Caroling

Had been wanting to pen down something about this year's Christmas, but was either held up with work or being lazy. Zhong Shuin approached a day after the caroling session, if I could write an article about it for the first college magazine edition. Since I'd written, I thought I would just update it here. Had deleted the original version. So I'll just copy and paste that one which has been edited by Zhong. After cutting off certain lines which aren't needed and adding on some meaningful words to it, I think the article sounded pretty nice. Sharing it with you guys.

FELIZ NAVIDAD

Dressed in red tops and hats, they were all geared up to welcome a night of fun and merry! WENDY TER ZU WEI (Batch 19) sang her heart out with the MMMC Christmas Carolers.

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas here in Manipal. In spite of being far away from home, I feel blessed because my last Christmas here was almost as significant as it was in Malaysia. It all began with the annual caroling session on 20 December. I had a most splendid time, going from house to house singing a grand list of Christmas carols.

In comparison to past years, we received many unexpected blessings this year – Dr. Stanley Lobo sportingly agreed to accompany us on our grand tour, and arranged two tempos for us to travel from one home to another instead of moving around by a confusing mixture of autos and walking. To tally up the merriment, Dr. Lobo also masqueraded himself as dear old Santa Claus. Donning a red robe with a Santa’s mask over his face, he went around bellowing the familiar phrase, ‘Ho! Ho! Ho!! Merry Christmas!!’.

For many of our lecturers who are believers, there’s no better way to celebrate Christmas than caroling! So after much anticipation, we started the eventful evening at our first stop which was Mdm. Bincy's residency. Next was to Dr. Maya Roche’s followed by Dr. Annamma’s, Mdm. Merin’s, Mr. Vinod Pallath’s, Mdm. Daphne’s, Mdm. Saju’s and last but not least, Dr. Stanley’s.

‘Mamacita, donde esta Santa Claus…Santa Claus...Oh! Pancho, Oh! Vixen, Oh! Pedro, Oh! Blitzen’ we sang, breaking into chuckles in between the lyrics. ‘Ole! Ole! Ole! Cha! Cha Cha!’. And to the more sentimental songs like ‘Silent Night’, ‘Mary’s Boy Child’ and ‘Away in a Manger’. We sang, stretching our voices to match the angels, focusing our minds on the beauty of Christmas – even the lecturers and their families could not resist the temptation but to sing and dance away with us!

We were hosted warmly and given the purest mood of Christmas. The lecturers were friendly, jovial and supportive – their parental love extended beyond their working hours and responsibilities. We were blown away by their efforts in preparing the sumptuous spreads of snacks. Was embarrassed over the mess I created at one of the houses when I accidentally spilled my drinks onto the floor, yet the hospitable host comforted me and said, ‘It’s ok, no worries at all. Treat this as your own home!’. These words tickled my heart for a moment. The sense of déjà vu drifted my inner sighs away, thinking that this Christmas has certainly carved a deep memory in my mind.

Many lively conversations were exchanged during the event and we had the most precious moments interacting with each other. Though it lasted for just a night, all of us had had tremendous bouts of joy cum contentment. It was perhaps the best season of the year. Despite being a yearly affair, Christmas caroling at Manipal has not lost its novelty. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed it. I wished there were more to come.

This article is dedicated to the loving hands that guided us with faith, hope and charity – Dr. Annama, Mr. Anand and last but not least, Dr. Stanley.

MIA

Am finally back after the long M.I.A. period. Been so occupied with events over the couple of weeks till I could hardly fork out personal time for myself. Anyways, shall update these things around me one by one. Till then. Hearts, Wendy.

Sometimes, just sometimes, I wished I never had thought.
Sometimes, just sometimes, I wished I never had heard,
Sometimes, just sometimes, I wished I never had said.
Sometimes, just sometimes, I wished I never had teared.


Now, just now, I wish you have thought.
Now, just now, I wish you have heard.
Now, just now, I wish you have said.
Now, just now, I wish you will know.

Yet, that was the end.

Love,
Me.

