Etiquette of Attending Chinese Wedding

I met a colleague of mine, who happens to be a Malay in a function lately. It was a Chinese wedding dinner in one of a nice hotel ballroom. We had a little chat and it turned out that it was the first time he attends a Chinese wedding dinner. So I shared with him the following:

1. Be serious about RSVP. Think about whether you really can attend the function. Once a invitation card is out, the host automatically assumes that you are coming and expect a little red packet. By any chance that you can't make it to the dinner, you still have to send in a representative or substitute with ang pow. In the recent wedding that I attended, there were many seats vacant. It is a disrespect both to the host and the function.

2. Be absolute about number of people attending. Chinese wedding dinner are usually 8-course meal with prefixed number of seats. If you are expected to be there alone, you better be there alone; any extras will be relocated to the next vacant seats. So you may be seated seperately with your partner, which is not a very nice thing to be. Usually there will be reserved tables as well but if it is not more than half full, the host may not open up the table.

3. The gift. Unless your present is a wearable bling-bling object with some weight, I suggest that giving ang pow is a better option. Firstly, the couple may have trouble bringing around your presents after the wedding and secondly, the things given may serve no use. At least, ang pow helps the couple to some extend to cover the expenses during the wedding process. Chinese wedding has become a very expensive affair of late.

4. The ang pow. It is not a donation, certainly not a token. There is absolute math in deciding the amount of the ang pow. Given too small a sum, you will be remembered as the stingy one; given too much, unless you are filthy rich. So how much to give? The best answer is to Google the average cost for a dinner in that particular restaurant or hotel. If not, give a call personally to the hotel to inquire about the price of a wedding dinner set.

5. Be reasonable drinker. Free flow of liquor is served sometimes during a Chinese wedding dinner. Just because it's free, you don't have to drink yourself till drunk and make you a total embarrassment. I had seen too many mediocre people that disrupts the flow of the wedding because of the ethanol toxicity. Some host actually refrains from serving alcohols because of this reason.

Having said all this, a Chinese wedding is a merry and loud place to be, especially the toast. I am sure you would have lots of fun.

Cheers.

Happiness, Found!

You are my sun

Nothing can hide my elated mood. Nothing can put away the smile on my face. Absolutely nothing can make me feel less of you, every single day.

Before this, I always have hesitations. Second thoughts. What-ifs. Buts. Negative in everything I do. Skeptical about our future. Now things have changed. After I have your hand that day, things are different now.

I am more positive. Felt everything is possible. Give my very best in everything. Felt like protecting you every moment. Love just about everything about you; your freckle on the right cheek, the naevus on the right nose. The way you hum your little tunes when you talk. Everything felt so right. Even our hand felt so apt together.

This is the power of love. And it strengthen the bond between us. So strong...

There's No Monkey Business Here

Today my consultant taught me a very important lesson, especially for the young doctors like me. It struck me like a thunder. seriously.

My wards have been a dumping zone, nursing home, shelters for some and house for some permanent residents. One of them is a very old Chinese man, very unkempt, bed ridden for 3 months and came with multiple bed sores, dehydration and pneumonia. The relatives called an ambulance to pick up this man and since then, passed the responsibility to us to take care for the rest of their parent life. Since that day of admission, we never see any relatives, nor any number to contact. This old man remains gaga. Another man is young and fit man, unfortunately get involved with drug early in his life. He is unemployed, staying with a drug lord in Chow Kit and runs errants for him. In return, he gets his high. Recently, he had a row with the Boss, and he is left on the street. Left with no food or clothes, he had to fake his signs and request for admission. Lastly, there is another middle age man, active smoker and heroin chaser, had burned holes through his lung. He needs long term oxygen, yet reluctant to give up his cigarettes and old habits. A little bit of cough will straight away bring him to the hospital and the admission unit is always kindly enough to put him to our ward. He will be admitted at least 3 times a week, and scowled at us if we discharge him.

