A Journey

The graduate

2010-02-20T14:05:00.000-08:00

The County

2010-02-20T14:01:00.001-08:00

This is where I am now since June 24, 2009....

A year later

2008-07-06T20:55:00.003-07:00

It has been more than a year. What changed? I am almost done with my 3rd year. I've taken Step 1 and Step 2 CS and I am planning to take Step 2 CK in August. I learned a lot during my clinical rotations. I also had confusing moments of trying to decide how I want my medical career to be. I am started to do the application for residency. I am hoping that I can save my little blog's life while I am trying to learn how to save lives.

To be continue...

The Goats Next Door!

2007-03-23T15:51:00.000-07:00

There are goats next to our compound. They like to stay close to our fence. In the beginning of this term, they are the one who woke me up in the morning in addition to those roosters.

Whenever I look through my window, I look for them. They are there mostly. Lately I noticed the babies goat around the area. Have I missed the pregnant goat? Or I do not have enough experience with goat to see that she was pregnant?

I got use to those noises that they make in the morning since this is our 3rd month here. The other day, I was taking a nap and I woke up with that horrible noise that sounded like a person cries. I got up and look through the window, I didn't see any sign of human. I put on my glasses and looked again. I saw two dogs trying to bit and pull something on the ground. Then i heard that yell again. I knew that there was something alive making the noise. I was afraid that it might be a person or a little kid that was attacked by the dogs. Suddenly, I heard a boy shouting and running with a stick in his hand toward the dogs. The dogs were not scared at all. They kept on pulling that thing on the ground until that boy trying to hit them.

The dog run but they tried to come back again. They were persistent to get that something. A lady, a old man and a little girl came to the place where the something or someone was. Then they tried to pull a rope that was there. There I was watching through my window behind the curtains wondering what that would be. The lady picked up the thing and I realized that it was a baby goat. The goat was black and white color. The baby goat was so young that he/she could not defend himself/herself from those crazy dogs. All those people were trying to fix the baby goat. The dogs were trying to get back to the goat again. I felt sorry for the little goat who has no protection. Where are the parents or where is the mommy goat? Those are the question I had on my mind at that point.

I realized that you are vulnerable either when you don't have enough strength or when you are too young to fight for.

The is my little memories on THE GOATS NEXT DOOR!

Surfing the net

2007-03-18T21:13:00.000-07:00

I ended up sleeping at 5 am this morning. What was I doing? Surfing the net and learning how to make new things for my blog. It was just making icon and trying to figure out whether they can show up on IE and stuff.

I am behind from my studying schedule. Oh not it is not for USMLE. I don't even think about it (well yes a little, but it stresses me out, so I prefer not to think). My schedule is just for the classes that I am taking now. Behind my schedule for 2 days. How am I suppose to catch up?

Since I was surfing the Internet, I found so many clips that were shown during the class breaks. This might seem like a repeat post since I posted those clips on my Yahoo 360 degree. I hope you enjoy them.

P.S. if you have time, visit happyslip.com

2007-03-18T10:53:00.000-07:00

This was taken on my last day in Grenada. Background is our Grenada True Blue Campus. The building on the far right is the Library and Caribbean House.

Clap, clap, clap

2007-03-17T18:14:00.000-07:00

I was just listening some of the lectures posted on our school website. It is a slide show with voice recording from the lecture. It is very convenience because you don't have to go to class to listen or see what they teach you, you can just stay home and listen and watch the lecture on the web.

I tried doing that but I think I rather stick with old fashion going to class for now.

Well I was listening to the lecture to see what are the slides that I was missing from the lecture notes. It was a lecture of a visiting professor. We usually have some visiting professors from UK, US and Canada to teach us in different subjects.

Our class like to clap. Every time a new VP (visiting professor) come and he/she gets introduced to us, we clap. Every time someone say some thing nice, we like to clap. Every time a VP finishes teaching, we clap. It doesn't matter how much we don't like the professor or how much we do like them, we will clap if someone is introduced to us or that someone is finished his/her job with us.

We clap, clap and clap. It is nothing wrong with clapping, it is just funny that our class clap for no reason sometimes.

Clap, clap, clap...

test

2007-03-15T21:33:00.001-07:00

စမ္းေသာပို႔စ္

For my posts in Burmese, please go to Pieces of Me

To see in Burmese, instruction for downloading Zawgyi-One font is here.

I no longer in Grenada, still living free of luxury!

2007-03-13T17:40:00.000-07:00

Well, I use the mnemonic "I'm in Grenada, living free of luxury" for my blogs. I thought I would remember what that nmemonic stand for.

Yesterday in class, I was using my computer to take notes and this is what happened when the professor asked me what are the nerves of lumbar plexus.
Me (off-guard): "uh, oh, L1 to L4?"
Professor: "nerve, big nerve, give me one name, not nerve root"
Me (still thinking what is in the lumbar plexus and blank out): "ummm, eee,...."

