The Irony of Medicine When Medical Students Are Involved

Alright, so this is my second week of attachment with the hospital. There is basically only 1 patient for the entire day and I've been here since 7:30am. So I've been sitting in the patient waiting area next to the magazine stand and finished reading all the magazines on it, which includes the Malaysian Medical Journal and Newsweek. So eventually when I ran out of material to entertain myself, a thought came to mind and I'm sharing it with you.

If you ever find yourself or someone you know that has to go to the hospital. Blame the medical students. Here is why.

When a medical student has nothing to do, he/she gets bored. So all he/she can do is sit around. So we sometimes get so bored that we wished that someone gets hurt or fall ill enough to get them to the hospital. This way, we get something to do and something to learn. Make sense?

So if you or someone turn up to the hospital and there are medical students involved, you would know who to glare at momentarily to blame them, especially if the hospital is quite. But don't stare too long though. We would get scared and trust me, sometimes, medical students are the ones who would be really helpful because we ask loads of questions that make the doctor more careful about treating the patient. So when we get scared, we either shut up or drop off the case and hope for another one.

Anyway, I was half way through that top part of this post when I got picked up to go see a laparoscopic appendectomy. It is awesome. Plus I learnt how to make stitches, put in a urinary catheter and reasons to why certain things or material are used. On top of that, a ride home. But I think the most important thing that I learnt today is to always be polite to people around you, especially your surgical team and superiors. Want to know why? Because when you are polite, have a nice smile, and listen to all the things they say even when it's not related, they see it, know it and remember it. It has to be genuine though, otherwise they know it too. So when there is something nice and interesting, they push it your way, and you learn some really good stuff. Of course, you just have to be around at the right place at the right timing too.

love,
kathleen

First Overseas Hospital Attachment

Alright, for those who actually follows my blog, which I doubt there is many if any, sorry about the lack of posting. School has been pretty busy with school work and exams, and soon enough, wosh, it's summer break again. Yay to summer break.

So latest update on my side, hmm, lets start with, I passed second year of med school, so that's good. This means that I'm promoted to third year, moving from pre clinical to clinical, which is kind of a big move, not as big as going from being a medlet to a doctor though. Haha. Plenty to look forward to then. So next semerster I would be considered junior senior. Like the group of little seniors who think they are so smart because they can give advice to the first and second years , actually know what they are talking about, and tell them to just hang in there because they will miss it when it passes.

Next, I have been selected to be one of the 30 medical students to represent Australia in the East Asian Medical Student Conference in Bangkok, Thailand. It is a week long of conference stuffs ( more like half day conference and half day touring), and it is about adolescent health. Plus, I'm the youngest in the team (pretty sure), and helping to write the paper which was selected as the top 10 finalist to present in the conference itself. And I have a foot in the public poster design. Haha. So I'm going to Bangkok for the conference and a quick holiday just the week before school actually starts.

Lastly, I am currently on my first overseas hospital attachment. I am learning from consultants in the Senawang Specialist Hospital in Senawang, Malaysia. They are all awesome people there and I am learning heaps. Probably more then what clinical skills taught in school. I feel so fortunate to be able to be there. So for the next four weeks, I would be pretty busy learning some real hospital things and seeing real patients, real results and real x-rays. No more make belief ones that I have to lie to myself that they are real cases in school. Plus, we start to have real patients in school next year too.

On the down side though, I missed out on a trip to east Africa as I chose to do the attachment. It's worth it though. Africa won't be teaching me much medical stuffs, probably end up with a mind ready for engineering school instead. Haha. There is always next time to get to Africa and see Victoria Fall and all the cool, wild animals. Perhaps I should start planning a two months trip to go around Africa. Not enough though but thats as much summer as I get.There is apparently so many that you see giraffe on the high way being accidentally road killed. Ohh, do you know, in Africa, only individuals who are lucky gets selected to work over time. Interesting.

Last, thing for real, for those who just missed me, I actually just left Singapore a week ago. Will be in Singapore over the Christmas season though.

I just that's all for now.
Till next time, probably after my attachment to tell you all the cool things I did.

love,
kathleen

Year 2

I am currently now back in Hobart, Tasmania and am about to start my 2nd year in medicine. School is starting next week so I am still getting everything ready. I'm using the school computer to blog now.

It's going to be another busy year with 2nd year and all but I guess I like it that way. I have started to have my hostel meals and it's the same as before. My room is pretty much the same, just that more stuff is being put up, more clothes are being added and I need to look for more space for my books.

