Life of a Life

A.A.A

2010-11-22T22:02:00.002Z

A. A. A also known as Triple A stands for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.

This little AAA (>4.5cm is considered aneurismal) is a ticking bomb. One day you're fine, the next you're dead. To have an incidental AAA finding, you have to count your lucky stars..you must've done something right in your past life. Its actually easy enough to treat a uncomplicated infrarenal AAA - open surgery or EVAR.

Before my day ended today, the SHO told me that there was a ruptured AAA that was coming in from a different hospital. A ruptured AAA is haemodynamically stable because the human's body is able to make fluids shift here and there. Plus the whole abdomen and the aorta's intima becomes this cling-film tamponade. So if you try to give in too much fluids or try to increase the blood pressure it disturbs that sensitive equilibrium and all hell breaks loose.

So back to the story, the ruptured AAA arrived to the A&E, the patient was awake and able to talk. Lines were all set and CT was done at the previous hospital. The patient knows what danger he is in and was very well informed. He knows that if he doesn't do the surgery, he will die. If the does the surgery, there is a chance that he will die on the table.

When the Team viewed the CT Scans, turned out that he has a suprarenal AAA above his previous repaired AAA. On further slides, it showed that the Aneurysm is actually not just in the abdominal Aorta but is all the way on to the thoracic aorta as well. So a Cardiothoracic team was called for a consult.

In the end, both teams decided that he was in-operable. If it was a ruptured AAA, they can clamp the aorta as soon as they get in - which can be quick in the abdomen but it takes awhile to get to the thoracic aorta even if a sternotomy was done, by then the patient would have bled out. Just as I have mentioned before, the ruptured AAA is a very delicate object; a little change in its surroundings it will go bonkers. This happens as well when a patient is put in GA, all the muscle relaxes........and there goes the tamponade. Everything will crash. That's why sometimes they have to do the incision just as the patient is going under. There is no time to lose.

Hearing the patient talk to the Reg about his wife that is coming down and that both of his kids are flying in as soon as possible, just put a lump in my throat. At that time the decision has not yet been made about his status and we were preparing for OT. In my head, I was thinking - OMG, he is going into OT without his family by his side or even being able to see his family one more time before going in. This is a risky surgery. What happens if he doesn't make it? His wife will be just waiting, not able to hold him before he goes in.

When he was told about the team's decision to not do the surgery because to put him through all this pain would be wrong. The risk to too high. He was given the choice to stay in our hospital for further palliative care or return to the hospital he came from. All he said was "I want to go home..."

Another lump in my throat.

I'm getting fat.....

2010-10-16T14:19:00.002Z

With my mum here, I'm definitely getting fat!! Every hour she'll ask me if I want to eat or she'll just make food and make me eat. When I do layan her and eat..I get so sleepy I can't study.

Mum: "Do you want anything to eat??"

Me: "Err..we just ate dinner like 2 hours ago."

Mum: "Eat la..you don't eat, I've got nothing to do.."

I think this is the first time that I've gained weight during an exam period. I'm not complaining, I like food, I like it that I don't have to cook and I like it that I'm finally gaining some weight but I do wanna just gain a little :)

So obvious... [Part 2]

2010-10-15T10:18:00.002Z

Went grocery shopping with mum again after my paper.

One thing to note today: Super proud of my mum, she walked from the wet market back to my house!!! While carrying groceries. Its not a near walk..especially with the slopes it is a little hard. So I'm super proud of her. She only stopped once to rest during that 40 minute walk. (Don't think I can do that...I probably just sit down and call for a cab)

"Mummy only bought 2 pears today..don't dare to buy more. SO heavy later cannot carry. I also only bought ONE carrot"

Me: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Anyways, back to what I originally wanted to say. So we went groceries shopping and again its obvious that my mum is not a housewife.

My mum just buys stuff as she likes..well cuz she likes it and they are really nice but I can never bring myself to buy it cuz its soooo expensive!! For example, Mum wanted bacon. I told her that the one that she's holding is expensive, we should get the cheaper one. She said nevermind la..this bacon is nice. Same brand is the one I eat in Jie jie's place. So in the end we paid RM 36 for a packet of imported bacon. The bacon better taste orgasmic!!

When we were at the till paying our stuff, mum was looking at the cash register...

Mum: "wahhh..be bought so much stuff meh" (looking at the total)

Me: o_O "Err..mum..that's normal. That how much groceries are worth"

Mum: "Ohh..I didn't know they are that expensive. But we only bought so little!!"

Its soooooooooooo obvious my mum isn't a housewife.

So obvious...

2010-10-10T08:58:00.002Z

Exams are around the corner and as usual, I am procrastinating. And when I procrastinate, I blog.

My mummy is up to take care of me while I study for my big exams which are starting next week. I've gotta say, I love having her up here!! But I feel bad for leaving her alone at home while I go off for my group study.

When she came, she brought loads of food from home :) She took one look at my fridge and went:

"Haiyoo...what is this?"

"Haiyoo..how long has this been in here?"

"Haiyoo..why your house don't have this, don't have that?"

First day she was here, she wanted newspapers and to get some other stuff as well. So I told her I'll drop her off to the near by shops and she'll then walk home.

"Eiii..not that far wor the shops. Just like jie jie's place to the supermarket...but you're place got more hills"

Needless to say those "hills" became my mum's downfall. Carrying newspapers, a small carton and a bottle of fabric deodorizer , she could not conquer those "hills". She actually had to stop a few times on the way up!! She is sooooo unfit!

We went to get groceries yesterday and it was sooooooooooooo obvious that my mum does not do any housework!!

She had no idea what a washing softener was.

She had no idea how to use a washing softener.

She had no idea how much washing liquid to put into the washing.

She had no idea how to work the washing machine properly.

She used the fabric deodorizer thinking it was a surface cleaner.

It was really hilarious!!

Today we went to the wet market to get some fresh groceries and again it was obvious that mum doesn't go do marketing often.

But I still love mummy and I'm super grateful that she's here.

US church defiant despite condemnation of Koran burning

2010-09-08T06:22:00.005Z

Every one in the world remembers 9/11. It was the day the whole earth stopped as we saw the magnificent twin towers crumbling into pieces. It shook every nation. It was also the day the world started to point fingers...at religion.

There is no one religion that is scientifically or spiritually greater than the other. They are all equally as great as they are. Every religion has its own customs, culture and holy symbolic items - like the Christians and their Bible, the Sikhs and their Kitab, the Jews and their Torah, the Muslims and their Quran.

Malaysia is an Islamic country. We have Moral studies for the non-Muslims and Islamic studies for the Muslims. I have seen a Quran firsthand when I was in school. I respected it as the holy book of Islam even though I am not a Muslim myself.

The news today at BBC- US church defiant despite condemnation of Koran burning ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11223457) is one shameful act. For it to happen in a church and supported by a pastor is even disgraceful.

This could be a start of a very vicious cycle of holy books burning.

Embarrassing Moment 101

2010-07-31T16:42:00.002+01:00

So its Post-Paeds trauma,

So what better way to wash away the blues with the warm sea breeze and sunny sunny sun. The right combination to brighten my day :) Like I've mentioned before when I was in cold cold Dublin, I'm like a solar panel, I recharge like Wall-E.

So here I am, enjoying my lunch and nice cold iced peach tea while reading a book that I've put aside for a year. Looking at kids playing in the water and all the jet skis buzzing around. It was a good relaxing day. Just what I needed. Including a nice colour on my skin.

So I decided my day is up and I proceed to pay the bill.

Jeng Jeng Jeng.....

To my horror...................................I left my purse at HOME!!!!!!!!!!

I went to car to see if I had any money.

Labcoat - 60 cents. I took my cash out during yesterday's short case. Dammit.

Coinbox - 2.50. Where the hell did all my money go?!

Glove compartment - 70 cents. Good thing for scraps of coins everywhere.

BUT still not enough to pay my 14.80 bill. So I went back to Sunset, gave the manager the 4.80 I had and apologies. Told him I stay close by and I'll be back in a jiffy.

I left my phone as hostage. Yes you read it right, my phone. I am one with my phone. Inseparable.

Drove home and back. Paid my embarrassing 10 bucks and got my phone back in my arms.

So that's the embarrassing story of the day!

Knock knock...again?!?!?

2010-02-11T01:09:00.002Z

Its February!!

I usually write a big post summarizing on the year before the new one comes..but this year everything seems so mashed up like mash potato and as usual..I'm lazy :)

New post for the new year cuz a friend of mine (you know who you are) reminded me on the good ole faithful Facebook to finally update because I'm no longer locked out of the hse.

Well class started first week on Jan for Legal, Ethics and Forensics Medicine. A two week crash course continued with a barring exam and then 2 weeks off...

When I came back to Penang after that break.....

I got locked out of my house again..but I had my keys with me!

My lock on the wooden door broke. So I was this crazy lady turning my key round and round and round, banging the door, pulling the door...I did everything! After 45 minutes....the door finally opened.

Definitely not something I want to experience again..esp after driving up all the way from KL.

Keys, food and tears...

2009-12-13T06:25:00.004Z

So something i knew was going to happened..finally landed onto my face at the most perfecting timing

I locked myself out of my house with my keys inside.

Went over to Dhir's place for a group study, after we were done at 12.30am...I was yawning and walking towards my car. Just as I took my car keys out...I realized..hmmm...WAIT A MINUTE..my hse keys!!!

So I called my most reliable saviour of all times...esp when i'm stuck - Kean Shean! Unfortunately, he searched his whole hse for the massive industrial chain cutter but failed..instead he found the the plant cutter for bonsai trees.

Stayed over at Minah's place for the night..btw I like her bed...its not overly soft like mine which makes my back hurt a lot. And the next morning Kean Shean managed to ask his friend, Kenneth's dad's friend help who was a Locksmith to come and save the day. Apparently locksmiths in Penang don't work on Sundays and he only came to the rescue cuz of the connection =) Just as I am super worried about my exam, tired and brain dead..Mr. Locksmith decided to work on Penang timing.

So now at 2.00pm I am finally back into my hse eating Chicken Rice while typing this. I was feeling hungry, so on the way back after dropping KS home, I got some really nice Chicken Rice. Feeling super hungry and tired the food was absolutely was I needed...plus it came with really nice soup....that actually made me tear. I dunno how did it happened...but I teared as if I haven't eaten chicken rice in years and its the best thing in the world. I think it was the soup that hit the spot..its was like home.

This exam is draining me...i know I say this during all my exams. But this one really is.

I am ready...

2009-12-08T22:01:00.000Z

...to start WAR with my neighbour if I hear another drilling/hammering sound. Its 10pm for the love of man-kind and its insects!!!

Travellers..My View

2009-12-08T07:38:00.007Z

*I wrote this at the Schiphol Airport last September during my trip back to Dublin..kinda forgot about it

You can always spot the avid traveller from the first time travellers. You can always differentiate the students and the holiday goers. You can always see a difference in the people who are reluctant to leave and the ones who can’t wait to board the flight.

Avid travellers: They travel light – VERY light. Either dress very smartly cuz they are in Business Class or dress very comfortable ie like my sister in her pyjamas. They check in online or have some frequent flier travel VIP service so they can cut the queue. They have everything in hand and ready to go anytime. No mess no fumble.

First time travellers: They dress in long pants, long sleeves and also bring a jacket. Not forgetting a big backpack AND a carryon luggage. Students going off for the first time fall into this category as well. Students will be carrying HUGE files with ALL their documents. Easiest way to spot this student is that their PARENTS and friends will be surrounding them like a precious item. There will be flashes of light everywhere, cuz they’ll be taking pictures like he/she is going to war and never coming back again.

Students: Same as above. But those who are going back for their 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th time, they are as efficient as the avid travellers. Sometimes tagging along is their family or even none. Just look at their check-in luggage you’ll know they are students – you know how?? They are filled to the rim!! With what??... As Malaysians of course with food-lah!

Holiday Goers: You have the group travellers who congregate and have either matching jackets or pulley bag. Then there will be one dude with like a million passports – he is either the tour guide or the leader of the pack.

People who are reluctant to leave: these are the one that would only pass security about 15mins to boarding time. They’ll be hugging and talking to the people that they are reluctant to leave and once they are in the boarding gate, they are then on the phone with the exact same person they are reluctant to leave. They will be the last one into the plane with tears streaming down their cheeks or a very red nose.

People who can’t wait to fly off: these are the ones that would be grinning from ear to ear the moment they stepped into the airport. They go thru the security as soon as they get their boarding pass and might be the first on in line to go to the plane.

I have fallen into each of that category. I couldn’t wait to leave the first time flying off to Dublin – def had that huge grin on my face. My subsequent trips back to Dublin, I’ll go home with an almost empty bag and come back with bag filled with food and even more clothes. Travelling with friends every holiday we got made me an experienced traveller – my packing skills of short trips are not too bad and then there was that reluctant-to-leave-phase when I left Dublin for good, I didn’t care if I was embarrassing myself crying in public.

I’m now back in Schiphol Airport with a big grin on my face – just like in 2005 when I first flew off. It never hit me that I have walked past the same bronze statue so many times, it was only my then first time to this airport (I took a picture with it!) and now that I’ve acknowledged it.

*My sister definitely falls into the Avid-Traveller category. She dresses like she’s at home when she goes on a flight, packs her own lunch and probably had a million frequent flyer points with maybe a million airlines in the States. She probably even knows the entire American airport layout by heart. BUT that was all before the babies popped out =) She is now demoted to the First-Time Traveller category because every time she travels she’s with another baby in tow..hehehehe and with HUGE bags!!

