2005 turned out to be a good year. It wasn't great, but it was good--better than 2004, for sure. Remember how grief was the main emotion of 2004 when, in that one single year, my aunt Agnes and cousin Luigi died of Breast CA and Rheumatic Heart Disease respectively? In 2005, our family began moving on. It wasn't easy for me. From time to time, I would still miss my dear cousin who used to live with me and my brother in our Robinsons' condo during school days. Memories of him are still scattered all over the place. But time has once again proven itself to be the greatest healer. After a while, I got used to him not being around anymore, with the thought that he's resting in a beautiful place in the midst of his Creator.

In terms of relationships naman, Chris and I are well and good. No major issues spurted out. We have been together for five long years already, and we value each other's companionship. We take care of each other. ^_^

Chris and I both have fully adjusted to the UST med-life. I think he's adjusted much earlier than I did, which is not surprising because he's been a Thomasian for more than 4 years already. I still have the "UP" personality, and though I think that it will forever be that way, I have learned to love being here in UST.

So much for 2005...

I sure hope 2006 would be better. This year, I want my life to be a bit more "colorful". I hope this year would be filled with more trips and adventures outside of med school. I want to be able to meet more people, and rediscover old friends. I also hope I could be able to attend medical missions and finally make my first cut of flesh in a minor surgery.

Happy new year everyone!

 

I haven't updated my blog for the longest time now, and the reason for this has never changed and still applies: ang toxic ng med life!

The previous semester was an ass. I had to deal with a lot of exams alongside history taking, quizzes and seminars, and at one point, I felt myself so saturated that I started to ask myself why I was in med school in the first place. The fact that this question actually crossed my mind amazes me, even now. You see, ever since I could remember, to become a doctor is all I ever wanted. Even during my Pharm days (which was extremely toxic as well), I knew I would go to medical school and finish it--even if it would cost me so much time and effort.

Thank God, the previous sem is done and over with, and sa awa ng Diyos, I made it through Clinical Pathology naman without any sabit. Whew. Sa ngayon, 'di naman na ako nag-iisip na mag-quit ng medschool. I will finish my goddamn course and go through all these painstaking shit until I can finally have those two precious letters legally attached to my surname and I can don that pristine white blazer accessorized with a black stethoscope around my neck.

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So anyways, I finished Obstetrics I last semester, and just this sem break, after personally witnessing a cesearean section in Nazareth Hospital, I decided that I want to become an Obstetrician. I didn't tell my parents this yet. ^_~

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Tiff is off to Australia na. God, I'll miss that bitch.

It's been quite a while; I almost forgot the address of my own blog. Things have been so busy, busy, busy at school, and the pool of activities has widened so much to accomodate not only the usual ton of exams, but also multiple ward visits, hours and hours of history writing, interviewing and examining patients, and other second-year-medicine whatnot.

Block 27 Reuinion

My UP Pharm block just had a reunion last Saturday night, and though it was just a simple dinner at Tang City in the walang-kamatayang Rob, it was so much fun. It reminded me of how much I really miss being with these people. They were my sources of post labs, of jokes, of in-school chismis, of fotoxes, sometimes even of angst, but more importantly, my souce of strength during those trying times in the College of Pharmacy. After all, no one else understood exactly how toxic it is during that four-year stay in UP, other than my own blockmates. During that same span of time, at that same institution, we all painstakingly grew from the naive highschool graduates that we were to the professionals that we are now.

These are the people who have permanent places in my heart.


The Godfather

I just recently started to read Mario Puzo's The Godfather, a book I found lying around at Chris's place, which actually belonged to Dennis. It's a double-volume paperback; it came with Puzo's other novel, The Last Don.

The first few chapters of the book got me really interested in Mafias and Sicilian culture. But what interested me more is Puzo's graphic description of each unfolding scene; he could be so picturesque and funny at the same time. My favorite example to prove this point is his description of Don Vito Corleone's eldest son, Santino. This man, Santino, is depicted to be a kind-hearted man with genuine concern for the people around him, yet is the typical playboy who is known to thrill many women in between the sheets.

So how did Mario Puzo exactly describe Santino?

"He is a man whose heart is as big as his organ."

That really got me laughing for a while.

And here is another one that got me giggling; Puzo created this character named Lucy, a young woman fascinated by the bedroom stories exchanged among ladies about Santino's sex prowess. She overhears Santino's wife, Sandra, talking to some female relatives about her husband's "organ".

