Disaster and Relief Medicine & HEALTH CARNIVAL!

I love this course! During lectures I'd go like, "Ooh! I know this from National Geographic!"

Seriously, apart from Behavioural Sciences, Disaster and Relief Medicine is another subject that I enjoy too much at the moment.

At the moment we're having lectures instead of the usual SCTLs (Student Centered Team-Based Learning) on topics about disaster preparedness and basic disaster medicine information. Perhaps this is the best time to do School Watching, especially with the lectures this morning that touched on definitions of 'risks', 'hazards' and 'vulnerability'. At least we don't have to explain the terms again.

And we have 5 fourth year IIUM students with us in this course; them doing their elective with this course- kinda interesting ain't it?
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Young Mercy Group 2's VAP (Volunteer Awareness Programme) and Fund-raising activity will take place this weekend. Info is as below:

Event: Health Carnival for Charity
Date: April 19th 2008, Saturday
Venue: Dataran Kemerdekaan, Shah Alam (near PKNS/Alam Sentral Plaza/State Library)
Time: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Activities:

• Aerobics (7.30 a.m. to 8.30 a.m.)
• Medical Check Ups (BMI, Blood Pressure, Glucose level and doctor's consultation if needed)
• Health Exhibition on Diabetes, Obesity and Hypertension (included are quizzes for kids -with prizes-)
• Auto Show!
• Batik Show- special booth from Khadani Batik
• Booths that sell food, drinks, clothes, ice-cream etc.
• Colouring Contest for primary school children with prizes!
• Tele-match
• Treasure Hunt!
• Basketball competition

Please spread the words around and DO COME on the day!
**Funds generated from this event will go to 2 orphanages we visited during our Le Tour de Perak earlier this year and for our next projects next year

*Correction: Banner said 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. but it's from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Reminiscing...

6 years ago;
we met daily during classes that started at 8 a.m.; Then we went for lunch in Red Rooster, or sat underneath that lone tree and ate out packed lunch that we made ourselves.
Some of us went to the city, particularly the Alexander Library to study on the weekends, while another half chose to find solitary spot in Murdoch Library to do our discussion.
International Luncheon, Veledictory Dinner and College's Ball were part of us; we had 2 English teachers, 2 Maths teachers and a Science teacher whom all were like friends instead.

UWAFY_April Intake, 2002

5 years ago;

We resided in Currie Hall and Trinity College; and soon all in Currie Hall
We met on daily basis during lunches, dinners and breakfasts on weekends
Birthdays were occassional must events;
And we even went to the beach during end of summer, before school re-opened.

UWA_Currie Hall, 2003-3004

3 years ago;

We moved to Mounts Bay Apartments in Mounts Bay Road,
No longer common lunch hours, no longer common dinner time;
Occassionally we met when our Student Advisor paid us visits,
or on various outdoor activities, or when we bumped into each other on the streets downstairs or in the city, shopping

UWA_Mounts Bay Apartments, 2005-2006

Less were us in Fast Eddys
But once we gathered on the eve of Eid-Fitr
G20 was the meeting place.

2 years ago;
everyone went home- most are working now,
saved for one- who's still in Perth
and a few like me, who's still persuing our ambitions

And now;
We rarely meet- you guys travelled in work, or stationed in high-rise buildings;
I have schedule to follow; and Tini and Abadi are in Penang

We rarely meet nowadays
Until one of us called-

For important events like these:

Congrats Shila & Gundat! May Allah blessed the both of you as husband and wife

Congratulations, Zura! May you be happy beyond the day it's officially tied...

You... you who I've lost contact after you've settled in Sydney,
Now with a Masters, yeah?
And now you've come home,
And once more we chatted like sisters...

Congratulations, Shu! I'm glad you found someone who could cherish you ;)

We rarely meet now
Everyone's leading their own path
But occasional events like this
And these pictures of memories...
This is when we meet;

Yeah?

Malaysia_2008
[Petronas, UEM, KPMG, CUCMS, PMC, UWA] (Ok, so the last one is not in M'sia...)

Defense Mechanism

We were irritated (and perhaps angry) at the fact that we could no longer park the car inside despite the fact that we live there. Well, who could blame us when we're just tennants and the landlord is away overseas and can't get the new sticker for us?

Despite the annoyance felt, we reasoned out that maybe the guards were just following orders (but if they were just more polite and nicer and more tactful in not letting us in, we wouldn't be just as angry towards them and the management as a whole).

So we found another place to park.

And despite the longer distance that we have to walk, I'm glad that we could still be laughing about it. Surrounded by the chilly night, we walked (and felt ridiculously funny with a big bag pack on my and Hannan's backs) towards the town villa with giggles and new resolutions.

I'm glad we chose "reaction formation" as our defense mechanism (Yeah people, I looked through Behavioural Sciences notes for this)

Sometimes...

Sometimes it's frustrating,
When people say "Do something!"
"Change the system!"
"Solve the problem!"

And yet, they never give options and solutions...

Sometimes it's frustrating,
"You, this is your role"
"Don't worry, everything will work out in the end"

Yet, they never check the progression or the difficulties arise
And the next time during the discussion, they'll start blaming or questioning
Why is it not moving?

Sometimes it's frustrating,
When someone is too laidback
When time and time again you see the same people doing different jobs
When others are too selfish
When proactive is not in their dictionary
When you see some minds are shallow

And yet we declared to have first class mentality

Why don't we ask ourselves again... Are we, really?

The Road Not Taken

Does this sound familiar? Read on....

