Irony

The Victorian houses somewhere along Elmer's End Road, Penge, London.

 For eleven days now, I've been feasting my eyes on these old yet lovely buildings around Greater London.  Some of these houses have a year engraved on it's front wall and it says 1840, 1885, 1898, etc...  As a visitor, who grew up in the Philippines and have lived in Australia for six years now, these century-old historic houses seem to be gracefully and humbly displaying its inherent beauty to me despite the gloominess that have been pervading throughout London since my arrival last week.

The houses somewhere in Beckenham, London.

These houses were built in terraces and usually a mirror image of the structure next to it.  The walls are made of bricks (some have been covered with modern building materials, most are not) with sash windows having large glass panes and it's crowned with moss-covered slate roofing.  I am actually typing this blog post inside one of these houses and it has magically taken me straight to Privet Drive where Harry Potter once lived.

The buses on London Bridge.

I have also attended some Christmas parties and was also invited to a dinner which gave me an opportunity to enter some of these antique structures, it was then that I realised that these houses are relatively small, and even those 'bigger' houses that the locals would refer to are still relatively cramped (compared to most accommodations that I've seen in Australia).  These terraced houses have stairs with a small cupboard under it- these have instantly brought JK Rowling's description of Harry's room at the Dursley's to life! 

...at the city of Westminster, London.

Aside from the huge Westfield shopping centre in Shepherd's Bush, most of the things that I've seen in London reveal how limited the spaces are in this city!  London is big, but I have seen how this humming city has struggled to consistently meet its inadequacies...

...at King's Cross St. Pancras station.

They've carved the ground to create massive tunnels and railways so several lines of trains in six different travel zones can take thousands of passengers to their destination.  The King's Cross, Waterloo, Victoria and London Bridge stations are always very busy- two to four escalators are moving up and down to take the rushing passengers to the underground platforms or to their way out of the station.  Twice, I stood still and stayed motionless for two minutes and I observed how everybody (clothed in their dark, thick and furry coats or sweaters) moved in a hurry to catch the trains; they'd dash through the electronic card-controlled entrances and exits of the stations and would run up or down the escalators.  Inside the slithering trains or trams, some passengers (who had obviously just knocked off from work) read books, watch movies on their phone while the other hand was on the overhead handles... I've seen one eating a cupcake, and a lot of them were evidently tired and sleeping. 

...at Heathrow Airport.

Most of these London red buses are double-decked, probably to accommodate thousands of daily commuters around the city.

The tables are narrow and the chairs are slim in McDonald's, KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants or even in the pubs- honestly, I nearly had a muscle cramp because of the limited leg room there.

Space is not enough, time is not enough!  

The escalators at London Bridge station leading to the underground platforms.

They have a full-time job but most of the people I've met would get a part-time job to subsidize their bills or transport cost.  The value of a pound sterling is definitely higher than an Australian dollar and much more than a Philippine peso but I have this impression that their wages are not enough.

I still have more than six weeks to explore this place, and I can't wait to see what's in store for me.  

...at Leicester Square, near Charing Cross station.

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Two in one...

I haven't seen the sun today...  

Thick and heavy clouds have been hovering over the city, and at times these condensed vapour would decide to drop in drizzle making the surroundings reasonably wet and cool.  From the upper floor of this unit where I'm typing right now, I could see vehicles (including these iconic, double-decker red buses) and a few locals in their coat and under their black umbrella rushing in opposite directions down the road.

Doin' some touristy things at Selby Rd., Penge, London.

My physique's been behaving so strange for the past twenty-eight hours.  My stomach complained as if requesting for some good tucker at dawn, I was terribly sleepy at four PM and felt the need to visit the loo at seven-thirty this evening!  I'm so glad that I don't have to report for my clinical placement today, or review for an exam and finish a thousand-word essay tonight, otherwise, I'll surely find myself lying unconscious on the floor! 

