Homunculus

My Dear Family

2007-05-16T17:44:00.000-07:00

The top left picture is of my nephew, Samir. Samir just turned 8 on May 10th! Below that is Samir's mom, my eldest sister, Stella and I. Stella is 12 years older than me and is my biggest cheerleader, encouraging me so much as I go through school. Below that is a picture of Stella and her husband Admir. Below that is a picture of James, my brother-in-law who was married to my second oldest sister Mary, and our neice, Leila (from about a year ago) (Stella and Admir's second child). Leila is now 4, turning 5 in July. Below that is a picture of my youngest older sister, Yeny, and my mom. Yeny is 5 years older than me and we spent the most time together growing up because my oldest two sisters moved out by the time I turned 7. Yeny is moving to Paris because she is going into a Fashion Business Management Master's program. I am so proud of her! They are in a Korean restaurant where we went remembering my other sister Mary on her birthday. Beside that is both my parents and Yeny at that same restaurant. At the very bottom is Yeny and her boyfriend Matthew.

What a relief--out of pediatrics

2007-04-20T22:49:00.000-07:00

Wow--I can't believe that in high school I once thought I might want to become a pediatrician! These past two months have really shown me how much I am not naturally disposed to spending my entire day with kids. Especially crying whiny ones with parents who have no clue how to control them. Wait--maybe I mean the other way around--crazy parents with kids who have to put up with them. One mother came in with her son an hour late for her appointment, expecting the doctor to still see her son. When told she would have to rebook, she became very aggressive. She kept demanding the doctor's time and attention for her son's condition (actually not that emergent or serious) and upon his refusal ripped her 10-year-old son's pants down in the hallway to show the doctor the lesions on the kid's butt. Seeing the poor boy whimpering, "mom...mom!" while his mom shamelessly humiliated him finished me off for pediatrics.

Today I finished my peds exams, and on Monday I will proceed on to neurology and internal medicine. Haha, I saw a crying kid this evening outside the hospital context, and it suddenly dawned on me that I'm done with paediatrics (well at least for third year anyways), and I almost leaped for joy! I think that pretty much confirms I am not meant to be a pediatrician. :)

Hip Hop Family

2007-03-17T20:17:00.000-07:00

As I may have mentioned previously, Samir has been taking hip hop classes, and Stella too. Leila has been taking other dance classes, and although not hip hop, she does a good job of imitating her cool brother (who of course wasn't too impressed with her copying him). Here are some action shots.

More recent family pics

2007-03-16T20:44:00.000-07:00

Here are some more recent pictures (recent meaning around Christmas or so, haha). Oh! And one picture of me since I permed my hair...

My sister's birthday

2007-03-16T20:20:00.000-07:00

Last week, on March 8th, it would have been my sister Mary's 36th birthday. She passed away 6.5 years ago. Well we went out for dinner as a family to remember her, it was really nice to have that. We went to Szechuan Chungqing, one of my favourite Chinese restaurants, that she introduced our family to. She and her husband were the ones who introduced me to so many different ethnic foods and spoiled me, taking me out to eat all the time. She also encouraged me to keep persevering in school towards medicine. She didn't get to see me get accepted but I know she would be very proud of me. She was the one who was always willing to come sit through all the boring awards ceremonies I had throughout high school. I still miss her. It always grounds and centres me to think about how life is short--if I were to pass away at the age she did, 29, that would be in 4 years. I want to live in a way that I would not regret it if my life were to be shortened like that. May the Lord keep me with my eyes focused on eternity! Then when my life is over, I can go to meet Jesus and also be with my sister again. I am so thankful that I have such an amazing hope to look forward to!

Flamenco buddies

2007-03-16T20:02:00.000-07:00

Recently I was in a Flamenco recital. It was so much fun! Here are some of the pics from it. The best thing about my Flamenco buddies is that not only are they wonderful friends, but they also love food as much as I do, heehee! I love going out to eat with them after dance classes. Cher, Cyrena and I are kinda like the Asian foody flamenco junkie crew!

