Exams, exams, exams..

Today marks the 9th day of the 2-week examination period for the first year of medicine and I'm darn exhausted. Except from the fact that it did helped me lose some lbs, I hate exams. Who wouldn't?? After the torturous series last week, I should be out in the mall looking for the next bargain or at home reading some really fun stuff except medical textbooks. But I'm sulked here on my chair with an 8-page Physiology trans on my lap, gathering strength to get this over with. I still haven't let go of Monday's Biochemistry horror. Yes, I might have redeemed myself on the long exams (6 for the whole year) but I'm not quite sure if I can fix this one dreaded finals. It's like trying to fit a 120G info on some 4G memory. Lately, I've been very religious. Calling on to God for guidance. Like now. God help us..

How to Survive Med School Tip #13: Prepare For Some Gory Things To Happen

And then there's this.

Upon entering med school, you'll likely (definitely) do some of those stuff you see on thriller films like Saw, The Chainsaw Massacre, Hostel, etc. Except, you're the psycho killer and the victim is a cold, hard, preserved corpse rather a live, moving one. So if you're one of the faint-hearted, better be ready for this.

Prepare to do some cutting, slicing, dissecting, peeling, breaking, marinating, sauteing, crunching, munching, sweating and a whole lot of grimacing. You'll get to do this in your Anatomy lab.

How to be a Master Slicer:

You'll need:
- pair of gloves
- face mask
- laboratory gown
- dissecting set
- teamwork
- tibay ng sikmura
- brain (this is important)

1. First, uncover the body
2. Focus on the area to be studied (e.g. upper limbs)
3. Open your Anatomy Manual
4. Follow isntructions on the manual (sometimes we don't even bother to do this. *wag tularan*)
5. Start by making an incision on the skin. Not too deep so you don't cut the muscles underneath.
6. Be careful not to cut the important nerves and blood vessels. It is important that you identify them, their collateral branches and which muscle they innervate.
7. Remember to cut the muscles on its belly (middle part) and only after you have identified them.
8. After working on it, give it a nice formaldehyde bath so it would last long enough for you to learn everything there is to learn.

WARNING: During this period, there will be professors making "ronda" in the laboratory (yes, just like the MMDA hiding behind a bush near the stoplight waiting for their next victim). So unless you and your groupmates want to get some fun-loving "boljak", be sure to read ahead before every topic is discussed in the lecture. Cause there'll surely be some question and answer portion (Again, just like being pulled over by the MMDA).

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Of course, being a medical student isn't just about books, exams, nerdiness, and everything in between. One must also think that that day will come when those diseases you read on books will actually be experienced by a patient. That the patients you will meet won't just be people with diseases but people who have real lives. And that the cadaver lying on your lab table was once a part of a family, a son/daughter and a friend just like you do.

At times, I would randomly think: "I wish I had known this guy (our cadaver). What was he like when he was still alive? Did he had kids? A job? What kind? No one knows but at least we all know he's going to be a huge help to our future patients. Hell, he's one of the most important person in our med school life. Now isn't that superb?

Ecclesiastes 3:1-

¹ For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
² A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.

How to Survive Med School Tip #15: Learn a Different Language

Yes, those words above are in English. This is a slide presentation taken from Biochemistry class, one of the major subjects in the College of Medicine curriculum.

If you're planning to enter med school, be sure to choose a pre-med course that has a medical background / subjects such as chemistry, biology, anatomy or in other cases take some science program of the course beforehand. Or else, be ready to bleed out (more like, hemorrhage) when you start your med school.

I never did get along with Chemistry when I was in my BS Nursing, all the more with Biochemistry right now. So how do I cope? Simple. Milk some guy who knows more about the subject and let him teach you. OF COURSE I'M JOKING! (Never do this, they might find out) :D

In med, you cannot thrive if you're lazy. Lazy reading, lazy studying, lazy eating and yes even lazy partying (You read that right, partying). You really have to read your books and allot time on studying. Another factor is a sharp mind and memory. This is your armor for battle. It isn't necessary to memorize everything, what's important is that you get to know the how-why-when-what mechanism of the subject being discussed, and of course not forget about it.

Psalm 37:30

The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just.

How to Survive Med School Tip #28: Know How to Reward Yourself

Starbucks. One word comes in mind - coffee, a med student's daily dietary supplement wouldn't be complete without this. But besides having coffee, coffee shops can be a relaxing place to unwind for some of us (I meant for myself). Although I don't really drink coffee on a regular basis and maybe that's why I never finish reading a darn chapter in Anatomy, I go here when I need to reward myself after a hard day's "work", to take a moment and reflect on action potentials, carbohydrate metabolisms, hamstring muscles and of course, to relax :)

And what other way to pamper myself but to order their sweet waffle topped with whipped cream and chocolate syrup - Chocolate Belgian Waffles ^_^

Being someone who nearly has their life cycle broken down to an eat-study-read-sleep process (wait I forgot, there is no sleep, again, eat-study-read-read process) allows you to appreciate the simpler things in life - in my case, a piece of sweet bread and the company of a friend.

After more than a month of going to med school, you begin to finally realize that riding a public jeepney was more fun than driving/taking a cab, that eating street foods and having a laugh with friends is better than a 15-minute lunch in a resto and that sleep is way priceless than any other high profiled party or event you're invited to.

Mark 6:31

And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.

The Sofa Set Project

As promised, here are the newly taken pictures of my the sofa set we had custom made.

Since we have a small spaced living area, we finally decided to give up the search for L-shaped sofas in malls and opted to have it purposely done to fit our cute love nest.
We chose mahogany for the accent woodwork color to match the interiors of the house and thought a sandy color for the upholstery would make the room appear brighter and more spacious. Plus, it adds to that "zen-ish" theme we were aiming for.

We also had the center table and the "TV stand" made (as many would call it, although the flat screen tv would be mounted on the wall). All woodworks were in mahogany.

Apart from that, both the curtains and sunscreen were also from Adriane Victoria Interiors.
The fabric for the curtains was originally imported from Belgium if I'm not mistaken (or something in Europe otherwise). Ms. Dolly and Mr. Peter (the company owners) we're kind enough to include our small dining window and had it "clothed" in the package too.

Overall, we had the following done:

• L-shaped sofa
• Center table
• TV stand
• Curtains (living/dining area)*

*Pictures of curtains to follow.

The whole package was worth 30k.

NOTE: Colors may appear darker than the actual shade of the furniture.

Pretty good digits for such pieces done with skillful craftsmanship. Will surely have the other furnitures done as well. Can't wait to fully furnish this cozy little place.


Adriane Victoria Interiors
http://adrianevictoria.multiply.com
adriane_victoria@yahoo.com
3742383 / 0917882-1551