maybe I should wear my glasses...

I finish packing away my things on the third floor of the Science Library and log off the computer on my way to lunch. As quickly as I stand up, another student swoops in like a magpie after a diamond and claims the computer. Why is it so crowded in here?!

I walk towards the lift but alas, it was already descending. As I briefly contemplate waiting for the other, the neighbouring stairs beckon with fanciful promises of a long and healthy life. I succumb.

Mid-way down the last flight of stairs to the ground floor, I see my friend dressed in the same summery blue top and jeans she was wearing that morning, with her blue and purple backpack on her back talking to the lady librarian at the desk. Good thing I wasn't lazy and took the lift, otherwise I would have missed seeing her, as she missed my call...again.

I call out her name as I walk down the last few steps. She doesn't hear me. She's writing on the clipboard on the side of the desk. I walk closer and call her name again. I'm now standing only a mere 20cm away from her. The Asian guy on her other side looks at me. I don't know him. Just as I'm about to tap her on the shoulder, I stop. Something was holding me back.

The girl's black hair is tied back in a loose bun, held up with black plastic pins. Hold on, she's never worn her hair like that. I take a casual inconspicuous step to the right so I'm now slightly behind her and lean to look at her backpack. Her backpack doesn't have graffiti all over it.

Omgosh, I'm standing right next to a complete stranger.

I look around quickly for a reason, anything, to explain my behaviour. I find none.

Seeing no other option, no way to possibly explain my presence there, I decide the only thing to do is to disappear from that location A.S.A.P. I avoid eye-contact with the guy she's with, mumble something incomprehensible and walk briskly out the exit.
it's also embarrassing when someone waves in my direction, and i wave back... only then realising they're waving to someone behind me, and so i pretend to scratch an itch on my head...but I know they know... and they know i know they know.
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Have you ever been walking down the street and realized that you're going in the complete opposite direction of where you are supposed to be going? But instead of just turning a 180 and walking back in the direction from which you came, you have to first do something like check your watch or phone or make a grand arm gesture and mutter to yourself to ensure that no one in the surrounding area thinks you're crazy by randomly switching directions on the sidewalk.
- ruminations.com

A little fibula. *

The concept of what constitutes an acceptable lie is a complicated area, a whole rainbow of greys in between the two extremes of telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, to spinning stories taller than... me, if I was very tall.

My recently finished FCP portfolio included a one page reflection. Seriously, what are we supposed to put here? We're expected to 'reflect' and remark upon the quality of our tutorials and our tutors, whilst our tutor is reading this then giving us an arbitrary mark?

If these FCP PBLs actually enhanced our learning, then this wouldn't be too bad. However, I'm yet to discover what I've actually learnt from being present at a PBL....

Semester Two's Foundations of Clinical Practice (FCP) Problem Based Learning (PBL) tutorials greatly expanded my knowledge on numerous aspects of the medical field.

Like PBLs are the leading risk factor in exhibiting symptoms of narcolepsy.

The group work tasks have been good to increase my team work ability and also time management in coordinating work with my peers.

The only group work involved in these group tasks is splitting the work evenly between members.

Using the butcher's paper for brainstorming and discussion has been useful in allowing an easy way for us to express our ideas and to share these with the rest of the group.

It allows me to spend time to explore my potential career as an artist by doodling flowers and stick figures. (rule 32)

Although my time-management skills have improved greatly, I feel there is more room for improvement. This can be achieved by planning and starting assignments earlier.

I say this every semester without fail.

Overall, this year of FCP has been a greatly enjoyable experience. I have learnt many things, both on an academic and personal level. I look forward to this continuing next year!

I think my drawing skills have improved and I look forward to progressing past stick figures next year.


So there you go, bite sized selections from 532 words of sugar coated lies disguised as a "Reflection" served right up.


P.S. These PBLs would probably be more effective if we didn't spend half our time today filling out surveys on the quality of FCP. (seriously, like 20 pages worth)


* I find such things humerus. (i wanted to include vitreous humour in that line, plus fundus and fundoscopy...but overkill?)
Exams soon :-(
Three weeks to go til holidays.


DISCLAIMER: due to all those stories about people being sued and fired about writing negative things about their workplace via blogs, if on the off chance this strikes a nerve with an important person and violates some fine print that no one read, i'm able to remove any such statements upon notification, and all that jazz. (i don't want to be kicked out of med school, please)
--------

The Pinocchio Paradox

This and that.

Dear Blog,

Sorry for the four month hiatus!
Hmmmm, what's been happening lately...........*

Love,
Me

I idly chatter to you in suave tones of surface talk.

I tell you everything that's nothing,

and nothing of what's everything.

* There is always the problem of what to include in a blog, whether to blog about day-to-day factual events or abstract thoughts and random realisations. Reading friends' blogs surprise me on most part; there is something about blogging that reveals another side of a person you didn't know they had (at all!) or just don't see too often...makes it a point worth pondering how much is hidden beneath the cool, calm and collected image most people have on. Nonetheless, fun reads and always interesting, though we never really know who reads these things... *run!*