Assalamualaikum and hello to everyone.

Woah...just realised that i haven't write anything here for a few months. Longest gap ever. As usual, blame it on the lazyness and the 'busyness'. 

It wasn't too busy that I have no time to write but rather I feel that better for me to keep certain things to myself.

Looking back, my 5 year journey in medical school almost come to an end. The undergraduate study at least. To be exact, the final of final undergraduate exam is only 22 days away! So much things to do and prepare. Wow, time flies sooo fast!

Again, as usual, when I have an exam the next day or around the corner, somehow the urge to waste my time to write something here become more and more apparent. In fact, I actually have mock exam tomorrow at 1 pm. LOL. Just pray that my brain didn't stop working during the exam, insyaAllah everything will be fine.

Last 5 weeks or so, I already had an exam, the OSCE (Objective structured Clinical Examination) or commonly known as short cases. All praise to Allah, I think i did quite okay in the exam. Although some of the cases were quite rare for me, i think I managed to handle them pretty well. Not able to answer one or two question is not the end of the world! The medicine cases were mitral valve replacement, lower lobe lung lobectomy (removal of the lung lobe), parkinson disease and ascites. On the other hand, surgical cases were full of surprise! I got bilateral breast reconstruction case, bilateral knee replacement, renal transplant and stoma.

This OSCE exam made 12.5% of overall final marks and hopefully i was able to grab 3/4 out of that percentage. 

Before the OSCE, we already had continuous assessment (TOSBA and TOSCE) during the compulsory Beaumont Hospital Rotation in which I think I did quite a good job to impress the examiner at that time. Alhamdulillah that Allah made it easy for me. The review at the end of the 4 weeks medicine and surgical rotation, each were very promising. The tutors were very happy with my progression. This continuous assessment actually contributed more marks than the OSCE exam itself. Nothing else that I could say than Alhamdulillah, Alhamdulillah and Alhamdulillah.

Since my last post in December, lots of thing have been happening. I went to travel during winter (I will elaborate more after the exam), I finished my exam as above, I'd done a few different rotations,  meet lots of patients in hospital, ranted a lot within myself, feel unhappy about how certain things are, get angry to peoples etc. LOL.

I mean, nothing major really other than exam and probably that is why I didn't feel the need to write here. Obviously a lot of major things has been happening around me like my dad just had a cataracts surgery, my little sister got her SPM result etc. but on personal level, nothing much changes.

At many stage, I did feel like writing about issues that have been happening in the world and malaysia but i think there were many more good places (blogs, news portals) that you guys can go and read about that so why bother. In fact, sometimes all it did was more trouble instead.

Politically, I am sure that many are aware that if I were to write anything, it will be against those stupid changes that the government did and their desperados attempt to remain in power, I better go pray instead of writing here coz i am well aware that the reader are mainly among my close circle of friends and family. So no major impact would came out of it since many are actually on the same side as me. Unless Najib or Tun Dr. M read my blog, I may write something useful.

So before I continue this endless rant, I pray that everyone out there is having a blissful life and always guided by Allah SWT. Please keep continue for my success and also to everyone in my class. May we all one day be able to give back to the community to our best.

Lastly, to the dearest friend that keep asking about any special summer event for me, other than graduation, do not expect to get a wedding invitation or anything. Nothing is happening this summer. 

Other than Captain Jack Sparrow, no other sailor has the ability to sail the big ship on his own! :)

Adios and assalamualaikum.

P/s:
1. Selamat hari lahir ke 50 buat ayahanda tercinta. Semoga Allah terus memberikan kekuatan untuk terus beribadah dan beramal.
2. Tahniah buat adinda Nurul Iman diatas keputusan SPM tersebut. SPM is not everything, your actual journey just about to begin :)

As for me, i think this is an absolutely brilliant attempt to counter some misconception regarding hudud which rarely explained to the public. Anyone that tried to explain it will be labelled as an opposition since this issue was brought in by the opposition party in Malaysia nearly some 50 years ago or maybe even earlier or slightly later.

It may seems barbaric even by hearing the kind of thing that someone who is guilty of charge have to go through but as explained in the video, the enforcement of the law isn't easy and it require very specific type of situation. 

People sometime judge the implementation of hudud among the muslim alone as injustice but think carefully, if u  are a muslim and guilty for that specific mistake and then being sentenced according to the Islamic way (hudud), at least in the hereafter you will hopefully receive less punishment as you have got the kind of punishment that Allah SWT has command. Plus, the definition of justice it self also sometimes varies according to culture and religion. In Islam, being just in a crude way is translated as putting something at its own place/ doing something accordingly. For instance, you will not be just if you have a twin son and a daughter but during their birthday, you buy both of them barbie dolls??!! Same goes to 5 times daily prayer. As a muslim, would you argue that it isn't fair because the non believer do not pray 5 times a days? Unless u are total idiot, you probably would!

