Space to breathe

Ok. Rant time.

a) To whoever left the unwashed pans (containing leftover pasta sauce) and cooking utensils on the stove when I arrived back, you are disgusting

b) To whoever stole my food whilst I was away, you're mean

c) To a certain somebody (won't name names for this..), please don't fornicate in the living room, especially since that's the only access to the bathroom downstairs

d) To the same somebody, don't carry a portable heater with you everywhere you go. Our last electricity bill was over $2500, and the majority of us weren't here for 2-3 weeks

e) To the same person still, please don't take all the chopping boards into your room to cut up weed. Although if it ever occurs to you to return it, I think I'd like to sterilise it before use...

Thank you.

Ahhh, that feels so much better.

Anyway, we have a new housemate - Vivienne! Cindy introduced her to the apartment, so, as part of Jared's deal, she received a free carton of beer! Another girl is moving into the third bedroom downstairs in a few weeks. Finally, the balance between genders is slowly evening out. Girls are so much cleaner! And less disturbing. ^^

Flying north for winter

I'm back home!! And for some reason, it feels colder here despite being located closer towards the equator. I put it down to the humidity [rain...==].

Being in my room is amazing. Not because I see a particular item and feel some connection to it, nor does it inspire a fond memory. Instead, I'm surprised at how SMALL it is. Yes, in comparison to the room that I've inhabited for the last 3 months, my room at home is a baby. Not to mention that my dad's essentially be using it as his study. . .

Empty house

Everyone is disappearing, one-by-one to the far corners of the earth. Only Joey, Stefan and I are left in the house, and Jeff is the only one next door. Myriam and Alex left early this morning for Fiji. Technically, I only lived with them, and I'll miss them because they were probably the most sane ones out of all the people in the house.

...............

Scary movie night was a success despite three people pulling out last minute. I think I might be getting use to horror movies. Because neither of the films seem to have any lingering effect like the 'Grudge' or 'The Ring' did when I watched them a couple of years back.

Thank you Michael and Young for coming back to clean!

The best word in the world: Freedom

It seems that everytime I'm about to rant on this blog about messy housemates leaving dirty dishes in the kitchen or living room, it would spontaneously disappear. It happened again yesterday. Despite the fact that these particular dishes sat there for roughly 8 days.

But on more positive news, exams are finally over, which means just one thing: FREEDOM! For now. Though I'm sure all 120 of us will savour these 3 and a half weeks.

To celebrate our freedom last night, a few of us went to a renowned grill which proclaims that it's the best in the state, and managed to rack up a $325 bill between us. And Michael still believes that it's not the best steak he's had.

Today, the world revolved around basketball for 15 meddie students [WHERE WERE YOU JASON?!]. I'm quite surprised that many people showed up! And my arms are about to fall off.

But the most exciting of all post-exam events should be tomorrow night, which is...... Scary Movie Night!!! I'm sure 1408 would be significantly better than Scream. Can't wait, can't wait!

Loving it here! Though not the weather - still bloody freezing.

Worst six hours ever

So this is a recap of what happened between the hours of 2:30am to 8:30am on Friday morning. I swear it was my unluckiest six hours EVER.

2:30am:

- Log off MSN and turn off computer

- Attempts to set timer on heater so that I'll wake up in a warm room. Find out heater won't turn on

- Wanted to text someone about my pain - can't find phone

2:35am:

- Stressing about phone

- Turns computer back on to log back onto MSN to ask Michael to prank my phone - no response [I hate King St internet.. and I don't even live there!]

2:40am:

- Suddenly recalls that I should have renewed histopathology textbook

- Log onto MyAccount and see that it was due on Wednesday - i.e. needs to be returned before library opened at 8:30am or else I'd get fined

- Panicking about phone

2:45am:

- Finds phone - yay!

2:50am:

- Sets alarm for 7:30am

- Sleep!

