Post Results

Another semester done and dusted.

Of the 5 subjects I enrolled in this semester, I am pleased with the results of four of those subjects. The fifth, not so much. The disappointment come from the realisation that that was not a difficult paper. But I'm not going to cry over spilt milk. Besides, 4-1 is considered a trashing in footballing circles. To the very least, I passed everything. I'm sure not everybody did.

Now comes the dilemma of what I should major in. I originally intended to major in Microbiology, but the urge to switch to Pharmacology has been growing. A letter from the pharmacology department congratulating me on my pharmacology results this semester and telling me options are still open to take pharmacology subjects next year isn't helping either. I have till February to decide. I'll sleep on it for now.

Summer is a time for reading. Finished a few books so far. And looking forward to more good books.

Exams

Do not feel like writing in full sentences.

All 12 teaching weeks are over. 1 study-week over. No study done.

First exam in 7.5 days. 4 exams.

All assignments over.

Officially re-enrolled for next year (2010). Looks like I won't have to overload next year. Likely microbiology major.

32degrees not fun. Nor cool.


TY

Love You Too

Dear Student Portal,

I appreciate your concern, however, there is no need to redesign the layout of the portal. On the other hand, it would be great if you could fix the endless error messages that come up whenever I try to access the portal. Your latest design is extremely pretty, but it is of no use to me if it only displays "there is an error connecting to your email account." The convenience the latest design offers will only be useful if it actually displayed content, rather than error messages. I look forward to enjoying your new layout.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,
TY

The Holidays

Not a bad movie.

End of Week 8
So finally, done with 8 teaching weeks. A 2-week holiday for now then back for 4 more weeks, then it's the wonderful exam time. One personal statement to write by Monday, another 1500 word assignment(not an essay though) due next Friday, a pharmacology assignment due the first say back from holidays, and then an experimental report due after the holidays. Not really a holiday is it? We'll see.

Physiology test results: Satisfied, though no full marks.
Pharmacology test results: Still waiting.

TY

Nausea

End of Week 7

Finally, done with all the mid-semester exams. One went badly, the other two I was quite satisfied with, though full marks will remain a romantic thought. Feel rather relieved except, there's a report due on Monday and a major assignment due next Friday. Then another the following Friday. Brilliant.

This will also mean the final exams will be upon me faster than I'll see it coming.


If you're curious, Nausea is the current book I'm reading, by Jean-Paul Sartre.


TY

Life in the Fast Lane

Middle of Week 6

A mid-semester test tomorrow. Another next Monday. Then another next Friday. Followed by an essay due the following Friday. A few additional reports thrown in for good measure among the lot. A job interview tomorrow as well.

Just received another rejection from one of the three professors I emailed about summer research. So one left. I expect him to reply before the decade's up. Take your time, prof.

By the way, thermoregulation experiment was rather fun. Ok, not really, but it is somewhat interesting. Maybe not so much for the poor subject. Freezed to a core temperature of 34.4 degrees Celsius.


Lovin' the busy life.
TY

Top Gun(Or not)

Week 5 Thursday

The number of reports seem to be dying down. I can now breath, despite having spent Monday night and the whole of Tuesday in Canberra. Good sign that I will now have time to study for mid semester exams. Then again, I need to apply for a few research scholarships, which closing dates are fast approaching. Emailed 3 professors about it lately, no news from 2 of them while another said her lab will be understaffed during the summer hence not being able to take me in. She did say I was "a strong student" though, whatever that means.

That's it for now.

TY

All You Need is Love

End of Week 4

Dying. Taking an extra subject is torturous. The prospect of having to do it again next semester send chills down my spine. Essays and reports seem to arrive faster than they depart. That leaves little to no time left for study and, the thought of the fast approaching mid-semester exams creates a terrible urge to pull my hair out. I have never looked forward to the holidays as much as I do now.

However, if others can make it through 80 hours of medical residency training per week, while studying for their post-grad exams(perhaps the toughest exam in their lives), all while working towards a Phd, then I can and I will do this.