Still, the conventional law will always be there as it is part of taazir in Islam. so, why even afraid of hudud if u think you will not even do the crime in the first place and the conventional law is there anyway.

The next argument is the very basic of islamic fundemental. To accept everything that come with a "package" of Islam once you say the shahadah with a full understanding of it. People know that Islam is a way of life and not just another religion. Many people say shahadah but very few really understand the obligation obligation after that. That is why probably many still do not practice even the basic of Islam. Praying 5 times a day, fasting 30 days during the month of Ramadhan, pay the zakat and go to hajj.


Last but not least, this video is only available in Malay language with no subs but I hope the director or the video editor would put in English and possibly mandarin and tamil subs later on. This issue isn't a local Malaysian issue but one of the foundation in Islam as well and possibly  an "alternative" to the conventional law being used nowadays to curb socials problems.

Finally, enjoy the video itself. I will update later if they put the subtitle for this video. :)

It all happened last Wednesday (7/12/2011). The date would probably be hard to remember but definitely I will treasure the experience. First time ever performing a surgery! I stick a scalpel into a lump of a golf-ball's size on someone's neck to remove the abscess and on another occasion, I also removed some adenoids tissue. Alhamdulillah.

Although before this I assisted in a few procedures including caesarean section, popliteal artery bypass, anterior resection of the bowel and a few more, this one was special to me as I held the scalpel on my own and making the incision myself. A very rare experience for medical students I think.

The consultant ear nose and throat (ENT) surgeon first asked me if I ever seen an abscess and perform incision and drainage. While looking straight at him, I answered that I'd seen pericolonic (around the large bowel) abscess but never done any kind of incision and drainage. The next thing was very surprising as he asked me if I want to do any surgery today. What sort of answer would you expect if you ask someone who really into surgery? Definitely a YES and from that moment, there was no way back. Since most of the ENT procedures don't require a full scrub, I put a surgical mask, washed my hand (scrubbing kind of wash) and a size 7 surgical glove.

I sat next to him while he talked me along the way. A small 1cm incision was made inferior to the angle of mandible area by me although at the end he guided my fingers and push it deeper because it wasn't deep enough to drain the abscess.

Honestly I was quite scared since it was very close to major artery (the carotid artery) of that 7 months old baby. Once the abscess started to drain, the rest was just simple squeezes to force the abscess out. Quite a lot of it came out. No wonder the lump was a size of a golf ball! Within 15 minutes, the procedure completed as no stitch required since it was small and a drainage tube was inserted into the lump so that the remaining abscess could drain later. We thanked the nurses and the anaesthetist and the surgeon then congratulated me and said 'you can now tell your friends that you performed a surgery'. I'm not sure if they will ever believe it', he added. ^__^ 

Before that procedure, he actually showed me a bilateral (both side) appendicectomy and also adenoidectomy in which he allowed me to do (adenoidectomy) when we saw the same case after that. This was also relatively  a simple procedure although it carries quite a big risk of bleeding. Adenoidectomy is basically a scrapping of the adenoids tissue on your pharynx. No cauterization even required for adenoidectomy in most cases.

The surgeon was so cool and I can't wait to sit with him again next Wednesday hoping that I will have more chances to perform some minor surgery! Hopefully ^__^

A long journey always starts with a small step. Pray for my success guys.

Long since i last scribble something here. sorry about that and million thanks to those who keep coming. please do read previous entries if nothing new posted. Hopefully something will be some benefit to you insyaAllah.

Quick update about my life.

The weather

1. Ireland as a whole were not prepared for almost anything (in term of weather). Whenever there is a slightly heavier rain, the city will quickly get flooded. Every year when they have a snow, all the transport system down as if they were never there in the first place. Buses and everything just stop working. Plus, they would always have water shortage immediately after the snow.

2. Last week, there was a sudden flood due to 'heavy' rain (nothing like heavy rain in Malaysia). The shopping centre in Dundrum was flooded because the riverbank or something failed to retain the water. It also cost 2 life. A gardai  (police) officer and a nurse.

Working

1. I am planning to stay here insyaAllah once I'm finish with my degree but am not 100% sure about it yet. Many have been talking about staying here. Not to mention some that hate to stay here and wanted to go out as soon as they can. Some feel that they were treated as 2nd class citizen and some are just because they feel that they could do more money somewhere else. As for me, i have my own reason not to rush to go back to Malaysia but again, it is not something definite. Family would be one of the greatest influence in the final decision.