I'M SO THANKFUL TO HAVE safely landed after that thirteen-hour flight from Kuala Lumpur to London yesterday afternoon.  I was honestly starved 'coz Malaysia Airlines served meals and a snack in longer intervals, and the flight attendants assigned at the cabin where I was sitting were not friendly.  Just like the airfare cost this season, it would take thousands of Australian dollar to obtain their smiles.  In fairness, that airbus A380 was impressive, and for the record- it was my first time to fly in a double-decker plane (I was seated on the upper deck).

My ever-supportive aunt, her husband, my cousin and a friend picked me up at Heathrow- I truly appreciate their effort and I felt the sincerity of their gestures... these have made the welcome and accommodation go beyond a seven-star service!

There's neither a palace nor parliament house for me today; but I've had countless red, double-decker buses.  And for me that's enough to prove that this isn't only a dream, this is for real!  It's holiday, finally!

Malaysia Airlines' airbus A380 at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia.

       


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Three in one

It's my first time to write a post using this electronic tablet...  I'm actually typing straight from Kuala Lumpur (my first time in this city, too!); I'm indebted to Edward-a friend I've met in the blogosphere, for welcoming and accommodating me here in Malaysia.

I left Adelaide early this morning and took a flight to Melbourne where I boarded another plane that lifted me to Singapore.  The second leg of my flight was relatively long- after finishing my pre-ordered lunch (which I didn't really enjoy) I had been aided by a collection of F. Sionil José's essays plus a series of intermittent naps.  I have regrets in choosing that seat on the last row 'coz the audible sound of a flushing toilet every time a passenger uses the cubicle was powerful enough to keep me half awake during that 8-hr flight. 

My brief transit in Singapore was a real gastronomic adventure.  My good friend Clarisse took me to a restaurant in Terminal 2 where we smashed a huge serving of chilli crab with mantou, tom yum soup and a perfectly-cooked steamed rice in 15 minutes.  We had limited time to savour it 'coz I needed to catch another flight to Kuala Lumpur, so with my crustacean-smelling fingers and some tomato sauce splatters that stained my white shirt, I was seen rushing through the immigration counter just to get to the boarding gate on time!

BACK IN Kuala Lumpur... The warmth and humidity didn't stop me from visiting the twin Petronas Towers.  With my baggage, Edward and I took the train to KLCC then I found myself photographed while deeply soaked with sweat.  I smiled despite the sticky feeling to at least give justice to the well-lit and famous lovely towers standing behind me. 

While writing this, I have munched two pieces of chilled Goldilock's polvoron that Edward has brought over from his weekend visit to Manila last week. And uh, it's time to hit the bed in preparation for another lengthy flight tomorrow.

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Granted

I'd been trying to pretend that nothing's really happened lately but my heart was nearly exploding!  

I promised to myself three weeks ago to get a whole, juicy and crunchy roasted pork once I pass my Pharmacology and Toxicology course last semester; but just like most of the promises made in this world, I'm afraid I'll gonna break it.  Heaven must've noticed how tight were my fingers crossed while anxiously waiting for the marks and I'm glad that that was sufficient to convince the Celestial City to grant my prayers. 

I, honestly, felt like I was sucked by a vacuum upon seeing my Pharmacology and Toxicology grade but that was good enough than sitting for the uncertainties of the supplementary exam; my marks on the other three subjects turned out well, anyway.  So that was it, I have officially conquered the hurdles of DVM-1... 33.33% down, 66.66% more to go. 

I didn't have time to procure my lechon, though.  I've been flooded out for three weeks now to complete my four-week clinical placement.  So to stop my heart from exploding, I simply treated myself with a haircut and a relaxing massage yesterday (my haircut actually ended up awful but that's another story; yes, the hairdresser's still alive).




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The photos I've taken from the dairy farm the other day:

A portion of the herd of Jersey cows for pregnancy check.

A herdsman in a dairy farm somewhere in Eudanda, South Australia.

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Applied Cardiology

It's only been seven days since the last day of school year 2012, but I already feel asphyxiated!  I honestly don't know how to manage my days well until the opening of the next school year in March 2013 without catching a glimpse of her.

