Philosophical dissection: Gluteal region

We had our 9th dissection session this morning. oh, before I continue: Yes, in Cambridge, we do actual dissections on very kind people who have donated their bodies for the purpose of science. We do treat the subjects with absolute respect and hopefully, learn as much as possible from them.

It's on the gluteal region - it means, your butt/ass. As expected, it was really messy because of the subcutaneous/fat layer in the butt. We kept digging through that layer while the stinging embalming fluid continues to slow down our work - as if a signal telling us: Stop touching my butt! It was a relatively easy and relaxing dissection but right before that, my Irish dissection buddy (a guy) asked a very random question that starts the chain of philosophical questions: What am I doing here, about to dig through another person's gluteal region?

It's true, if we don't have the purpose of studying this hardcore, madness-filled course that requires you to actually sell your soul, your life to it, you might as well don't do it now. We study almost every waking hour of our life here since the beginning of term, with the exception of those party animals (bearing the motto: medics work hard, party harder!).  It's too much to ask from an uninterested young soul.

We have to memorise so many terms that don't seem to make any sense at the beginning, slowly absorbing each of them, force them down our throat while anxiously flipping through our course manual right before each dissection. Then we dissect, and get our lab coats and sometimes, hands soaked with embalming fluid and fats. The latex gloves just won't do the magic, the fluid does seeps through the pores in it. Fortunately, minutes of vigorous scrubbing with some unknown-brand, very effective soap is able to remove the smell.

Talking about smell, allow me to add another sickening statement here: dissection makes a person really hungry. I don't know why, it's not that we are cannibals or we are really that perverted (or perhaps we are for being insane enough to choose this course), we just get really hungry right after the 2 hours dissection. I remember one of my friends told me her dissection buddy was holding the biceps brachii muscle and said, "This piece of meat looks really juicy." D:

We would come out and start digging through our bags for snacks while running to the physiology lecture, as if we have not ingested anything for years. (in reality, we usually had a really huge breakfast right before dissection) Our seniors told us it's the formaldehyde playing tricks on our mind. I dearly hope so. 

After 2 hours of fat-digging(subject's) and brain-drilling(ours), my supervision buddy ended the dissection with yet another words of wisdom for the day: 

If we are normal people, we would be traumatised by all of these.  

My first month in Cambridge

I deeply apologise for my disappearance since before arrival in Cambridge. Now that I've been here for a month (arrival 25/10/2012), I can only tell you it's truly of an adventure, even it's just the first month of the six years I'll be here.

It has been a roller-coaster ride.  

Dream come true
When I first arrived, it was an early morning in London. A few of us (Livia, Samuel, Meredith, Kah Wei and I)  travelled from Heathrow on national express coach (after missing our bus as we had to drag our luggages while getting lost a few times). 

My heart beats faster for every mile we travelled towards Cambridge. I dont know what to expect ahead but I only know this will be the moment I've been picturing since the university application last year. I've kept it a secret from everyone but the picture I had in my head was a panoramic view from my eyes of the Gonville Court in my college. I sort of developed that imagination through the pictures I've obsessively collected from the internet a year ago.   

We arrived at Park Side finally and it was a sunny, windy noon. I gazed across the green. This place is amazingly beautiful. Old buildings, Caucasians everywhere, bicycles and that cool British air. No, this is still not the 'moment'. I must not lose my breath at just this. 

After being shocked by the sheer humongous size of my room in Harvey Court, I went out to look for the international students seniors in the town. I was directed to walked through King's College but I was completely clueless of what that was about to appear in front of me. 

The iconic King's Chapel! That moment, my heart was leaping with joy and it hits me...it really does hits me - THANK GOD I AM AT CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY! 

Talk about having the brain drowned in gushes of adrenaline. 

