Please forgive the hand-shaking.. I was trying to watch the cars without looking through the camera :p
OK-lah. I didn't pay much. My aunt was the one who paid for most of it. As a reward for passing my exam.
But Azman was one-heck of a lucky guy to be the first on my mind to invite to join me in watching the 10th Formula 1 Race in Sepang. We had grandstand seats, which were the-best-seats ever! The best place to see the cars go through curves, speed by, skid from the road and most of all, hear their engines roar!
Uncle, salah jalan-lah!
Seriously, now I know why people pay alot to go all the way to Sepang to watch the race when they could watch it in the comfort of their homes. The sound of the engines, the atmosphere, the tension when a car skids off the road, the people that you'll meet.. I'll definitely come back. I'm glad I've seen one in the daytime now that Malaysia is considering holding the coming ones at night. Wow.. that'll be something to come for also. Have to take leave from work on a Monday if I were to do that. *sigh*
Azman did contribute here and there. He bought the RM50 car park ticket, picked me up, drove through the one and a half hour jam, bought me ear-plugs (absolute essential!), took me to Sepang Goldcoast Beach, bought me dinner, and drove me home in time for my curfew (I still have those, how dumb.. part of my parents' techniques in raising the perfect daughter..). The perfect gentleman, wouldn't you say? Haha.. Azman, you owe me for raising your saham.
Sepang Goldcoast was another breathtaking place to be. I wouldn't say it's the best beach I've been to, but it was cool to see one of Selangor's 'best-kept secret', as Azman described it. The beach was clean, which is a rarity in Malaysia, and it wasn't crowded. Perfect place for a lot of photo-taking. Also a good place for seafood, but we didn't get to test that theory though.
And like every good date, it ended with us watching the sunset (actually more like taking photos instead of sitting down). Something I've not been able to witness for so many years.
I was actually supposed to work this weekend during the Formula 1 as a merchandising hostess for a German company promoting Ferrari & Toyota. Unfortunately I realised at the last moment that there were girls more desperate for the income(RM400 for 2 days) than me, so I turned down the job. A lost opportunity to make new friends and gain some experience, but overall I didn't lose anything when I think of the great Sunday I had :)
Ok-lah. It wasn't a havoc. But it did cause me enough stress to make my face get at least 5 new big, hard, 'painful' pimples. Otherwise, it was definitely a better experience than the ones I've had organizing other functions.
I had the opportunity to organize my batch's graduation dinner last Friday. Honestly speaking, compared with organizing Deeparaya Nite, the Malaysian Medical Students' Conference and other events I've had the privilege to be a part of the 'behind-the-scenes' people, organising my graduation dinner was easier than I'd expected.
I'll send out this picture thru emails this weekend, guys.. don't worry.. click picture for huge-ass version.. haha..
But it was still a huge relief to get it over and done with.
I think all the experience of organising events finally helped me alot. Dealing with higher authorities, delegating jobs, trying to get into peoples' heads, proper time management, making my stand, asking for help from the right people, opening up my mind to new ideas, listening to every opinion, noticing any faults in the planning instantly, 'sucking up' to the right people, having as thick a face as possible, knowing when something is good and when bad things are a big 'NO'... these were things that have somehow become 'second-nature' to me. I didn't lose my temper as much as I did before, I didn't come out of this hating anybody, most of all, I'd actually felt like I couldn't have done it any better. It was almost-perfect, which I am absolutely content with.
There were still mistakes here and there. But looking at how things went that night, I DON'T CARE. I had fun, and I was VERY sure most people had fun that night by looking at their faces.
I couldn't have done it without my batchmates. They were the best people to suffer through 5 years with.. it was a joy knowing that I'd done good enough in their eyes to make the night a memorable one. It was nice of them to let me know that the dinner went well, but really, the person who deserves thanks is every single person who I've had the privilege of knowing the past 2 and a half years in Seremban & Batu Pahat. I couldn't have done it without all of you.
OK, sentimental things aside. Let's get serious. There was some problem with my application for temporary (or was it provisional?) registration into the Malaysian Medical Council. So my dad and I went all the way to Putrajaya to find whether the problem was dealt with properly. The speed of my registration determines which hospital I'll get posted to, so it was important for my dad and I to make sure I'd get registered a.s.a.p.
We ended up getting 'lectured' for ONE hour. Together with powerpoint presentation also.OMG.
Please let me say again. "OMG!" One hour, ok?!
But I understand the officer's frustration when we came asking what the problem was. When you have to deal with all the applications that were not done properly, or submitted late and deal with complaints from not just medical students... but housemen, medical officers, head of departments, private doctors, lawyers, ministry people.. trust me, the one hour lecture I got must be a very small torture to what this officer must be getting everyday.
All in all, I learnt some stuff. I hope my batchmates are reading this, because I think it's important for you to know. Tell others if you think they should know too.
