Thursday, November 23, 2006

Week 9

Time flies...
But annoyingly, at times, Father Time crawls too.

At speeds not even comparable to that of a newborn trying to crawl for it's too bloody slow, one can't help but to just feel totally helpless, and thoroughly annoyed.

Time has no mercy on me when I'm having that rare taste of sweet dream, when I'm having a pillow fight with my roomies just this evening, and also when I'm enjoying a warm, soothing bath in the shower. It rushes by like a drop of water moving through the rapids.
And yet, I'm powerless to do anything against the will of Father Time.

Sometimes I wonder if Time has misunderstood my plead for it to keep away from the accelerator. It overdoes the deceleration during a certain lecturer's hour of limelight. To say the least, it totally gets on my nerves.

I don't care if you look good to some, and that you've got a cute butt. Bloody learn how to speak a full sentence without several 3 second intervals in between. By repeating "So basically" and "So"more than a hundred times an hour doesn't make you a very tolerable presentor either. They claim that you've improved, and I'll give you due credit by acknowledging it. Sadly, it's not good enough for a lecturer at this level, especially when my colleagues, or your students can work through a presentation in a much more acceptable manner. Where have you hid your confidence? I can sense your doubts right back here on the third row. I don't see any reason why I should take your words for granted now, for you should know better than anyone else that professionals in our field cannot such the luxury of being in doubt, the consequence may just be too bitter to be beared.

With utmost understanding of your position as a newbie at lecturing, and your young age, I do not believe in compromising the grades of a batch of promising students who could otherwise be great just because we care for an incompetent individual. I'm neither challenging your position, nor attempting to get you fired, although I'm perfectly clueless as to why you were granted the privilege of being the bearer of wisdom from which we should tap from in the first place. They must've saw something in you that I have not, yet.

At least, I hope that is true. Buck up, for as much as I hate to admit this, our future lies in your hands. Unleash the potential that you may have, somewhere hidden inside you. Time waits for no one. Learn to earn my respect, for you do not deserve it, not yet. I believe I'm not too stubborn to the extent that my mind cannot be changed at all. Do it, or lose it. That's all I ask of you. And stop with that idiotic smile of yours, ewww... Your smile doesn't answer our questions, at the same time, it's nowhere near charming. Losing that stinky cologne that everyone hates will be great too! That'll save me from having to "accidentally" spill any better smelling chemicals we use during our Dispensing Lab session. Oh, and I don't care if it toxic or corrosive, Muahahaha...

Funnily enough, paranoia , irritation or anger doesn't describe what I'm feeling right now, as many would've wrongly assumed in the first place. As I'm writing this, I'm feeling a little smug for having done a decent dose of revision over the past few days. Fatigue is still haunting me, though naps have finally found their way back into my routine. Maybe it was the pillow fight that we had just now, a little bonding moment we shared, lol, good times definitely. Just a couple of minutes ago, I was lying down at the circular area in the middle of the campus watching the starry night sky. Perhaps the only good thing that Semenyih has to offer is a clear night sky, where you can see stars in numbers that you can no longer count with your fingers and toes, especially when you're in good company *winkz*. That time of the month is also here to make a life a more complicated, besides a little minor bodily malfunctions that's nothing much to worry about. A little headache, chapped lips, dry skin here and there, but that's about it. I guess this is the time when everyone start getting a little worked up with their coursework, while everything else starts taking its toll on the human body.

We are not super humans after all. I'll take this as an experiment to see how far I can push my tiny little body.

P/s: PharmNotts will be organising a Blood Donation Drive next Monday. The main criteria for donors are above 18, above 45kgs, not having period, HIV and Hepatitis free. I can't donate, because I'm disqualified by some of the required criterias. But I do hope those who can will be wiling to contribute. Remember, what goes around, comes around. You may just need that bit of good karma one day. Please support our cause! All donations go to The National Blood Bank.

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Nasty November, memories of October.

It's soooo hectic! My hours of classes per week have just soared to a peak of 23 hours per day. Not taken into account yet is the hours I spent sprinting from class/labs/ library , to library/lab/class. Not forgetting the number of lunches that I missed for those extra hours of lab/ library work, then the number of Maggi Cup that served me ever so loyally, and consistently throughout the semester. Sure, we don't have homeworks that are due the next morning like when we're back in primary school. But our self-assigned homeworks feels much more tedious and stressful, than those assigned by teachers.

Deadlines, deadlines, and more deadlines... argh! Better have Rumah Bahagia's number handy, just in case. I think I'm experiencing moments of Stress-Overdrive-Insanity already. Chocolates ans Pringles help ease me up, so I make sure I have ample of supply, and keeps up with a diet consisting of much sugar and calories. Somehow, I keep feeling that my pants are getting more loose by the day... from pullin gup my pants 2 or 3 times a day to several times every few minutes. This cannot continue! What if my pants really fall off one day??? I don't want people staring at my colourful collection of underwears, even if I think they're gorgeous. Shy ma!

