Graduated!

So finally i put on the robe and set foot on stage to receive my scroll last Friday. It certainly happened too fast but I guess I'm officially a Doctor now. Thanks for all the congratulatory wishes from you people.

meanwhile, I'm just counting the days for my flight back home.

class of 2008

Phew! at long last my journey here in Ukraine is coming to an end. I sure am glad that it is and there are too many memories to pinpoint as my most memorable. I cannot forget my very first day here. I arrived here back in August 27th 2002 together with some familiar faces back from school which certainly made things easier. The send-off 17 hours earlier in KLIA certainly wasn't easy but here I was, in Ukraine about to embark on a brand new chapter in my life. I didn't know what to expect but I was prepared for the worst. The first sentence uttered by one particular 2nd year senior seated in front of me as soon as we landed certainly didn't help with the nerves. It went like pilot : welcome to Simferopol ïnternational"airport (in some broken english) 2nd year senior: daym, welcome back to sh**-hole. myself : whhat did he just say?? no no...

Since it's out first time in this country, the immigration registration took ages. I think it lasted well over midnight. One thing i discovered quickly after a visit to the loo was that Ukrainian cockroaches was 1/10th its flying, filthy counterparts which was a point for Ukraine (Ukr 1 - 0 Mas). Many hours later, we finally boarded a specially arranged bus by my agent to bring us back to the hostel. I just remembered seeing endless darkness until the familiar "golden arches"appeared which was a good sign of civilization or so i thought.

Upon reaching the hostel, the temperature took a dip and it was around 17 degrees celcius ( genting highland temp.) so being the msian who just arrived, it was certainly uncomfy and shocking. I just remembered the arrival being very low_keyed and we were quickly brought into a room. 3 of us, Suresh, Puvanesh and myself. Water, HOT water was a luxury here. Russia and Ukraine switches off HOT water supply during the Summer months and August is still considered summer. Cold water that runs from it's pipe is 15 degrees so I struggled a bit, ok.. a LOT because i didn't enjoy cold baths even back in Msia. Food was what maggee and anything that we knew how to order and back in those days, it was Cola Abalon and Chicken Chilli. Mind you it was the most popular set meal.

These are all still very clear in my head. It will certainly replay once more as I walk up that stage to receive my scroll this coming Friday. :)

Class of 2008

Phew! at long last my journey here in Ukraine is coming to an end. I sure am glad that it is and there are too many memories to pinpoint as my most memorable. I cannot forget my very first day here. I arrived here back in August 27th 2002 together with some familiar faces back from school which certainly made things easier. The send-off 17 hours earlier in KLIA certainly wasn't easy but here I was, in Ukraine about to embark on a brand new chapter in my life. I didn't know what to expect but I was prepared for the worst. The first sentence uttered by one particular 2nd year senior seated in front of me as soon as we landed certainly didn't help with the nerves. It went like pilot : welcome to Simferopol ïnternational"airport (in some broken english) 2nd year senior: daym, welcome back to sh**-hole. myself : whhat did he just say?? no no...

Since it's out first time in this country, the immigration registration took ages. I think it lasted well over midnight. One thing i discovered quickly after a visit to the loo was that Ukrainian cockroaches was 1/10th its flying, filthy counterparts which was a point for Ukraine (Ukr 1 - 0 Mas). Many hours later, we finally boarded a specially arranged bus by my agent to bring us back to the hostel. I just remembered seeing endless darkness until the familiar "golden arches"appeared which was a good sign of civilization or so i thought.

Upon reaching the hostel, the temperature took a dip and it was around 17 degrees celcius ( genting highland temp.) so being the msian who just arrived, it was certainly uncomfy and shocking. I just remembered the arrival being very low_keyed and we were quickly brought into a room. 3 of us, Suresh, Puvanesh and myself. Water, HOT water was a luxury here. Russia and Ukraine switches off HOT water supply during the Summer months and August is still considered summer. Cold water that runs from it's pipe is 15 degrees so I struggled a bit, ok.. a LOT because i didn't enjoy cold baths even back in Msia. Food was what maggee and anything that we knew how to order and back in those days, it was Cola Abalon and Chicken Chilli. Mind you it was the most popular set meal.

These are all still very clear in my head. It will certainly replay once more as I walk up that stage to receive my scroll this coming Friday.

The finish line...

I'm almost there folks, my 6 years marathon of med school is nearing it's final 100 metres. The most important part of my 6th year was the MCQ (multiple choice questions) and that i have passed with flying colors. Now I'm left with 2 final exams and I'll be walking up the stage collecting my scroll in no time.

Thank you to all the well-wishers and I hope you see everyone soon back home.

Notice for grads from unrecognized universities

Reported in the Star today:

Medical graduates from overseas universities not recognised by the Government now have the option of transferring their credits to recognised local establishments to pursue their goal of becoming doctors.
This option is being given on a one-off basis instead of them sitting for a competency examination.
Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said yesterday that this was useful for those who had failed the examination for a maximum of three times.
He said the easing of the rule was until Dec 31 this year for graduates who completed their studies by Dec 31 last year.
“The Cabinet has agreed that graduates from unrecognised institutions, especially those who have exhausted all chances of sitting for the exam, be given the chance to continue their studies via credit transfer to recognised institutions,” he told reporters yesterday.

The Health Minister goes on to say:

Under the new arrangement they would have to undergo one year of pre-clinical studies and two years’ clinical studies, adding that this period depended on courses they had taken previously.
Liow added that the students could transfer their credits to institutions like the Asian Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology.
Once they are accepted for the credit transfer, the students will be absorbed into the recognised institutions, sit for examinations as usual and become housemen at hospitals.

The NST report on the matter states:

Medical students who want to take up the offer should apply to the Malaysian Medical Council on or before Dec 31 with proof of acceptance to a local university.
The applicant must obtain written approval from the MMC before pursuing the course. The MMC has the right to reject incomplete applications.

This would be good news indeed for those who have graduated from unrecognized universities, but have failed to pass the MQE. Undergoing at least 3 years of extra study should help to ensure the standards and competency of the graduates to practise in this country.

Taken from medicine.com.my

He has done it again (Sir Alex)

Sir Alex, manager of Man Utd has done it again. When i was watching the live telecast of yesterday's match, the starting line-up certainly suprised me a wee bit. Silvestre at left back? leaving Rooney, Ronaldo, Scholes and Evra out on such an important match?? but i was quietly confident as the man himself and those 11 players he trusted certainly didn't dissapoint at all. I thought to myself as the end of the match, "that is why he is SIR Alex Ferguson".

Now to look forward to the semi-finals against Barcelona. Glory Glory Man Utd.

Man Utd. Vs AS Roma

I am predicting a tight contest tonight between these two teams. Roma will once again send high balls into the centre of manchester's defence line where it is the most weakest this whole season. Both Vidic and Rio are out due to injuries so i am hoping Pique and Brown will be paired together. I am also expecting Gary to play as right back but from reserve football to the Quarter-finals of the CL is asking for a bit too much from the veteran. Perhaps they should put O'shea as right back or hargreaves for that matter. Absorb the pressure and go for the counter will be the order of the day as they do not have to take risks in this game unlike Roma. My choice of the starting 11 would be Van de Sar, hargreaves,Evra,Brown, Pique, Anderson, Scholes,Giggs,Ronaldo,Carrick, Rooney . 1-0 for Manchester.