Adventure. I actually met someone from Tunisia. I actually met someone with malaria. I actually seen a fat man collapsed due to chest pain. I actually shake hands with top athletes. I actually won praise from the chairman of Asian Athlete Association. I actually worked with so many doctors. I actually … …
Yesterday was indeed one of the most memorable experiences I have had in my life. I was assigned as an official member of the doping team for the Standard Chartered Marathon 2008. I arrived early and helped the seniors with physiotherapy services before gathering at the doping room for briefing. We were given the following instructions:
The athlete is supposed to arrive at the Doping centre in one hour times after he/she cross the finishing line.
We were supposed to follow the athlete and watch their every single move until their doping test is done.
The athlete is not supposed to receive any drinks or food from anybody; they are to choose their own sealed drinks.
Everyone was nervous after the briefing as we going to meeting international athletes and grabbing hold of them at the finishing line is going to be one hard task. The scene was a complete chaos as we waited for the athlete to cross the crucial line. Helicopters were hovering above us, reporters are blocking our views, supporters are cheering their hearts out, and people were walking around trying to squeeze into the crowd.
We tried to co-ordinate with the other officials at the scene as we organized ourselves into two rows. 6 students from Hong Kong Polytechnic, Physiotherapy and 6 students from Hong Kong Baptist University, Physical Education and Recreation Management stood recklessly as we waited.
My athlete was from Tunisia and she was 5th in the Marathon.
Who believe that she actually have Malaria?
She went dizzy.
She went fatigue. Muscle spasm.She need to be wheeled.
Doping test went hay-wired.
I contacted with millions of people. Steven the in-charge. The chairman of Asain athelete association. The champions of this year marathon. Doctors of all ages. Nurses. Physiotherapists.
I watched an obese man with chest man being put on a portable EMG and given shots after shots. (paraffin & adrenaline)
Ended my day eating banana and sending Fabio William John (my athlete) onto the taxi.
Vistied to Auntie Bonnie. She might need another operation today to remove the fluid accumulated at her diaphragm. This is the third time she would be going to be wheeled into the operation theatre. God Bless.
Aunt sent for 2nd surgery. Hole in the intestine. Pray that nothing happen again. Complications. Waited for a surgery to end for the first time in my life. 5 hours just ticked by. I went silence. I do not want to get involve into any conversation. Each has their own sulky face. Their own worries. I am tired. Things are not going right. I have bad dreams too. The weather is not getting warm. Tests are drawing near. Weekends are burnt for extra curriculum stuffs. I need concentration. I need to talk. But what's the point of talking when I can't say what I want to say. I am lethargic. I need to balance my work, my activities annd things that are not in my control. That is hard. I need strength. I need to build my own strength. Hold on.
I am feeling weird because my whole time-table is messed up. I don't feel good when that happen. No one does I believe. I am lacking behind. I need to keep up with my studies and activities amid all these. That's my short term goal for now. Stay alive.
Starbuck Blueberry's Cheesecake. Yummy. I bought it at St.Teresa Hospital after a visit to Aunt's ward. Some updates: Aunt is getting better but her muscles are getting fatigue and there is an unknown pain on her top right abdomen.
My lunch on the third day of lunar new year.
My tour to the Space Musesum. Watched 2 Imax shows on Black hole and Greek respectively.
Try walking on the moon. Bouncing, bouncing and bouncing.
@Rubey Tuesday. The ribs, the Colonel burger... ... Juicy, Yummy. :D
Cousin Kevin & tall choco. :)
Bought a Jimmy model at Space Muesum. :)
Enjoyable day. Happy CNY. Too lazy to add any description; my intended assignments have been piled up HORRIBLY. Time for me to start on some work. Cya.
This New Year was a little different but it can consider enjoyable afterall. On the night of New Year eve, I had dinner at 三姨婆's place and then stayed over at St. Theresa hospital to accompany Aunt Bonnie. The next day, I went to 2 houses where my Mum's relatives gathered.Tonnes of relatives which I seriously did not know how to address some of them. "Hi, first time staying in HK for New Year?" "Hi, Mum is in Singapore?" "You adapted to the environment her?"
I am fine. I am happy. It's New Year! Come on!
Well, most of the time, I am playing with my little cousins.
At time, I took them Uncle Wong's house before we headed to Spagetti house for dinner.
Here are some pics.
