Off to Wien!

This blogger is (finally) off on holiday for 4 weeks. Computer access will be available but there's no guarantee I'll be posting much. I'll be too busy enjoying my time abroad. In the meantime, I'll take comfort in the fact that most of you would also be busy enjoying your holidays i.e. you won't have time to keep yourselves informed...

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Ok fine... I'll try updating! :)

On a Wing and a Prayer...

MD 2nd year: The foul, despicable period of limbo between 1st year, where everything is bright and shiny, and 3rd year, which is basically epic win.

Claire Vella

MD 3rd year: That state of euphoric bliss that leaves you wondering why medicine isn't for the faint hearted... As you forget that there was such a thing as second year that preceeded it and forth year and fifth year that follows it.

MC

When compared to second year, third year was indeed an oasis in the midst of the previous dessert barren of any fun! (Well, at least in my case). And, somehow, even third year came to an end on the 16th of June with pathology II. Now, I simply await results with much anticipation as I think about me getting into 4th and 5th year – two scholastic years where medical school feels a little bit more like a film set for a potential movie entitled The Ossuary. (OK, so perhaps I’m exaggerating a bit). Nevertheless, it’s a doomsday I somehow want to welcome with open arms in a couple of months time. Anything is better than re-sitting or, even worse, repeating third year! You know, as they say… It’s nothing insurmountable; just very gruesome.

In the meantime, I'll just try to enjoy summer and feel happy for Italy for making it to the Euro 2008 quarterlies. They literally hung on with a wing and a prayer. But it was a perseverance that was very fun to watch on the 17th.

At least, it was a game that kept me away from The Times for a moment, whilst a good percentage of its faithful readers were disputing how I am potentially a major financial drain on the government with little resourcefulness worth investing in because it ends up going to the UK. Yes! People are at it again... Discussing how the government should shape my future as though I (and other health care workers) are state property! And just in case you’re thinking that these are my denatured neurons speaking just click on the following… UPDATED: Exodus of doctors worse than government saying – MAM. It was conveniently written on the 17th of June. I would have loved to comment but The Times tend to take a while to upload a comment. Eventually, I might be tempted to give some of these chicken heads a piece of my mind. Summer leaves me with very little else to do. Meanwhile, I'll just use this blog as a draft. Those who are not interested, the post ends here. Enjoy your holidays. For those who wish to carry on, take a deep breath before you continue reading:

1. As much as I would like to put all University courses and jobs/careers on the same level of difficultness, commitment and responsibility, these three years at University have proven otherwise throughout. Medical School is not a walk in the park, even for the most intelligent of students. It’s a course that really tests your nerve and stamina. And no matter how much you study, a grade above average is not even close to being guaranteed. I’m not saying that things are plain sailing for all the other students at University. But, starking differences are clearly present no matter what other people like to think!
2. However, we students still keep struggling through, at times on a wing and a prayer, with the hopes of becoming good doctors that can provide an excellent service to anyone who require it.
3. The life of a doctor is uniquely wrapped with a lot of responsibility, stress and constant pressure even when working within the 48 hour EU directive, let alone when we go overboard by double the amount of hours. One careless mistake, that can easily result when deprived of sleep, cannot be so easily erased with a putty rubber or a “Delete” button on a keyboard. Sure, medics who become doctors for all the right reasons will derive a lot of satisfaction from their work. But it is a satisfaction that comes at a very dear price that very few are willing to pay, and for good reason.
4. The country should really appreciate that, as much as it’s expensive to educate a citizen to become a doctor, health care services are even more expensive than that! One bypass operation carried out in a private hospital costs just as much as educating one medical student for an entire year. Mater Dei costs millions of Euros a week to be run the way it is currently run. And yet, the NHS is, very surprisingly, still a “free commodity” that very few Maltese people appreciate. Well, just for your info… The only reason why this is still possible is because 'low grade' doctors get paid peanuts. (Or should I say cashews in the light of the now not-so-new MAM-Gov agreement?)
5. Also... The stipend I get every month is, by no means, not enough for me to maintain an “expensive life style” and running around doing my own business in a flashy car. Go tell Jonathan Camilleri that my major mode of transport is even more primitive than that of the cavemen! I get from one place to another on foot usually, and the stipend I get is hardly enough to get me a new pair of decent slippers and a couple of bus fares from time to time! And if people think that we are not good value for taxpayer’s money, what about the Science B.Sc and the Computer students who get a lot more stipend and a lot more money on their Smart Card than we do? And tell me what these people will contribute to the country 'for free' after they graduate? Are the services provided at Smart City going to be dished out free of charge like Mater Dei Hospital?
6. Another thing to all taxpayers! My mum and dad both work and both pay taxes as though they are still single with no children of their own! Most probably, if my parents paid a lot less tax, they might be able to afford sustaining me through my University years without the governments helping hand.
7. Anyways, such comments are typical of a Maltese nation were all they're interested in is "Gimme, Gimme, Gimme".

