DAY 409/410/411

Oct 14, 15 & 16

1) So I've been quite busy these past few days. On Saturday morning, I went for the weekly kickboxing practice. Immediately after that, it was to St. Stephen's Green Shopping Centre, where I had volunteered to help out with Down Syndrome Ireland. If you have been following my blog posts for a while, then you will appreciate that I have been very active in volunteering, especially for Down Syndrome Ireland. The previous two events were the Dunnes Bag Packing at Henry Street, and the Purple Run at Phoenix Park, respectively.

2) This time around, we were selling trolley discs (I don't know why they call it that, they were just key chains) and pens to raise funds for Down Syndrome Ireland. Our target this year is €30,000 - a figure which may seem overly ambitious at first, but I am hopeful we will achieve. So I met up with Ms. Kathleen Fitzsimmons, Corporate Fundraiser of Down Syndrome Ireland. A stall had been set up at the entrance of the mall, along with the donation boxes and merchandise. There were 3 different slots for the day - 10-1pm, 1-4pm, and 4-6pm. I chose the 10-1pm option. For whatever reason, I was given the responsibility of being supervisor for that time slot.

3) We had volunteers from two different schools - Holy Loreto Foxrock and St. Michael's. That was more than we needed, which was just as well as we could now have shifts. Our strategy was simple - two volunteers at the entrance to the mall, and two more at the stands where we had set up. After thanking us profusely for devoting time off to volunteer, Ms Fitzsimmons had to go off for a meeting. So off we went as well.

4) After a while standing and supervising, I got bored and decided to help the boys out. I took a poster on Down Syndrome and followed the boys as they asked for contributions. As with everything in life, there were some really kind people, and a few less pleasant ones. Overall, I was genuinely touched by how many people actually cared for and donated (often more than the €2 we sold the trinkets for), and didn't want anything in return. Apparently, Maths Week Ireland is from 14-22 Oct this year, and another group had set up a maths stand right behind us. And guess what - they donated to us as well! :D

5) The hours passed, and soon Ms Fitzsimmons returned. We took some photos together, and then we were off for the day. The 1-4pm volunteers were on the way, so we made our leave. The others went home, while I went for buffet at the top floor (it's been a while ^^). At around 3pm, we had a nice badminton session with RCSI Badminton Club at the new sports complex. The rest of the day was spent in the library, sorting out the various "stuff" that I had before their datelines. Anyway, that has been the summary of my day, and I hope you enjoyed reading about it. Thanks very much for visiting, and have a great day. Cheers!

Group Photo 1 (with volunteers from the two schools)

Group Photo 2 

(if you have to ask why I'm in shorts, that's cuz I just finished my kickboxing session)

Maths in the City - set up stall just behind ours XD

A nice view of St. Stephen's Green Shopping Centre on a lazy Sunday

Maths Week Ireland

(P.S. I'm not in any way affiliated with The Rolling Donut)

So much enthusiasm for maths <3

DAY 389/390/391

Sept 24, 25 & 26

1) And so begins that marked increase in tempo, signalling that exams draw close. It can be seen in various forms, from the decreasing number of vacant seats in the library, to the amount of new information we're exposed every day, and also the "off days" we have on Thursday and Friday - the proverbial calm before the storm. The exam I'm referring to is actually a quiz - our first quiz to be precise, and on paper, it shouldn't be too hard.

2) But the reality is that life is passing by faster than I would prefer. Barely after being introduced to a whole range of terms in various fields of the health sciences, the next day brings about completely new terminology and suddenly, twenty lectures have been covered! That being said, at least the holidays will come sooner as well.

3) On a more positive note, I went for my first kickboxing lesson on Saturday. I wanted to join last year but somehow never got the chance, so this year I made it a point to show up for practice. Our coach is Eddie, and he met us all at Damer Hall, just beside the Unitarian Church. It was so much fun practicing some punches and kicks, and it certainly brought back good memories of my childhood years practising Taekwondo. I made many friends too, from various parts of the world.

4) That has been my past couple of days summed up, and I hope you enjoyed reading about it. I'm rather busy this week in particular, with lots of datelines and projects to complete, so just to inform everyone who is kind enough to patronise my blog XD. Thanks very much for visiting and as always, have a great day. Cheers!

Kickboxing fam :D

The Dispensary has some really nice wraps - for only €3.20!

That's a huge fruitcake if I've ever seen one - at the Dispensary :D

All those gloves for training...

As you can tell, I'm one shy of the BIG one!!

DAY 376/377

Sept 11 & 12

1) I find myself in a constant state of decision making. It feels as though I am an amateur juggler - constantly balancing between study and friends. Today was no exception. I had three lectures to cover by tomorrow, and I hadn't finished a single one. Yet I'm also aware that there are so many awesome events for Fresher's Week, and so many opportunities to socialise and make new friends; especially the first years. So after deep contemplation, I made up my mind that friends were more important, and went for the Drama Soc Game Night.

