Assalamualaikum and good morning guys,

How are you guys doing? hopefully everyone is having a great time in this blissful holy month of Ramadhan.

Narrated Abu Huraira: I heard Allah’s Apostle saying regarding Ramadan, “Whoever prayed at night in it (the month of Ramadan) out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven.”

First of all, i would like to extend my since apology for being so lazy to update this blog although i think very few people actually read it. 

Since my last post which was months ago, lots of thing happened. 

-I finally managed to pass my final medical examination as an undergraduate.

-Visited one of the best town in Ireland, Killarney for 4 days and 3 nights. Travelled back to Dublin a day before my graduation.

-Hiked up one of the highest peak in Ireland- Carraauntoohil while i was in Killarney.

-Attended the conferring dinner with the majority of my classmates the night before the conferring ceremony.

-Attended the conferring ceremony for RCSI class of 2012 on 6/6/2012.

-Returned back to Malaysia; unexpectedly for good on the 10th of June 2012.

-Met lots of friends especially in Penang Medical College (PMC)

-Visited a few places in Malaysia including Langkawi Island, Penang, and Perhentian Island with my buddies.

-Attended the PMC clas of 2012 conferring ceremony.

-Dealt with Ministry of Health, Malaysian Medical Council and SPA regarding the job application process.

-Eat lots of foods and gain/losing weights.

-Attended a 2nd wedding ceremony in 2012. This time it is between Ihsan and Farah in Sungai Siput, Perak.

-Visited the vets. because my cat had a touch of fever. Forced 'Tompok' to take the meds.

-Etc.

So, that sort of summarise everything major that had happened. 

I'm kinda thinking about stop blogging actually. No real reason but definitely because I think I will not write that much any more once I start working.

I will have my job interview insyaAllah within a few days in Putrajaya. Hopefully everything will go well. I actually haven't done much study since May, so the momentum just isn't there any more.

The thoughts of going to library has been in my mind since last week but I was yet to enter the Alor Setar public library. I actually went there yesterday only to find out that it was actually close. Probably because yesterday is the first day of Ramadhan. So, I definitely will have to go there today. 

I guess what I'm going to do is just to leave it like this. Whenever I feel like to write, I'll jot down a few stuff once in a while. This will definitely be like the malay saying, "hidup segan mati tak mahu" literally translated into lazy to live the life but do not want to die. Can ah? :P

I'll write more if there are nny major updates or when I am too bored.

For now, enjoy Ramadhan, make full use of it to seek repentance, find the truth in yourself, increase the faith and stay good. It is a month full of rewards, it will be a great loss if you just let it pass by like the other months.

Sahih Bukhari :: Book# 31 :: Hadith# 127

Wassalam.

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

@ 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.

Here is my journey. Hopefully you guys enjoy reading it.

I arrived at around 8.30pm and it was still very much like 5pm in Malaysia on a bright sunny day. Because i was quite tired, i decided to take a taxi to the hostel. It is called Be Hostel Sound. Actually it was part of the Be Hostel chains around this city. 2 other hostel called Be Hostel Marr and Be hostel Rambla located 5 to 7 minutes away from this hostel. I was greeted (immediately fallen in love) by Kasha at the reception counter. She was very helpful and nice enough to answer all the unnecessary invented little detail that I can think of. Haha.

Anyhow, she is also very understanding as well when i asked her about praying inside the hostel. Seems like she is pretty familiar with Islam when she offered me some small spaces that i could use for praying. Very nice of her indeed. The hostel is very nice i have to say. Although u'll share a room with 7 or 10 more people, you don't need to worry about the security because everyone has electronic locker which is quite big that it can fit your 80 liters travelling bag inside. No curfew plus only electronic cardholder can get access into the hostel. The only downside is that if you live in room 001, you'll have to share the in-suite bathroom with you roomies of both sexes and i find it rather unpleasant. Need not to worry, if you live on other room, the bathroom is separated by gender only that it was outside your room. After finished praying jama' taakhir of zohor and asar, i decided to stroll around the neighboring area as planned.

My aim was actually to find the Tariq bin Ziyad mosque that search beforehand on google map before i started my journey back in Dublin. Lucky enough, it was only 10 minutes from the hostel and i prayed  Maghrib and Isyak (Jama') over there. This mosque situated at Rambla del Raval which is fulled with halal shops along the street although some of them do sell beers etc. If you guys want to stay in Barcelona, i strongly suggest this area because it is easy to find halal stuff to cook (if allowed by the hostel) and lots of Muslim population around. Although this neighborhood is quite dodgy, i would say that in term of safety, it is at least 8/10. No part of Barcelona is safe enough when it comes to the residential area. Lots of burglars and prostitutes around to be honest. I never seen such an area over the past 4 years that i took to travel in Europe, including Amsterdam! Plus, this area is very close the popular La Rambla and lots of metro that is available for the use to visit other places such as Sagrada Familia without the need to change the metro line. ^__^

