Currently, i'm commissioned to blog for the Ministry of Health. So yea, can't be blogging for two sites. So here you go for super infrequent updates. Click here.
Ever thought of being famous? Honestly. Come on…Don’t look away! Yes, you did! So did I.
8 years in the running and still I dream of being on stage in that Kodak Theatre singing my heart guts out. No, i don’t have that Kelly Clarkson voice, neither do I have Archuleta’s goodlooks (Can’t say David cause the last 2 finalists were Davids, and who else’s name is David too? *Hint*Hint*Points at self with little dignity). Yet, I think to myself rather spontaneously often, I can do it anyhow. Well to all the ‘I-think-I-can-do-it’ people, just hear out what I have to say/type.
Damn all of you fucked up, selfish, bitched-asses relatives.
No, i'm not angry. I'm glad that my dad finally sees how pathetic his brothers and sisters are, and how unreliably idiotic all his nieces and nephews are too.
Kudos to making a beautiful memory of being able to insult and curse all of you to my father without getting spanked or strangled. A mastercard moment, priceless.
Thanks to all who helped, our heartfelt thanks and deepest gratitude. You are our heroes.
I chose to be a nurse for the smiles on the elder's faces, for the appreciation of the cared, and the joy in lives restored. For a dose of sleepless nights sponging patients, an injection of adrenaline resuscitating, and an infusion of fulfillment when one discharges home. For the love we share for our patients which surpasses mere human understanding, for the sacrifices we make to reach and achieve goals aspired. For we are strong and committed, willful and spirited, caring and compassionate. I chose to be a nurse, because of nurses.
What I wrote and got myself an mp3 player on Nurses' Day.
Meeting a whole new bunch of people I don't know is quite daunting. What more living with them for the next 8 days and working with them. Permissible, I thought. It's a humanitarian team, I keep reminding myself. We'll need to gel to get over emotional distress.
I suppose the team regarded us as being antisocial, me and Dorothy. We clicked together, running off to places without the rest of them. It's obvious that we nurses had really different minds and agendas.
Our very first group meeting held just outside the lounge area before boarding the plane. Odd I know, but due to our vast diverse schedule we never met before the trip. It'll be absolutely horrid if members of the team had hard head knocks. Clanging each other on different views and perspectives.
A lot of doubts on the effectiveness of this team shadowed my mind. My expectations weighed heavily too.
We checked into a local budget hotel, and we met with our local contact. This briefing was necessary and gravely important as he told us to put our expectations in a cup, and be open to changes, uncertainties, troubles and rejection. Though he painted a rather bleak overview of our entire humanitarian journey, he encouraged us that whatever we do, we are doing for the love of the people. Of which I fully concur. After settling down and much discussion, we were off to Carrefour for supplies.
Through dinner and shopping, I've came to know the whole team. Though it did take me some time to warm up to all of them, by this one night, surprisingly, we glued. We had the same vision, the same ideas, the same passion and love for the victims of the earthquake. What a big sigh of relief. My doubts vanished and I could really focus on doing my part for the people.
Of course we were all tensed and on our toes of our behavior in front of each other, but that soon gradually dimmed through the days. We have unending laughter and jokes, served each other like brothers and sisters, and cared for one another's well being.
I'm so thankful for the unity in this team. The love that was shared. Nobody complained nor had arguing matters. We followed our leader and trusting on the wisdom bestowed. It is difficult to have to depart from each other, but I know I had the greatest 8 days serving the people with them.
Joshua - our team leader. Humble, kind, and compassionate. Though worked up and stressed in the beginning, slowly mellowed and became the driest joker of the team. It has been my pleasure serving under you Dr Frankenstein.
Jacky - our Senior Combat Medic and Disaster Management Specialist. Thank you for introducing us to Panda aka YangPing. Without you, there will not be tears of joy and sleepless nights, literally.
Doris - our emotional and spiritual provider. Your thoughtfulness and grace surpasses my human understanding. Your eloquence with the people and children keeps me in awe to know the immensity of your love for the people. Thank you, I have been greatly blessed by your faith.
Caleb - our Senior Medical officer who gets on my nerves most of the time with sarcasm and useless comments. I just enjoy joining in the sarcasm with you! Big guy with a big heart. May your dream of North Korea come true.
ChengLeng - our scribe and journalist. Who reminds us constantly to use simple English cos people who reads magazines don't understand hardcore vocab. But your willingness to be there for the people, to hug them in their filth, to hold them in your hands and cry, it's so encouraging. Thanks for being who you are.