2) Held at the third floor of the new academic building, there was no shortage of short skits and fun games. From Anirudh "Rudy" Gautam and Maya's short skit on "Crowd-Funding", to Rudy's martial art skills in tandem with Maya's rendition of "I'll Make A Man Out Of You" - everyone had a really good time. Next, we were divided into different groups, and played Mafia - a party game consisting of an informed minority - the mafia, and an uninformed majority, the innocents. At the start of the game, each player is secretly assigned a role. The game has two alternating phases: night, during which the mafia may covertly "murder" an innocent, and day, in which surviving players debate the identities of the mafia and vote to eliminate a suspect. Play continues until all of the mafia have been eliminated or until the mafia outnumbers the innocents. That's basically the gist of it. And guess what - the civilians a.k.a. me won! Who woulda thunk XD

3) Yet another game we played was the "Winking Game", where one person (the police) stood in the centre of a human circle, and another person was the "winker". Whoever the winker blinked at had to sit down, and as more and more people sat down, the police had to figure out the identity of the "winker". It was hilarious watching some of the antics of our friends, and we were many rounds into the game, when pizza arrived. The games could wait - pizzas are priority, pizza is life :D So we crowded over the boxes upon boxes of pizzas, stuffing ourselves silly with piping hot food. Coming to Ireland has taught me many things, none more so than that the bond of friendship is worth its weight in gold. Or a slice of pizza XD

4) After a long, long day at the library, I packed my things and took the LUAS back home. I specifically brought my winter jacket today after yesterday night's merciless winds turned me to a human popsicle. Yet today was so much warmer, and very little winds too as I walked back the long route home. Anyway, that has been my day(s) in a nutshell, and I hope you enjoyed reading about them. Until next time, take care and good night. Cheers!

Group pic (huge turnout, huge success guys!)

PC: Drama Soc 2017 :^)

"The future's so bright I gotta wear shades" - Dayo ^^

Pizza party at the third floor

 The best group eva :)

And this is why I think it's him...

(Hope the pizza makes up for it XD)

Deciding who to lynch as the mafia is harder than medical school itself XD

Drama Soc Game Night :D

DAY 356/357

Aug 23 & 24

1) They say things happen for a reason. What were the odds that the random person I asked for help with taking a photo (the one with me and the Head Porter in front of RCSI) would turn out to be Martin, first year student at RCSI (under the PMC programme) come September? And he was extremely lucky himself, for both he and his mom came just that morning, and by evening had been taken through an extensive tour of the College.

2) We decided to meet up over a cup of coffee today. Together we went to Cafe Nero, just outside St. Stephen's Green Shopping Centre. We sat down for some hot beverages, and chatted about life in Ireland and how to survive medical school. I don't think I'm the best person to ask for advice on study strategies etc, but hey, I'm still in one piece, right? XD Jokes aside, I tried to recount my experience living in Dublin for the past year, and staying back for research and other opportunities. In return, I got to learn more about Martin and his mum, and how he ended up coming to RCSI.

3) As evening came, we took a casual stroll down Grafton St, and onto Trinity College Dublin. After a brief turn, we reached Temple Bar. Feeling a little peckish, we opted to try out Banyi Japanese Dining, the self-stylised "Best Japanese Restaurant in Dublin for hand-crafted sushi, fresh sashimi, and traditional Japanese dishes". The food came served in elaborately decorated sushi plates, complete with liquid nitrogen in a bowl for that extra smoky effect. Fancy to say the least ^^

4) Good food, even better company - I almost lost track of the time! Before I knew, it was almost 10:00pm, and then it dawned on me that I had left some of my belongings in the library, which was closing soon. Cue mad dash back to the library, muttered some apologies to the security officer to let me in, and retrieved my stuff just before the library was closed. As it was getting late, we decided to call it a night, and I made my way back to the LUAS station. That was an awesome evening out for me, and a welcome reprieve to my otherwise mundane (and repetitive) daily routine. That's all for my blog today, and I hope you enjoyed reading about it. Have a nice day, cheers!

A lovely Japanese style dinner with Martin and his mom :D

Hot chocolate and brownie at Cafe Nero

A quick visit to Trinity College Dublin

Sashimi and sushi platters ^^

Pleasure making new friends :)

DAY 350/351/352/353

Aug 17, 18, 19 & 20

1) Nary a blink of the eye and four days have passed. I've completely forgotten to update my blog, for reasons I know not. All I know is in less than two weeks, one full year will have passed, and many if not all my friends will be back. And of course, along with the familiar faces will be a host of new ones, all eager and bubbling to begin their adventure here in Dublin.

2) As the summer break draws to a close, I am infinitely grateful for the opportunity to do research in different departments, and to work under so many wonderful people. Not forgetting my parents, who have been ever so supportive of my staying back while others left for home, and who even encouraged me when I was undecided between coming back or remaining here.