1. Know about the Malaysian Medical Council. Not just its function and aims and objectives bla bla bla... do you know where it is? Which block, which floor? The problem with depending on others when you are registering, you end up becoming ignorant. And being ignorant, according to this officer, is the biggest attitude problem he has to deal with when it comes to dealing with doctors.
2. Did you know, that out of 1400+ of housemen who are told to apply for full registration, only an average of 2 a year will apply before the one month deadline? And 100+ will only submit their application within 6 months? What happens to the rest? The longest record for submission of application for full registration into MMC was 11 years. The doctor's excuse? He forgot.
3. The date of your submission of application (as in the date the council receives your application) is the date your compulsary service STARTS. The longer you delay, the longer your complusary service will be. Some (if not most) doctors submit their forms together for the Head of Department or Hospital Director (I'm not sure who actually) to be signed/approved/whatever.. but what happened in a few cases, was that the hospital was the one who caused the problem. The officer told me that it's always better and SAFER to submit yourself, but if you can't, just make sure the application is sent by the hospital on time. This does not mean you should be bugging the hospital administration everyday about your application. People, some things need to be done with a certain 'method' that doesn't drive people crazy whenever they see your face. Next thing you know it'll be like, "Haiyo, that doctor coming back again."
Don't lie. You would get fed-up too.
4. Make sure your documentation was done properly. Certify it properly according to instructions, get the right people to certify it, give the right documents, pay the proper amount, read the instructions again and again and again and check your things again and again and again... and lastly, make sure your form is neat. I think I got lectured for a good 10-minutes of stupid doctors with HORRIBLE HANDWRITING!! I understand a bad handwriting if you're writing into the case note as fast as possible during your ward round, but in a application form that you can fill at home with no need to rush?
Honestly speaking, I think all of this is easier said than done. But yeah, I'm just highlighting things the offiicer told me.
5. Lastly, if problems do come up during your application, don't panic. The people working in the Council, were still more than happy to help me out. What they can't stand are people calling in, demanding to know what's wrong in an authoritative manner, like I'm God, you listen... and trust me, I saw the officer deal with a doctor who was talking in such manner right in front of me, I pitied the officer. Imagine trying to explain to someone their choices of what to do next, but they are busy interrupting and refuse to just listen. But then again, when it's a question of how long you'll end up doing compulsary service and how much longer you'll have to wait to start working in private practice and be a rich person asap, I can understand how some people can panic.
I hope that helps in some way. It'll still be 2 years before I'd need to apply for full registration, but it was good to know now the implication if I don't take my registration seriously in the future, as it'll mean I would be practising illegally if I don't attain full registration.
If you sat next to a transvestitite during a function, do you get this burning desire to ask some 'personal' questions? I don't dare to though.. I'm too worried about causing offense.
I don't like making judgements on others, as long as they are happy with who they are, I'm A-OK with anything.. but I do have a curious mind.
Just something I wanted to ask you guys after I attended a function a few days ago.
Anyway, this photo was taken when we went for Jenn's house party last night to celebrate her graduation and becoming a doctor with her family. Eventhough we were suppose to celebrate graduating, the party ended up being a post-election gathering, what with the unbelievable results from election. If it was too stressful to watch the news, we'd watch either badminton or Man U match. That also turned out to be stressful, what with Malaysia and Man U losing. *sigh*
Let's hope for the best now, Malaysia. Salary got increase or not? Don't phunk with my heart with all your pre-election speeches..
This is just a song for those who have been feeling down lately, for whatever reasons. I'm a rock chick, so if anything can pick me up and make me jump around my bedroom like an idiot, it's a rock song. Hope you like it. If you're not feeling down, just enjoy seeing people in their lingerie, as kinky as it is, I hope you understand the meaning of the ending of the video and the lyrics.
Jimmy Eat World - The Middle Lyrics
Hey, don't write yourself off yet It's only in your head you feel left out Or looked down on Just try your best, try everything you can And don't you worry what they tell themselves When you're away.
It just takes some time, little girl in the middle of the ride (over, and over) Everything, everything will be just fine (over, and over) Everything, everything it'll be alright (alright)
Hey, you know they're all the same You know you're doing better on your own (on your own) So don't buy in. Live right now Yeah, just be yourself. It doesn't matter if it's good enough For someone else
It just takes some time, little girl you're in the middle of the ride (over, and over) Everthing, everything it'll be just fine (over, and over) Everything, everything it'll be alright (alright) It just takes some time, little girl you're in the middle of the ride (over, and over) Everything, everything it'll be just fine (over, and over) Everything, everything it'll be alright (alright)
Hey, don't write yourself off yet It's only in your head you feel left out Or looked down on Just do your best, do everything you can. And don't you worry what the bitter hearts, are gonna say
It just takes some time, little girl you're in the middle of the ride (over, and over) Everything, everything it'll be just fine (over, and over) Everything, everything it'll be alright (alright). It just takes some time, little girl you're in the middle of the ride (over, and over) Everything, everything It'll be just fine (over, and over) Everything, everything it'll be alright (alright)