It has been a serious headache for me and my other colleagues. Our registrar is under constant pressure to reduce these unnecessary workloads.

On the contrary, my consultant is exhibiting la belle indifference towards this matter. He just nod when we shoved him with loads of our complaints. If the man do not want to go home, keep him for another day. We were puzzled at first, but today he shared with us a story.

He is used to be a very proactive, eager, hot head doctors once upon a time. He always upright the juctice, not allowing any wrong, no allowance for these hanky panky stuffs. One fine day, he received a call from his son's headmaster, asking permission to meet him in person. His son was in primary five in a nearby Chinese school. On a separate occasion, his wife received another phone call from their son's form teacher, asking to meet in another time. Puzzled with this events, they decided to turn up together to meet up the headmaster. The headmaster was shocked initially, seeing both of them turn up together. He explains that the reason for meeting them in different time is because they thought there were family issues between both parents, i.e a divorce. The headmasters proceed to inform them that their son, who was a top scholar, drastically deteriorates in terms of school performance lately. My consultant was taken aback, when the headmaster ask for how long they haven't check on their son's school work and academics. The son was so into the video games that makes him neglect his school. All these time spent up holding the rights, making sure the ward runs in order and all other stuffs had cause a toll on his family. Since then, he had taken a step back. Prioritized the important things in life and learned to put family first.

That little story suddenly give me an insight. Learn to prioritize.

Saving Every Cents in a Pre-Wedding Photography

Just had my pre wedding photoshoot done earlier. It was a huge relief. No doubt, a very exciting experience for both of us. Thanks to the professionalism of our photographer, the photoshoot was a breeze. However, the bridal shop will find ways to incur more charges to us, in a way or another. My fiance and I managed to keep it within the budget.

We had many great shots, booth indoor and outdoor. When the photographer ask us to select the shots to be included in the photo album, to choose 50 out of 300, it was a difficult task. Moreover, the friendly staff will try to interfere with the selection process by giving unnecessary opinions. The ultimate aim is to include more photos and the extra pages can really mount up to the exorbitant amount. some times 50% more than the original amount.

Budget are tight when we plan for marriage and money are well spend into other aspects. So how to avoid falling into the trap?

1. Choose the package wisely. I have friends that is getting married and they took up the packages that mount up the the sky high charges. Sometimes, the more expensive things doesn't mean it is better. Same wise, Cheap will mean nothing if it is not up to standards. Try to shop around, asking their prices. Ask opinions from others about the shop. Read online forums and blogs about the bridal shops. Do some background research then only sign up.
2. Bring your own. Things that are consumable like the make up requirement are usually chargeable. Alternatively, you can bring your own and ask the make up artist to use yours. Things like the ampoule for make up sells 10x more expensive than outside (RM 35 compare to RM 3). So bring your own to save more but always consult the make up artist regarding what they need for the day.
3. Always ask for hidden charges. There are some cunning bridal shop that incurs extra charges for items like gown or suits. Always ask them up front. There are shops that charges extra RM 100 per dress for their so called 'designer piece'. Sometimes they will charge extra for going outdoor. Bringing makeup artist along also cost more. So, be wise! Plan your shooting and think how you want it to be to avoid these charges.
4. Say no to extra. When me and my fiance were choosing the photos, the photographer kept on pestering us that this shots is nice and that pose is perfect and so called un'delete'able. Then they start to arrange for more photo books and more shots than what we had agreed upon. The extra shots cost a staggering RM 1500 more. When we almost succumb to the trap, luckily my fiance were alert enough to stay on track. We manage to exclude all the shots that are not what we had wanted, even though it was a good one. We rate the photos from 1 to 10. Most of the below par were excluded in the first round and finally we have the most precious 50 shots that is nothing but the best shots. You need to see what you want and what is needed. That simple.

Above all, enjoy every moment of your pre wedding photo shooting, as we did ours.  