Jacob - our Tertiary Lecturer. Our prayer warrior. You're strong faith keeps us going. Thank you for providing a listening ear and always burdened with love for the people. You are the one we look up to when we feel spiritually hastened, and you're always there to encourage us to look up, let go, and let God.
Raymond - our IT and logistics specialist. Thank you for carrying our haversacks. Though heavy with absolutely nonsense, you never complained. You are like a big brother to all of us looking out for our safety and making sure we were comfortable. And thanks for suffering through countless nights with Jacky's snores.
Siew Hong - our Child specialist. Your love for children and skill in handling them really brings me to my feet. You are so sincere, so genuine that the hearts of children open up to you. You are always there for them, and i'm convinced that there is no ill-intent in your heart. Thanks for coming to the airport to welcome us home.
Dorothy - our senior Critical Care Nurse. Aiyah, no need to talk about you lah can? I see you day in day out. But i'm so thankful to have you as my God-sis who never fails to take care of me and making sure I have what I need and ensuring the entire team has no lack. Your generosity is your forte and your kind heart glows birghtly. Ok enough, i'm seeing you for dinner and I don't wanna be walking with a bloated head.
David Lim - our Medical Student cum everything else with regards to medical necessities. Thank you for being you. The blur you, the innocent you, the loving you. I'm surprised we have so much in common that even our brithdays were a few days apart. You're the little brother in our team and we love you. You're the joy of our hearts, and being able to see you serve the people with what little skills you have encourages us to know that you'll be a great physician. I'm greatly blessed by your prayers and concern. Your emotional support during my personal troubles pulled me through the entire trip. You lifted me from my heartaches and helped me see that life is more than just what we can see. May you grow in Him and one day fully understand your purpose. I speak for all to say that we love you dearly for being so close to our hearts.
Each and everyone played a vital role in the functioning of this team. And only by fulfilling that role we were able to be productive and effective with our mission. I thank Him, for each and everyone of you.
I'm back. And i'm too tired and busy to talk about it. But i'm holding on to God's promise that salvation will come to this land. And i'm thanking Him for the brothers and sisters He has placed in my heart.
Doris
Hillary
Jacob
Jacky...oh Jacky.
Joshua
Raymond
David, my innocent lil' twin. Who failed to tell us his 21st was on the 23rd.
3am - I can't sleep. It's so hot in here. The air-conditioning failed last night, and wasn't managed today. Where on earth did all the wind go? 20th storey and I feel nothing.
Flights been delayed by an hour. Guess it doesn't happen only to budgets. Well at least we're notified about the inconvenience 2 days before departure. It's going to be an exciting journey. Maybe that's why I can't sleep. Or maybe it's because my ass hurts, from cycling. An absurd and totally inappropriate suggestion after dinner.
I've managed to pack. Somehow it seems like i'm going for a hike. A long excruciating hike. A hike into emotional torture. I'll get to make one call when I touch down in CD. One call. One SMS. And then my phone will need to be turned off. It's not about the bad reception or destroyed communication infrastructure. It's all about safety. Safety of the unknown. Safety for the unknown. We need to be, unknown-ed. No talking about it, no mentioning. No emails, no facebook-ing. Not until our mission is done.
So pardon me if I don't seem to respond. Please use this for my orbituary if I don't permanently.
Thursday June 12, 2008 MYT 8:41:57 AM China's earthquake survivors are on the move again one month after quake
MIANYANG, China (AP): One month after China's deadly quake, weary survivors were once again on the move, setting up tents and shelters on city sidewalks after being moved out of the path of a threatened flood.
To showcase the massive aid effort, soldiers, medical workers and politicians gathered Wednesday in Beijing's Great Hall of the People to hear emotional testimonials about its success.
The nationally televised event featured heroes from the quake -- a teacher from quake-hit Beichuan, a volunteer nurse from southern Guangdong, the military commander who led troops on a 31-hour march to reach the quake epicenter.
Organized by the Communist Party's propaganda department, it underscored the government's emphasis on positive coverage amid a long and daunting recovery effort.
Nearly 70,000 people died in the May 12 disaster, with another 17,000 missing after the 7.9-magnitude quake jolted Sichuan province and neighboring regions.
In the initial days following the quake, China's typically harsh restrictions on media were relaxed, allowing both domestic and foreign reporters unusual freedom in covering the massive natural disaster. But in recent weeks, the government has begun rolling back liberties as hard questions have continued about corruption and shoddy construction of schools.
