It is Nice to be Important, but it is More Important to be Nice

For once, I felt blessed earlier. Surrounded by my brothers and sisters, who have now turned into Doctors. I was so proud. I think I cried when I was talking to a few of you who I remembered came to see me before, asking for advice. A few of you who had to repeat some exams, dropped a year even, finally making it. None the less, you all look stunning and dashing.

My head is still spinning with emotions. Proud. Sad. Happy. All mixed. I can't imagine what was going through your minds. My thought is with 21 of your colleagues who did not make it this time around. I will try to help them. Please let them know my mobile for them to contact me. According to the Dean, the passing rate this year is 87%, below the target of 90%. The passing rate for RCMP is much less than that. There were no Gold Medals awarded this year. However after his speech, Prof Ikram did invite a few of the boys and girls who did better than others, those on the Dean's List to step up to be congratulated.

In his speech, Prof Ikram mentioned about three R's, Responsibility, Reconciliation and Reflection. Something for the boys and girls to ponder about. Then the awards from the Orthopaedics, Paediatrics and Surgical Department was announced. I wished that the Medical Department hands a similar award out as well. Prof Wan then was given the opportunity to give his amanat. I hardly touched my food. I'm starving now. I was busy congratulating everyone. I hope that the feelings was mutual.

By 10.30, signals were given for the Lecturers to make a dignified exit. After some photos, I left. Hopefully I managed to let some of them know what I felt. I may not see them again in the future however. As far as I can tell, the posting list for the Housemans (re - HO = Hamba Orang) is now out yet. Most of you doesn't know where you'll be headed next. At least Singapore did not take the top 5% from our pool this time around.

I think the party is still going on at the time I am posting this blog. Congratulations again. Do drop by to hear from me from time to time. I look forward to see the pictures from tonight posted on Facebook. Don't forget to tag me. Adios!

Update on Tuesday, April 7, 2009 at 12:21AM by Haris Abdul Rahman

By the way, one of you used the Lumix LX-3! I am jealous. I want that camera!

The Longest Wait

Toad all set for tonight's bash. Don't think he'll be wearing a tux.I don't envy the position the Final Year students are all in at this point in time. They are waiting anxiously for the results to be posted. I can tell everyone is desperate from the number of phone calls and SMS I have been getting through out the day. It should be up soon. The weather has also been appropriate, thunderstorm!

For the ones who passes, they will be attending the Graduant's Dinner tonight. For me, I am still cheesed off by the fact that Toad has more invitation than me. Not too mention that he asked me to drive him there! Such cheek! I am still recovering from the excitement of the winning goal 3 minutes into injury time, scored by a 17-year-old on his debut. My God he will be popular around Manchester tonight!

The Trip Down to MRSM Terendak #2

I know I won't get lost with Toad reading the GPS

I left at around 3.30 and decided to take the route via Port Dickson. I thought it would be a nice drive. The drive up to PD was great, but I should have just taken the highway via Seremban rather than up through Morib, Banting and Kelang. I only arrived in KL at 8pm because of the detour.

Inside Kedai Kopi Pak LangAfter a quick goodbyes, I headed back to Lubok China, taking the federal route 5. I arrived in PD before 5 and stopped for tea. I had Asam Laksa and tea at Kedai Kopi Paklang, right i the middle of PD town. Been meaning to give it a visit after going there a couple of years ago. The Asam Laksa and roti bakar was good. The building is also quite nice, as even though it serves Malay food, the interior is Chinese influenced in the Baba/Nyonya style. It also have a traveller's theme, with clocks on the wall indicating time at the big cities around the globe.

Entrance to Kedai Kopi Pak Lang in Port DicksonI then set off towards Morib. On the way there I drove across a sign for Bakaugruv. It is now a motivational camp and resort near Tanjung Sepat, Morib. When I was in Form 4, I was invited to attend the camp for a week. All the top students from MRSM went for a stint there. We were thought study skills. What I remembered most about the place was the food. It was delicious, and with every meal, we have to take a portion of tempe, a Javanese food made from soybean. It is full of protein and supposed to be good for the brain. I just gobbled them up. It's free food!

I got to Banting before Maghrib, and drove on towards Klang. I then joined the KESAS highway. Caught in the rain near Kinrara but safely home in time for dinner. In retrospect, it has been a tiring day and I should have joined the highway off PD rather than driving on. There was nothing much to see and I didn't have the time to stop to look. Maybe next time when the light is better and I am not too tired.

Rock on my cuddly little friend!

The Trip Down to MRSM Terendak #1

Toad with the Visitors Pass arriving at Terendak Camp

I set off very early this morning in order to make it by 10 in Terendak. Got into the car at 7am. Tucked Toad in. Off we went. I stopped over for breakfast in Seremban R&R. There, I bumped into Dr Azahadi and Farizal Haryadi, my seniors who were the main organiser for the event. Azahadi is a Specialist in KKM while Farizal is an Army Officer. They were both clad in ANSARA (Anak Sains MARA - MRSM Alumni) shirt, with their name and MRSM emblem embroidered on them. Had some nasi lemak and teh tarik there before making my way further.