-I know I have a picture with this blob at Schiphol..but I can't find it-
I remember Minah taking the picture for me

-Instead I found a picture of the Flying Pig when I first arrived to Dublin in 2005-

Sick =(

2009-12-03T12:34:00.002Z

I'm sick again...

I'm down with some kind of flu-bug that I probably caught in Taiping Hospital or in the Hotel OR my house is really dusty. But I'm having a headache, running a temperature with body ache..so its definitely not allergy =(

I wanna go home to my Mummy!!!

Taiping oh...Taiping

2009-12-02T05:13:00.003Z

Taiping...the Land of Rain.

Its my second posting to Taiping this time for Gastro/Infectious Disease/General Medicine. This trip was not as bad as the first trip where I was sick and was very very under prepared about this peripheral posting plus there was the Bed Bug scare regarding the Hotel that we were staying in.

This time I was ready and the experience is definitely different. It kinda sucks to be here when I have my exams next week. I should be at home studying my ass off.

Surprise surprise...I'm studying okay over here. Plus we have big group discussions in our rooms - that actually helped a lot.

We have 3 groups here this trip (2 Medicine group and 1 Surgical group). When I first came, my group was the only here...so it was actually a pretty nice group bonding session. This time despite the big group we never see the rest...not even in the hall ways. I guess that's cuz we are all hiding in our rooms.

Seriously, I shouldn't be writing about Taiping when I have one more Medicine case write up to do, Surgical portfolio to finish, Opthal, ENT AND an end of assessment on General Medicine tomorrow to study for.

Can someone inspire me again as to WHY am I doing medicine??

Dear Santa

2009-11-28T14:57:00.005Z

Dear Santa,

I have been a pretty good girl this year. Ate my vegetables and also listened to my parents. Can I have a Blackberry or a Tefal Mini Oven this Christmas. I promise to be a good girl next year too.

xoxo

Love

Angela from KL but currently staying in Penang

Blackberry Curve 8900

Blackberry Pearl Flip

Tefal Mini Oven

*P.S I like the Oven more!

Old Posts

2009-11-26T16:07:00.003Z

I was looking back to my old posts (like in 2006 cuz that was when I did most of my blogging)...and I'm pretty surprised at certain things that I write. One post actually brought me to tears..that was probably the best writing I've ever done in my LIFE!

Well another one that I'm pretty shocked to have gotten loads of comments from ppl that I didn't know was the post regarding my visit back to Sri Inai when I back for my pre-med summer hols. I wrote about how my private school was different from other private schools. I wrote about the in-sights of the schools and also the things that I didn't like about too....

I actually had parents leaving me comments about asking me to write more about the school cuz they want to send their kids there.

As much as I love Sri Inai, unfortunately it no longer exists. The Inaian spirit will no longer be passed on but it has definitely not died. Once an Inaian, always an Inaian.

So...

2009-11-26T15:06:00.002Z

Just as I was going to turn off my laptop and actually get some reading done (yeah right!) a few thoughts came into my mind.

1. Today during the video session for our surgical skills practical, Prof Lee paused at a frame with this beardy dude in green scrubs confidently explaining about Endotracheal Intubation and asked what do we think about this guy? What would be our first impression?.... (he went on and on about us M'sian students lacking that oophm with our first impression cuz we are so "mouse-y")

Which leads to...

What was people's first impression of me? Do I look like someone who you would trust your life with?...okay too far fetched..Would you trust me poking a needle into you? Would you trust my judgement?...All just by my first impression? Medicine aside. As a person..am I approachable? Friendly looking? Scary? Bitchy?...Hmm I wonder

2. I wonder if one day I suddenly wake up with a unlimited supply of cash in my bank account. What would I do with it? One thing my mom taught me is to never let money sit on its bum..it'll multiply in the bank at a certain rate, but it will also devalue in time. So invest..invest..INVEST. I would also get a nice private jet (or advised by Sunisha..co-share a private jet cuz its cheaper) to fly my parents over to my sister's place in comfort anytime they want and also vice-versa if Jie suddenly missed OUG Wantan Mee and teh tarik. I would go visit places I've always seen on TV but never had the chance/money to go. I would go visit Family that is scattered everywhere in the world. Donate to UNICEF/World Vision and also go on humanitarian trips. Maybe get my medical degree and never work at all but just for Doctors without Borders/Mercy...or open a non-profitable hospital for the poor.

3. I wonder how would it be if I had stop studying Medicine and go pursue something else? (I can hear my mom at the background going "See...told you" )It is kinda a shame that all these new interest and hobbies of mine came only when I was studying overseas and already in Med School. I think I would've chose a different path...a much more artistic one. Might go into Photography and also studied art. Or maybe stuck on with my Ballet.

4. I wonder how would I have turned out if years ago, my sister managed to persuade my parents to let me study my High School years in the States with her. Would I be less Asian and less cultured? Would I be able to speak up more?

Very random thoughts...I know =)

Procrastination

2009-11-25T16:01:00.003Z

The Queen is back!

The infectious bug is killing its prey..

In a few weeks time (actually in less than 2 weeks) I'll be having my Senior Res 1 exams - Medicine, Surgery, Ophthalmology and ENT.

7th ~~Nov~~ Dec - Medicine and Surgery MCQ

11th ~~Nov~~ Dec - Opthal and ENT MCQ

14/15th ~~Nov~~ Dec - Opthal Long Case

16/17th ~~Nov~~ Dec - ENT OSCE

*Teehehe...I typed the wrong month. Good thing my friend noticed.

I'm not too worried about medicine and Surgery because we have been doing it since we got back from Ireland and also mainly because its not a barring examination. I am VERY worried for my Ophthalmology and ENT because they are my first two barring examinations and the failure rate every year is high. It doesn't help that I procrastinate so much.

I haven't finished my surgery Portfolio.

I haven't hand in any of my medicine cases.

I haven't found my Poly trauma case for Emergency Medicine.

I'm doomed!

Can someone take away my ADD for studying...I seem to get an acute attack near exam time..Hmm maybe Ritalin can help..

Me to be blamed

2009-11-15T09:16:00.002Z

The last post was in July...and its now November. I always do this..write a little and then go on the longest breaks and then back again and write like the longest post. I seem to do the same with my studying as well. Which isn't going was well as I planned. No one to be blamed but me.

So much have been going on - in hospitals, at home and also me. I wish I would write here more often to off-load but I always use the same excuse - I'm busy when deep down I'm lazy.

Isn't so much more easier if you knew what the future holds..but then what's life without a little mystery.

Die you EVIL green book...die!!

2009-07-23T06:55:00.003+01:00

The green book i'm talking about is the Family Medicine practical skills book that i need to be signed off competent in each and every one of the skills

It is one evil green book. Did half during my GP rotation and got the other half done by spending 12 hrs in PGH running around. My feet was sore at the end of it.

Why didn't I just finish it before my holidays. Haih..

I Want....

2009-07-16T07:20:00.004+01:00

A new CAMERA....

I've been giving it much thoughts about which camera to get...I def need a compact camera but at the same time I've always wanted a d-SLR. Don't think I qualify for a Pro-SLR yet, a semi-pro will do. But now..the compact camera are now made with a punch. They take great pictures and are still small n sleek, easy to bring around. STILL, nothing compares with a picture taken by the SLR tho...

Two camera in mind:

1. Canon IXUZ 100 IS
I saw this in Mid-Valley the other day and really liked it..cuz its sooooo sleek AND I trust Canon

2. Olympus E-P1
OMG...this baby is the bomb!! So is the price-tag that comes with it. Bad thing about it is that it doesn't come with a built in camera. Its sooo pretty in white. Read quite a few review on it already and they all sound good.

I can't afford both =( Maybe Daddy or Mummy or even Mama can get me one ;)

Pet-Peeves

2009-07-13T09:45:00.003+01:00

There are a few things that I can't stand. They really annoy me..

1. People with bad manners.
It makes me wonder how their home environment was when they were growing up, did they learn nothing from their parents/parents didn't teach them at all? In school, didn't their Teacher did anything..serious was all that Moral classes for nothing? No wonder we had to do Moral Studies in College again. How are the ppl that they mix with? Manner-less like them as well??...

2. Kids running/shouting around in restaurants during dinner.
I know this one might bite me in the bum when I have kids. But I don't remember myself or any of my cousins doing that when we were young. The running I'm talking about is the aimless crazy kids on sugar running in between tables type of running. Its so dangerous. Imagine a kid running towards a waitress carrying a hot bowl of soup or chinese tea pot.

3. People who eat with their mouth open/with sounds
Its just rude and disgusting. Table manners people!! Japanese can't help it to slurp while they drink well cause that's showing respect that the soup is yummy. My jap host-bro tried not to slurp one day and he choked on his soup.

4. Kids throwing tantrums in the Mall.
I think this is going to bite me in the bum as well. Crying in the mall in acceptable for me but wailing and lying on the ground throwing a tantrum deserves a smack on the bumbum or a big talk at home afterwards. I will leave my kid on the floor and continue with my shopping if he/she does that.

5. People (mainly men) who don't open doors/keep them open
This is a chilvirous gesture that is definately dying in Asian countries. Must be that stupid Male dominance thingie we have here. I have walked up to a glass door and on the other side there was a guy and his girlfriend that arrived prob 2 steps earlier than me. He just STOOD there. I openned the door instead and he walked out first even before I could walk in!!! Hmph! Gentlemen are a rare species. Incident numero duo: Ppl walking towards a door, its automatic to hold the door a little while, while the person behind you get hold of the door. I've got doors nearly slamming onto my face if my reaction was a second slower.

6. People who spit in public
And here the Malaysian Health Ministry is wondering why we have a higher domestic transmission of Influenza A (H1N1) than imported cases. That because we have malaysians who do not have simple personal hygiene. Just reminds me of my research stint in China, walking to hospital in the morning, I had to be alert to avoid spit-balls!

7. People who leave things open
Okay this pet-peeves is something I can tolerate. People who walk in to a room and don't close the door behind them. Come on it should be an automatic reaction by now plus you're wasting electricity by letting the air-condition out. Openning drawers and not closing them. I used to not close drawers until I walked into one and got stabbed in the thigh. It was a painful experience.

8. People who shake their leg like a there is no tomorrow.
OMG. This is one of my BIGGEST pet-peeves that even gave me a nickname - Shake-Nazi (courtesy of Ms Dannie Soo). Go ahead shake all you like..you're the one losing all your fortune not me. BUT courtesy wise don't do it in the lecture hall when I'm sitting on the same bench with you...the whole bench SHAKES as well!!...and don't hit ur shoe on the back of my seat while doing it AND make sure your shoe doesn't make that squeeky/clickety-clack noise when its in contact with the floor, its distracting!

I have patience..don't test it.

*I have told ppl off about the leg-shaking thingie numerous times!

The Elders - New Batch

2009-07-04T21:38:00.001+01:00

The ladies left and now I have the men.

Daddy, KauFu (mom's eldest bro) and EeJiong (mom's eldest sis's hubby) decided to come up to give Penang a visit o_O

This will never end. They always come at the best timing - near my exam.

Good thing is Jack is up as well, so he can bring them around...plus Dad knows Penang pretty okay. I just gave him my car keys and I can study alone at home.

*Drove around the Temple again, and KauFu pointed out a house nearby that apparently was Grandma's house. I've got no idea which house is it now..haihh...

Back to KL tomorrow and the time to THE DAY is ticking even closer. Very scared.

Day 3 - Temple Search

2009-07-01T21:25:00.000+01:00

Drove around Georgetown (okay..I don't exactly know the street, so I'm using a very generalized area name) where all the old white buildings are on a mission to find where Grandma used to stay.

We went in circles 3 times before ending up on the right direction ie near Eu Yan Sang. Grandma n Mom kept on telling me that its near that place but seriously I've only been in Penang for 3 months-ish, I wouldn't know every single shop and landmark right.

Anyways...

Found the 200 year old temple in the end and needless to say, Grandma and EePo was very very happy. Well EePo can't really remember much cuz she left Penang at a very young age (Grandma n EePo has an age gap of 10 yrs). We went in for some prayers and also walked around. Grandma said that the Kuan Yin (Goddess of Mercy) Temple has not changed a single bit.

We went around the corner of the temple and Grandma pointed out her old house. Will go there again to take pictures of the place when I DO GET A NEW CAMERA!...

Dropped them off to Gurney Plaze for the rest of the day while I seek refuge with my USMLE in the Library. I'm going crazy...I just said studying for USMLE was my refuge.

Help Me!

Day 2 - The Elders

2009-06-30T14:59:00.003+01:00

I had to sleep in the living room last night cuz when I went into my room, I saw Popo and Mom on my bed. I got kicked out of my room without notice. Thank goodness I have a single bed in the living room =)

This cracked me up during breakfast:
Popo: Haiyoo last night I went to toilet and I don't remember which room was mine, half way thru sleeping only I realized that it was Ah Chan (my mom) next to me...

Popo returned to my room instead of hers last night!!..Hehehehehehe..

I always told ppl that my mom always forgets to pick me up from school (which is very VERY true). During dinner I found out that, my GongGong (maternal grandpa) used to forget to pick my mom up from school as well!!!...Like Father Like Daughter!!!

It was really nice to listen to the Elders talk about the old days when life was hard. Makes me realize how lucky I am right now. Popo and EePo was born in Penang and tomorrow we're going to try to find their old hse in Georgetown.

"Wahhh..Penang didn't change much..but everything looks soooo old" - Popo, in the car looking around Jelutong.

The Elders are here...

2009-06-29T14:47:00.000+01:00

Finally finished my pain in the bum-bum surgical portfolio. Note to self: Never ever EVER leave it to the last minute again.