If I Am Not A Doctor

If I Am Not A Doctor

If I am not a doctor,
My life would be free,
As I neither care for a stranger's life,
Nor about his itchy hives,

I wouldn't get needle prick,
Nor get prolonged cough and TB,
Nor jaundiced because of Hepatitis B,
Spending months in recovery.

If I am not a doctor,
I would be home by five,
Have dinner with my wife,
Spend time with my child

Missed the moments they grow up,
Missed their graduations,
While I am busy in OT,
 Saving someone ailing heart.

If I am not a doctor,
I wouldn't have this heartache,
Of leaving everything behind,
And everything I loved.

Moving to another new places,
Meet strange people and new faces,
Only to find the city craze,
Nothing compares to my home,
My favorite place.

Crawl...Walk...Fall...Walk Again

A baby learn to walk is no easy feat. It will start with a small steps, small and uneasy steps. The gait is waddling, the toes are in-curling. There will be numerous falls and bumps. Numerous bruises on forehead, scratches over limbs and endless cries. Given enough time and practice, small steps become big steps, uneasy become steady, then there is no more falling down, Walking become the second nature.

Isn't it the same with life? House officers learn from experience, numerous failures, many ups and downs, to become a safe doctor, and a better person?

New ruling created by the day to help these 'underpriviledged' group of people. First come the rule of house officers not allowed to follow in ambulance. Then came the shift work system to cut back the working time to 60 hours. Now there are hospitals that won't allow them to clerk case and examine patients! Looking at all these rules, it follows after certain events.

First, there were an incident of a house officer in Melaka Hospital involved in road traffic accidents while transporting patients. While we cannot predict the future, shit does happens to anyone. I witnessed a case of a staff nurse sustained a fracture of the radius bone while transporting a pregnant mother to general hospital for delivery because the new ambulance driver hit on a wild boar and the ambulance go turtle. Do we bar the nurses from sending patient? Certainly not! While I cannot say the ambulance is the safest ride home, even a fully registered doctors like us cannot prevent any untoward things to occur.

Then, house officers complaining of long working hours in the hospital. Hospital basically become the second home. There is no social life, love life or party life next to working. Then came the shift work implementations. Initially was full of glitches, but thing smoothed out in the end. The draw back is the oncall claims was with held. Then complaints starts again become there is not enough money to cover the car installment and side expenses, so another 600 bucks given on top of the shift work. What they didn't realized that without the adequate exposure, there is simply a disaster in the making. Not only more officers will be extended for the lack of skills and knowledge, they will be less equipped when sent to places that has no senior people to back up. The situation is similar in most of the government hospitals.

Are we doing them any good? Ask yourself, in years to come, will you want to go to any government doctors when you fall sick? If the answer is no, then please review the system again. For me, to be a great person, one have to fall many times, then when he stand up one day, he will be standing up tall. The scar is to mark how resilient you are, and prove to the world that you are not a weak doctor! 

KongMing Lantern

Saw this KongMing lantern today. If you never see one, it is a sight to behold. A seems to be very simple mechanism brilliantly brings a lantern up in the sky. What is more surprising is the design was made way back in the ancient Chinese, by non other than the brilliant Sir ZhuGe KongMing.

Its basically a tightly sealed lantern, exposing the bottom end. The fuel of the lantern will create a hot air inside the lantern, expanding it, and bring it airborne. Used in ancient war time to pass messages, now Chinese use it for prayers, writing the wishes on the lantern and hopefully it brings the message to the heavenly place.

Simple, but brilliant.

草草了事

要简简单单，还是隆重？
要花花绿绿，还是朴素？
要不懈重本，还是节俭？
选择，实在让人头疼。

他们说，不在于结果，只在于过程中的点点滴滴，
而我却在苦中作乐。

马马虎虎，草草了事；
仔细挑剔，隆重复杂。
一切随缘，快乐就好。

The Dog-faced and The Dog-breathed

Someone to hold your hand

Last night, another kid try to take his life.

He is the dog-faced. We (the semi-alert on-call doctors) are the dog-breathed.

