My Rambles

2006-10-31T00:54:00.000-05:00

FINITO.So we're finished the second part of PBD, an amazing course (or rather, the ONLY course) we're taking at school. The exam wasn't the greatest, but I'm proud that I managed and got through it. In the middle of writing it, I literally fell asleep. It must have been no more than 5 secs, but I felt my eyes drifting and mind going blank. Uhhh... not a good thing. The weird thing though, is

2006-10-26T00:09:00.000-04:00

PERFECT TIMING...I head home before carrying out my week-long studying crusade. It's almost like a ritual, coming home to stock up on food and getting the words of encouragement from my parents before heading back downtown. I go to church with my family, and we decide to drive my cousin this time.Great. Turns out my little cousin is coughing and hacking out his lungs in the car. Having

2006-10-22T01:11:00.000-04:00

so I've taken four classes of Tai chi so far. My instructor is the stereotypical Chinese fellow - short, stumpy, with graying hair matted on top of a potato shaped head, taking on the form of an upside-down mop. He speaks with an incredibly thick Hong kong accent, and even I, the "Master of Fobbiness" strain to understand the words coming out of his swollen, protruding lips.During this weekend,

2006-10-18T23:14:00.000-04:00

Brainfart...So, I'm finally in the best year of medical school -- second year at UofT. Everything has been fine and dandy so far, with no major flunking problems or major friendship issues. We even have more time on our hands, getting every Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon off to do whatever we leisure. I've started taking Tai Chi, something that I've dreamt about taking ever since I was

2006-07-05T22:45:00.000-04:00

My day at the DentistI don't fully understand why I get so nervous each time I go to see the dentist. They're usually harmless creatures who clean your teeth. But this visit was different -- it has changed my perspective on them. They're all evil! I'm so glad that I chose medicine over dentistry back in university, when I was trying to decide my career path.

2006-06-05T00:28:00.000-04:00

So I'm finally done my first year of school at UofT and trying to think up of something interesting to say about it, but struggling real hard find anything substantial. Nope, got nothing. I feel ecstatic.

2006-05-22T20:17:00.001-04:00

OH MY GOODNESS.Somebody just shoot me. I'm so BORED. DOCH is just killing me... I can't believe I'm studying this.

2006-04-19T21:56:00.000-04:00

Procrastinating again. Don't feel like writing my essay... *UGH*Here's something I found scribbled on the wall of the library:"If you take an oriental and spin them around, do they become disoriented?":) Hahahah I surprise myself sometimes. How on earth did I get into med school?

2006-03-18T01:23:00.000-05:00

Just got back from a four day road trip to Montreal and Kingston. Stayed at the travelodge smack in the middle of Chinatown. We hit the key places of the city -- first with Schwartz, then McGill, St. Catherines, the carbon copy of Eaton centre, St Huberts and a place with Dirty Poutines. Interspersed between our battle against the roaring wind outside, we often found ourselves huddling in the

2006-02-07T23:53:00.000-05:00

I went for Salsa dancing lessons today with my classmates. I think all of it was really fun except the fact that you have to wiggle your butt for every step of the dance. *sigh* Besides this, school is same old. I love my courses. This new semester is treating me well. Been getting more time to do things that I didn't get a chance to do in undergrad. I've been more involved with

2006-02-04T01:01:00.000-05:00

So many people are so lost in this world. They search for enlightenment and peace but look in the wrong places. I had an interesting experience this week. I decided to take this meditation course because my brown friend was the instructor for it. He introduced me to it when we started talking about the power of breathing and its similarities with Kung fu. I've trained in martial arts for

2006-01-19T00:10:00.000-05:00

It's the night before my exam and here I am procrastinating, yet again. I've been dealing with so much lately that it's just hard to get myself focused in my school work. Listening to so many different relationship problems and dealing with my own emotions, I just get a sickening feeling sometimes. I'm doing ok right now though.On top of this, I need to study. I mean I need to study. I like

2006-01-16T11:47:00.000-05:00

Just came back from a weekend of fun in Quebec city for an inter-university sports competition held for all medical schools in Canada. I had a really fun time. It was really fun catching up with some old friends and fellow classmates from Queen's and from summer research work. Many of them had also just made it into medical school.But the highlight of the entire trip was definitely dining in