Uncle Gordon and Dennis. They say this photo must be taken with my camera cuz I'm gonna put on blog. lol My cousins. :D Looking at different cameras. bad shot.
HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR to all pp out THERE in the world!!! May all your wishes come true!!!
When I feel helpless, I feel like I want to cry and this is what I am feeling now. Many of a time, things aren't in your control. You feel like you want something to happen but when people around fails to co-operative, you are often rooted to the ground. We are often hindered to do something because we are concerned about the feelings of others. In such situation, what shall we do?
My Aunt was supposed to have a Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy (TLH) done on Wednesday afternoon but half way through the surgery, the doctor discovered an adhesion of intestines due to the previous operation and had to switch to Abdominal Hysterectomy (AH). In other words, the abdomen is now suffering from a vertical incision from AH as well as 3 holes from TLH.
To my Aunt, it seems like she had gone through surgery for two times and she has this thinking that she has undergone a really MAJOR surgery. Nevertheless, she was actually feeling and looking fine when I visited her two days after the surgery. However, her conditions declined drastically yesterday night. Her abdomen become extremely bloated and cold sweats started rolling down her forehead. She looked pale and was breathless while talking. When I arrived, Uncle D was there padding on her back; hoping to release the air in her abdomen. I tried teaching her some deep breathing exercises to help her relax but to no avail. Later, the patient across the room advised on some “Fruit skin” juice and Uncle D was in such a hurry that he grabbed me along to go home to cook it. It was 8pm then. I didn’t return to the hospital but it was around 11pm when I reached my hostel.
During my visit today, she looked better with her IV drip back on and a gastric tube through her nose. Below her was a bag, containing a packet of black substances collected from the tube; the doctor had suggested that it was some discharge from the intestines and stomach. Her abdomen was not as bloated but she could only utter a few words to me. I bought her a hot pack to relieve her sore muscles due to prolong bed rest; it was splendid that she felt more comfortable with that. I gave her some massaging and encouraged her to sit up and do some stretching exercises; at least, being a Physiotherapy student, I have a responsibility to keep her muscle active. Before we left, she was able to pass motion; it’s really a good sign.
On further conversation with my relatives, I found out that Uncle D gave her some Fungus capsules and we were discussing about the possibility that it has caused the deteriorating condition. Aunt K and Uncle W had wanted to tell D but they were afraid of heating up an argument as Uncle D has always been strong on his view. He would blame on the food or the water drank in the hospital instead of his capsules.
Discussions after discussions, they did not come to a conclusion; at last, they asked my Mummy in Singapore to help. The outcome is still not known by me yet. It doesn’t matter anyway; I just hope that Aunt Bonnie gets well soon.
From this incident, I have realised how well my Daddy, Mummy and Brother has brought up me. I am now capable of taking care of myself, care about other’s emotions, and stand on my feet to make decisions. When I look at my cousins, I feel helpless. I seriously do not know how to educate them when they are so oblivious of the things around them. One of them, who is only 1.5 years younger than me, couldn’t decide on the things he is going to study. He needs to hand in his subject registration tomorrow and he handed in to his Dad to decide. I asked him to look through on his own and he said, “I should have gone to Mummy today and asked about it. She will scold me if I chose the wrong thing.” All of a sudden, I could not believe what I have heard; most of the 18 years old I know would say that they wouldn’t care about what Mummy thinks as this is their own interest. He is so disinterest in the things he does. How will he ever do it well then? Dishes were left in the sink for 3 days. Doesn’t know how to operate the washing machine and doesn’t even want to learn when I was teaching Uncle W how to do it. If I was like them, my brother would have reprimanded before my parents did. However, I am not their brother and they do not look up to me like how I look up to my brother. I tried to correct them at times, but they will give me astonishing answers that I could never have thought of. Uncle W has also never been a very good role model. As a relative and not really a family member, I dare not say a word. I am not afraid of hurting their feelings as they are young but its Aunt Bonnie who will be hurt that I am fearful of.
This is what I think and it shall remain as what I think. They are not mature enough as Uncles have mentioned. But, I think in such situations, it is the best time to make them grow. Sadly, it is not happening. What shall I do? What can I do? This New Year is really devastating; Aunt is not getting well, cousins are not behaving, relatives are arguing behind each other’s back, my mind is so not concentrated. I have been thinking about so many possibilities that would be happening. I have no mood to exercise, to eat and to complete my intended assignment. Yet, I do not want Daddy and Mummy to worry so much. Am I thinking too much?
