Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Labs Are Fun!

Today, we did a lab about Alcohol. The experiment involved the students this time around and we had to consume alcohol. It was a pretty fun lab too, not only because some people got to drink but also because it was quite entertaining to see how people were after the consumption.

The lab was for the central nervous system course we're doing this semester so it was to see how alcohol affects the central nervous system in individuals, testing memory and psychomotor skills. I volunteered to drink the sherry (18% alc.). I'm not really a drinker...I'm not the biggest fan of alcohol but I'll have a little every now and again. I've never had sherry before. It's a really nice drink though. Nice and sweet.

My motor skills improved slightly, funny enough. The same went for my memory. Although there were other factors that contributed to the memory portion of the experiment: the lab got quite noisy so it was hard to concentrate on 6 two-set numbers to remember and recall. Oh well.

I also discovered that Asians and Caucasians tend to metabolise alcohol more slowly than others. So, they tend to have a lower tolerance to alcohol. I'm not entirely sure why but I think it has something to do with the liver enzymes.

On my way to the car today, I couldn't help pulling out my phone and snapping a photo (the one you see above). It's quite nice, isn't it? I love the quality of images that I can get with my cell.

I can't believe tomorrow's the start of April! Imagine that, it's April already! I feel like I got back from Hong Kong just a few weeks ago. Time really does fly, huh?

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Pests!

Cockroaches are filthy, vile disgusting creatures. Last night was the second night in a row that I found a massive (by massive, I mean 2.5") cockroach in my bedroom. I go nuts on these things with bug spray just to corner then drown them in it. My nearly full bottle went down to about half after last night's run. *shudder*

It's times like these that I wish I owned a pet cat. My Mom hates pets so I've never had the privilege of raising one but I was staying at a friend's house and she told me about cats getting rid of problems like roaches. Not long after informing me of this interesting fact did a cockroach crawl through the room (small in comparison to the ones I have at home...but this was in Trinidad) as if to give me a little demonstration. I didn't see what happened to the vile creature, being too busy staying off the floor. I'm sure it was no pretty sight to see since all I saw left of the creature were a few legs left scattered about the floor. Neat. I remember thinking, "I should definitely get a cat!" But I probably won't. Felines don't appeal to me as much as canines.

My room needs to stop randomly producing big roaches at night when I'm ready to go to bed! Just where are they coming from anyways?!

Monday, March 29, 2010

The Best Lecturers?

Is it me or are the all best Basic Medical Sciences lecturers Indian?

Well, at least, that's the conclusion I've come to from all the lecturers I've been exposed to. All the people that I've learnt best from have been Indian and they pretty much carry similar teaching styles. They are all incredibly knowledgeable in their fields and they teach by diagrams in text books and drawings they do on a whiteboard.

Maybe I should have gone off to study Medicine in India?

Granted, I do have an anatomy lecturer who isn't very good but that's because she's always feeling rushed and never goes over what she should be teaching us, telling us that we should go home and read it ourselves. She teaches by drawing as well but I think she has some odd notion that we prefer to sit and stare at powerpoint slides with pixelated images.

Just last semester a friend of mine discovered Dr. Najeeb. He's an amazing lecturer that manages to make everything so simple. I've only got one lecturer like that at my university who teaches physiology (and he is, of course, Indian). He provides full lectures on basic medical sciences topics online, and I would suggest any and every medical student to check out his videos.

Click for Dr. Najeeb's Youtube
Click to find Dr. Najeeb on Facebook and Twitter

I'm sure there are other great lecturers out there of different race, nationality and language. I wouldn't mind them coming to teach me. But I do find it interesting that the people who have been able to teach me best, so far, don't speak English as their first language. Most of my lecturers who only speak English somehow don't carry their messages across very well. Very interesting indeed.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Why Nick? Why?

So, the Kids Choice Awards 2010 went down last night on Nickelodeon. And I couldn't watch. Why? Because I don't have Nickelodeon.