3) These past few days, I've been hard at work tying up loose ends, so to speak, on the remaining projects and posters. It'd be nice to finish everything before things get busy again. At the same time, I'm well aware that today (Sunday) was the Pre-Departure Orientation for the PMC freshers. I would have loved more than anything else to be there in person to help out, but circumstances dictate otherwise. Nevertheless, I'm offering to help you guys out if you have any trouble/ queries. First question is free as always, subsequently a charge of one question for €1 applies. All jokes aside, just pm me if you have any nagging questions/doubts. Looking forward to meeting all of you soon :D

4) In the meantime, what have I found out these past couple of days? Warning: random, inconsequential facts incoming. a) unknown player Noroma beat JDCR in the Korean Masters (Tekken 7); b) after a long while Dr. Pagalavan has finally updated his blog; c) Dragon Ball Super streams live YouTube every Sunday morning at around 1.30am, with subtitles available about an hour afterwards; d) the New Mercedes Maybach Concept is a 20-foot-long convertible; e) YouTuber "Blackpanthaa" just can't post his last NFS Most Wanted (racing game) video play-through, can he? And on that note, I bid you goodnight. Thanks for reading through my blog, and have a nice day. Cheers!

I've gone from this....   

     

To this.... (and vice versa)

Nothing some ice cream wouldn't cure XD

For the record, I did get my free burrito ^^

DAY 343/344/345

Aug 10, 11 & 12

1) Yet three more days have passed. I've been kept busy by the constant work and research. In particular, reading up about breast cancer and its management. This ties in nicely with my research on breast cancer comorbidities, and helps me to build a stronger understanding of what I'm researching on. It's amazing how the Internet, if utilised properly, can make someone with scant knowledge suddenly appear a lot more knowledgeable.

2) Aside from that, I've started making phone calls to the patients who are part of our research programme (on adverse drug reactions). Primarily the phone call is to make sure they have received our posted questionnaire (which I made haha), but also to assist them if they have difficulty completing the questionnaire. I've probably mentioned this previously, but the intention is to investigate adverse drug effects in patients aged 65 and older, most of them who have recently been discharged from Beaumont Hospital.

3) On top of this, I've started working on my poster for the first research project (the one in the labs). As summer research students under the RSS, we have three tasks: presentation, abstract, and poster. I hope to get all this sorted before school reopens, as I'll be a busy man then. As if I'm not busy enough now haha. Anyway, that's been my update for the past three days, and hopefully you enjoyed reading about it. Have a great week, cheers!

Beaux Lane House - where I work :D

A familiar sight (just opposite the old Mercer Library)

That's what good luck looks like on a Wed

(at Burritos and Blues)

Steak quesadilla with nachos

Lunch Box Deal - pick a main with three sides, only €5.95

(I recently rediscovered this offer at Dunnes)

Seriously, who could resist all of this?

Coronation chicken, 

with a portion of noodle salad, broccoli with feta, and spiced potato salad

DAY 337/338/339

Aug 4, 5 & 6

1) The past days have gotten colder. The weather has become a lot more erratic, as you can see from the pictures below. I've been on my second project for about a week now. Both my Principal Investigators will be busy the following week, leaving me to sort things out for myself. Hopefully I'll be able to make enough progress to justify having me over for the month haha.

2) Knowing that some of you reading this blog are coming over to Dublin next month, I've taken some interesting pics of Dublin in general, as I went for buffet at Dublin 1 last Saturday. Trace my footsteps as I walked from Buffet 79 (Dublin 1) all the way back to RCSI (Dublin 2).

3) I've run out of things to write about, as I'm stuck in the library most of the day - lost in the virtual world as I peer into the computer screen for a variety of reasons. If there's one thing you should do (I'm referring to those coming to Dublin in Sept), it's to study hard and enjoy at the same time, because you're in for one heck of a ride. That's all for my blog update, be sure to scroll down, and I'll see you in the next blog update. Have a nice day, cheers!

Dublin on a beautiful, sunny day :)

Buffet 79 (located at Moore Street)

The Spire (originally The Millennium Spire, 

until they realised it wasn't going to be completed by the new millennium)

Fun fact: the previous year (2015) they shone lights at the Spire to make it look like a blue lightsaber, in anticipation of the upcoming Star Wars movie...

O'Connell Monument, the memorial to Daniel O'Connell, the 19th century nationalist leader, by sculptor John Henry Foley, which stands at the entrance to the street named after him.

What a lovely day for a walk

(all that's about to change though)

Lots of tourists cross the O'Connell Bridge 

(that joins most of Dublin 1 from Dublin 2)

The River Liffey

Street art

Trinity College Dublin

(keep in mind the sunny weather...)

This it Grafton Street 

(arguably one of the busiest streets in Dublin and a main tourist attraction)

And barely two minutes after my passing TCD, the weather has taken a turn for the worse...

Gotta love the weather... NOT ^^

St. Stephen's Green Shopping Centre

(most of the RCSI students would come here to buy groceries at Dunnes (downstairs))

The entrance to St. Stephen's Green, a large park right in front of RCSI

(In particular, that is Fusiliers' Arch is a monument which forms part of the Grafton Street entrance to St Stephen's Green park, in Dublin, Ireland. Erected in 1907, it was dedicated to the officers, non-commissioned officers and enlisted men of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers who fought and died in the Second Boer War (1899-1902).

The LUAS (tram service) is so convenient as it stops at St. Stephen's Green, literally right in front of the College