My friend who was sitting next to me said "Siatic nerve"
Me to professor: "whatever he said..."
Professor: "no"
At that point I know that Siatic is not in lumbar plexus, it is in lumbosacral plexus, and
Me: "yes, it is in lumbosacral"
Professor (now pressuring on my friend): "come on, the big one"
A Light buld was on in my head and I whispered "femoral?"
Professor (turn to me): " yeah you got it, what is the other one?"
I was thinking "oh shot, he wants another one?"
Someone answered at that point " Obturator"

At that point I felt so bad because it is the mnemonic I used and I didn't remember any nerve from lumbar plexus.

This is our mnemonic for lumbar plexus and it's explanation. Since we lived in Grenada, it was really meaningful for us to know that.

I'm - iliohypogastric n
In - ilioinguinal n
Grenada - genitofemoral n
Living - lateral femoral cutaneous n
Free - femoral n
Of - obturator n
Luxury - lumbosacral trunk

Things that I want to say

2006-12-03T21:52:00.000-08:00

There are things that are bothering me or things that I want to say. Here they are:

You are not allowed to know those.

Words to take for Thanksgiving weekends

2006-11-22T13:52:00.000-08:00

I think I should share what I learn in my nutrition class. Read this before your Thanksginving weekends.

This applies especially for the ladies.

Studies show that:

Males are relatively unaffected by their eating companions
Females eat 13% MORE when eating with a male than with a female
Meals eaten with close friends or partners are ~20% larger than with other companion types
Meals eaten with work colleagues are 16% smaller than with other companion types

So ladies, try to have lunch with your work colleagues who are feamles and who are not your close friends. Don't eat with your love ones.

Well it will be hard since Turkey weekends is all about friends and families. Please try not to eat that much since there will be plenty of food + you have all those increasing factors (such as your close friends, family members and your partner)

That's all folks!

My other world

2006-11-15T18:37:00.000-08:00

Well, I am back here again. With some encouragement from a friend, I decided to write more about life in SGU.

It is not that I am not writing since april. It is just that I have so many blogs to write. It is not that many, I have yahoo 360. I post a lot of pictures there though. If you want to know what happened to me during the time that I was not here, just go to Yahoo 360. Here is the link. http://360.yahoo.com/pansakar

Life is short. People don't have enough time to do all things. Especially when you are in school, you feel like your life is shorter. I just feel like I don't even have a life sometimes.

Have to study, but i am not studying. Can someone help me please?

Almost the end

2006-04-29T21:19:00.000-07:00

You will ask me where I've been. I will say that I've been busy, but not with studying only, also with the things that I don't know why I was busy.

The second term is almost over. The degree of homesickness is rising. I never thought that I would be unhappy in the place that I don't hate. It has been a very interesting term for me. Things happened. You learned about people. There are a lot of drama on this island. Even I can't get away from those drama. You will see girlfriends cheating on their boyfriends and couples breaking up in almost every where. It seems like the island brings out the bad in people. It is good that I am not one of them.

There are other good things happen on the island also. I gained good friends who help me on this island. It is always the case where good comes with bad.

Within 2 wks, we will have finals. The first termer will be leaving and we will be here for another month. We will have to stay here to survive for term 3.

It is hard being a foreign med student. It is even harder when things go wrong.

I just want to say to other people, please dont think that "what happened on island stay on the island," there are consequences to every thing you do.

2nd term

2006-03-10T20:38:00.000-08:00

I am now in 2nd term. I am not liking it at all.

We have more time (it is true), but we need to spend more time reading all those materials too.
I was behind for most classes somehow until the midterm time.
Didn't do good in genetic class.

Now we finished Immuno and Neuro midterms. One more to go. Physio is hard. I read and I though I understood, but when you took the quiz, you found out that you didn't know much.

Almost time

2005-12-30T18:03:00.000-08:00

It is almost time to go back again. I didn't even know how I spent my free time. Was it really a free time? I've been busy cooking, cleaning, eating and helping my mom and I haven't really enjoyed my Free free time.

To tell you the truth, I am afraid to fly to Grenada. I don't know why I have to have bad experiences with airlines. I had to go trought tough time with Air Jamaica, and then last time coming back home, i had to take 5 different planes.

Long story and I don't want to say any more.

Coming close to the end

2005-11-24T10:44:00.000-08:00

It is only a week away from our first final (Embryo). I still have to study a lot. I've been doing Biochem (since I didn't do as well as I want on midterm) lately and I haven't studied for all other classes.

I am lost in Histo. Can't picture Embryo and forgetting Anatomy. At least we finished with Clinical skill class.

I am a facilitator for BioChem small group and I've done one small group. Today I will have my group at 4 pm. I am here in Bell Hall waiting for my group to start, can't study because I don't know what subject to start.

