Morbid indulgence

Friday, June 16, 2006

Today, I was approached by three strangers to ask for directions. Two incidences occurred at the lrt, and one was in the plm library. The last one spoke to me in English, which proves that I not only looked pleasant, I also look "sosyal".

Uhyeah, bang bang hit me!

Perhaps it was due to my attire. I was wearing a retro shirt (the one I have been wearing since I was in college, the only one which fits me right now), jeans and sneakers. I looked so laidback and non-threatening. Or maybe it was because of my glasses which made me look smart, even nerdy. (I don't mind being called a nerd. Craving for knowledge is not a crime.) Or is it because of my hair? I had a haircut before classes started. It's still long, but it's more manageable now. Maybe this contributed to the aura of "benevolence" that has attracted strangers' attention.

Whatever it was, I sure feel glad to be approached by strangers. Not the creepy, gun-wielding ones, just those nice people with a purpose and a destination.

On other news, I went to DLSU-Dasma today. I apologize to Rr and Raisa for not informing them about this, but I wasn't too sure about it until only this morning. It was not planned, I just hitched a ride with my classmates who are selling books there.

I saw Sheena and Ferli. I find it odd that you only feel that you've missed people once you have seen their faces again.

Updates about their lives: Sheena's laptop has finally given up upon realizing that is has already served its time. She also learned how to drive and has her own Littman stethoscope. Ferli lives in a dorm. She hasn't bought her Littman yet. They are both doing well at Dasma. Both looked like they have gained weight. Both were wearing pants, which is unfair since pants among girls are not allowed in our school until the junior year.

We all agreed that DLSU-Taft still reigns as the only school with really really wonderful CR and water fountain that serves potable water. And the one that can boast of an elevator.

Morbid Indulgencestarted this journey at6/16/2006

Sunday, June 11, 2006

Last post before classes start

Classes start on June 13. Basically, that would mean another 2 days of vacation, spent outside on anything and everything that is supposed to be fun, since by Tuesday, fun would be harder and harder to come by.

Not for this medical student. I shall be a sophomore this school year, and almost everyone has been telling me that the 2nd year in medical shool is the most arduous, jaw clenching, teeth gnashing, back-breaking experience a medical student will ever undergo throughout one's education. We had an orientation last June 1 and 2. Yep, only in PLM shall there be a sophomore orientation. There is also an orientation for juniors. I reiterate. Only in PLM!!! Anyway, the orientation was nothing short of harrassing and frightening us students into spending the last days of our vacation on reading our books in advance.

So here I am, reading my Pathology book. I'm already on the 3rd chapter. I've also read the 1st chapter of Schwart's Surgery, 8 chapters of Katzung's pharmacology, 3 chapters of Major's Physical Diagnosis and 2 chapters of Microbiology Made Ridiculously Simple (the recommended textbook was Jawetz Micorbio, but I heard it was not really helpful). If I could have gotten my hands on Kaplan's Psychiatry, then I am sure I had also read it already by now. Oh, the things I do to become a doctor.

And the reward I get from all of these? My mother bought me a brand new Littman Classic II S.E. stethoscope. My precioussssss.... I will love it forever, well, at least as long as the warranty lasts, which according to the manual is 3 years. Maybe by the time I graduate, they would give me a Welch Alynn stethoscope, which has a 10-year warranty. Or maybe that stethoscope which I saw at the SM Mall of Asia which has a LIFETIME LIMITED WARRANTY. What the hell does that suppose to mean?

During my short breaks in between readings (short break my ass. I read for an hour and then watch cartoons for 2 hours) I find myself thinking if all of these things are worth the fulfillment of a dream. I calculate the years remaining on my life in earth. Suppose I am to die at the age of 50 (I don't want to be corpse-old and senile, and worst of all, with bladder problems), then that means I only have 29 years to do the things I want. I still have 3 years of formal schooling, 1 year of internship, perhaps 1 to 2 years of moonlighting, then 3 years of residency. By the time I would become a respectable doctor with specialization, I would be 30. Then I have to build a practice. I wonder where in the course of my life I could insert establishing my own family and travelling to different countries (I want to see them all).

Whenever I am reminded of how little time I have on this life, I feel discouraged. Add to that the total lack of a promise of a comfortable life in the future, I feel like giving up.

But then I remind myself that I still like what I am doing. So I 'm gonna stick around for a bit more.

Morbid Indulgencestarted this journey at6/11/2006