A: Hostel Be Sound
Tariq bin Ziyad Mosque: Carrer de Sant Rafael
Be Hostel Marr: Carrer de Sant Pau

Later that night after I had my dinner in one of the shop at Rambla del Raval, i met a few people from the hostel and we decided to go out and enjoy Barcelona at night. I wont go into detail but suffice for me to say that it was a good night out. Just imagine 6 guys on a night out and just trying to enjoy themself. No wonder only 2 people get to the beach and fast asleep on the beach until early morning. The rest? Distracted by cute french ladies. LOL. is it not what happened Akal? :P

Mode idiopathic headache

Takziah buat rakan-rakan dan kenalan di Mesir. Semoga Allah sentiasa memelihara kalian dari segala fitnah dunia dan kerosakan. Gerun pun ada bila membaca khabar-khabar dari sana. Perjuangan perlu diteruskan dan mudah-mudahan diberi ganjaran untuk mereka.

Buat rakyat Mesir sekalian, selamat maju jaya. Mudah-mudahan pemimpin zalim tersebut mendapat balasan sewajarnya.

Khabar terbaru menyatakan dia berlindung di negara haram Israel. Kalau betul, memang sah dia adalah kuda tunggangan selama ini.

Islam pasti akan menang, itu janji Allah. Berjuanglah kalian sehingga titisan darah terakhir. Pastinya balasan terbaik menanti di sana. ALLAHUAKBAR! ALLAHUAKBAR! ALLAHUAKBAR! Walillahilhamd.

Aku terus berjalan menusuri denai-denai kecil penuh berduri untuk sampai ke penghujung yang kekal 

Tadi jumpa patient schizophrenia, sedih dengar cerita hidup dia. Dulu dia kerja computer programmer dan kemudian addicted dengan cannabies. Lepas tu dia hilang segalanya dan diuji pulak dengan penyakit Crohn. Oh, mudah-mudahan Allah jauhkan aku dari dugaan dan cabaran yang tak mampu ditanggung. Kiranya diuji, aku berdoa agar diberi kekuatan oleh Allah SWT untuk menempuh dugaan dan ujian tersebut.

its 8 am here in Dublin. The sun is already high.

The weather outside looking very good with crystal clear blue sky. Not a single cloud visible from my window. A rare scenery in Dublin lately.

Ubuntu

Exam minggu depan, tapi aku rasa terpanggil untuk buat satu entry rinkas setelah terbaca satu entry dari seorang kenalan di UK. Boleh klik sini untuk membaca. Khas untuk adik-adik yang baru di luar negara dan juga yang bakal ke luar negara barangkali. Sebelum baca entry ini, anda wajib baca dahulu link diatas untuk memahami isu dengan lebih lanjut.

Tadi ada karang satu karangan pendek aku tulis, tapi sebab panjang (baca "pedas") dan takut ada yang terluka di sana sini. Aku ambik rumusan sahajalah dari apa yang aku karang tadi. Plus sedikit sebanyak pengalaman aku di bumi asing ini.

1. Bilamana anda sampai di sini, anda akan disogok dengan segala macam kebaikan yang tujuannya untuk mengajak anda menyertai aktiviti-aktiviti persatuan-persatuan di sini. Alhamdulillah, semuanya untuk kebaikan anda. Bagi sesetengah pelajar, ianya membuka mata agar mereka sedar, datangnya ke luar negara tidak hanya sekadar belajar. Ada nilai tambah individu yang cuba dititikberatkan oleh persatuan-persatuan di sini, baik dari segi ilmu mahupun kemahiran. Maka dengan itu, anda berhak memilih untuk menyertai mana-mana yang anda rasakan sesuai dengan diri anda. Malangnya kadang-kadang seolah-olah wujud persaingan yang aku kira kurang sihat. Almaklumlah, penilaian aku ini penilaian orang yang kurang berilmu...orang lain jauh lebih hebat ilmunya...Ada pelajar yang selepas berkenalan dengan persatuan-persatuan ini, menjadi aktif berpersatuan dan ada yang macam aku, memilih untuk kekal pasif. Tahniah buat yang aktif berpersatuan. Aku kagumi kelebihan anda membahagikan masa.

