Dragging, Pushing

'Integrated program' and 'Problem-based learning' seemed to be the in-thing to mention in school these days - the reason: our school failed the previous TMAC (Taiwan Medical Education Assessment Committee) evaluation, and now the school is doing everything and anything, including jeopardizing our learning experiences, to pass it - so as not to be ordered to close down.
It's a question of fire for warmth and burning up the house really, but as students we care only about the quality of education we receive. Being pampered from the very beginning (TCU is not really a university in terms of lectures and teaching methods), class reaction was radical to say the least. Powerpoints flew past our eyes, 3 seconds per slide, while some others chose to skip slides - "you'll learn this soon enough," "this is not really relevant," etc.
The consequence - we flip through books so thick they need cutting in half for better transportation. And some stupid fellas like me, need more than one book to truly understand. The library's collection of textbooks had all gone into hideout, leaving the ancient editions (I got a 2nd edition; the latest print is 4th) behind.
On top of that, we are bound to preparations for the cremation and memorial service of our silent mentor this weekend. Of that we really did our best despite the limited time and immense academic pressure. I am glad to be of assistance to the class in their choir during the service, while the short stage show they put up was simple, touching and memorable.

A snapshot of the show, observing a minute's solemnity before every session of anatomy. I prefer to intepret it as "Oh merciful God, please wake the professors up soon and really teach us something in medical school."

In between preparations for the service, some, including stupid fellas like me, would take time for short discussions on pathology.

On one end the school is pushing us to be move forward in face of the in-thing in medical education. Many would argue that PBL initiates the student's own learning abilities and promotes self-learning and people-oriented skills. On the other hand, do medical students have more time for such? Do we, with less and less sleep and leisure time, sacrifice even our time to revisions and learning reinforcements with 'soft skills' learning and imagining lectures? Is the mostly conservative school prepared for such a drastic change at short notice? Do we really have the leadership for this?
I do not know.

Full Swing

With our newest innovation to the timetable, what I thought to be a better semester compared to Anatomy and Dissection turned out to be even more demanding. I'll leave the details to some other time that doesn't require an exam on the second week of school.
Anyway, life is not a bed of roses. Here's 'One Moment in Time' by the much-missed Houston. For long we haven't seen such robust and wholesome voice.

Adieu Penang

It will be another 6 months (hopefully) before I return again. Of course, I am very grateful for the close proximity and relatively low airfares between Taiwan and Malaysia (for the time being). Being able to return home every semester is both a blessing as well as a gradual hopeless process - on one hand it's always just less than 6 months away from home, again; and on the other its frustrating to see very slow progress in Malaysia - that democracy and equality, even after being hailed since our forefathers' time, is not making an inch forward under the current government.

Beach Street, Penang.

I was, being the typical Malaysian and Penangnite, driving like a bullet around the island today doing last minute chores - honking at the slightest provocation, 'cutting' at every opportunity, jumping car queues, speeding past yellow lights (and even beat the red twice). Went to the money changer for Taiwanese currency and doing a last-minute praying (ever heard of that?) in Kuan Im Temple for everyone's well being and a smooth semester ahead.
It takes no effort to fall in love with the place where you grew up - the boisterous talking of the aunties, the way Hokkien Char hawkers bang their woks while dishing up your food, the crazy driving and road conditions, the abundance of public holidays and annoyance of having to replace holidays on Saturdays. As if we have insufficient reason to celebrate all the festivities, we have year-round sales: Chinese New Year sales, Valentine's day price slashes, Thaipusum bargains, we-ran-out-of-reasons-but-we-just-like-giving-sales sales.

Kuan Im Temple

Church of the Immaculate Conception just opposite Dad's place, recently being repainted; and I just love the sky this afternoon.

I will board my flight tomorrow bidding farewell to Penang and wishing my homeland all the best. I will definitely miss everything home, but I had grew accustomed to my life in medical school and Taiwan. It would be an interesting semester. I should always remind myself that my score or academic performance is not a reflection of what lies ahead in the hospital. I will keep my Malaysian qualities and strive to put my best foot forward in all endeavors just like what I promised Mdm. Lee.

Trivial Nothings February

• Just in case you wondered how the ang-ku turned out, a picture had been provided below. It was a tremendous success.

