Of nostalgic feelings, greek encounters and the woes of getting visas...

Been a week since I sent my parents off. It's pretty odd coz I've never missed them so much before, especially during meal times nowadays when I cook for one person's share...and then eat it alone... (cue solo violin playing in the background) Plus the fact that I used to stay in a house with 8 other wackos and meal times used to be war zones where you raised your voice to speak or risk being unnoticed. Hmmm, really going to miss those days. From next week, it's pretty much going to be me, and me, and me eating alone in the Doctor's residences (cue violin again).

Spent the weekend away in Milton Keynes for a COCM (Chinese Overseas Christian Mission) conference. Was a good time away with a lot of solid foundational teaching. It was the first time I got so lost amidst all the Cantonese conversations and it didn't take long for people to realise that I'm hopeless in Cantonese! But was very edifying indeed to mix with people from Leeds and Birmingham where the Chinese Churches there have not only 1, not 2, but 3 services! (1 for English, 1 Chinese and 1 Cantonese)

To save money on the way back, I decided to take a bus to London, and then wait for the overnight megabus to Dundee, which meant I had to linger in London for 7 hours. With not much money to spend, and not wanting to get lost (remember...Dundee is just one high street, London is millions and millions of streets), I decided to take a walk down to Buckingham Palace and laze in the sun a bit at the park in front of the Palace. And lo and behold, who shall I meet but one of my year mates, of all places in London! So spent the evening with his friends (who are all greek) and it was the second time during the weekend that I got completely lost in a foreign conversation. It was superbly entertaining though to see them speak greek with their big hand gestures. I always get this impression that they're very excited over the things that they speak about, but actually, it's just their way of conversing to one another.

Rushed off to do my visa in Glasgow the next day. But got rejected due to one single letter. Mmm don't really want to launch into the whole story again because I've repeated myself so many times to different people that I'm bit bored of it. But at least I achieved my other mission in Glasgow which was to get a new watch! Ahhh....and now I can't stop admiring it and can't stop wanting to know the time. It's a Fossil watch with 3 interchangeable straps made of genuine leather. And it was on half price! Spent the rest of the day sitting at a window seat in Starbucks sipping a Frappucino and waiting for my megabus back. That was quite nice...it reminded me of the time when I used to do that when studying in Singapore...just sitting in Starbucks with a book to read, and watching the shoppers go by the window. It's quite a different feeling being in Glasgow with the massive throngs and throngs of shoppers compared to good ole Dundee where you've got just ONE shopping street. And for a moment there, I half wished that I was staying in a bigger city. But then again...maybe not. I still like Dundee better :) Got to make another trip down to Glasgow again to sort out my visa. Or I'll risk being an illegal worker here!

All the excitement in June and July...part 2

I don't quite know how to describe the feeling when i slipped into my black graduation gown and the rich, velvety, furry graduation hood. I suddenly realised that this is it. 18 years of formal education ends here with a bare 10 second walk on stage to be capped by our uni chancellor. Without getting too emotional about the whole affair, I just really want to say that God definitely knows what He's doing. It could not have been by my own strength.

And it feels weird...when the person handing out the certs after we went off stage said to me, 'Congratulations, doctor!' Doctor?? Oh right...I think that's me...

The garden party after that with all the champagne was marvellous! Especially when we had such good weather!! All of us basked in the glorious sun, while our parents basked in the glorious pride of seeing their daughters/sons wearing their graduation robes and going around snapping photos with each other. It was sad though...to have to go around and say goodbye to those not working in Dundee. Days like these only happen once in the whole life time. Even if you do graduate again later from some Royal College, it'll be different.

My mom and dad. What can I say to these two who have supported, loved, cared, nourished me throughout the past 24 years?? Um, we Chinese don't really express our love for each other well. So, well, thanks, pa and mi, for everything. And for that every single cent you saved up from the first day of your marriage so that you could send me to med school!

Jo helping me with the gown (it kept slipping to the back and off my shoulders).



Dr Tan, Dr Liew, Dr Goh, Dr Yap, Dr Khoo, Dr Yu, Dr Kong, Dr Ngu.



Me, WoeiLin and Inez.



Colin and WoeiLin in their specially hired kilts!



The lovely flowers waiting for me....thanks :)


Yeap, so that was it. The end of NineCastle, the end of the class of 2007 Medicine, Uni of Dundee. All the best to all your guys. I'm sure we'll read about you guys once in a while, in Lancet or New England Journal of Medicine I'm sure!

All the excitement in June and July...part 1

Apologise for the long hiatus again, but life has been too exciting!

First, there was the graduation ball. Which was absolutely smashing!


The girls...


WoeiLin trying to blend in with the dancing people on stage but failing terribly...


Good old Ceilidh dancing..


The lovely Elaine and Jo who are becoming more Malaysian-ised by the day. Especially Jo who's going around saying 'no-lah' in the most cantonese-english-speaking way possible.


Then there was the road trip down from Aviemore where we stopped by lots of lovely places which made me love this world's best small country even more. And I think we were still pretty exhilarated from the previous night's ball, which explains the crazy photos...




As hard as I've tried, I still can't imitate the above expression...





Ok that's enough photos for now. Graduation ceremony ones coming up soon.