Only 8 more teaching weeks to go. Bring it on week 5.

TY

Read

There's so much to read this semester. Stacks and stacks of articles, journals, textbooks, manuals etc. Not that they're boring, not all anyway, and I do enjoy reading them, but there's just way too much to read. Not to mention my own leisure reading.

And yes, it's only week 2 of the semester. Maybe taking an extra subject wasn't such a good idea. But somehow I got through last semester fine, taking an extra subject as well. I guess this semester's subjects just have more to read. However, even though the student centre told me 63 times I should drop the extra subject if workload becomes too heavy, I think I will persist. After all, time passes so quickly when you're busy. 2 weeks have gone already. Only 10 more teaching weeks, then exams. Then holidays, then repeat from step 1.

Anyway, if you like Darwin as much as I do. Here are two fascinating and extremely resourceful websites.
Darwin Correspondence
Darwin Online

Off for more reading!

TY

Man In The Mirror

I thought I should write a little about my reflections of the past semester, now that it's over. Perhaps I might like to read it someday.

Now that exams are over, I don't think I did too well, but I didn't do too badly in any subjects either. It was more of a "I did ok but could've done better" feeling. Results aren't out yet but I'm confident I'll pass every subject but at same time know that I'll fail to achieve the goals I had set out for myself at the start of the semester.

Anyway, I don't mean to piss and whine. It was just reflection. All in all, I thought it was a really good semester. I learnt a great deal both academically and about the functioning of the world in general. I had a lot of fun learning Anatomy through prosections and Microbiology practicals were a good new experience too. My understanding of evoloution has strengthen, and so has my knowledge of Melbourne's terrible transport system.

Next semester will be a different set of subjects. If I don't change my mind it will be Physiology and Pharmacology heavy. A good change but I hope I'll remember my Microbiolgy next year when I need it again.

I've got another blog post in the works. Or shall I say "planned". I always get too lazy to write when I have the time to.

TY

No Full Marks

It was raining. It was freezing. My seat was away from the heater. I was wet by the time I was seated. ADH wasn't working. And someone who sat near me smelled like shit, yes feaces.

Not the best condition to sit an exam in, is it?

I'm expecting tomorrow's paper to be harder. And I'm less prepared for it too. Sucks.

Bye.

TY

Of Americans and Anatomy

American(or Canadian) guy teaching anatomy at the anatomy lab was pretty interesting. He taught us NAVY. Nerve, Artery, Vein, runs in that order at the Y part between your legs. Laterally to medially. Just remember, it ends at the Y.

This is where I would use paint to draw a picture to illustrate my point, but I'm too lazy.

It's funny though, he went on after that talking about that's because Navy boys usually, you know, do those kinds of stuff with that region of their body.


Now now, if only I can tell the difference between this muscle and that, and tell apart a nerve from a tendon(if they've chopped off the muscle end). It would help if I can tell whether a prosected knee is the left or the right too.


And why does everything smell like the microbiology lab now?

Desire

I'm applying for a place in a research program designed for undergraduates. It's similar to what you might know as student placement programs except it isn't a compulsory component of my degree. According to the application page, it is a very competitive program and if you do not have an average mark of at least 75 for all your university subjects up to the point of application, you need not even apply.

I really do hope I'm successful. Not only will successful applicants be paid(and at a really good rate too) but they will also be carrying out or assisting in research done at nationally and internationally known institutions. I'm desperate for a taste of the research world too.


If I don't get it, well, at least I was offered a job today. It is no where as interesting as research but at least the pay rate is something I cannot complain about!

What A Life

The pen I'm currently using has now officially tasted anatomy juices and multiple different bacteria and fungi. I think not many pens get to experience such a colourful life.

I saw a cadaver the other day too. But it wasn't fully exposed. Just the upper body. And we were only allowed to play* with prosections.


* I don't mean to be disrespectful, I just have a very limited vocabulary.


