On travelling

This may seem random, but my mind has been occupied by the thought of travelling especially after watching ‘Into the Wild’ last night. So, here I am after a train ride from Wollongong to Nowra reflecting on my past travel.

I used to be the typical Asian tourist who wouldn’t stop taking pictures on every possible occasion. After all, those pictures are a physical evidence of having been somewhere. That was what I believed until I realised how much I was missing out on my travel.

On a bus ride that was supposedly the best in the world from Rio Bamba to Guaranda looking over Mt. Chimborazo, I bought myself the best seat in the bus for the view. Instead of admiring the majestic Mt. Chimborazo, I was so worried about taking pictures to share with everyone at home. What I failed to realise was that the travel was meant for me to enjoy.

Did I have fun? Yes I did. Don’t get me wrong, I had a good time, but it felt like Etch-A-Sketch where it was fun while it lasted. Sitting in my room and looking at the pictures, it doesn’t evoke the sense that I was lucky to have evidenced the grandeur of nature.

I don’t regret taking those pictures, because I know one day I will return to the place that has changed my view of the world. On my train ride from Wollongong to Nowra which is quite ordinary for those who have to travel the distance daily, I looked out my window. The green meadow, the body of water so expansive and blue, the quietness and comfort of little villages. I’m letting those to be etched in my brain.

And here comes the third year…

I can’t believe it that:
1. I only have less than 2 years before I graduate (hopefully if I pass the mid-year exam and OSCE)
2. I’m in my 5th rotation out of 7

For those of you clueless as to what I am up to, I had my renal medicine rotation at the Wollongong Hospital before the Christmas break and now I’m in Nowra doing general surgery. Renal medicine was very exciting to the point that I am also considering renal medicine as a career path in addition to paediatrics.

Renal medicine really taught me to be very well organised and meticulous in my approach. We sure had a lot of patients in the ward and it was hard enough trying to remember when Mrs. A had her last dialysis or if Mr. Q’s creatinine has come back normal. Every morning 0800hr start, we started checking all the patient files for tests or PACE calls or nursing report. It was very administerial, but I had a lot of go’s at interpreting test results. I also ended up getting a lot of practice at doing cannulation and clinical examinations (although I didn’t do any examinations of the nervous system).

I’m starting my week 3 out of 5 for my general surgery rotation and I must say that I think I am getting a lot more comfortable with where I am. I sure need to do a lot more practice with my clinical skills, but who doesn’t? Prior to this surgical rotation, I’ve only had Urology rotation under my belt, which was OK (with the exception that Urology in general seems to be very privatised although medicine shouldn’t be, but that is another spiel altogether). I was expecting short ward rounds and interns or residents running around like headless chooks because the consultants and registrars are never around. I was pleasantly surprised to a very supportive team; consultants who are willing to give their time to give tutes or even just let you scrub in for procedures, registrars who wouldn’t stop bombarding us with questions and tips for the OSCE (I meant ‘bombarding’ in the best way possible, my reg is great, I wish all regs are like him), residents and interns who would put a little bit of their time to go through the med chart or fluid balance chart with us. In this rotation, I’ve taken my niche as the vampire (bloods, cannulation), the scriber (I even got to scribe for a PACE Tier 1 call), and the bedside chart man. GSM, can all my rotation be like this one please?

Random facts:
1. I got a Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 over the break as a present. It’s an android phone and I’ve grown accustomed to checking my email and FB every morning when I sit in the toilet.
2. Yes, I sometimes look at my poo to try to guess what it is in the stool chart.
3. I do wash my hands and disinfect my phone after using the toilet.
4. I also downloaded a WordPress app on my phone, so I should probably start updating my blog more frequently. (Although not my food blog, because it is gross to blog about food while sitting in the toilet…)

On that note, I’m out.

Byes.
N