Thanks to Bernie for being there online always; answering my questions I have posted. It might just be another normal conversation but it meant so much to me today when I am so down and lost. You might be a jerk to me at times but I never find it hard telling you stuffs. Thanks for being who you are.
I will try to take care of myself and do the best I can.
People varies.
People gossips.
People fights.
When this ‘people’ is referring to relatives and you being a member can just listen, it is unbearable. I can write, cry, and shout to let out what I feel.
I wrote it here to let God decide what to do, if you know what I meant.
Hope Aunt Bonnie gets well soon.
P.S. I was awarded for the RS-Entrance Scholarship for Outstanding Achievement. It meant something. It will take me sometimes to lift up my spirit and keep up the good work. The problem is that I do not have much time. 5 assignments ahead plus tests at the end of the month.
Belief. Is that what it is needed?
I wrote this post for 2 hours, it does cool me down. :)
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
I noticed I have not been blogging for almost 2 weeks. Blame it on my Magee textbook (Orthopedic Physical Assessment) and the Tudou website which provides me with an unlimited supplies of movies. Life back here is always as hectic as ever. There is no absolute moments for me to sit down and actually think and reflect. Once I sit down, I would feel the sense of exhaustion rushing into me and I would fall alseep; maybe not physically but definitely mentally.
Everytime I sit down at my desk, I am in front of my computer, my files, my notes, my textbook. Automatically, I will switch on the lab-top, check my emails, reply emails, roam around for unimportant stuffs, read blogs, check on my friends on MSN. After that, I would feel guilty for wasting so much time and I would start digging out my notes and textbooks. It would take me around 10 minutes to stare at the materials before I begin to comprehend and digest the content. This happens like almost everyday regardless of the time I return to hostel. This will usually end with my room mate initially to go to sleep - around 0130- 0200 midnight.
Often, my night times are delicated to STAR - Sports Training and Rehabitation, Pilates and other workshops like Kick boxing or lift- weighting. This allows me to add values, happinness but also exhaustion in life. :P
One interesting thing to note about me: My goal to become a Pilates instructor has finally begun! I have took up a workshop for this month and in the coming month, I would be practising MAT I Pilates class at Asian Academy for Sports & Fitness Professionals (亞洲運動及體適能專業學院)! Yesterday,I went all the way to Hong Kong island for registration and it costs me HK550 for 5 lessons! Bite me. My dream to Korea skiing rink next year would be shattered. One for one. That's life. My other aim is to do well this semester and get a scholarship.
I have always promised Daddy to introduce to him the things I am studying now. So here they are... ...
On RS278 Human Development across lifespan It's about our development physchologically, functionally, cognitiviely from the day of birth to the day we die.
In our first lesson, we learnt about the various theories of lifespan and child development. Under different types of domain, they have different types of theories and they guide us in finding out the faults in our development as a whole.
Biophysical Domain: Maturation, Dynamic System Theories Psychological Domain: Erickson's, Piaget's Theory Sociocultural Domain: Social learning theory and Behaviorism Classical vs Opereant Conditioning. etc. etc.
The most interesting part is learning about babies reflexes! We are given babies toys in class and shown thousands of videoes on baby reflexes and behaviour! Thanks to our lecturer Marco which took on a project and compiled the videoes last year. :D
I shall write on the other subjects at a later time when photos and vidoes can be uploaded onto my blog. (there're some problems currently)
Little infomation on Core Muscle... ... Our core is composed of three muscle regions on your body:
1) abdominal 2) pelvic 3) lower back
Basically, your core is any muscle located between your pelvis and the base of your ribcage. These muscles work together to support your spine. When you strengthen your core, you gain greater balance and stability. All people, from athletes to grandparents, stand to benefit from maintaining a strong core.
Adapted: www.thedietchannel.com
Some simple videoes on increasing on core strength!
I'm just a passerby that stumbled onto your blog, and coincidentally I'm actually very interested in entering NYP's Physiotherapy course. What kind of grades do I actually need so that I will definitely get into the course? I only know the application requirements, and I'm very sure that ain't the requirements that'll get me into the course.
Mind replying me ASAP? :)
My reply It is really hard to find someone in Singapore that is an enthusiast about Physiotherapy! Well, I would be more than willing to help people with the same passion as me!
A little bit about my background before I move on. Actually, I studied at NYP for four months before I dropped out and moved to Hong Kong Polytechnic Univeristy, Physiotherpy. Therefore, my advices given are based on a small sample size but I believe that it would be good enough for your information.