• Along with ang-ku, the enthusiastic gang also made huat-koay, bee-ko and mi-ku, all South-East Asian Chinese delicacies meant for praying as well as well-wishing during auspicious events.
• Anyway, my sister's comments on the Malaysian political scene being dramatic and 'soap opera-ish' was realized a few days back. All I have to say is that it's a rather entertaining soap opera so to say - we have MPs crossing over and returning in less than a week, and another lady who lied straightout in front of a living room of reporters and a nation of people.
• Next up on 'Malaysian Politics' soap opera - to see if the Sultan have to attend a high court session on breaching the constitution and robbing the People on their constitutional rights.
• Skipping across that for a moment, Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia are set on another round of seats-giving frenzy starting tomorrow. Pity none ever involve Taipei.
• AirAsia announced earlier that it intends to fly into Taipei before middle of this year (all Malaysian students shout yay!)
• But AirAsia had been more or less like our government before this - London got postponed by more than a year, Sydney was canceled, as well as Macau from Kota Kinabalu and Kuching - all in less than a year of operation. Let's just keep watching the next episode of 'Malaysia and All Its Silliness'.
• By the way I'm not in any way happy due to the fact AirAsia will be (fingers crossed) flying in, but I'm more delighted to see MAS slashing prices like what it did to current AirAsia-operated destinations once the red devil seeps in.
• I'm sorry Trivial Nothings turned out again to another post much to do with aviation - I just couldn't resist.
• And finally, I should be getting my Taiwanese driving licence during the summer! Thanks to YaoQun, also from Penang, who taught me the 'easy way' converting my Malaysian licence to a Taiwanese one.
  

On A Good Tourism Ad

The husband's adorable for one.

A Letter To My Silent Mentor

Wrote this just after I came back. Found it useful to post it up here as a closing for Anatomy and Dissection. I apologize for the length.

李美順大體老師，

Our destiny was drawn to meet each other even before I decided to attend medical school in Tzu Chi University. It was summer of 2006 when you passed. Initially refused for donation due to systemic edema, you persevered and miraculously hurdled through the limitations before you went off, in surrounding of family and friends. The following fall, I became a freshman at Tzu Chi University.

It would take two years more for our first meeting – two homesick years filled with challenges and overcoming them that gradually pepped us up for a career in medicine. Our first meeting was on 2008, just before Mid-Autumn Festival. Serenity and gratitude enveloped us as we do the final touch-ups of the laboratory. You were lying in a neutral position, fully encased by resin. Your facial features suggest a typical Asian lady – tough, smart and thrifty. Your daughter had earlier hinted at your unusual righteousness, and urged us to learn the good qualities from you.

Over the course of the next 4 months every time we pray I seek upon you to bestow us knowledge more than gross anatomy. Our group was very cooperative and positive throughout. For me it was the opportunity to learn the value of patience, tolerance and communicating with others. I was fortunate in the sense that academia never really burdened me; what I made in brains I lacked in virtues. I believe your sacrifice is sacred in an educational way and somehow you will be able to tell me in times of exasperation and outrage that I must handle this with all the virtues I lack; that life is no more than the good qualities in all individuals – and I think President Obama agrees with us – “with hope and virtue, we can rebuild a nation.”

You are indeed a very special teacher who allowed us unlimited trials over your expired body. In times of wrongdoing, you fidget not nor blame us for the mistake – you took all that to your own and helped us stood up once more. As the semester proceeds into the depths of winter we were constantly challenged by the lack of progress and scheduling problems. You listened to us complaining on the cold of the lab, the softness and fragility of your tissues and even the fungi problem we later had. All this you took to yourself; and as we got more nervous you comforted us with your peaceful smile and lean torso.

You taught us that there is indeed life beyond death. An expired body contributed to the upbringing of 5 medical students to-be. Besides laying the foundation for the ever-demanding medicine, you taught us many virtues and qualities that would forever change our lives – trust, patience and tolerance. You lead us to believe that even in the darkest hour, even when humanity is extinguished by the weakening economy and corrupt world government, there will always be hope. And perseverance will ferry us through. I am humbled by your great gift to us, a present that will forever stay in the hearts of Group 11.