A prologue to 'Reality'

During International Freshers Week, we went around buying duvets, pillows and so many stuffs to set up the room. My first non-Malaysian friend here is Pop, a really sweet girl doing economics from Thailand. :) I've also met my college family and learnt that my college dad, Matthew is a great philanthropist. Considered the book fees he'd helped me saved on, I can prove that to be completely true. Or rather, our family has really rich inheritance. ;) We went punting, take lots of pictures. Set up bank account and learnt how to use the library system. Went for orientation and not to be missed, the pub crawl. To be honest, I used to think I'd enjoy pubs, clubs and alcohols back in Subang (tho I never really had the chance, time, energy and money back then and it's relatively unsafe to go clubbing in Malaysia). Now that I've been given the autonomy to attend these events, I'm shocked that I don't have the interest to join in at all. I enjoy chilling over ONE pine of beer (rarely) and the wines over Formals, and that's about my encounters with alcohols for this month. I do feel left out at times when I browse over Facebook and see my medic peers partying the night away, but slowly, I realise this is the part of growing up people told me about - taking your own stance. Given this autonomy, I've also been given this choice to NOT attend it at all without feeling I have to succumb to all these peer pressure, unless it is my own WILL and INTEREST. I only have to do things I really ENJOY. Just say 'no' if that's not what I want. 

Next, I bought a new bike, which I was really happy with because it looked so pretty. It burnt a hole in my purse for costing 185GBP. It is a must to get a bike here for me because I'm just plain lazy to walk due to the distance between my accommodation and lecture site. On the third day, I was about to register the bike so I parked it outside the college gate  without locking it because there weren't any poles around and thinking I'd be back within minutes. When I came out, it took me a few seconds to register what happened - MY BIKE WAS STOLEN. I panicked, looked around and didn't see my bike at all. Called my mom, called livia but I wasn't in tears at all. Livia rushed over with Eythan and they too were very shocked. I remember my mom telling me, "I'm very disappointed at this incident because I've always had high-regards to Cambridge, as a place. Now that this has happened..."

This is reality. No place is perfect. It's a dream place to LEARN, not exactly a dream place to live happily ever after. But then again, I am here to learn, no?

Realising the urgency of having a bike, Eythan walked with me to get a new bike immediately. We went to lodge a police report, which I find it was a very pleasant experience compared to what we had to deal with in Malaysia (not to trash my own country, but it's just the sad truth). While walking to Mill Road to the bike shop, Eythan was bemused by my response towards this whole incident. 

"Aren't you sad at all?" 

"Surprisingly, no. I have no idea why am I laughing now." 

Sometimes, I too doubt my sanity. 

Reality

I had my first dissection. I had my first lectures. I had my first supervision. They have completely overwhelmed me. I didn't know the gravity of being of a Medical Student, here in Cambridge and here in CAIUS. It WAS the best medical college, which has lost it's glory a couple years ago. As part of the effort in regaining the throne, they will do absolutely anything - that includes, working us medics like slaves. 

We literally do more of what every other medics do in their college. They have 3 supervisions, we have 4 every week. They did 3-4 essays for this month, we did at least 10 up till this point. The course itself is not THAT difficult, but...it's the volume of information that we have to digest that makes this whole process so daunting.

My performance isn't that good for this month. I've stressing and working like mad but thank God for my friends and Jeeyen, my best friend who came from London to make sure I'm still sane visit me. They've encouraged me, especially the seniors in cell groups! :) And Jeeyen truly calmed me because she has also been through gap year like I did. 

"Give yourself some time. This is a completely new thing, new culture and what's more, you just got over a gap year. Give yourself time." 

I've been blessed with a really good anatomy supervisor too - Prof. David Riches. He has been really kind and understanding, experienced supervisor. He was the dean of medical school in IMU and has been to Miri before. He's apparently attending the same church as I do now. We shared quite some common topics to chat about over the matriculation dinner...I just feel obligated to 'love' anatomy now. :p 

Now

I'm done with week 4. Another 4 weeks to go till winter break. Surprisingly, I really do enjoy working. People have been telling me I'm working too hard, stressing too much but I find myself enjoying this whole process. I mean, for every mistake I've made, I gained more; for every lecture, dissection, practical and supervision I attended, I'm more amazed by how God designed our body. I've lived with this body for 20 years and yet I've been ignorance towards its structures. I've only realise the existence of many parts on my body now... I have also been writing so many essays, sharpening my writing skills while managing my time well enough to join activities. I'm just, really really glad that I've chosen this course here in Cambridge.

My social life has been really great. I'm just glad to have this really great support from this group of Malaysians. I know people have been talking about how we should mix around to have the thorough, real British experience but sometimes, I could really use some sense of familiarity in this strange, new place. Thank you for being there. 