The thought of not seeing her for the rest of the (Southern Hemisphere) summer holidays is seriously more disturbing than patiently waiting for the academic results last semester.  I could only wish that browsing her FB account would be enough to supplement me for this insatiable longing... My thankfulness is actually immeasurable for her to leave those lovely photos accessible to public traffic!

It's my fault, but I cannot blame myself for being so timid.  I just couldn't formulate an excellent regimen to let her know how this heart beats.  I am very adventurous when it comes to applied geography but very cautious when the subject is cardiology.  It's so unfortunate that her stethoscope was extra-sensitive to the dogs' and horses' heart murmurs but was apparently unperceptive to a human heartbeat like mine.

This kind of heart condition is one of the important things they never taught in school, well, especially in vet schools.  Even E.C.G. couldn't capture it, nor my cardiac silhouette would love to reveal it in radiographs!



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Fast-forward

A ticking clock on the wall had never been so troublesome, but now it seems to be...  Taking its battery out and chucking it into the bin won't really help because it's not actually the annoying sound that's bothering me that much, it's the reality that time is running (or flying?) so fast these days.

My friend Marc once mentioned that time is man's greatest invention.  I'd love to believe it, but why does a human being, like me, doesn't have the power over time?  I couldn't turn it back, and I couldn't stop it neither.  The final exam's approaching, and this illusion of time has triumphantly conquered me!  My soul and physique is currently infused with exhaustion and anxieties.  

The amount of online and printed learning materials dumped unto us this semester is more than enough to challenge my humble intellect.  And I am unfortunately deprived and equally denied with the luxury of time to thoroughly cover all these stuff, even if I stay awake and continue reading twenty-four hours a day until the first day of our exam next week.

My head's getting heavy, and heavier through time.  It's actually numb at the moment; and despite my will to continue reading, my brain's just simply given up.

My wall clock's still audibly ticking, as if reminding me that another period of procrastination has gone by... that soon I will finally run out of time to review, and that whether I'm ready or not, I'll surely find myself occupying a seat in the examination room. But why should I bother?  I couldn't turn back time, I couldn't stop it and I couldn't fast track it, anyway.  If time wants to fly, then let it be, so tomorrow I'll wake up with my graduation cloak ready.


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My current ride

I'VE BEEN SNEEZING for so many times daily for three days now, and without the aid of a thermometer, I'm sure that I'm slightly febrile.  This nasal congestion's bothering me especially at night; and this profuse nasal discharge that was initially clear and runny has recently become mucoid.  I'm not a physician but I have come up with a self-diagnosis that I am currently suffering from allergic rhinitis.

Honestly, I hate springtime.  While others love it, and some would say I should be thankful for this new and colourful life springing up around me, I couldn't help but secretly complain to myself about these insects pushing themselves in through the tiny spaces of my window mesh, the skin-pricking Australian sun coming out with its warmth gradually turning into a hot and dry South Australian summer (which I hated the most)!  I always forget to whinge about those invisible crop and weed pollens suspended in the air until I find myself taking antihistamine tablets and combating drowsiness while lying on these massive piles of research data, statistical analysis, scientific publications, lecture notes and handouts.

I couldn't believe I have hoarded all these stuffs inside my tiny room- which, after more than six weeks, had been finally dusted and vacuum cleaned yesterday.  Had this itchy and runny nose didn't strike, an inch thick of these tiny, powdery particles could have still been comfortably resting on any horizontal surface in my cave.  Well, just like my mind and this journal, my room deserves a decent clean up to tell these invisible spiders that I'm still occupying this room so they'll stop weaving cobwebs up the ceiling.

Obviously busy! 

Actually, I'm very thankful to be up and running until today after that literally scary ride a couple of weeks ago.  I was on the final week of my compulsory equine clinical placement that time and I had to go with one of the university's equine surgeons for an ambulatory case.  I was and had been thinking until now that this young German vet surgeon had forgotten that he's driving in Australia- a country which is very particular with speed limits and other driving rules.  I would like to believe that that equine colic that he was trying to solve was not really an emergency case, and that our lives in that ambulatory services' van were more precious...  While he was incautiously driving I really wanted to blurt out that, despite these enormous challenges in the vet school, I definitely didn't want to be picked up broken on a roundabout or expressway... that I still wanted to live longer and achieve my humble dreams.

