Wednesday, July 21, 2010

19th day in Taiwan

19th day in Taiwan

I was in a pretty weird conversation today.

The conversation was mainly about how people have sex in the dorm. I'm not sure how we came into this topic, but apparently Tara, Jeff and Zhong have many "encounters" with these experiences.

So they were exchanging stories, like how sometimes it can be too noisy and annoying up until they have to put pillows to cover their ears, or they were accidentally in the room when the other 2 is doing their "business". And it seems that in the dorm, there are an unspoken rule about these. Examples, you have to put a tie in front of the door which supposedly indicates you're "busy", or you have to put loud songs to cover up the "other noise"

I thought it was bizzare. Because seriously, what are the chances for me to ever experience that? (unless tetiba Woan Shiang changed after going to Europe and become more "socially" active. Ahaks! Well, it could happen :P)

So through out the conversation I just kept quiet, nod when needed and laughed when I should be laughing. I guess in their eyes, I do look very innocent (well aren't I? ) But bah! It was rather a funny yet awkward experience.

Ohya, have I told you that I'm the youngest among the student exchange? Plus, the people I usually hang out are from North Americans (the Americans and Canadians) and their age is around 24-25 years old (except Zhong, he's 28). That's why sometimes I feel insecure to talk English, because hey their English is waaaay better than mine. English speaker tuh! But up until now I think I did pretty well, so pandaaaaai aisyah! Ahaks!

***

Today I went to the zoo. It was oke laa ( there's Giant Panda, but no whale shark.huh!)

The part I enjoyed the most was going to this mountain by a cable car, and had some traditional Oolong tea with handmade noodle tea oil while watching the sunsets, overlooking the Taipei City.

It was Subhanallah, amazingl!

The cultural part of me was very pleased to finally see some kind of Chinese steps to serve and drink tea. I think I was very Chinese after drinking the tea. haha! What's more, I went with only Tara and Mirka, the 2 girls I'm closed the most. So the whole evening is just lovely!

Now, another different news.

I knew through FB, that my abang poyot is admitted to the hospital. I was like, APAAAAA?!! It seems that, he is having slipped disc. I haven't call him, so I'm not sure about the details. But I really hope it is not something serious up until he has to do a surgery.

So guys, till next time
Cheers!


Aisyah's mumble:
cis it's not going to happen la aisyah

Monday, July 19, 2010

16th day in Taiwan

16th day in Taiwan

Fiuhhhhh!

How time flies! I'm already in my 3rd week here in Taiwan! Cepatnyaa!

Oke, where to start?

The last post I wrote is about going to Hualien. Well, Hualien is gorgeous! We went there by train. Now I do not know about you, but this is my first time knowing such thing as standing tickets. What it means is quite simple, we don't have a seat in the train! So the whole journey, the 6 of us (well except Jerry. Luckily for him, the seat he seats doesn't seem to have an owner.cis) have to sit (or stand if we want) at the corridor between each compartment.

I must say it is quite an experience. Duduk bersila ramai-ramai dengan bagpack gemuk masing-masing. And of course, when people walk by, there will look at us. Not because we're sitting dengan muka slenge (ok, maybe ya la kot.haha), but because our group do look different from the rest. Mat salleh 5 orang tetiba ada sorang ni pakai tudung.Pelik ka?

Anyway when I'm in Hualien, there are a lot, I mean really a lot of people from different countries! From Poland, Slovakia, Slovania, Chezk, Germany, Sweeden, Norway, Canada, Spain, Turkey, USA and France.

I seriously felt out of place! I remember telling Tara in the bus, that I have never been surrounded by this much of Caucasians in one place!

But luckily for me, I have develop a good relationship with people in my university. So ada la sikap asabiyyah sikit antara kitaorang. hehe. But it is only a temporary thing because everyone is so friendly! And of course, being the only one wearing a headscarf there, I stand out the most. Glamour you! haha.

I would like to tell you guys about the places I've been, but it'll be too boring with words and no pictures (I can't upload the pictures! Naneee??!!) So maybe I'll try upload it once I come back in Malaysia. But one thing for sure, I HATE, no I WILL NOT GO cuttlefish fishing anymore!

***

Now, last weekend, we went to Tainan-the southern part of Taiwan. This time, it is a 3 days 2 nights long event.

