Livin' on a Prayer

With two exams down, and just one more to go, Bon Jovi’s smash hit seems particularly apt.

First of all, if you don’t know the song; that’s too bad- it’s quite cool. Second of all, if you don’t know who Bon Jovi is… Well, shame on you. J

The thing about midyears in MBChB II is that they’re more like finals really. Provided you pass, you will never have to touch those files again. [Clinical work notwithstanding, of course.] So you write these exams and then it’s over. You leave the Resp, Cardio and Gastro blocks behind.

And this is all good and well, except for one thing. Allowances are made for only 2 working days between exams. We got lucky with resp, in that it there was a weekend between the two days. And Cardio is going to be quite nice, because we have a weekend and a public holiday as well. But Gastro was a real SOB. And I don’t mean “shortness of breath”. J

Two days to study 8 weeks worth of work? Impossible. As you can imagine, a lot was left out of the studying process. Scratch that. It was a cramming process. >.<

I’ve been going to bed at around 2:30am every night, due to the sheer amount of work. And when I do eventually get there, my sleep is sorely lacking in quality. Last week I spoke of being chronically tired. That doesn’t even compare to this. And I don’t even want to imagine what our interning years are going to be like!

It’s at times like these that the iconic lyrics come to mind.

“Oh, we’re halfway there. Oh, living on a prayer. Take my hand.

We’ll make it out there. Oh, living on a prayer.”

Truly, one feels like the only you’ll pass is on a hope and prayer.

Because, when you’ve barely slept and haven’t covered even half the work, how else can you pass?

Well. If that wasn’t depressing… >.< Cardio is up next, and this block is my favourite. So, hopefully, I’ll be able to atone for the less than satisfactory performances in the first two exams.

Good luck to all my homepeeps! My we all pass all our exams- the first time around! J

P.S. Happy birthday, Shabnam ‘Shibzie’ Hoosen. Have a wonderful day! <3

2014/06/14

Awkward Hugs

They’re just the worst. I can’t be the only one who feels this way.

This post was inspired by the results of a friend’s procrastination. Amy/Ay-Jay Fudgles is one hell of a rockstar, and here’s what she came up with [I may have edited here and there, but all credit goes to her]:

This is not quite the hug described, but it is too adorable for words.

How to perfect the high-low hug:
1. Lean toward your left when going in for the hug ( I just find the right side awkward)
2. Lift your right arm, indicating to the person that you're going over their shoulder- that way, if you are fun-sized (like me), they will bend lower than initially planned (it’s subconscious really).
3. Keep the left arm low .
4. At this point you should be in the hug already... right arm over the person's shoulder with your palm open just below the neck (be careful not to go too high- you might strangle the person and believe me its awkward A.F) as if reaching for the other shoulder...with the left hand (now situated across the lower back) open... this creates a firm and engulfing hold... now center your hand- wrist parrallel to the spine and gently stroke/rub the person's back (be pressure conscious- you will be able to tell the layers of clothing... use it as a guide)
5. I usually think of something cute or something I like about the person... I often add my weirdness to it- e.g. 'Seeing you smile makes my soul laugh’, ‘you are such a beautiful person, I wanna punch you- no one should be this amazing'... if it’s a stranger or merely an acquaintance, I’d think of something like 'you are special', 'I see you- you don’t have to act like I didn’t notice you'... please make sure that you THINK it and not say it (unless you and the person are on that level)... it makes the hug come to life and gives it meaning (at least to me).
How long you need to hold is dependent on the level of comfort.... I usually don’t care- and hold on to the point where it gets awkward... if you find yourself in this situation- say it’s awkward but don’t let go for another few seconds!
Note: if you're a girl hugging a guy... keep in mind that he is a guy and make sure you KEEP YOUR DISTANCE!!!!!! [I CANNOT STRESS THIS MORE!]