Picked up Mummy, Popo (maternal grannie) and EePo (maternal grandaunt; grannie's sis) from Queensbay. When mom called I asked her which stop was she going to be Queensbay (she was there before, cuz there was a mall) or at Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal. So I asked her was she at the place with the mall and she said No. So I just assumed that it was the bus terminal she was at.

I reached there and she was no where to be seen. When I called her she said she's in the office near the main road 0_O...So I got a little worried..cuz the office in the Terminal is upstairs not near anymain road. So after a few more pushing high toned questioning in Mandarin, I found out that they were in Queensbay. Yes, I realized when I'm about to start an argument with my mom I start it in Mandarin....mind you, my mandarin sucks!

Brought them around Penang had a quick bite and then headed to Coldstorage to get some food for the hse. Yes I have nothing at home - I no longer cook here. No time to. We 4 got detoured on the way in by the word S-A-L-E...the four magic letters. Mom got me a new pair on beautiful comfy white heels for hospital from Clarks and Popo got me a pair of really cute red-ish ballet flats from Clarks too!!!... I was a happy camper. Mom got her fair share of shopping too.

On the way back home, Popo suddenly asked "Eh..Where is our luggage". EePo cheekily answered "On the bus..we left it there...haih after so many hours only you ask where are the luggage"

On the Verge...

2009-06-14T04:09:00.005+01:00

Laptop died on me -again!- so instead of getting it fixed and waiting for it for a year, I decided to buy a new one (thanks mum!) because finals are in a week and USMLE is in about 3 weeks. What great timing the laptop has eh?!

All this case write up for Medicine is such a bore..the worst is actually compiling my surgery portfolio - 20 cases and 3 long cases and all the tutorials. It is sooooooo torturing and annoying!! I can't sit for my exams if i don't hand in my 10 cases for Medicine, I can't start next sememter if I don't get all 25 clinical skills signed off for Family Medicine and I don't wanna mess with Prof Lee when it comes to surgery - in general you don't want to mess with surgeons.

With all this work infront of me, I can't even find time to study for my USMLE. I squeeze in a page or two during my "break" from the other work and do questions in the middle of the night before I sleep. Seriously at this rate, I'm just going to to in for my USMLE exam and play ini-mini-mynie-mo

Doesn't help that Dad calls and dumps a shit load of things on me. He definitely knows which buttons to press. He also expects me to do EVERYTHING - he doesn't think mom is an ironwoman..he definitely thinks I am. It is not fair to hide things from me and then tell me 10 years worth of things to make me feel miserable and useless.

I'm on the verge of giving up both my USMLE and med school and it is not because of the work load or stress of med school. I can handle it but if I have to take a year off to deal with things at home, I will. Dammit I totally understand how Rahi feels now.

Splurge....hehehe

2009-06-02T10:52:00.007+01:00

Here I am in a semi-french fusion restaurant, blogging (just half of the post) from my new E71.

I had a slight epigastric pain while studying after eating my ice-cream on such a hot hot day. So i decided to call it the day from studying...

Driving home, I drove pass the first restaurant I ate at when I arrived to Penang 3 months ago. I didn't like it the first time, but i thought of giving it a second chance cuz at that time I was still at my overseas-is-better-and-everything-sucks phase and also my taste buds were still very angmoh; so at that time everything asian i ate was awesome and everything western i ate was not up to par. I also wanted to test out my epigastric pain...was it relieved by food or aggravated by food.

Looking at the menu, I had hungry eyes. I saw the word pesto *big eyes*..I love PESTO!! So tick that was going to be my dinner. Flip a few pages and *ting*..I saw fois gras (well in the menu it was straight forward - Duck Liver)..yumyum..so I thought I'll give myself a treat. So I ordered BOTH! Which ended up a pretty good choice as the pasta was pretty small.

First dish: Spaghetti with Pesto served with pan fried chicken sausages.
Pesto was okay..I thought it needed more time in the blender. Everything was kinda in chunks especially the garlic. Oh and it didn't have my fav Pine Nuts. This dish was pretty fusion was it was also served with asian shiitake mushrooms. They should work more on spaghetti..it wasn't al dente at all. Well understandable when there were asian shiitake mushrooms that needed soaking before that. But still...

Second dish: Pan seared Duck Liver with grape sauce.
This was such a dissapointment when I actually was soo looking forward for it. I don't think the pan was hot enough and it definitely needed more time in a hot pan. It wasn't crunchy enough on the outside and the middle was really mushy. I ended up cutting off the pan fried part and eating that. The sauce...omg..it had that instant chicken gravy type of after taste to it..then it hit me..its over loaded with corn starch. Did not taste any grape or anything near to grapes. They did serve the dish with fresh grapes tho.

Drinks: Cold Honey Lemon.
This was a yumyumyum.

Atmosphere: The non-smoking area has pictures of Paris and that made me happy. Seats were really comfy too.

Waiters: Extreamly friendly!!...
Well she asked me why didn't I finish the Fois Gras..was I full?? I told her what I said above.

Price: I think everything in Malaysia is expensive.

Would I come back?: I would like to give this place a third chance...but maybe next year.

You must be thinking, who are you to judge the food..you're not a chef or that ppl that eats for a living and write reviews on food. Yes I'm not but my love for pesto is soooo great, I know what's nice and what's not. I've tasted supermarket brands, famous brands and also homemade ones..so I know my Pesto. And about Fois Gras, I've tasted reallllllllly good ones; first time in Dublin with Dannie, Ilana and Adrian, another time with Adrian in one of Croatia's top fine dining restaurants and also in Paris with Gigi and Stephane...and every single one of them were wonderful (esp Croatia's one). So again I know my Fois Gras.

How did this ended up to be a food review, I really didn't know. Hehe...

Influenza A (H1N1)

2009-05-16T06:45:00.003Z

Yeap..it has landed to Malaysia. We managed to to be SARS-free and I was hoping for the same as well for the Influenza A, unfortunately there is a few days incubation period for the Influenza A.

The first confirmed case was from a 21 year old man who just returned from US on wednesday, flying in from Newark, New Jersey to KLIA. He is now stable in Sg. Buloh Hospital. His family and people from the clinic that he visited is under home-quarantine and are all not showing any symptoms.

The second confirmed case in Penang. She is friends with the first patient and was also from the same flight. She is doing well. Two more other mutual friends that was also on the same flight and their families are under home-quarantine as well.

Malaysian Health Ministry are contacting all 192 passengers of the MAS airlines from Newark. 73 people have left the country, so the ministry has informed the World Health Organisation about this 73 people so that the countries of destination are notified.

I'm pretty impressed with how the Malaysian health ministry's quick and swift action about this.

The not so impressive part is that I'm staring my Medicine rotation in PGH on Monday. Guess which ward - Respiratory!! I guess we're all going to be OCD with our hand-washing hygiene. Fun!

* I have fallen asleep on the table twice, I NEED coffee to wake me up...

Fine..Finally

2009-05-09T11:15:00.002Z

Took my little tummy a week to finally be normal again. Haih what torture...

Never ever ever EVER want to go through that again. Having mild tummy aches, then visiting the toilet like its a game, then going all cold and weak like life is going to end and then having MASSIVE aches every time I eat anything! Not fun at all!

Gotta watch what I eat and eat well from now...

*Back to slogging for USMLE!

Blegh..

2009-05-03T05:54:00.005Z

I've been to the toilet 4 times in the last 2 hours. Not fun....~~damn hashbrowns~~ damn yesterday's dinner!!

Now my feet and hands are cold. My tummy hurts too... I just wanna stay in bed but I gotta study.

To make things worse..I'm wearing a pink top, a pink jumper above it and pink stripy pj pants..I'm in full pink! I'm seriously sick now...

Gonna make soup..hopefully it'll help.

Irlande...

2009-05-01T07:51:00.002Z

Kenny Sia made a visit to Ireland and he took some really nice pictures of the Ireland.

http://www.kennysia.com/archives/2009/04/galway-gruel.php

Seeing all those photo made me miss Dublin and also the people there. Live still goes on... and I'm very proud to say that I'm also enjoying Penang..its different from Dublin, but hey not everything is going to be the same right. I was looking for a change at the start of 3rd med and I got it...

There are somethings that I know will never change and there are somethings that I so heartfully wish it wouldn't...

Ohhh Parents..

2009-04-22T05:21:00.002Z

Seriously...parents...

Not complaining about them, well cuz they're just being parents.

SO I found out that one fine day, my parents woke up missing their two little precious who are a few oceans away. As usual my dad goes "I wanna go visit my grandchildren!!" and as usual my mom's reply "You crazy ar...so far away! Your other daughter is nearer..you got nothing to do go take care of her instead."

Guess what?!?

Daddy is coming up this weekend!!! and a bigger bunch coming up the following weekend. Penang is now a holiday destination for the whole family and my place is now officially the Hotel.

Sorry Jie...I tried hinting..I'll HINT even more when they're here..How bout summer??

*Found out that my grandmama is actually from Penang o_O

This makes me melt...

2009-04-17T10:08:00.000Z

To push or not to push??

2009-04-15T15:52:00.003Z

No, I'm not in Obs&Gynae rotation yet..so i'm not talking about child birth.

I'm contemplating about pushing my USMLE-y date back cuz i'm so not ready for June. Not at all. I did some questions..and oh boy...I'm so going to FAIL the paper with flying colours.

I was hoping to go to the States in July to maybe get an observation or elective. That seems to be going down the drain as well...as all the electives that I'm finding wants 4th Med students!!

I still wanna go to the States in the summer regardless of having an elective or not, but how am I to convince my parents?? Dilemma.

But first things first. To push or not to push??

Anyone out there??

Oopsie!

2009-04-10T05:47:00.002Z

I'm another year older today!!!...
Can't say much about the wiser part tho

(^^)

USMelly

2009-03-31T13:52:00.002Z

Just started studying for it today and boy am I screwed for this exam...

I've got a million things to cover. If I can tick one subject off by the end of this week, I'm still not on track...

Oh God...what trouble have I gotten myself into.

Oh well..no one else to blame but me, myself and I.

A New Beginning

2009-03-28T00:39:00.003Z

I'm now back in M'sia and I haven't even peeped a word about it on my blog. I was actually reminded by a good friend of mine that I haven't updated for awhile...

Well I left Dublin on the arranged 9th March and it was the most heartbreaking farewell I've ever had. In general, I like going to the airport and walking thru the security check eventho its a hassle and then boarding my flight..cuz I know there is something exciting waiting for me when I get off the plane. This time..if I was able to, I would've wanted to plant my legs in cement so no one can get me on the plane (well unless they physically remove me..but you get my point)

Seeing the clock tick as minutes go by, my heart sank even deeper. I had no words to say but only tears to cry. I usually don't cry, but that day I definitely cried out all the crying-quota that I've saved up for the past few years. The feeling of not knowing when will I be back in Dublin again or when will I see my friends again hurts so much. But I'm sure we'll all cross paths again!

I made friends with the german guy that was sitting next to me. He was moving to KL (to PJ to be exact) for a year intership. He was sooo excited, while I had mixed feelings. At the arrival hall, for the first time, my parents came to pick me up from the airport. Seeing my dad waving at me and my mom next to him, brought me back into tears. I am home...but I left a part of me in Dublin.

The next few days was pretty hectic as I was moving up to Penang that weekend. As usual, my parents jet off to somewhere, this time Taiwan, so I had to move up myself. Thank goodness for my couz's hubby Jack who is from Penang to bring me up.

Everyone asks me have I settled in yet?? I think I am...I've been so busy, I don't even know how to settle in. I love my apartment tho!! Its facing the sea, so I have a sea view from my room n balcony, well sorta, I have 3 other condo's in front of me..so I get the sea view in between the buildings...but hey is better than nothing ;) I'm also staying up on a hill, so its really breezy. Haven't gotten a chance to go to the beach yet..will post up pictures when I finally do..which is...only god knows!

I'll leave the next post for my view on Penang ppl esp their drivers and the food and of course the hospitals..

This is just to tell whoever that is reading that I am well and very much alive despite the crazy early hours and long days.

Last Week...

2009-03-04T17:31:00.002Z

Had my Physical Examination and History Taking on Monday. It was a pretty formal thing but it went by so fast. I think I was toooo fast in both my examinations, since I was done even before the 1st bell. Maybe help from DanK, Herb, Kirk and Emma really really made things really easy for me. =) The MCQ was a total different story...it was tough!! They tested us on things that they haven't taught us...soooo cheeky!

We had our Farewell Reception that day as well, so needless to say it was a jam packed day. Plus all 6 of us girls decided to go to TGIF for dinner...which was very enjoyable. I love it when we're all together laughing our heads off...we kinda freaked the other girls out about the exam tho..now they're busy studying or buckling up.

Its Wednesday today and I'll be flying off on Monday afternoon at 5.10pm. Its getting hard and harder as days past, knowing that my days here are getting shorter. It actually hurts. So i've got a farewell dinner tonight, the boy's b'day party tomorrow and then Med Cup and the Pav Night w Muji ppl on Friday and then my hse farewell party on saturday. So as you can see everyday is a pretty busy day for me. I hope not to do anything for Sunday and just spend time with the girls.

Monday...I really dread you..!!

No turning back

2009-02-04T19:13:00.002Z

Malaysian Night was finally over last Saturday. The stress levelis now back to normal and its pretty weird having so much time in my hands. I don't know what to do that I actually went to the gym today..yes the GYM!...Its a very intimidating place.

Yesterday, I called KLM Airlines to changed my flight back to KL. It took the guy 30 mins to figure everything out. When he repeated to me the flight details and asked me ''So Madam, confirm??''.....I was about to tear when I said yes.

There is no turning back now......

