DAY 148

Jan 27

1) Today is Chinese New Year's Eve in Dublin! And here I am, enjoying my 9-4 lectures as usual XD. Woke up early to make the 9am class as usual, and our first lecture was on anatomy, specifically on the leg. After that, we went to the Anatomy Room, where we got the opportunity to dissect and reflect the muscles and tendons, as well as explore the nerves and vessels underneath. There will soon be an interfaith celebration to commemorate the deceased - who very generously donated their bodies that we medical students may dissect and learn from - and I intend to take part.

2) After our Anatomy Practicals, I went to Mercer Medical Centre to get my blood test done. I previously had my three vaccinations for Hepatitis B, so this was to confirm that I had immunity against the disease. It was over very soon, and I walked back to the Coffee Doc to do some study, while waiting for my friends to finish their Anatomy Practicals (they were in a different group than me). At 1.00pm, we met up and went to Dicey's Garden together. It has been so long since I went to Dicey's - and it tasted awesome after such a long hiatus haha.

3) Made it back just in time for the next two lectures - one on Health Behaviour and Patient Safety, and the other on Immunology. By 4.00pm, everyone was just so tired that we couldn't wait to go home. I went to the library instead, as I was going over to Nee Kee's apartment later to celebrate our very own Reunion Dinner with my friends. Later in the evening, I went over to meet my friends, and we had a whale of a time tossing the Yee Sang (a raw fish salad dish). After dinner, we set about folding some paper hand fans, before heading out to McDonald's for some ice-cream. I didn't have any because I was quite full. Walked back home with Jason after that, and finished by typing this out.
That's all for tonight's blog update, and before I sign off,

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!! GONG XI FA CAI! Wishing everybody a very happy and prosperous New Year in the Year of the Rooster, and have a great weekend. Cheers! :D

The new Academic Building, which cost €80,000,000 and is scheduled to open this March!

Toast as usual for my breakfast

Kettlebells - NOT mine, just saying ^^

Mercer Medical Centre, where I got my blood test

St. Stephen's Green Shopping Centre

Dicey's Garden Menu today

Lunch with my buddies :)

They don't mess around with the portions at Dicey's - beef burger with all the fixings

Received a very unexpected surprise - Ang pow from Esther & family

(THANKS VERY MUCH!!)

Yee Sang <3<3<3

Group Photo ^^

My dinner today

DAY 99

Dec 9

1) Today was another long day for me. Woke up early and had toast for breakfast. Then I went to the library, and did the final preparations for our OSCE's (Clinical Skills Exam) later on. At about ten, I went to RCSI to register, and we were divided into different groups, according to our Principal Seminar arrangement previously.

2) Waited for about an hour, before getting called into the exam hall. We were each positioned at a station, and once the bell rang we had six minutes to complete six tasks. I tried my best to complete the tasks, but unfortunately for me time ran out... I gave it my best though, so I'll just have to accept it and move on.

3) For lunch, my friends Andrew, Kuhan and Khee Heng followed me to Dicey's. Had a very hearty meal in the form of Irish Stew. After that, me and Khee Heng went to exchange money (Euro to Pounds) at the money exchange near Trinity College. We'll be needing this for our trip to Edinburgh after our exams finish. (can't wait XD)

4) Returned to Mercer Library, where I've been studying and relaxing for pretty much the entire day. I went to Boojum for dinner today, and had their pulled chicken (carnitas). Other than that, it has been a typical day in the life of a (first-year) medical student. That's it for today's entry, and I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading and have a great day/ night. Cheers!

Triple toast for breakfast :D

Promoting drinks with friends XD

Dicey's today

Irish Stew

Boojum for dinner ^^

DAY 97

Dec 7

1) Today was a hot day. I know it sounds strange, but smack in the middle of winter and yet the temperature was a balmy 16 degrees Celsius! Anyway, woke up much earlier to do some last-minute prep, before going to RCSI for exams.

2) The FUN1 paper was 1.5 hours, with 40 MCQ (multiple choice questions) and 3 SNQ (short-note questions). I found it to be quite challenging, and most of my friends agreed. Most of the questions tested factual knowledge, so guessing wouldn't really help haha. With our first paper done, I left for breakfast at AK. Henry's.

3) Went for lunch with Zi Yan and Khee Heng at Dicey's, and I had the grilled cajun salmon. Next exam (OSCE-Clinical Skills Examination) would be in two days, so I spent the rest of the afternoon practising for this exam. Then in the evening, me and Khee Heng went to a Middle Eastern restaurant for dinner. Tried out the chicken shawarma, served with naan bread for only €5.50.

