Tsunami
Mood:  blue
Now, about a week after the whole disaster, it becomes fully clear what exactly happened. For not being fully informed somehow eventually was merely caused by not having access to a decent television station as well as somehow not having lied my eyes on the news papers the subsequent 2 days after that... Many heart breaking stories that made it to the papers. Also heart warming on the other hand to see that so many people – not having that much money themselves – started gathering goods and money to help their neighbouring country; Indonesia. Finally religion (the main organisations) turns out to be good for something... As the matter of fact, 4 of my colleagues in surgery (where I'm currently stationed), are planning to join several aid organisations this week. that's when it downed upon me that – being so close to the whole thing – I could also contribute in helping the people in the disaster areas in being there for them as a doctor. After all, in Aceh for example, all 3 hospitals catering the whole city, have totally been washed away by the water, taking with it the lives of all the nurses and doctors working there. Being mainly trained in obstetrics however, I felt I would only have a minor role in helping out the victims. That's why I decided to help in another, maybe less inspiring way by deciding to donate my last Monday’s earnings in the private clinic to the international red cross, as for the presence of my colleagues ix no good if there's no money to get them medicines or equipment to work with... hope it inspires others nevertheless though being less heroic. Shireen, Sia and the others; good luck & take care !!

Happy New Year !!!
Mood:  spacey
I just wanted to wish all my family and friends and all other people visiting a splendid 2005 !

Malaysian burocracy (1)
Mood:  celebratory
Topic: (scary) hospital stories
Finally !! The Malaysian Medical Council has granted me a practicing certificate !!! It’s a big relief, for people had been telling me horror stories of waiting for more than 6 months which in the meantime would mean officially not being able to do anything but just observing. Friends told me about “the Malaysian way” of processing papers. The papers would be infinitely on someone’s desk; on Fridays they won’t process it cause they’re busy looking forward to the weekend, on Monday they’ll still be too tired from the weekend, on Tuesday they’ll be recovering from the Monday, on Wednesday they’re on sick leave and on Thursday it’s almost Friday again. Only if you call them practically every day they’ll process it just to get rid of your phone calls. It is only so true; when I came to the dean’s office 1 week later, I found the person in charge of processing was on sick leave. Upon returning the Monday thereafter to ask where she had sent the papers she told me without too much embarrassment about her pitiful excuse all the papers hadn’t left her desk yet. GGGGRRRRrrrrrrr…… I asked her friendly to prepare them in order for me to hand them over personally to the responsible person in the government office, and so it was done. Anyway, a hurray for the MMC-staff and especially my friends friend Dr. S. for getting the job done in a smooth and fast manner… I guess I owe them some chocolates… Now I’m up for my next challenge; getting a contract in order to get paid for the same thing I’d otherwise do unpaid…

@ Starbuck's
Mood:  caffeinated
Topic: Starbucks
Well, there I am again, sitting at Starbuck's coffee place on the terrace with the laptop. I love the fact I can just sit down here, plug in and use the wireless internet. Just this week bought my wireless LAN-card. Bla-bla-bla... technical B.S.... And their small espresso's are quite nice... But ehrrr..... my cafeine levels are rising sky-high hahaha

Interesting roommates....
Mood:  accident prone
Topic: Everyday life (weirdness)
Today I went to take a look at an apartment together with a colleague, who was looking for a place closer to the hospital. Having just come back from a coffee break – although actually the working day was finished already – a couple of us were still joking around a bit about living together and sharing apartments. Being almost 1 pm though we had to hurry to the apartment building. We met Mrs. Ching just in time and she was willing to show us 2 apartments. The first though upon entering was obviously by far the one to be preferred; much cleaner and well-kept. The only thing left now was for my colleague to talk to her mother. Not because she had to get her approval, but rather because the mother would also be moving in and share the master bedroom with her daughter. Well now, I’m sure this is gonna be an interesting episode. But what is way more important is that it would mean I don’t need to worry about where I’m gonna end up in a couple of days. As for the rest of it, I’ve got the feeling that it’s all gonna work out in a good way; just go with the flow and see where it ends.

Mood:  cool
Topic: Everyday life (weirdness)
On a very warm day like those non-aircon-days it is nice to have a swim at the end of the day. There is a reasonable swimming pool in the apartment complex. Actually they have a lot of good facilities, but unfortunately by next week I’ll have to leave the place. I was sharing an apartment with a friend and an Australian girl, but they’ll be moving out and I cannot afford to pay some 600 euros on my own.

Pro's & (air)con's of a tropical country
Mood:  chatty
Topic: (scary) hospital stories
I guess the aircon functioned for a day or so and then broke down again. Meaning that this whole week we had to manage with fans… well, it’s actually bearable most of the time. Yesterday a woman came in, who had actually given birth in a maternity centre. She was referred for post-partum bleeding. Besides the fact that we were all wondering why she couldn’t have been treated in the clinic where she delivered the baby, we were even more astonished about the fact that she came in walking by herself with a letter from the other clinic, giving no information whatsoever on amount of blood loss, fluid therapy or hemoglobin levels. There’s more weird stuff going on here, I’ll keep you informed.

Hot-hot-hot
Mood:  on fire
Topic: (scary) hospital stories
3rd day with a dysfunctional air-con in the delivery room… the fans that are placed in every corner can hardly lighten the burden of the heat that lays all over the place like a thick, smothering blanket. The – already not so popular – white coats have found their destination on the hooks along the wall. Still, going around in these conditions and still wearing the compulsory tie is more than a challenge. Talking about ties, within not even a month I managed to double my total number of ties again !…. from 2 to 4 hehehe… there was a big sale in one of the malls and for the money I would normally just have gotten a pair of trousers for I now got some 7 blouses, a shirt and trousers and even a belt & underwear…. Yes, I think I’m gonna survive…. As long as there are no unpleasant financial surprises…

Well, for everyone who had expected this page to become the center of hilarious, fantastic adventures – sorry, I really have to disappoint you. Until now nothing really shocking happened, basically I’m busy trying to get fitted in. but you never know; we’ll see what happens… if this page stays a rather dull description of what I’m doing here, that’ll probably mean I’m doing very well in my studies, making the best of it I can… and if it does turn out to be one big adventure in the end, well, than maybe I might not succeed, but at least I’ll have the adventure and all the fun…

Take off...
Mood:  not sure
Topic: House & Garden Philosophy
A busy pre-departure evening was concluded with a proper family dinner. I think this was about the most mixed-feelings evening I had had till then. I was really, really happy to see my grandparents a last time before leaving, but at the same time was also very concerned about them not getting too fatigued. They are after all well past their eighties. Of course needless to say that what my parents, siblings and in-laws had produced made me a bit speechless as well. However, it was not till the very moment of my passing the emigration check point that all of us realised we were not to see each other for a substantial longer time.