But I do have Teen Nick. Which is still part of big Nick. For the hour and half that the KCA was on, Teen Nick showed nothing else for the duration of the time. There was a repeated transmission that showed the KCA logo and some scrolling text saying that they've gone off to the Kids Choice Awards, watch it on Nick and they'll return at 9:30. So, as you're showing nothing else, why not show the awards show? I was sorely disappointed. I had been looking forward to watching the Kids Choice Awards last night.

Well, what you don't see on tv, find on the internet. And find I did.

Demi Lovato wore this lovely Black Faith dress that I love to bits! I'm not really a person to wear dresses and such but I would definitely wear this dress, should the occasion arise. It's really quite lovely! My birthday's coming up soon! *wink wink* Haha.

One of my favourite guys in the world claimed two of the lovely orange blimps for himself, winning the categories of 'Favorite Movie Actor' for New Moon and "Cutest Couple" for Jacob Black & Bella Swan. Yay! Congrats Taylor!

SoulSilver

I've had this new game in the palm of my hands since last Monday! Pokemon SoulSilver. Unfortunately, I haven't been playing it as much as I would like to. With classes, exams and assignments filling up about 80% of my days and sleep taking up 15%, there isn't a whole lot left for fun and letting out the inner child.

I get the idea that no matter how old I get, I'm going to just simply love Pokemon. I probably can't say the same about the show itself but as for the games, I can't get enough of it. I'm really excited about SoulSilver, the remake of the Silver/Gold/Crystal series (of which I have, and am still in ownership of, Crystal). It's really awesome so far and I totally love the whole idea of the Pokewalker and how you can catch certain Pokemon in it.

So far, I've started off in Johto and since it's been so many years since I last played in Johto, I've been trying to decide on who I'll keep in my party of six. I haven't gotten very far (on my way to Olivine City) but for now I've got my Quilava (you know Typhlosion will just be a bundle of awesomeness!), Togetic, Quagsire, Dratini, Kangaskhan and Elekid. Well, I'll figure it out eventually, beat the League and move onto Kanto. Imagine that! 16 gyms and 2 Leagues! =D This is surely going to last longer than the usual. =D

I've only recently realised how much there's still left to do in Pokemon Platinum which I got last year. I stopped playing it sometime and never picked it back up until two weeks ago. Interesting. I'll get back to that at some point in time. Right now, my focus is SoulSilver. =]

Saturday, March 27, 2010

A Little Tweak Here & There

Recently, I've been feeling like changing up my blog's layout. And, as you can see, I have!

I like new things. (Who doesn't?) More specifically, I like changing up old things so that they look new again. That way, I'll never get tired of it.

Thankfully, Blogger came out with this nifty new Template Designer. So, I got to kill two birds with one stone. I tried out something new and changed up the year-and-a-half-old blog. As much as I love pandas, I got tired of the old panda image and made a lovely new header to commemorate the new look! A photo I took of one of Hong Kong's train stations while it was a bit empty.
"Only as high as I reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, only as deep as I look can I see, only as much as I dream can I be." - Karen Ravn
What do you think of the new layout? Do you like it? Or do you not?

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Peep! Peep!

Easter is just around the corner and just about every year we get to see these little guys: little sugar-coated marshmallow chicks. The chicks are, of course, to suit the season. I had some peeps last year for the Christmas season as well: little snowmen for the occasion.

My Mom and I were going to save them for Easter weekend but we couldn't resist and gobbled down the pack of yellow Peeps. =D Hopefully, the orange will remain all wrapped up for Easter!
I think they should make little bunnies as well. It would be adorable. Maybe they do but they aren't sold here? I don't know but I'd like to see little Easter bunny Peeps some time. =)

Easter vacation is off to a start for primary and secondary schools here. They all get a lovely 2 weeks home until the Easter weekend has passed. Normally, I don't feel particularly jealous but this year around I do. Only because I'd love to have the break so I could get caught up in work.

The wonderful 4-day weekend will be here before I know it and I can't wait! I'm definitely going to have some fun and chill out. Get myself all relaxed so that I can prepare to work feverishly until May 6th, the day of my first and only exam final for this semester!

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Hello? Goodbye?

