DAY 794-807

Nov 4-17

1) Time for a much needed update of my blog. I've noticed that the length between each blog post can be used as a yardstick for how busy I am at the moment. Which obviously would indicate that I am up to my neck with work. I'll try to summarise the things I've done in the past two weeks or so.

2) On Nov 3, Malaysian Medics International Ireland (MMII) organised a Research Symposium at the Trinity Biomedical Science Institute (TBSI). I was privileged to be invited to present my research project(s) at the event, as well as being on the panel for a discussion session on lab-based research vs clinical research, along with other professional researchers/doctors. There was a huge turnout (it's Trinity so yeah XD), and I was very happy with the enthusiasm shown by the future student researchers. The panel discussion was awesome as well, moderated by Eunice, who did a great job distilling the many questions that the audience had regarding research. Most of them who came had little research experience and were looking for tips and advice on how and where to begin with research.

3) On Nov 5, we had our REGUB (Renal, Endocrine, Genitourinary and Breast) exam. It was raining in the morning, and I had to run to a different bus stop to catch an earlier bus to the main campus. It didn't help that the bus stop provided no shade from the rain. Anyway, I made it to college with time to spare, got myself a large cup of coffee, and with my veins pumped with caffeine I sat for the paper. Done and dusted. I was unproductive for the rest of the day, but that's just the side effects of the caffeine wearing off I guess XD

4) On Nov 7, my good friend Zi Yan and I went for the "Run In The Dark" event. There were two options - 5km or 10km, and we opted for the longer distance. The temperature at night wasn't as cold as it was for the marathon, and I was really glad to finish without stopping (thus partially redeeming myself for the full marathon XD). We collected our goodie bags, and stayed behind to get some KFC. That was the end of the night for us, and we went back home soon after.

5) On Nov 10, Zi Yan and I attended a SafeTALK training course, organised by the AMSI RCSI (Association of Medical Students Ireland). The talk focussed on suicide prevention, and how to be alert and spot "invitations" which are the signs that someone may be considering suicide as an option. It also aimed to get everyone talking about mental health, and to move away from considering it a taboo subject. I found the talk very helpful, as the presenter had been through this harrowing experience themselves.

6) On Nov 16 (i.e. this morning as I'm typing this), we had our OSCE examinations in Beaumont. Three systems were covered this semester - gastrointestinal (GI), lower limb (LL) neurological sensory, and LL neurological motor, respectively. We had five minutes to perform the entire examination, so the day before, my friends and I practiced the night away. I was the first batch examined this morning, and was very happy indeed to have passed well. The OSCEs in Intermediate Cycle are pass/fail, so the strategy would be not to fail, rather than perform flawlessly.

7) Now that I've covered everything that has passed, I'll share with you everything ahead. Tomorrow (Nov 17), PMCSA is organising a Farewell Dinner for the students leaving for Penang (i.e. us) at the end of the semester. It will be a tear-jerking moment for us as we part ways with our peers, friends and colleagues for the past 2.5 years. But as all good things must come to an end, that doesn't mean we have to be all sad about it. Thus, I've made the decision to dedicate a poem to everyone at RCSI, to remember and treasure the memories we made, and to remind everyone that this not a goodbye, but rather a see you again soon.

8) On Nov 23, RCSI Cancer Society is having a Bake Sale in conjunction with Movember - which aims to promote men's health and fund research on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and suicide. It is a great cause, and we even have a competition on growing a mo' (moustache) for the entire month. Zi Yan and I are one of the eight teams participating, so if you'd like to support us (please do) you're more than welcome to donate to this link (https://www.gofundme.com/v25pxh-movember). Just make sure to indicate in the "Leave a Comment" section which team you are voting for. The end goal is the same though - all proceeds will go to the Movember Foundation. So what are you waiting for - donate to the Running Mo's! ^^

9) On Nov 26, we will have our CNSLF (Central Nervous System, Locomotor, Forensics) module exams, which thankfully, are in Beaumont. It will be another harrowing week for us, as the following week is our end-of-semester exams. To make matters worse, we have practically ONE day in between each of our exams, and we have both MCQs (multiple choice) and SNQs (short notes) to cover. That will be one heck of a week for us, and you can expect me to be in the library ALL DAY LONG for that.

10) Following our end-of-semester exams (which end on Dec 12), I will have 3 days break before I must bid Dublin farewell to return to Malaysia - capping off an incredible 836 days spent abroad! That would summarise the events for myself, and for the next couple of weeks, I may find it difficult to post regular updates on my blog due to the mounting pressure of exams etc, so do bear with me. That's about it for this edition of my blog post, and I hope you enjoyed reading about it. Have a nice weekend, cheers! :D

P.S. A TONNE OF PHOTOS COMING YOUR WAY, SO DON'T LEAVE WITHOUT SCROLLING DOWN FIRST. CHEERS! :)

Thank you very much MMII for having me over to present my research experience!

(at Trinity Biomedical Science Institute)

Certificate ^^

Turnout was great - really happy with the overall planning and organising!