Totally random

A beam of the early sunlight crack through the windows. Rubbing my eyes gently, I fumbled for the cellphone. 7.56am. That was pretty early for a day when I can have a break, a holiday! Squeezed my eyes shut while I tried to fall back into dreams. 8.15am. I was still wide awake. Forced myself outta the cozy comfort of quilt and mattress and so here I am now, strumming my fingers on the keys.

I found that tempting picture while looking through the photo album. Some cupcakes for dad's 51st birthday. Mom and I baked that moussey Tiramisu and we decided to mould them into tiny cupcakes. I named them 'Strawberry on Snow' which I thought will be a perfect symbolization for 25th Dec. Am totally missing mom's bakings, especially when Christmas is drawing nearer. If only I could be home on this festive season, I'm sure to put on pounds. =) But only when I come to realize it, am less than 3 months away from home now! *hops around merrily*

Am so busy during the weekdays that I could hardly fork out time for myself. Quality time to be rested and enjoyed. Yet over the weekends, I completely rejuvenated my tired body and mind and am feeling so refreshed for the moment. Thank God. =)

Pre christmas mood

CHRISTMAS!!!

Am in a pretty christmas-ie mood recently. Love it, love it! Blasted some carols over the speaker as loudly as I could go and the songs made me all way merrier(do not be fooled by that picture). This is so much fun. Am absolutely craving for Christmas shoppings and parties. This is gonna mark my third year being absent from celebrating the joyous occasion at home. Now, am miles apart from my loved ones. I missed the jolly and warm atmosphere at home. Those days when I used to enjoy the most romantic day of the year with my dearest buddies. Love it, love it! It had never been that wonderful since I came here. Christmas was just another lonely day. BUT, imma let myself enjoy to the fullest this year! It's going to be the best, I promise! Everything just seems so fuzzy and warm when I allow those sweet sounding tunes ring in my ears. Love it, love it! Sarah Connor's 'Christmas In My Heart' never fails to soak my eyes. Love it, love it!

*zaps back to the merry mood*

Annual night

Batch-19 conquering the annual night

Group F of clinical posting

That evening was a joyous occasion. A night which everyone had been eagerly waiting for. The utmost grandeur event held annually to award our achievements and to celebrate our successes.

Had a splendid evening dressing and slapping on makeups for not only myself, but JJ and Steph as well. The dolling up game is perhaps one of my topmost favorites I absolutely enjoy. Dad bought me an austere, sleeveless, navy blue dress from OG, Singapore before I was back in India. Such a simple dress which I heart so much.

Two years of partial college life, I was awarded a certificate for an insignificant achievement. The 100% attendance. Implies to my dedication for attending a sum of 1104 hours of classes within these 2 years of boring Manipal. It wasn't for the intention of receiving the award that I attended every single lecture. I reckon I need to discipline myself better, if not for the sake that every hour of lessons here is costing me quite some money(as per the tuition fees paid by my parents). So there is no excusable reason for me to play truant. =)

Watched the prize giving ceremony cum performances as the glamor night proceeded with loads of laughters and heartfelt. Time trickles by so fast that when I came to realize it, the many things which had happened in my life had become histories of yesterdays. I thank God for his blessings, my parents and family for their continuous support, friends for their encouragements. I know my journey in this foreign land had taught me many of the wonderful things. We were pampered with a luxurious spread of lawn dinner later on. And last, but not least, 'PIKCHAS'!!!!!!

Discovering me

In the process of discovering me, I realized how passive a person I've always been. Thinking that a problem is too toilsome for me to solve, it is merely a misconception. That's because I have lived within my own comfort zone for too long and refused to take a step out. For example, when love matters. Throwing myself in and out of L.O.V.E. in a repetitive fashion hadn't been a good practice nor had it brought me significant benefits. My outmoded brain waned the fact that it was no longer there or refused to adapt to changes. So that made me unhappy whenever I'm out of my bubble.

The recent change brought me to the actualization that I'm capable of adapting. And I'm doing well, in fact. I'm healing in such a pace that is beyond personal comprehension and even my dearest buddies are feeling proud of me this time. I'm not missing any bit of the past but looking forward to what lies ahead. Just like the picture above, my reflection may not fit into the outer large circle, but if you observe tentatively, it is not so for the inner small circle where my reflection fits perfectly well within with much more room for me to grow! Similarly, the previous love may not contain me thoroughly, but there will certainly be one which will accommodate the big big me. I'm happy that it has all been in the past and I'm embracing the current freedom with infinite happiness.

