the phone till your ears are red anymore.... I can do it in person. :P:P:P:P:P