The memorable ride that I was writing about here.  I still managed to take a photo, a remembrance. 

            


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Losing and Gaining

I'm currently in pain!  (Insert a very sad face here.) 

My major thigh and leg muscles are sore after two consecutive days of early morning run and walk.  I have decided to join my housemate Raymond on his daily routine, but unlike him who's very much worried of his increasing blood sugar level, I was seriously alarmed a couple of days ago after stepping on and out of our bathroom scale.  I can't believe that after spending six months in the vet school, I have unwantedly gained nine kilograms!

This is exactly the opposite of what I was expecting; I thought I'd be losing weight while doing the DVM program but my feed conversion ratio and average daily gain speak that my physique has been savoring the university lifestyle albeit lack of income after sacrificing my job for this ambitious endeavor. I am thinking to find a good nutritionist who can check and formulate my special diet (for free, I can't afford to pay at the moment) because my body condition score shows that Australian non-fat milk and oatmeal, as well as the less-than-a-cup rice that I have been eating for lunch have not been working.  I might start rejecting weekend party invitations, too.

Following a strict weight loss program is like following my dreams.  It entails heaps and heaps of sacrifices and discipline to set aside some of the great-tasting things in life.  The good thing about deciding to lose weight- my loved ones are spared from all these discomforts.  This is very different from deciding to give up my job and gear up to pursue my dreams- my loved ones have to endure the inconvenience.  The similarity?  Both decisions need courage to succeed.

Muscle pain?  There's ibuprofen and paracetamol.  Unfortunately, there are some types of pain that neither morphine nor ketamine can help.   




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The greatest of them all

While writing this, I feel like I'm floating in the air!  I've been trying to read something about glucocorticoid pharmacology and therapeutics in preparation for our mid-semester exam on Tuesday but I just can't concentrate.

I tried to get some sleep from two this afternoon, get up at four thirty and took a quick snack, back to bed again and slept until six thirty in the evening.  This 'lack of sleep' feeling reminds me of my years in the broiler farm in Port Wakefield during harvest season and it opens my eyes to the reality that this sleepiness and exhaustion are nothing compared to what I had been having before.  This physical state is a consequence of our dairy farm activities that started at four (that means I had to get up at two thirty) this morning as part of our Clinical Research Project this semester.  

The milking parlour, South Australia.

Luckily, we only have to come to collect data and milk samples twice; which means we only have to go back to the dairy farm one more time, then... we're done!  Unlike the dairy farmer, the milkmaids and the milkmen.  The have to be there early in the morning, everyday.  I have personally seen their hard work and dedication, braving the 8'C temperature this morning to fulfill their duties and responsibilities to the dairy industry.  I can imagine that as these dairy farm workers vigorously burn their energy while attending to the rotary milking parlour, most of the Australians were still snuggling in bed and will soon get up to enjoy milk with their cereals, yoghurt with their fruits, cheese in their sandwiches and butter on their toasts.
 
But nothing really compares to these milking cows- the ultimate sources of milk.  Their body (udder?) is just simply amazing!  Just imagine the 40 litres of milk that each of these cows would produce in a day.  Most of them didn't even have the opportunity to rear their own calf, they have sacrificed everything they have in order to produce milk for the consumption of the human populace.

Just a thought:  How can I thank these cows?




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Connecting the Dots

I seem to feel that my student life has plateaued. It could be an indication that I am well-adjusted to this contemporary way of university life- which is very different from what I had when I was studying DVM in the Philippines.

