DAY 506-510

Jan 19 - 23

1) Here at Beaumont there is a concept of Reading Fridays. Essentially we have no classes today (save for the odd tutorial), and can maximise this time to cover lectures, or alternatively, get some much needed rest. Unfortunately, at the rate we're going, it'll be used up in a desperate attempt to cover the immense content of the other four weekdays.

2) These past week, we've been adjusting to lessons at Beaumont, as well as getting to know our lecturers. Whereas Junior Cycle has been about learning everything in a normal individual, Intermediate Cycle focuses on everything that can go wrong (in a pathological state). It's a shift in focus, and it'll take a while to fully adapt.

3) Another difference I've noticed - having stayed in Beaumont for the past month - is the lack of extra-curricular activities here. Sure, every Tuesdays and Wednesdays there is a chance to sit in for the Grand Rounds (presentations consisting of medical problems and treatment of a particular patient to an audience consisting of doctors, residents, and medical students) if you can make it by 8.00am. But save for that, and the odd event or so, nothing much really happens here.

4) This is in stark comparison with the multitude of activities in the main campus (123 St. Stephen's Green). For instance, I still haven't tried out the new "Coffee Doc" - 1784 yet. There was a grand unveiling on the first day when school reopened, where they invited guest chefs the Flynn brothers (a.k.a. "The Happy Pear") over! Furthermore, I'll be missing out on a follow-up to the photoshoot we did recently (due to lessons), as well as an invitation for those excellent Friendship Lunches we had last semester. Oh well, I suppose you can't have them all XD. That has been my blog update, and I hope you enjoyed reading about it. Thanks very much for tuning in, and have a nice day. Cheers!

Throwback to the day when it REALLY snowed in Dublin :)

A white view from outside my bedroom window

Even in the morning there was some traces of frost

Our first Microbiology Lab Group Tutorial

Microbiology stuff ^^

It's hard to see, but my buddy Zi Yan is helping to demonstrate 

the process of uncoiling of DNA by DNA helicase

Our Infection Prevention and Control Leture

The entire lecture was allocated to keeping one's hands clean, and to prevent accidental contamination of the environment/equipment 

That's lunch for today at Beaumont's (staff!) canteen, 

after I finished the last of my frozen meals XD

DAY 428

Nov 2

1) I promised more details on what has kept me busy these past couple of days. So here goes: I've recently been convinced to apply for a position in UKEC. For the uninitiated, UKEC (United Kingdom and Eire Council) is the national coalition of Malaysian student societies across Britain and Ireland. To be honest, prior to coming here, I had absolutely no idea what UKEC was or what it stood for. Then I found out that some of my friends (in both RCSI and UCD) had joined and I was interested in finding out more.

2) The UKEC, simply put, has many overarching goals. They provide a platform for intellectual discourse, while tackling various issues such as employability, brain drain, promoting our nation, and promoting unity. In UKEConversations, students have the opportunity to present their opinions online, in a professional and supportive environment. CEKU, the editorial arm of UKEC, runs a student magazine chronicling exciting student articles for Malaysians everywhere to read. We also have many internship and volunteer opportunities for those who are interested.

3) UKEC is divided into four equal and distinct offices: UKECareers, UKECatalyst, UKECares, and UKEConnect. After doing some background research, I was interested in joining UKECatalyst, the intellectual arm of UKEC. We are the proud organisers of the Projek Amanat Negara (PAN) Conference, which gathers together young, talented student leaders and prominent figures to engage in non-partisan dialogue. We also have smaller, more regional-orientated conversations regarding our country's socioeconomic stance on various issues. To put it succinctly, the core thrust of UKEC is it aims to empower and inspire the next generation of Malaysian youth leaders, as well as giving a voice to the various Malaysian student bodies both local and abroad.

4) After submitting my application form, I was required to go for a Skype interview with the other committee members. It was a short interview with the usual suspect questions - what can you contribute; why should we choose you; how would you balance your studies and commitments here? I answered as best I could, and was pleasantly surprised to find out (a few days later) that I had been offered the position. I personally feel that assuming my duties here would equip me with more knowledge and insight into the way our nation is run, and to at least understand the reasons why it is run the way it is.

5) All in all, I have more responsibilities to juggle than before, with further implications as well. I shall endeavour to do the best I can with what I have, but no compromises to the quality and content of this blog. Thanks very much for reading, and have a great day. Cheers!

DAY 404/405/406

Oct 9, 10 & 11

1) Today I went for another Friendship Lunch, this time at TR1. Friendship Lunches are co-hosted by RCSI CoMPPAS, RCSI S.U. & RCSI Peer Mentors. As a friendly second med student, I take it upon myself to ensure that the juniors are comfortable making friends and getting to know the seniors better. It is imperative that we form a strong peer mediated support system to ensure everyone feels comfortable with the environment they are in, as well as the course load that they are undertaking. I am therefore of the opinion that these lunches are a great way to integrate and assimilate with the rest of the faculty.

2) Today's lunch had a lower turnout than I expected. That being said, it gave us even more reason to socialise and engage in some highly (un-)intelligent conversation! After speaking with some of the first years, they told me that while RCSI is absolutely brilliant when it comes to international outlook, they felt that there was more that could be done to ensure that students came out of their shell to make new friends, rather than remaining within their social circle/clique. I think that would be something to aspire towards, and may I recommend, as a means of achieving this goal - to have more friendship lunches in the future? XD

3) Alongside the friendly banter, we also spoke to Dr. Orna Tighe, Vice Dean for Student Support and Development, and Senior Lecturer/Academic Administrator MCT. She asked us the type of clubs and societies that we had joined, and even shared with us her experience with cricket. After a lengthy conversation, she made her leave. It was getting late by now, and the first years had lessons soon, so we finished the last of our coffee and headed back.

4) In the evening, Zi Yan and I attended the "Psychological Consequences of Medical Emergencies: Live Panel" session, organised by the RCSI Friends of MSF (Doctors Without Borders). Basically we were shown a documentary called "Ross Kemp: Libya’s Migrant Hell". Essentially, what he does is show us the horrors he finds. He meets women held in a house against their will and forced to work in what is clearly the sex trade. He enters one of Tripoli’s three recognised detention centres, where 490 male refugees are locked up indefinitely, beaten, starved and abandoned by every person and government in the world. He interviews a smuggler who has transported 2,000 people into Europe along a coast where smuggling now accounts for half of the local economy. And he spends a night at sea with the Libyan coastguard, getting shot at in the process.

5) Kemp’s style may be about as subtle as a sledgehammer, but when he says, with tears in his eyes, that “I don’t care who you are or where you come from … as human beings we have a duty to try and stop this suffering,” it’s a deeply powerful plea. And even sending foreign aid is up for debate - is it really helping those in need, or are is foreign aid providing a corrupting influence on weak governments? After all, in order to get to the powerless, you often have to go through the powerful. And therein lies the problem.

6) After a long day, I went off for a long overdue haircut, at the Dublin School of Barbering. One free haircut later, and I returned to the library. That has been the gist of my three days, and I hope you enjoyed reading about it. Until next time, cheerios! :D

Friendship Lunch - a great way to meet new people and make new friends!

(With Dr. Orna Tighe)

Sandwiches and wraps

An eclectic mix of people from various backgrounds and academic pursuits

With Dr. Orna Tighe and RCSI friends

RCSI Friends' of MSF - Libya's Migrant Hell documentary

Before...

And after!! ^^

The Green Rooster Barber Shop

a.k.a. Dublin School of Barbering :)