'Mutton' crossing the road near Masjid Tanah. Had to slow down.I took the Pedas/Linggi exit. Drove through Rembau district area, Khairy Jamaludin's constituency. Cutting through the countryside, I drove through Lubok China, Masjid Tanah then finally Sungai Udang. Got there in plenty of time, stopping at gas station on the way. Left my MyKad at the post, got into the MRSM campus at 9.30.

A few of the other participants already there. Most of them were my juniors that joined the college well after I left. A couple of lawyers, engineers, IT consultants. There was also a guy who is a university lecturer currently doing his Masters. Payut, my badminton partner arrived 10 minutes later. Cikgu Wan Aizah arrived just before 10 with her husband. Also met the school driver that has been there for 25 years, Abang Malek. Being a Saturday, not many of the teachers were around.

Payut at the monument marking the 25th Anniversary of MRSM Terendak erected last yearOrganised Careers Day such as this is rare in my old school. Dr Azahadi was the main driver behind it. Around 20 speakers turned up. From the medical fraternity, we had Dr Azahadi, Dr Azah, UKM lecturer who just returned from Nottingham after completing her PhD, and a couple of MOs. We were given a formal introduction at the beginning in the main hall, before small groups were assigned. We then moved into the classroom for a more focused talk.

We had a couple of sessions, before and after lunch. Dr Azahadi, Dr Azah and I talked about our experience and our route before becoming a specialist. We were very honest in listing out the high requirement and competitiveness before being accepted to study Medicine. The number of years needed to spend to get to our level. They were surprised as I think they were expecting us to just talk about the beauty of the profession. We didn't even touch the ugly aspect of high commitment and low monetary rewards of working as a doctor yet. Seeming eager at the beginning, the truth hit them hard, but they did not change their mind. I can only take that as a good thing. We then broke for lunch. Dr Azah had to leave as her husband, Dr Zaini, a Paediatrician had to leave early.

At the surau for Zohor PrayersWe had a whale of a time during lunch talking about the 'good old days', how the rebels at school now becoming lawyers and doctors, friends caught smoking in toilets, teachers, girlfriends. One of the student in the earlier session asked Dr Azah about family life while being a Doctor. She said, it will take a lot of sacrifice. She herself has a daughter and she is lucky to be married to a doctor who understands her line of work. She told them of the challenge of being a mother, juggling career and family commitments. They gasped when the other 2 MOs (both ladies) present said that they were not married yet. They were also surprised that I am not married to a doctor. I said, my wife married me before I become a doctor. She was also from MRSM Terendak and we started going in form 3 and now married for 12 years. You should see their faces!

After prayers, we continued for another session with a different set of students. By 4, they were taken for a motivational session, conducted by Farizal Haryadi. By that time, Payut and I decided to call it quits. They were planning a friendly game of volleyball with the students after that. I will write about my journey back on the second post ...

What's in the Name?

It has again been a long day. It may be a cause for a lot of anxiety for some, but a source of relief for others. Had another session examining short case earlier this afternoon. Saw some familiar faces. As I mentioned last night, I shall refrain from saying anything about the outcome of the exam until the results are out. 

Most of you will be traveling home for the weekend. I want to share with you a couple of stories. The first is concerning my brother-in-law's friend. He has just returned from overseas after completing his medical degree and waiting for his postings with Kementerian. One day, at a traffic light while he was on his motorcycle, a lorry came from behind and hit him. He died instantly. He never get to practice medicine.

The second is about my granduncle's son (my Dad's cousin). My granduncle was a great Paediatrician. When he left government service, he was the Deputy Director General of Health. He recently passed away in 2006 well in his eighties. Amongst his daughters and sons, none of them took up Medicine. None from his nieces and nephews followed suit as well. I was to be the first. In 1969, his brilliant youngest son was offered the Colombo scholarship to read Medicine in Canada. It was a great joy for him and the family. Unfortunately two weeks out, he died of an accident while in his father's car. His name was Fadzil.

I was the first grandchild, and was born a few years after Fadzil passed on. When deliberating what name to register me by, my granduncle wanted me to be named Fadzil. He says that one day I will become a Doctor like him. My father however was wary of the fate befallen Fadzil, an decided to name me slightly differently. My family calls me Fadzil, but most of you know me as Haris.

The morale is, drive carefully on your way back to your kampung. A lot of people are banking on you to be the pride of the family. It is one thing to disappoint people, but imagine if something were to happen to you just due to your recklessness. As the TV advert says .... 'Anda Mampu Mengubahnya!' Drive safely, and see you next Tuesday.

Update on Friday, April 3, 2009 at 11:03PM by Haris Abdul Rahman

I will be doing my fair share of driving as well tomorrow, going down to Malacca. The program there starts at 10, probably leaving right after breakfast at my mother's house. Coming back, I plan to drive via Port Dickson and Banting just for the fun of it ... Hmmm! Banting ... 

I will be taking Toad down for the journey as well. I got home late today, so Toad has gone to sleep with Idlan and Irfan.