Getting into Physiotherapy can be based on luck if your grades are not that desirable. People with straight As or with an As often get into the course with no problems. duh. I am often very curious about how they select their students; there is a theory that the manager hand pick the student and hence it is very important that you choose a very formal picture for your application. When you ask the department about their entrance score, they often give you a very vague reply, "it depends on the intake cohort". I understand that it is very irritating for an eager student to hear that. The followings are some of scores I know of the previous cohort.
When I applied, my grades were ABB.
AAA ACC BBC BBD BCD CCD
As for GP, it is much better that you pass it although you still have a chance to get in if you fail.
Why do I say it depends on luck? My senior got CCC and applied for physiotherapy and he get into OT. (make a comparision with the grades I mention above) Appeal if there is a need to.
It is also very important that you take notice about the enrollment letter for registration. Some of my friends who were accepted but the enrollment letter was not sent to their houses. They didn't manage to get into the course in the end.
However, you do not need to worry too much, NYP is opening up 40 more places this year if I am not wrong.
You can search more of my other posts if you want to know more about Physiotherapy.
Good luck in your application! Be prepare of the challenge ahead! It's gonna to be tough but with interest, everything can be conquer! Believe in yourself.
Physiotherapy Service for China Coast Marathon Today - 20th Jan. This is our official T-shirt and the goodie bag we got at the end.
Pics without us in it. Pics with us... uploading soon.
The experience I had this round was really way difference from those I had in providing on-field physiotherapy for the basketball team. Injuries mostly focus on the lower limb region and being a new bird, I served mostly as a receptionist; referring cases back to my seniors and supervisors. Regardless, I noticed something very interested about marathon runners; they had cramps all above the body. For instance, in the midst of treating one's hamstring tightness, he would get cramp in the leg or the foot and vice versa. haa.
Interesting case 1 : Numbness in the forefoot whenever he starts to run. Prof. Simon: Muscles start to warm up during exercises and "increase in size"; this presses on the nerve that eventually passes through the medial malleolus. The problem might link back to the back (he basically performed some tests that are unknown to me). :P
Muffins and sandwiches for lunch. Got to know some nice seniors. Nice day.
Benny treating a patient. This funny Westerner went into our booth; took out all his clothes, including shoes and wiped his whole body with a gigantic towel, looked at us, pointed at his shoulder and said, "tightness". We went speechless. lol.
This was taken before X'mas at the lobby of my hostel. My 2nd home for the time-being. :D
My Expired Singapore First Aid cert with my new HK first aid cert. :D Well, the difference is, I paid like almost 100 Sing dollars for my HK first aid course in chinese and it was free in Singapore. No doubt, the quality of the card seems difference. Nevertheless, learning CPR in cantonese is really cool to me, given 7 years of First Aid training in English.
The view above my desk for this new semester The books on the bottom right are those that I have borrowed from the library and those on the right are my own. My food compartment is seriously suffering from a lack of space.
First day of school was quite boring. I woke up early in the morning to find myself attending the wrong class. Never mind that, it saved me from waking up early next week anyway. The subject titled Introduction on Physiotherapy talks about some history and background on our future career. Followed on was Human Development across Lifespan; our lecturer was overseas and hence Shirley came in to tell us about some introduction about the course.
I ended my day in gym.
Today, real lessons started. Introduction to Trauma and Disease which talks on orthopedic and then was Pharmacology. All these things looked so difficult. But it seems real interesting!
A really great meal at some restaurant at school! Our school actually has really high class restaurant ah!
On Thursday, I visited my first graduate school - NYP. Attended Dr. Uma class and she was as usual, happy to see my radiating smile. She asked me the differences between HK and SG, and I replied frankly with my very own experience. Being an univerisity, we definitely have more resources and manpower. She, already a pessimist about polytechnic education, was further supported by my words. Maybe, this gave her more motivation to reprimad my ex-classmates who were not responsing enthusiastically to her questions. I felt uncanny for a moment of two. Sometimes, I felt that students shouldn't be discouraged too much, we need motivation! Although one might not be situated in an ideal environment, but the individual self made us so valuable that one can strive regardless of any hindrance.