My spiritual life may seems to be starved by my work. But I think God's telling me more through the people around. It's all about who I think Jesus is and what are my priorities at the end of the day, don't blame work. Church, cell group and christian fellowship - I just couldn't ask for more! They have served as reminders throughout the week on the ultimate purpose I am living and working - for the glory of God. So when in stressful time, I always remind myself, I'm working for the glory of God through the strength and wisdom He has blessed me with.

Keep calm 

and 

serve Him cheerfully. 

Besides, even after a year of drilling through the bible, I realise I still don't know much and this relationship with the Lord is still primitive. So I'm praying for this relationship to grow! :) 

So, that's it for half of my first Michaelmas term here in Cambridge. Autumn is coming to an end soon, I was puzzled by the whole daylight saving drama but work goes on! 

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Warm-up

Oh gosh...can someone please tell me why did I decided to take a gap year again? 

Deferring is becoming an increasingly popular option for students wanting a well-earned break, a chance to set themselves up financially for the coming years and an opportunity to gain some real-world experience before hitting the books again...

- The Good Universities Guide 

Hmm...the reasons sound pretty legit. Maybe that's why I've made such decision...

Wait, I didn't.

Being June-intake A-Level students, bound for UK universities, we are FORCED to take up this gap year. If you are considering about taking a gap year, DON'T!  Who am I to complain? This gap year has, honestly, helped me to grow in so many ways, to always seek from different perspectives, to have FUN to the extend I'd never imagine before this (10-months holiday man! Just picture it and go sulk in the corner if you never will/had a chance to do so! :p) Judging from the experience I've reaped from this holiday, I really couldn't complain much...EXCEPT THE FACT THAT I COULDN'T REMEMBER ANYTHING FROM A-LEVELS. *bangs the wall*

However, according to my college parents (yes, we have a family system in Cambridge, that's a story for another day), I need not to panic because they expect us to be rusty regardless of the length of holiday before university, so they will refresh even the most basic facts with us. How thoughtful! :)

BUT - there's always this big but - my college parents have also sent their lecture notes over to help me warm up. I felt really warm inside when I first received their letters from the other side of the world. The moment I opened the notes, I stunned like that O.O Stoned. Dead silence.

Then I proceeded to go on www.facebook.com , www.twitter.com , www.blogger.com , instagram...and never look back again.

That's the major crisis now - I can hardly concentrate long enough these days! It's like I really have concentration of a goldfish (and its memory capacity too, if it even exist in the carrasius aurastus due to evolution disadvantages blah blah blah) Even going through the fresher's pack took me 4 long hours. (You won't believe how many activities are scheduled for the first 2 weeks!)

Ok, but I'm really trying hard now to concentrate. I am kiasu. I am trying hard.  urgh. 

4 days till departure! 

p/s: I've received my visa today. It took 13 days, without the RM392 priority service. Still in time for departure. :) 

Fresher's Pack

I received my fresher's pack last night. Spent more than 4 hours going through everything because there are some forms that are long overdue. Snail mail, literally. That's the problem with people staying in East Malaysia, we always get our mails 1 week later than those in West Malaysia. =.="

Sent another mail over to the university in UK today by normal post at the Mont Kiara Post Office. It is by far the cheapest I've ever been charged.
By normal post: RM1.50 (will take up to 2 weeks)
By registered mail: RM6.00 (goes by weight, but this is the approx. price for thin letters, takes up to 2 weeks too)
By pos laju: RM87.00 (arrive within 3 days, goes by weight, this price is also an approx for thin letters)

This pack definitely made me all hyped up to fly! 

p/s: The University has sent a notification on the CAS number being used, this means my visa will be done soon. :) 

Applying for MAS Grads Card

If you are thinking of flying with MAS over to UK for studies with the luggage allowance of max 20kg, please consider again; If you did that, I salute you!

While packing, getting my luggages to be under 20kg was practically impossible. I only packed just clothings enough for a week, some formal wears, 2 pair of shoes, heels, toiletries and stationeries. Nothing massive or extremely heavy, I just don't know how it got to 25kg, or rather, how little 20kg really is.