EPA 2009 & The year of the Ox

2009-01-26T16:59:00.004Z

Greetings from Lisboa.

Firstly, Happy Chinese New Year to all. May the year of the Ox brings good health, happiness and prosperity.

Every year since I've been here, when its 8am back home (12am irish time) I will call home to wish my parents good health on the 1st day of CNY. Its customary. Its tradition. 2nd day of CNY is always fun cuz that's when my family on my mom's side will go temple-hopping for morning prayers for a good year ahead and then we'll all go to have dim sum for breakfast, taking up like 12 tables in the restaurant. We'll all be running around like kids, laughing and making jokes. Again..its tradition. I always time myself so I call either one of my cousins when everyone is sitted down for dimsum so the phone gets passed around and I'll get to wish my aunts, uncles, couzzies and most importantly - My grandma!!

Its pretty sad that I'm spending CNY here in Lisbon alone AND I can't seem to call home at all...Meteor is not letting me make international calls and my Maxis doesn't seem to be working here at all.

Every year we have a CNY party at my hse. There will still be one going on cuz its also Pree's b'day...but I'm here =(

I am standing here next to residents, senior residents, consultants in Psychiatry in this big conference. I think Michelle and I are the only medical students here. Its been a great day - I've made friends with the people who are presenting their posters as well and attended some cool lectures.

*P.S I'm typing this from the convention centre itself!!..Hehe...its cool that they provide computers and printers here.

*I made paragraphs...but it seems to be posted up as one big blog...so good luck reading!

Can I have more time??...Please..

2009-01-22T01:29:00.003Z

I really really really need it.

Please?...

Things are piling up on one end and things are kinda falling apart on the other.

What should I do?? Can I have more time...please??

Jetlagged..Major!!

2009-01-15T03:57:00.002Z

I was up for 28 hrs since I woke up to catch my plane in San Fran on the 12th. Went to bed on the 13th around midnight and woke up at 7am the next day. Did some calls and fell back asleep till 5.30pm!!!!

Its now 4am here in Dublin and I'm awake.

Had a Photo-Swap/catch-up dinner with DanK and came home around 2am (really sorry for staying so late I totally forgot that I was working on San Fran time while you were in Dublin time!).

I started picking up some stuff on the dining table...and then arranged the furniture and then it became a major clean. I cleaned the living room, the kitchen and bathroom and vacuumed the whole hse. Tomorrow I will be mopping the floor and laundry and hopefully unpacking as well.

As from my previous post, I've written how problematic my lappie is. While I was moving the black cable box thingie around so that it'll flow some current to my laptop, I smelled something burning...lo and behold...there was sparks from my wire!!! So great, I now can't use my cable at all!!

Thank goodness Ish uses a Fujitsu (a non problematic one) so I can use her cable to charge my batt. It doesn't help that my batteries are crap as well.

Forgot to remember

2009-01-11T23:37:00.002Z

"People won't forget you...people just forget to remember you."

- Kevin McClauski, Home Alone 2

Recap 2008...

2009-01-09T08:10:00.003Z

This post is like 10 days late but hey..I need this recap to re-evaluate how 2008 went.

1. Went for my 1st Ski Trip with my classmates to France and learnt how to snowboard for the 1st time. Had my 1st snow fight - which ended w me on my bum. Witness snow falling from the sky everyday for the 1st time. Swam in a heated pool with snow falling on my nose for the 1st time. Made a snow angel for the 1st time....Loads of 1st timers on that trip.

2. Saw my sister's pregant belly for the 1st time and also welcomed my niece Cassandra Yan to the world on the 8th February 2008 (2nd day of CNY). She was suppose to come out when i visited them after ski trip...but she gave a no-show. She has the same b'day as Ms. Christine Goodchild aka Sayang (even the chinese date!..talk about coincidence)

3. Went to London Fashion Weekend 2008

4. Travelled to Greece, Croatia and Lisbon. Wished I travelled more but $$$ is an issue.

5. I turned 21..!!!

6. Got accepted to do a neonatal respiratory lab shadowing in Fudan University, Shanghai with Prof. Sun. It was a great 2 weeks. Learnt loads, made tons of friends, made closer family ties, ate loads and could actually finally speak and understand conversational mandarin.

7. Got accepted into the SSRA 2008 program under Dr. Aisling Mulligan to do a psychiatry clinical research tittled 1) The Home environment and how it affects certain symptoms of hyperactivity and inattention in children 2) Development of the HOME assesment tool. Worked with a wonderful partner - Michelle o'Mahony. Seriously without her strong determination and focus, i don't think we would have hit our target of 100 patients. I've learnt soooooo much about medicine, psych, patient-doctor relationship and communication skills from this research.

8. Presented a Poster at the 2008 Ireland ACAMH conference. Michelle's poster won 1st price.

9. Did an Oral presentation for the SSRA Symposium night. Was sooooo nervous. Michelle won the oral presentation as well, Brian got 2nd place and Ishie got 3rd. I won experience.

10. Took Ballet and Salsa classes. First time in my life, i took Ballet classes outside my comfort zone - Wendy's Dance Centre.

11. Won back to RCSI-UCD Sports Day tittle!!...Hurt my back very badly tho. Had to go for physio every alternate 2 days for about 2 weeks and then weekly for 2 weeks. It was cruciating pain!!..

12. Performed CPR on a man that I do not know. First time as well. May he rest in peace.

13. I can actually snowboard now!!!..Went to Tahoe for 2nd round of snow.

14. On a personal level, I've made tons of new friends, learned loads from their experience in life and getting new views and advice as well. Lost a friend as well - you'll always be remembered.

15. On a much more personal level, I've learnt the hard way that ppl can change - overnight. Wise words from a friend; "People don't change, they just show who they really are in time". Either or, I'm very dissapointed that you've changed to someone I no longer can relate to and am very sad to have lost you as a friend. Of all the friends I've made the past few years, you were one that I thought that I'll be keeping in touch for years to come. Who was I kidding.

16. On a much much more personal level, the missy that I've been living with the past 3.5 years will not be continuing our medical journey together for the next 2.5. I'm extreamly delighted for her but it also stabbed me right in the heart where it hurt the most.

17. I'm happy to be alive. Long story. Ended the year with a Bang~

Conclusion:
This year has been a roller coster ride for me - emotionally, mentally and physically. There were many "first" in this year's list, which made my year pretty interesting. There are parts I wish would last forever and parts I wish to delete but I guess its part and parcel of life. Bitter and sweet. How would I know how sweet is sweet or how bitter is bitter until I've tasted both.

Right now in 2009, I'm happy. Isn't that the most important?

Merry Christmas!!!

2008-12-24T19:20:00.002Z

Merry Christmas

Happy New 2009

Arrived to San Fran in one piece. Flight got delayed a little but it was all okay. Planning to write a review about the AerLingus direct flight from Dublin to San Fran - when i'm free...

Couzie Stef and her friend HY from vancouver is here for xmas and new year. We went shopping in Stanford Mall yesterday. We'll just put a full stop there cuz lets just say 3 girls in a shopping mall with the word SALE everywhere went down very well. (^^) Can't wait for boxing day sale and to hit Market St & Union Square.

Will be heading to my Aunt's place tomorrow in Pacifica for Christmas - she's making turkey!!!...She lives ON the beach, so I'm sure i'm going to have tons of fun tomorrow. Will bring my BIL's SLR to have a long awaited photo session.

The next post might be pictures...or my yearly recap of the year before the year ends.

"May this festive holiday be full of joy, happy-ness and laughter with family and friends."

Done....Finally

2008-12-21T20:47:00.004Z

It end is over.

I have officially finished my Pre-Clinicals of my Medical education. Well that's if I I have no repeats..fingers cross that's not going to happen.

Its so weird that I finished this year. Very anti-climatic. The buzz of finishing died down day by day as the exams wore me out. By the end of it I was blahh..

The weirdest thing was that after the exams, I actually had the energy and buzz to actually study!! BUT I've got no more exams. Weird.

I'm now suppose to be packing for my yearly retreat to.....my sis's place!!

Going to Jie's place is like a renewal ritual for me. Everytime I get back here, its like I've gone thru a reboot. (^^)

Year 4 Semester 1 Finals

2008-12-14T23:33:00.004Z

Endocrine Diseases
12th December 2008
6.oopm - 8.00pm
RDS Main Hall

Respiratory Diseases
13th December 2008
6.00pm - 8.00pm
RDS Main Hall

Introduction to Massage
15th December 2008
9.45am
Health Science A314

CNS Diseases
16th December 2008
12.00pm - 2.00pm
RDS Main Hall

GI/Hepatobilliary Diseases
17th December 2008
3.00pm - 5.00pm
RDS Industrial Hall

Haematology/Immunosuppression
18th December 2008
12.00pm - 2.00pm
RDS Main Hall

I'm going to make a cold sudoku and a Dr. Pepper

2008-12-08T16:35:00.003Z

-Cassandra Yan-

- Introducing Princess Floppy. I just realized that I had pictures of Belle when she was 1 month old and none of Cassie. It was my 1st time seeing her when the family came over. Look how round she is!! -

My tittle makes no sense..but its okay. It's an internal thing. Hehehe...

My laptop keyboard is stuffing up major!!.. Keys for A, H, Z, C, N and the space bar are spastic!! Imagine trying to go to both my emails without those keys..impossible!!

I tried pressing normally, softly and hard..didn't work.
Waited for the laptop to cool down...didn't work.
Restarted the laptop...didn't work either!!

You know what worked?? SLAMMING the keyboard worked!..I had to succumb to physical violence. Poor lappie...

2008-12-05T23:12:00.001Z

- You gotta love the new Picasa for this -

*I'm suppose to be in bed resting, so I can fight this bug that's attacking me...but noooo..instead I'm taking pictures of my monkey-face with my webcam..-shakes head-

2008-12-05T23:08:00.001Z

-The many faces of me-

La La La...

2008-12-02T14:35:00.003Z

The family came and gone =(

It was really quick. I actually didn't really spend as much time as I wished I would. It was great seeing my Monkey Queen and Princess Floppy (first time meeting her actually!). It was pretty tiring having 9 family members over at the start but it was all worth it and such great fun!

1st semester of 3rd Med is officially over. I can start my countdown till I head home but I don't want to...I dread the day I stand in the departure hall with tears streaming down. I didn't cry when I left home in 2005 (I was actually laughing and smiling cuz I knew I was heading to a new start!) , I'm pretty sure I'll be bawling like how I was when I left Japan. This time even worse!. But that's like long long long awayyyyyy.....*denial*

Finals are around the corner and as usual I always blog ie procrastinate when exam are near. I've got around 100 lectures to cover in 10 days = 10 lectures a day. It is do-able but I'm sooo slow and I have a bad memory. I'll have to start timing myself for each lecture and mayb stop writing notes.

Its been really cold lately - frost and all. Hence I'm now sick. Well according to Dan K it isn't cold but he's from Ontario and he went to Montreal for his undergrad and masters...his version of cold is like -60C which is nonexistant in my world. Would like to see how he is in the heat.

Got my laptop back and its still problematic. The fan is constantly on..and I don't understand why?..Ireland is cold!!..the Laptop is not suppose to overheat. And because the fan is constantly on, the batt drains even faster. And when it overheats or being used for more than 3 hrs, the screen goes bonkers with dots or lines. Now there is a new prob that my BIL found - the cable is not letting current thru if the black box thingie is placed in a certain way!!!...Why oh Why oh WHY must you be so problematic!!?????....

I can't wait to edit and upload my pictures. But I don't dare to do anything on my laptop other than check my mail just incase it crashes! Haven't uploaded my ski trip photo's that I took at the start of the year. The class is already going to the next ski trip!!!...Haven't been taking many photo's lately. PLUS I dropped my trusty camera during Med Ball. Now it doesn't work. =( *It was working the whole night after I dropped it tho...

Jumping Jacks!!

2008-11-21T15:12:00.000Z

One more day!!!
One More Day...!!!
ONE MORE DAY...!!!!!!!!!!!

Tomorrow morning I will be at the airport greeting my wonderful family that I miss so dearly.

I cannot wait!
Don't think I can sleep tonight.

AhhhHHHhHHHHhHHHH

Here I come!!!

2008-11-14T16:10:00.002Z

Lisboa...

Here I come again....!! Weeeeee~ This time Belem, you're going to be devoured by me.

I wonder...

2008-11-13T16:30:00.002Z

I wonder...

Did I just met someone who is as detach as I am??
Did I just acted political when I hate anything to do with it?
Did I just lose my footing and am falling into a very very dark place again?

I wonder...

Will I ever speak up?

Time

2008-11-13T16:19:00.002Z

Finally the mid-terms are over.
Finally a week of doing nothing at all...not..

Well, I don't have to study..but I've been trying to catch up with things that have brushed aside for the past 3/4 weeks. For example, Malaysian Night!! and also my life.

I wish I have more time to do things.

Can't wait for the family to arrive next weekend. Even thinking about it makes me beam and fuzzy in the tummy (^^)

*I will start studying tomorrow. I HAVE to start!!!....

Updates..Like finally...

2008-10-14T17:48:00.002Z

The last post was written ages. Time for a new one before I totally forget that I actually do have a blog.

So continuing on things that have been happening here in Ireland.

- Juniors arrived in with so much trouble and bad weather. Got an email on the morning the privates were arriving that their flight got delayed, so I quickly called Joyce who was on her way to the airport. They were due to arrive around 10ish am but was being pushed to 1pm. The JPAs were arriving around 11ish, so they got picked up 1st (initially both privates and JPAs were going to be picked up together). Around 1pm-ish, Joyce called me saying that the Privates were no where in sight and their plane has already landed!!. Then Carl Lusby called informing me that their plane got diverted to Berlin cuz on of their engines died and will only be coming in at 6pm!.Poor Juniors. To make it worse, accommodation wasn't openned till the next day so we had to separate them into senior's hses and Malaysian Hall. It was such a long day!.