Thank you for that, Amez. It’s unbelievable how many people don’t know how to give a decent hug. >.< Also, “keep your distance” just cracked me up! =P

Happy hugging, everyone! J

2014/05/30

40 winks

I recently met a few more first years, and it was quite an interesting conversation.

The new lecture halls were opened for use at the beginning of this month, and we were chatting about how amazing it all is. Because, get this, the first years got to move in there. Not the fifth years, or even us second years. No, the littlest of the lot get to use the new facilities first.

So these little first years were complaining about how the seats are just far enough apart that you can’t comfortably lean on your friend’s shoulder- without feeling like you’re about the fall through the cracks, so to speak. “You can’t lie on them because it’s too far. It’s not comfortable to sleep with your head on the desk. I can’t sleep sitting upright! It’s horrible! Pluuus…! The lecturers can see you, and it just seems rude to sleep in front of them. Also the class is really loud…”

On and on they went. Until I responded with a, “You can’t fall asleep in class? You. Will. Learn.”

And it’s true. I feel worn out all the time; chronically exhausted, as I like to call it. Sometimes things get to be a bit much, and a nap in the middle of a particularly boring lecture never hurt anyone. In fact, I wake up feeling pretty good. But then again, I do something those first years have yet to discover…

During the clinical part of our blocks, few people actually turn up for the lectures, so there are plenty of open seats. As my very good friend, Anthea Lakay, likes to say, “Laziness makes you clever.” [A sneaky sort of clever, that is.] My sneaky plan? I lie down across the empty seats, and catch a pretty decent nap. J

We don’t always have time to sleep, especially now that midyears are rolling around. So when you have a few minutes, you [and by you, I mean me] basically pass out. Did I mention you’ll sleep anywhere even remotely comfortable? Every minute of shuteye helps. It truly does.

2014/05/30

What a day

Today was… well, to say insane would be putting it mildly.

This morning, we wrote a one hour Physiology paper on the cardiovascular system. Then my group, the second group that is, would be on lockdown for the following two hours, while group 1 wrote the ECG test in Gergs. I say lockdown because we were pretty much being treated as prisoners: No electronic devices, the noise level had to be kept down and even bathroom breaks were supervised. I kid you not; one of the invigilators accompany you.

That was the plan. But we all know that plans don’t work out the way we want.

Shortly after 12, Prof Paige walks in, asking us not to crucify him- it’s not his fault and he’s mighty upset about it too. Well hell, we thought, what now?

Gergs double-booked. And we had to wait another 2 hours before we could head up and write our ECG test. At that point, it felt too late to study, I was hungry, and went way past angry and straight into I-actually-don’t-give-a territory.

In short, group 2 spent 4 hours on lockdown. All because the Gergs staff didn’t have their admin straight, and they wanted to prevent us from obtaining inside info about the test.

So yeah, all in all, a fantastic day. [Picture me rolling my eyes and then pulling a gag face.]

Lastly, I’d like to wish Mazzie a very happy birthday. Or, as Kayla so aptly put it, “Happy second decade!”

2014/03/24

Close Shave

Not too long ago, I had a chat with a sixteen year old. And oh my, I feel old.

One of her friends walked by and she made the comment that she’d rather he shaved his beard. Curious as ever, I turned around to catch a glimpse of this fella. I kid you not, he was barely rocking stubble.

Needless to say, we argued back and forth about whether males should shave or not. Personally, I reckon a beard increases a male’s handsomeness at least tenfold. She completely disagrees. To be totally honest, I didn’t understand it at first. But then I remembered that, back when I was in grade 10- as she currently is- I felt the same way: Males look better clean-shaven.

Wrong. There’s just something extremely attractive about a male with a beard. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking a mile long or unkempt and unruly. I’m talking about a well-groomed, neatly trimmed beard. Decent.

It seems one’s taste and what one perceives as attractive or not, changes as one matures. But perhaps there’s more to it. My closing argument [I swear I felt like an old person] was that she’d understand when she was older. Of course, she denied it. Duh. What was I expecting? My mother readily agreed with me, though that shouldn’t have been news- my dad’s had a beard since… before my time. J But what really surprise me was the fact that her own mother agreed.