Recent happenings, oh, Hawaii and such

2007-03-16T18:59:00.000-07:00

It's been forever since I've posted last. Since I last posted, I went to Hawaii with my friend Katherine from Queen's, skiing to Whistler with Becca, Anthony, and Dan, and have been whipping through many different rotations in the hospital.
While I was in Hawaii hanging out with Katherine, I came to the conclusion that I still want to follow through with doing obstetrics and gynaecology. After the rotation, I was like, "OH man, why do I have to happen to like one of the most physically demanding specialties possible???" But after talking to Katherine and her mom, who is an ob/gyn, and mulling over it, I realised I really just have to go through with it--I didn't work so flipping hard my whole life to get to med school and then do a specialty I'm not interested in just for the easy lifestyle! I think that if I don't love what I do it will be very hard to do something for the rest of my life. I know it will be worthwhile in the end. It will be interesting to see how the Lord decides to lead me to use my career in the long term for his glory--whether that's abroad or in Canada, etc.
Right now I'm in paediatrics working with premies and kids with many different illnesses. Most of the kids I'm working with right now have temporary illnesses that will get better, so it's not as depressing as I thought it might be. The sad thing is seeing the babies who are born to drug-addict mothers and are going through withdrawal. The other night I was doing some paperwork for a new kid on the ward, and one of the babies in withdrawal was wailing...it was so sad, no nurse had time to pick her up, so I picked her up, kissed her and held her in my right arm while I wrote with my left and she settled down instantly...The poor baby just needed some love...
That's about it for the general latest on how I'm doing.

Leila and Samir

2006-10-14T06:43:00.000-07:00

Leila and Samir are getting so big so fast, I feel like I am missing so much of their growing up! Sam, as you can see, likes to dress up and reenact characters in his computer games. Samir is in grade 2 French Immersion already and has learned so much! Samir is taking hip hop dance classes, soccer, and swimming lessons. Leila is 4 and pretty independent, into tap and ballet lessons! Leila's swimming teacher says that Leila is so energetic and fun that she's the highlight of his teaching day.

The Last of this Year's Weddingfest: Rebecca and Anthony

2006-10-01T07:47:00.000-07:00

After attending 6 weddings this year, I thought I would be sick of them, but I seem to have fun and to cry without fail at each one. Becca's wedding was also very fun, with a photographer who got the whole wedding party to have a sword fight with tall grasses from the marsh! The speeches were also very touching, especially Becca's dad's and Anthony's. Again, I just want to put some pictures on without further comment.

Jackie's Wedding!

2006-09-20T23:30:00.000-07:00

What a fun and wonderful day! It was so neat to see Jackie and Dave say their vows, and to see everyone so beautiful and so happy! I cried a lot, of course. Liz wore a sari she bought in India and was our assistant and driver for the day. We took pictures at Coal Harbour, Downtown. I just want to put pictures up so I won't say much more. Yay Jackie and Dave!!

Square peg in a round hole: the Sunday school dilemma

2006-09-04T18:43:00.000-07:00

The past two years I have been at Victoria Drive Gospel Hall, I have tried my hand at teaching Sunday school--although I have always felt that teaching was never my strength (or gift). After a couple challenging chats with my housemate and an older mentor, I have decided to pull myself out of the Sunday school scene, at least for this year as I re-examine my motives, strengths, and goals. This was a hard decision because our Sunday school has many children, and teachers are particularily in want this year. I guess I wondered if a not-so-great Sunday school teacher was better than none at all, but the reply came, I cannot force a square peg in a round hole, and if my motivations are not pure (ie out of obligation) I may be sucked of the joy of living for Christ. My next step is to find ways to use what I do feel are my giftings within the church. I am looking forward to what the Lord has in store for me in this coming school year.

Becca's stagette in Tofino

2006-09-02T18:43:00.000-07:00

I had a blast with Becca and 4 other of her friends in Tofino last weekend. We had beautiful weather, and we went caving (at Horne Lake) and surfing! It would be so fun to learn to surf relatively well one day! It wasn't as cold as I thought (actually not cold at all!) with the wetsuit on. I never really wanted to go to Hawi'i before, but I think that if I did some sort of "learn to surf" weeklong kinda thing I'd actually enjoy it! The weekend was a great finish to my summer break, and I'm now onward bound with 3rd year of med school in the hospitals! More than halfway there!

(Top picture: on the ferry home)

Car Happy!

2006-08-29T00:09:00.000-07:00

Yipee! Today I got the car I've been frantically searching for for the past few weeks, whohoo! It's a 2002 Honda Civic Si Coupe, standard, with 45,000 kms on it, and it's in really good shape. I got it for $1000 less than the asking price, yeah (though not cheap, it was reasonable)! The lady who sold it to me seemed like a bit of an OCD with the care of her "baby," which she had to say goodbye to today...but that was good for my sake! Even the mechanic who came to inspect it mentioned that her and her husband seemed a little fanatical with their other car on which they were "...going crazy with the vacuum to get out who knows what, a grain of sand!" I just hope that I can manage to drive it long enough to get back to a 40% discount on my insurance and stay there for a while...Oh please, no more accidents!