He is an 18 years-old. He had met his hurdle in life, and I am sure this might not be his first. There is always a mixed feelings when examination results were released. Yesterday was SPM results announcement. He is unhappy with his results. And he took a total of 50+ tablets, containing a mixture of paracetamol, loratadine, cinnarizine, and maxolon. The mother found him 4 hours later, in severe abdominal pain, but luckily he is not intoxicated.

I could remember how elated my feelings were when I get hold on to the results slip. It wasn't because my results were that good, just seeing that what I had worked for bring fruits and what I prayed for were answered. It is a relief that is beyond words. It is a feeling of putting down a stone from the inside your heart. But soon after that, another stone will starts to grow and the cycle repeats again...

There are many ways we can choose to handle the critical situation. He might had flung his examinations, but there is always a way to go about it. He can ask for help. He can talk to his friends or parents or his teachers. He can share it out. He can get self-help, or learn to forget. Is there something wrong with our society's support system that makes it difficult for young adults like him to get help?

I try to talk to him, to peel into his self defense. Unsuccessful. He choose to keep it a secret. Or he is too shy and regretted to what he did. All his vitals were stable and blood parameter were luckily normal. IV's were pumped in to rehydrate him. He survived, at least for another day.

If we try to see our problem from different perspective, or just stand back and looking at the problems again, the matter might just shrunk and disappeared after all. There is always a way to every situation and there is always something good behind things that seems so bad. For example, you fall sick, very very badly and recovered from it, you will develop immunity and become stronger.

For me, the best way to overcome a problem is with a song. Singing put away all your stress. It is as good as any tranquilizer. And there is just the perfect song for all troubles. "Let It Be" by The Beatles. My all-time favorites.

The Voice of a Nanyang Chinese

Malaysians

Often, i came across teachers who made headlines by provoking the students in class,
usually involves racial issues. "Kamu orang Cina balik ke negara China!" means you
Chinese go back to your home country, China. This is really regrettable, especially when
nation unity involving multi-racial and diverse cultural background is at stake.

Truely, majority of Chinese were immigrants during the rise of industrial age during late
19th and early 20th century, to fulfill the job vacancy such as miners, traders and manual
labours. Those jobs were regarded as unfavorable by the indigenous then. The influx of
Chinese and Indian were fueled by the ambition of our previous colonial rulers to gain
their foothold, making profits and the race to conquer South East Asia. Many of our
grandparents were from China, or their parents originated there. Many travelled south in
search of better future and hoping that one day will bring the hard-earned cash to feed the
hungry ones in China.

This trend took a major turn during the World War II, when the rising if the Communist
party, taking over the whole China. The motherland become a place of desolate. Many
Nanyang Chinese had forgone the idea of going back, had choose Malaya and Singapore
as their new settlement. They married and lay roots here since then.

What about those Chinese who migrates early (around 1500 a.d) during the time of the
rise of Malacca as the entreport? They had long been part of the society and blended in.
This is what you see in the Baba and Nyonya culture, distinctively in Malacca. Are they
considered as the indigenous people?

My story is about how my rgrandparents came about. My paternal side grandfather
originated from China, came to Malaysia as manual worker, to built houses. My
grandmother borne in Malaysia. Her father came from China, settled here early. My
maternal side is complicated. My grandfather is a mixture of Thai and Chinese. My
maternal grandmother is borne in Malaysia. Siamese people roamed the northern part
of Malaysia, blended in to the local people. It was used to be Thailand territory, until the
Britons made a deal with the King of Thailand, and the 4 northern states became part of
the Malaya. So can he (my maternal grandfather) be considered as the indigenous people,
or the most important question, can I be considered as indigenous?

It doesn't matter anymore. The newer generation already regards Malaysia as their home
land. They never get to know what happens in China or India that much now, all they care
is about the land they set foot on. Like me, I had never been to China yet, and my root is
deep in Malaysia. If you ask me to go back to China, I will be like an Indonesian coming to
Malaysia. This puzzle piece don't fit anymore.