I want to wear a kimono.
I don't know why. I just feel like it. I've worn some yukata before on my trip to Japan a few years back and it was nice. I had such a fun trip...I want to go back!

I really, truly feel like this place is wearing me down. By this place, I'm referring to my university. I'm so so very tired of it all. Every day, all I ever have the opportunity of hearing about is complaints about this, that and the other. It's driving me mad and I can't take it anymore. I've got complaints of my own, but I'm not one to normally voice them because I see no reason to be upset over it. I do my part and do it to the best of my ability and move on. I won't let a few people in a faculty hold me back and upset me. Not anymore. I'm tired of that. It's way too much of a burden.

I miss the other side of the world. I miss the culture there compared to that which exists here (or more like a lack of culture here), the family, the food...

I just miss so much. I can't wait to leave.

Monday, March 15, 2010

No more drought?


The rain came out to play today! After 2-3 months of no rain, we finally got almost a full day of light rainfall. It was lovely. The air was cool. The temperature was so perfect compared to all the heat. The air was humid too but it's expected from so much rain.

Of course, constantly light rain for more than half the day tends to make you want to sleep in all day long. No work. Just chill out.
I hope the rain comes out to play again tomorrow!

Friday, March 12, 2010

Sci-Tech Expo 2010

The Science & Technology Exposition takes place every other year where people from around the island showcase their creativity and innovation. Individuals from primary schools, secondary schools, community college, universities, entrepreneurs and other organisations set up and display their inventions, projects and businesses.

This year Sci-Tech was looking rather dull. I've taken part in the expo twice: 2006 and 2008. And I found it rather empty and drab. There wasn't a whole lot of interesting things to look at, save for one or two large booths by primary schools which worked alongside the Soil Conservation Unit to help spread the knowledge that we can prevent erosion and other wastage of soil as individuals by doing little things.

Many booths remained unmanned and some others just had some rather unsociable people looking after them. I had a fairly decent time there with two friends so it was cool. I was quite glad there was no admission fee. Certainly wouldn't have been worth it. I was glad to have run into my old Biology teacher from secondary school too!

Fun fact: Do you know...?

Good days...bad days...

Yesterday was a bad day.

Miscommunication within the faculty, misleading information to the students (literally last minute changes, supposedly), a spotter that wasn't a spotter, a test that was set in spotter time, a test that didn't start on time and a worked up, arguing class. These are the things that made up my morning hours yesterday. All that, for one single 20 question test. My medical school is so screwed up it isn't even funny. Why are people printing question papers the very minute that our test is supposed to start? Did this mean that the changes we heard were true? Why are these people never organised? Is my education and testing of my knowledge at all really important here?

We make some noise because we're being screwed over left, right, top, bottom and centre. Then the lab tech wants to come out flustered and half-shouting, "I don't understand these people! They don't understand that we were running around all morning trying to find a working printer!!" Psh. Yeah, sure. One, she's not getting screwed up information, she's just printing stuff. And two, our test papers should have been printed since the day before. There's no excuse for a lack of organisation.

Anyhow, I went to see Alice In Wonderland on Tuesday at the Drive In. It was pretty decent. It wasn't awesome, not that I was expecting it to be. But I sat through it and enjoyed it well enough, quite unlike the original Disney movie. I never could finish it. I just found it so boring...and Alice was annoying me. Though, there was one thing that I liked about the movie: the Cheshire Cat. A bit creepy at first glance but I quite loved his character. I liked him then and I like him now.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

I see...the future

I've been corresponding with a friend in Jamaica via email lately and only recently discovered a startling fact. Non-UK trained medical graduates will not be eligible to apply for posts by the NHS. How disappointing.

For a little while, I wanted to do some medical training in England if I got the chance but recently changed my mind to Hong Kong (and I've been obsessed with it ever since). I guess it's a good thing I had a change of heart! It would've been nice to have had the option anyway, though.