Too much information to learn after the midterm. We don't have second Unified Quiz like the other terms and we don't have any thing forcing us to study during the time from the midterm to final. I am behind in studying for all the classes and I don't remember whatever I studied.

The finals are coming and I just have to deal with them. After the finals, it will be the time to go back to state. I am looking forward to go back and enjoy the easy life of not studying for 3 weeks. Then we will have to come back here for 6 months. I don't want to think about that time. Have to push myself for the exams. Good luck to all.

Sunset

2005-11-13T19:49:00.000-08:00

Isn't it a nice view? Now they fixed the dome.

Grenada and SGU

2005-11-13T19:17:00.000-08:00

I created this blog to write about my life as a med student. I ended up posting nothing about my school life or life in Grenada. Here are few things I like to share.

First month in Grenada:

for first 3 weeks, many trips to airport, many phone calls to airlines to get back my luggages. using the things I had and the one my mom brought with her was my life saver
learnt to go to town (St. Georges') to buy fresh vegetables
trying to figure out how to study Anatomy, Biochem, Histology and clinical skills as I only took some BioChem during my undergrad years
ended up going to Gross Lab three times per week.
found out mnemonics about Brachial Plexus from Dr. H way before other people learnt it.
found out that Dr. H was the good and patient teacher.
learnt to talk about Anatomy and found out that I learnt best by talking out loud
found out that Dr. P (Histo prof.) like to talk about Cutie Pie and love Canaliculi
found out that Dr. C doesn't have Marfan's syndrome even though he is tall
learnt to use the word "appreciate" from the Histo tutors and professors
had first lecture of Embryo at the end of August and fall in love with Embryo animation.
found out that the calm Dr. R (Embryo) is like an indian yoda
finally had the Unified and learnt that I didn't know much

Second month in Grenada:

studied harder than before Unified as I did bad on Histo and Biochem
the schedules are hetics
found out that Clinical skill department was so unorganized
making the list of what to do after midterm
busy studying for the Midterm
changed my advisor to Dr. H since the assigned advisor didn't answer my emails
Midterms were crazy
last midterm was biochem and I messed it up
after midterm was great, went to Grand Anse beach and swam and had pizza
had some get together with friends
disappointed at the Housing Lottery and Housing office
had to find the place to stay for next term

Third month in Grenada:

reduced the number of visit to Anatomy lab from 3 to 2 or sometimes 1
can't get a hold of Dr. Hage since every one is surrounding him
can't catch up with the classes.
end up watching movies (rent them from DVD link fromt the spice land mall)
lost in most of the classes
for Anatomy, I still wondering in the perineum and the lectures are in head and neck
the head has so many information and can't seem to remember them
all those nerves make me nut
biochem quiz (10Qs) was not bad
eating so well as my roommate and I cook a lot
not studying enough

There it is. I am enjoying the sun and the water. I am having good meal. I am not studying that hard. Grenada is nice, only expensive to live here. I will miss this place. Meanwhile I have to go back to study for the finals which are coming in next 3 weeks.

The view

2005-09-04T11:00:00.000-07:00

View from my window

White coat

2005-09-04T10:56:00.000-07:00

With my mom after the white coat ceremony.

With borrowed stuffs.

Priceless

2005-09-04T10:47:00.000-07:00

Tuition at SGU per term $18000 ?
Round trip Flight to Grenada $1100
Buying phone from Cingular $140
5 roundtrips to airport with Taxi $100
Having to buy a short b/c of shortage of clothes $ 28
A meal at the caffetaria (only for the fries) $5
A gallon of milk in Grenada EC $17

Getting your luggages back after 3 fulll weeks - priceless

THE day

2005-08-10T01:22:00.000-07:00

Today is the day (actually I can still sleep until morning to call it). I am leaving here from LAX at 9pm. Some of my friends are going to meet me in NY when I have to transfer airplane. My bags are packed. Some still left to put them in my mom's luggage. I cleaned out my things in the room I am staying. It is a guest room, but I have been living there a year now. I have to pack my clothes and things so that any guests or my brother or incase my grands come here, they can stay. It feels weired. It is like moving away even though I know that I will be back in December.

I went to some of my parents' friends houses to say good bye to those old people. It was kind of emotional though. Seeing the tears of eighty years old and over sixty years old people made me sad. I am not leaving forever, I will be back. It is going to be a new life or new experience or whatever you call it, for me. I am excited but also nervous at the same time.

Here I come Grenada, be nice to me.

T minus 9 days

2005-08-01T23:11:00.000-07:00

Here I am coming back to my web page to write again. I think that I should write more since this blog is about my documentation on my schooling in Grenada. The clock is ticking now.

I don't feel like doing any thing lately. I don't even visit ValueMD for a while now. What is happening to me? Am I homesick already?