This is what 1Malaysia means to me.

The White Doves

Many white 'doves', which are quails, actually...

Proposal... checked
Tell the parents... checked
Choosing the pre-wedding photographer... checked
Choosing the white dress... checked
Date and time... checked
Venue... checked
Registration... pending
Wedding band... unable to decide

Chinese style wedding is a very taxing, time-consuming, pocket-emptying exercise. I think that is why Chinese practice monogamy... You simply declare bankruptcy after the event, which last less than 24 hours, by the way. Afterwards you will get explosive migraines looking at the aftermath.

The most important thing (highlight) is not the wedding itself, but is to decide on the venue, and checked with their schedule. Booking must be done real early, if not a year ahead, or you will get some crap dates which everyone will not come because it clashed with the lunar calendar. Speaking of the lunar calendar, it is one of the oddest thing, to start with. There are certain dates that looks just fine, but looking at the lunar calendar, the only thing you are allowed to do is to be buried or move into new house. Chinese have been believing in this things, since ancient times. Seldom people dare to break the believe, nor choose the date that doesn't favors both parties (i.e July in lunar month).

Next thing is to 'tackle' the parents. They said a match made in heaven, I refused to believe it! How can two person on this Earth can come together just like that, a live happily ever after? The habits, cultures, do's and dont's, fixed-false believes cannot just go away. Expectations may not met with reality; spending that doesn't match the earnings. There is a lot of arguments, discussion, despair, tears and finally change and tolerance. Then there comes the true love, that is everlasting, time-tested.

To live together with another person is really a challenging feat. You have to get over her lip-smacking habits, her smell, her messy hair, which is hard at first, but in the end, it is the things you can't live without.

Wishing all my friends who are doing the same at this moment, to enjoy every second of it, and smooth sails ahead.

Suffering of a Soul

What is this?

Ask yourself, if you met a beggar coming to you, will you spare some sympathy or some loose coins? Or you just turn away and ignore his agony, whatever his suffering is all his wrong-doing and bad luck, nothing of your concern. Or you will kick him squarely on his butt, chasing him out of your sight and solve the problems once and for all? What about this is a stray dogs?

I saw a viral video on Facebook about how people tortured their pets, and this feeling came to me. Human has both good and evil side, just like the face of a coin. It is up to our control that which sides prevails. The choice is ours, to choose the dark path or walk the path of light. Seeing the animal cries in pain simply heart-breaking, needless to say it is much more worse for the accomplice.

The situation took a twist in the hospital settings. Often, we gets patients from the prison. They come in bright and colourful clothes, and for a peculiar reasons, their clothes stinks, sour and hard. Some are not well, but truth be told, they are less of a person when they are being admitted. They came in chains, and with a bodyguard. But doctors (generally) thinks they are nuisance, self inflicted illness, or worse still, want to be admitted because wanted to take a 'prison break' and occupy a softy hospital bed instead of a hard cells. Their IV's are difficult to established. Their complaints, no less than a handful, and their stay usually prolonged.

Yet, they are human too. They have names, they have stories, and they have their family who waits for their release one day and pray for their well-being, just like us. Whatever done in the past is NOYB. We can't segregates them just because they are convicts. They are our guest, too. Treatments and care should be given same, if not more for these people. Just offer your service with a sincere heart.

The picture above is the hangman's rope. One day when our life come to end, wouldn't it be nice to know that someone cared for you, too?


NOYB = none of your business!

Negative Psychology

Human... A very difficult subject to study. Half the time, I do not know what I am dealing with.

Having busy myself to prepare the upcoming scientific meeting in my area, makes me realized one thing. You need a lot of negative psychology to deal with people. The program was heavily sponsored, safe to say, participants pay only a quarter of the actual amount. Yet, the respond for the participation had been underwhelmed, with only a handful of early adopters, the rest were 'dragged' into the program. I spent 1 whole evening calling every possible places, all the nearby health clinics and hospital, even rang up the health centres in nearby university, just to plea for participants. However, the past conferences that I attended to, which we have to fork out between RM 400 to RM 800 each, it was a full house, and I was actually being rejected for admission to one of the conference held in Penang! Probably, when people pay, they will actually feels the pinch and think it is a very important thing instead!