I would usually arrive home(?) from the uni at five in the afternoon... have my early supper, take a nap from six to seven PM, start reading until twelve midnight or one AM (with some intermittent FB and Twitter breaks, of course)... get up at five (braving the cold Australian winter morning) and read until seven thirty AM, have an oatmeal breakfast, and prepare for the nine AM lecture at uni.  There are times when I would drive to Gawler to take Anna (my classmate, a Filipina who's living with his husband in Marion- a suburb, 1.5hrs away by train from Roseworthy campus) to the train station.  She and I would normally treat ourselves at McDonald's or KFC in Adelaide Road after surviving a tough challenge in our daily grind in The University of Adelaide's DVM program. 

Friday night is 'breaking-the-diet night' with friends at Kangaroo Flat; thanks to John and Lissa for untiringly hosting this regular dinner!  Saturday is my laundry day, and while the washing machine's doing the job for me, I would normally occupy the seat on my study desk to read the course handouts.  If there's a party scheduled on a Saturday night- try to check the attendance, I'm always present.  Otherwise, catch me at Video Ezzy at around six or seven PM, but after watching a rented DVD movie, I would try to sit and read my notes until twelve midnight.  

I'd spend an hour at St. Peter's and Paul's at Cohan St. during Sunday morning, shop at Woolworths or Coles at eleven, cook at eleven-thirty to satisfy my cravings, clean my car if needed, and review in the afternoon.

I have been praying so hard for enough courage, good physical and mental health (for me and my loved ones) and a regular budget so I could pursue and finish this program because I believe that my decision to drop my job so I could pick this one up was right.  It is free to dream, they say, but the journey towards its fulfillment is so costly!  I have sacrificed a lot of things, and have been paying the price of being ambitious.   

My daily routine has plateaued but it doesn't mean I'm bored.  We have six lecturers in Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, each with his/her own teaching and assessing styles; three lecturers in Intensive Production Medicine, and have been forced to learn Theriogenology in three weeks because this is the only time that we can have our imported lecturer (a Diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologist who doesn't have the plan to leave his job in his home country- Jordan).  I don't want to mention anything about my Clinical Research Project which is due before the semester ends.

This three-year DVM program is a pressure cooker!  Those lovely smiles on my Facebook photos are just the tip of the iceberg; one thing's certain, though- it's tough but I am enjoying it.  Honestly, getting a place in this program is, so far, the second best thing that happened to me in this country- next to Australian citizenship. 

My housemate Raymond (a Filipino working at SARDI feed mill in the university) would always quote Steve Jobs to lift me up, "We can only connect the dots backwards..."  Hopefully, someday I could.  

              


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Redfern, NSW

The mural and street art at Abercrombie St., Redfern, NSW, Australia.

The pedestrian waiting for the green light.  Corner Lawson & Abercrombie Sts., Redfern, NSW.

The passenger checking for the train departure time.  Redfern Station, Redfern, New South Wales.

Probably, a student of The University of Sydney walking along Lawson St., NSW, Australia.

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Overloaded

Michael is celebrating his birthday in Australia, he's a native of Batangas- a province in the Philippines that's famous for its strongly brewed coffee; he loves playing basketball and is looking after one of the biggest family piggery businesses in South Australia. 

 
My conscience is bothering me tonight.  I've eaten a load of Filipino foods earlier- I never count calories but I'm sure I've taken a considerable amount of fats and sugars that could add more pounds to my already overweight physique!

It's a friend's 40th birthday, and he decided to mark this day with a special party together with his friends in South Australia.  Michael and his family mean a lot to me- they're my host for two weeks (1-13 July 2012) when I did my companion animal clinical placement in Balaklava (a small town approximately 80kms from my place in Roseworthy, SA).

...with the Mojares Family.  L-R: Janna, Jhing, RJ, BJ, Matt and Michael

My stay with them had reminded me of our family 25 years ago in the Philippines- we're also a family of five and our youngest was also a girl.  I realized how challenging it was for my parents to mold us to become a morally, legally and spiritually upright persons.  I had also seen the struggles of being a parent-staying up late to fix things related to work and to the family, and getting up early in the morning (braving the wintry morning) to get ready for work in order to sustain- provide the basic needs, continue to put food on the table and finding ways to treat themselves and the kids with simple pleasures in life together.    

