One Week of Orientation

Standing on a bridge over Avon River

Just finish my first week of orientation in Christchurch. This orientation, of course is not the same one as IMU's junior orientation. Instead, this orientation basically covers several subjects that we didn't learn in imu, such as Maori Health, ethics, critical appraisal and etc. Well, we did learn some of them back in kl, but not in dept. But here, they pay lots of emphasis on these subjects, no choice, have to study then.

Lunch was provided most of the time, mainly sandwiches and small pizza. I wish they will serve mixed rice or something like that, haha!

Tomorrow i have no class, yeah, long weekend for me!

My Bed

This is the coziest place that i could think of in the whole Christchurch. Yes, my bed. It's considered as double-bed size, with double pillows (bought from Warehouse) and double duvets (bought from Farmers). Speaking of duvet, i got it with 99 bucks, buy 1 free 1, with wool as material. Senior said we must get at least two duvets for winter. Well since Farmers are having sale (they also do, according to seniors...), without much hesitation, i brought back 2 duvets with one price, hopefully it's a good deal.

Though it's summer now, the weather can be quite cold in the midnight. With the blanket that i brought from home, sadly isn't sufficient to keep me warm. Besides i have bad tolerance towards cold weather, and sleep is like one of the most element in my life, so setting up a good condition for my bed is inevitable.

Today the weather has gone crazy. No bright sunshine, only strong, freezing wind. Just feel like wrapping myself on the bed now. Plus i don't have heater in my room, guess what is my main source of heat? My poor little laptop... Yup, it's weird, all i need to do is just putting both of my palms below the laptop, because all the hot air is being fanned out there. Pathetic, isn't it? But i find it very funny, haha!

新年初一

Lecture notes of CNY, hope it brings good luck, haha!

First of all, i wanna wish all of you Happy Chinese New Year. I wonder how nice it would be if i were back at home now. In Christchurch, it's like nothing happen on this festive day, can't blame anyway, most of the residents here are Caucasian, and the asians here are mostly constituted by japanese and korean. I finally experience of being minority in a society....

Anyway, today has been a great day. I went to school (after 6 months of holidays...), attended a brief introduction/lecture on New Zealand and its health care system. Had a tour around my school, led by our seniors, Henry and Andrew. Well, all of these took half of the day and now i'm finally back at my flat and resting. Tomorrow will have another two lectures, ethics and Maori Health. Sigh, tomorrow gonna be a challenging day!

Missing all my friends and family back at home....

新年快乐,万事如意

Chinese New Year 2009

Ah Beh and me have no family to celebrate CNY this time, so we take out ang pao and pretend that we are in CNY mood, haha!

My 22nd Birthday

Dark Chocolate from James, Lovely Card from Swarna, Touching Letter & Ang Pao from Mummy, Interesting Novel The Zahir from Aaron and Kajen

And a big THANK YOU to all my friends who sent their wishes to me, it really meant a lot to me. Though no fancy party or massive present, i enjoyed my birthday in Christchurch. Walking around the city, sight-seeing, getting things done, haha!

By the way, i'm truly glad that james purposely came down from Auckland to celebrate my birthday as well as helping me out to settle in. Seriously will owe you a lifetime....

Getting older as year passes by, so as the resposibilities and obligations burdened on my shoulder. No more naivety, no more fooling around, time to be a GROWN-UP! can wait till i graduate ah?

First Day in Christchurch

10 hours of flight from KL to Auckland wasn’t as bad as I imagined. I watched one movie, ate 2 meals, slept for around 1 hour, the rest of the time I used it to chat with swarna, no wonder time passed so fast.

The weather in Auckland was nice, shinny sun accompanied with cool breeze. The airport was quite busy, filled with crowd in every corner, especially at the arrival hall. Greeted by james, and the Auckland people kept on bombarding him with questions because he had been here since 2 days ago. After that, me, james and chong yu waited at the domestic terminal for the next 3 hours for our flight to Christchurch.

It only took an hour plus to reach Christchurch, surprisingly. Christchurch weather was abit extreme, the temperature was generally lower than Auckland. Picked up by Mr. Anthony and 2 seniors, Andrew and Henry, with a signboard written with ‘IMU Students’ on their hand. We had a short trip of sight-seeing around Christchurch. It’s a very small city, compared to Auckland, but the place is very serene and quiet. I saw my school and attached hospital. Then finally, we came to my flat. My flat consists of 6 rooms, 2 showers and toilet, one living room, one kitchen and one laundry room. The flat is pretty old, but still looks safe enough to stay in. After ventured around the house for less than hour, the seniors brought us out for a walk and for dinner.

Really glad that Andrew and Henry stayed back to explain lots of stuff for us, without them, I’m sure I would be very blur by now. Thank you so much!

A New Chapter

Can't believe my holiday is officially over, and i will be starting my clinical phase soon. 6 months ago, i was planning my vacations while the UK and Seremban people burying their heads in the books. Now, i feel that i had detached from medicine for a long time, and it's time to catch it up no matter what.

For the first time, i am leaving my homeland to pursue my dream on a foreign land. Oblivious, is the best word to describe my present feeling. I don't dare to imagine, because i know reality and imagination always parted with a gap. Challenging? Exciting? Plateau? Just hope i have the courage to handle all of them.

Later, i will be taking bus to the airport. A lot of people asked: "why don't your parents send you off in the airport?" Then my typical answer would be: "oh, coz it's expensive mah, purposely drive down and up, and have to pay petrol and toll fee, not worthy!" To be frank, i just don't have the heart to see my mum weeps....

Opening my new chapter of life, by celebrating my birthday and Chinese New Year in New Zealand, what a great introduction, haha!