Why Can't Anyone Do Anything?

A conversation with a 5 year old,

"Do you know that there is a country named Palestine? This country has been "closed" by a group people. This group of people is called the Zionists. Now, the people in Palestine had been suffering for more than 60 years. They don't have enough water, they don't have clothes to wear. And when they are sick, there is no medication for them. Do you know that at nights, the weather there is very-very cold? They don't have enough blankets and sweaters to keep them warm. Sometimes, army from the Zionist group of people will come into their houses and kill their parents, maybe take away their sisters. Then their houses will be destroyed, just like how you disassemble your LEGO.

There is actually a way out of Palestine. In fact, there are many. But, one of the easiest way out has been closed by another group of people; the Egyptians. Egyptians are actually brothers and sisters of the Palestinians. They are supposed to be good people, and help the Palestinians, like how your older brother will come help you when you're bullied. But, there are some people in this country named Egypt who are very bad. All they can think about is money and power. So, they close the way out because, they were paid to.

"Don't the Palestinians fight back?"

"Ah yes, of course they fight back. They have been fighting for more than 60 years. It's very hard to keep fighting for 60 years you know...."

"But, isn't there anyone to help them?"

"Yes, a lot of people tried to help them. Some of these good people board on a lot of ships. They want to send food, clothes, medicine and toys to the people in Palestine.. But, the Zionist people attacked their ships. They sent helicopters, and commandos on to the ship. They also kill some of the good people."

"Why don't someone else send helicopters or aeroplanes too?"

"Oh, because the good people doesn't have much money"

"Why didn't the rich people help?"

"Errr...."

"Has the Zionist people been punished? Bad people must always be punished so that they won't repeat their mistakes. That is what you always tell me."

"Err... They haven't been punished."

"Who can punish them? Can anyone send helicopters to them? Or scold them so that they will not dare to do the same bad thing?"

"Err... It's all very complicated dear. Some people who have the power, dare not or will not punish them. Some people who really want to punish them do not have the power to do so. Some people don't even know that Palestine exist. Some people know, but they are too busy with their own lives."

"But why? No one is more powerful than the zionist people? That's not possible"

"Yes, there is. God is the Most Powerful. He will punish them when the time has come. For now, let us pray that all the good people will be given good health, good thinking and good lives so that they can continue their fights. Amin."

"Amin".

-AkMaR-
http://nur-akmar.blogspot.com

Sunday 13th June 2010
1.05am

KKB Rotation Posting

Assalammualaikum.

All semester 3 IMU medical students will have to go for a 3 day rotation posting in either KKB Hospital or Gombak Hospital. This semester, I was assigned to the KKB Hospital which means, I'll be going to Gombak next semester.

 Us in the bus befor the journey. Photo credited to Tay Yao Zong.

As our rotation started on Monday, the bus took us from IMU on Sunday to KKB. There were 12 girls staying in the nurse hostel while some other girls opted to stay in the IMU-rented houses in one of the housing areas in KKB. All the boys were required to stay in the rented-houses. Of the 12 girls staying in the nurse hostel, 8 were in first floor and 4 were in the 2nd floor. And I was one of the 8. We stayed in a dorm of 4 double-deckers.

When we first came in, the dorm was very sticky, and dusty. At first we used our sandals in the dorm but after some sweepings and moppings by us, we decided to enforce the law of "no sandals allowed in the room". =p

Day 1 (Sunday)

We walked to the nearest town for more than 30minutes!

And we met the boys, who had been walking for more than 30mins too from their houses.

We ate in one of the (maybe the only) kedai mamak there and started walking back to the hospital at 8+pm.

 While walking to the mamak. All of us are actually tired.

By then, it was very dark and all 11 of us (1 reached later) walked in a group, using the main, long-stretched road. We weren't really sure of the shortcuts (though Tasha asked one of the people there) and decided not to take the risk as none of us took the shortcut before and the road was very dark wout the road lamps and none of us know self-defense.

Thank God, we arrived the hostel safely, sweating and metabolised at least half of what we ate in the mamak.

At night, we started packing our things, cleaning the room and then started to chit chat, creating friendships. We slept very late that night, chit chatting the whole night and playing game cards. Ravini brought her UNO card which she left some of it at home. Hahah... I learnt a lot of new card games that night.

 

Day 2 (Monday)

Class started at 9am.

We went for breakfast at the hospital canteen before the class and met the boys there, who came by the bus IMU provided.