I think that’s enough ranting on my behalf. Feel free to comment. Kudos to Anne Marie for the forward! In case you're reading this... thanks loads Anne! :)

4 down and 2 to go

With more that half of my exams complete today, I thought of treating myself to a well earned break after studying so much surgery and medicine (and perhaps a bit of that obligatory pharmacology). Very little helps me unwind better than this space.

Not that I abstained myself from breaking entirely. Staying cooped up at home is tiring, and most of those tired moments were spent looking at other people's blogs and observing how every author treats their blog differently: Some treat is as an online diary... Others use their blog to give their opinion on just about anything and everything... Some people share thoughts and ideas they deam inpirational, whilst getting the occasional few who turn their blogs into advice columns. And then you get those people (in actual fact the vast majority), who treat their blogs with utmost neglect. Anyhow, all this got me thinking on what to do with this blog of mine.

When bored of visiting all the links on everyone's blogroll, the narcist within me has read a couple of my old posts to try and get in touch with the real reasons why I took my writing online. After a bit of soul searching, I later realised that this blog is nothing but a reflection of an ever growing desire to be a good source of entertainment to other people. Making people laugh on MSN is what got me into this 'blogging community' in the first place (although Daphne Caruana Galizia doesn't really believe in such a thing as a blogging community). Now, whether I actually have 'stand up comedian potential' or not, that I do not know. All I know is that there are a selective number of people that do find me amusing, and being credited for my sense of humour is something that I find very rewarding. It might sound lame, but it's the truth. So... Moral of the story? Come to think of it, there isn't any take home message in this post!

Well, after that random thought, here's an update...

Murmur 2008 is out! Claire Vella and all the editorial team deserve a big well done for all the work they put into this 15th issue. But now, I'm already starting to think on what I can possibly write for Murmur #16... Perhaps I should keep myself on journalist mode, with my eyes peeled for any interesting bit of something to writ about. Or I can just keep working on the funny side of me and come up with something a bit more humorous. In the meantime...

Announcement!

Pass the word round please... especially those who don't have exams.

Everybody Needs Good Neighbours

No, there will be no sour grapes in this blog post. Sure, the Eurovision surprises this year were very disappointing (in my humble opinion, victory should have been Ukraine's) and countries just couldn't avoid voting for their neighbours (Denmark anyone?). Yet, the greatest disappointment of all was this - no Terry Wogan on BBC Prime. :'( I miss the way he cracks me up every year, even though the (crappy) Eurovision voting strategy is getting the better of his cynical sense of humour. (Anyway, anything is better than Eileen Montesin!)

Seriously, I needed Terry Wogan! Studying gets depressing after a while and I was looking forward to some decent fun. Surgery is my first exam this year, starting 30th May, hence explaining the picture of Justine's Hoops 'under the knife'. (Cool photo Justine. It's very you.) All will be over on the 16th of June.

And whilst the question on everyone's lips is whether we should boycott the Eurovision due to lack of neighbours, my question is this: Will I need a "good neighbour" to pass my exams this year? Well... I don't believe in stooping down so low and compromising my integrity in that way, for the sake of an extra mark or two (that aren't even guaranteed).

But the summer heat and the exam stress are getting to my head; my neurons are being abused and they're not thinking straight. Hopefully, I will manage to pass yet another year without the need "good neighbours". Or rather... Hopefully, everyone will manage to pass without needing "good neighbours" or "UoM Bathroom Notes in Medicine & Surgery".

Anyway, may I conclude that this space will be very uneventful for the time being. Perhaps, after exams, I'll get to post more often and tell you a little bit about my mini-adventures in Vienna. Got accepted on student exchange and I'll be away for 4 weeks: 5th July - 2nd August. Till then, there's a lot more studying that I have to get back to.