7:30am:

- Alarm rings

- Freezing in bed

7:45am:

- Get up

- Freeze freeze

8:00-20am:

- Jog to library

8:20am:

- Library is open. (*#$)*#@(!

- Returns library book

8:30am:

- Log onto MyAccount

- 1x block

- 1x $5 fine

FML

It's times like these that I wish I was home...

My dear Yoni

Finally, a post about the things that tend to go down in our home.

Our final exam is in six days, so it pretty much feels like the holiday period has already begun. Yoni decides to celebrate with a few drinks with Jeff in the living room. This is when his drunken behaviour begins.

After banging and incessantly knocking at my door - disrupting my viewing of 'The Invention of Lying', I opened it to find Yoni insisting that I go down to the liquor store with him and Jeff. When I refused, I was picked up [FOR THE SECOND TIME... FAR OUT] and carried off, only to be freed just outside the automatic doors of the store.

We arrived home, but detoured next door to harass Cindy who was studying for her torts exam on Saturday. It took me roughly 7 minutes to then escape Yoni who was adamant that I should accompany them in front of the living room fire.

As I was happily enjoying my movie, I was once again disturbed by a barrage of knocking and screaming outside my door. This time, I found Yoni sprawled on the staircase, with Jeff pulling on his leg. This continued for a while, with Cindy, Jared and I watching with bemusement as the drunken Yoni tried in vain to go to his room and sleep off his stuporous state.

What then ensued should be censored, and involved Cindy pulling down Yoni's trousers, and Yoni attacking her on his bed. I hope the footage of those moments don't get posted up on Jared's facebook.

Then someone gets the brilliant idea to wake up Stefan by bashing down his door, which brings out Joey - who was also studying for his 9am exam tomorrow, and Alex and Myriam. Essentially, the entire household was watching as Yoni tested the abilities of the lock to withstand direct force. Let's just say the lock won.

A few minutes later, Jared and I find the rest of the gang surrounding Yoni who was sprawled on the floor after Cindy elbowed him in the groin. He continued moaning for at least 5 minutes before Myriam decided to pour a small cup of water onto him, which woke him up, but also caused him to run after her. Fortunately, she managed to escape by hiding in the bathroom. Cindy, however, was not so lucky, and sparred with Yoni on the dining room floor.

Things suddenly halted when Yoni hit is head against the corner of the dining table, resulting in a cut that quickly swelled up to the size of a peanut. Myriam ran away at the site of blood, whilst Cindy and I applied ice to the wound. Jeff offered Yoni a cigarette, despite Yoni having quit just 3 months ago.

And that's where I left them. Cindy, Jeff, and Yoni smoking outside in the backyard. I still haven't finished that movie.

...................................................................................

Also, movies for scary movie night have been set: 'Scream' (1996) and 'The Exorcism of Emily Rose' (2005). Can't wait!

I am ethical. I don't need an exam to prove it

Ethics REALLY confused me. We have an exam tomorrow on it [and a bunch of other things too]. I shall take Michael's advice and study using Dr Google/Wikipedia. Then take Yoni's advice and study with him in the living room.

I hope I don't fail. Doing this again next year would not be fun...

Edit: Sorry for reminding you of the T2-4 exam Mike! I'm sure you did well!

Birdwatching

Looking out my bedroom window, I spot a bunch of these little guys hopping around the barren branches of the hazelnut trees in our front garden.



Although apparently abundant all throughout Australia, I've never noticed these birds before. Silvereyes have a distinct circle of white feathers around their eyes, and beautiful tawny green wings and head. Their quick movements are really captivating when all I'm trying to focus on are dysplastic naevi.

G.o.i.n.g..C.r.a.z.y.

Trying to study, but Jared keeps bombarding me with Ferrero Rocher chocolates. I normally wouldn't complain, but I'M TRYING TO STUDY. And just then, he recruited Glen (a friend of his who likes to throw wild parties - at our place! He wants to throw one next Saturday, but I'm not allowing him to) to knock on my door, throw a premixed shot at me, then close the door and run away.