During lunch , I had my favourate Mee Goreng at the school North canteen; but it was no longer as nice as before. Well, I got a little disappointed but with the random chats with friends, I was as happy as ever. One by one, they reported to me about the little things and rumours at school. Gossips. Sometimes, that's what close friends are for. To add on, I saw someone that I wanted to see and didn't wanted to see. We said "hi" and stared at eachother for less than a mere second. Someone that I might have gotten to like and hate so much. Time to let memory stay and fade off. I am slowly getting use of such things.
It was open day after that and so I roamed to the Atrium and looked for Hui Xin who was on duty. There, I saw the manager. Previously, I had some negative feelings towards her but anyway, she was there smiling at me. And miraculously she remembered me and seemed to remember me quite well. There was a study trip to HK this coming March and hence she was there asking information out of me. I was ,as usual, very friendly in helping; we made great friends for a moment or two.
Later, she popped into PT clinic which I was hidding. She even investigated how to use the skiing board and the new electrical stimulation machine with me and my friends. In the midst, I even helped NYP to introduce physiotherapy to the public. Well, not forgetting that I love the career and I seriously wanted to uphold physiotherapy in Singapore.
This is some weird things we did in the PT lab. We tried on the Electrical Stimulation machine. By theory, if the voltage was set high enough, it will stimulation muscle contraction involuntarily. There is something strange about this experiment with Lim Jie's experiment! Spot it out if you are a doctor or physiotherapy student!!!
That night. WingYan and Gabliel's engagement dinner. She was my sec 4 senior when I was sec 1 and she is getting married to a rich boy! Here is my SJ gang; we had REALLY REALLY great fun!!!!
Friday. Took a flight back to HK. Visited the new Terminal 3 with Mummy. Time to prepare for school. Saturday Reunion dinner with my relatives. We had a feast, almost all the seafood you can name it; come on, this is HK. Yea.
I thought back of the past two days as I stepped up the plane, I realized how friends can really spark up our lives in a way that we would never know. They brought me joy, happiness and encouragement that is so precious and priceless.
On Tuesday, I met up with my Jung Pu, my very very best friend. We have known each other since Primary six but it is not till secondary three and four that our relationship grew to a point of intimacy that couldn’t have been replaced by another person in the world. In JC, we travelled to school in my Dad’s car everyday and we shared every secret we could have in the world. Simply, it’s a friend for life-time and spending time with her is never ever enough. So, I met up with her that morning and travelled to Kallang to meet up with her University friend – Kai Shin. He is originated from Penang and I just came back from Penang! Common topic emerged and we were able to make friend very quickly.
Rain poured down as we began our journey to the Kallang Leisure Park. I halted everybody and decided to take a bus at the Kallang Terminal station. After many obstacles, we finally found the bus stop and ourselves, half-drenched. Well, it was uncomfortable but it created memories. Maybe, it’s worthwhile after all. As we alighted from the bus, there was a distance from the bus stop and the Kallang Leisure Park; hence we are almost fully drenched when we reached the shopping mall. The new renovated mall was huge but there is a sense of emptiness coming from it. Few shops were opened and people were almost non-existence. Never mind that, we have each other and most importantly, a new skating rink.
We had lunch and played arcade to kill. We revolved on the Para Para machine was an extremely long time. It was fun!!! Kai sing was really good at it, given his slightly plump figure, we was dancing with rhythm and “cuteness”. :D Ice Skating! I thought Kai Sing the basic skill and he was able to move slowly across the ice. Well, he can be considered a quick- learner, given a self-declared good teacher. :p In the midst, I glided through the ice with speed and grace, it gave a feeling that I was actually flying. Ecstasy. Contentment. Exhilaration. A real escape of reality until you trip and fall with your butt hitting hard on the ice.
We took and a free shutter and went all the way back to Bedok where we showed Kai Shin around. The day ended with a tour around my condominium. Great day.
Wednesday afternoon, I had lunch with my Mummy and friends. At night was the gathering with my St John seniors. They are crazy bunch of people but ironically, they are the ones that made me grew a lot during my secondary school days. Mervyn. Lewis. Timothy. Cheong Seng. Louisa.
Louisa is now studying a course known as “Home Economy and technology” and Mervyn was so shocked at the point that she would only be a “Home Economy teacher” in the future. Mervyn was as blur and crappy as ever, even after NS and studying medicine. By the way, we now labeled Louisa as the “Home Economists”.
To be continued... ... gtg my Aunt's place for dinner.