Car Crazy

2006-08-17T23:18:00.000-07:00

The normal, cheerful Jane has been temporarily replaced by an impulsive, frantic, stressed and famished (okay, okay, this can be normal for me too, yes) car hunter! I almost forgot how scary I can get. I have lost all ability to carry a normal conversation without inserting the odd, "So how do you like your car?" into conversations about everything but cars. I do not see the road for the cars. Friends' faces are morphing into the shapes of cars as they speak...I think I really need help. Anybody out there in cyberspace selling a car made for me??? heh...

Caroline's and Scott's Wedding

2006-08-08T00:09:00.000-07:00

I went to Caroline and Scott's wedding last Friday and it was beautiful. Caroline looked gorgeous! Obviously Scott couldn't resist her, he had to kiss her during the ceremony before the officiator even said "You may now kiss the bride" (which was never said so Scott was lucky he still got one). The reception was at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club. The sun set during the reception and the view was incredible. Anyways, here are some pics.

Terminology matters!

2006-08-03T18:10:00.000-07:00

One day while in the ER in Sechelt I was stitching up a guy's arm. He wasn't the most buff looking guy, but he did look like he did a lot of work outside. Anyways, as I was struggling with adjusting things in their places and holding my hands steady, he asked me if I needed him to help by holding something. I mumbled, "No, you can't, you're not sterile." As soon as it came out of my mouth, I realised the guy could turn that into a big embarrassing joke and I held my breath. Realising he wasn't going to jump on it, I sighed a big breath of relief. 10 minutes later, when the doctor walked by the room, he yelled out, "Hey, the student said I wasn't sterile!!"

Aaah! How come I never get away with it when things come out my mouth the wrong way? Hey! At least I wasn't the one who put a gash in my arm trying to prune my trees with an exacto-knife!

Small town withdrawal??

2006-08-01T09:49:00.000-07:00

This whole weekend I've felt so down after coming home from Sechelt. I thought I was a city girl! Coming home made me realise how much I was really enjoying myself there. It was like working (but doing what you love) in holiday land. On my last night, the doctor I worked with took me and his son for a beatiful bike ride to a falls, and had me for dinner at his parents-in-law's, who raise peacocks and chickens and live on a huge hill overlooking the ocean. With a sabbatical every 5 years (which is what all the doctors get there!), I almost think I could live there! What a turn around of ideas. Only I really think I could easily get bored there, especially in the winter. And I would miss the selection of Asian food. But I think I could handle travelling to work elsewhere for a year every 5 years! Hmm...But they already have an ob/gyn there, and probably don't need another. What about family practice with obstetrics?? My preceptor thinks family practice with obstetrics is much more flexible lifestyle-wise. I guess I'll be deciding in a few years...

Here is the link to my pictures from my trip to the Sunshine Coast (you'll have to attach it back together): http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?Uc=riz14o3.3u9f30qb&
Uy=ganpvv&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&
Ux=0&amp;amp;mode=fromshare&conn_speed=1

Way to confuse a poor city girl...

2006-07-23T08:51:00.000-07:00

So yesterday's my birthday and I'm feeling a bit lonely because most of my host family isn't around...so I go to the beach by myself for a swim. I swim out to this floating dock to sit and enjoy the hot sun, and then comes another circumstance where a local offers to take me out on his boat! I'm originally feeling more willing since the other guy turned out so nice (and turned out to be the boyfriend of someone my friends know!)...but I'm alone so this time I have a harder time telling whether he's trying to be friendly or pick me up! He's kinda weird with thess hippyish phrases like "it's all about love and happiness," so I'm not exactly relating well to this guy....Later though, he tells me I'm pretty and that I have nice legs so I decide I better not take this guy's number. Darn! He likes to fish for dungeness crab...

25th Birthday Wish

2006-07-20T00:40:00.000-07:00

It's my birthday this Saturday, and I can't believe I'm turning 25. This is the first time in my life I have felt a little scared of being my age. When I was younger I was thrilled to be getting older, because it always felt like I was heading towards maturity--my childhood life goal!

Anyways, for this year, my birthday wish is to be able to buy a a young woman in my church a good keyboard so she can learn piano. Her dad had promised he would give her one at her last year's birthday but he never showed up. She doesn't own one and she is taking lessons through a special organization that allows eager youth to have free lessons.