I tired to make myself occupied by doing things like sewing the clothes I didn't know how to make. Yes, that is me. I don't know how to make blouses or skirts, but I do have some ideas. I had make 1 skirt, 1 blouse and a sun dress during this week. They are not top of the line quality but you can wear them though. My room is a mess now with all those fabrics lying around and all those sewing materials. I slept in a tiny place surrounded by all those things. I didn't sleep or had 1 or 2 hours sleep for two night in a row and today I was really down. I slept the whole day waking up for phone calls and food.

My parents went to China with the tour last week and they are back yesterday. It makes sense that my parents have jet lag. When people ask me why I sleep the whole day, what can I say? I didn't go to China but I need to sleep.

Back to the topic....
My luggage limit has exceeded. I have three luggages now. It is good that my mom is coming wiht me. I can use her luggage space. I don't know what I packed in my luggages because it has been a while I packed 2 of them. The third one is packed recently. It is all about food. I put a pot and pan in there, some cereal bags and some breakfast bars and other things. It is already full, I haven't even put Burmese food or a bag of rice in there yet. I might have to use my mom's another luggage space. It is only 9 days left. I am afraid that I won't know how to study again. It seems like a long time since I studied or took classes. Am I be ok over there? I won't have a cold feet. This is what I want to do. This is my dream. I have to be brave and try my best. Nobody can say any thing to me now... I am going to St. George's University School of Medicine. I will be fine. But wish me luck though...

A strange phone call

2005-07-12T21:46:00.001-07:00

I had this strange phone call from University Service(of SGU) today. Well, when i picked up the phone, the guy said "congratulation, you are in for Aug term." I was like, huh, I thought I was already in. I was kinda freaked out at that moment. You know, I deposited and did all the loan thingy and stuffs and bought air tickets, etc, etc. and now he called me today and told me that I am in. Wasn't I in for Aug term already? Am I in the waiting list that I don't know about? I did ask him why he called since I knew I was in for Aug way back from June 11. And he told me that he was calling everyone on his list. He wasn't sure I got a call for my acceptance yet. Well, it was true that I didn't get a call, but I did get an e-mail from my admin. officer saying that I was in and I deposited $1000 also. It is just me who got that kind of call or there are other people too. I was really weired to get that call. Insead of feeling happy when you know your acceptance, I was shocked. Funny though.

Preparing for the Rock

2005-06-30T21:35:00.000-07:00

First of all, I want to thank people who visit my blog. I thought no one visit here, but I was wrong. Thanks for the comments too.

I have been collecting things to bring to Grenada. It is really hard trying to figure out what to bring. Thankfully I have some help from SGU forum in www.valuemd.com . I have been visiting and posting messages there for like a month now. There are so many things that I want to bring to Grenada. I never been to GND and I don't know what they have and they don't have. Since I am a asian, I need to eat rice. I am bring a rice cooker there. So far I have my laptop and a rice cooker. I also have a peeler and kitchen mitt. I just have to figure out how I am going to bring all the thing I need to bring and want to bring.

People advise me to bring pillow and sheets too. I don't know where to buy the bags that you can put stuff and suck out the air with vacuum. The pillow has to be compressed otherwise, I will have a big problem fitting things in my suit case. Speaking of which, I don't have any luggage yet. I have to buy 2. Lots of money have been spent lately. I just bought some scrubs and lab coat. It is really difficult to order because the scrubs are usually big and I think i have to order small or x-small. So I ended up ordering both, small and x-small. The color is called ciel blue. What is that color? I am not so good in color names. Also I need to buy other stuffs such as cereal, granola bars, easy mac, a rain coat, and some medicine like Tylenol and NyQuil. I am coughing now and those cough medication made me drowsy most of the time. I will try to post here before I go. The first term will be really tough one. With all the hard courses, I also have to deal with roomate and strange food/places.

Sick

2005-06-24T00:12:00.000-07:00

Ok, I haven't been posting any thing new and I know that no one really cares. There is nothing really news about me. Yes I have been accepted to St. George's Univeristy and I posted about that. Yes I have been very excited about going to SGU and also very stressed out. I don't know what I should bring down there.

I've been kinda sick lately. In addition to all my allergies, I am coughing now. I had decided to eat lots of food (especially Burmese food) while I am here and now I can't. No, I don't want to eat because I am sick. I really want to eat them but I don't feel like it. May be I am stressed out.

Have I ever mentioned that I worry about things too much. I am worrying now about how I am going to study there, how I am going to eat there, how I should get along with the roomate, how am I going to get my check deposit, how I am going to get money, how how how. I haven't been working since last year, so you can see that I am broke. No money. I did worry about how I am going to pay for that $1000 deposit to SGU. Well, I finally asked my dad to help me out. (I don't like to ask, I don't want to burden other people) I just sent my loan application today. I don't know how I am going to pay for my loan though. My financial counselor told me that every $1 I borrow, I have to pay back $3. How am I going to pay back 230K times three?

