DAY 68

Nov 8

1) Today was an easy day for me, just like yesterday. Got up, had breakfast, before heading for lessons at RCSI. I finally got reimbursed for my trip to Cork, which is awesome since I didn't think I could get a refund. Sat down for lectures, including Anatomy Practicals (today we did the hand region) and by 1.00 pm, we were done for the day.

2) It was raining fairly heavily when I decided to have lunch at Dicey's. Tried out the roasted beef with horseradish sauce, and it was awesome. Thick slices of beef drowned in hot, rich sauce - comfort food if ever there was one!

3) Came back home to clean up, study a bit, and have a short nap. Woke up and continued preparing for our Principal Seminar event, which is this Thursday. Glad to be finishing soon. For dinner, I reheated the lamb rogan josh with pilau rice, and supplemented that with some veggies and an orange, to make it more balanced. Returned to my room to study/ surf the net, and that is all for tonight hehe. Once again, thanks very much for reading, and have a great day/night. Cheers!

It was raining when I went to Dicey's

Il piatto principale ("The Main Course") XD

 Inside Dicey's

Mah Dinner :D

DAY 47

Oct 18

1) Today was a COLD day. Woke up for breakfast, before hurriedly packing my stuff for school. This week's lessons are really shocking: from 8-5 almost every single day! It's enough that we just finished our mid-terms, but now this?! At least we have the whole of next week off before the cycle continues haha.

2) Anyway, it was 7 ºC today, which is much colder than usual. My friend, Stephanie, suggested that we try Butlers Chocolate, located on Grafton Street. Having never had it before, coupled with the cold weather, it was a unanimous decision to go. Oh, the aroma of hot, roasted cocoa delights the nose, while the rich, creamy chocolate soothes the mind and soul! Instant bliss, and a perfect reason to continue slogging off at our studies afterwards.

3) Had sandwiches for lunch at AK. Henry's. It's always crowded there during lunch time, since the food tastes really good, and at a reasonable price too. After lunch, it was another three hours of intense lectures, with nary a break in between. One lecture even had 73 slides in it! Oh dear...

4) Somehow made it through the day (all hail the chocolate XD) and was instantly rejuvenated when lessons ended. Made my way back home, before stir-frying some vegetables to go along with my frozen dinner. Feeling fully satisfied, it was time to update my daily blog, so here I am, typing this out. Soon I will be studying to catch up with the lectures, amongst other things hehe. Stay tuned... and goodnight!

Butlers Chocolate, literally Heaven on Earth

The Cookies Chocolate - €3.80

(the hot chocolate literally has cookies in it)

4 hot chocolates for 4 medical students...

That's me, Wendy, Stephanie and Praw! :D

 One can just smell the difference haha

 Salted piece of decadence to go along with the hot chocolate...

 At AK. Henry's

 Same old, same old

 Chicken Curry and Rice, with Vegetable Stir-Fry

DAY 19

Sept 20

1) Today was the toughest day yet, in terms of academics. This was partially due to our first Anatomy practical, but also because I didn't have the time to study the lecture notes beforehand. Reached RCSI for the first lecture, which was on the breast and pectoral muscles. Then we had an hour and a half break before our first anatomy practical. So we went downstairs to Coffee Doc, a usual hangout spot for students who want to study while sipping coffee or tea haha. Spent the next 90 minutes trying to make sense of everything that had been taught so far.

2) After that, it was finally time. We donned our white coats and nitrile gloves, before going into the anatomy room. I was in Group B8 for anatomy. Our surgeon prosector, Brian E. Lane FRCSI, FRCSEd, FRCSEng, FACS wasted no time in briefing us on the proper etiquette of handling cadavers, which he fondly called "our first patients". So began our first practical session, in which I even got the chance to use the scalpel and forceps! I know some medical schools have dealt away with cadavers, buy in my humble opinion, no amount of plastinated models or CGI anatomical slides can replace a cadaver, once a living person and someone's mom or dad, who generously donated their bodies for research. I would liked to have taken some photos, but respecting privacy is of utmost importance, and so photography is strictly prohibited. I definitely understand that though.

3) Had lunch at AK. Henry's, before attending the next two lectures for today. When it was finally over, headed down to Dunnes to get myself some frozen dinners to last the week. But my luck didn't hold; as I was carrying the four meals back, two of them slipped off and fell *SPLAT* on the ground! Luckily, the food remained intact, although the plastic wrap did come off a little. I had one of them for dinner, and tried to make it a more nutritious meal with complementing that with an orange.

4) To sum off, today has been a really long day and I am about to take a nap soon. After that, I plan to continue studying to cover today's lectures and, to some extent, tomorrow's as well. Just three weeks in and I can see why they say medical students don't really enjoy the luxury of sleep. Anyhow, I shall bear in mind the words said by a professor during our welcoming speech: "Bigger idiots have made it through this." I do hope he's right. Goodnight!

Vegetable korma, with wedges and carrots

€3.95

Salmon dinner

(one of the two meals which fell *splat*, still tasted great though)

Our anatomy practical course book

DAY 13

Sept 14

1) Today was a longggg day. Woke up for breakfast as usual, and then went early to RCSI for a little tour. Went to the Board Room at the top floor, which had a beautiful grand piano. Too bad I didn't get a chance to play though, since a lecture was going on in the adjacent room. Met up with my friends for lunch, and then it was non-stop lectures until the evening.

2) Had lunch at AK. Henry's as usual. Tried the sandwiches, which were really good and filling for a €3.50 meal. Today we were introduced to two new lecturers for the "Fundamentals in Biomedicine" module. The lectures were chalk full of information, which means I have to do a lot of extra studying to catch up haha. So much for the holidays then...

3) After lectures, went out to have ice-cream with friends at Gino's Gelato. It has hands down some of the best ice cream I have ever tried. I sampled the Belgian Chocolate and Brownie ice cream. Simply heavenly!

4) Came home for dinner. Quickly heated up the frozen dinner I bought at Mark & Spencer the other day. Topped it off with an orange for good measure. After this, it will be revision for the lessons today and upcoming lectures. Next week we will be broken into groups for anatomy and clinical practice. Can't wait for that haha. Anyways, here's me half the world away, wishing you goodnight and till next time!

The Board Room in all its splendor

Grand piano!!

Gino's Gelato at Grafton Street 

 Chicken korma and pilau rice for dinner, plus huge orange for dessert