Out on the boat to Two-Tree Island

2006-07-19T21:42:00.000-07:00

So we took up the guy's offer to go out on his little boat. We had a splendid time! He took us across the water to what he calls "Two-Tree Island" and another island right beside it and we watched the sunset as we built a fire, roasted marshmallows, and steamed freshly caught crab. It was the best crab I've had in years! So tender, and he even brought butter and garlic to melt by the fire and dip our crab in. They swam but I didn't (it was already dark and cold!)...and I got to see the plankton "phosphorescence"! It was like I was cinderella's fairy godmother, when I swished my hand through the water, there was this amazing sparkling train behind it! I hate sounding cheesy, but it was really a magical night.

It's beautiful here!

2006-07-16T22:31:00.000-07:00

This weekend we went camping and kayaked in Porpoise Bay. We saw a lot of seals really close to our kayaks. Our tent ended up having no cover so we used tarps to keep us from getting wet but thankfully it didn't rain at all this weekend! Today we went for a crazy bike ride with Spencer and then for a swim in Trout Lake. The others are pictures of Sechelt and Gibsons. The weather was beautiful today.

Small Town Happenings

2006-07-13T23:59:00.000-07:00

You know you are in a small town when someone says to you, "You're not from around here, are you? I don't recognize you," and, "Hey, I like showing newcomers around on my boat, here's my phone number!" Because my friend has a husband who can "protect us", I think we are going to take up the offer of a boat ride at night to watch the phosfluorescence.

Yesterday I went to this beautiful place called "Secret Beach" in Gibsons, where you get a >180 view of the water and the gulf islands. It was so beautiful, that we stayed till it was nearly dark and couldn't find the proper path back so we trespassed on private property to find our way back to the car! As we were climbing through these people's yard, we came within 10 feet of a doe! I think that doe in backyards are also a common occurrence out here.

Tomorrow I'm going camping with my friends in Porpoise Bay. Looking forward to that!!

From circumcision to bike precision

2006-07-08T18:41:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I removed a mole and watched my tutor use what look like torture contraptions to perform a circumcision. Although the baby had anaesthesia, it was harrowing to see the baby scream during the entire procedure. However, as soon as his leg straps were removed and he was redressed, he fell asleep.
The host family I am staying with is a family with three teens aged 15, 16, and 18. They are a lot of fun. The youngest, Spencer, took me on an insane mountain biking trail through a beautiful park. He would not allow me to walk my bike up the hill that I thought I would die going up...but when we got to the top it was worth it, because we got to go through this awesome rocky trail downhill through trees even through a creek! He was so fast that he would go down the trail, walk back up to a jump, and take the jump again, all in the time of me going down the hill once. He is going to go to a provincial race next weekend in Whistler. I think I may even allow him to take me up there again sometime.

Virgin Surgeon

2006-07-05T22:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my first day on my "Rural Family Practice" rotation on the coast of BC. It was a very busy day! I have a wonderful family doctor to work with, very kind with a great sense of humour and a good teacher. I finally had the opportunity to put in some stiches (never did before!) and take out staples. Later I got to "scrub up" and be an assistant to the surgeon in the OR! He is known as the general surgeon who hates to do surgery. Sad predicament for him I suppose. He said it was a rather dull surgery (umbilical herniation) on which to lose my "surgery virginity"! I was amused. I admit that although some hate the OR and surgery, I like it. Eek my battery is running out so I'm going to post this one.

Scary haircuts!

2006-03-23T00:02:00.000-08:00

BEFORE: AAAHH! After: Aaaahh.

Eek! I haven't had a haircut I didn't like in a long time, so I forgot how upsetting it could be! So I gave my hairdresser a lot of freedom and then was horrified at the results. Thankfully today I went back and she changed it for free. I guess I'm going to have to wait a long time before I can have my hair long again, but at least it will look decent in the meantime.

The Land of Pneumonia

2006-02-13T23:22:00.000-08:00

Today I was told by my doctor I need to stay home for a week from school. I have already been sick for two weeks (thus I have been dubbed "Coughy" by my housemate) and have barely done any homework at all. So I guess I was resigned when my doctor gave me my note and I was sent away to get another chest x-ray. I decided today with all my free time it was time to start a blog. I chose the name My Homunculus because in neuroanatomy, the homunculus is like a little map of the brain that represents the different parts of you.