Before those loan things, I had to worry about air tickets. Well, I bought a one way ticket first to Grenada and I was happy about it. Then I worried that I wouldn't be able to get my tickets in Grenada if I buy the return ticket there, so I bought the return tickets too. I searched and searched for the tickets online (spending way too much times and too much of my brain cells).

See, that's why I don't want to write in here. Every thing I write is going to be my worries. I think I will stop now and write when I can think of other things beside worrying.

Oh, I got my laptop today so one worry is off my mind. Phewwwwwww....

Here I come St. George's

2005-06-11T23:28:00.000-07:00

I am in. Finally. I didn't expect it today since it was saturday and no message when I got home. I didn't even check my e-mail until an hour ago. When I checked my e-mail, there it was an e-mail from my admin officer. She said I would appreciate her e-mailing me the good news since it was only 8am in east coast (which was 5am here). I would also appreciate a phone call at 5am if it was a good news. I have my Ross application filled out and put in the envelope already and ready to send out so that I am not too late for Sept term. Now I don't have to. I am so happy now. I just have to find out how to buy the air tickets. I heard most of them are sold out and very very expensive now. Humm I have to buy it anyway.

Still waiting

2005-06-08T23:50:00.000-07:00

Don't know what else to think. Can't even blog. Don't want to do anything. It has been 3 wk and no new yet from SGU. The lady said (impatiancely) that she would call me or e-mail me when she knew the decision from the committee. My file is with the committee since May 18.

AHHHHHHHHHHH, I hate waiting. It better be a good news. What do I do now? Start thinking about Ross?

My Interview

2005-05-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

How did I do?

I meant to post this early but I was so busy with other things.

Thanks for the tips on interview. They do recycle the essay questions. I went there and there was another girl waiting to be interviewed at the same time. We had our interviews in thelibrary. I had to write essay whilte she was being interviewd and the other way. The interviewer was kind of young. It is laid back and nice. He mostly asked from the sheets he got. You know they have two parts for interviews. He flicked through my file (the one I see the the first time) and asked me some questions (like how many school I applied, my volunteer work) and wrote notes under the questions. Oh when he looked my file, he saw that I went to Hunter College in NY and he asked me whether it was the one on Lexington Ave. And he saw the letter from NYHQ volunteer office and he said SGU students went rotation there. That was good right?

The second part was where he asked questions like---
*Why do you want to be doctor? What do you see yourself in 15 years?
*How did you feel about your education?
*How is your potential for your education?
*How would I feel living in 3rd world country?

You know those questions. And we were talking about Burma (where I came from) and suddently he asked me how do I feel about youth in asia. I was like--humm why did he asked. I answered like they are influenced by western value. And he was like no it is not what he meant and he repeated it carefully. It was euthanasia. I was like oh sorry and I answered the question. (Is that a bad sign?) And he also asked about abortion.

Then he told me to get the other girl who was writing her essay and he explained about SGU and the Grenada. We asked questions. The whole interviews for me and her took only 50 minutes or so. When he explained about school and island, he mostly looked at the other girl, not me. I don't know that meant he talked to her because she is the one who will get in? I am a little afraid. It is not that I have bad profile. I have 31 MCAT with 3.5 gpa and 3.39 science gpa. I had done volunteer works and a lot of extracurricular activities. I had good recommendation letters. I didn't mensioned in the application about my publication. I am a coauthor not the main one though. I am afraid that he didn't really see my file because he just flicked trough it. May be he will read later? I don't want to get another reject letter like I have been getting from US school. I hope every thing will be ok and I will get in. I hope I see someone I know on internet when I am in SGU.

Thanks again for good advices.

Interveiw with St. George's University

2005-05-14T12:19:00.000-07:00

Here I was waiting and checking my e-mail 3 times a day to see when the inteview coordinator will contact me. Yesterday, when I check mail, there was a letter from SGU. I anxiously opened the letter and there it was, invitation for the interview. I was happy but, the interview would be in Palos Verdes (where?). It is in West Los Angeles. Since I don't drive, I need someone to give me a ride there.

The letter says that I have to call the interviewer to ask when and where exactly I will have my interview. I called Dr. A, he told me the direction to go to the Library in Palos Verdes. Guess what? He doesn't know the address. He told me to just wait in front of the library. I don't know how he looks like, so there is a problem, but you know what, it won't be so hard for him to notice me (because I will be the only person with suit in front of the library). Oh the best part is that my interview is on Monday May 16th. I have only 2 days (now 1 and 1/2 days) to get ready. It was not his fault, it was me who chosed Mon. He told me to meet him on Wed 5pm. Since my mom is away and my dad is working that day, I can't go. I called him back and he said he would be leaving somewhere on Thurs and would be coming back the week after. And he asked me whether Monday was ok. I wanted to get things done right away so I said it would be fine.

Now here I am, trying to figure out how to prepare for my interveiw and ends up broswing other people blogs. I should better be reviewing my application and also should prepare what to ask him. I think it is a good thing that I get interveiw right? I hope and wish that I will be fine. Please wish me luck if you read this.