Time really flies – it really seemed like yesterday when we, accompanied by a crowd of seniors, laid hands for the first time on your chest. The first incision was rather swift for me, but for some, it was like a journey to Calvary. To some it was haunting as they have never witness death before. As we accelerate and zip through the semester I grew more familiar with you – your small but strong hands, your perfectly proportioned liver and kidney, your to-the-books spleen and the illness that plague you during the late years of life. You must have had a life of hardships, but yet fruitful and fulfilling to the Asian way.

After every inch of your body had been probed and studied, every scaffold and crease had been identified, we begun suturing and prepare for your final journey. Seeing a complete you laying once more on the platform is a reminder of what we’ve accomplished this semester. Again and again we tell ourselves never to forget the 4 months we spent with our silent mentor – the 4 months of sweat, tears and endless avalanche of knowledge that both humbled us and raised us to the expectations of Hippocrates.

As we bowed to you for the last time on Sunday morning, 18 January 2009, a surge of tears flooded my eyes. I wished you peace in afterlife as you’ve witness our effort this semester. As Prof. Wang announced the official end of this semester, I couldn’t help but recall all the time spent together huddled around the platform – the endless hours working under the lamp and the smell that clung to our clothes fingers long after that. At that enlightening moment, it didn’t matter anymore who accidentally transacted an artery or severed a nerve, all of us understood we have gave our completely and had benefited in our own ways.

Returning home several days after, I feel rather detached from the heat and the familiarity. Perhaps it is the fact that I had somebody who sacrificed for me back there – and comforted me during my most turbulent times – and would do so for the rest of my life.

To my silent mentor, Mdm. Lee, I vow that no matter where I am or what I pursue in future, I would hold on to the qualities that you emanated and emphasized throughout your life – righteousness, patience and tolerance. I would always put my best foot forward in all endeavours and lend a helping hand to those in need. I thank you for your sacrifice and may you rest in peace.

Make Your Own

It seems the 'in' thing to do in times of economic depression - it saves a few bucks and even sounds sexy - "my, you're making your own wine? Can we try some?"
Of course it takes more than patience and time to grow your own Merlot and label the vintage years. Before I'm home Mum had already started her own fruit vinegar project and multipurpose enzymatic detergent project. Both of them does save our family a few bucks, but ever since the Chinese milk contamination scandal, I've been extra cautious with everything without a certification from the Ministry of Health. And to see that the vinegar fermentation process is totally performed in an agak-agak method (estimation and follow your senses) is like being teleported back to the middle ages. As a science learning person I do not wean or believe in anything without a reasonable and scientific explanation. Hence I was strongly against the make your own everything project led by Mum.
However, I soon have to give in to the fun. You see, these 'housewives errands' are extremely time-consuming and even boring to a certain extent, but it gives you great pleasure when you have nothing to do for the entire day - my ex-classmate is acting big boss since he has a girlfriend now, and there isn't anything much on screen nor in the cinema until next week - so when Dad tempted me with a trip to Cold Storage, I broke down and bought RM30 worth of grapes for the latest (and to date most expensive) fruit vinegar project.

Before this during winter solstice they'd already gone with their all-natural tang-yuan project - the coloring is all but the most natural ingredients: white is of course, plain flour; green is from the pandan juice; yellow from pumpkin juice; blue from a type of flower; and red from dragon fruit.

This is Mum's apple-and-carrot fruit vinegar. Left to mature for 14 days or more - on day 14 it'll be plain vinegar, and as time goes on the composition of alcohol rises. We could become a winery someday.

And to make the process more 'scientific', according to Mum, they use a beaker.

And here is my RM30 worth of grapes. Mum says 'must add lemon to kill the bacteria'.

And here you go - bottom level: a single layer of lemon slices, then a layer of unrefined cane sugar, and in go all your fruits - Mum insisted upon arranging the grapes layer by layer, and "with utmost care and love" so that they will turn out winning an award; my babysitter said she just dumped in everything she can grab.

By the third layer of grapes I was already aching all over and the dinner table all sticky from grape juice and melted cane sugar. It was not as fun as I thought. Of course, the remaining layers were slowly and carefully arranged with the help of my cousin. Now we'd have to nourish it with all the care and love to get it awarded a Bordeaux Grand Cru (for grape vinegar).
And speak of make your own everything. I woke up today to find my Dad and 5th aunt in our kitchen early morning on a 3-day ang-ku making project. Seems we'd be pushing out a line of food and utensils under the brand name 'Sim', very soon.