Study leave.

Hello. ;)

As most of you would have guessed, (you'll know if you've been following this blog) I was having my practical examinations throughout the whole of last week. And yesterday's Parasitology paper concludes it all for me. :) Now with the practicals out of the way, it's time to pick up arms and fight. Its hell time. Rawwrr! xD

The following will be the 'fields' for me to tackle with my, hard-wrenching-eye-popping-jaw-dropping "weapon". :P (I've no idea what is it, so don't bother asking)

29/1 Pathology
30/1 Pharmacology
31/1 Parasitology & Microbiology
1/2-2/2 Physiology
3/2 Histology & Anatomy
4/2-6/2 Anatomy with a pinch of Physiology ;)

It is rather crammed up, don't you think? Oh well, this is all that I could muster in one week of study leave. Better hope it is good enough. Prayers up people! Pray for me! :)

Live Jo, live.

Yes, Jo, live. ;)

Just maybe.

Hey..

Yesterday marks the end of the first semester for us third years. I guess I should have been happy about this since there's only a semester left for me to complete my pre-clinical years and venture into clinical medicine. But somehow I find myself unable to "feel" any feelings. Exams? Maybe. Just maybe.

So, tomorrow's the beginning of my practical examinations. After that, it'll be a week of study-leave before the beginning of one very long month of written exams. I'm not even sure whether I'm looking forward for my 21st birthday next month. Heh. Who am I kidding? But really, I don't know what to look forward to at the moment. Neither the exams, nor even my birthday. Everything seems dark. Smile, Jo. Smile. *managed to force out a smile*

Hmm. Perhaps I'll find that light soon. Oh, no no no. If you're thinking about the light which guides dead people, hell no. God-forbid. Heh. I'm looking for the 'light'. The one which shines in all that's living, except me. *rummages my room, looking for a candle* This will do, I guess. Hmm. But, what will happen when the candle burns out? Urh. That's a problem for later.

Okay, I'm heading back to reality guys - where salt's sweet and sugar's salty. Oh, and can someone remind me to go to the pharmacy tomorrow. My eyes' are rather dry. Need to get some eyedrops of myself. Where the hell could my tears have gone? *laughs quietly alone*

Note to self
-You've got to stop posting an entry when you're halfway to Lala-land, Jo.
Monologue - "Ah, janji aku happy."

Of needs and priorites.

Hello.

It's been awhile.

I feel the need to update but I've been busy with my studies with the finals coming and all. That is my priority after all.

Sometimes, I feel rather disconnected. But I wonder, is it my fault? I know I need to do certain things at certain times, but, what if those certain times are filled? And again by, my priorities.

I try to understand certain things but I simply can't. I went to bed, thinking of all the different possibilities in my mind. None of which I would want to materialize. And I will fall asleep, with a tired and confused mind. When I wake up, it feels like I've been wide awake all the time. Hm.

Oh, well. Things aren't always the way they are - the way we want them to be. This is how it should be, I guess. We are not the Earth, spinning on its axis, tilted slightly to one side. Fixed, never different.

I'll plough through, even if I have to stay awake in my sleep for days to come. I'll cope. (I hope)

I'm sorry if this post doesn't make any sense to you guys. It is rather deep and vague. Simply, you can consider this to be some random blabbering from a nobody - me.

I need guidance..

Hey..

The number of my assignments have been dwindling for the last couple of days. Just this week, one presentation after another have reduced the amount of work needed done. Thank God. However, as one door closes, a few others open. I'm not even sure whether it is appropriate to give them the term, "doors". Honestly, I'd prefer the word, "pit holes" - deep and endless. Yeah, that certainly sums it well. Obviously I'm talking about my end-of-semester finals. Duh. The practical part is only 9 days left and the written part, hmm, three weeks, plus minus a few days. Definitely too close for comfort.

This time around, it'll be my fifth time, preparing for these examinations. It is just too bad, instead of seeing myself handling it better, I only saw myself feeling a lot of unnecessary stress. And the stress is definitely increasing by the semester. A whole lot of me would put the blame on the insane amount of knowledge that's required from us each term. Before I came here, people used to say, "You'll definitely find it hard for the first two years but it'll be smooth sailing from then on." Being an enthusiastic-naive "kid", I looked forward to the challenge. I dare you to say it to me again now. (Ps. You'd better be wearing a chain-mail)

Medicine is definitely a branch trunk of knowledge which requires a crazily-huge amount of hard work and perseverance. Being someone who have devoted his life to all this, who am I to complain? Suck it up and face it, head on! ;) But I know, I definitely need help. The priceless support and guidance from my loved ones, will be the stick, whacking me on the head when I'm lazy. The continuous silent prayers, will be my pillar, holding me. You guys' are my strength when I am weak, my light when I am lost, my conscience, when I am wrong.