- Went for my conference and presented my 1st poster to a bunch of reputable child psychiatrist and people from that field of work. My partner, Michelle won 1st prize!!!...So now I get to highlight my name on her piece of work and state that it won ACAMH whenever I write my CV!!..Wohooo..!!

- Went to Lisbon without telling my parents and then sending them a postcard from there. Just to say Dad wasn't too happy when I called home the following week. Lisboa is such a great place, the weather was sunny and warm plus the people that I was with was my family from home so it was everything that I wanted. I had sooooo much fun. Pictures are up on facebook.

- Had the usual Wine and Cheese Night and the Fresh Meat thingie. Met up with a few of the RCSI ppl...met a few interesting ppl was well. Was definately out every single night for the whole week. Socialite! *Oh and Ilana's b'day party at Blarney Inn where you can pour your own pint.

- Joined Latin dancing!!..its sooooo much fun...Love salsa! Doing Yogalates as well..Being very healthy this term.

- Shaila and Dannie's surprise party!!...It was so much fun making them believe that we were all heading out for Aminah's early b'day girlie night out. I had to divert them to Cafe en Seine for a meet up and they all got Surprised!!!....Great night.

-Med Day on the 3rd Oct!!!!...The best day ever of the term!... This year I was a team leader and I was posted at O'Connell Bridge. The BRIDGE!!!...It was super super cold that day and being on the bridge with wind coming from both directions made it worse. I literally lost my fingers and toes that day. Met really caring ppl that donated - a blind guy donated, had a few notes, some ppl emptied their coin purse....and one nice guy gave a final med his gloves cuz he thought she needed it more (she then gave it to me cuz she had to go for hosp)...but this year's credit crunch did make a diff on our donation tubs - wayy lighter!. The nite was as usual okay. Ended up somewhere else with Dannie.

- SSRA Symposium Night 2008 on the 8th Oct. Being a SSRA (Summer Student Research Award) researcher this summer, we all had to do an oral presentation infront of 6 judges. It was a 5 min presentation and 2 min questions. I didn't win but I did get the most laughs...started off with my name being introduced wrongly. The oral was such a great experience, I got slaughtered for my Q&A tho. Ish won 3rd place, Brian from my class won 2nd place and guess who won 1st??!!....My partner - Michelle!!!!....another thing to highlight on my CV!...hahahahaha...Oh I finally got to meet Mich's brazillian bf - Douglas!. There was about 10 ppl in my class who did the SSRA and another 3 who had a poster presentation.

- Went to Amsterdam with Dannie to meet up with Korkor and Matthew. Such a great city... and I had such a great time there!!..Miss Ko soo much. Dannie and I spent a day cycling around the city...!

- Mid terms coming up on the 20th, 28th and 3rd Nov. So should be studying but instead up typing this...typical me - procrastinating.

I should really stop updating only like once in a blue moon...I wanna type in detail more, but it'll make my post look super duper long and boring. Oh well..I've got more important things piling up and I don't really think I have any more readers. This blog has turned into a e-Journal.

*and I don't have a lappie anymore...I so should be studying more.

So little time...

2008-08-28T00:07:00.002+01:00

I need more time..Its flying by so quickly!!

Ish's parents arrived on Sunday and then we went to Riverdance the following night and now they're all in France. All that just zoomed by...

I'm going for Electric Picnic this weekend (which I totally forgot!), 2 Abstracts due in next week, final draft of my report next week, Juniors pouring in next week, Auditor training next week, class starting the following week, my 1st poster presentation that week and FINALLY my summer vacation to Lisbon.

I've go sooooooo many things going on every single day.

So little time, so many things to do.... ="(

* Lisbon was such a last minute thing. I decided that I needed some time to actually do nothing and worry bout nothing before my crazy classes and hectic schedules starts again. I want my summer holiday, I've been on the move with research since June and I'm very tired. I haven't gotten more than 2 days entirely to myself. I need to get some good Vit D au natural before the winter kicks in.

Finished..sorta

2008-08-22T23:00:00.000+01:00

100...!!!!

I'm just so glad to be finally done with the research and also have reached our target!!!....Now is time to upload all the data and start interpreting them.

It was great working with Michelle, thank goodness I have her as my partner or not I wouldn't have gotten things done. She's so unbelievably focus and determined. Wouldn't have asked for a better partner..!

Indecisive people...

2008-08-15T21:46:00.002+01:00

I finished work today on a very very bad note. I never end my work like this esp not on a weekend. I've always believe in starting and ending my day on a good note.

I've just realized that since I've been back so long I've never written a single post regarding my Research that I'm doing for the summer. Well, I got accepted last minute into the SSRA program for a project tittled - The home environment and the symptoms of hyperactivity and inattention. So its a clinical research than a lab research, something very new to me. I'm actually seeing patients and asking questions (some invasive) and also going into people's home (which is a little intrusive).

This is a great opportunity for to me learn more on the patient contact side of things and communication skills. One skill that I had to learn during the start of the research was to communicate on the phone. I'm absolutely terrible on it. Well that said I can easily chat with a friend on the phone for hours. This is a totally different situation.

All the families that I've been calling in the first few weeks were saying No to me, with a few Yes here and there. I knew there was something really really wrong with how I was conveying my message across the phone.

I go back into Muji practically every week to see the girls and also to rant to them about EVERYTHING. Well that's cuz they're like my family here. They listen to my problems and try to solve it for me or at least come up with something for me. I love them to bits. So I was telling Elaine and Claire B (who also has left long time ago but wanders in like me) about my phone situation. So here and behold, Ms Elaine who was working on the telemarketing line and customers service line before this was giving me a 30 min prep talk and guess what...the next week all the calls that I did was YESs!!

My bad note today is on people who would say that they'll call you back or the clinic but DIDN'T or that they say that they'll think about it and that I should call back tomorrow or next week but when I do, they either DON'T pick up or BARRED my phone or REJECT my calls as if I'm a loan shark or when they say YES and asked me to call on a certain date to do the 1st part of the research for them to REJECT my calls or ask their child to LIE to me or even worse HANG UP on me half way.

If you don't want to participate, please say No!! I don't bite, I'm on the other side of the phone miles away - I can't!... When people say No, I just say no problem and thank you for listening to me and then I hang up.

I HATE INDECISIVE PEOPLE..!! With a passion!! Make up your mind. You are full grown adult who can make easy decisions like Yes or No.

You can even lie to me and say that you'll be out of the country till September when you clearly have an appointment next week. At least I get an answer. I just can't stand people who can't give me an answer when they can.

ArGh..Geram!!!!....

I've already ranted to poor Ish in explicit language and rage once I stepped into the door. Dannie is coming home from London tonight, so I'm trying to get all my anger out before she get thru the door and hope to put on a smile for her.

EeWei Wei Wei Weiiii....

2008-08-13T22:15:00.001+01:00

My cousie Ms [Eva] Teoh Ee Wei was over for the Bank Holiday weekend from KL. Soooooo happy to have her over cuz..

1. Haven't had family over to this country before. (But I'll be having loads soon!)
2. Haven't seen her in ages.
3. Haven't had the chance to bond with her despite seeing her here and there when I'm back.
4. She's my family and that practically says everything..plus Mama always say that we're both very alike. The way we talk and that we also look alike.

I think she has a way sharper tongue than me and I don't see much similarities look-wise (till I saw one picture that left me flabbergasted!)

We were just chatting and updating each other on practically everything..gossips and all the girlie things. Every juicy bits. Laughing to her antics and stories.

Your visit was definitely the best part of my Summer holiday here. The weather was also better!!...I hope you enjoyed your stay here. (^^)

08.08.08

2008-08-08T23:18:00.002+01:00

Happy eight-eight-eight!!!..

Today is the Beijing Olympics..!! I missed the opening ceremony live on TV cuz of work but I'm determined to watch it some day - once i find it!. I heard about people talking about the drums and also how the chinese people were singing their national anthem.

I might not be from China but I'm Chinese and I'm proud of what China is right now.

Another thing to remember about this day was that I got lock in the building today!..

I was told that the building closes at 8.30pm. I stayed back in work after our last home-visit and decided to bring my paper work home because i wasn't even near done yet and didn't want to risked being locked in. So I left my office around 8.10pm. The clinic's main door has to be locked from the inside so I headed out the side door to exit from the main building. At the door, the exit button wouldn't work and the security guard wasn't there!!

I gave it about 10 mins just incase he went to the toilet or out to the shops nearby. Then it was about half an hour that I decided to inform my partner Michelle that I was stuck in, she told me to get the name of the security company and she'll call them to ask them to contact the security guard on duty today. I got so restless that I took my book out and started reading.

Michelle then texted me that she couldn't get thru to the security company and will give it a few minutes before she'll call the Garda aka police!!. Thank goodness the security guard turned up, looking very startled.

The was doing his rounds on the floors and was wondering on which floor did I manage to hide from him. When i told him that I was from the Clinic, he said that the cleaners told him there is no one there!!

I cannot believe that they said that when they clearly saw me when I was photocopying stuffs and also when they were cleaning the outside of my room. I even said Hi to one of them!!!!

So in total I waited an hour for him and only got home around 9pm going to 10pm.

What a 08.08.08 day for me...

PDA

2008-08-07T23:55:00.003+01:00

I'm not talking about Personal Digital Assistant (that will be another post).

I'm talking about Public Displays of Affection.

I personally have nothing against it even though its not allowed in my country (I don't know why), but it totally sucks when you're alone and you're surround by these PDA couple.

It was pouring rain today and I know I just missed the 11 bus. Not willing to wait in the rain for another half an hour, I decided to go catch a movie - The Dark Knight. Managed to get tickets and got myself a pretty decent seat - right in the middle. I was watching it in Savoy in Theater 1, so it is huge and has a huge screen.

More and more people were coming in. There was actually a queue to come into the Theater just to get to your seats (they are not assigned here) even though the movie has been shown for weeks already. First an Irish-Jap couple sat on my right, then another sticky couple in front of me AND then another one on my left. Being surrounded my couples didn't bother me at all until they all started PDA-ing!!!...

My whole 180 degrees view was of couples PDA-ing...even a few rows in front and back of me. Irish-Jap couple was talking about their 1st kiss and bla bla. Once a guy's tone of voice changes, you know he wants something...the Irish lad was just soo eager to get his tongue down her throat.

The WORST was the couple in front of me, they were feeding each other ice-cream. I've got nothing against this..i think its sweet, its just not sweet when you kiss each other every other scoop of ice-cream and then full on lock lips like you've never kissed before! They were going all out - hands roaming and all...I was so tempted to say "This is a cinema, go find a room!!"

Couple on the left was very decent, they're probably on their 1st or second date.

Thank goodness the cinema darken and the movie started. I might get an epileptic fit if I was to witness anymore PDA-ing.

*Seriously I have nothing against PDA. I think it is good that couples are showing they're affections for each other, but there should be a limit.

*Why was I alone?..I sometimes a loner.

Reflecting

2008-07-28T19:58:00.003+01:00

I've been reflecting a lot about my life lately, about things that has happened in the past few years mainly the past year and I'm still trying to learn from it. I can't believe so much has happened, with my life, my family and the people around me.

This falling down, standing back up and dusting your self, keeping your chin high and keeping on walking cycle never seems to end. Life is full of surprises - its like a box of chocolates, you'll never know what you're gonna get. You'll like them if they're the ones that you like or you'll hate them like the yucky cherry ones but there will always be the chocolate to take the bitterness away. Just like how all the obstacle that I had to jump thru, my chocolate is at the end where I learn from the lesson.

Life is all about lessons. Its like a big book. The phases that your are going through in life are like the chapters and the plot are the lessons. I'm still compiling my book. Its not even half way there. There are still many blank pages that needs to be filled and drawn...

A good listener friend of mind told me that I'm now a very stubborn person. He said ever since I've started this new chapter of my life, I've been making decisions on my account and once I've made my mind on something, I'm pretty hard to change. Its actually quite shocking to hear that because I thought ever since I've moved here, I've change a lot. I actually listen to people's suggestions and opinions now, I take them into account, I actually talk to people when I hit a brick wall and hope to learn something in return hearing it from their point of view. I gather my thoughts before making a decision and I've also learned not to be so ridged anymore and understand that things happen for a reason and plans can change.

On other things that this weird country has done to me is that I can actually bite my tongue and not say anything till things are thought through in my head first, I actually ask for help on a lot of things that I cannot solve, I try not to keep bad feelings in me because I know I'm a pressure cooker, I've learned how to reason out with myself and others before jumping off a cliff or going straight for a person's neck with my bare hands and most of all - I have not lost my temper for the past 3 years, which is a BIG thing. I'm ashamed to say that I had a very bad temper and I'm very well known for it. People back home know well not to mess with me and to stay away once I fire up. This cold country has surprisingly cooled me down and tamed my anger and rage.

I'm the youngest of the youngest, double combo, the little one that everybody dotes on and you know what they say about the youngest child in the family, we always get what we want and we can get away from murder all the time (I can see my sister nodding her head like a nodding donkey now). I do get what I want most of the time (but I never had the habit of asking) and get away from anything with my crocodile tears when I was younger. I thank my parents for bringing me up in a way that would have been any better for me and for setting rules on manners and behavior and also for instilling the fear for my dad (The only person I'm afraid of!). I'm so glad I didn't turn out to be a brat!!!...