4) Returned to Mercer, where me and Khee Heng went through the steps for the examination. After over an hour, we decided to call it a day, and I went back to the library, where I'll spend the night relaxing and watching some nice videos on YouTube. That's all for tonight, and thank you very much reading. Cheers!

Full Irish Breakfast at AK. Henry's! <3<3

Lunch Menu at Dicey's Garden

Grilled Cajun Salmon

Chicken Shawarma with Naan Bread ^^

DAY 95

Dec 5

1) Today was a mentally-draining day. Woke up for some toast, and then walked to the library as usual for my revision. Spent the morning cramming facts into my brain, and then went for lunch at Dicey's.

2) I opted for the turkey and ham portion, with stuffing inside. It was positively delicious! Came back and waited for over hour before being admitted for the practical exam. It turns out two surgeon prosectors were absent today, so there was a delay. Finally, at around two, it was time. Two prosectors, one whom I had seen before, greeted me and asked for my student ID.

3) Then the barrage of questions began. I tried my best, and I have no regrets, but there was just a lot of information to retain, and there were so many gaps in my memory. Anyway, what's done can't be undone, so I'll be hoping to study extra hard for the extra modules.

4) Came back to the library soon after, and then in the evening I went to Dunnes to do my groceries. Had my dinner at Burrito Blues and found out that all burritos sell for €5.00 on Mondays, as opposed to €6.00+, depending on which type of burrito. Awesome! ^^

5) For the rest of the night, I plan to prepare for the next exam, which is Fundamentals of Biomedicine. That's all for tonight, and thank you very much for reading. Good day/night. Cheers!

Toast with jam for breakfast 

(In case you're wondering, the bread is not invisible, it's in the toaster :D)

Dicey's Lunch Menu

Turkey and Ham portion

Nothing like a nice burrito (@Burrito Blues)

DAY 88

Nov 28

1) Today was a long, tiring day for me. Woke up and had my breakfast, before going to Mercer Library to study for pretty much the entire day.

2) To top it all off, I got a sore throat, which then made it more difficult to concentrate, not to mention the cough that accompanied it. Went out for lunch with my good friend Nee Kee, and stumbled into another friend, Hong, at Dicey's.

3) In spite of the soreness, the food tasted great as usual. Came back to the library afterwards, and studied until evening for our finals next week. At around six, I packed up my stuff and returned home. I'm probably going to take it easy tonight, and hope that I get better tomorrow so I can continue studying. Thanks very much for reading, and goodnight. Cheers!

Turkey and Ham Portion for me today ^^

DAY 85

Nov 25

1) Today was an extremely FUN day! Woke up today for breakfast, and what would be our last lecture before the exams. Lectures were mostly revision, and helped to consolidate the vast information we had acquired until now.

2) For lunch break, I went to Dicey's (yet again!) and tried their home-made chicken curry. Tasted really good, and made me a little nostalgic too since it reminded me of home ^^. After that, we had a couple more lectures until 4pm, and then we were done! Went with my friend and debate partner, Kuhan, to library and then to his apartment to discuss the debate topic this Sunday, "THBT Communities Hurt by Gang Violence Should Not Cooperate with the Police". 

3) We finished discussion in about an hour. Quickly packed my stuff to meet up at the RCSI lounge, where the RCSI Climbing Society were planning to go for the Blacklight Bouldering Event at The Climbing Gym, Sandyford. Took the LUAS and reached there about half an hour later. We were each given a singlet and climbing shoes. 

4) There were 30 "problems" (climbing challenges) for us to complete, but I didn't really complete any because it was too difficult. I did have a lot of fun though, and even managed to win a thermal blanket in the "throw ping-pong ball into cup and get a free prize" challenge XD. All in all, a really fun day indeed. 

5) After a while, took the LUAS back to RCSI, where I had dinner at Roma. Really delicious burgers and chilli fries they have there. Walked all the way back after that, and typed this out. That's all for today, and I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed relating my experience to you.  Good day/night, and cheers!

Dicey's Menu

Chicken Curry with Chips :D

Kuhan and his great hospitality ^^

The Climbing Gym

Believe me, it wasn't easy haha

The detail on some of these was marvellous!

Me and Andrew

Thermal blanket that I won

Group photo

Group photo (sans flash)

1/4 pounder cheeseburger

Chili cheese fries