2. I got approval to apply to Malta Foundation Program. Another destination that i think I will consider going if given chances. Thanks to Wanie for her help with the essay that I completed in half n hour. Believe it or not, I managed to slip through although I missed the deadline by one day.

Friends
1. I am glad that I met more people this year including some of my malaysian friends whom i was never close to them before. At least i know that a few of them are sort of from Kedah. :)
2. One of them once questioned me about hating the rain. She said "macam mana ni, tak lama lagi nak jadi suami orang dah. Hujan sikit pun takut!" I replied just by smiling. She definitely have no clue about me if she really mean it.


Study

1. All i can say is i have a difficulty to focus on books. I bought many new books but haven't manage to finish any of them yet.

2. 10 minutes reading and i already yawning.
3. The progress is superbly slow now.

future

I hope Allah will keep protecting you (whomever you will be)

Something made my heart tickle whenever i see a proposal video anywhere on the net. Maybe the time has come for me as well?

pen torch. LOL. JK
Pen-off

wassalam

Almost a month ago i turned 24. Life feels so short when I look back. As if I just arrived last week in Ireland although it was already 4 years. Leaving high school back in 2004 doesn't feel too long since i can still remember some of the question from the SPM examination (i think! :D)

thanks Afni ^__^

As usual, I would like to thank my mom, dad and the rest of my close family members who keep praying for my safety and successin this foreign land. Although it had been more than 4 years since we last celebrated it, for me, the thoughts that matter the most. Millions thanks to all.

To all my friends that helped to cheer me up with those cakes, lunch and dinner and well wishes, thanks very much. Your efforts were priceless. It is surely one of the best I ever had for the past few years.

At connoly hospital. Got no clue on how to rotate the pic. Sorry

At the moment, everything seems to be going very well. My pace is still quite slow but in getting there. Please keep praying and make dua' for us to face the final year of this tiring college life successfully Insyaallah.
I feels like I need to know more than the time I actually have to read everything. May Allah ease the efforts Insyaallah.

Till we meet again. I dont think i can write as frequent as i can but if anything important or i feel like rant, i'll definitely will post it here.
Okay, bye...

@ Barcelona 92' Olympic stadium

The Catalonia National Art Museum

walking inside the Parc Guell

Barcelona city on the background

Happy face. Credit to Tammy

7 of us. Nikola, Muaz, Fred, Mickael, Nicole, Mong, Tammy

*updated*

Hello Marta,

How are you lately? how have you been keeping on with the two children that you are taking care of? I hope that you are in the pink of health. First of all i would like to say that i am very sorry for keeping it long before i write this entry. I know that i promised it to be a few weeks ago but sometimes i just don't have the mood to write. Again, I'm so sorry. 

First of all, I would like to say that I am glad that somehow we were destined to meet again after the short initial introduction on the plane. As u said last time, everything that happen on our journey to Dublin was a coincidence. The plane sit, the last person going into the place etc. It definitely is a coincidence! However, I would say, serendipity. (Do watch that serendipity movie okay!) Haha. I never thought that I would met another medical student in such a situation. Anyhow, thanks for turning up on that day in front of St. Stephen green shopping centre. Honestly, I did not expect to see you again after the day at the airport. It was quite unusual (if could say) for me and you (i assume) to meet someone that we barely know on a 'date'. Oh, and it was at 8am! :-P

Anyhow, i really hope that you enjoy Dublin back then although the weather was not on our side. Being a tour guide for a few hours with you was really a pleasure. Hopefully you will be able to give some guide to your mom when she come to visit you later. Also, please told her that i am very sorry if i had cause her a great worry last time because i fully understand your situation; being a single daughter of the family, away from home etc. I am glad that the day went well and you can continue working as a babysitter with Alan's family. He is such a nice employer. ^__^

Regarding the lunch last time, i think it was one of the best i ever had. Obviously not the food as i just had a slice of pizza and you with your homemade sandwiches. I would definitely try that again. Never thought that eating on the riverside's bench would be wonderful except that we had to witness that couple fighting. That guy was such a loser. I would definitely find another place for us to eat if I was not rushing for the prayer. Hopefully it was a good experience for you as well.

People say that bringing out topics such as religion, politics and history were a bad start for the first date but i think we proved it wrong! Definitely it was fine if your date also has lots of interest in it! Hehe. I hope I was able to clear a few misunderstanding about Islam that you had and not too corny. Obviously Islam was not too foreign for you as you already knew about Ramadhan (fasting month), prayer and so on. Maybe after this you can do more reading about this world fastest growing religion! I would definitely sit and talk about all these again if we ever had a chance to meet again in the future. or, even thru facebook. Haha. Well...I do have plan to go to Spain in the future and i reckon you can handle the distance between Lleida and Cordoba, do you? :-)

Okay, before I bored you more, I hope that you'll enjoy your stay in Ireland and reach the targets that you have in mind. May you continue doing all those charity works as well. I really envy the effort that you have! The world definitely need more future doctors like you. Keep in touch.