This early morning when the sky is a complete darkness and the air was still dead cold; my brother was on his way to the airport, returning to a place where craziness awaits. My dear brother is finally backed to reality after weeks of pure relaxation. It’s going to be my turn soon.
Life these 3 weeks has been different. Different in an unexplainable way, maybe, I see things differently. I began to be more appreciative of things and uncontrollably have many concerns about things that seem trivial before. Does it happen to me or many of my friends around us?
Many of us start to question our future - our career path, our encounter with Mr. Right, … … Yet, I am fortunate to say that we still have time to procrastinate the problem and focus on the short term goal such as our GPA score. 20 years old, this number seems so old to a growing teenagers, and yet so young to a retiring old man. I have tried to stand in the view of an old man; but it’s not an easy task. I still think I am, indeed, growing too fast.
Well, my heart is still young anyhow. “D
Activities back home. 1st Jan: Family day. Shopping at Mustafa. Stroll at Fort Canning. Visit to the BattleBox. 2nd Jan: K Box with JC 1 clique. 3rd Jan: Korean Drama Marathon. 4th Jan: Mummy’s friends and children came to our house for party. Taught a bunch a Aunties “Isolation”, a warm up exercise in Jazz Dance. :P 5th Jan: Watched the legend. Arcade. 6th Jan: Lunch and K box with 05s203 guys. So fun! Crazy songs by crazy NS boys. 7th Jan: Sleeping day. 8th Jan: Brother’s leave to US. Ice Skating at Kallang leisure park. Para Para Sakura Dancing Machine. Walk in Bedok. With best friend. :D
3 more days to go.
Pictures of Penang. Farewell Brother. Cya 5 mths later. Status of Captain Francis Light, founder of Penang in 11 August 1786. Fort Cornwallis- Cannon.
Food and more food If you didn't know, Penang is all about food. Ate till our stomach nearly burst. Us at Gurney Drive. Ignorance of our own image. haha.
Last Stop of Penang delicacies - 肉骨茶。 The tastiness of Penang food. I gained nearly 3 kg in 5 days!!!
Penang seaside. Seems nice from far but we dare not swim in it. Water sports conquer the area and the water is full of unknown black particles.
Pool of Bay view Resort We ended up relaxing in the pool at our resort due to the disappointing beach. Another degree of fun. :D
Lying on the top of Kelle's castle. The party area.
On top of Penang hill.
One the train to the top of the mountain. I am really blessed with parents like them. Home is indeed a place of joy and love.
This is a letter from the Hong Kong Physiotherapy union addressed to Chief executive of Hong Kong, Donald Tsang, on the low salary for physiotherapists in Hong Kong. Someone was there to actually protest and voice it out! How about Singapore? Is the government aware of the lack of resources here in our healthcare system? I assume they do but are they pumping in enough money for it? I doubt so. Political issues might lie in the way; I really didn't do much research on that. Maybe, this serves as a start for me to dig into the problem.
The only institution that is offering Physiotherapy in Singapore is opening up 40 more spaces (from 40 to 80) in the following year. I am really sceptical about their preparation to accommodate for the increasing number of students. Being studied there for a few months, I realised that NYP faced a problem in the lack of resources. School, in my opinion, is most important to guide us on what we should learn; not just to teach. Lacking of good professors and equipments might disinterest students and put it in a possible of not being capable of sparking off interests for students that didn’t choose Physiotherapy as their “first choice”. Physiotherapy is such a high demand course that require huge amount of concentration and passion. One must possess great interest to soar high in this field. Be smart. Be creative. Explore. That’s make us all.
Back to the point about salary pay, if the starting pay for physiotherapists in HK hospital authority is SG3800 and SG10-15k for senior physiotherapists and they are complaining and protesting about it, how about Singapore? The cost of living in both countries are nearly the same, I seriously need an explanation for this huge difference. “It goes the same for all” “Hong Kong is a money-making place.” Really? Why are there so many HK physiotherapists in Singapore? They prefer the better environment here? They love this place?
2007 – A year that meant so much to me is going to come to an end. It’s a year of change, a year which I have truly grown and matured. I wish time can stay still for a moment or two, long enough for me to reflect on this meaningful year of my life.