GAH. Hands up anyone who wants to go back to the cold, scary, remote house with no internet? Because right now, I need to escape my housemates!

Scenic photos from our CB trip:

Edit: Great, 11:06 pm, and someone is pumping dance music... I KNOW IT'S FRIGGIN FRIDAY NIGHT, BUT IF YOU DON'T STOP, I'M GOING TO .........

Study woes

Despite it being one of the smarter decisions I've made over this study period, quitting facebook, even temporarily, feels strange. I'm surprised how I am able to resist clicking the "log in" icon to instantly reactivate my account. As if knowing that I have a deactivated account curbs my desire to click that button.

Can't wait until the exams are over. Looking forward to 'scary movie night' with the CB crew! In the meantime, I should cram histopathology and microbiology!

Exam time

So we're on the home stretch. The finish line is within sight. But first, we have to traverse three large hurdles, the first being the mother of all hurdles. 11 days. 9 topics.

Yoni and I have bunkered down. We've retreated to our rooms; hidden from the world, oblivious to the comings and goings of our housemates. Michael and Young are still at Hollydene House (a 3 story house next to the medical school building that the university has set up for our use) - at this insane hour. Facebook statuses reflect the high anxiety and stress levels.

But this is just the warm-up lap. 1/10.

I need a drink...of water

The good little girl, who never stayed out past midnight, would have no idea what a hangover feels like. All she knew about it [essentially how it is portrayed in popular culture] was that you woke up feeling like your head is going to implode, your stomach contents seem to have an affinity for the toilet bowl, and you believe that anything or anybody that makes a loud noise should be eradicated from this earth.

I was that girl. Until this morning. Let's just say inflammatory processes, necrosis and neoplasia are the least of your worries when you feel like you're likely to hurl at any given minute, or so dehydrated that you can drink a [freshwater] lake.

At least Yoni was there to give me a hi-5. I believe the whiskey did him no favours this morning. Thankfully, Myriam only has a birthday once a year.

Cooking...

Came home yesterday to discover that it was sushi night at our place. Yoni mentioned it earlier during the week, but I guess trying to understand 'basic' immunology and cramming microbiology takes precedence when it comes to what's on my mind.

Joey decided to make some chapchae as well, and was determined to teach me the proper way of making it, all in under 1/2 hour. And yes, during the whole process, he kept laughing over the fact that we took 4 hours to cook it last time.

The rice turned out too soft and hence sticky, but it didn't stop Joey! Soft sushi is still sushi anyway.

Staying home from now on...

I am NEVER going clubbing with my flatmates EVER again. I was coerced out of my nice, warm room in the middle of the night under the pretence of a few drinks at the bar. Four hours later, I was somewhat tipsy, my feet were aching, and was kissed by more than a dozen random men because Jared, Yoni and Myriam kept telling everyone that it was my birthday! *sigh*

Although the best part was probably getting a piggy back from Jared home ^^

Happy days.

Photo that Young took down the microscope during a histology practical on connective tissues. Here's a happy neutrophil =] - click to enlarge.

Ok, back to study before Russell visits tomorrow! Fun fun!

Feeling a bit chubby...

One serving of Nutella is equivalent to one TABLESPOON?! That in itself is a crime! I had five servings on Nutella in ONE SITTING... and that doesn't include the two or three servings that I had earlier in the evening. But it's so yummy!

And when I was sneaking into the kitchen for a midnight Nutella fix, our neighbour's husky walked in! I love how it doesn't react when I scream. I'm fairly certain dogs can't differentiate between April Fools Day and any other day.

Sounds deadly

A conversation between Yoni (Y) and Jared (J).

It's always lovely when a food item and the word 'constipation' appears in the same sentence.

Lecture time!

Michael's note-taking is hilarious!

Now even I'm curious to find out what:
a) the lecturer kept mentioning
b) what BLAH BLAH is
c) -itives?

Hmm...