Some of us were late for the briefing, and I was the first of the latecomers to go into the briefing room. I was shocked and intimidated to see that I was "welcomed" by a super fierce looking thin lady. She stared at me like I've just killed a patient and quickly ran towards the back of the room finding empty chairs.

She took attendance, she gave some brief briefing and then stopped when Dr Lim came in. My, Dr Lim was like the total opposite of her. Dr Lim told us what we were supposed to do for the coming 3 days, she told us about the nearest waterfall and she said we can go there "after work" at 4pm.

Camwhoring in front of the ward =p

During the first half of the day, we were supposed to clerk the patients i.e take their history and do physical examination on them. We were divided into groups of 3 and each group will have their own patient. Unfortunately, as soon as we reached the ward, most of our patients have been discharged (good for them, bad for us). 

In the second half of the day, there was bedside teaching. Since none of us have a case related to the systems we studied, Dr Sevu decided to discuss one of the emergency case that morning. I almost feel like we're in one of House episode although Dr Sevu was nothing like House, he's more humane.

In the evening, most of my dormmates went out for dinner while me, August and Tasha stayed in the dorm. That night, we continued our card games till almost 1 am. I did not study at all during the 3 nights there. In fact, I dont think any of us managed to study although some did hold the notes, trying to read them.

Day 3 (Tuesday)

We repeated the same cycle we did yesterday but fortunately, my group's patient wasn't discharged so we managed to get history and do physical examination on her. 

And yes, Dr Lim grew fond of our group (haha...she said our group is very enthusiastic). She invited us for dinner that night. Initially we planned to go to the waterfall since we'll be leaving KKB early tomorrow evening but it was raining awfully heavy and there goes our waterfall trip, bye bye....

We ate in one of the chinese restaurants, me and Tasha walked to the mamak to buy our own food to eat with the rest of the group. 

After the splendid and enjoyable dinner, Dr Lim treated us all ice creams!

So nice of her. We walked to the ice cream shop and had our own choice of ice cream flavour.

I'm pretty sure the owner of the shop slept extraordinarily happy that night, heh... 30 students come out of the blue, asking for ice creams... 

Crazy-ing at the roadside walking for ice crea

Line up! 1, 2, 3

THANK YOU DOCTOR LIM!

=)

That night also, while in the dorm, we created a new game; called KKB Medical Game.

=.="

Day 4 (Wednesday)

Again, we went to the wards during the first half of the day.

After lunch, we had case discussion with Dr Lim in the dining hall of the nurse's hostel.

All of us were happy and excited to go back home but, there was one slight problem; misunderstandings.

It took us a great deal of effort to actually understand the schedule of buses that were supposed to drive us back to IMU. 

We were told that the bus will be fetching us at 5pm but, the bus arrived at 6.30pm! Imagine the confusion and tense we went through just to make sure all of us can sleep on our own beds that night. =p

Anyhow, luckily the problem was solved and we were happy camwhoring and sleeping in the bus on our journey back to IMU. =) 

Pictures inside and outside the briefing room:

  

All in All

All in all, I gained a lot from this KKB postings.

I definitely learned how to do better physical examination since I get to do it on real patient this time, and I can really say one of my patient has dullness on percussion on his lower left lung!

We called and visited the maternity ward a lot of times, just to know whether there is any delivery being done. I've never watched any "live" delivery before thus I'm really anticipating a delivery. But, for the 3 days we've been there, there wasn't even one delivery! Even the nurse whom I asked answered in a very boring mood, "There has been no delivery, even we don't have cases to handle...Hurm...."

And I was like, what?? I thought delivery should be one of the easiest case to get, new babies are being born everyday. That, for me, reflectes the size of the KKB; no offence but I think KKB is quite a small town. Or perhaps, the villages have very good midwives that mothers need no hospital to deliver.

We managed to see a heart attack case on our last night there. The patient had been there for 2 hours so he was already stabilised and was waiting to be transferred to Selayang Hospital for further in-patient care. The doctor and attendants in the Emergency Room was pretty busy that none of us dared to ask them further about the case. Personally, I'm afraid of being snapped or scolded for intefering with their mounting workload. 

Dr Sevu gave us a enlightening speech. He advised us not to work in clinics because according to him, doctors working in clinics will lose their "clinical touch" after one or two years. And it's definitely not challenging compared to working in a hospital. He added that female doctors will usually opt to work in the clinics because the workload and working hours are less, simpler thus less strenous. 