The Road Not Taken

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost (1874–1963). Mountain Interval. 1920

Young Mercy 2 Projects' Promotion

Everyone's busy doing Young Mercy's (YM) projects, Heart 2 Heart and a few others that I feel like promoting what we're currently doing :D

1) Recycling Project: Boxes are placed around college area where aluminium, papers and plastic would be collected and sent for recycling. People are talking about Global Warming and sometimes you wonder what you can do, well, this is the time- every little effort means something, no matter how small it is!


2) Dedication Booth: Give your name and who you want to dedicate a chocolate/brownie and it will be sent to that person. Good to show how much you care for that person, a thank you gift and 'letter' for your logbook! You can also give it to your mentor, lecturers and other admin staffs!




3) Cookies/Cupcakes/Fruits selling: Buying while Donating- Buy yummy cookies, cute cupcakes and healthy fruits while donating!





4) Crosswords Puzzle: You think you know some of the hot issues on" Humanity, Medicine & the World"? Why don't you try solving the crossword puzzed. First place will get RM 50! Entrance are unlimited, you can send in as many entries as you want (note: RM 2 per entry)



5) YM Mechandise -Keychains and Mugs- Keychains and mugs with Young Mercy & CUCMS' logo on them; Good for momentos and gifts for other people

6) A Ringgit a Day: What more can I say about this? Just drop in a ringgit a day for charity and good causes!




For more pictures: Young Mercy 2 in Action!

*All funds generated from this small projects would go to:

• 2 orphanages we visited in Perak (in Parit & Trong) during Le Tour de Perak
• our Charity Health Day in April (details will be posted up later) and
• for our future fundraising projects in Year 3

More posters & information would be up soon!

During discussions for progress of minor projects & 'Charity Health Day- "Modern Illnesses"' that will take place in April:

Sunday evening rambling...

I believe in sincerity.
I believe in voluntarism.

But I also believe that even if someone do something without wanting anything in return, when he/she does it continuously, there must be a very small part in the person wanting at least a little bit of acknowledgement.

Or a simple whisper of thank you would be enough.

Every time I think of this, I would always remember "A Beautiful Mind" and "Something the Lord Made". I guess those two are real life examples where simple acknowlegement meant the world to them.

In "Something the Lord Made", it moved me to tears seing how awkward Mr. Thomas felt to suddenly being in the centre of attention, but at the same time it was refreshing for him, your existance was finally recognized. In "A Beautiful Mind", it was something akin to freeing himself from having schizophrenia during those moments John F. Nash took the Nobel prize.

Someone might be doing something for others' benefits without their knowledge and that would be fine. It would be nice though if the other people knew about it and just acknowledge it by saying thanks. Anyway, that would be called common sense.

Similarly when things are expected to be done, and they were done to the point of excellence if not perfect, it's common sense to congratulate the persons responsible for it. If their works were overlook once or twice, I guess they don't mind but if it's become a pattern, wouldn't it be something demotivating?

Especially to be compared with others- that would even degrade their self-motivation and confidence.

Being compared; if it's done in the right and positive manner it would be a drive for a person to work harder. But if it's daunting and humiliating, it would slowly 'kill' one's soul. How long can a person last being compared and being the object of sarcasm anyway?

Anyway, that's beside the point. My point is sometimes we are blinded with other things that we forgot to acknowledge someone or even say "thank you". Those simple words, although short, simple and probably cheap enough to be said at any time might be simple to you but they often lift up someone's spirit. The same goes to "congatulation" or "well done!"It might mean nothing but to some, they are the most encouraging words.

Or maybe it is plain ignorance from our side?

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I just got back from Trainers on Training (ToT) for School Watching Workshop, done by Mercy as part of the School Preparedness programme they are doing. It's part of our Young Mercy project as well. It's interesting to sit down with people from different age group and exchange ideas and opinions.

I find it very busy lately- the subjects are not longer as heavy as the last semester but there are a lot more activities we're doing to the point where we have meeting after meeting after meeting. Maybe we all need to slow down for once?

-Another pointless picture- -Gambar iklan ice-cream?-

With Sleepy Eyes

It is in time like this I feel the compulsion to write or type something up. When this happens, it means a few things: I'm itching to write stories, I'm stressed out or I'm feeling something extraordinary (i.e extreme happiness [note: not to the point of elevated, ok?], extreme confusion or extreme sadness/dissapointment/anger/tensed out).

Or it's just a mixed feelings where I need to let something out but I myself don't know what it is or how to let it out.

Ok, now I just feel plain dumb.

Yesterday was a day where I feel happy, dissapointed, extremely tired and just more tired and sleepy- it was to the point where the 'mafias' ushered me to go home and get some sleep (I started merepek-ing and was in state of vague hypomania [if there's any such condition]). During a discussion in the afternoon, I was even prohibited from volunteering for any more work (and gained myself yet another "Angah", after I said "I think I overdid myself this time around...")

I went straight to sleep after we got back at 12 a.m. (my meeting finished at 11 p.m. and we went for supper afterwards)

And yet at 6 a.m. today, I woke up and wasn't not able to go back to sleep. Perhaps it's the fact that we're having exam at 3 p.m. and that we have to hand in our PPD book by 4.30 p.m. (in my case, at 2.45 p.m.). Maybe it's the adrenaline rush.

Anyhow, thank you for reading this useless and pointless ramblings.
I'm just a "bit" stressed out at the moment.

And suddenly I remembered Ned Kelly's words "...Such is Life..." (remarks we x-UFAWY Perth always used in various situations... =p)

-A pointless picture-

"Two gediks cousins"

Passes By

Breaks are unsurprisingly short,
The days are exceptionallly hot,
And Sunday comes too fast...

I want another week of holiday!

Wallpapers

I was bored yesterday ('cause the modem was giving the whole house a headache) so I did these: