This is what happened when you have too many ideas and thoughts to squeeze into one post. It is definitely hard to define my following paragraphs with a title after such time lapse. In fact, to be fair, it should be split into several posts over the previous months. No one likes a hanging ending to a dull story. Now, allow me to continue the story from where I left off.
The UK visa application was a success on first attempt, but it was a painful process of getting the necessary documents and meticulously filling in the relevant forms. Then, I went to Putrajaya for my pre-departure briefing. They were all rather dead boring details after that. The interesting part began when I set foot in the London Heathrow airport for my transit flight. Our sponsor bought us a crappy Malaysia Airlines economy class ticket (crappy as compared to economy class offered by Royal Dutch Airlines due to the agonisingly narrow leg space and seat size) to London, but business class British Midland International (BMI) flight to Edinburgh. The nett total of ticket price from Kuala Lumpur to Edinburgh was a staggering RM12k. You heard me right, it was RM12,000. With the same amount of money, I could travel to-and-fro with Royal Dutch for at least 3 times. I have little clue as to why the ticket was so unreasonably expensive. I reckon it was because of the business class ticket from London to Edinburgh. The BMI VIP lounge is pretty amazing. With unlimited flow of alcohol, buffet food and availability of computers in the lounge, I would lie if I had said that it was not a pleasant experience at all. However, you won’t catch me lying if I say that the BMI flight to Edinburgh was rather a bumpy one, taking into account of the wee aircraft size. Definitely felt sick after the flight. We then took a pre-hired cab to Dundee and attended a party organised by the Malaysian Malay society in Dundee. The good samaritans even helped to fetch us to our accommodation and carry our luggages. There was no way one would feel homesick in that kind of situation. As a matter of fact, it felt totally like home. After that, we were invited to a warm welcoming party which was organised by Darren, the president of the Dundee Malaysian Society (DUMAS) at that time. Comparing the post-arrival stories from friends of different universities, I gathered that we had a really warm welcome here, and I am grateful for it because somehow, it helped us a lot at settling in a foreign land. If you are reading this, Darren, thank you for helping us to sort out the accommodation despite your tight schedule and making us feel that we are actually not that far away from home.
BBQ Party
Thus far, I had returned to Malaysia once, during the summer break. Before that, we had had 3 months of ‘Transition Block’ with the local students, something which I would give a high rating for. The ‘Transition Block’ certainly provided us with the space and time to blend in and get over the culture shock. We even sat for the third year exam with the other students. Although it was purely formative, it gave us a clearer picture of how the exam questions would be like in year 4. Mr. John Dent, an orthopaedic consultant, was a prominent figure in organising the block for us, former IMU students. One of the many great things which he had done for us was inviting us to his home for an English dinner experience. He had a beautiful garden as well in his compound. Just to illustrate how huge it was, his family members usually played tennis on the grass during summer.
Garden with the house in the background.
During the 3 months period, I had also travelled to Edinburgh, Glasgow (twice) and Manchester. I even toured the Old Trafford stadium. It was huge and the pitch was a pretty sight.
The Edinburgh Castle
Near ther Edinburgh Uni.
Palace of the Holyroodhouse
Garden in the Palace.
In Glasgow
The Old Trafford Stadium
Currently, I am in my 4th year and just done with Psychiatry and one week of Neurology. Neurosurgery, Oncology and Infectious Diseases will be next. I totally enjoyed Psychiatry despite the long journey to a psychiatric hospital in another district. I had gained a lot from interviewing the patients. Most of them had saddening stories to tell me. Stories about how they were not fitting into society, childhood abuse and such. But some, especially the psychotic patients with poor insights, had beyond-imaginable theories under their sleeves to kickstart my day. Can’t complain now, can I? =)
Besides that, I had even visited the prison service down in Perth, following a consultant to assess the inmates’ mental states. Remember the sociopaths you watched in horror movies? They are pretty much existent in the prisons. These people have antisocial personalities and do not hold any remorse over killing and mutilating someone. Most of them, themselves, had a horrible childhood to begin with. Imagine watching your dad stabbing your mum during a disagreement when you are just 8 years-old and your mum is too afraid to go to the police or hospital. When you step out from that house, what kind of person will you turn out to be, if not someone who worships violence and thinks that violence is the answer and only answer to every problem in life? Listening to their dark childhood stories, I have realised that home education is the first and most important one in moulding one’s character. Athough sympathy is felt for them, I think that they should be kept in prison for as long as it is because being in society, they will just keep doing what they had done, without feeling guilty. Anyway, the prison service is good in a way that prisoners are allowed to pursue their education there. Some of them had even managed to attain Degrees behind the bars.
Darren, being the best senior ever, had offered to give us some teachings every weekend so that all of us shall pass our 4th year exam. Having a senior like him is a joy to behold. This is the end of my post. I might be writing again, when I am done with my Infectious Disease week. For now, I have something which I had stolen from my attachment in Perth to share with all of you, especially those who are doing Psychiatry at the moment.
Words of Wisdom
And oh, we had a house-warming party yesterday. It has somehow become a ritual to have gatherings like this on a monthly basis.
House Warming Party
Cheers!
p/s : Many thanks to the lovely Seremban peeps for meeting up during the summer break.
Seremban peeps
Posted by skynode 