I started off this year as a
Volunteer at Tan Tock Seng Hospital Employed as a Physiotherapist assistant at the outpatient department Receiving satisfactory grades for my A levels Entering NYP Physiotherapy Touched and feel the first cadaver of my life Joined a school tour to Chiangmai University Knew my first Thailand friend Moving to Hong Kong Entering Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Physiotherapy Lived alone for 4 whole months Learned aerobic, social dance, jazz dance, yogalates Learned the Korean language Won my first swimming medal Moving on to be an on-field sport physiotherapist Did taping on my first athlete named Vincent Had my craziest examinations ever Took a flight all by myself Travelled to Penang with my lovely family Knew loads of great friends and professors!
That ended 2007.
In the new year 2008, I'm moving on to the 20th year of my life. Lots of wishes in my heart! Hope they will come true; hope that yours will come true too! Penang Trip Part 1
Finally, I met up with my secondary school clique! Although we didn't manage to get a place at Settler's cafe; we had a great feast at Aston Specialists before we went crazy at the Christmas Tree in front of Parkway Parade. Life is never boring with great friends around; especially friends that grew up with you; friends that know you so well! Merry Belated Christmas!
Stayed at home and surfed the net on Christmas Day. Watched X'mas videos and felt really great! People around the world enjoy X'mas so so much!
At night, my brother and I cooked our SPECIAL X'MAS MEAL! Success! Served with red wine. x1000 niCe!
Me making the Mashed Potato! Brother cooking the mushroom to make the white sauce for spagetti! ^^
The traumatizing, exhausting, arduous week has finally come to an end. Life has never been so difficult as a student in my past 19 years of life. The expectation was just simply exorbitant. Our department should have expected us to be an extraordinary being or have expected us not to do very well. 4 exams in a row seem normal to a student who has already survived through his or her A levels exams. Yet, my experience now is so different from the past. Study break and tips are non-existence. The contents of the subjects are unimaginably extreme. How could our seniors have survived this great wave in seminar one? The difference lies in the one addition subject for us – Generic Anatomy (a compilation of things that one has to study in medicine school.)! This might be a factor that put us into a higher level of exhaustion and lead us to a point of collapse. Our accumulated tiredness throughout the months, adding on the stress this few weeks, our bodies have seriously reached a point of fatigue.
Yet, I am still in front of desk, reading through my textbook that is of 1209 pages; trying to memorize muscles, nerves, arteries, veins, fascia, joints that are of such great importance for us. The day to return home seems so near and yet so far.
Life recently has been sickening. My brain has not been concentrating for the past hours; I have been thinking a lot of things. Things that can get me out of this miserable week: to celebrate and get crazy with friends, to stroll on the beach with my family, swimming in Penang with my brother, to find a guy for me to love and lean on. Daddy said that I should blog when I am bored, when I am down; so here I am writing this, to get myself out of frustration. I am actually studying Functional Anatomy now, something that I enjoyed extremely; but now seems to be the wrong time. I simply need a break, a really long break, long enough to get myself out of the traumatized state.
Back to study. Do concentrate. I can’t afford to not do well for the subject I like. Am I expecting too much out of myself?
P.S. Broke my recording of sleeping time before exams. Stayed up for the night for Generic Anatomy Exam.(slept for 1.5 hrs)
One of my classmates noticed that there are tips for other departments taking the same subject; they decided to hold a referendum on the exam. Here is the details! :D
Somethings to destress during exam period. Everyone is studying so hard. 5 more exams to come. Jia you!
Exam Timetable
Tue: PPTP(prinicple of physio practice) theory pp Wed: Physiology Written exam (40 MCQ + 4 essays) Thurs: PPTP practical exam (Ambulation, transfer, MMT/ROM/ex of UL and trunk) Fri: Generic Anatomy (100 MCQ + 100 fill in the blanks) Nxt Tue: Functional Anatomy (MCQ + 5 problem based essay qns) Nxt Thurs: Functional Anatomy Lab Exam (100 Qns) Nxt Friday:Back to Tanah Merah Kechil.:D
Great stress! Huge amount of energy, brain power, determination and resilience needed. The worst is yet to come.
This is sooo cute!!! I learnt how to draw Doraemon since I was Primary 6!!!! It's like one of my symbol!
Another version of the word F**K! Soo fun! Well, it can use for easy learning of English!
Last lesson of PPTP, ending with the trunk! We have finally learnt the exercises, ROM, MMT of the whole body! Practical exam on Thurs!!! :P. Everyone is so not paying attention. I feel that Shirley should be more strict like Dora. Student, afterall, needs some control. :D
I wanna go sing now!!!!!
The following are the keywords for the chapter on Nervous System for Generic Anatomy. Understand and know how to spell them all. There are 13 more chapters to go. PT students, JIA YOU lo!