So I applied for MAS Grads card. It was a very simple and fast process! Just bring a copy of your IC, University acceptance letter and RM30 membership fee, to KL Sentral Enrich Office. Take note, the Enrich Office is not  MAS office, it's located beside The Coffee Bean in KL Sentral. You can print your own form at home, but they have forms there too. I filled mine on the spot and got the card on the immediately. The whole process took less than 30 minutes. No waiting. :)

More info: http://www.malaysiaairlines.com/my/en/enrich/grads/about-grads.html

11 days till departure! :)

p/s: Just got myself a Canon 60D! Woohoo! I promise to take nice photos and make a nice banner when I go over. :)

First ever CUMaS Freshers' Camp & Freshers' Banquet

Le Posh Saujana Hotel
Pic from 7ojozat.com

Last weekend, I was at The Saujana Hotel, Kuala Lumpur for the first ever CUMaS freshers' camp! :D It was an extremely enjoyable weekend meeting all the new friends, freshers and seniors alike, (who have to will be each others' BFF for the next few years of uni life). The hotel is near the old Subang airport...Plus, we only have to pay a minimal amount for the stay. Heehee.

Gabriel fetched Livia and I from Publika. After being lost for a few times on the way, we finally arrived. (It's opposite a Japanese School.) Greeted by the seniors, we were brought to the field to introduce ourselves and played several games. The games were torturous really nice as we were made to remember each other's name, course and college so we spent no time knowing roughly each's background. The funny thing is, I always got forced into "chubby bunny" type of game which you have to stuff as many marshmallows into your mouth and enunciate the words CHUBBY BUNNY clearly. Did this a few times before (Oh, the nightmare at TAYMUN Seniors Appreciation Night!). In fact, this is my usual habit of eating that I'm trying hard to not show it out in public, so unless you have an eating habit similar to that of a hamster, please, you have no chance at all against me. Muahahaha... Ok fine, this is nothing to be proud of, but I did a new personal best: 10 marshmallows. :p

We played a few more team-building games then proceeded to play University Challenge! :) Ok..the game was fun, but making us recall the Pendidikan Moral definisi (Moral Education in Malaysia, which we have to memorise around 40 definitions of different good values) was just...made me feel like punching people in the face. Just kidding. :p It was funny how everyone can't remember stuffs that, we spent 5 whole years during our secondary school memorising all the definitions until the extend that we can memorise them backwards! It's just 3 years after secondary school and very few of us could remember it. Talk about failed Moral Education. :S We did answered a few more questions on Medicine, Economics, Cambridge, Engineering, MML etc... Had a great time brainstorming with the group mates of POOL. :D  Don't ask why we made the name Pool, it was a completely random choice after we talked about winter pool right before the game. The game ended in an utter irony, Oxford group won. :p

We washed up and went for dinner after that. While in the room, the 2 lawyer room mates and I spent sooo much time talking, laughing and all that. Guess what, none of us understand how we got here, how we got the offer when we are just plain "silly" girls and there are others who are obviously smarter than we are. But somehow, we got here. Silence dominated the whole atmosphere for a few seconds while we pondered. God's amazing.

Then, we spent the night after dinner talking more, played Truth&Lie and the blanket game. Sorry, no idea of the proper name of those games. Heehee..we finished quite late and slept right away when we reached our room. (I heard some others were playing cards at the lobby. Where did they get the energy to do so?!)

Next morning, we had a sumptuous buffet breakfast, followed by MORE games under the sun (Strategy games and chill-version of Ultimate Frisbee). Lunch at a restaurant nearby and MORE talking before we went back to prepare for the night Banquet.

The Banquet is at Hilton Hotel Kuala Lumpur. The whole dinner was rather luxurious, I must say. We had so much dessert that I'd puke if you stuff more cheese/chocolate in my mouth. The President and Vice President of Malaysian Oxbridge Society and George Lee (should have talked to him!) were there too. MORE talking to all the new people! Had a really great time knowing about the seniors and their life there...Medics can be really cool and chill people, after all. :)

As if the amount of talking we had for the past 2 days are not enough, few of us still went for a mamak session in Bangsar after the Banquet. It's just magical how we could all mingle so well in such short time.

Oh, life's wonderful. And I bet it'll be even more amazing over there...