2006-01-11T00:45:00.000-05:00

I am so BLESSED. Everything seems to be working out just so perfectly. The puzzle pieces of my life seems to be coming together. I'm loving my current living situation and I'm loving med school. Justing stepping back and looking at all that I have, I am still amazed by all of these opportunities that were presented to me. Stuff like: working with Dr. Tak Mak (he's going to win a Nobel prize

2006-01-06T17:57:00.000-05:00

I love my tutor. Of course not that way, but I really appreciate his genuine desire to teach us and lead us during our training. I really like the dynamics of my clinical skills group. Today, I had the chance of practicing some of my clinical examination skills over at Scarb General. We were each given our own patients to interview. We were expected to take a full history as well as completing

2005-07-20T00:57:00.000-04:00

A few pictures from my trip to CHina & Hong KongHong Kong AirportGrandparents waiting for hotel check-in in Hong KongMy older sister, brother and I -- temporarily fobbifiedThe view outside of our hotel in the urban outskirts of my home city of Toi Shan, ChinaThe 1000 year old willow tree that stands in front of my home villagePuzzled as to why there was a phone in the washrooms of our hotelMy

2005-07-19T23:58:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday to Kayan and Victor! Happy birthday to these two special people. You guys are awesome! ... It seems like it's everybody's birthday around this time of the year. There have been two that have passed so far, and three more in the upcoming few days...I loved the expression on Victor's face, when all of us crowded together at Outbacks Steakhouse to surprise him for his birthday

2005-07-13T00:04:00.000-04:00

Tired...I've been trying to get back into shape by doing more exercise and taking part in more physical activities. But I don't feel as recharged by this anymore. When I used to finish swim team practice, or even finish running 10k, I would feel alert and energized. Now, when I run, I lose my breath more quickly (after a mere block or so); when I spar in kung fu, I don't react as fast; when I

2005-07-02T23:07:00.000-04:00

LazinessI've been so freakingly lazy with this blog lately. Much has happened since I last wrote a blog entry. I've been working incessantly at the hospital, pipetting invisible DNA water into eppendorf tubes, mixing other chemicals in, and watching bacteria grow. Work hasn't been the most exciting thing lately. My cloning reaction plates have constantly ended up in the garbage bins. I've

2005-06-22T18:09:00.000-04:00

So I'm finally backIt's been a long while since I last wrote an entry in this blog. Well, I'm finally back from Hong Kong / china and resuming my normal life again. My trip to the east gave me more than I expected. I find myself in awe whenever I think of my trip. I had no idea that the magnitude of separation between the lifestyles in china and western society was so large. Having only

2005-05-19T13:05:00.000-04:00

One more week baby!I can't believe it. One more week and I'll be in Hong Kong! Really excited about it...Been very busy lately. A lot has happened: some good, some bad... But all in all, things are definitely looking a lot brighter now. Gotta get back to work. sorry to the people who I owe emails to. I've been pretty behind on that. Will reply back to emails as soon as I get the chance to.

2005-05-12T23:53:00.000-04:00

Back in TorontoIt's been a while since the last time I wrote a good blog entry with actual substance. Even for this one, I can't guarantee anything about its quality. I'm starting to get bored of it, but I still continue to write in order to give my friends who are abroad an idea how my life has been. *** I guess I try to use this blog as a shortcut for writing individual emails *** I've been

2005-05-06T21:29:00.000-04:00

Wok InspirationsHere's my little advertisement for the day. My uncle (the Chinese chef who I have mentioned to quite a few of you) just recently opened a new restaurant in Toronto, Scarborough, called Wok Inspirations. It's on the South East corner of McNicoll and Midland. I've been there before for both lunch and dinner, and the food tastes really good. The price is really cheap too! My

2005-05-05T22:21:00.000-04:00

Home.I've been back home for nearly four days now and things have just been awesome! I'm working downtown at PMH in this new lab which I absolutely LOVE. The people are so friendly and grounded, the workplace is one of a kind, and the funding flows like a waterfall (it's crazy how much money they have). The post-doc who I am working with comes from France, so I have to spend quite a bit of

2005-04-23T14:41:00.000-04:00

Can't wait for summer...On the way to the Centre Island races (Summer 2004)I can already picture it. Sunny skies, a walk along Harbourfront, hanging out at the malls, chilling with close friends; finally taking a break from all of the studying. It will be the first summer that I would have, not having to worry about the MCAT exam and being able to work care-free at the lab. Night time will be

2005-04-21T18:32:00.000-04:00

I feel like having one of these...