Best Birthday gift

2005-05-12T16:19:00.000-07:00

Totoro

You know what, I got what I really wanted for my birthday. The one I been waiting to hear from, she sent me a card and the best part was she knew what I wanted. She sent me "ToToRo" DVD. It is a japanese cartoon. I told her once that I couldn't find it. I liked that cartoon since I was like 12 or something. I wanted it so badly. Now I got it, my best friend sent it to me.

It is a best gift that she remembered me and best of all, she sent me TOTORO.

Thanks Gu.

Happy Birthday to ME!

2005-05-11T21:41:00.000-07:00

Today is my birthday. Do you know what I got for my birthday? Here they are:
- A Spanish Test

- A Super curcuit work out with all the machines in my fitness class. And three around the tennis courts plus run up to top floor of 5 stories building and run around on top and come running back to the class.

- A treat to my self (at the Yashinoya, Japanese fast food).

- An embarassment in piano class (I totally practiced a piece with wrong keys for a month and now every one know it because we had a quiz today).

- A ride back home (my mom picked me up).

- A T-shirt from my little brother (how sweets of him to buy me a cloth on the way from his school, he is in 10th grade by the way).

- A stethoscope from my boyfriend (he sent it by priority mail with Signature comfirmation thing, but the postman just left it in from of our house which is actually on the sideway of busy street. Thank god it was not taken by any one. My brother found it when he came home. The question is why bother buying signature comfirmation if you don't need anyone signature?)

- A Birthday card from a friend of mine in Burma (we haven't had contact for like 7 months already. What a strange thing that it arrives just on my birthday)

- A diner with my mother, brother, and a guest from ohio (my dad has to work tonight).

- Three e-cards from my friends.

- Two comments on my blog (finally somene visits and cares to leave me a note)

It is a good birthday except for all those thing with test and running. Also, I don't hear any thing from one person I badly want to talk to.

Any way, Happy Birthday to MEEEEE!

My Dream

2005-05-08T17:45:00.000-07:00

I dreamt of my best friend last night. I don't really remember what it was. It was something like we had to take a test or something. Also I have to sneak in to the place she volunteered. I don't even know whether she is volunteering right now. It was hospital and the nurses drove me out of the unit. I had to sit outside (like a waiting room). And something else, I don't know what. Dreams are weired, don't they?

I miss her a lot. I can't call her. She is busy with medical school. Since I am free, I have a lot of time in my hand, whereas she doesn't. Her finals are coming up I think. She doesn't call me too. May be she gets tired of me.

**2days to my birthday**

Bombing in Yangon

2005-05-08T16:11:00.000-07:00

What a coincident that I was reading and watching about the twin towers the other night. It is sad to hear that there were bombings in Yangon (Burma). There were three bombings on one day within 10 minutes. What is happening? I knew it yesterday when my parents called my aunt and she freak-out because my cousins were out for shopping. The targets were supermarkets and trade center (or something) where a lot of people were there. The government said 11 died and 160 something were injured. There may be more that they don't say officially. And now the ethnic groups are the one to be blamed. No body knows who is responsible. The Shans (who lives in Shan State) are saying that the bombings could be the trick of the government. I don't care, but no body should be killed for any reason.

I hope things will be ok in Burma. Every country should be in peace.

Why?

2005-05-07T18:36:00.000-07:00

Why do I feel sleepy all the time? Even though I went to bad early and woke up late, I still do feel sleepy. Why is that? No coffee helps me too. I feel just sleepy.

May be it is because I have been eating too much of cuisine food lately. I had 2 days of malaysian cuisine food, 1 day of Cheese cake factory, 1 day of Thai food and now I am going to eat more Thai food to night. Why do I even have to go to restaurant with my parents? Actually I don't have to, but I do want to. May 5th was my mom Birthday and she treated her friends in same malaysian restaurant for 2 days because she had to divide them into two groups. I was with both group. I have been eating too much and I can't seem to stop it. I am hungry every two hours because my stomach has began to stretch out and big by now with all the food I consumed. I don't want to feel sleepy anymore, but it is really good to eat Asian food.

If I don't go straight to bed after Thai food, I will post more.

I will never forget

2005-05-07T01:02:00.001-07:00

I was surfing blogs and I found this Website. It makes me sad again to see the twin towers fall and I remember being there on that day. It is really sad. I was wondering if I didn't take the last train from the world trade center and if I went to CITIBANK on the plaza level, I might be the one running or even worse might be the missing one.

It is a very hard day for all of us. I couldn't sleep well for 3 months after that and every time I see something to remind me of that day, I feel sad and want to cry.

I will never forget that day and I will never forget all those people who lost their lives and all those people who helped on that day.

Good News

2005-05-06T23:44:00.000-07:00

I received an e-mail from SGU the other day saying that I am qualify for interview. Good news. I don't know when I am going for interview and where. The interview coordinator will be contacting me in next two weeks. I just have check my e-mail every day and have to wait patiently.