Bye...

Yours truly,

Muaz Adam

Malaysia.

Footnotes:
1. Last day of barcelona will be up within a few days weeks.

part 2 of the journey in Barcelona (edited*)

The Be Hostel sound that i stayed in has some disadvantage in term of power sockets inside the room. They only have them at one corner (at least in the room that i stayed in) although there were more than enough to be used by 10 person.

since I dont want to act awkwardly by arching over my newly met friend who was sleeping on the bed in order to get to the power socket, i decided to charge my phone in the common room area where the breakfast was served. 

Following the breakfast, i noticed something wrong. My skin was peeling badly especially on the nasal bridge and on the forehead. Probably because of the heat or maybe the sunburn. The next thing i did was i quickly went to the pharmacy and get the facial cleaner that help to de-skin the part that was peeling. quite costly since they dont have the regular Nivea, so i just bought a product from a brand that i never heard of which cost me almost 20 euro! pFFFT!

The 2nd day start at 10 am although i already awake since 8am. it was the 'free' tour guide conducted by a guy named Adam. He was from aussie. There were 2 different guides that happen at the same time. One is call Gaudi Tour and the other one is Gothic Tour. They do this twice every day, one in the morning and one in the evening. so, you can go to either one in the morning and the next one in the evening or the following day.

Famous restaurant. One of Messi's favorite. Specialize in snails cooking.

Picasso was accepted at a very young age here in this building. Some kind of arts university

Adam with the background of old Roman's wall

In my opinion, the good thing about this tour was that it brought you around the gothic part (old city) of barcelona and at the same time went through some interesting history of the history including where Mr. Christopher Columbus brought back some native american to barcelona and met Queen Isabella to tell her about the success of the mission. We were sitting on the stairs where it all happened some hundreds years ago while he went through the history. Plus, the tour also allow you to meet and interact with new people including a lady (sorry Mong. :P) from Malaysia who was actually enjoying her holiday in europe.

At lunchtime, we had a 3 course menu lunch at one of the restaurant in Plaza Real. It was very cheap. Less than 10 euro and you can get a proper 3 course menu with free water. :P Definitely it was a new experience for me as i rarely had any lunch experience as such. Oh, this place was also where all the 'magic' happen on my last night in Barcelona which i would tell more on the last part of the trip.

Lunch with Mong

So, at about 3pm, we both went back to each other hostel (after some quick strolling at the La Rambla) and have some rest before going out again at 4pm for another tour. The Gaudi Tour. This time, Ola (she is from Poland) guided us through the whole tour and we visited almost all the important work arts of the great architect, Gaudi. By going out with the tour group, you don't just see the arts but also know a little bit about them in which if you have great interest, you can visit again at your own pleasure although it would cost some amount of money. At least 10 euro. many are actually cost about 15 euro+. On this tour, i met Mickael, Fred and some other people. Below are some pics from the evening tour.

One more interesting part about this 2nd day was it somehow fall on the San Juan Festival. So, although it was only 6pm when the tour finished, many of us already headed towards the beach area where the celebration took place. In fact, two of the people from the tour already wore their beach shorts on the tour! As for me, I decided to go back to the hostel immediately after the tour, prayed asar and then went to the beach with the other group as Mong and Mickael decided to go for Tapas and something tour (more like a traditional dinner and some dancing show going on at the same time). it cost only 20 euro! ;p

So, as day went by (post quick kebab dinner), we eventually reached the beach at around 10pm. Initially there was only 4 of us just sitting on the beach and talking with the background of locals that keep lighting up the firecrackers. At about 12 midnight after the other finished enjoying their tapas and something-that-i-forgot-the-name, we all sit together in a group of about 10 people and started to enjoy the scenes. The Catalan really celebrate this event which some said was even merrier than the Christmas celebration (without the santa). They said it was considered as some sort of new year celebration which could be true as people did went to the beach with tents and barbecues and the most important of all, firecrackers and fireworks!

Apart from people skinny dipping in the Mediterranean and getting drunk, the rest were fine. We stay on the beach almost until 4am when everyone decided to go back as some  of us need to catch bus and flight to their next destination. Overall, it was fun just sitting and talking, sharing experiences and knowing a little bit more about everything and one another. :)
I slept soundly after performing the subuh (morning) prayer before begin the journey on my last day at Barcelona as a lone ranger . ^__^

p/s: I'll put more pictures later as those pics are on my other comp. wait for the FC barcelona, park gueil and last night dinner experience. bye..