Now, I'll say I don't want to work in a clinic. I want to continue practising as much as I can. After all, I spent (or will be spending) so many years learning the skills, why would I let it go wasted?

But of course, people change as time passes (at 14, I told myself I do not want to drive at all when I grow up) hence, who knows what will I say 10 years from now? 

Anyway, that's all.
Goodnight.

p/s: Some photos were taken from Natasha and Tay. Thanks! =p

-AkMaR-

http://nur-akmar.blogspot.com

Saturday 12th June 2010
12.58am

The Wonders of a Human Heart

He always bring women back home. And his mother did not say anything to him. That mother-in-law of mine did not even try to scold her son for bringing back women home despite having a wife. Not only that, he always beat me. And most of the time, it was because he fought with the other woman. There was once he came back home, angry due to the fight, he came and punched me on the eyes, just like that. And I can't see properly for the next one month.

He is not working, neither did he try to. I earned only around RM1,300 per month and after paying the house rent, utilities and some other necessities, there is only RM500 left. And he took it all, leaving nothing for me.

hkljda

Chicken Rice O Chicken Rice

Assalammualaikum.

As many may have known, or have not known, my mother is an active member of the Malaysian Chinese Muslim Association (MACMA). And I have followed her in various activities for the past 2 years. 

There is a ReadMalaysia exhibition being held in the Malaysia International Exhibition and Convention Centre (MIECC) in Seri Kembangan, just next to Mines Shopping Fair. It is a book and education fair, and MACMA was invited to open a food stall in the exhibition. And of course, I tag (or maybe, was dragged) along. 

And we sell Hainanese Chicken Rice.

The fair started last Friday (5th June 2010) and will end on this Sunday (13th June 2010) from 11am to 10pm.

Some of the bookshops that participated in the fair are Gramedia Bookstore, MPH Bookstore and Unipress Dsitributor Sdn Bhd. Fyi, Unipress sells cheap medical books, so fellow med students do come and have a look, and eat the delicious chicken rice. =p

Being in this exhibition, selling food gave me a whole lot of new experience. It's definitely not easy to manage a stall, the tiredness and the fact that I have my End of Sem exam in less than 20 days time freaked me out. I even learned to chop the chicken, and I think the chicken looked horrible. I feel sorry to the customers who had that first few pieces of chicken that I chopped. But hey, the taste is still the same and I can guarantee I've done my best to keep the chicken clean and uncontaminated. So, the look should not matter. 

Since the stall is managed by chinese muslims, the lingua franca of the stall is Mandarin. And being the only one of the family not being able to speak the language, again the urge of mastering the language came into me. But whether or not I'll succeed, it's a totally different story. I think most of the workers in the exhibition knew about our stall, and since most of us are wearing tudung / scarf but speaks Mandarin, it feels special. And last night while I was walking back to the stall from the surau, one of the worker suddenly came and ask me if I'm a Chinese. He asked in Mandarin but the funny thing was, he asked without actually facing and speaking to me, it was almost like he's trying his luck whether I understand his question or not. So when I heard his question coming from my back, I stopped, turned back and looked at him, and replied in the same language (thank God I can understand and speak baby Mandarin).  So then his friends came to me, (guess what, they are from the insurance company) and started to call me to their stall to promote their insurance. I smiled, said thanks but no thanks and left them. It gave me a feeling of "enlightenment", adding on to the fact that I was in a super good mood back from IMU yesterday.

I first hold the chopping knife because I need to replace my sister who's going for her prayer (she's a full time worker while I am only a part-timer cum driver). And my aunts got excited seeing me in the apron with a big chopping knife, she asked my brother to take my pictures. And my, I look awkward. Hahah....

So, please do spare your time and come for the book and education fair, and don't forget to drop by the chicken rice stall (there are not many food stall, you won't get lost)! =)

Anyway, I gotta go now, to fetch some more chicken from the cook's house and bring it to MIECC. 

Till then, salam!