Oh well, semangat macam mane pun, I still feel like jumping into a "pit hole" after seeing the pile of books in front of me. I've got room for one more. Any takers? ;)

Gambar hiasan. That dude is DEFINITELY NOT ME. :P

Intrachapter Futsal Competition 2009

I'm not really in the mood to update but I guess I'm obliged to post something regarding this competition or else it'll be old news. :P

So, on the 7th of January 2009, the Sports and Activities Bureau of PERUBATAN Alexandria organized a futsal competition for us guys. A total of 12 teams participated - four from the 3rd years, three from the 2nd years, four from the first years and one invitational team from the Uztazs . Three days before the competition, I wasn't expecting myself to play but it all changed when the captain of "Triple Espresso" invited me to play as their goal keeper. I dully accepted. ;) In the group stages, I let in a total of 2 goals, all in the first game against a team from the first year. :P Mane tak nye, masing-masing sepak macam nak patah tangan aku tahan. Haha.

The Triple Espressos

However, my team still managed to win our 3 remaining group games and qualified for the quarters where we went against a third year team. I only played for the first half and after the game ended goaless, I came back on to face the penalties. I saved a few shots, my teammates scored a few, so we won. ;) We then faced another third year team in the semis and thanks to a moment of brilliance from our attacking players and awesome defending from our defenders, we sneaked into the finals where once again, we met the same team from the first years, for the third time. After a breathtaking 30minutes of play and few bruises later, the match was to be decided by penalties. This time around, we were rather unlucky. I only got my hands on the ball once, and letting another slip through after I had my hands on it. Coupled from a few misses from my teammates, we lost. :( Oh well, we had fun playing and it was definitely worth the aches I got the day after. :P

Sitting among rivals. ;)

My hands, their feet.

Anyway, you guys can check more photos of the competition here. Credits to my housemate, Pokyan, who photographed the event.

Ciao.

The Snapping Turtle

Heyya guys. Somehow today, I feel like doing good to the society. So, as a consequence, hear me preach! :P

Do you guys know what's a snapping turtle? No?

Lets take it in a kid's perspective or simply to say, a random someone who doesn't know what this turtle can do. The kid will try to put his fingers in for the first time, and yes, he'll get snapped at. Being a kid, he tried to put them in a second time and again, his fingers got snapped at. Worrying that his fingers might get bitten, the kid stopped. The snapping turtle won.

"Victory! Rawrrr!"

And know you know. So, would you ever poke your finger in its shell to get its head out? Would you let your fingers get snapped at, over and over again, hoping that somehow the turtle will give up and stop snapping? Hold that thought for a moment.

If we were to relate this somewhat silly story to our life, we would see that there is a lot to learn from the snapping turtle. Many of us tend to forget the wisdom of the snapping turtle. All around, people fail not because they did not do something which they do not know, but instead, people fail because they did not do something which they do know. To quote what Sigmund Freud said, "Insanity is defined as doing the the same thing over and over again, and continually expecting a different result". Hence, if you want a different result in your life, take a different action and once you've figured it out, keep it up. It is your life after all, and not someone's else. Why not start now?

Cheerio. :)

Palestine

A simple post which title carries a thousand meanings.

Just yesterday, Israeli air strikes killed one of Hamas top political leader Nizar Rayyan, together with his family. And to date, no fewer than 400 Palestinians have been estimated dead and not less than 2000 others injured. More than a quarter of them are civilians btw, mainly kids. For those who have not been following the updates about our brothers in Gaza, I advise you guys to do so. When we are celebrating, enjoying the New Year fireworks, the children of Gaza only saw a different kind of explosion. When we are sleeping, they're being kept awake by emergency sirens. Have we ever thought of that?

Furthermore, Israeli soldiers are guarding the Gaza strip, blocking any means of humanitarian aid from entering Gaza. Food and medicinal supplies are running low while power supplies are cut causing hospitals to struggle in coping with the wounded. Today, Hamas has called for open suicide bombings on all "Zionist interest" everywhere around the world. This means all Starbucks, McD outlets are potential targets. I'm sure most of you are smart enough to decide what's right, right?

We may be far away from all the turmoil but it doesn't stop us from doing our part. Know what's going on, spreading the news and praying for all Muslims - that's what we have to do. Why not start now? Start today. Free Palestine, rise Islam!

Welcome, 2009!

Happy New Year 2009, everyone!

I'm pretty sure all of my friends back in Malaysia had fun watching the fireworks, partying all night in Bukit Bintang and basically doing anything they consider appropriate in ushering the new year. :) What about me here, who's stuck all the way in Egypt? Hmm..

For starters, I have class tomorrow instead of those back home where New Year's day is a holiday. It's New Year's Day for goodness sake! Mane ade orang kerja on New Year's! Sigh. Secondly, there's just too much being taught in the lectures and I simply can't afford to push them aside. Boring, aren't I? And thirdly, till this day, I'm still wondering whether do fireworks exist here in Egypt. Lol.

So, what I have planned for tonight's countdown are some glass bottles which I'm gonna hurl it down onto the street from my apartment. Hehe. Don't be surprised you guys. THIS, is exactly how Egyptians celebrate their New Year. A perfect reason for you to not go out wondering around on the street at midnight. "Smash smash" instead of "Kaboom kaboom". :P

When the midnight bell rings tonight... Let it signifies new and better things for us, let it signifies a realisation of all things we wish for, Let it signifies a year full of courage and believes. Wishing you a very very prosperious 2009. Love always :)