I was glad that these kids (in the photo above) had widely opened their arms to welcome me in their house- even before my arrival.  BJ, Matt and Janna sacrificed, they offered their computer and playroom to be my room-away-from-room.  To mention the couple's hospitality is an understatement, so better leave it...  One thing's certain, I enjoyed my stay with them, and just like in the veterinary clinic, I also learned a lot from their home.  I have actually started to get scared of the word 'parenting'.

Before I left Balaklava a couple of weeks ago, the kids requested something, "Tito RJ can you please bake a cake for Dad's birthday?"

I'd no reason to say no.  A piece of cake is nothing compared to their cordial and generous reception during my stay.  I sincerely said 'yes'.


In the party this evening, Jhing (that's how she spells her nickname, and doesn't want to tell us her Christian name) requested me to say the prayer before the dinner.  I wasn't prepared.  Tsk!  The organization of thoughts in that prayer was not good.  Unlike the cake that I baked (and decorated) for the celebrant, that prayer didn't stand out but it was uttered straight from my heart.

At the time of this writing, the party is still ongoing- a jam session with our friends who are good musicians and singers.  I had to leave early because I still need to get some rest to prepare myself for tomorrow's reading and review.  I have a long quiz on Clinical Pathology on Wednesday.

It was a lovely night- the party guests were happy, the table was teeming and the drinks were overflowing!  To have these good people and to spend time with them in functions like this are blessings.  Celebrating another decade in life is a blessing, too!

Overloaded.  It's pouring!

Michael- the birthday 'boy' with his family. 

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Satiated

I'm craving for more!  It was not enough; I wish I can have another week of school holiday.

Our three-week uni break has gone so quick.  It wasn't even a holiday 'cause I spent most of those days completing my Companion Animal clinical placement, writing my EMS (extra mural studies) journals and reports, and working on my clinical research proposal for my project this second sem.  

The University of Adelaide Course Planner:

DVM 1- Semester II

• Intensive Production Medicine- Poultry, Swine and Aquaculture Medicine 
• Clinical Research Project
• Veterinary Practice Fundamentals B- Clinical Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics
• Veterinary Practice Fundamentals C- Clinical Pathology and Theriogenology, with Clinical Neurology, Ophthalmology, Cardiology and Dermatology

THE SECOND SEMESTER has officially started!  Today is the first day and this morning I was dying of boredom while sitting for three hours in the tutorial room for the introductory lectures on Poultry Medicine. I was also bothered by this tension headache that I have been suffering for two days now.  As much as I wanted to book for an appointment with a chiropractor, I can't... because the attendance for the Poultry Medicine prac, which was done this afternoon, was strictly required and closely monitored.

That practical session inside the university's teaching barn was the longest one hour of my entire life!  I have this feeling that the learning objectives of that activity was not achieved.  Strictly, without unnecessary talking for sixty minutes, we were asked to meticulously observe the behaviour of those sixteen individually caged brown hens with multicoloured tennis balls hanging in their cage.  Apparently, those hens were totally uninterested with those colourful toys, contrary to what was written on the activity sheets.  No pecking bouts; they never attempted to escape...  they didn't seem to care about those dangling coloured objects and some hens had comfortably laid an egg during our activity! 

After the pracs, I hurriedly drove to the massage centre to have my head and neck kneaded to get some relief from this troublesome headache.  It was fortunately alleviated, but I still felt the need to buy some caplets of ibuprofen and a small bottle of liniment, so I did.

It was a very long day, and my tummy started complaining so I decided to visit Cafe Aqua-Elizabeth and try their 'All-You-Can-Eat Pizza, Pasta and Garlic Bread Night'.  

Cafe Aqua- Elizabeth's pizza counter.

Bolognese...

 

Fettuccine?

Penne with tomatoes, pepperoni and olives...

Cafe Aqua's garlic bread.

Margherita. 

Pepperoni and green capsicums.

Mushroom, pineapple, capsicum and cheese. 

A dollop of sour cream with a squirt of sweet chilli has completed these golden potato wedges!