 From l-r: Desmond Chua (4th year UCD), Myself (3rd year RCSI), Dr Roshaida Abdul Wahab (PhD Candidate UCD), Dr Wan Mahmood (Specialist in General Medicine, Diabetes and Endocrinology), Dr. Arimin Mat (Research Fellow in Endocrinology UCD), Eunice Lim (Moderator, 4th year UCD)

As mentioned before, the turnout for the Research Symposium was very good! ^^

Enjoying a brief respite (while contemplating how to tackle upcoming REGUB exams)

Post REGUB exam meal with everyone!

l-r: Andy, Barry, Winston, Mat Noor, Kuhan, Myself

(enjoying a good breakfast at "1784" Cafe at RCSI SSG)

The Running Club of RCSI - over 60 people signed up for the "Run In The Dark 2018"!

A beautiful night to remember!

Zi Yan and myself, after completing the Run In The Dark 2018! 

#TeamRunningMo's 

Very glad to have finished in one piece XD

Colourful lights illuminate the bridge at night :)

All that glisters is not gold—

Often have you heard that told.

Many a man his life hath sold

But my outside to behold.

Gilded tombs do worms enfold.

Had you been as wise as bold,

Young in limbs, in judgment old,

Your answer had not been inscrolled

Fare you well. Your suit is cold—

Cold, indeed, and labor lost.

A well-deserved meal post-run :)

Indeed, the side dividers are the thing I miss most about the old Mercer Library

(pic taken outside the Beaumont Library)

Attended the safeTALK on suicide prevention

Bulletin Board in No. 26 York St. New Academic Building

Movember 2018 - advertising for a good cause - so make sure to donate!

(link: https://www.gofundme.com/v25pxh-movember)

THANK YOU <3 <3 <3

l-r: Myself, Hong, Zi Yan practising for our OSCE exam the next day :)

(at an undisclosed location somewhere in the heart of Beaumont Hospital :)

Sneak peek: This is the same room to be used for our OSCE examination the next day

Providing FREE counselling advice! :)

DAY 76

Nov 16

1) Today was an EXTREMELY challenging day for me. Woke up to have my breakfast as usual, before revising the lecture notes until noon. Then, I went to Dicey's for my lunch, and tried their grilled Cajun salmon with sides. Tried to eat really healthily today, as I was scheduled to go for a 10km race called "Run in the Dark" later in the evening.

2) Sat down for the remaining lectures, and by 5pm class was finally over. Went home for a brief respite, and along the way I stopped by at a delicatessen to buy some pastries for energy later on. Had a power nap before walking all the way to the "Run in the Dark" event (which was about 2.2km from my house!) 

3) My gosh; I wasn't expecting the cold! A quick search of the weather forecast revealed why - the wind chill temperature at night was 0 degrees Celsius! And I wore but a singlet and jacket, with short pants, since anything more than that would be really cumbersome for me. But the harsh winds were really killing, especially when we were waiting for the event to start...

4) Finally, at around 8.15pm, we were flagged off. Once I had a chance to warm up, things got better for me, since the body heats up when exercising. Either that, or all the nerves in my extremities were irreversibly damaged so I couldn't feel cold anymore haha. Anyway, I ran without stopping, for just under an hour, and we finished at the same point we started - at the Custom House Dublin. It was such an exciting experience for me, running in the cold weather, in a foreign country, with people I didn't even know. Certainly another feather in my cap, as they say.

5) Came back to retrieve my bag at the drop-off station, before an unknown elderly gentleman started talking to me. We talked about the chilly weather, the huge turnout tonight (25,000+ runners) and he told me about bringing home the free glow-in-the-dark bangles for his daughter. Really pleasant chap, I might add. Anyhow, I left soon after that, but not before taking some nice pics of the Custom House and of the event in general.

6) Then began the long march home. In hindsight, I should've taken along my thick winter jacket that I bought at Penney's, but as this was my first run in Dublin, I didn't know what to expect haha. Returned home as fast as my legs could carry me, and here I am, typing this out in the kitchen since my roomie is fast asleep. That's all for today, and enjoy the pics from the "Run in the Dark". Cheers!

P.S. I have no idea how long I took for the 10km run, but it should be available online shortly. Stay tuned... ^^

Breakfast

Dicey's Menu today!

Grilled Cajun Salmon with lots of veggies and potatoes

Pecan tart and scone, pre-run!

Regret putting this on for the race XD

Christmas decor in full force (looks really beautiful IMO)

This is the outside of Trinity College Dublin, where they have this rock-climbing activity every Thursday, if I'm not mistaken

I absolutely love the reflections of the buildings in the water <3 <3 <3

Custom House Quay, where we dropped our baggage prior to the run

And if you zoom in carefully, you can observe signs of peripheral cyanosis (bluish tinge) on my lips XD

Custom House Dublin

My dad is probably going to kill me for not knowing what building this is D:

The "Supermoon" in all it's splendour!

Back home at last. Phew!!