Same with patients that I see day in and out. The healthcare cost is pretty much covered by taxpayers' money when one admitted to the ward or visits the clinics. However, a person I knew was diagnosed with lung malignancy. He refused treatment in general hospital for the sake that it is free and free means it is no good or second class. He rather fork out hard earned money to get chemotherapy in Singapore instead. Currently, he is in Beijing getting some novel 'cold' therapy for his cancer. Same as generic versus labeled medicine. I have a colleague who encountered this type of patient that we labelled as 'fussy'(not uncommon, certainly seen in daily practice). She was seen by other doctors for her diabetes and hypertension. First line medications were given to her and explanations made. However, she wasn't satisfied because she received the generic medications and made a big fuss to complaint if we do not change her medications to the box type that has fancy colours. Probably its a good idea that the generic pharmaceutical company made their medication in better packaging and interesting colours instead!

Human... When can I finish learning this subject? Probably never.

Sakit Jantung Is Not Heart Ache

Malaysia is a multiracial and diverse culture nation. So the language evolve considerably between ethnic. Explanation for medical jargon can be a very confusing business. For once I cannot understand what my specialist explanation to his patient while doing his round. Below are the examples:



English: Sir, you had a heart attack. Coronary angiogram showed 3 vessels block and you need coronary bypass operation done early.
Malay: Pakcik, kamu kena serangan jantung. Angiogram menunjukkan 3 salur darah sumbat. Pakcik perlu buat operation untuk bypass pada masa yang terdekat.
Chinese: Pakcik, lu punya paip dalam jantung ada sikit masalah. 3 paip sudah sumbat. Lu kena kasi operate itu jantung kasi buat itu bypass cepat-cepat.
Indian: Ane itu jam hati manyak mati. 3 itu jalan darah sudah block. Manyak susah. Kena bukak itu jantung kasi baiki itu jalan.
Aborigine: Pakcik jantung ada masalah. Kena potong, tau?



English: The risk for angiogram is contrast related renal impairment, risk of stroke and myocardial infarction
Malay: Risiko untuk buat angiogram termasuk masalah buah pinggang, strok, dan serangan jantung.
Chinese: Itu angiogram boleh buat lu punya pinggang losak, otak jam dan itu jantung losak juga
Indian: Itu jam u buat angiogram, boleh bikin itu buah pinggang ada masalah, itu otak boleh strok, dan itu jantung boleh block.
Aborigine: Pakcik jantung ada masalah. Kena angiogram, tau?



English: Sir, your heart function is worsening, please mind your fluid intake and take your medication regularly.
Malay: Pakcik, jantung pakcik sudah lemah, kena jaga-jaga minuman dan ingat makan ubat.
Chinese: Lu punya jantung sudah lemah. Itu air kena control betul-betul, ubat kena makan betul-betul
Indian: aiyo, itu hati manyak lemah. Itu air jangan kasi minum manyak-manyak. Itu ubat makan ikut itu jam. Jangan lupa-lupa
Aborigine: pakcik, jantung ada masalah. Kena makan ubat. Air ikut ini (hand pointing to the mineral water bottle)



There is more to learn in this life than medicine itself. Don't you agree?

Your Friendly Neighbourhood

I was going through my copy of 2010 ACLS guidelines. Something strikes me...

This is only happening to the Chinese patients. I never see it occur else where.

Whenever a person falls very ill (or collapse), we as a natural instinct will start our resuscitation effort. Secure airway, Bag-valve mask, Initiating chest compression. Orders will fired across the poor chap. Adrenaline, IV access, Oxygen...


Then a head will poke inside the curtain. "How is the condition of this patient?" He ask. Seriously, I am not joking! He is the familiar face around the hospital when you work long enough. And he is not even related to the patient or the relatives!