Mimi, Baba and Jie always tells me that Belle is like me. Seeing how the monkey queen can be - Oh god, I've got no idea how they managed to handle me, my crazy crying clingy moments and also the gift of the gab. Mom always said that I'm the opposite of Sis, that she's the clam that won't talk and me a broken radio that won't turn off!! Belle has taken over that tittle..Hehe.

I can't wait for the moment my whole family (minus my Bro and Papa) to FINALLY be here. I'm so excited ! Can't wait to actually run around with Belle and carry Baby Cassie. I actually don't mind babysitting them while you guys go shopping. I might regret it but I'm all up for it!!

*I totally went off topic towards the end..but what the heck its my blog. (^^)

Again...

2008-07-14T23:38:00.002+01:00

When I was in Taylor's College, my classmates and I were very active in a volunteer program - Yellow House. Every weekend we would spend it in the Yellow House with orphans or at events. There was one event held in the park near Bukit Jalil, a kite event. It was the start of the year, so we had to wear one of those sticker name tags - My Name is _________. So we all had that stuck on out shirt. Bla bla bla..the event was over and Alex (he was practically the driver of the year!!..thanks dude!) dropped me off in Carrefour in Sri Petaling because the whole family was there doing groceries shopping. So I was walking around in this huge supermarket, calling my sis asking where she was...and I finally found them. The first thing my sis said was "Wow, you really want people to know that your name is Angela". I was confused and then looked at my shirt - oh yes, the sticker was still there!. Then it made sense why ppl was staring at me. It was hilarious and embarrassing at the same time.

I'm currently doing research and am based in a clinic. So being in a clinic I had to wear formal, I'm not complaining cuz i enjoy dressing up formal. This means I had to get a few new clothes. Last week, I wore my new cardigan to work. My bladder was being really small that day, so i had a few trips to the toilet. The way to the toilet includes passing thru the main reception area of the other building. I made a trip to the cafeteria full of ppl as well. In my god-know-number-what-trip to the toilet, i noticed something in the mirror.
.
.
.
.
.
Again!!...I left the long strip of sticker that said the size of my cardigan!!!!....

Base

2008-06-02T10:47:00.002+01:00

*Very Overdue post*

The first daylight breaking through the dewy morning clouds colours the sky crimson. Birds chirping on palm trees. Highways and cars zooming everywhere I see. The humidity makes the air that I breathe so heavy. The Malaysian accent that I hear all around me. The sight of rich culture of different races and the smell of diversity and of course the variety of food. The heat. The overuse but very important air-condition.

I’m home. Finally.

My journey home this year has been the longest one I’ve ever took. Even longer than the flight from San Fran back to KL.

I started my journey the most carefree and stress free person ever for the 1st time. I usually freak out that I’ll miss my flight and get really stressed the get to the airport on time. I guess all the travelling this year made me a better traveller.

My flight as usual was at 5ish pm. Printed on my e-ticket was 5.15pm. So I woke up at 9ish, had my shower, breakfast, cleaned the house than threw out everything in the fridge and did a quick clean. All that and I still had time to spare. Decided to not take the cab this time to save some moolah.

Took the unpredictable 11 bus to Appian Way where the aircoach comes. I guess I missed the bus before that so I waited. Divert: I gave up my seat to a old guy on the bus. When I got off, the man that got off with me stopped me on my tracks to tell me that what I did was very rare and it was very good of me. Gave me a firm hand shake and walked off. Karma. I then waited and waited. The two girls who were waiting for the bus decided to take a cab. I asked them if I could tag along so we could split the fare. Voila we’re in a taxi to the airport.

Arrived well ahead of time. Checked in my bag, which was sooo not overweight at all – I packed well this time. Decided not to go in yet, so I went up to the food court to have a bite. I found a really nice sunny spot where I could see all the planes land. Had my lunch and started studying (don’t ask!) Enough of sun basking I needed to hide from it, so I went thru the very packed security line.

Got to my gate to find out that my flight got delayed by 30mins. And that the initial departure time was 5.25 and not 5.15 as stated on my ticket. OH well 30 mins won’t do me any harm, I’ve got 1 hour to run from one gate to another once I’m in Schipol Airport, 30 mins to run will still be okay. Dublin was super unbelievably warm that day, well to day warm is wrong…it was HOT!!..And they didn’t have a strong enough air-condition plus it was stuffy, I started being agitated. So I walked around to kill time. Went back to my gate, my flight was delayed for another 45 minutes!!! This time I was screwed.

Finally got on to the plane and found that a junior of mine was on the same flight – Kristina. Arrived in Amsterdam and went to the lady at the gate. My connecting flight to go home left already!!! So they’ll put me on the next flight out – TOMORROW!!! KLM was pretty good; the ppl at transfer desk was really helpful even though there was so many ppl jumping down their throat. Practically half of the ppl in the aerlingus flight missed their connecting flight. They gave us a place to stay in a 4 star hotel, provided us with dinner and breakfast, provided us with a care pack, a calling card to call home and also shuttle bus services to the airport, Needless to say, I was excited but at the same time I just wanted the day to pass cuz I wanted to go home.

*My room was huge!!!...I had a king sized bed all to myself and the room has a huge plasma TV.

All went well after that and arrived home at 6am on the 2nd June instead of the 1st. My longest journey home ever!!..It was good to have finally touch base but it didn’t just end there. I had to rush home, shower, and breakfast with Popo and then rush to the China Embassy to do my Visa. Thank goodness I have all my documents with me, everything is easy flowing. Plus I was flying off within the 9 days the Visa was being issued (new ruling!)

"Its my first time flying alone and this has happened to me...." - Kristina

Home Sweet Home

2008-05-31T10:26:00.002Z

Hey Peeps,

Its finally the summer holidays!!..My finals went okay, I really hope I did well or at least pass all my papers. *fingers crossed*

Went to Croatia for the hols with Dannie, Iain and Adrian. Was a nice relaxing trip. We've traveled up and down the Croatian coast and gave Bosnia Herzegovina a visit. Didn't get much sun (only on a few days) but its was still better than Dublin..I think Dublin was shining in glory when we were away and Croatia was having a raining cloudy spell. And vice versa when we returned.

Its OFFICIAL - I bring the Irish rain clouds everywhere I go. Well except for the Greece trip (^^)

Will post up the link for the photos once I upload it onto Facebook. I haven't been uploading pictures here cuz its a pain to upload them to Facebook using a Mac and then I'm all dishearten and tired to upload it here. PLUS majority of you guys are in Facebook anyways...

I'm flying home today and will arrive tomorrow afternoon. I'm really hyped up to see my parents and family and to sleep on my wonderful bed and not forgetting glorious FOOD . I miss my parents, brother and PoPo so much lately!!...

My summer is pretty packed with research. Which is a good thing - I've been wanting to have a fulfilled summer. Not that being home doesn't fulfill me but I don't want my summer to be wasted again with just being in the office when I can achieve more. Well all this in the expense of not getting the spend time with ma famille.

But look at this, I'm moving to Penang next March (something I'm trying to suppress my thoughts about), my family can come up anytime. Well i know my dad will, knowing him. He needs to see his little girl.

Talking about Dad, i realized that he is absolutely fine and okay when I'm back here in Sept till the winter months..n then I see him somewhere in early months of the year in the States..but once it hits Summer, he wants me home so badly. Like really really badly. Its like a timed clock. Funny.

Well will try to update more often during the summer months about my summer months (^^)

We are the Champions!!!

2008-05-11T19:30:00.003Z

We are the great champions of 2008!!!...

Glory glory Man United!!..
Glory glory Man United!!..
Glory glory Man United!!...
The REDs keep marching on on on..........!!!!

Woohooo..we did it again!!...

One more boys..come on United, we're going to Moscow!!!!

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-11T18:44:00.002Z

A quick shout out to all moms or mummy-to-be:

Happy Mother's Day!!!!xoxoxo

Especially to the mothers in my family...specifically my Grannie, Mummy, Mama and my Sis..

Sit back and relax!!..

*Sent flowers to both of the Mums...Brother got the credit instead cuz I wrote his name on the card..both Mums thought Koko bought the flowers and wrote my name on it!! Thank goodness I called to reclaim my name!!..Well Koko is bringing them for dinner...and paying for it..sooo i can't really complain......but still!!

I miss my Monkey Queen

2008-05-04T18:55:00.002Z

Here I am, sitting on the steps in O'Reilly Hall facing the lake with the wonderful sunset shinning at my face, trying to study Disability from the lappie...I see this little girl skipping down the green patch with her mummy in hand.

She had two little pony-tails and a clip on her fringe. She was wearing a white flowery dress and a white cardigan. As her mom sat down on the steps, she started running around in circles, twirling and waving her hands like a butterfly. She then spotted me at the corner and beamed me a smile and waved.

She is about Belle's age.

Seeing her jumping around makes me miss that Monkey Queen.

Well Monkey Queen would me jumping up and down like a monkey and probably screaming as well...

"Belle's two favourite words: No!! and Mine!!"

I'm Back...Not

2008-03-24T14:02:00.004Z

Hiatus. Of a long long long long time.

I can't seem to update this blog as often as I used to anymore. My life have been so busy since the term started. With power comes responsibilities and sacrifices. Sigh.

A quick update:

1. Ski Trip to Les Duex Alpes was awesome!!!. Bonded with so many ppl in the class and also with the people in the lower years. We were the cool bunch. The whole ski resort knew that that was a much of 75 medical students from UCD wandering around the slopes...oh yea we were known!!..Esp in Bars and Clubs..hehehhe..living up the the Irish name! Snow Boarding was great..i'm not great at it but i can move on it!..Extreme sports come with PAIN..loads of PAIN!

2. Short trip to the States to visit Ma Famille. It was one break that I needed and so wanted. I had so much on my mind that going back to base was the best choice I have made. I needed to look at certain things at a different view, not so clouded view. Dublin was depressing me a lil at that time and seeing me family made things brighter for me. The trip was for me to attend my sis's 2nd labour...but NO..Baby C decided that she will not make a grand entrance when her aunt is there. I skipped 1st week of uni for you Baby C!!!!..Remember that!!...Belle was adorable as ever - or annoying!!.She is a carbon copy of me when I was her age. Attitude-wise not look wise. I didn't know how annoying I was when i was younger..Man I was Hell and Heaven at the same time.

Me: Oh man..why is she crying so much!!!..Early in the morning summore...for no good reason.!!
Mom, Dad and Sis: Just like you lah!!!
Me: o_O..ohhkayy...*silenCe*

3. Malaysian Night 2008. I got back from the states on the Monday 28th morning and straight away came home, showered and went to class. After class I then started my duty as the Deco-person running errands for the Big night. Everyday was the same till that Saturday and all hell broke loose...heheh nah..it was one of the greatest night that we all have put together as usual in short notice (we Malaysians work last minute!). We certainly impressed many..and the food..yummmy!!..Now I have a headache oh how to top this year's Malaysian Night for next year!!

4. CNY Pot-Luck. We had it last year..so we have it this year as well. Well Adrian planned everything, all we in 68 WhiteOaks was provide the place and lil itsy bits here and there. The Guest-list was ginormous...our house was packed with people and equally Food!!...It was great to have everyone around...

5. CNY Lunch with RCSI in Malaysian Hall. It was a different CNY thing compared to other years. It was a Lunch instead of a Dinner. And ppl from both school mingled!!.. (^^)

6. Duty as the President of PMCSA during the 3rd Meds Farewell Ceremony. There was a big-huha about this. I had to go to the Med Office many times to remind them that it is customary that this event takes place!!..and to my relief it did!. I had to make a speech!!..A farewell speech to my beloved friends...it was scary having to speak to so many ppl that I don't know (well I know majority of them)..but i did well nonetheless..thank goodness!!

7. 3rd Meds leaving for Penang. It is so weird that the bunch of ppl that I came with in 2005 is already left. Its so weird not having them around. I'll defo miss them. I said my byes to the WhiteOak bunch when they left the hse....so weird waving bye to them. I don't even want to start thinking about me leaving in a year time....i would like to keep that out of my head till that day comes.

8. Greece Trip. Went to Greece with Dannie, Shaila, Shannon, Farah, Adrian, Andrew Jacques, Asian Andrew and Farouq Manji-Boy. Adrian and I left Dublin on the 8th 11am flight while the rest left on a earlier flight cuz we both last minute decided that we'll join them on the trip - we did get better flights (^^). Dannie, Farah, Adrian and I were travelling together and the rest formed their own group. We were in Athens for 3 days, then then off to Mykanos, Syros (met up with the rest on the Ferry) and Paros in one day, Naxos for one day and then Santorini for 3 days. It was lovely to have warm sun and good food everyday!!..The Greek people are so friendly esp those in the islands. Would definitely want to go visit Greece again.

* i quit my wonderful Muji job of two years. I need time for Med School. Things are getting too tough for my liking and having time for myself (which I don't have enough!) is defo something i need to keep me in Med School.

Thats all that's been happening in my Buzy-Bee life for the past few months. More events coming up..!!!

I'm going to go for a long long hiatus. I'll be on Facebook more often that I will on this blog. So my updates will be sort of there...!

(^^)

Untitled

2008-01-10T19:30:00.000Z

In work, I was behind the till upstairs cuz we got the heater back up, a Japanese family came in. They were chatting in Jap and I couldn't help it but listen..i'm soooo rusty in that language that I don't understand it anymore. The little girl, aged about 7 or 8 saw me smiling at her, she took a step back and gave me a bow. Ahhh Japanese culture and mannerism - I absolutely love them!