2. Bagaimana seorang pekedai yang baru mula berniaga, semua persatuan akan cuba menaikkan nama masing-masing dengan menganjurkan segala macam aktiviti untuk anda. Namun perlu diingat, ianya tidaklah berkekalan. Sampai suatu ketika, apabila anda sudah tidak menyumbang, maka di masa itulah anda akan terbiar terkapai-kapai. Pada masa itu, mungkin tidak ada lagi sahabat-sahabat yang anda kenal selama ini yang sering mengajak anda ke program-program. Bahkan ada yang apabila anda telefon mereka, sengaja tidak diangkat hinggalah kemudiannya anda tepuk belakang mereka yang sedang memandang telefon mereka tengah bergetar dalam mode silent. agaknya berfikir patut atau tidak aku angkat telefon bila mamat yang tak aktif ni join barangkali Yang ada hanyalah mereka yang setia di sisi anda tanpa mengharapkan sesuatu dari anda. Itulah sahabat sejati. Tapi harus diingat, tak semua sahabat sejati akhlaknya baik. Mudah disimpulkan, pemberi gula-gula akan berhenti memberi apabila gula-gulanya sudah kehabisan. Jadi sebagai seorang yang sudah matang, anda perlu pandai untuk berdikari. Jangan mengharapkan orang untuk semua benda. Kalau nak ke masjid depan rumah pun harapkan orang, maka anda patut tahu di manakah tahap anda dalam ertikata berdikari itu.

3. Apabila dihantar untuk belajar di luar negara, anda perlu ingat bahawa anda datang bukan untuk dicucuk hidung dan ditunjukkan itu dan ini, mesti buat itu dan ini. anda sepatutnya sudah punya fikiran yang cukup matang untuk membezakan baik buruk sesuatu perkara. Kalaupun anda tidak menyertai mana-mana persatuan berunsurkan kerohanian, anda sepatutnya boleh membuat penilaian berdasarkan asas-asas agama yang anda pelajari. Kalau anda jenis yang perlu diketuk setiap masa untuk berbuat sesuatu kebaikan ataupun barangkali ibadah-ibadah asas, maka tempat anda adalah dalam persatuan berbentuk kerohanian ini. Jika tidak, anda akan hanyut dibuai kebejatan nilai-nilai kebaratan ini. Pendek kata, jika anda suka dimanja-manjakan, maka tempat anda adalah bersama persatuan-persatuan ini.

Oh..panjang la pulak. cukuplah sekadar itu sahaja. Nanti kita sambung pulak. Kalau yang senang-senang, intai-intai situasi yang berlaku di Mesir. Sedih sungguh bila ada yang sanggup berhasad dengki semata-mata akibat rasa tidak senang dengan persatuan yang lain. Wallahualam.

P/S: Maaf buat persatuan-persatuan pelajar di Ireland ni kalau ada yang terasa hati. Aku menulis se"neutral" yang mungkin untuk panduan adik-adik yang sudah hampir 3 bulan di bumi asing ini. Salah aku tidak menulis lebih awal ketika aku masih betul-betul neutral. *sigh*
Selamat tahun baru jugak... :)

I hope you would forgive me.

Ends.

Exam in less than 2 weeks  -.-

P/s: Congrats to my lil sister, Nurul Iman for getting straight A in your PMR. May Allah bless the success and you continue to work hard. I'm so proud of u sis!

Maafkan aku atas segala kesalahan dari diri yang hina ini,

Terlalu tinggi yang diharapkan dari seorang budak kampung yang baru mengenal dunia,

Maaf, tak mungkin dapat aku tunaikan semua itu dalam masa terdekat.

Semoga kamu kelak beroleh apa yang dicari selama ini.

Terima kasih atas segalanya.

Wassalam.

P/s: 
1. Aku berundur buat kali pertama dalam sejarah.

2. Sekeping hati yang ikhlas tidak akan pernah cukup untuk sesetengah individu.
3. Bagi yang mencari harta kekayaan serta pangkat, jangan cuba lagi mendekati diri ini.

How are you doing at this moment? i hope you are in the best of health.

I'm writing this to express my greatest regret for not being able to continue walking with you for the time being. It seems impossible now for me to keep the pace and meet you at the crossroad as promised.  There is a big and well built wall halting my journey at the moment.  

Don't worry, I'll keep looking for other way to break through this big wall although all the odds seems to be against me at the moment. However, bear in mind sometimes it can be too long before I can finally walk the path again, or maybe if I were too tired of trying, I may take another route to continue the journey and the later means we may probably never meet at that crossroad as promised. 

Anyhow do not wait for me and keep on walking as I'm sure u'll reach the destination that we once thought we will arrive together. Someone else i'm sure is also walking towards the same direction and both of u might meet one another at any point along the journey. 

I'm deeply sorry as i wasn't able to continue the journey with you and not able to keep my word. Never my intention to hurt you, what else to ruin your peaceful life. I believe i was there for a reason but somehow i only find a dead end for the time being. We shall meet again if i'm able to keep the pace and able to break the wall and also the most important if Allah already planned our meeting there.

Until then, i pray you a safe journey ahead and again, forgive me for everything.

Ucapan Hari Lahir

Ekstra

Bagi yang baru melayari blog ini, silalah lawat entry sebelum-sebelum ini ya. Semoga ada sedikit pengajaran yang mampu dikutip.
Semoga ditemukan lagi.