Permanently-deferred speech therapist

I’ve just printed out the bulletin using Shereen’s printer. Alhamdulillah after all the hassle, dapat gak print it out. Even that wasn’t without glitches; there were some technical problems with the layout that was too tedious to solve. Since my layout designer was fast asleep, I just had to bear with it and repair it some other time. Tomorrow, I’ll submit it for approval by the advisors. Huh, producing a bulletin is interesting but somewhat tiresome. Why do I get myself into these things?

Permanently-deferred speech therapist

Haha…that’s what I am. Or at least that’s the conclusion I can make after the two seminars we’ve had this block. In a seminar, a group of 5 students are given a topic (any topic the lecturers can come up with even non-medical topics too) and they’ll have to present it in front of class. It’s kind of a big deal since it constitutes 5% of our first professional exam so everyone puts in their very best to make an impression. The exam a.k.a 1st pro is the one we have to sit for when we finish our preclinical years in order for us to proceed to the 3rd year. Where the real hands on practical begins.

In the first seminar, at the end of their presentation, the group designated everyone with occupations or posts synonymous to their characters; the somewhat trendy ones were fashion designers, the alim ones were religious advisors, there were also ridiculous ones like backup singers and stuntmen…and I got elected as speech therapist. Why? I think it’s becoz I’ve commented on this one guy’s English pronunciation. It’s not that mine is so excellent but his, my god, he speaks as though he’s from Germany. I doubt even germans would understand him. He says becorrrze instead of because and all the r’s are very much stressed.

The second seminar was Cbah’s group on blood donation. They mentioned the criteria that render one eligible to donate blood and I am absolutely over-qualified save for the fact that I’m permanently deferred from donating blood, in Malaysia at least. Those who have lived in UK from 1988 to 1996 are permanently deferred from donating blood according to the Malaysian Ministry of Health for fear of infecting others with BSE or Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis, more popularly known as mad cow disease. Sometimes I do think I suffer from it meself, just the mad part at least.

During my matriculation, I’ve always wanted to try donating blood, just for the experience, besides those noble reasons of helping others..bla..bla..bla…but I was afraid and conjoured up loads of reasons against it. But, my desire never faded. I got the chance at UIA Gombak once while visiting it. Despite knowing my ineligibility, I still signed up for it. i asked the nurse in charge and she said it was okay, therefore it wasn’t really my fault. Actually, some people don’t really believe in this rule, but it’s a preventive measure I guess. Just hope the fella who got my O+ blood doesn’t contract BSE…

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5 january 2005