Next good news that I haven't shared. I passed my driver license test for california the other week. I know it is no big deal for other people but it is for me. Don't get me wrong, I already have a license. It is NY lincense. I have been living in CA for almost a year now (exactly a year on May 15) and I don't drive. Me NO DRIVING!!! Amazing huh! I get around in this town with Buses and trains. I know I know, many of the people here have never been on the Metro (the train) in their life. They ask me how I am going around the town. I go to school with buses and I can even go to Universal Studio and Hollywood by buses or trains. Hey I am a Newyorker, remember. We use buses and subways to go around. So it is no prob for me to figure out how to get around here. It is very good that MTA in CA has a website that pretty much tells you how you can go by taking what bus or train. Cool huh? I wish NY MTA has done something like that. Anyway, that's me, using MTA effectively in Los Angeles. Now I finally get my CA lincense (actually, I haven't received the real one, but it is on its way). Thank god I don't have to retake the driving test. I just had to take the written one. And I only had a chance to get wrong 3 answers out of 36 questions. I did it with one wrong answer. I am pretty proud of myself. I know it is nothing but I feel great.

Another good news. I applied to Ross University (the other carribean med school in Dominica) last year. I couldn't go there due to my immigration problems (No valid passport, no citizenship). So I didn't go to the May 2004 class and my application was deactivated. I called Ross the other day and asked what I should do if I want to go this year. They said I just had to send a new application (since they want updated info) and the best thing is that I don't have to pay the application fee again or I don't have to go through the interview process again. Good, huh? It was because I reported my problems to the interview (who happened to be associate dean of Admission) and he put a note in my file. So I am all set if I can send them my application and oh I forgot, the latest transcript from my school. I am so happy that I have a school to fall back on.

Enough of the good news. And nobody reads my blog anyway. This blog is for myself.

Lunch-sized pasta

2005-05-03T10:29:00.000-07:00

menu_Sheilas_Blackened_Chicken_Pasta
Originally uploaded by malikha.

I had never been to the Cheese Cake Factory before. It is a restaurant and bakery. One reason I never been there was it was kind of expensive (a slice of cheese cake is like $6) and the other reason was I couldn't make anyone go with me. Yesterday, after I finished my class, I decided that it was the day to have lunch there. There I was in the Cheese Cake Factory, lunching ALONE, trying to figure out what to order, I saw the pasta menu and saw that they offered also in lunch-sized order. Hummm, I usually don't eat pasta but what the hack.

I ordered Sheila's Blackened Chicken Pasta and Iced coffee mocha for drink. I asked the waiter to make lunch-sized for the pasta. The pasta came with hug plate (about 1 ft) with nice chicken breast flavored with some spices, tomatos and bell pepper.

I thought this plate was the lunch-sized? How big would the regular size would be?
Anyway, I tried to finish it, but I could 't because of the all those warm bread I consumed before the arrival of blackened Chicken pasta. I finished the chicken and I asked for my check. I was so curious that I had to ask that question.

Me: I have a question. This is a lunch-sized, right?
Waiter: Amm, I believe so. Let me ask.
Me: (confused) It is just too big for me that's all.
Waiter: I be right back.
He went off to the back and talked to some guy.
A moment later..
Waiter: I talked to the manager and he would make sure that you will be charged for lunch-sized.
Me: (really confused) What? This is not a lunch-sized?
Waiter: I am so sorry.
Me: I didn't mean to complain. Since it was too big, I just want to know how much bigger the regular size is.
Waiter: I am sorry.
Me: That's ok. So that wasn't a lunc-sized then.
Waiter: It was a regular size.

No wonder, I thought the plate was big. No wonder, I couldn't finish the plate. No wonder I felt so full. It was a regular-sized plate. I ate 4/5 of it.

New Background

2005-04-29T21:02:00.000-07:00

I have been busy trying to figure out what to use for my page. I don't want to pay because I am kind of broke. I was thinking to create an image for my background but I couldn't find my photo shop or paint shop pro. I was searching for a nice image but couldn't find one. So I decided to create with Paint. The quality is not good, but I like what I see. Heehee.

I registered my blog with BlogExplosion. Whohoo! And also registered with Haloscan. ++ for me.

I will post later. Today I am so tired since I didn't have enough sleep last night. I was creating my website background.

Later.

Fitness class

2005-04-27T20:50:00.000-07:00

I have been spending my free time well. I took swimming and tennis classes last fall at Pasadena City College. I never learned how to swim so that swimming class was worth it. I was only one unit and I had to pay only $26 for that class. Now I can swim (but still afraid of water).

This semester I am taking a fitness class. The class meets every Wed and Fri. We learned how to used machines (Hip Ab, Hip Ad , Adorminal, etc) , also do stretches, crunches and bicycle. We sometimes have to run (Running in the track or Running that 5 stories building: have to run up to 3rd floor, run around on that level, go up to 5th floor, run around and come down to 1st floor and run around).

