bee

Work has been very hectic (to say the least). Hours are way better than the 6am to 9pm they were before my lovely partner came along :) She's awesome!!! A 3rd posting HO who's out of phase, she's very much like an elder sister. Very protective and all around Awesome. Sigh. It's so quick but a month is almost over, and I'll have to rotate out of Vascular Surgery soon. Will discuss more about that next weekend though, now's a little premature...

I think work is a lot about being responsible, honest and apologetic, among many other important adjectives. Pretty self-explanatory. They're easily done, but don't mean that you'll stay out of trouble. I've found it somewhat perilous the number of booby traps that await us (such is the nature of the job), and we're just not equipped with good judgement simply because experience awaits us, sometimes because we're stretched too thin, sometimes because things get lost in translation. When do we follow instructions to the T, when do we make that phone call? All of that requires judgement, common sense and EQ, all of which need time to refine. And multiple mistakes and scoldings, of course.

All around, it's been a pretty fair ride. I am exhausted, and excited all at once. Sometimes, the heart and mind are willing, but the body is not.

I work 7 days a week now, because my partner and I have realised it's not possible to do a one-man-show and still hope to leave before 1pm on the weekend. So we do it together, and end up with a pretty decent amount of the day left. I spent this weekend in bed mostly, after a meal with mum and the bro. And some of it, I spent at the shops (if only just for a change of scene). I was pleasantly surprised to find my paycheck in so quick, just in time for Dad's return next Thursday :) Haha treats all around! Shan't bore you with my random purchases, suffice to say, I believe one gets what one pays for. And I'm obsessed with heavy, smooth fabric with sheen.

It's all about the Fabric baby.

it's bizarre but i can't stop laughing

Did you know that before we prepare to amputate someone's limb, we're obliged to ask if they'd like to keep the amputated body part?
It's a Muslim thing, but for equality's sake we ask everybody.
One of my fellow HOs actually woke an ah pek up at 4am (it was an emergency op) to ask him, "Uncle, you wanna keep your leg?"
"WTF YOU WAKE ME UP TO ASK ME THIS???"
"err... uncle you want to bring your leg home?"
"DO WHAT? bou tong lai yam?" (boil soup and drink)
"okok... goodnight uncle..."
(run and hide).
The funniest reply I've seen thus far is a -blank- stare, followed by a couple seconds "WHAT is this young shit mumbling on about??" and a scurried HO scribbling in the case sheets "Pt no want limb". Haha yes - Engrish and shame fly out the window when one is starved and sleepy!

on being struck

"My mind is too strong for my body."

this is not Grey's Anatomy!

I love my job.

Even though my feet are dead from all that walking, my ankles are swollen, and my joints all ache. My head is swiming, my heart is palpitating, my eye is blur, my brain is numb and I can almost believe 5 whole years of medical school has effectively been rendered null and void starting today. I am a "glorified clerk" and "bottom of the food chain". And to quote my friend Ken -- "I can say Day One of Surgical Internship is nothing like Episode One of Grey's Anatomy. No freaking way." Haha -- he got that right. No McDreamies either!

I am Happy!

friends and family

This week was a very precious and lovely one. I met up with so many friends and my beloved grandma (pawpaw) and gave and received lots of love. We had grad dinner on Thursday, and it was a great turnout, with favorite tutors and classmates all present. Think it was a great idea to have the beer guzzling contest right up front -- that really got the party started!! (Go boys!) Amidst hilarious trashtalking onstage and all that phototaking, it was still cozy. Nice to have a big hurrah to mark the start of something new.

It isn't news now, that precautions have been put in place across all hospitals. Starting work in such a situation is ironically, a little less stressful. Our seniors are held back in their original positions, so as new houseman we're able to seek advice from them and have them by our sides as we orientate ourselves to ward work. Very very grateful, despite this sounding incredibly warped!

I met up with all my best gal pals on both Friday and Saturday and while the timing wasn't exactly perfect, it was worth the rushing around and mad parking. I love you all so much, and really thank God for each and everyone of you! What's a gal to do without gal pals??

I've just come back from dinner with pawpaw and it was such a nice catchup. Hadn't seen her since CNY because of exam prep and she'd been overseas for the past month celebrating her 80th, so it was a very sweet reunion :) I always marvel at how sprightly, sharp and stylo she is. Wish I would age as gracefully (without botox and fillers, if I can help it!).

Most of all, speaking to my Daddy on the phone all the way from Paris made me cry buckets because I miss my parents very much. And with the swine flu and all... I just wish they were home, where we're well stocked with Tamiflu and I can keep an eye on 'em!

To all whom I've met and loved and cuddled and missed, thank you :) You make life worth fighting for, you make life worth living.