Our first week at surgery passed so fast! I was so tired I slept for 10 hours at the start of the weekend. It's a stark contrast from family medicine; be at the hospital by 7.30am every morning, show face at ward rounds where everyone is rushing everywhere, chock full of tutorials by busy tutors, learning how to clerk and examine patients all over again. Yesterday I did an abdominal examination on a patient who had an inguinal hernia, but didn't end off with an examination of the groin. Nearly got chased out of the clinic because I missed the hernia eeeeps!

It's been extremely tiring, but I've realized as challenging as it is, how much I've missed being in the wards. Being so busy that you have to find time to eat, being overwhelmed by how much there is to learn that you feel extremely inadequate all the time, clerking patients and stopping by for chats before they discharge.

We've met a few tutors who're great mentors, like our oldest prof who only works part time. And how I'm glad he still works in the hospital, and cares to take the time to take students like us.
It's amazing how he can be so impressionable, just shortly after meeting us for a few hours. I love his sense of humour, and the sharing of values that he interjects in between his teaching of medical knowledge.
Like how learning should be self directed, and we should leave the hospital everyday only when we've learnt something new.
Like how we should count our blessings daily, for however tough it is, we are privileged to be studying medicine and there are so many people who would give so much just to be where we are.
Like how we should treat every patient as though he/she is our last, be a little kinder, more compassionate and caring because all these qualities make so much of a better doctor.