The men behind Cafe Aqua's array of pizza and pasta. 

Cafe Aqua- Elizabeth, South Australia 
All-you-can-eat buffet; every Monday night from 6pm. 
With their friendly and attentive staff, plus their delicious pizza and pasta, Au$13.90 can speak for its value.  


I have been gaining some pounds since I started studying... I am hoping that my enrolled subjects this semester could aid in burning some of these unwanted fats.  It's 11:47PM in South Australia, it's time to go to bed and get some rest in preparation for our first Pharmacology lecture tomorrow.      
           



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University Alphabet

While writing this, my tummy's full.  I gave myself a treat with a beautiful roast lamb dinner; a blowout, I'd say.  It's just my usual way of celebrating some little day to day achievements (similarly, when I was still working- treating myself after a week of hard work).  Well, I am thankful that I am frequently celebrating lately, unlike before.

The agony of waiting for the academic results was equally dreadful with the preparation for and anticipation of the final theoretical and practical exams last semester.  That was actually the reason why, amidst those interesting cases in the veterinary clinic, I was bit anxious during the first 8 days of my extra mural studies.

I finally got my marks on all the subjects I enrolled last semester.  It seemed to me that I was one of the happiest students in the world after checking my university student account this morning.

Veterinary Professional Skills
(Animal Handling, Restraint & Clinical Examination; Legislation & Communication Skills) - CREDIT (C)
 
Veterinary Practice Fundamentals A (Diagnostic Imaging, Anaesthesiology and Surgery) - CREDIT (C)

Veterinary Pathology (General Pathology and Systems Pathology) -DISTINCTION (D)

Fail	A mark between 1-49	F
Pass	A mark between 50-64	P
Credit	A mark between 65-74	C
Distinction	A mark between 75-84	D
High Distinction	A mark between 85-100	HD

I didn't get any HD grade but I am happy and grateful for this blessing, I am glad I got these marks without going through a supplementary exam.  I had, honestly, made a resolution last week to quit this program and get employed if I end up getting a failed grade on any of my enrolled subjects; I just have this conviction that failing would mean 'unfit' for this profession.

This humble academic result goes to my mom and to my aunts whose wholehearted support is never-ending.  16.5% of the DVM Program is down, 83.5% more to go...  Second semester, here I come!


I STILL HAVE TWO DAYS left to complete in my first leg of clinical exposure, I've been living away from my place in Roseworthy (South Australia) for 11 days now and I have been terribly missing my room, my bed and my desk.  Don't get me wrong, I will be forever grateful to my friend and his family for the warm (literally and figuratively) accommodation here in Balaklava, South Australia (NOTE: it's midwinter Down Under). I have another story for this.

Meantime, it's bedtime.  




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Sydney in Six Hours

I flew from Adelaide to Sydney the other day- I stayed there for 6 hours then hopped in an afternoon flight back to Adelaide.

Boarding time at Adelaide Domestic Airport. 

But I didn't just simply eat my lunch there, I visited the Sydney Opera House, took the essential tour and discovered the magnificence and marvel of this famous Australian landmark!

Do I still need to write a caption for this? 

As a full-time university student without any part time job, what I did was obviously very costly that some friends might be surprised to know why I was willing to spend for a six-hour Sydney getaway instead of purchasing something necessary for my studies or practically, just simply buying a 10-kg bag of rice from the Oriental Shop, milk, and other daily supplies that could last for a fortnight.   

Well, I consider that trip an essential, too!  After spending hours of sleepless nights reviewing loads and loads of study materials since the 2nd of June... and the subsequent stressors I gave to my eyes, joints, muscles and nerves during the practical and theoretical exams, I believe that my mortal physique and my extremely fragile mind deserve a reward- a break from the four-week monotony in the university.

Okay, I'll reveal my secret.  I am forever grateful to my Woolworth's Everyday Rewards card, Qantas Frequent Flyer membership points and to Jetstar airways for sponsoring my flight!  And since visiting the Three Sisters would oblige me to spend for my overnight accommodation, I opted to cancel my original plans to see the Blue Mountains and focus on a quicker yet meaningful activity that could make my short Sydney trip memorable.  