Insight on speech

My days are now meaningfully crammed with daily visitation to the hospital and randomly appointed rural areas.

My previous postings in the department of Paediatrics and O&G had brought me to the attention of many things within these fields. The basic task of clerking a case wasn't as easy as I thought. One of the major barriers that came in between was communication. Speaking the local language here seemed almost impossible to me at first. I struggled with the translation script which I could barely understand a single word when the patients replied to my questions. But slowly I learned. Then there were difficulties in correlating a particular case with my previous knowledge from what I'd learned during the pre-clinical years. I have to awkwardly admit that I have seriously forgotten lots of stuff I learned in the past 2 years. So all the hurdles made history taking a tricky experience for me. But again, I learned.

Upon all the obstacles which I'm bound to face, I find true satisfaction from within. Though I did not understand what the patient was trying to express, I know they on the other hand had lots to tell. There are times when they just went on talking and talking, yet all I could do was went on nodding and nodding. I wished I had the ability to converse better.

So all I'm able to do now is to pick up as many dialects as I can before returning to Malaysia for good. I'm looking forward to a better student-patient relationship because I'd always believed that communication is a strong foundation to making my studies and career more happening.

Missy Chikoo

It was nearly 3 weeks back when I went for a rejuvenating ayurvedic facial therapy at the hospital. It was my very first experience here in Manipal. Pretty shocking to me at first cuz albeit being in this modern era, the beauty therapist used the most fogyish method. Like boiling a pot of herbal remedies to steam my face under the shelter of a white cloth, covered over my head. @_@

I was merely complaining to the doctor about the unvanishable dark circles hovering under my lower eye lids. It's been ages though. And so the doctor suggested that I should try drinking more chikoo juice. I have no idea how chikoo works in vanishing dark circles. After googling, I'd only learned that it contains protein, fiber and minerals.

I've been hunting for chikoo juice all around Manipal. And coming to realize that chikoo milk shake tasted really mouthwatering. I even bought a kilogram of chikoo fruit the other day and before I could savor all of them, half the amount had gone rotten. T___T

So I suppose, having a pair of bright shiny eyes is almost impossible. T___T

Sexy, I am not. Clubber, I am not.

I have to somehow admit that I'm not a clubber. Seriously not. I enjoy alcoholic beverages. Wines, vodkas, beers and cocktails. And so I even enjoy the feeling of getting drunk. Alright, perhaps I hadn't truly experience the bouts of doing one of those gimcracks as in when you get really drunk. Most of the time, I ended up dwelling in a profound sleep. Clubbing has always been in a sense of 'chaotic' to me. I'm more favorable of soft music, that's a fact.

Few days back, I went for a birthday bash. It was Chin Eu's birthday party at Blue Waters, a pretty renowned club here in Manipal. It was planned to be just a simple dinner. Majority left the place right after. Seeing my dearest buddy, Carol, who was in high spirited mood to get down to the dance floor, Soo and I agreed to stay back for a little while. Both the sweeties danced and rocked the hall while the usual sissy me decided to just sit down and watch as I worked-out with my camera. *smirk gleefully*

The way they got so well versed with their steps made me feel more like a handicap. My body stiffened whenever I tried to twist it. It just couldn't go swiftly. -_- Even when it comes to posing a sexy posture, I ended up having these friends bending my spines. Such an impairment to me. T_T. If you noticed from the pictures, my poses were often the oddest ones.

The verdict hence turned out to be a statement which says, "I'm not a clubber cuz I can't pose, I can't dance, I can't withstand punks and hip-hops and I'm not sexy." I did not yet feel par with my peers. BUT, I have the courage to present you with one of my aptitude. A whatever you call it, 'GOLD FISH'.

I.n.s.i.d.e.o.u.t

I was never good at maintaining, I knew it.
So here's a brand new start.
A toast from the fickle-minded me.

**cheers**

Love,
Wendy