Rain, rain go away

Decided to check out the grocery store Nabil mentioned on Friday. It's great that most of the fruit, meat, and vegetables were cheaper than in Woolies/Coles, but getting rained on on the way home (uphill too!) wasn't. And now I need to venture out again in search of cereal... I'll bring an umbrella this time.

Saturday

Woke at at 3:30am to the sound of screaming, cursing, stomping, door slamming, knocking, and crying, as once again, Alex locked Stine out. They're both very nice people, so I find it really strange how minor issues can cause such big explosions in both their personalities. This time, I just texted Yoni to make sure Stine was alright - all the shouting was scaring me...

Feeling artistic (or maybe just inspired by Young), I decided to take a morning stroll, and stumbled upon many treasures - not just amazing people, and pretty scenery, but also garage sales! I managed to pick up a cute picture with a wooden frame for $2 =). The ladies there were really nice as well! I'm such a sucker for excellent customer service. Such as the girl that works in the Vietnamese restaurant we went to for dinner last night. I am so going back!

Front door to our home.


The lolly store! Drool Russell, drool.


Now I stare at mailboxes thanks to Young...


Closest I will probably ever get to creating that background blurriness that DSLR cameras can do so well!


Down the road...

Hmm.. I smell something burning! And I'm quite certain it's not my heater...

What the...

Apparently, some crazy dude ran through our house, banging on all the doors and screaming for Myriam at 8:30 in the morning. I only found out when Jared texted me reminding us to lock the external doors and windows...

Pick-up Lines

A three hour lecture on the code of conduct is BORING. But funny pick-up lines aren't.

#1 (from Josh)

Boy: Do you want a raisin?

Girl: No

Boy: Then how about a date?

#2 (from Michael's phone)

Boy: Can I follow you home?

Girl: Why?

Boy: Because my parents always told me to follow my dreams.

#3 (also from Michael's phone)

Boy: You've got nice legs. What time do they open?

Chestnuts for horses

Michael and I took the long route home today - walking through a historical part of town which had lolly stores and ice-cream parlours. The reason for the detour was because Michael wanted to buy fresh salmon from Tassal, but the sales assistant told us that the salmon would be more fresh tomorrow morning (also Tuesday and Thursday mornings). We stumbled into a park which seemed to be littered with chestnuts, but was informed by an elderly man who was stuffing his pockets that they were actually horse chestnuts. Hmm...

I just realised that I write more about what happens OUTSIDE of the apartment than in it. Maybe I should rename this blog?

Ouch...

Went ice-skating yesterday with a few friends - mostly to celebrate the conclusion of our hectic week. I'm now sporting two erythematous wounds on both my knees to show for the excursion. To top it off, Frank came to help me up, only to end up twisting me around - making me fall AGAIN, but this time, landing on my gluteus maximus so that my shorts were soaked.

You really know you're in a hole of a city when the only ice-rink close to the city is the size of a basketball court. Not that it detracts from the fun of seeing your friends fall down doing stupid stunts (like jumping for the basketball hoops...).

Despite all my battle wounds which were proudly on display, Jared, Yoni, and Joey insisted I have Kahlua in the evening. Just on a side-note, the especial version is HORRIBLE. Later, Jared tried to convince me - numerous times, to go clubbing with him and his friends in the city. I felt like my legs were about to fall off.

Happy St Patrick's Day

My flatmates are SUCH a bad influence! Yoni spent roughly 10 minutes trying to convince me to go to the Irish pub in the city with him, Myriam and Alex (2). WHEN WE HAVE AN 8AM LECTURE TOMORROW. Even the guy next door was convincing me to go... At least I know Russell would be proud that I thwarted their plans on getting me drunk on a Thursday night.

I'll just wear my green pyjamas instead.

Let the craziness begin

Having a meddie flatmate who drives around on his motorbike is awesome. It means that I don't have to carry library books home ^^. And he forces me to study too - usually by whining (I am so glad he doesn't read this, or else I'll soon be listed on the missing persons list).