I went shopping for ski socks on Tuesday and I saw this pair for perfect Wellies!!...They were zebra-striped and only 14Euros a pair. Plus they were light. Unfortunately, there wasn't any of my size left. Boohuuu~ =(

There are 3 pairs of Converse that I wanna get. But I'm only limiting myself to 2. Can't seem to make a decision.

Was on Gap.com and saw my fav top on sale. Should I get it??...I saw 2 pairs of Jeans that i like on sale as well. I wanna get it but I really wanna try it on as well. I'm afraid that it won't look nice on me once I get it. I don't plan to leave my sis house once I'm there..or should I make a quick trip to Stanford Mall??

Snow Trip coming up this Saturday!!..Its going to be havoc. There are 60 of us going. Ohh great fun!!. We're having a avant ski night out tonight. Looks like everyone is going. Can't wait to see them! (^^)

Welcome 2008...

2008-01-01T14:18:00.000Z

Its 2008.

2007 flew by like woooshh...It feels like it was just yesterday that I was in London with Karen on the Embankment with millions of people bidding farewell to 2006 and hello 2007.

This year my New Year's eve wasn't as interesting as the last BUT I still have Karen this year!! I'm currently in a cupcakes craze so I baked a dozen of them for 2008 - I even decorated them!

Mark picked me up to Basil place where we had the smallest New Year party in the world. Only 7 people (well actually 6 cuz Alex came in 2008...we were there 2007)

All 6 of us were busy playing our computer games & Nintendo DS or in the "Family meeting room", we totally forgot about the countdown. At 12am Hijaz just randomly shouted "Happy New Year ppl!"...We literally went "Oh ya..Happy New Year!!" and then back to our games. So boring.

As usual, what is a party without alcohol. We played a drinking game called 7, 11 or Double...and I made enemies. Hahahaha. Its me and the cloth - we are one! (internal joke). We only played 5 rounds and decided to have a break. Guess what, we all ended up playing Need For Speed/ Live Speed again!.

I suddenly got hit by a bus.

Well it definitely felt like that. My whole body started to ache really badly. Especially my arms. So I fell asleep on the couch. Woke up. Got sent home.

I got hit by a train.

PAIN. That was all I can say PAIN!.
Excruciating agonizing pain. Never felt such body aches in my life. Any pressure on me was torturing.

For the 1st time in my life I was so in pain that I wanted my Mom!... =(

I've got no idea what's wrong with me. I might be just toooooo tired. I'm now in bed and I plan to stay here till the boys come and get me for dinner.

What a way to start 2008.

Welcome 2008! (^^)

Au Revoire 2007

2007-12-31T21:49:00.000Z

Goodbye 2007.

You have been a good year. An interesting one. Lets try recalling some :-

I welcomed you in London - many great things happened there and I made a very good friend - Karen.

I went on a wonderful, fabulous, long awaited Family Trip to Mexico on Diamond Princess Cruise. The last time we were all together for a Family trip was in 2003 to Shanghai. This time we have the Monkey Queen with us.

I had the picnic I have always wanted for my birthday.

My good friend Rahi had to leave us to go back to Canada. The surprise party for him was great. It turned out to be my surprise b'day party as well. MmmmMm Pavlova.

I had to use the knowledge that I've learn in Med School cuz I was in and out the hospital during the summer holidays. Learned alot from a certain Doctor. It was during this period of time that I truly treasure how precious life is and how God can easily take it away.

Went to Beijing.

Went to Brunei. Like finally.

Went to Redang for a Cousin-bonding session trip. Would definitely want to do that again!

Came back to work in Muji. At the end of 2007 - An, Yvonne, Claire B, Claire F, Cormac and Maki left Muji. New people in 2007 - Barry, Winky and Andrea.

2006 Xmas party in October!...Alcohol and food filled in Captain Americas.

Went into the George n The Dragon too many times. Funny and scary moments.

Cormac left for Aussie-Land.

Became really good friends with RCSI Alex

Diagnosed with Psoriasis.

UCD lost in Sports Day after being back-to-back champions for the past 4 years. I lead the Netball Team to defeat for the 1st time.

Med Day on campus. I had Farouq's Nikon to play with.

Med Ball in Croke Park.

Parties, Parties, Parties. One to note: Ishie's 20th B'day.

Nearly missed my Neuro Exam.

Khai Wei came to Dublin.

Khoi finally came to Dublin

Best-est Christmas Day with delicious Christmas Dinner all made by Dannie.

Jacky, Sonia and friends came to Dublin for a day. I haven't seen Jacky for 3 years and for him who is studying in Melbourne to come to Dublin. I'm blown away!

Man..that seems to be a long list. So yea I had a good year. Thank You 2007. I hope that 2008 can only be better.

So long and Farewell.
Sayonara 2007. (^^)

-: Merry Xmas :-

2007-12-25T02:20:00.000Z

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
&
A HAPPY 2008

to
all my friends and family

- I wish for all to have a great year in 2008, even better than the last!

- To some to a new start for the new year! You will not know whats behind that door unless you pick up the courage to open it...embrace whatever that is coming your way...

I'll keep my smile on for all of you ~

(^^)

. : Procrastination : .

2007-11-30T19:21:00.000Z

Exams are in less than 2 weeks - to be precise 12 days!!....I'm currently trying to study my ass off in the library (Anna counted that we have about 130 lectures - not including practicals and CALs- to cover for the finals..I'm screwed!)...but i'm always distracted or that my brain is just ain't working....

I just want to stay at home and sleep.

or

Go out for an hour or two for a cup of nice hot chocolate and not feel quilty cuz I should have studied instead.

or

Go and spend the day at a friends place just chilling.

or

Just doing nothing at all...

I can't wait for my ski trip in Jan...EVEN more..I can't wait to go to the States...I'm thinking more about my trip to CA than the trip to France.

I've already have a list in my head on what i want once I arrive on American soil -
-Taco Belle,
-Krispy Kreme
-Ice-cream
-Bubble Tea
-Home-cooked food!!...
* need not be in that order...better if i can get it on the way home from the airport *hint*

Okay. Back to the books.

. : Updates : .

2007-11-22T22:48:00.000Z

Ish's 20th was celebrated last Friday. Started off with dinner in Siam Thai, Dundrum (good job to Aminah!) with 15 of her close friends - 2 of which flew in from London for it - Jasmine and Anthony. And then off too our favourite cocktail bar - Capitols and then we had to move to Turks Head cuz a bunch of our friends couldn't get into Capitols cuz the bouncers were having a PMS moment. A good night none the less...Pictures will be up soon...(^^)

I'm the President of PMCSA 2007/2008. Thank you to all who voted for me. I'm lucky to have a very diverse and hardworking committee. I hope we'll work together like a big happy family (^^)

I'm off solids for the next two weeks. I'll announce why after this 2 weeks. (^^)

I just scalded my hand again!!...I always forget that I've turned the hot-tap in the kitchen - usually the water isn't that hot but today the water tank got boosted...so now i have a red-lobster looking hand. =(

I studied in the Library from 10am to 9.30pm today. I've very proud of myself. I'm hoping I can do this everyday till the Finals - which is less than a month time.

The UV-rays can do wonders even if there are clouds. I'm going out for walks more where there is sun!!...(^^)

-SmiLe- (^^)

Don't mind me...

2007-11-12T17:58:00.000Z

If you're in a jolly good mood or hoping to read a happy post, I'd advice whoever you are (if I do have any readers) to stop now. I've got a feeling this is going to be a very long post of absolutely crap, with me ranting out nonsense. It might be depressing or an ugly sight. I'm in one of my moods now...so..

Don't mind me...

Its cold!!
I handle cold well..but for the past few days it has been getting to me.
I work well when there is SUN..I miss the sun..!!
I don't like walking home at 6.00pm in total darkness....it depressing!!...

I have all this things/thoughts in my head right now flying around..Its starting to bottling up and i know i'm going to blow soon...Its not that I'm upset at something or someone..or anything a matter a fact...i just have thoughts!!!..ArgHHhh..I wanna scream and shout...I just wanna..

Fall.

Fall into the sea where there are fishes swimming around me. Gliding past me while I let loose of every single muscle of my body...as they glide they're taking away every single worries/sadness/pain....every feeling away from me...leaving me empty and sinking.

Why do i think so much??...My genre of "think" here is on things that has absolute no meaning in life...itsy-bitsy small everyday things that ppl don't notice. I ponder on things...on wrong things.

The girls does all the thinking for me when it comes to things that involves ME. I'm always - "Bleghhh..whatever..don't care". I never think for the wellbeing of myself - I think its cause I care so much about the ppl around me (I think my mom has taught me very well in that department). If the ppl around me are happy, I'm happy as well but have I cared so much about the ppl around me that I've lost and forgotten how to care for myself, how to put myself in the first place?? I know the ppl around me love me to bits and in return I love them back 100 times more - but why do i still feel like there is something missing??

I've believe in Karma - that's why I treat ppl the way i wish to be treated like.

I'm can be a very tak-apa type of person and be a perfectionist at the same time.

I believe and I've been told that this few years ahead of me is all about learning about myself. Right now - I feel sooooooo mixed up about who I am.

I believe that one has to love his/herself before giving love to someone else.

I believe in world peace. I believe that we can all live in harmony and be one big happy family. Its not that hard to learn how to respect others - it starts from home.

I need to stop ranting and whining. Its not the end of the world.

This is a post with no body, theme, starting or ending...I'm just writing down things as they pop out from my head. It makes utter no sense at all - exactly like how I feel right now.

Hopefully the next time I'm back I've come into terms with the bloody weather and myself. I'll then put up pictures and update the blog with updates of my life. Till then I'm going to just stare at the wall and figure out things.

Love me as much as I love you..!!

GoOfy..!!

2007-10-09T19:16:00.001Z

The day we took the pictures for Minah's card, Pree, Dannie and I took more goofy pictures... The other two girls weren't part of this crazy fest cuz they were out...

Keep Laughing!!...

.: I love this picture of us :.

.: The normal stunning looking us :.

.: Crazy-GoOfy us!! :.

.: This picture is CLASSIC!! :.
- I didn't know I could do that with my eyes!!..I have craZy-eyes!! o-O -

Aminah's B'day

2007-10-09T18:23:00.000Z

Last Sunday it was Minah's B'day party. The creative us made a very cool B'day card for her...and we bought loads of prezzies for her (5 in total!)...one of it actually made her cry...she was soo touched!! (Yay!..) …The dress code for the night was White…but we kinda crashed her party by wearing white underneath something..hehehehee

.: The 6 of us :.

.: Minah happy w her cool card! :.

.: Minah all Teary...she cried cuz we got her a Basketball:.
-It was her sis Atikah that gave us that idea!..didn't know Minah would cry! -

- Us again! -

The Thursday before her party, we colour-coordinated ourselves in White (what a coincidence huh?) and jeans and took loadsss of pictures!!!....(Credit to Dannie tho..it was her idea). So with my artsy-fartsy skill of drawing alphabets together with our goofy faces...the final product was GREAT!!

Keep Laughing.

.: Goofy-Me :.

.: Shaila with uneven boobies :.

.: Dannie ZooOoOoo :.

.: P-P-Prettikaaa :.

.: Ishieeeeee :.

.: Our messages to Aminah :.

- The tought the Red A was actually an Apple with the apostrophes being the worm -

.: My msg to minah... :.

-If u can read the other girl's msg they're pretty funny! -

.: H-A-P-P-Y :.

.: B-'-D-A-Y :.

.: M-I-N-A-! :.

.: Our Final Product!! :.

Pictures galore...

2007-10-09T17:32:00.000Z

This are all the back dated pictures...
I'm not going to post any pictures cuz in total there is like a hundred plus of them..so i'm just going to post up links on them...so enjoy...

Redang Trip:
Date: 30th July - 1 Aug 2007

It was a wonderful trip with Evon, Ye Fung & Katsy, Joe Wen & Florence...It was a massive great cousin-bonding session. Plusss...we met Ee Kung and Ee Po (Grand uncle and Grand Aunt) with Auncle Andrew and family....We stayed at Laguna Resort, a place that i would definately recomend to people if they go to Redang. We drank, laughed, one ended going back to KL injured...Evon & Andy's love story is a seriously long one...I'm happy that they have finally tied the knot!!..The beach and water in Redang is BEAUTIFUL!!!...Unfortunately I didn't get the underwater pictures from Florence..they were cool!!..We went snorkelling and there were pictures of us swimming with fishies!!!...

Enjoy!!..

http://ucd.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2993&l=28154&id=263200196

Brunei Trip:
Date: 14 Aug - 17 Aug 2007

I've finally step foot onto the Land-of-oil - Brunei Darussalem...Its a superrrrrr small country.. From one end of Brunei to the other its only 3 hours!!...The city reminds me alot of Ipoh...with less trafic... I got to stay in Empire Hotel - http://www.empire.com.bn/ A magnificent hotel i have to agree...The room was sooo comfy!!.. I had yummy Indian food - Ishie's mom made homemade bryani cuz Ish told her that I love it! and They brought me to this really nice Indian Restaurant (see the pixxies!).

Galore.

Album 1: http://ucd.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2881&l=f2196&id=263200196
Album 2: http://ucd.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2883&l=76624&id=263200196

Chwi's 21st B'day dinner at Frangipani

Was a lovely dinner with the Girls. Hana's car broke down on the way back from Lanjut, Pahang. She was the one that made us dress up for the dinner but she kesian-nya had to arrive straight from the Highway. We were the the last customer to leave...we made ton of a noise the whole time with our laughing...sooo not high-class of us for a fine-dining restaurant (^^). Just too bad Annie wasn't with us..We video conferenced her tho..so it was kinda like all 5 of us were together again...I haven't seen that girl since 2005..!!!..I miss u to bits!!!!!!!!!