This morning when I left for school, it was drazzling. I thought it was going to rain and I don't have to run. By 10:30, the sky was cleared and the sun was out. When I got to the fitness class, the coach said we would spend sometime on bike, and used machines for 30 minutes or so and then would go to track. I was so tired and felt bad from eating too much yesterday (the whole day + night). Anyway, I finished bike, and machines then went to the track. We had to run for a mile (she timed it). Usually, I walk at the corners and run on straight parts of the track. Today, I felt so guilty about all the food I consumed yesterday, I decided to run without stopping. Here is how I run.

First lap:
Me: Hey Lee, are you going to run the whole 4 laps?
Lee: I think so, but I am not sure.
Me: (saying very proudly) I will try to run the whole mile.
Lee: Good for you.

The coach announced that it was 2 minutes.

Second Lap:
Getting a little tired.
Lee: Hey you are running.
Me: Of course, I am running. I told you I would run a mile without stopping.
Lee: Good, I am running and walking.
Me: You are also walking? And you can catch up with me even walking and running?
Lee: Yeah, I could run faster if I have a different shoes on today. I thought it was going to raining and I didn't think we would run today.
Me: Me too, I was hopping it rained.
Lee: Yeah, keep up, girl.
Me: I am, go ahead, I will catch up with you.

Lee run ahead of me. I was convincing myself that she had long leg so she could run fast.

Third Lap:
Still running
Really exhausted. Why this lap seem to be longer?

Me: Hey Lee, what laps are we now, last one?
Lee: Third (she run past me again)
Me: Great!

Fourth Lap:
Me: One more lap, one more lap.
Lee: Yeah, come on, run with me.
Me: Yeah right.

(me thinking) My paced is slow, but I was running.... a quarter lap finished... half lap finished....almost there... only one quarter left...almost there... keep going....what did the coach say?...8 minutes something.... should I pushed my last strength...nahh....10 more steps... and here I go... 9:04 minutes....
WooHooo! I did it (dancing in my head)

Then I changed my clothes and went across the street for my lunch.

Stopping at El pollo loco:
(thinking) They have $1 menu. I should try some from there so that I won't eat much as I won't order the meal. Good. I will have cheese quesadilla and a chicken tight.

Girl: May I take your order.
Me: Oh, umm, I will have (pointint to the $1 menu) what's in the Taco al carbon.
Girl: Chicken.
Me: Ok, I will have it.
Girl: Any thing else?
Me: Oh, i will have cheese quesadilla that's it.
Girl: ok, here is your number.

After finishing Taco and half way through cheese quesadilla, I wanted to eat more.
I went back to order some more.

Girl: May I take your order?
Me: Can I have that one piece chicken?
Girl: Tight or leg?
Me: Tight, that's all.

After finishing all my meals. I felt so full. I realized that I at too much again. All the calories I burned in the fitness class are gone and I added more calories in my body.

How am I suppose to loose weight or to be fit by the end of semester? I think I am addicted to food.

Bronx Zoo

2005-04-25T22:25:00.000-07:00

Bronx Zoo

I went to Bronx Zoo with my friends from school before I moved to California. I was in the children zoo.

My First Blog Ever

2005-04-25T21:38:00.000-07:00

This is stange of me to do this. I am not a blogger. I want to have my journey of applying medical schools. Well, actually, my journey of applying SGU. I sent my application on April 14 with a priority mail. You may think that priority mail takes only 3 days. When I called Bay Shore on April 21, they still had not received my application. So, I faxed the whole application again. Thank god, I typed my application and had it as pdf file. I hope my application is not late. I am applying for Aug term. Today I got a postcard from SGU saying that they have my application. I am not sure it is my faxed copy or the one I mailed.

To introduce myself, I graduated from college with Comp Sci degeree in 2003 and I worked as lab technician for almost a year. I applied for US med school for two years and no success. MCAT is 31 and it is not bad as I re-took it in Aug 04. I got only one interview for this year and that wasn't successful, too. I applied Ross last year and got in for Jan 04, but I couldn't leave the country at that time. I took my time to study and take MCAT and now taking a break from school (but still taking some classes at community college) . I am sick and tired of waiting and getting all those reject letters and decided to apply to carribean school. I know that I want to be a physician and I will have to do whatever it takes me to do.

Oh I haven't mentioned that I used to live and go to school in NY. Now I am in California. My boyfriend is still in NY, though. I miss him so much.

So, here I am in CA, waiting patiently for SGU to call me for an interview. I am wishing that it is not too late for Aug class because I don't want to wait another year or another half year again.

I don't have a lot of friend here in CA. I am bored and now I am blogging. Very strange of me to talk about me on the blog. Well, I hope it is not too bad. This is my first ever blog.