All this got me thinking and I realised that I had no idea what it would take for an individual such as myself to be able to practice in Hong Kong. And so, I made use of Google. Turns out, I would have to take Hong Kong's Medical Licensing Examination after having completed 5-years of full time medical training (thank goodness my degree is 5 years long instead of 4 years like in some other universities!) and a 12 month internship. After having passed this 3-part examination, then I'm entitled to a 12 month internship period. Once this is successfully completed, I'm free to register as a medical practitioner with the Medical Council of Hong Kong.

Of course, after acquiring this set of information, I've mapped out the next 10 years of my life. I'm really set on Hong Kong. I love what I'm learning and will continue to do so; I'll laugh through the hardships; I have huge dreams to which I aspire and I know one day I will reap the merits of achievement. This is what lies in my heart and it is this that gave birth to my own little mantra:

Love. Learn. Laugh. Dream. Aspire. Achieve.

Every time I see this, I remind myself to take one step at a time while keeping my eyes fixed on the goal. I don't know very much about the healthcare system in Hong Kong but I'll definitely educate myself in the system and the language.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Scientist

Today, we were scientists.

We did a pharmacology lab in which we tested the effects of the drug, Vasopressin (ADH), on some toads. We were originally supposed to do the experiment on frogs but it turns out there are only whistling frogs in Barbados and we couldn't use them. I have no idea why but they're everywhere!

Our lab consisted of two toads, a control (which we injected a normal saline solution into) and the other one. =] Somehow we ended up with two of the largest toads in the class, weighing almost 100 g each.

It was one of the most fun labs I've had since entering medical school. I didn't actually handle the toads. But if I had to then I guess I would've. I'm not afraid of handling them but I wouldn't go out of my way just to do so. I'm sure I can live through my life without having to hold down or inject a toad. I was the timer, though! I got to sit and watch the time for 20 minutes per toad. Lovely. =]

We didn't do anything to kill our little toads though! It was just an injection of a drug and submersion in water for 20 minutes for 5 cycles. ADH just keeps water from leaving the toad's body. Unfortunately, one group in the lab had a toad that met its death. Poor thing. It was a small toad and I think the potency of the drug was too much for it. May the little guy rest in peace.

All in all, today was a fun day! It was quite entertaining to see girls running and even moulding themselves into the wall away from the toads. And, of course, toads trying to escape was the trigger of the squealing in class.

In the end, they got to go and roam free in the wild once more.

Now, where's that rain that I've been asking for?

Sunday, March 7, 2010

History Lesson: China

I spent a nice part of last night watching the History channel. There's rarely anything worthwhile to watch on TV these days and I don't normally watch the History channel. In fact, I wasn't even aware of actually having the channel in my cable package because we don't ever watch it.

Last night there was a 2-hour documentary on the first Emperor of China. It was the most fascinating documentary but I'll admit, it was probably only so interesting because I'm not studying Chinese history. Somehow, I think if I learn about something because I have to it doesn't strike me as interesting as it would if I just wanted to. Well, I was just so taken by it that I thought I'd blog about it.

The first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, was an undeniably admirable man who accomplished so many great things and has created the China we know today. In short, he created one large empire and ruled for a duration of about 3 decades. He was a man of great strength and power. Unfortunately, his obsession with immortality led to his own demise at the tender age of 49.

The Great Wall of China we admire today was built as a protective shield from external enemies from the North. It's still somewhere in my life-plan to visit someday!

The Terracotta Army stand to protect the tomb of the great Emperor. Under order of the first Qin Emperor, these figures were created.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Probability of Precipitation: 0%

Today's weather
The sky: blue
The clouds: white and fluffy like little cotton balls
The sun: blindingly bright
The grass: light brown
The soil: lighter than the brown grass...and cracked
The hedge: becoming leafless

This is pretty much how every day looks. The chance of rain these days is non-existent. At this point in the game, we're not to water the plants in our gardens or risk being reported by a neighbour. Not that my university cares much. There's still a lot of green grass there.

So, if you'd like to escape your weather, come visit mine! The nice sun is ideal for vacationing. And the temperatures seem to rise continuously with each passing day.

Those of you getting an overload of rain and snow, feel free to haul some of that precipitation my way! This country is dying of thirst!