Joey made tuna and onion omelettes for dinner (although he denies that they're omelettes - apparently, they're called "circular egg things" in Korean...?!), and made me one too! I've never had tuna with egg before, so it was certainly peculiar yet fascinating. The great part about living with flatmates from around the world is that I'm experiencing a patchwork of cultures, all at once! Now, if only Yoni would stop telling me to 'Hurry up' in Hebrew...

On the subject of food, Avant provided lunch for us all today! Most likely to round up stray uninsured medical students, so they can attack us with policies when we graduate. In the meantime, I'll just sit back and enjoy the free food and retractable card holders.

This week will probably end up being my most jam-packed week to date. I have nearly 30 contact hours, a formative examination tomorrow, and a reflective essay and CBL presentation on Friday. To top it all off, I've run out of milk in the fridge...

Sunday Night

Joey made korean pancakes and curry for dinner. I didn't know korean pancakes were so nice! Yoni is in the kitchen washing up (like the maid that he is), but he's forcing me to watch Braveheart after I finish writing my reflective essay on what health means to me. Fun times.

Alex and Stine are having "talks" - good, bad? I have no clue.

We fight, we fight

Woke up at 7:30am to shouting, screaming, stomping, and door slamming in the hallway.

It was cold, so I stayed in bed.

Later, I discover Stine on the living room couch in a sleeping bag. Why? Because Alex (1) and Stine (a couple here on a working holiday; they live upstairs) have broken up - over something as minor as dreadlocks.

It all started a few days ago when Alex got it in his head that he wanted dreads, and asked Stine to ask him separate the back portions as he couldn't reach them himself. Him, being a real man, soon developed sore arms, which resulted in Stine sectioning all his hair until 1 in the morning. Which, according to Alex, "really didn't help that much".

Last night, when she arrived home from work, she discovered that he had locked the door to their room - which lead to a whole cascade of arguments stemming back for weeks.

It's times like this when I feel like such a child compared to my flatmates. Everyone in this household is under 25, but today, I really noticed the difference. Stine was able to confide in Yoni, whilst Alex seeked Myriam for support, and all I did was ask Stine if she needed any help finding her mobile.

Study, study, pretty macbook

Just finished a study session on proteins and carbohydrates with Yoni. Who knew these things could get so complicated? We spent roughly 4 hours on the two lectures because we kept getting distracted - me by the stress balls that Jared gave us, and Yoni by the "sexiness of the macbook". Luckily, some tea and scotch fingers set us on the right path again.

During the day, Michael had an urge to perform DR ABCD on a woman who had collapsed just a metre in from the hospital entrance, but was already surrounded by a number of people. Seeing as she was already in the recovery position (and that she was in a hospital), we concluded that our skills as medical students were inferior to those of the doctors in the hospital - so it's best to let them handle it. I hope she's alright now.

Also, whilst studying in the library today, Young successfully distracted me, with this image:

http://www.saynotocrack.com/index.php/2007/05/03/inflatable-missile-balloons/

Coming soon...

Karin and Myriam are going to Melbourne for the long weekend, so I'll be living alone downstairs for a few days. Karin will then travel to New Zealand to meet up with her fiance before returning home to Austria.

Upstairs, Jared (the guy who is subletting the apartments to us) is setting up another room here the first living area use to be. So we'll have another flatmate soon! We've already seen a few potential renters inspect the property, so obviously, the rental market is still hot in this part of town.

She's taking away our proteins!

We learnt today that approximately 16% of our body's proteins are in the blood. And that was what came to mind when the occupational therapy nurse took my blood. Simone on the other hand, wanted to be as distracted as possible, so I thought mentioning that to her wasn't a great idea.

Making out with mannequins

I had to attend a first aid course today. Walked into the city to catch the bus 10 minutes north of the city. The three of us - Jason, Young and I were meant to catch the bus together, but somebody walks really slowly and missed the bus.