I just want to pre-advice that this blog is likely going to skew towards the life of a 2nd year medical student and hostel living. Hopefully it's still remains interesting as I tend to blog less with school work coming in.

love,
kathleen

A trip back to Singapore

It has been indeed sometime since I last blogged. Seems that the habit of not blogging often enough is coming back to me.

Anyways, I have just returned from a short trip to Singapore and I had a great time there with delicious food. Hence, I will be making note of some food that anyone who goes to Singapore should try.

1) Hokkien mee singapore style - Nice to have it for lunch, tampines one food court gives a big share
2) Fried carrot cake - can be too oily but just once should be ok (the one in bedok interchange hawker center is great, the coner shop)
3) ba kut teh - great for lunch ( i would suggest the one along beach road near joe's tackle)
4) pork mince noodle - nice for dinner probably the one in one of the bedok market. It's a 30mins wait.
5) Satay - Same place as the pork mince noodle, just different stall. Abit small but still not dried out like other small satays
6) roast duck and roast pork - at bedok interchange hawker center with the black sign board.
7) katong laksa - A singapore dish but have yet to find an exceptional one.
8) $2 nasi lemak found near alot of mrt station - You get a decent box of nasi lemak, a chicken wing, a sunny side up and all the other normal small lemak stuffs.
9) $1.80 chicken cultlet rice with both lemon sauce and mayo - found near the clementi mrt station, tasty and good value for money.
10) nasi briyani - Big serving in the tampines shopping area sold by an indian store expecially if you take away on the way to old popular or what some others call "bai mei".

Unfortunately, that was my last trip back to sunny island Singapore for this summer and there are still plenty of good food around yet to be tried. Till next time.

love,
kathleen

Seasons Greetings

I just got back from a short trip to Singapore. What I noticed is that the Christmas mood is just everywhere. Fancy lighting, sales, giveaways, Christmas related competition and events, Christmas decorations. Wow!! But guess what, its like this regardless of the type of festival that is being celebrated since Singapore is multi-racial country that is 'democratic'. They have to treat every type of people equally and have to celebrate all the different type of festive seasons.

This I remember, is what I am always thankful for whilst still studying in Singapore. This meant that I get lots of public holidays. No student complains about getting an extra day off school. Never. But more importantly, it also really meant that I get to learn about other's culture and 'celebrate' with them too.

Anyways, just want to wish everyone a very merry christmas and a happy new year.

love,
kathleen

Me

As mentioned, it has been ages since I truely blogged. This resulted in a lot of lost contacts and communication. Hence, I feel that an update on me is definitely in order. Not only for those that haven't heard from me for a long time but also for those who are new to me to get an inside of my past.

I am just an average 18 years old girl who grew up in Singapore. I lived in the East side of Singapore. But since Singapore is not that big, it isn't far from anywhere else.

I started attending school when I was 2+ years old just like most Singaporean kids.

Schools I attended includes:
YMCA Tampines (Singapore)
Qiaonan Primary School (Singapore)
Pasir Ris Crest Secondary School (Singapore)
Murdoch College (Perth, Western Australia)
University of Tasmania - Med II (Hobart, Tasmania)

After finishing Secondary 3, I left Singapore to join Murdoch College in Year 11. So , yeah, I don't have 'O' levels. Instead, I sat Tertiary Entrance Exam (TEE) in WA and got my butt into med school in Tassie a year ahead of my classmates back in Singapore.

Regardless of the schools I attended, I met various individuals and made friends. Some lasted and some not. No matter, it was still an experience to experience.

Every since leaving Singapore, my family moved to Malaysia and hence, I now spent majority of my summer vacation in Malaysia. Like any average family, we go on family trips to various places. Afterall, we really get to get together only once a year.

Of course I don't only study. Like most other kids in Singapore, I play the piano and pipa, danced ballet and play sports. I go fishing, diving, sailing, play basketball and go cycling when I am free and that the weather is fine. Ever since leaving for Aussie, I released how much I like Asian food and its uniqueness. Guess we always take things for granted till it's no longer easily available.

Currently, I am on a much deserved 4 months worth of summer vacation from med school and would be starting year 2 next year. Just contemplating if I should start reading up on my vacation before class starts. Maybe just a little when I get bored.

I guess this is all you get for now.

love,
kathleen