So basically,

1. I love the temples here! It is soo beautiful!
2. I wore my baju kurung in one of my outings. Tetiba ramai nak amik gambar dengan aisyah. haha. Promote baju kurung!!!
3. Went for a Traditional Chinese Medicine Workshop. Learnt about Qi, Merideian channels and point of acupressure. Nak aisyah tekankan? negh ngeh
4. The doctor did Moxibustion and acupuncture on my body. Ouch!
5. Become more comfortable hanging out with the other student exchange from different university. They are all really nice bunch of people!

Today, one of us went back to Canada. Sedih plak.

After 2 weeks, the 7 of us do become closer. Aisehh, who's going to translate food for me? I waant Jerrry backk!! Ahaks!

So I hope you guys enjoy reading my kehapeh hapeh entry today.
Have a nice day korang!
Cheers!
:)

Monday, July 12, 2010

my coping mechanism

I like to draw. That's a fact.

But back in my school days, my adik drew more pictures than I do. She kept on drawing up until everyone knows she loves to draw. To some extent, my ma had to stop her from drawing so she can study on her exam. I on the other hand, just stop from drawing.

***

I have this very horrible-merugikan diri habit.

The more something is associated with someone, the more I do not want to be associated with that thing. Even though I like it (like drawing) I feel as if that 'thing' symbolizes that person. So I stop.

I guess this is my stupid coping mechanism to not compare myself to that person.

Bodoh kan? :(


Aisyah's mumble:
hye you, can you really see right through me?

Friday, July 9, 2010

6th day in Taiwan

6th day in Taiwan

Do you know, here in Taiwan, the longer your white coat are, the higher rank you are in the hospital?

Which is kinda ironic, because back in Indonesia, when you have shorter white coat it means you are either a doktor muda or a resident. Us medical student want that short tailored white coat!! So when I'm here, my white coat actually indicates I'm in the same level as the chief of the department! haha. Jangan main-main you!

So today I met another medical student doing his elective in Taiwan. He is rather old, 28 years old Singaporean in his last year of medical school. So it was cool to know some one close to home. But I guess I do feel a bit intimidated by him. He was telling me about his research mainly about breast cancers, Tamoxifen, osteoporosis and stuff, and I was totally space out. Helo aisyah!! Wake up!!

Nevermind that.

Today's afternoon, I walked aimlessly near my place, and found a very cool park in the middle of city. I was rather impressed that it didn't look too much of a handmade park, but rather the city council tried to save the most of the natural wonders there. So there was a small river running through, and a lot of old looking trees there, which I absolutely love to walk under! I even plan to come there again bringing my drawing pad and just draw some trees! Well, it was an idea anyways :P

Now, I noticed that every corner (okay, maybe not every corner lah) of the tall concrete condominium, there will be like a sports area place. Like just now, they have basketball court, tennis and squash court. How cool is that! Mind you, I didn't cuci mata tengok cute chinese guys playing basketball, but I did cuci mata to see all kinds of dogs taking a walk in the park. It was so adorable! Some even wore like a mini baju thingie! Coooomeeeeelll.

Ohya, another comel stuff I found out today is the garbage truck!

Everytime they drive past through, you'll hear a song blaring out from it. For some reason, they have to use Fur Elise song-a classic! haha.

Tomorrow, I'll be going to Hualien, east of Taiwan. It is supposed to be fun with meeting other student exchange, going Taroko National Park, cuttlefish fishing and rafting. So do pray I come back in one piece! Ahaks!

Cheers!

Aisyah's mumble: it comes and it goes. breathe in breathe out aisyah. it is all in the mind.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

5th day in Taiwan

5th day in Taiwan

Things have been fairly good. I did get a bit homesick yesterday, tapi itu pun sebab tak buat apa-apa kat hospital dan rasa out of place sikit. But then I got better when I went out with Grace, a Malaysian I met here in Taiwan.

So basically, aisyah selalu ikut this one team yang compose of

Dr Wang-chief resident
Dr Hsu-resident
Janet-intern

Usually bila diorang ada surgery (hari Isnin dan Khamis), aisyah akan ikut dan bila diorang ada ward check up, aisyah akan ikut pagi-pagi. Beside Janet, Dr Wang dan Dr Hsu nih tak banyak cakap. Macam serious pun ada, tapi aisyah rasa the main reason is diorang susah nak cakap English. But note this, diorang umur lebih kurang 28-35 tahun. Surgeons resident yang lain pun umur lebih kurang macam nih. For some reason aisyah rasa amaze yang diorang relatively young untuk conduct surgery yang boleh kata life threatening nih.

