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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