Random musings after Peds week 2

I think that as part of our medical course, the faculty intends to initiate a smooth internship and doctorhood. In third year they added a couple of weeks to the start and end of the semester. This year, our Easter break went from 9days to 5 days. Yes, it's just 4 days, but I'm feeling it! It has come and gone, and I can't believe it. It doesn't help that the bro has 2 FREAKING WEEKS OF HOLIDAYS.

So what did I do over easter? Well, the bf and I initially planned to head down to Mornington and stay overnight. But the hotel we wanted was fully booked. Then the weather wasn't uplifting. So we ended up going to DFO for a shopping spree, heading to Mt Dandenong to watch the sunset and have dinner, played badminton (actually, the bf didn't come for this), cooked dinner for friends etc.

Oh and we watched 2 documentaries: Born into Brothels & Sicko.

The former was filmed in Culcatta, India, by an angmoh photographer who had been living in the slums of india intermittently. Told the story of a bunch of kids who were born and raised in brothels. An eye-opener, but lacked depth and dimension.

Sicko, on the other hand, was fantastic. Very well-researched, well written, witty, hilarious (and any other superlatives you can think of). Michael Moore did a wonderful job educating us on the ills of the American healthcare system. I thought it would be a heavy documentary but it wasn't! It was very informative, but written in such a way to facilitate the diffusion of information into my Easter-afflicted brain.

Blink blink. Back to school. I guess it helps that I'm liking Peds so far =) And it also helps that I've got stuff to look forward to each week. Right now, the highlight of my week is the 50mins of Tudors.

For those who haven't heard of it, it a historical drama about the life and times of King Henry VIII. Notorious for lobbing off the heads of 2 of his 6 wives and divorcing another 2, this showtime series has proven that there was far more to Henry than the portrait our high-school history texts paint (usually involves a grotesquely obese Henry). While Showtime has taken every effort to be true to history, one thing they have not done is make Henry fat. I'm kinda happy about that actually.

Recently, I've been going thru somewhat of a zen-phase. I've been reading blogs on productivity, technology, time management:

http://unclutterer.com/

http://www.productivity501.com/

http://zenhabits.net/

All jewels in their own right.

One of the suggestions I picked up on was to rid my desk of wires. Mx: Logitech Cordless V450 laser mouse (AUD $50)
Review: 9.5/10 stars. Took out 0.5 stars because I would have preferred it 1cm longer.

Till next time =)

Long-overdue Updates

I know I haven't blogged in a while now. 4th year happened, which so far has consisted of watching babies being born and, as of this week looking after them. Not to mention trying to keep my head above everything and not lose perspective. Easier said then done.

O&G was fun, but I kinda got bored after a while. But not before watching lots of surgeries and discovering that I really, really love being in theatre, being gloved and gowned, and looking at my bloodied gloves later. Just makes me feel alive and like I've actually done something you know? It's not a feeling I get often as a medical student. And the cool bit about surgery, esp. laparoscopic surgery, is that it's really like playing a video game. I stand beside the surgeons and remember how as a child I used to watch the older kids in the arcade playing their stuff. It's the exact same feeling; the yearning to be like them, to have tokens to play the game, to be good at it. Here's the best part: the surgeons actually make a living out of playing!

Just started pediatrics this week. Haven't seen as many kids as I hoped, although I've been hanging around ED. The waiting is not really fun, neither is it terribly productive as I don't study well in hospital. But despite all this, pediatrics seems really interesting. I was in the nursery two days ago and a midwife let me cradle a newborn. It was a magnificent feeling you know, holding a tiny life in your arms. Too bad it didn't show on my face though.

Midwife: Are you alright? You look terrified!
Me: Yea, I'm fine

2 Mins later


Resident: You sure you're alright?
Me: Ok. I'm really scared of killing this thing. He looks so fragile...
Resident: Mmm, better not kill it. A lot of paperwork otherwise.

Although 4th year has been pretty demanding, I'm really thankful for being able to find time to gym, follow the Tudors, Private Practice, Gossip Girl and Heroes! I've also managed to get thru a fantabulous novel:

Best book I've read in ages.

I'm living with the bf this year which has been really great and time-saving so far (no more driving to city to meet him coz he's 10m across the living room). It's also good in that I get my own Personal time whenever I desire (capital P because it's so important to me). All I need to do is suggest that he inhabits his room for awhile =) Before we made the move, friends cautioned us of the dangers. For example, more things to dislike about each other, more things to fight about etc. Thankfully that hasn't happened. We actually fight less now. Possibly because we've been forewarned so we're more attuned to potential problems, or possibly because I get all warm and fuzzy in the home setting. I'm not sure. Kerf thinks it's due to this book I've read:
I seriously think everyone should read this. In a relationship, it's too easy become someone you're not and screw up a good relationship because there cure no 'guidelines' as to what you should or shouldn't do/say. A lot of the 'rules' in thus book are quite common-sensical, but they serve as a good reminder as to how you should treat your partner.

Main downside of living together is that he's become too accessible! Hmm, I don't feel like studying, think I'll go see what he's up to. Result: less studying done.

The bro's in Adelaide doing Dentistry this year. Lucky ducky, he got 3rd round offers! Glad he's enjoying it. It's probably a blessing in disguise he didn't get into med.

Current activity: Blogging and surfing the net using Tablet mode handwriting recognition.
Current favourite webby: www.bookdepository.co.uk
Current mood: Happy. Restless.
Currently reading: The Art of Speed-reading People