So surgery yang aisyah dapat tengok semalam adalah surgery nak remove bullae kat lungs dan surgery nak identify causes of tension pneumothorax to this one patient. Yang dua surgery ni best sebab aisyah ikut another team, bukan team yang aisyah patut ikut. Itupun sebab dalam team ni, ada 2 orang doktor yang friendly nak bagitau apa yang diorang tengah operate. So ada la belajar sikit-sikit dan tak blur sangat.

So sekarang kalau nak masuk OR (that's operating room for you and me) aisyah boleh masuk bila-bila masa pun. Sebab Dr Yu, another resident, kasi aisyah kad nak masuk dan kunci locker di dalam OR. Perghh masa dah biasa rountine nak masuk tu, rasa macam best jea. haha. macam zap zap zap tukar baju dan masuk kedalam floor orang-orang berpakaian hijau dan bermasker. Keren gitu!

Aisyah masih belum dapat scrub masa surgery. Aisyah pernah ada tanya satu doktor ni, tapi dia cakap kena tanya head of the thoracic department, Dr Hsu (mind you there's a lot of doctor Hsu here.haha) Gulp sekejap! Sebab doctor Hsu ni memang tip top lah! Dia dan Dr Wu, senior doctor kat situ selalu je jump from one operation another. Dan of course, diorang sangat busy nak jumpa. Tapi nanti aisyah akan cuba another technique, cuba tanya Dr Wang sendiri dan kenalah buat ala-ala comel gitu. haha.

Untuk harini, aisyah tengok another lobectomy. Tapi kat lung belah kiri. This time around everything goes smoothly, takde complication. And aisyah belajar after remove the lung lobe diorang akan remove lymph node jugak, untuk check dah metastasize ke belum. And thanks to Dr. Wang, hari ni dia orderkan vegetarian lunch book untuk aisyah. Yipeee! No pork!

Aisyah sebenarnya surprise how understanding people can be about me have to eat halal food and have to solat. Like just now, I ask one of the nurses if I can use the locker room to pray, but instead she showed me a consultation room (yang lagi besarrr) untuk solat. And then one of my roomates offered a biscuit for me, then she showed a halal sign to me. Comel kan? And all this time aisyah selalu fikir dan risau kat mana nak solat. But the I've realized, if I truly believe, Allah will always show His way to me. I guess I always give excuses instead of finding solution. Islam is suppose to be a fairly easy religion kan teman-teman? That I think is another valuable experience I've learn :)

Actually I've been going out every night, most of the time with the other exchange students. So total exhange students in Yang Ming University is 7.

We have,

1. Tara- the of so lovely Canadian
2. Maria- the tall green eyed blond Slavokian
3. Mirka-the other tall brunette Slavokian
4. Jeff- the banana Chinese American
5. Tim-the half Chinese Findlanders
6. Han Cheng- the research exchange student from Canada.

There are other exchange students in other universities in Taipei too, but I haven't met them. But this weekend there will be a united programto Hualien. So I'm looking forward to that.

Mama had been asking about how I eat here through Kak Bobby. Risau dia kat anak porumpuan dia sorang nih. So I'm supposed to post some pictures, atleast in FB, but seriously..macam malas.haha. I know I know, I should post pictures so atleast mama tak risau, insyaAllah by this week I'll try to "force" myself.

Cheers!

Monday, July 5, 2010

2nd day Taiwan

2nd day in Taiwan

Hari ni, hari introduction ke department yang aisyah masuk. Masa apply, aisyah pilih cardiovascular surgery department, tapi yang dapat thoracic surgery department, but no complaint nevertheless sebab nanti selepas 2 minggu, aisyah akan ditukar ke department pilihan aisyah.

