Europe 2011
Happy Easter!
More than a year has passed since I first got confirmation about my elective posting in Edinburgh, and after all this time of waiting, planning, and eagerly looking forward to it, the day has finally come! In a few hours I shall be boarding my plane to London, to begin this exciting new adventure. Though it is but a short 8 weeks, this will be the longest time I have ever spent away from home, away from the comforts of my bed and the convenience of Singapore’s transport system and ready food availability. I’m really excited, and pray that God will keep us all safe, and I look forward to having a great time with my dear sisters!
Jazzy and Patty are probably now happily in Paris, seeing the Eiffel Tower and eating macarons. Hope you 2 enjoy paris! Stay safe! 🙂
I saw this poem and thought it was very meaningful; it reminds us that within the frail bodies and lifeless eyes of many of our elderly patients, a human being resides, one with memories and emotions and experiences far greater than we can imagine.
What do you see, nurses, what do you see? What are you thinking when you’re looking at me? A crabby old woman, not very wise, Uncertain of habit, with faraway eyes? Who dribbles her food and makes no reply When you say in a loud voice, “I do wish you’d try!” Who seems not to notice the things that you do, And forever is missing a stocking or shoe… Who, resisting or not, lets you do as you will, With bathing and feeding, the long day to fill… Is that what you’re thinking? Is that what you see? Then open your eyes, nurse; you’re not looking at me. I’ll tell you who I am as I sit here so still, As I do at your bidding, as I eat at your will. I’m a small child of ten … with a father and mother, Brothers and sisters, who love one another. A young girl of sixteen, with wings on her feet, Dreaming that soon now a lover she’ll meet. A bride soon at twenty — my heart gives a leap, Remembering the vows that I promised to keep. At twenty-five now, I have young of my own, Who need me to guide and a secure happy home. A woman of thirty, my young now grown fast, Bound to each other with ties that should last. At forty, my young sons have grown and are gone, But my man’s beside me to see I don’t mourn. At fifty once more, babies play round my knee, Again we know children, my loved one and me. Dark days are upon me, my husband is dead; I look at the future, I shudder with dread. For my young are all rearing young of their own, And I think of the years and the love that I’ve known. I’m now an old woman … and nature is cruel: ‘Tis jest to make old age look like a fool. The body, it crumbles, grace and vigor depart, There is now a stone where I once had a heart. But inside this old carcass a young girl still dwells, And now and again my battered heart swells. I remember the joys, I remember the pain, And I’m loving and living life over again. I think of the years …. all too few, gone too fast, And accept the stark fact that nothing can last. So open your eyes, nurses, open and see, Not a crabby old woman; look closer… see me.Protected: A cliff’s edge
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Wonders of the Earth
I just read about this on elly’s blog, and it’s simply too beautiful not to write about! It’s this place in Styria, Austria, which in winter is a park popular with hikers, but during the summer months is filled with ice-cold crystal-clear water from the melted snow and ice from the mountaintops. Breathtakingly beautiful.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1317860/Austrias-Green-Lake-The-park-lake-summer.html
Emed elective
I’m at the TTSH ED now, doing my last shift of this elective posting. It has been really enjoyable so far, and emergency medicine still remains as one of my top career choices. I also quite like the TTSH ED doctors in general, they’ve been very patient, helpful, and willing to teach, from the consultants down to the MO’s and residents. I’m a little sad that it’s coming to an end, yet at the same time excited at my upcoming posting at KTPH, where hopefully I’ll get to learn much and get some much-needed revision in medicine.
Before coming for this shift, it was a nice dinner meet-up with the fruits at this korean restaurant at PS. Always happy to meet up with these friends! 🙂
I hope I survive this shift without becoming too zombified tomorrow. This is actually only my 3rd night shift, and shiftwork is still something I have to make sure I can handle before I can truly take up Emed as a career. Well.. my first night shift last saturday wasn’t too good, I was rather non-functional the next day and got a headache in the evening. My second night shift was 2 nights ago, though it wasn’t an accurate gauge cos I think I may have eaten something not-so-good for dinner that night and was having nausea and slight fever during my shift and throughout the next day. So tonight, my 3rd and last night shift, I hope I will not feel too lousy tomorrow. hmm..
Chinese New Year
Happy Chinese New Year! This CNY marked the end of a 4 week long holiday for me, and today was the start of my emed elective posting at ttsh. These 4 weeks have been extremely restful, a much needed break free from thinking about medicine. The consequence, though, is that my brain now feels like mush, weakened from disuse atrophy, and so many things that I used to know at my fingertips have mysteriously evaporated. And so, I guess it’s time to refill my grey matter with medical knowledge, and I hope I will get into the groove quickly in this posting.
Protected: Green
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HAPPY NEW YEAR!
HAPPY 2011 FRIENDS!! It’s a new year once again, and it’s especially at times like this that you really feel how time is simply zooming by so quickly, and in no time at all you’ll have graduated, gotten a job, found a partner etcetc.. For now though, I’m happy to be where I am (though discounting the patho part).
2010 hasn’t been a particularly eventful year for me. And so, while it wasn’t an exceptionally good year, it wasn’t bad either. As such, I don’t really have many highlights to talk about. Perhaps I’ll add more if I think of them later.
1) Philippines – I only ventured out of our sunny island once this year, flying alone to visit my dad in the Philippines. It was a fun and restful holiday, the best part of it being the island hopping and swimming in the clear green waters around Boracay. I also enjoyed staying at my dad’s place in a peaceful village, where I took a drive in his manual car, had a go with his air rifle, and saw some childhood photos that brought back distant memories of happy times long ago.
2) Orthopedics posting (TTSH/NUH) – I really liked this posting, and it was the first posting after general surgery that I could envision myself doing as a career. A ‘guy’ sort of posting, perhaps, most of my female colleagues weren’t quite as enthusiastic about bones and joints.
3) 13:34 production (10 Jun 2010) – A church musical production that my choir was invited to be part of, it was the most major performance I have ever taken part in. It was undoubtedly a fun and enriching experience being able to stand on a stage and perform to an audience.
4) Emergency medicine posting (NUH) – A short 4-week posting, yet nonetheless one that was a highlight of my year. I remember learning a great deal during the posting, in no small part thanks to the dedication of prof suresh. This posting was the first time I got so close to the process of death and dying (not counting forensic pathology, of course), of how people can be talking and laughing one minute and dead the next. I was really inspired during this posting, and it sparked my interest, and my consideration of emergency medicine as a career option should I decide not to pursue a surgical field.
5) O&G posting (NUH/KKH) – Though I liked the subject matter, this was not my favourite posting due to certain stresses and politics in the department. Nonetheless, I guess the delivering of 2 babies (and the witnessing of a couple more) must certainly count as a highlight of my year!
Merry Christmas!
Yet another christmas is over, and the year 2010 is drawing to a close. I’ve had a truly restful christmas, with lots of caroling, lots of fun, lots of food, and just a little mugging. Finally, though, it’s time to start my intensive mugging routine to prepare for patho pros in 2 weeks’ time. I feel pretty well-rested, and I’m ready to conquer dear robbins.
So here’s wishing one and all a very merry christmas, and a happy 2011!!
P.S. I really like the message rams sent me for christmas. I quote, “careful where you hang the mistletoe cuz ash has been waiting for this all year”. HAHAHA..
Be Not Afraid 