Something from my Inbox...

My Inbox is usually graced with a lot of Spam and rubbish. But here's an email I got that deserves to be posted on my little slice of Internet. It's not the type of post Sandro Vella would feature on The Maltese Blogosphere; but I sincerely believe there is truth in the article below...

SATAN'S MEETING: (Read even if you're busy or you're just not bothered)

Satan called a worldwide convention of demons. In his opening address he said:

"We can't keep Christians from going to church."

"We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth."

"We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their saviour."

"Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken."

"So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish dinners, BUT steal their time, so they don't have time to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ."

"This is what I want you to do," said the devil. "Distract them from gaining hold of their Saviour and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!"

"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.

"Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered.

"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow."

"Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles. Keep them from spending time with their children. As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work!"

"Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice. Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive. To keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly. This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ."

"Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers. Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day. Invade their driving moments with billboards. Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogues, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes."

"Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and they'll become dissatisfied with their wives. Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night. Give them headaches too! If they don't give their husbands the love they need, they will begin to look elsewhere. That will fragment their families quickly!"

"Give them Santa Claus to distract them from teaching their children the real meaning of Christmas. Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about his resurrection and power over sin and death."

"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive. Have them return from their recreation exhausted. Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's creation. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead."

"Keep them busy, busy, busy!"

"And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences."

"Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Jesus. Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause."

"It will work! It will work!"

It was quite a plan! The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there, having little time for their God or their families. Having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives.

I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in all this? This blog post might make 'BUSY' sound to mean: Being Under Satan's Yoke. But now it doesn't have to be that way...

PS: For all those with exams... Wishing you the Best of Luck.

(I know some of you with Os and As are actually close to finishing. Hope your studies pay off!)

It's that time of year...

I am currently in the above state of being, hence the lack of posts. It's that time of year I suppose, where exams:

• Leave you with nothing to blog and no time to blog: The stuff I can blog about is extremely limited since my life stopped to a halt whilst missing out on various birthday celebrations and other activities: paintball, birthday meals... Anyway, I won't continue whining lest I instill an unmovable depression in my readers (and Happy or Sad, a Mood Can Prove Contagious). But colleagues of mine do get bored of their medicine at some point in time, allowing themselves to get distracted and spend a bit more time on Maltastar.com and Di-ve.com for any news concerning our future as doctors. But again, it's depressing stuff and the few it concerns have heard it all before from the fifth years who are happily leaving this country.


• Make the hay fever season worse: All throughout May, my mother has been complaining that I need to see a doctor because I'm all the time sneezing and consuming too much toilet paper. When bored of renal, I was happily browsing when I bumped into this: "Changes in immune regulation in response to examination stress in atopic and healthy individuals" Höglund, C. Olgart, Axén, J., Kemi, C., Jernelöv, S., Grunewald, J., Müller-Suur, C., Smith, Y., Grönneberg, R., Eklund, A., Stierna, P. & Lekander, M Clinical & Experimental Allergy 36 (8), 982-992. Apparently, my excess hay fever symptoms can be happily attributed to the 30th May - 16th June period.


• Make you gain the pounds: It's amazing the things science is ready to prove to the rest of the world. Physiological reasons have been discovered behind a friend of mine once saying "my sister told me third year is hard but it's in fifth year when you REALLY gain the pounds!" The reasons why are nicely summed up in this lovely graph below:

Glossary of Terms (for those not privileged to have Dr. G. Buhagiar teaching them Biochemistry):

Leptin: The hormone that's meant to suppress appetite. Hence, having too little of it ends you up spending more time with the fridge; and woe betide the fridge if you find it empty.

NPY: has the opposite effect of leptin i.e. it's the glue that keeps you bound to the fridge.

Cortisol & ACTH: They're stress hormones that make you want to get into unnecessary arguments with Adriana Crocker (the Medical School Administrator), leading the poor individual indulging in chocolate to fight away the guilt. And the pounds keep on piling.

Oh and PS; another thing that's not helping the situation: my uncle had to go to the A&E last Wednesday with crushing chest pain. It didn't come as a shocker to me since he had all the pre-requisites to get him to Mater Dei. But family remains family and it was something else to worry about. He's now been discharged but is in need of by-pass surgery.

And the leptin keeps itself supressed whilst the NYP continues to surge. At this rate, the next thing to pity after exams are the bathroom scales.