better not forget.

poor prognosis.

I am losing it again.
This time, I no longer want to fight it.
I just want to let go.

honor excellence.

Life is way too short to settle for anything less than what we truly want. The only way to embrace your potential is to stop settling. We are only limiting ourselves and wasting our precious time. The moment we begin to settle in the most important roles of our lives is the moment we begin to die a slow death. Excellence is a place where people who refuse to settle for mediocrity live; it is where one reaps from all the hard work sown. It is a journey of continuous progression toward the goals in your life. 
- Ashley Fern

* photo not mine

cup of coffee + good book = bliss.

IT has been ages since the last time I got caught up reading a good book.

So, how do you know when you're reading a good book?
  If it can tickle your interest.
  If it can make you think.
  If it can give you a rush of emotions.

“The best moments in reading are when you come across something - a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things - which you had thought special and particular to you. And now, here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out, and taken yours” 

― Alan Bennett, The History Boys

social sciences + medicine = public health.

YES, I am a medical student and yes, I am also a Social Science graduate.

I took up Political Science as my "pre-med" -if you could call it that. When people hear this, they usually ask me, Is it hard shifting to the medical/natural sciences? Do you consider your college degree such a waste? Would you have wanted to have biology or nursing etc as your "pre-med" course? 

Well, yes it was hard to study the medicine at first. The way we study the social sciences is very different from the "hard" sciences. We don't usually memorize but rather, we understand and conceptualize theories and frameworks. Nevertheless, I don't consider this as a hindrance to me becoming a doctor. In fact, I even deem this as an advantage on my part. Being trained in the social sciences, I am able to see things at a larger picture. I understand the interrelatedness of individuals, societies, states and the international community.  

To reiterate what Dr Jose Rizal once said, Ano ang kanser ng katawan kung ikukumpara sa kanser ng lipunan? And so, as a doctor, it is not enough to just rid the body of physical ailments. He must also learn to heal the society. In medicine, we answer questions such as, What causes the disease? How can we cure the disease? How can we prevent the disease from coming back? On the other hand, we in the social sciences answer questions such as, How can more people have access to the cure? What are the obstacles in delivering healthcare? What could the government do to improve healthcare in the country? I guess, the diagram above pretty much sums up the role of the social sciences in the field of healthcare.

And this my friend, the melding of social science and medicine, is what we call PUBLIC HEALTH.

why i hate school but love education.

"EDUCATION is about inspiring someone's mind, 
not just filling their heads" -Katie Lusk

north and south.

AFTER Vietnamese, R and I went on another food trip. He is fond of Asian cuisine and so, we tried out Chinese restaurants (on different days) this time.

The first one (together with Al) was a Northern Chinese restaurant. They pride themselves with their authentic hand-pulled noodles (and yep, their noodles are amazing!) We ordered lamb dumplings, dry noodles and black fungus with jellyfish.

Make sure to take A here.

The second restaurant offers Hainanese (Southern China) delicacies. We ordered their special Hainanese chicken rice, dumplings and tofu. The chicken was actually good especially when paired with ginger + soy sauce.

During the course of the meal, I told R that I have trouble identifying taste. Sure, I like food as much as the next person, however my taste buds are really bland. I even have a hard time distinguishing fries and burger from McDo and Jollibee!  

He made taste a couple of sauces and told me that it's not the I cannot distinguish taste but rather, I don't put enough effort to isolate taste. This reminded me an article I read about mindful eating.

"Mindful eating is not a diet, or about giving up anything at all. It's about experiencing food more intensely — especially the pleasure of it."

Hmm. I will try these on my next meal.

* photos not mine