Kat Taiwan, bilik yang aisyah duduk ada 4 orang total, tapi divided kepada dua. Yang part dalam ada 2 budak Slovakia, Maria dan Mereka (tinggi oooh) dan yang sama dengan aisyah adalah Tara sendiri, budak Canada yang aisyah pernah bagitahu dulu. So far, takde masalah communication, maka nak bangga kejap kat diri sebab boleh spekang english dengan mat salleh. hoho. Tempat yang aisyah duduk macam dorm, so macam rasa lah skit duduk asrama macam mana :P

Untuk contact person aisyah disini, aisyah ada 2 orang. Sorang perempuan, sorang lelaki, Lynn and Harry. Diorang ni baru 19 tahun tapi mak ai, tinggi! Ish, terasa kependakan diri. cis.

Oke, cool part pasal masuk surgery department adalah dapat masuk floor operating room. Seriously tak sangka tempat tu besar! Kalau dalam tv kita nampak pasien masuk bilik operation dan tu jer la. Tapi kat General Veteran Hospital nih, macam satu floor untuk surgery jea. Siap ada tempat nak makan, nak berehat, tempat salin baju dan tempat post operative room. And all the time kena pakai mask dan complete set baju bersih.

Nah, last time aisyah pernah risau pasal pakai baju bersih lengan pendek, tapi sebenarnya tiada masalah pun. Memang complete baju bersih tu dah cukup cover badan-lengan panjang dan ada cap untuk cover rambut (aisyah still pakai small headscraf kat dalam), cuma leher jea ternampak. Bila fikir baik, macam ada hikmah gak kan Allah suruh tutup aurat nih.

So basically, doktor-doktor kat sana baik. And apparently majoriti doktor di thoarcic department adalah doktor laki. Doktor laki MUDA. hehe. hehe. hehe.

Hari ni luckily aisyah dapat tengok operation lobectomy. To be exact, right upper lobe lobectomy. Cool sangat sebab finally dapat tengok operation in endoscopic. Tapi tu aa, 5 jam dalam operation room beb! Dari 930 sampai ke jam 2. And seriously, tempat tu sejukkk. Aisyah sampai menggigil kat dalam!

Tapi operation ni lama jugak sebab ada complication di paru, ada bleeding. Initially team ada 2 doctors, 1 intern and 2 nurses,tapi sebab bleeding jadi 4 doctors (one specialize in microsuturing), 1 intern dan 5 nurses. Masa tu memang nampaklah darah memancut-mancut sampai doctor kena buat open surgery untuk tangani bleeding tu.

Another new experience aisyah dapat hari ni adalah lunchbox dengan pork!

Sebab masih on going surgery, aisyah dengan Janet (intern disana, dan juga orang yang assign untuk aisyah) tak dapat turun ke food corner untuk beli makanan. Instead diorang provide lunchbox untuk kami makan. Nak tolak, rasa serba salah since aisyah dapat keluar dari surgery room pun sebab doktor insist aisyah pergi lunch. Bila bukak lunchbox, haa satu pork besar atas nasi ,sayur dengan pork dan tofu! End up aisyah kasi aisyah nye pieace of pork kat Janet, dan makan nasi tepi-tepi yang tak kena pork tu. Itu pun sebab tak sampai hati nak tolak lunchbox tu. Hopefully kalau termakan Allah maafkan aisyah. Amiinnn.

K la, aisyah akan try update blog from time to time. Maybe some pictures on the place I'm staying. Ohya, just from today ada 2 orang cakap aisyah piau liang! hahaha.

Till then,
Cheers!

Friday, July 2, 2010

Going boing boing

Oh god. My engrish dah berterabur. Haha.

I read my last post, and I was Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? So many grammatical error, English macam rojak. Tapi tak kesaaah lah. Malas nak layan.

So preparation ke Taiwan so far macam bagus. Masih belum cari bakpack nak berjalan ke sana tapi other basic-basic stuff dah beli. Contact person dari sana dah contact dan diorang akan jemput bila sampai ke airport. The other nice thing is Aisyah dah bercontact-contact dengan satu exchange student kat sana nama Tara. A Canadian ( I speakang engrish dengan dia you! haha) Dia dah sampai kat Taiwan dulu , dan dah kasi tips-tips apa barang nak dibawa. So for now, everything seems great.

K lah, for my batchmates Intermed 2007

Happy Holidaay and All the Best for Remedials!! (untuk yang mengambil k)

Cheers!

Aisyah's mumble: I feel like a sinking ship, pulling also other ships with me. Sorry teman :'(