I will usually ignore him.

Resuscitative effort carried on, Nurses getting grumpy, junior doctors getting fatigue, and I am also exhausted. Finally I terminate the resuscitation. Break the bad news. Family cries. Some howling, Some fainted. But he will snake around to me and ask, "What is the time of death?"

The man is an undertaker. Its his business to care for the afterlife, and its a good business, where every 'customer' average from RM 3000 onwards. Beneath what we see, there are few companies doing this and  these people are fighting with each other to get more customer. There are eyes and ears in the hospital looking for potentials, and last time I heard, they are the attendants and the nurses. Tips can go up as high as RM 200 (more than an on call pay for a doctor).

What I hope is that they respect the person that we are resuscitating, as well as the family. The privacy of the patient should not be breached. One should never be a busy body around the resuscitation. You may be the obstacle for the process. On top of that, they are harassing the family members with the 'packages' and the promotions of the day. Often, critical periods like this are usually the last moment a family can spent with their loved ones and prepared mentally for the worst.

Its a good business, but please do it with some sense of responsibility.

From Bad to Worse

Medicine is a highly regarded field. The stakes are high. The demand is always overwhelming. When they tell you there is surplus of doctors, they are actually talking BS, at least in Malaysian context. This created a demand for youngsters to go into medical field. Many parent send their children to medical schools, be it local or abroad, self sponsored or scholar shipped. Many graduated. Some are knowledgeable and willing to endure the workloads. Handful are not very intelligent, but able to carry out the job. Yet a small portion are neither having the marble nor the right attitude for the task awaits.

Sometimes, I encountered a few special cases that worth mention:

The Troll

This type of people are born with a very thick skull bone. They cannot follow orders. If I give them plans of management, they will not give me results. If there are 10 plans, probably 1 or 2 were carried out. Sometimes poor time management are to be blamed.

The Escapism

These people usually less equipped. When given the task beyond their capability, they are at lost. They would not know what to do. The solution is to run away from the trouble. There are also a mixture of laziness in these people. They refused to learn up new knowledge and skills, despite how much I try to guide them.

The Fierce

Conflict of ideas are common when you are dealing with matters. Some when confronted, will over react and snapped back immediately. They take every comment as a negative thing. Some forgets their position as a junior staff. Some just forget how to respect other people. Some don't have manners.

The Fart-and-go

At times, I met some junior doctors that always looking at their watch whenever they do round with me. When given a job to do, they do it half-heartedly. The case summaries needed to be summarize again. The referral letter most of the time are plain useless. In the end, the ministry decided that these people are not up to the task of doing these things and the medical officers have to take over.


Despite all this, now they are cutting down the working hours for junior officers to 60 hours. I sincerely hope these doctors can absorb the needed knowledge or skills. It is also my duty to guide the young doctors so to make them a better person. Well, I will always teach whoever that wanted to learn.

Be Thankful!

Be thankful...

That you are still breathing, as some people never wake up from their sleep.

That both of your parents are still in good health, as time is short.

That your partner still loving you, as love is not an eternal thing.

That your friend still cares for you, as friendship can fade with time.

That you still have a job, even your boss is mad.

That you have a roof over your head, even though it is a simple house.

That you have a means of transport, as some people has to walk miles instead.

That you have food on the plate, as many children died of famish everyday.

My Babies

Work is so boring, if not because of all these kiddo, I wouldn’t enjoy much of my work of late…

First is the monitor of the ward. Hehe. Sleeping soundly. But when he is awake, he can make the havoc out of the ward, Poor thing, still oxygen dependent.

This little gem always gives you a wide smile. All he wants is you to carry him around. He is the most cheerful from the lot. And witty too.

Whoa! She gave me shock the first time I saw her, and still do. If you happen to walk into the ward in midnight and she is wide awake, might give you a scare or two.

