Saturday, August 11, 2007

A few months gone in a blink of an eye...

Wow...I didn't realise that a few months have gone by since my last posting. Granted the advent of Facebook has taken up so much of my Internet time (damn Crackbook! DAMN YOU TO HELL!). Also, I'm not sure who reads this anymore...I'll give it a go.

The past few months have been a whirlwind. The last time I wrote, I was almost finished with the GP rotation, which ended on a good note. For the week's holiday, I went up to Rocky to visit Dave & Suz, and a few of us went camping at Carnarvon Gorge - absolutely stunning landscape in Central QLD (who would have thought?!).

I have recently finished the Medicine Rotation, which at UQ is probably considered the hardest rotation in years 3 & 4. It was probably the first time this year that I have felt "I'm in medical school". It was definitely a test of my clinical competence and confidence. It was also the first time that I felt that the amount of work that you put into it is proportional to the results at the end of the rotation. That said, I'm extremely pleased with my results. :)

Now, I'm doing my rural medicine rotation out in a small country town of Kingaroy, in the South Burnett Region of QLD. It's the largest town in the shire, consisting of 12,500 people. The orientation week was in Toowoomba and Leanne, Claire and I decided that Rural Orientation Week is going to a Party Week. We definitely held ourselves to that standard. :) Late nights and early mornings, infused vodkas and coke, "never-ever" and "cultural awarness", not to mention the "shank-a-thon", are all fond memories of the week. Even though my time out in Kingaroy has been extremely enjoyable, the things that dampen the mood are the assignments that we have been plagued with during this rotation. Journal of Achievements, Rural Health Project, written and oral presentations, Case Presentions and so on. It will all get done...eventually.

Apart from that, life is going well - the hospital has been keeping me busy (I will write more about some of the things that I've seen in the last few days), and also trying to plan for next year's elective and medical specialties. The University of Queensland SOM offers 4th year students to do a 2nd elective anywhere in the world and 8-week long medical specialties in one of their partner institutions around the world. A few friends and I are thinking of making the most of this 19-week sojourn. We are planning on going to Malta for the elective and doing some travelling in and around the Mediterranean and then going to Calgary for the med specialties to be in time for my dad's 60th birthday and to enjoy what Calgary has to offer during that time of year. It's been a nice distraction to organise things for next year, as opposed to sitting in front of the computer and putting together the Journal.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

you said, "I'm not sure who reads this anymore..."

People are still reading your words, trust me. I know this because I am sitting here reading them now. Funny how it happened too.

I was searching for articles about violence only breeding more violence, to try to convince someone that violence isn't the way to go.

Then I stumbled upon something you wrote a while back. About a drunken woman at the bus stop trying to steal your ring.

I really think you handled that well. I too believe violence only breeds more violence.

I guess from your last entry, that you are somewhere in Brunei by now. Good luck with the rotation.

Have a nice day and God bless.