The Nervous System
1) Locomotion, conduction, reflexes (involuntary) 2) Medullary cone:S1-S2 3) Cauda equine: L5-S2 4) Denticulate ligament 5) Ventral, dorsal, lateral horn, central canal, gray commissure 6) Ventral, dorsal, lateral column (funiculi) 7) Dorsal root ganglion: somtosensory neuron 8) Ascending tract: 9) Dorsal column: Cuneate fasisculus, Gracile fasisculus; 10) Ventral,Dorsal spinocerebellar tracts; 11) Anterolateral system: spinothalamic tract, spinovesticular tract 12) Descending tract: 13) Lateral, ventral corticospinal tract 14) Lateral, medial reticulospinal tract 15) Lateral, medial vestibulospinal tract 16) Nerves - endoneurium –perineurium- epineurium 17) 31 pairs of spinal nerves 18) Proximal branches: dorsal, ventral roots 19) Distal branches: dorsal, ventral ramus; meningeal branches 20) Ventral rami branches/ anastomoses: Cervical, brachial, lumbar, sacral, coccygeal plexus 21) Reflex arch: 22) Somatic receptors- afferent n. fibres-integrating centre- efferent n. fibres- skeletal muscle 23) Paraplegia 24) Quadriplegia 25) Hemiplegia 26) Cerebrum: longitudinal fissure; frontal, parietal, occipital lobe; Central,lateral sulcus; gyri; cerebellar hemisphere 27) Insula – corresponding function? 28) Rostral/ caudal 29) Brainstem 30) Gray matter: Superficial, cortex, nuclei, dendrites, synapse, neurons cell bodies 31) White matter: Deep, bundles of axons(tract), myelinated 32) Periosteal, meningeal layer; dural sinus: tranverse, superior sagittal sinus; falx cerebri, tectorium cerebelli, falx cerebelli; arachnoid matter, pia matter 33) Basal nuclei – motor learning- deep n lateral to the thalamus 34) Brain centres : (Can Pass Gp) Caudate nucleus, Putamen, Globus pallidus 35) Limbic system: Cingulate gyrus, Amygdala, Hippocampus – emotion, learning, gratification,aversion 36) Post central gyrus: Primary somesthetic area 37) Pre central gyrus: primary motor area 38) Central lateralization: Diff function on each hemisphere; categorical hemisphere; representational hemisphere 39) Brainstem: Diencephalon- midbrain- pons- medulla oblongata 40) Diencephalon- thalamus, hypothalamus, epithalamus 41) Cerebellum: white matter (arbor vitae), vermis, gyri(folia), purkinjie fibres(balance), deep nuclei, superior/inferior cerebellar peduncles 42) Alzheimer disease: memory loss, degenerate of the celebral gyrus, hippocampus 43) Parkinson’s disease: paralysis agitans, loss of motor function, degenerative substantia nigra (dopamine releasing cell) 44) Visceral reflex- detect- stretch, damage tissue, temperature, blood chemicals, internal stimuli 45) Autonomic reflex arc: Baroreceptors- through glossopharyngeal n. to medulla oblongata- vagus transmit s to the ganglion of hear – decrease heart rate etc. 46) Neural pathway of ANS: preganglionic neuron ( soma in brainstem, spinal cord), postganglionic neuron (soma in the ganglion to target cells) 47) Nerves exiting ganglia: spinal nerve route- sympathetic nerve root- splanchnic n. root (pass sympathetic & collateral ganglion)
P.S. HAPPY BRITHDAY BROTHER GOAT!!!!!!
Hope you find your dream girl soon!!! GPA 4.0! See you soon! :D JIA YOU FOR EXAMS n PROJECTS!
Hahahahahaha! This song is the song you sang during your A STAR ceremony! I thought of you nodding your head on the stage. hahahaha.
My Jazz Dance teacher combining all the dance steps she taught us the previous lessons! Perfect moves.I can't really do the last few parts smoothly though! You can find me in background too! Yesterday was the last lesson. SOB!
Cleared Movement Science (biomechanics) and Science and Technology and environment in China (electives) Exams today! Yea!
Bought a jacket for myself.
Last lesson of Yogalates too.
Semester coming to an end soon. Gonna miss it alots. Yet, I can't wait to return to Singapore! 16 more days! 6 more exams to conquer! Jia you la, everybody!