There's pretty much nothing to blog about. So I'll just put up a paragraph as a brief summary of my week.

Sleep has been scarse, as I struggle to cope with lab preparations and revision. Whole day labs, it's like a brain cell killing spree. 10am till 5pm okay? I mean, it's like my 3rd home! I'm so sick and tired of it. Preparations alone take several days, costing many meals in between. Pharmacy students, I noticed are being trained physically too. The amount of arm muscle work and leg work (the sprintings, I mean, you only see pharmacy students do that) is enough to keep us as well trained as school athletes, at least. Sleeping at 3/4am is now part of my lifestyle. My only retreat is now attending guitar lessons with Fluffy, and chilling with my roomies after class. What's fun throughout the whole week was mamak-ing, and watching the starry night sky with Fluffy and Ken. I felt so stressfree that time. I just realised that I've let my work take over my life, depriving me of all the little pleasures in life, preventing me from enjoying and savouring them. Thursday nights are times when I can afford to take some time off to relax. I missed the Cultural Night event, which I really wanted to attend, initially intended to get some really exotic Henna Tattos on my waist, but duty calls. Sigh, don't really know how long can I keep it up like this. I certainly hope it'll all pay off someday, somehow.

The following week has much to offer, this I'm glad to say. Enough to keep my sanity in check, I think. Monday is Pillow-Case-Bag day! Look out for Pharmacy Students dragging their stuffs in their pillowcases! Grab a camera and take a shot with us ya? Then there's my first official lesson with Rubens, my assigned guitar tutor by the Music Society. I'm really looking forward to it, am very very keen to pick up this new skill. Also, Mr. BDB is having his 2nd SuperStar audition on Saturday! Wish him tons of luck...

As for today, I've decided to go return to campus much later than usual. Having a family gathering later in the day, wee! More non-Semenyih food!

A few days ago, I noticed my blog's rather photo deprived, so here're some photos from October.


Daddy's Birthday, Oct 25th.


The boyish 49 year-old...


Now he's cheeky...


"Almondy", from Sweden. Super yummy I tell you!


We love daddy!!!


Mid-Autumn's Festival!


Having fun with the neighbours kids.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Mummy & Daddy dating, in lantern light under a full-moon... so romantic! teeheehee~~


My bro, Shien being the greedy lil monster... lols...


He took all the lanterns and left none for me *upset*


I got one! But abit suspicious... Maybe got bomb...


A BIG BABY playing with lanterns >>> HAPPY~~!

You'd notice that this entry is rather hastily put together. Sorry, like I said, life's really hactic and I'm currently going through Brain-Juice-Drought. Bear with me.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

The Human Guinea Pig

Knowing that this MPharm, journey will not be without experimenting on subjects... I never did think that one day, I will be The Subject.

Allow me to reintroduce myself, I am Suet Ling, the Guinea Pig. Earlier today, I signed a consent form for voluntary experimentation. And not long after that, I was administered a Prescription-Only-Medicine(POM), in one eye, and saline in the other.

They tried to convince me that no side effects or complaints have been lodge from tis usage thus far, and that they have excellent medical coverage. However, I wasn't assured. First of all, it's a POM, that means in appropriate and/or incorrect usage could lead to severance of my eye. Secondly, Dr. Shalini (medical doctor, not a PhD canholding lecturer, in this case) is here to attend our class today, for a REASON.

I took that little package, and signed at the receipt of the POM. See how serious it is? This is not just some drug. *GULP* How? Take only lor... Worse come to worst, blind only ma... *sweating profusely*

As I awaited my turn, all I could do is only observe the others who have already started. It didn't help at all, seeing my fellow colleagues fleeing immediately after administration. Wee Yuen even dropped by at my group to say hi, all of her subjects have fled to wash their eyes, even before she can take any results at all. My doubts which I've tried to suppress resurfaced in an instant, only this time, more powerful. What have I gotten myself into? Initially, I volunteered not because I did it "in the name of Science", but it was actually due to my playfulness. Why haven't I grown out of this? Then it came my turn...
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I'm not gonna describe the tedious and lengthy processes. It is yucky. Those who saw the changes in our eyes were gawking. We, as subjects are stunned too. Did I mention that the drug effect will not wear off till 4 hours later, and that subjects are advised to wear sunglasses, and not handle machinery or vehicle, prior to the wearing off of the drug? Not meaning to underestimate you, but you wouldn't understand. I don't either. I spent a whole night preparing for this Laboratory Studies in Physiology and Pharmacology (lenghty names, but damn pro sounding, hor?), which contributed to nearly nothing throughout the session. Frustrating, ain't it? I think I may just go bald even before I reach the end of my course, yikes! That is, if I don't die of self-drug-testing first. Dr.Ting did mention that there will be no animal sacrifice on our 4 year journey. Yay! Animal rights have finally been served in universities, let us all hope that this is the only the start and many more institutions will follow suit. I only hope to live long enough to see the changes. That is, I survive 4 years of drug testing!