Mr Sweet is always so adorable… The crewcut is due to branula setting. Otherwise, he is a vey quiet boy, feed the fastest and sleep most of the time. The eyes are big, but I am doubtful that he can sees.

Time Waits For No One

Year 2009 just zoomed by. I was taken by surprise. Without a sign, Spring turns summer, then autumn and now its winter. December in just a flicker of candlelight. Looking back to my resolution made in 2008, I was shocked that I achieve few, if not none.

For one, I did reunite with old friends. We had good time going up Mount Kinabalu. We had nice foods. We chat till dawn. The old company is still close together. I really appreciate these old dogs. They coloured my life.

Regrettable, my weighty issue still not settled. Maybe I did nothing about it. Guess this is gonna be my 2010 resolution.

While I didn’t joined or affiliate with any organization, this is due to the fact that I was not ready, I can’t meet up with people’s expectation while not having adequate skills and knowledge. I always love to help people.

Another wish that was fulfilled, that is I got my first dSLR. Its a Nikon D40. It might not be the very best one, but it served the purpose well. I am still learning on how to use it, though. Right now, it churns out pretty good pictures. I just love it.

My hope for year 2010:

1. Enjoy my work and doing what I know best. I am going to finish housemanship soon. Hopefully I can get to do what I want then.
2. Health, not only me, but my father, mother, and everyone.
3. Love. I wish that I can bring the relationship to another level
4. Travel. The next destination is China/Taiwan. And if possible the States.
5. Weight loss

G.I. Hoe: Rise of the VIPER

Lately, there are too much of workplace politics, to my likings. I am not a political person per se, but things do come to your face when you least expect it.

First, My MO forms two battalions, one called themselves as the ‘Shift Workers Union Team’. The SWUT army consist of those who work in shifts, not confined to the usual 8 to 5 and those who need to do night shifts. Its members is about 10 persons. The other side is also known as the ‘Office Hour Liaison’ (OHL). OHL has smaller number of people. In fact they have only 3 members to speak of. However, don’t judge the OHL by sheer number, as all the member are high ranking officers. The battle line between the SWUT and OHL is clearly drawn. OHL accused the SWUT for working less hours and not allowing them to take their day off. SWUT blame the OHL for not doing any oncall at all despite the number of MO is minimal. If you think the SWUT and OHL is like cats and dogs from the start, you are wrong.

Going back to history, They were not like this. They were loving each other, complementing others work. They OHL wouldn’t mind helping out night duty. The SWUT wouldn’t mind the extra calls and all those weekend shifts. It was due to a OHL chief that is able to find harmony between the 2 teams. The peace was not forever. With time, the chief promoted to other post and came the new leader of OHL. Within the week of taking the throne, she had made new rules and changes that favours OHL. She blame SWUT for not working enough. She pushed the SWUTs to work extra. Many SWUTs that can’t take the new ruling resigned. There are also some SWUTs that stay on and put up a good fight with this OHL.

Out of nowhere, came a swarm of General Infantry (G.I.), sent by the Higher OrdEr (G.I. Hoe). These are G.I. Hoe. When all else fails, they don’t. They can work 24/7. When the Order call, they can work without food or rest. They know no fear. They have the tolerance of getting 60 rounds of automatic machineguns per second to their head without breakdown (I mean the scolding).

So the new chief of OHL saw an opportunity, and she snapped it! The swarming of G.I Hoe is seen as the solution for the uprising battle between the SWUT and OHL. Then she fully utilized the G.I.’s and put them is many calls and rotations that they don’t belong to, for example in the fever screening zone. Everyday, she do rounds in resus and green zone and shunt away all G.I. to this fever screening zone despite no patient in the fever zone! With these, she can shut some of the SWUT’s mouth and the OHL especially her do not need to be on call at night at all. What a brilliant solution! Pity the G.I. Hoe, working day and night in the fever zone. They are supposed to learn something in the resus and green, but all they get is only seeing the fever cases…

One day, the VIPER (Very Important Person in Emergency Room) will rise, and the chief shall fall. I am longing for the day to come…