A bit of info for the tourist. 

That's how the idea of my Sydney Opera House tour was born.  So I bought a day-trip ticket (Au$40) from the Domestic Airport train station that would give me the unlimited access to the ferries, buses or trains around the city for a day!  I was so unlucky that the ticket booth didn't honour my student ID from South Australia, public transport services' student concession was strictly for New South Wales students only.   

The tourists exploring the lines and curves of Sydney Opera House!

The tourist taking one of the stairways around the opera house. 

While the guide was giving some trivia about the glazed ceramic tiles of the Sydney Opera House, the tourists tried to examine the material right above them.  Cleaning the entire ceramic roofing would cost Au$17,000! 

The total cost of building the Sydney Opera House was Au$102,000,000! 

The original design of the Sydney Opera House didn't include any escalator and public lift.  These amenities were only added last 2008.

The staff and lighting crew of the Sydney Opera House.  This stairway leads to the Concert Hall. 

To complete the Sydney Opera House tour, a tourist needs to climb 150-200 steps.

The Red Carpet... covering the stairs leading to one of the theatres in Sydney Opera House.

The Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House!  Seating capacity is 2,679.  Photography was strictly prohibited inside, but thanks to the sydneyoperahouse.com/tourphotos- before the tour started, their photographer asked me to pose in front of a green curtain... and after the tour, dyarannnn!  

The tour lasted for almost two hours, and the guide was very accommodating (the one I had in The Great Ocean Road tour was a bit rude) and knowledgeable (well, he had to be); he shared heaps of relevant trivia about the Sydney Opera House.  But because I had just finished my last exam 24 hours earlier, my mind was still exhausted... it was so selective that it has only uploaded a few of the numerous infos I've heard about the amazing stories of this magnificent architectural masterpiece!  I didn't bother to open up my pen too, because I know that I can depend upon the generosity of Mr. Google about it.     

From the opera house, the Rock Island is visible.  Fort Denison is a former penal site and defensive facility occupying a very small island in Sydney Harbour.  The building is now a museum, tourist attraction and a popular location for wedding receptions and corporate events. The tourist facility contains an exhibition of the island's history from Aboriginal times. (Source: Wikipedia)

What do tourists do around the Sydney Opera House vicinity?

(Another photo with a touch of magic!  Thanks to the sydneyoperahouse.com/tourphotos.)  Because of some complicated issues during the building of the Sydney Opera House, the Danish architect Jørn Oberg Utzon who designed this beautiful Australian icon left the country and died without even seeing his greatest masterpiece!  So sad, isn't it?  

After the tour, I took the train from Circular Quay to Redfern station to get to The University of Sydney with a plan to visit the School of Veterinary Science but time didn't allow me to do it, I had to be back to the domestic airport by 4:30PM to check-in for my flight back to Adelaide.

Young Australian ladies selling homemade cupcakes at Abercrombie St., Redfern, New South Wales, Australia.  The street leads to the gate of The University of Sydney.

Just in time for my check-in... the train arrived at the Domestic Airport station a few minutes before the check-in counter closed. 

Honestly, I only took a very simple meal in Sydney: I had a Chinese combo somewhere at the Central station and had a Middle Eastern pack at the airport in the afternoon.  It didn't really matter to me, 'coz my Sydney Opera House discovery tour was impressively splendid!   

My kebab and rice-bean combo at Sydney airport.  I bought a bottle of diet Coke to push it through my throat.

During my two-hour flight back to Adelaide, I was asleep.  My friend Anna and her husband John picked me up at Adelaide Airport.  Anna had thoughtfully prepared a huge tilapia cooked in coconut cream with ginger; eaten with spicy shrimp paste and steamed rice, that was a perfect supper!

Then I drove back to Roseworthy... washed, brushed, changed and lay on my bed.  Somnolent, I smiled as I closed my eyes to start a deep slumber. 

Madonna and Child.  Sydney Domestic Airport, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA.

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