TY

Smart Is The New Sexy

I think I've had enough Chemistry to last me 3 years.


I am looking forward to more interesting subjects next semester.
Though I can't say that Chemistry had been boring or uneventful, considering that I did have my first ever lab explosion*, too much Chemistry isn't good for my health.

Hopefully there will be more firsts next semester. I'll be sure to write if I encounter my first ever cadaver or if I managed to successfully inoculate that kid with his collar up with small pox.


* Didn't have that Einstein-hair-pointing-upwards effect but I did get green fluid all over my lab coat.


TY

Schrodinger's Cat

Exam's in 12 days. And I sure as hell hope Schrodinger's Equation does not feature in it.

Not only because of its complexities, but also because of this:


Now I no longer believe I can contain my laughter when I see the name Schrodinger. Poor whoever who sits next to me.


TY

It Just Is

While I was in the library today, I over heard a Chemistry tutoring session that went something like this.

Student: Why is it +2?(referring to the charge on an ion)
Tutor: It just it. When you've done more questions you'll eventually know these charges.
Student: (acknowledges)


Hmm. I think I should provide tutoring. I think I can lie to these unsuspecting secondary school students too. Not in the Michael Jackson kind of way, but academically/intellectually. Could certainly use the money.


TY

Wouldn't It Be Nice?

Guess what? People who had their lab sessions today had their sessions cancelled due to extreme heat. And there aren't any replacements session. They'll just be given marks for that session according to their average from other lab sessions.

How fair.

It was just as hot the day before. And I didn't get my lab cancelled. Probably got miserable marks for it as well. Due to the fact that I, as with most others, were just trying to finish it asap to get the fuck out of there.

Awesome.


TY

Red Hot

42 Degrees Celsius isn't funny. I could've toasted my bread under the sun. What's worse? The Chemistry Lab thought it'd be a better idea to invest in who-knows-how-many LCD TVs rather than a single air-conditioner. Oh the joy of making organic compounds in an oven.

And that's not it, the train on my line home was delayed for over an hour. When it finally arrived, it was full. Excellent. I would've cried like a little girl if the air-conditioning wasn't working when I finally got on the train. Thankfully, it was.

TY

The Origin of Species(The Name)

Yesterday, I arrived slightly late at my first Chemistry lab of this semester. Please note, this has nothing to do with my habits. It is not my fault the Chemistry lab has its clock 5minutes faster than my watch while the Chemistry Lecture Theater has its clock 10mins slower than my watch. The live happily side by side too. In fact, I was strolling as I thought I was early.

Anyway, when I arrived, the lab demonstrator was briefing the class on the experiment and soon after, we started with the experiment. According to the lab manual(I actually pre-read the manual, amazing), we were suppose to do this experiment in pairs. So I set off looking for a partner. To my amazement, I found that everyone already had a group. Yes, group, not pair, as some were in threes. I was about to question this when I starting doubting my understanding of the word "pair". But on hindsight, it could have easily been face-problem. Then, I spotted a set of instruments on the bench that are not occupied. Having lost valuable time pondering over the meaning of Life, Universe and Everything(the word "pair"), I decided to do the experiment on my own.

The experiment turned out to be nothing more than putting some solutions into a tube then reading measurements off a machine every 5 minutes. Some calculations were then done before the report was handed up. To my surprise yet again, I finished my report before more than half the class was done. Having arrived late, spent time pondering over the Ultimate question and then carrying out the expriment alone, I thought something must be wrong. Did I miss something out completely? I spent the next 20 minutes walking around checking my results with others and then asked the demonstrator if my calculations looked right. Then, went through my report 3 more times before I finally decided that I would just hand it in and fuck off home.

I guess in one week's time, I'll know if I missed something. Come to think of it, maybe it's harder for three people crowding around a bench to read a measurement off a machine than it is for one.

Ah well, either way, you have my face-problem to thank if you happen to read this blog. For it is what made me decide to start the blog. It is also how the name came about.


TY