Can someone please convince me, that, my life has not been shortened in any way, and that I will not suffer any adverse side effect later in the future because of this? Can't help but to think that way. Help...

Shall embrace myself for future experimentations.

Friday, November 03, 2006

Rombongan Cuci Baju

With the DeepaRaya hols safely tucked into the past, I guess its safe to assume that its about time I stop taking leaves off blogging too. For the entire semester 1 that consists of 12 weeks, I've only got one week off. That's it. No more. Nah-uh. =(

I got Week 5 off, only because we've got the kind-ess lecturers in the whole wide world!!! If not for Dr. Doughty, we would have to attend classes on Monday before a short break, then crawl through the classroom entrance just for 2 hours on Friday. See? told you he's a great person!

In total, we would have 9 days off. Isn't that great? I've got plans drawn up one week before the holidays even started. With holidays being so scarse, it's no surprise that I would wanna savour every single second of these sweet sweet days. So sweet that diabetics will just have to give way, Muahahaha~

This holiday, have only led me to believe, even more strongly, that...

MY GREATEST ENEMY IS NONE OTHER THAN MYSELF.

I said I wanted pleasure. But my conscience is shouting a BIG FAT NO! And in the end, guess who won? It's pathetic.

On Thursday, with 4 more days of my holidays to go, I was back on campus, in the sweating like a fountain in scorching Semenyih. Up till this very minute, I still cannot imagine what the hell was running through my mind when I made that decision. Abandoned, back in Valencia, was my desktop, my cosy little room and toilet, where I can walk around in my birthday suit in full glory without worries, my very loyal and COLD Air Conditioner, and glorious food! Stupid idea, I know. This is even more moronic than voting for William Hung in American Idol.

So there I was, counting the seconds off my VIRGIN weekend stay on campus. Of course, with a virgin stay, there followed many more virgin activities, that I had not previously attempted before. For instance, on Sunday, I participated in the “Rombongan Cuci Baju”.

30 minutes of staring at the sole unit of washing machine in the entire hall was rather amusing. The pioneers, namely Lynnette, Snowy, and Lillian, showed me the ways of a true member of the Rombongan.

In honour of the efforts put out by our pioneers, I’ve come up with a slogan. Hear this…

The Rombongan Cuci Baju, in The Great Machine we trust.

Taa-daa~ Say hi to the pioneers of the Rombongan Cuci Baju.



First, a true member must bring her own pail, even if the member intends to wash only her handkerchief. The reason for this will be elaborated on later on. Then the member must have succeeded the preliminary mission of gathering part of the required 6 x 50 cent coins, to be qualified for participation in that particular week’s Rombongan. Precise understanding of the instructions written on the washing machine is crucial.

What follows is the Practical Test. The member must prove their constant competence to be worthy of their membership in the Rombongan. A chosen member would be appointed to serve The Great Machine. The worship procedure starts with every member contributing their laundry offerings into the large cavity built deep in the middle of its majestic white structure. This process must be followed by purifying our offerings, by drizzling on the secret potions of Dynamo, and Fabric Softener in generous amounts. Following that, the chosen member will present The Great Machine the symbolic items of worship, 6 SHINY 50 Cent coins. The moment the last coin was being presented to it, it sprang into life! At this precise moment, the chosen member must key in our prayers through it delicate buttons, asking for blessings onto our laundry. After which, the fate of our laundry shall entirely be in the decision of The Great Machine.

The Great Machine takes about 30 minutes to decide. Hence, we are assured that whatever decision that it comes to, would have been after much consideration. However, all members are not allowed to show any signs of disrespect for it, especially when it’s deep in thought, or risk being blasted instead of being blessed. I personally can sense the restlessness in The Great Machine, vibrating vigorously, tossing and turning our laundry about, carefully evaluating our sincerity and worthiness of its blessings. The best way to wait for it, without disturbing its concentration of Holy Energy, is to tip over our pails, and meditate on it. Yes, the moment I did as I was told, I felt completely different. The feeling of being on a pail is indescribable…


After 30 minutes of anxiousness has passed, The Great Machine has finally come to a verdict for its loyal devotees. It has granted us its blessings, and bestowed onto us, clean, and fresh smelling laundry in return! The final Ritual of Gratefulness was performed by accepting its blessings. A true member must not reject it as it might otherwise have incurred the wrath of The Great Machine.

From that moment on, my faith in The Great Machine has been sealed, now and forever!