Foreign reporters have been blocked from some parts of the quake zone as officials sought to rein in public anger over students' deaths. In one instance, parents were forcibly removed from a public protest.
The incidents highlight the challenges in store as China's leaders seek to move forward on rehabilitation and rebuilding efforts.
In Mianyang city, the largest urban area directly downstream from the Tangjiashan quake lake, soldiers on Wednesday helped quake survivors move their belongings yet again while vehicles drove by loaded with plastic stools and bottled water.
Authorities had evacuated 250,000 people out of concern of a breaching of the lake -- formed when landslides blocked a river _ the largest of 30 created by the quake. Senior military leaders on Wednesday said the threat posed by the lake had ended now that it was draining.
Cutting through Mianyang, the Fu River was running high and fast on Wednesday, and life remained far from normal. Many city residents continue to sleep outdoors because of damage to their homes or fear of the aftershocks that continue to shake the region. Many businesses were closed, some with sandbags stacked at their entrances to guard against flood waters.
Although they remained homeless, residents said conditions closer to home were far superior to those in the hastily erected camps in the hills where some had been living for almost two weeks because of flood fears.
At the Taohuashan camp overlooking the town of Qinglian, about 3,000 evacuees were still waiting for permission to return home.
Authorities had told them they needed to disinfect the area before it would be safe.
Evacuees were suffering from exposure, with 10 people recovering in a clinic from heat stroke and numerous cases of the common cold.
China has ordered government departments to cut spending to free up reconstruction funds for the estimated 5 million people made homeless, few of whom had insurance.
Planning experts have recommended that more than 30 towns in the quake-hit areas, including the local government seat of Beichuan, be rebuilt elsewhere, according to Caijing, a leading Chinese business magazine.
As I was tossing and turning on my bed, jittery about how unprepared I am for my physiology paper in 7 hours, I suddenly realised that i've not even reached a year of employment and i'm having exams again. Odd.
What ever happened to study-free-earn-all-the-money-you-can jobs? Just when I recall how celebrative I was, we all were, when we flung our graduation hats in the air thinking 'goodbye-exams'.
I hate exams. The pressure. Some sail through without any. I suppose they must either be so damned smart the papers seems too retching to their ego, or they are so hecked about it because they know there's no way they can fail.
It's really even more pressurising when the people around you, who sees you as the academic-Giggs, expects you to perform and downplays the fact that you can be stressed too! Stressed to achieve, to score, to pass!
Isn't obvious enough, i'm up blogging 6 hours to my paper. I'm noacademic-Giggs.
Total hours spent on Physiology yesterday alone = 10.
Woke up early today, had a massively quick breakfast and off we went to Raya Noi islands for our dive trip. Well it was a great time diving after lamenting over under utilization of our license for 2 years. Waters wasn't as clear as we would like it to be, but we did manage to see many beautiful and large underwater wildlife. Although we both would prefer diving in Redang again but being able to say we dived in Phuket is another ball game altogether.
2 dives and we were back to Phuket proper. The other 2 sick girls were resting in the hotel and me and SuYun had to literally drag them out of bed to go loiter abit in Karon Beach. I'm sure they were thankful we did that as the scenary was just magnificent. After a few hours of salt water dipping, we washed ourselves back at the hotel's pool.
We were supposed to go Chalong Bay for seafood dinner, but decided against it as we weren't really feeling all too awesome. But ended up having a buffet dinner at the neighbouring hotel. Conclusion about the food in Phuket? I'd rather have my tub of ice cream and cup noodles to save cost. Nothing fantastic, nothing compared to the salivating Vietnamese and Khmer food I had in Indochina. But of well, we still love Thai.
And we finally got our Thai massage.
Day 5
4 days in Phuket and it didn't rain a drop. Early in the morning we're supposed to leave, it poured heavily. Must have been our prayers for the rain to hold and the sun to shine for the duration of our trip. Thanking God for the beautiful weather.
It's obvious that I cannot be emotionally attached to anyone. Lest I feel and noticed that it never seems to bear any good. Distraught as it sounds, yet true and profound.
Maybe i'm just meant to be alone. To be an island. You know, like Singapore. Bad metaphor I know. Just take a look at Singapore, successful by and in itself. No, i'm not turning into a Singaporean just yet.
How does it feel to be a one-er? I refuse to use the word 'loner'. Singular? Neither am I single as per say. Sucks, big time. Only to be misunderstood. Like, always.