Little did we know that a 3m tall sign that point to St John's Ambulance is actually wrong and directed us instead to someone's backyard and train tracks. We spot a market, and after asking a few locals, we deduced that we had to walk 1km in the direction that we had come from. Thirty five minutes later, we bump into Jason (who had missed the second bus because he was sitting in Subway, so he caught a taxi instead). After 40 minutes, we finally located the CORRECT [identical] 3m sign and shuffled into the room as the instructor was pumping away at a Little Anne - 30 compressions, 2 breaths.

12:15 pm meant lunch time, so we trekked [in the rain] to KFC. Nothing like a shower in 15 degree whether to wake you up in the morning.

The afternoon session involved learning how to transform bandages, cloth, whatever you could find into slings, padding, and immobilisers. We were told how to treat various bee and wasp stings, snake, spider, octopus, pufferfish, stonefish, jellyfish, stingray, and ant bites, most of which can essentially be divided up into give warm fluids, apply ice-pack, or wash with vinegar.

<-- Picture of my friend all bandaged up.

We met two of Jason's friends that live on campus with him, and the three of us went went shopping at Coles, which ended in the boys stalking me down the aisle because I like to take my time grocery shopping.

Medwelcome 2010

Never turn up to medwelcome half a hour late.

Turn up one and a half hours late. That's when everyone arrives. The drinks menu was dull (choice of beer, UDL, or punch), so Johnny and I sneaked into the hospital (which adjoins the clinical school) and bought coke at the vending machine in the cafeteria instead.

First taste of medicine

First week of medicine! Apart from our CBL case, it's been pretty bland. The majority of our lectures are titled: "Introduction to...", which means you get a summary of the subject, and what will be required in it.

After the initial hype of getting to this point, I feel as if week one has been a tad anticlimactic. The highlights of my week have included buying colour pencils (I love pretty, colourful objects), taking photos of this beautiful city:



and receiving 'care packages' from my parents filled with all the possessions that I didn't manage to take.

It's been more interesting in the apartment this week though. We've had 3 more people move in on the ground floor - Karin, Myriam, and Alex (2). Myriam and Alex were next door neighbours in Italy, whilst Karin met Alex during her travels. However, Alex is flying to Bali to holiday with his girlfriend, so we'll be seeing more of him in a few weeks.

Introduction and Summary

I've been living in a sharehouse for 5 days now, and there's been so much happening lately that I thought I might share the drama with the rest of the world.

So I'll start from the beginning. The reason I'm in a sharehouse in the first place is because I've moved roughly 1000kms away from home in order to pursue my dream of one day becoming a doctor. The days leading up to my departure were filled with farewell parties, drinking, parents that insist I take everything with me (it turns out that I really did need my old anatomy textbooks), and my attempts to compact my life into 30kgs.

I arrived at an underwhelming airport (it had one level, and no actual terminals. I expected more from the airport of a state capital), to be greeted by my landlord, one of the girls that lived at another one of his apartments, and fake seals on the baggage claim track.

Day 1 involved shopping (mostly food), and settling in. The next few days were orientation, where I met many people from Sydney and Melbourne, and even bumped into a girl from high school! Although the focal point was the last day of orientation, where we had a free lunch supplied by the med society AND freebies from medical insurance companies to entice us to sign up. ^^

At the end of the week, Yoni (another medicine student who lives here) and I went to Kmart to buy a printer - on his motorbike. Finding a printer wasn't the problem, it was bringing it back. And having a 3-in-1 printer wedged between us wasn't the smartest idea we've come up with. Luckily, we survived, only to discover when we arrived home that the printer wouldn't print. It was late, we were tired, so the printer sat in my room for the night.

Had breakfast yesterday with three of Yonis friends from Melbourne. It was the first time I've had Turkish coffee before, and all I can say is that...it works. Apparently, you have to acquire the taste, like drinking beer or whiskey.

Surprisingly, it hasn't rained here yet. The rain graphs lie!