-AkMaR-

http://nur-akmar.blogspot.com

Wednesday 9th June 2010

11.42am

Destroying Ourselves

She was The Honourable Kezia Saint Martin. She has power, name, a long list of ancestors with histories, and not to forget, fortunes. She was born with Money, Power and History running thick in her veins; the 3 things one cannot conjure up, lie about, or steal. She was blessed with beauty, and style. Her mother was The Lady Liane Holmes-Aubrey before marrying her dad, Mr Keenan Saint Martin. Coming from the royal family of England, Kezia's mother with 9 generations of history, power and money married her father, a very rich American man. And Lady Liane, pressured by the expectations of people towards her, the craze paparazzi put before her and the loneliness in her, drank herself to death. She died a tragic death, a usual way for "them" to die. And Mr Keenan Saint Martin "lost" himself after her death. He died in a car accident. And since then, Kezia was brought up by her trustee, Edward. Kezia disliked her life. She finds no freedom in it. The media stalked her everywhere she goes. She can have everything she wants in the world but freedom. Then, she started writing. She writes under various pseudonyms to free herself. She went undercover when the media thought she was spending her time in some exclusive islands. She went to prisons in search of true stories, travel around the globe collecting experiences and life, and be a journalist. She practically lives under pseudonyms.

He was an ex-con. He was prisoned and spent almost half his life behind the bar. He furthered his study in the jail and he writes. And as soon as Lucas John was freed, while still under probation he made himself famous, loved, and hated. He fought for the fate of his fellow friends in the jail. The jailbirds were being forced to work while in jail, without a decent wage. They were being tortured and treated inhumanely. Lucas made it public. He wrote books about it, he gave speeches, press release and interviews. The inmates loved him. But the authority hated him. He sparked too much fire. He caused the riots in prisons. He's a trouble-maker, to the authority.

And they met by chance. Kezia was asked to do an interview on Lucas John. Her agent knows that Kezia had been living in lies all these while. She wasn't being herself, and he knows that an interview with Lucas John, the man who has nothing to lose and stand up for his friends will do Kezia good. And that was Kezia's first interview. Not surprisingly, these two people fell in love. Knowing that Lucas' life is in constant danger, Kezia was always worried sick.......

Well, that was a brief summary of the novel entitled "Passion's Promise" by Danielle Steel that I had just finished. And guess what, this novel was written in 1977! A 33 year old story, good eh. It was a very good novel I'd say, considering the fact that I'm a fan of Danielle Steel. However, the ending of this story scares me off, and I'm not going to tell what the ending was. =p

Danielle Steel's work are always based on a woman who have a very hard and challenging life. Then she will meet a man with a very hard and challenging life too. And then both of them wad will have hard and challenging lives, together. Haha yeah it sounded pathetic. "Hard + Hard = Hard but together". Although her work had always been like that, it attracts me.

Apart from the hard and difficulty of life shown in this story, it made me realise of a thing. Alcohol addiction, or alcoholism is an easy way out. Kezia's mother killed herself by alcohol intoxication, and so did her school friend, Tiffany. And Kezia nearly destroyed herself too towards the end of the story (luckily she did not). It was all too easy to destroy yourself by alcohol (well, according to movies and stories at least). You drink, get drunk, and forget everything. Isn't that just what someone sober needs? To forget? How nice if we can really forget all the problems (think, exams) we have. So, alcohol is actually one of the best "temporary" way out of problems, if one can forget fatty liver, liver cirrhosis and death waiting in line.

Luckily, Islam prevented us from taking alcohol.
Then, we won't have the chance to destroy ourself.
Say Islam do not prohibit alcohol, I'm sure a lot more people will resort to alcohol to forget their problems and, die of it. Maybe I would have too.
So no matter how sober I am, or how down I might feel, I won't take the easy but destructive way out because Islam do not allow it. I'm not sure if this is an extreme confession. Is this one?

I finished this novel on the second night of my hospital posting. I was supposed to read my lecture notes during free time, but I read novel instead! My mum had her shock of the day when she saw two novels in the bag I brought to the hospital. She knew I haven't finish reading one of them, but she did not expect me to bring a new one. And in respect of my mum, my study and JPA, I did not start reading the second one for I know I'll try my best to finish it up and I really can't afford the time anymore. Plus, the ending of this story put me in an I'd say emotionally vulnerable state. And I'm afraid of the effect the next novel might have on me. Hahah... At times I get too carried away by the story, my bad.

Some people think that reading fictions is a waste of time, it's an immature hobby or just ridiculous. But for me, reading novels give you experience. One gets to know how it is like in other people's shoes. Well, that depends greatly on the ability of the writer but, a good writer can bring the reader into the lives of the characters. Thus, your world is not confined only to your own life. How many things can one experience in their own lifetime? So novel is not only lovey-dovey stories, never ever underestimate the power of novels. There are a lot of things we can learn from it. Take the good ones, and leave the bad ones. After all, it's a healthy hobby. It's like watching a whole episode of someone's live in front of you.