I prefer a male with a beard, rather than without it. Quite a few [pretty much all] of my [female] friends agree. Is it just us, or is it a thing? Does one naturally tend toward the more rugged, manly appearance as one grows older? Or are we, and by ‘we’ I mean me, just strange creatures?

I’d love to hear your input on this. Just for interest’s sake. Be sure to comment! J

2014/03/11

Resolve

I’ve finally figured out my New Year’s resolutions. J

Okay, so they’re more like March resolutions for the rest of the year. Buuut the point is I’ve made them.

This year, I resolve to:

©      Read at least of Mark Twain’s works.

©      Get active, get fit, and get those abs I’ve been wishing for.

©      As far as academics go; don’t fail.

©      Play guitar more often, and actually learn new songs.

Yeah, I think that about covers it for now.

I’ve actually gotten off to a great start on all accounts, except the first. I’m hunting for his stuff. Desperately.

Oooh, a quick aside: I broke a personal record this weekend, when I read Divergent, by Veronica Roth, in less than 3 days. Yeah, I am proud of that admission. J

I’m off to another lecture now. Have a great day, y’all!

2014/03/05

This and that

Since the end of my Resp block, many things have happened.

I suppose I should start off by mentioning my end-of-block weekend. Mine was a really chilled. Back when Resp started, we made huge plans to go out and have fun and just not be at home. But when the time came, I kept my plans simple: Play guitar, write, work out, and sleep, sleep, sleep.

Baby 2.0
Photograph taken by myself

While I spent some quality time with Baby 2.0 [I swear he really needs a new name. suggestions may or may not be appreciated- depending on how I feel at the time.], I admittedly wrote less than I’d have liked. I did, however, mange to get in tons of sleep and two solid work outs.

I also spent some time working, where I decided to bust out my Xhosa-speaking skills. Needless to say I was met with many amused and smiling faces. However, there was one woman in particular who insisted in responding in English. Yeah, I needed a moment to recover from that one. >.<

Name badge, Cardio study guide, laptop and phone.
I'm totally prepared.
Psssht, yeah right. >.<

Monday morning we were back at the grindstone once again. Cardio started last week, and let me tell you, it’s been hectic. Between dissections, lectures and more hospital visits, I’m just about worn through. As I mentioned before, going to hospital is amazing, albeit semi-depressing, but lectures are boring. Also, I’d always assumed I’d enjoy dissections, but it’s completely lost its allure. It takes a lot out of you, but it can still be fun. I recall our very first cardio dissection: Chris, Haley [yes, the same Haley from my hospital group], and Ofentse were opening up and unpacking our cadaver, the lovely Mrs Jones. [The name has been changed to protect the identity of the deceased. I’ve always wanted to say something to that effect, although, in all seriousness, we don’t know her real name.] Leendert and I were watching this, while a very unsuspecting Kathleen read the instructions for that day’s dissection. Unsuspecting, you ask. Not two minutes in and both lungs go flying at her. For no particular reason. Of course, I began laughing almost hysterically- out of pure shock. It was as if the lungs just flew at her. In hindsight, it was slightly creepy…

Doctor's coat- I feel legit.
[Yeah, that's Baby in the background.]

Study, study, study.
Fun, fun, fun. >.<

That’s basically what I’ve been up to these past few days. Well, that and studying. >.<

Jadri Conradie, with his adorable nephew.

Today is also Osler’s awesome Primarius’ birthday, so I’d like to wish Jadri Conradie [one of the awesomest- yes, I just said that- males I know] a very happy birthday. Have a great one, buddy. J

Well, folks, I’m afraid that’s all we have time for. Tune in again next week for another episode of *cue dramatic music* Thoughts of a mentally unstable medical student. J

2014/03/04