2005-04-18T12:29:00.000-04:00

Lights? Erm...Today, while reading Macleans magazine, I stumbled across an article that talked about Einstein. It said today marks the 50th anniversary after his death. Tonight, people around the world are gonna use lights to celebrate his accomplishments. I'm not too sure what they mean by that, but go to http://www.wyp2005.at/glob1-light.htm to find out more.

2005-04-18T08:41:00.000-04:00

High school ReunionAlumni Barbeque - Saturday May 7, 2005 - at the school. Come along - find old friends, meet some new ones, have a burger, visit Cringan Hall (it has hardly changed - have you?).Who is going to be there? Who ever you help to invite. Help spread the word. Phone your brother, call the person who sat behind you, email your ex. Pass the information to any former Haigers.I just

2005-04-16T11:11:00.000-04:00

To be young again...I was looking through some of the pictures on my computer while working on a small project and came across this picture that my sister scanned. It's of me, when I was pretty young (I'd guess I was about 5 or 6 year old at the time). I miss the good old days when I was so care free and just plain happy. I think some of my most happy memories were when I was a kid. I

2005-04-14T00:48:00.000-04:00

I'm procrastinating right now...I have something due on Friday but I don't feel like doing it right now. That's why I'm typing this entry at 12:45am in the morning... so SAD... I wonder why people often DREAD writing essays. They're not as bad as people claim them to be. When you actually get your ideas flowing, they can be fun sometimes. Maybe I'm just a nerd, but I think I'm gonna

2005-03-30T00:02:00.000-05:00

It's all coming together...Today could not have been any better. The sun was shining, the air was fresh, the wind was calm... After a series of morning classes, I headed off to the lab to work on my mouse colon specimens. It must have been the good weather, but everyone seemed to carry their smiles a few notches higher than usual. My TA was laxed and I carried on with my experiments as usual.

2005-03-25T14:17:00.000-05:00

I Hope You DanceLee Ann Womack featuring Sons Of The DesertI hope you never lose your sense of wonderYou get your fill to eatBut always keep that hungerMay you never take one single breath for grantedGod forbid love ever leave you empty handedI hope you still feel smallWhen you stand by the oceanWhenever one door closes, I hope one more opensPromise me you'll give fate a fighting chanceAnd when

2005-03-24T14:04:00.000-05:00

First wave = DONE, Second wave = soon.It's the final stretch of school. I can already feel it. There's just something different about the atmosphere. Today, I finally submitted my thesis poster to the medical photography department at KGH. It's out of my hands now. Handing over that data CD to the technician felt like giving away the ton of brick off my back. While walking home, I felt the

2005-03-20T22:44:00.000-05:00

And even MORE pictures...That same night, we went to celebrate Teeeeeeen's birthday at Atomica along Brock Street. It was already 10pm at night and I hadn't eaten anything since breakfast. It's pretty retarded how I forget to eat sometimes. There have been occasions when my hands shake uncontrollably and when I feel extremely cold. That night, I was so hungry while waiting for the food to

2005-03-18T16:49:00.000-05:00

More Pictures - Queen's Dance Club RecitalCongrats guys, you guys were amazing!

2005-03-18T00:52:00.000-05:00

Attachment and nostalgiaThis is One REALLY weird postWhat makes a person so attached to anything? We live out our lives each day, interacting with our environment and finding meaning in our surroundings. Is there any point to all of this? Using a scientific approach, everything that I perceive is merely a collection of signals detected by specialized cells in my body. The retinal cells of my

2005-03-18T00:23:00.000-05:00

I'm gonna miss this place...While uploading some pictures from my camera, I stumbled across some that I completely forgot about. I took these pictures in October of last year using another memory card. I don't know what inspired me to go out around campus to take pictures, but I did it. So here they are: my sucky photos of Queen's University. Hope you enjoy em'.