Feast.

My Album: http://ucd.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2519&l=f84c3&id=263200196
Hana's Album: http://ucd.facebook.com/album.php?aid=15232&id=651801421&op=6

TigeR

2007-08-22T08:59:00.000Z

-Missing-

Name: Tiger aka Ger aka Fatty

Age: 6 years old

Size: Huge

Characteristics: Fat, Handsome, very Emo, very up himself and he bites

*Tiger hasn't been home for almost a week now...for the past 6 years he has always come home especially during dinner time (hence the size)*

My family misses Tiger very much...Please come home!!!

-Friends-

2007-08-05T08:44:00.001Z

Last Friday night, I had dinner/mamak session with my inai friends that i have not met for ages :-

Chwi Lynn - who I absolutely adore and am still astonished at her English skills = she's a walking dictionary...
Affendi - a friend who I've known since my Sri Inai KL days, who also transfered to Inai PJ and graduated together in 2003.
Kianny How aka KianFun aka Blinky aka Kian How - a macho guitarist who is flying off to Boston next week to Berklee College of Music to pursue his dream in music.
Syakir - a very intellectual guy who can hold very long conversation practically about anything
Adi - a very shy shy guy back in school (he still is!) but has blossomed into a very smiley chatty guy after working as a barrista in Starbucks...
Jonathan Ch'ng - he wasn't there but his "topic" came up plenty of times..hehehhee

We ate..
We chatted...
We laughed...
We gossiped...
We inspired each other...
We were just being a typical malaysian youngsters (^^)

We made some promises to each other....talked about our futures...talked about our past...picked at things that we used to do....

I miss all these things we do...things that we say that made us US...we might have changed through out the years but we are still the same niave little ones back in school...

"I keep friends for the quality not the quantity" - Kian How

(-.-)

2007-06-30T05:42:00.000Z

I know...my bad...despite having tons of ppl asking me to update my moss-growing blog..i haven't done anything at all....

I promise I will...i will update when i get my stoopid cable from my notebook guy (well i'm just lazy to go down to Sungei Wang just to get it)

I'll put up pictures of my Beijing Trip, Stephan's trip down (only 2 pictures i think) and Malacca Day Trip....

Excuse me...me very LAZY (^^)

The List

2007-06-03T15:53:00.000Z

Since I got back, I have achieved this:-

Eaten/drank:

Hokkien Mee
Soya Bean Drink
Lou Shii Fun
Char Kuey Teow
Nasi Lemak
Vadai
Prawn Crackers
Air Mata Kucing
Grilled Sting Ray
Lala (Clams)
Lobak
Spring Chicken
Char Siew Pau
Loh Mai Kai
Kim Gary's French Toast
Kim Gary's Iced "Ying Yong"
and yummy HOMECOOKED food!!!

This list will b growing!!

* Sent my lappie for check-up again..hopefully this time the problem would really b solved..!!

Home Sweet Home

2007-05-30T01:13:00.000Z

I'm leaving my home to go home...confusing??

Well peeps..i'm leaving my comfort zone here in Dublin to a place i have not been for about 10 months or so - Mi Casa..

Hope i'll see everyone soon...(^^)

.: Happy Mummies Day :.

2007-05-12T21:11:00.000Z

Happy Mummy Day

All mummies that had to go thru,

morning sickness,

food cravings,

swollen ankles,

big tummies,

weight gain,

AND

hours and hours of Labour PAIN of Joy....

not forgetting stretch marks!!

Special wishes to my own mummy who popped my sister out and who had to go under the knife to get me out cuz i wanted to see the world early n was stuborn to follow the proper EXIT sign!

My sister who went thru 12 hours of pain to pop out that cheeky monkey of hers what we all love to bits!

My Grandma for giving me my mom in the first place and also kudos for giving me my other 5 more aunts and 2 uncles!

My Mama!!!...for being the coolest-hippest mom!

Hugz and Luvvies to all! (^^)

Spring's Sunday

2007-04-25T23:16:00.000Z

Look around. Stop. Feel.
Cloudy 14 degrees day. Warm.
Stop. Sit. Wait.
Look around. Stop. Feel
The breeze. The Petals.
Rolling around. Playing. Free
Wind. Blow. Circle.
Petals flying...carefree.

Eyes close. Open. Close
Gush of wind.
Bus arrives. Step in. Pay.
Stop. Sit. Look.

Muji.
Walks in. Cute guy.
Questions. Bags. Clothes. Belts.
Origami. Questions. Answers. Chats.
Purchase. Smile.
Good. Day. Started
S.M.I.L.E

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sitting down at the bus stop, waiting for No. 11 to arrived to take me to work, Mr X sitting next to me, Harp just passed by to go home, cloudy sky with transient gushes of wind making the cherry blossom petals dancing around my feet .....made me felt peace - inner peace.

I shut my eyes for awhile and then opened them; its still the same.

The petals are dancing to a different tune of the wind and now Mr X is standing; its different but its still the same.

I then fall into deep thought - about my life.
About now.
About then.
About how lucky I am.
To be able to be where I am.
To live life the way I enjoy.
To have my wonderful family by my side.
To have friends to be crazy with me.
To just be ME.

For all this, I'm very grateful.
Grateful that the sun still rises from the east and sets on the west for its friend, Mr Moon to take care of the night.
Grateful for the flowers that come in spring, the fun in summer, golden leaves and red berries in autumn and the warmth of others and snow in the winter.
Grateful to be breathing, walking, eating and laughing.
I'm grateful for all that I have, own and understood.

I am.

Tadaima~

2007-04-01T23:03:00.000Z

Yupzz...i'm back to cold Dublin...which to my delight has been really good - weather wise.

I'm happy to be home in my own hse..in my own tiny little room..with my heater on..lying down on my super soft bed which makes my back hurts so much and my trojan and ad-ware infested laptop on my lap

Yet..

I'm not that happy to be back...

This Spring break was one of the nicest break i ever had...it wasn't full with drama or tons of exploring..It was a family holiday..I got to meet up with my wonderful parents, my funny sister and bro-in-law and my evil-duplicate-of-me niece, Isabelle.

The highlight of my US trip this time isn't the amount of shopping that i did, or the amount of yummy food i ate, or the fact that my niece bullies me and only me, or that I absolutely love Mexico and would so love to go there again BUT that I got to talk to my parents and people about my future...

All those conversations really put my life into prespective on what i want, my plans, the effects of my choices towards the people around me...

Yes, my graduation is long long way down the road...but i have to start planning. Sometimes i just wish for things to just fall into place without me worring or having to make decisions...

Okay enough of the boring stuffs....

About my flight from San Fran to Chicago:
My luggage weren't over weight!!..yaY!..But i was the lucky choosen one to go thru a SSSS..no idea what it actually means but it was on the top of my boarding pass..so i guess it must have been a Super Security Solitary Search or a Solo Security Search System or something like that..I had to go to a different line for the security check..got into a air chamber where puffs of air was blown and then analysed for radioactive material/explosives...my bags and laptop was each checked throughly and wiped to be also analysed for radioactive stuffs.

What luck did i have...one of the security guy even jokingly asked me what did i do to get checked??!..This is my 2nd time getting into that air-puff coccoon..the 1st on was in LAX after the cruise..

Flight from Chicago to Dublin:
O'Hare is not as pack as the last time i was there...so i took my time to get to my gate. Immediately at the gate i could differenciate the Americans and the Irish...hehe..I booked the aisle seat and i had this big-sized guy next to me. There were so many nice pictures I could have taken if I had sat in the window seat..but nvm..its all in my mind. I am very sure the guy i was seating next to is deaf because i can watch the movie without wearing my earphones...i could hear everything LOUD and clear from his earphones!!!...And i know that the most beautiful place to watch the Sunrise is obviously from a plane's view..but he didn't need to opened the blinds and savour the bloody moment while everyone was SLEEPING!!!...arghh!!

~so i didn't really get a good sleep on the plane...

I am very very very jetlagged now~

Will post up tons of pictures from the trip soon...!!

. : Shashin : .

2007-03-14T22:05:00.000Z

Pictures that I promised and that are uber overdue..!!

Enjoy....!!

Pree's 21st B'day

.: The Girls :.

.: The B'day Girl :.

.: At Turks Head :.

.: Rahi's Comical and "manly" pictures :.

Pre-Malaysian Night 2007

.: Us Goof-ing around at home with the costume :.

- Harp being very 'beautifool' -

Malaysian Night 2007

This year's M'sian Nite was a great success..!!.. We had praises from our Irish friends, from the Medical Lecturers and Staff...even the Ambassador and the Dean of Medicine!!...(^^)

.: Lovely Shaila and Pree :.
- Ish, Dannie and I absolutely love this picture of them!! -

.: Famille de trois :.

.: Whiteoak Family :.

.: Girlies :.
- Lovely picture of all 6 of us...we just wished Jess was there -

.: Karenie and Ishie :.

.: Think twice on who you're messing... :.
-GrrRrrr-

Chinese New Year 2007

We had a little pot-luck dinner at our place to celebrate the year of the Piggie..!! I'm very very impressed to how well the guys can actually cook....very very impressed...!!

*All the 2nd Meds ditched us...all complaining bout having a 9am class the next day..all excuses *shakes head*

.: Akai Hana :.

.: The dinner table before the eating session started :.
- Yummmiiiiiii-

.: Bon Appetite :.

.: Shy shy Rahi and Iain :.

.: US :.
- A gathering is never complete without a nice Family picture! -

.: Basil and I :.

- Mom commenting on the picture above -

Mom: Last year's CNY rite??
Me: Huh?!

Mom: Your face so big here...not last year meh??...

Me: (- -") This year la Mii...

.: Yun.Pree.Dannie.Ish.Shaila :.

. : Quotes : .

2007-02-25T22:19:00.000Z

From the Irish Professional Photographers Association

Happy Faces Day - Calender 2007

"...if these pictures have anything important to day to future generations, it's this: I was here. I existed. I was young, I was happy and somebody cared enough about me in this world to take my picture."

"Not everyone trust paintings but people belive photographs"

"Most things in life aremoments of pleasure and a lifetime of embarrassement; photograph is a memeny of embarrassement and a lifetime of pleasure."

"It's not April Fool's Day anymore Mummy, Its Happy Faces Day now"

"Life is a like a good black and white photograph, there's black, there's white and lots of shades in between"

"Sometimes you can tell a large story with a tiny subject"

"To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world"

"If you're photographing in colour you show the colour of their clothes - if you use black and white, you will show the colour of their soul"

"A photograph can be as stricking and as haunting as a grea painting or a fine poem"

"You don't take a photograph, you ask, quietly, to borrow it"

"Photography is a small voice,at best, but sometimes one photography, or a group of them, can lure our sense of awareness"

"Twelve significant photograph in any one year is a good crop"

* All proceeds of the calender sales are given directly to Angels Quest

HellooooOooOOo~

2007-02-24T23:25:00.000Z

Been so so so busy since the semester started...
Classes starts in the afternoon now..which means more sleep!!..hehehe...

I'll post up pictures of:
- Pree's 21st B'day
- Malaysian Night
- CNY Dinners
- Random pictures~

I've got mid-terms coming up...Renal on the 3rd, Cardio and Vascular on the 7th...and then I'm flying off to the States on the 10th!!!....

Can't wait to go see ma famille!!

. : Untitled : .

2007-01-22T12:36:00.000Z

I may not know you was well as the rest, but I do know you..we all did.
You were the quite one.
You were the tall one.
You were the one with the other two.
You were you...

Waking up to a phone call which such news has taken me aback.
It just shocked everyone.

Buckets of tears shed but reality is still there.
You are gone.
May you rest in peace my friend..You will always be remembered

Love always,
The ones in Ireland,
-wai- and -fazy-

. : M.I.A : .

2007-01-17T00:43:00.000Z

I won't be posting anything up for awhile cuz my dear Lappie has to go to the hospital...*sOb* Hopefully it'll recover asap cuz class starts next week...and also hope all my files n pixxies will still b intact when it comes home!!..Did the smart thing of backing up all my pixxies n music already!! I love having an external hard drive...

Well till then ppl..don't miss me!!

Huggies n Luvvies

(^^)

Excursion de jour de Dublin

2007-01-12T18:59:00.000Z

*Edit: Harpie is my friend!!!....to be exact he is also my hsemate's BOYFRIEND!!!!...Stop asking me!!!

Well last Friday, a very rare dry, sunny and warm day, Harp and I decided to play tourist to Dublin after staying here for a year and a half now. We visited Phoenix Park and Dublin Zoo (the two places that we should have visited the 1st month we were here!). Got into Dublin Zoo for FREE cuz Mary (my classmate) was working that day...hehehe...I went into St. Stephan's Green before meeting up with Harp, and took lovely pictures.

We ended our Dublin day trip with a dinner at Temple Bar and a movie - Perfume (do NOT watch the movie!!!..it started off really good but the ending was just weird n stupid...but I have to say that Ben Whishaw is a bloody good actor..he only had like max 50 lines thru out the whole movie but still able to portray the character)

Had a nice day!!

: One of the BEST pictures I have taken :

2007-01-12T18:58:00.000Z

: St Stephan Green :

2007-01-12T18:56:00.000Z

: Irish Greens :

2007-01-12T18:54:00.000Z

: Phoenix Park :

2007-01-12T18:51:00.000Z

: Phoenix Park :

- Blissss -

2007-01-12T18:48:00.000Z

: Solitude :

- I love this pixxie -

2007-01-12T18:47:00.000Z

: Phoenix Park :

2007-01-12T18:45:00.000Z

: I'm taller than Harp! :

- Muahahahahaha -