Goodies bag contents, all in my stomach now haha

DAY 67

Nov 7

1) Today was a slow day. Woke up in the morning to have my breakfast, before going to RCSI at around 10 a.m. I can't believe the weather was 1 degree Celsius this morning! Thankfully, the winter jacket I bought just yesterday kept me warm and toasty. After two lectures, it was time for lunch. Went to AK. Henry's and had their brown bread sandwiches, with chips. Then, it was time for yet another lecture. Somehow made it through, and that was it for today!

2) Walked to Mercer with my friends, where we practiced our Principal Seminars. Essentially, we are given 10 topics to prepare, but only have to present one topic, in 5 minutes or less. My seminar is this Thursday, so I have to prepare well since it is worth 10 marks. Finished practising, and I walked home to Leeson Street.

3) Went to prepare dinner, before sorting out my stuff for the day. This included confirming the appointment for our GP Visits, handing in the Cheque Refund Form for the Irish Mace Debates, receiving my package for the Run in the Dark Event which I'm taking part in etc. All in all, a day well spent. That's all from me, and thank you all for reading. Cheers!

Brown Bread Sandwich with Turkey Slices, 

Egg Mayo and Mozzarella Cheese

Voila - dinner is served! :D

DAY 34

Oct 5

1) Today was a relatively easy day for me. Woke up early as usual, before going for my usual jog at St. Stephen's Green. I was planning to do more rounds, but after that grueling 15 km run on Sunday, I could only manage 5 km today. I have to start training for the Run in the Dark event this coming November. Anyway, finished my run, had some cereal, before prepping for class.

2) Lecture started at 10 a.m., during which we were briefed on how we would be assessed in our upcoming Mid-Term Quiz. I still cannot believe that barely a month has passed and we are already plagued with exams, quizzes, formative assessments and the like. I guess they were right when they said medical school wouldn't be easy haha. Went to the anatomy room together with friends, and spent some time analysing and discussing what we had been taught.

3) A lecture after that, and it was my favourite time of the day, lunchtime! The queue at AK. Henry's was unusually long, but I suppose everyone was famished too. I had to wait patiently for about 15 minutes for my sandwich (et frites of course). There are so many choices available for sandwiches: you can choose white or brown bread, with mayo, butter or plain, a meat option and two veggie options, toasted or not, and with or without fries. And all for just €3.00! That would explain why the queue for sandwiches is usually the longest compared to the others.

4) Had a really satisfying lunch, before one more lecture for the day! It feels great to end class early, and I did not waste anytime in going to Tesco after that, to get some milk and bread. I still have some peanut butter and nutella, so that should take care of my breakfast from now on. The extra food will come in handy for my training I reckon. By this time, I made up my mind to have an early dinner. Went down to the kitchen to cook rice, steamed some broccoli, cauliflower and carrots, before making some tomato soup. Today's meal was plain and simple, but nonetheless nutritious (or so I hope haha).

5) Finished dinner, before coming back to my room to study. My card signing event is next Friday, and it involves a surgeon prosector asking you the various anatomical locations and functions of the body, either by using cadavers or preserved specimens. I am not looking forward to that, but I shall definitely try my best. Surely it can't be that bad, right? Anyway, that is all the time I have for today, and I look forward to relating my cycle of events tomorrow. Thanks for reading, and goodnight!

 I don't think I'll get tired of the sandwiches anytime soon,

although I might run out of captions for it XD

48 Leeson Street Lower,

Dublin 2, Ireland

(The top window, directly above the

left front door, is my apartment)

Simple and hearty, just the way I like it!

DAY 33

Oct 4

1) Today I woke up extra early, so I could have breakfast before going to class. As usual, lectures starting at 8 a.m. are annoying, but at least tomorrow it starts at 10 a.m. We have anatomy practical sessions every Tuesday and Friday, which is very frequent compared to other universities. In fact, some schools have decided to do away with cadavers and use plastinated models or slides to teach anatomy. I can't comment on that, but I personally think that the intrinsic skills that we acquire by using a real cadaver - who generously donated their bodies that we medical students may research upon, are more than enough reason to continue with this method.

2) Our surgeon prosector today was Paul J Farrell, BSc, MB, MCh (NUI), FRCS, FRCSI, FRACS. He was extremely kind and jovial in manner, and even related to us stories of his children who ended up smoking, despite him as a doctor trying his best to prevent them from doing so. Anyway, anatomy was on the thorax, with some revision involved, since my group's first card-signing is due next Friday. Time to get prepared then haha.

3) Lunch was at AK. Henry's as usual, before another two lectures to end the day at 4 p.m. By the end of the day, most of us were mentally drained, and some even dozed off during lectures! I did my best to keep awake, and luckily I had finished studying the modules the night before. Went back home after lessons, made a quick dinner, and signed up for the Run in the Dark, a 5km or 10km race for charity (research for a cure for spinal cord disease). I chose the 10km option. Hopefully I will be fully prepared for my first run in Ireland. That's all for tonight, and thanks very much for reading. Have a great night!

The sandwiches at AK. Henry's are really really good...

But they can't lay a finger on MY cooking haha

My registration for the Run in the Dark

Event starts 16th Nov 2016 (8.00 p.m.)