The Start of 4th Year

It's Registration Day today. And you bet it was a crazy rush, and extremely disorganised. But I love it today..what a wonderful start for the year. I met people whom I know but don't talk to very much before, got to know new classmates, and of course met darling Sophie who finally came back from America (poor girl's jet lagging)!

There are quite a number of people who didn't make it to final year, and Michelle Tang was one of them. Feel really sorry for her in a way, and I have to say....she's really positive about it all..all geared up to give it another go...hmm...something I have to learn from her. But hey, I have got another friend to look for now that we're in the same year.

Rushed to A&E after registration because my tummy isn't getting any better despite me trying out ALL the medicine I have brought over from Singapore for tummy problems. The NHS is darn screwed. Imagine them telling me I've gotta wait 3.5 HRS to be seen by a doctor! I tried to get the receptionist to find a way to let me see a doc, and she told me what I can do is to go home and ring the ambulance. In that way, I won't have to wait that long. *rolls eyes* Well, that's what you get in a country with FREE healthcare system. So those who aren't pleased that Sg's healthcare is subsidised (even though still costly), maybe you'll wanna think twice again?

Couldn't afford 3.5 hrs' wait to see a doc as I've got lectures, so I just left and decided to ring my GP instead..but ya noe wat? GP CLOSED AGAIN! This is the dunno which time I find the surgery I got myself registered with CLOSED. "Close? Then see another GP lah!" is what u're gonna say yeah? Ha! But it doesn't work this way here. Every student/person has to register him/herself to a GP near where u live, and each time u need to see a doc, you are expected to go to the GP whom u registered yourself with...and no one else. And you'll only be entertained if u've got an appointment to see a doc. If you're suay, you'll probably get to see him/her only after a week, and I reckon by then, u're all well or under drip in the hospital. Sounds dumb? But hey..that's how it is here! Once again..free healthcare..what u expect?!

Our brilliant Ministers who were educated in the UK must have remembered how screwed the NHS is since decades ago, that's why our health system isn't free.

Manz..I'm grumbling endlessly abt NHS, when I might end up being a NHS employee one day. Ok, change topic!

I got my course guide and important info about my placements for the whole year. Am pretty glad that I've been given places which are pretty convenient to go to. Schedules for each placement block is out too.

Attended introductory lectures this afternoon with briefings about the specialty placements I'll be doing. Sounds damn interesting, and after reading the course guide just now, it makes me feel as if Yr 4 is gonna be fun. One of the doctors who gave us lectures this year kept emphasising that Yr 4 is a fantastic year to be in. Hmm..will see if this is true in the months to come.

Am glad that Yr 4's purely clinicals. No more rubbish coursework and endless critical appraisals to do..yay!!!! But there's a long critical commentary to be written up for Obs & Gynae though. This one seems interesting, because it could be sent for publication if the department thinks it's well written (great boost for CV!), and students whose works are top 6 in the cohort will be allowed to give a presentation to external examiners and senior members of the O&G department! So prestigious right?

There's quite a number of prizes awarded for each specialty department, and it's quite a lot of money plus prestige. Makes me feel more motivated to work. But hmm..shall not stress myself over that. The aim is to PASS..the prizes will just be a bonus. A step at a time, Michelle :)

Oh yes..forgot to mention this..there are now 3 Chinese Michelles in my year. Cheung, Tang and Phua. Gets really confusing when someone calls "Michelle!" now. Maybe it's time the 3 Michelles shall make people call their chinese name instead for clarity. Cheung being called Ying'er, Tang called Ting Ching, and me...Hui Ling..haha.

Now for the bo liao bit...

I happen to see a Chinese guy at med sch who caught my eye. I have never seen him before. Perhaps a 3rd year medic. Very studious looking, simple, decent, bring-home-to-show-parents kind. As I was rushing, I only had a very quick glance...no time to carefully observe every feature lah. My only impression is that he's not bad looking.

When I was walking home after lectures this afternoon, I saw him again..parking his bicycle outside my block.

Left my heavy bag and books in my room before heading downstairs to go to another block to see if there are any free bottles of mineral water which I can take. Bumped into him at the lift on the ground floor this time. Gave me a shock for a few seconds. It was only then I realise that he's probably staying in my block. Kinda excited and happy (luv seeing chinese ard..makes me feel closer to home) cos I thought my block's very empty and apart from my flatmates, I thought there wasn't anyone else around. Was even wondering if I'm the only Chinese in this block. Ha..if he's really staying in the same block, looks like I won't feel like some outcast even though I do not know him. Yeah...I'm just self-consoling..haha.

Damn wasted that I gotta move out of here in 2 weeks' time. No more eye candy to see...lol. Why isn't he in my year manz?! *lol*

The bo liao things to add "colour" to my lonely life here...