And what did Mario Puzo write about Lucy's feelings at that particular scene?

"She felt the skin between her legs twitching."

Hahaha.

Panalo.

I used to think every teacher here in the conservative, Catholic campus of UST are mababait, compared to the blood-thirsty ones I encountered in the liberal world of UP. Just last Friday, though, I learned that my assumption is totally incorrect.

One of my batches, a girl, was insulted by one of our Pharmacology doctor-professors while the student was leading the laboratory conference in front of the class. The doctor, showing distaste for the anklet her student wore, told her curtly that she looked like a prostitute from the red-light district.

The weeks go by so fast in medschool, it almost seems unbelievable.

Just last Friday, Sep, Gracie, Taten and I got together for a pre-concert "Bitch Fest" at Sep's new place. She volunteered to host, not only because her place is relatively near our school, but also to show off her newly-acquired cooking skills. I must say, her "Persian Kebabs" are exquisite. It's quite a shame that she only made a few servings (there's always next time, Sep).

It's really nice that we had that "Bitch Fest" because with the toxicity of medschool, we rarely have time to get together. Of course we always hang out and see each other in school, but if Gracie isn't sharing her usual dose of school chismis, we're all pretty much talking about academic stuff, and it can really be so saturating! Today, for instance, we had our first Pharmacology long test, and I swear, if I hear someone utter a beta-blocker, I'm gonna flip.

Tonight, Chris and I are going to have our special, quiet time together. Nothing fancy--just simple dinner here at home or in Rob, then a movie afterwards. Our Friday night dates have become increasingly special this school year, because during the week, it's med-med-med. Sometimes even the weekends have to be sacrificed, so that we have less time to go places and/or watch more flicks. It's sad, but it's all a part of the package of being a med student.

Alam nyo ba kung ano nakakainis dito sa Manila?

Ang usok! Grabe!

Every morning, I try to get up early so that I have enough time to put myself together--to shower, eat breakfast, fix my hair and face, put on perfume, etc. Unfortunately, this fresh feeling is totally gone in a matter of minutes standing in Taft Avenue. Usok everywhere! Pagdating sa school, amoy tambutso ka na. Buwiset.

At, eto pa--sobrang traffic.

I'm really starting to feel like a doctor more and more each day...

Yesterday, I had my first practical exam in Medicine I, one of my yearly subjects in my sophomore year. We learned how to examine the head and neck, and each of us demonstrated this skill to our doctor-professor. We learned how to use an ophthalmoscope and an otoscope. It was really cool. It just felt a bit funny because for the exam, we posed as each other's students. The giggles could not be helped. Before our turn, Sep, who was my partner, reminded me over and over not to laugh, which didn't really work out 100% because when I used the ophthalmoscope on her and could absolutely not see her physiologic cup, I giggled at myself.

Aside from the growing pool of skills I am acquiring, another mark medical school is making is on my parents' wallets. As if our 76 thousand-peso semestral tuition fee was not enough, the faculty had to come up with this list of prescribed textbooks which are hellishly expensive. I have spent almost 18,000 pesos already on just four books, and I haven't even completed my library yet! It's insane. My dad, of course, understands the need for these books being a doctor himself, although he says during his time as a medical student, the book rates were not as high. His 7th-edition Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine cost him only 88 pesos at Goodwill, while my own 16th-ed version is a staggering 5,500.

But wait! That's not all! Besides these books, I have yet to complete my medical bag--a second year essential. I still have to buy my own otoscope and ophthalmoscope, and a really good set would cost about 8,000! There's also a stethoscope (2,900), BP apparatus (?), etc., etc...

*sigh* So much stuff to buy! No wonder less and less students choose to become medical students. Matagal kang gra-gradweyt, sobrang mahal pa. I didn't really realize it would be this expensive. My dad understands the financial burden that accompanies my dream to be a doctor, but he insists he has everything covered--which sounds really good to my ears. It doesn't matter how much it would cost, he says. My dream to become a physician, he adds, is also his.

There's a new IMVironment theme available in Yahoo Messenger from Volkswagen. It has a spiral wheel that spins and predicts your future when it stops. Here's what it said about my life-to-be:

You will marry: an effeminate biker dude 

You will live in: a shack

You will work as: an assistant hobo

You will vacation in: the Patchouli Jamboree '05

So much for a bright future. With my husband as a biker dude and myself being an assistant hobo, it's a miracle we even have a shack to live in plus extra money to spare for vacation. Hehehe.