I planned to make this post short, I am not sure how successful I am but, I am stopping now. =p
Salam.

Tuesday 8th June 2010
12.10am

-AkMaR-
http://nur-akmar.blogspot.com

The Hidden Truth

Assalammualaikum.


There is a country, whose people had been imprisoned in their own land for more than 60 years. This country has no access to the outside world. While the rest of the world is advancing their technologies, economy and population, the people of this country are killed brutally, their properties and lands are seized, and they were accused as terrorists. While the rest of the world launch their latest satellites, the people of this country jeopardise their lives for food, water and basic necessities. While the rest of the people enjoyed themselves having good education, financial stability and modern comfortable lives, these people continue fighting with all their might to protect their lands, dignity and religion. While teenagers all around the world hold beautiful handphones, hi-tech laptops and up-to-date cameras in their hands, the teenagers of this country are holding their country flags, stones and weapons to protect their families. While people in the rest of the world cry due to heart-breaks, loss of properties, or failure in exams, the people of this country cry silently for the death of their family members and friends, vowing to themselves to seek justice. While leaders in the rest of the world are using politics to accumulate their wealth, strengthen their popularities, the leaders of this country put their lives at stake for their people. And this country is named Palestine.

I wrote (or more accurately, copy-pasted) some news on the Freedom Flotilla, the fleet of ships trying to bring humanitarian aids to the people of Gaza on my blog. That was on 24th May 2010. I then left the internet on 30th May for my rotation postings in KKB. On the 31st, I received a shocking news, thanks to my friend who forwarded me the message. The Freedom Flotilla was attacked! Such an inhumane act by the terrorist Zionists!  But I was totally disconnected from the net for 4 days, and when I reached home, the cumulated workload was just too much to be handled that I didn't have time to write or read about any further news. I was only updated by the news via radio. 

In my previous post, one of the questions was whether Israel will prevent the flotilla from entering Gaza, or allow the aid to enter to "demonstrate" that Israel does in fact respect human rights? Not surprisingly, the illegal country chose the former one, accusing the unarmed, raw activists attacking their trained, skilled, armed soldiers. As ridiculous as it sounds, that was what the Zionists did.

M.V. Mavi Marmara is one of the ships in the Freedom Flotilla convoy. Most of the passengers are Turkish. On 31st May 2010, the IDF (israeli defense force) warned the ship to change its course and not send the aid to Gaza. Of course, the activists in the ship refused and continued their way to Gaza to break the maritime-siege of Gaza by Is-not-real. The army then boarded the ship by helicopters and a fight started on board. Nine civilians were KILLED. The commandos claim the activists attacked them first, the activists claimed the Israelis opened fire even before boarding. 

Respectable Malaysian leader, Dr M said: 

Claiming that the activists attacked the commandos first is equally ridiculous. The forces ranged against them were powerful and enormous, capable of sinking their boats. The Israelis have been known to ram supply boats with their armoured naval vessels. What is clear is that the Israeli's were the ones to attack first by dropping their commandos from the helicopter.

The attack by the inhuman Is-not-real-i army prompted a lot of responses world wide. Activists march to create awareness, public started boycotting the terrorist country's goods and blog posts on the attack published like mushrooms on the net. I just hope that this awareness lasts long; at least longer than the "Fitna" controversy by Dutch about 2 years back. 

As I browsed through the net for news on the raid, I found this one article; "Gaza flotilla hijacked by radicals", it was categorised under "Other Views". This article tried to point out that the passengers of the flotilla weren't only activists and journalists. There were also radicals who went on board, without any "peace" intention in them, just to terrorise and achieve their own personal missions. And some of the "radicals" in the flotilla, according to this article, are those from Islamic Brotherhood (Ikhwanul Muslimin). I like to present other opinions in a lot of matters, so that people can know what other sides there are in a topic rather than having a one-sided view. And then, decide on which is the truth and which are the lies based on personal justificationa and experience. And in this case, I strongly believe this article is WRONG. 

Ya Allah, please help the Gazans, please help all the brave people out there who sacrificed their comfortable lives, and gambled their lives just to send aid to the Gazans. Please help them. And oh God, please do punish the Zionists as heavy as You can, for terrorising the Palestinians, and have the guts to accuse the activists instead. 
Amin.

Sunday
6 June 2010
4.52pm

-AkMaR-
http://nur-akmarr.blogspot.com