Community life

Now here's something to blog about.

One of the best experiences I had during the old nursing years was the community exposure. In nursing, there is such a thing called Community Health Nursing (CHN for short) where student nurses are immersed in various communities first around the city (Makati, in our case) and then in the rural community (Cavinti, Laguna during our time). CHN is a different field from clinical nursing in which our clients were not individual persons but the whole community in general.

Let's make the pictures speak for itself while I add some more color to each picture I'll show.

Here are some pictures during 3rd year for our community exposure within the city. This was the last city exposure that we had before the real thing:

With my group mates during our exposure at Pio Del Pilar, Makati City.

 Making those kids brush their teeth, an example of health teaching strategies that we did.

 Forgive me for this picture. This 2-day performance cost me my dignity in front of so many elementary kids.

The beauty of city exposure was that this experience showed us the harsh reality of urban living: poor living conditions, lack of health-related knowledge, bad sanitation, and so much more. I had no pics of the experience where we entered a so-called "squatters" area, where the sight of it was like entering another world. 

During our 4th year, we were then exposed to the REAL community. Our community immersion was done in Cavinti, Laguna, almost 100 km away from Manila. For me this exposure was like a vacation and stress mixed together because the view and the weather was just pretty darn relaxing but the effort to walk from one house to another in different directions through rugged terrain was just tiring and stressful. Here are some pics from our exposure during the 1st sem:

Our house back at Brgy. Layug. Such a very far cry from urban living.

 School children in rural-type classrooms. Still a very far cry from urban-type classrooms.

 Community meetings with some of the townspeople.

Oh yeah, not to forget cleaning places. The scenery looks great here by the way.

These are some of the things we did during our time in the community. It's hard to imagine living this kind of life when one is used so much in living the city life. 

The 2nd semester exposure that we had was also done in the community. Same place, different barangay. Here are some photos:

 Community sessions

 Walking around the community, going to different places.

Don't forget the rural health center.

Life in the community opens the door to the reality of life, a life that is not seen in places with skyscrapers, cars, and busy people. Rural community life is where one will see how people really live their lives, their lines of work, their means of survival. In all the duties that I had, community health nursing was where my eyes were opened to the beautiful but harsh life, where people are just plain equal, health care sometimes lack, and communication to the outside world seems to be almost non-existent. But though there are some pains, there is that inner beauty where the serene grasslands, beautiful mountains, rugged terrain, and that fresh spring water that is very much appreciated by everyone involved, including me. How I wish to go back there and relive the memories, but it's far from possible now because of so much change. 

Whenever this chance or opportunity of community living comes back again, an advice of mine to you the reader is to grab that opportunity, live the rural life, and see for yourself the life you wish you had seen before.

Hawaii

Of all the places I've been to in the United States, Hawaii has always been the best place for me. For the kind of person who loves city lights and prefers the fast-paced urban life, well, the island state might not be your choice. But for the avid traveler who loves the beach, the scenic view of the ocean, the tranquility of the environment and the cleanliness of surroundings, for sure Hawaii is certainly one of the best places to go to.

Hawaii (or HI, in state abbreviation) is an island state in the middle of the Pacific. This place is a resort gateway for so many tourists coming from the US Mainland and even from other countries mostly from Japan. Its scenic views and picturesque beaches attract even prominent people from all walks of life. Its volcanoes are some of the most attractive tourist spots and though active in its geologic state, these volcanoes still attract lots of people even the thrill-seeker of tourists.

As I speak of HI, I'll focus on Maui Island, one of the major islands of HI where I stayed with my relatives. As a scope and limitation (thesis? =P ) all shots and pictures were taken at various tourist locations within Maui Is. Hope we are clear on that note. =)

Going to HI was my first ever solo trip. My first time there was 2005, when I was asked by my mom to sell lanterns just for a try. It was just a quick trip (stayed there for 5 days) because classes were only suspended for a week because of the Manila SEA Games. Within a span of 5 days my relatives let me enjoy the scenery of HI (specifically Maui Is.). Here are some shots from 2005:

This was near Launiupoko Beach, December 2005. That was the day before I left home for Manila. My uncle let me see some good places within West Maui because that was where they used to stay (they had a place in Lahaina). Here's another take from 2005:

This was at Mt. Haleakala, also the same day when I went to the beach. My uncle toured me at one of the highest peaks in the state. What makes it memorable for me was the peak was higher than Mt. Apo, the highest mountain in the Philippines. The weather there was just like winter in California, but it sure didn't make me wear a jacket. ;)

My 2nd time in Hawaii was in 2008. This was the first time I stayed in Maui for more than a week. It was also the first time I went back to Manila all by myself. During those times, my relatives took me to different spots around Maui. Here's a shot of a beach where I went before:

Baldwin Beach, March 2008. This shot was taken after I arrived in Maui with my grandpa. The scenic waters really took my breath away. I even compared it to Boracay (which in fact, I've never been to) in terms of scenery. I couldn't help myself but be amazed with the wondrous beaches on the island. But beach-going wasn't the end of my adventurous trip that year. Here's another:

I can't remember where this was exactly but this was taken when me and my relatives (my cousin on the far right) took the adventurous trip tourists call "the road to Hana." We went to scenic spots that are being passed through by tourists as they make treads towards the town of Hana, a town filled with scenic black sand beaches and rocky cliffs and picturesque sights. When we made it to Hana, it was like a different world out there because of the black sand (which they say came from volcanic material). Here's a shot of it:

Hana, 2008. If you see the background, you'll get to see the black sand beach over the horizon behind us. Here's the shot at the rocky cliff. Scary stuff:

These pics were some of the most significant shots that I had during those adventurous moments in Hawaii during 2008. There are a lot of pics of the 2008 trip but these were some of the tourist attractions that are personally special.

After the 1st year of Med I went back to Hawaii, this time all alone without any companion, 2 weeks after classes ended. This was the 1st time for me to stay in the United States for a month because usually staying in the US for me and my family members would last 2 weeks at the most. New beaches and new sights welcomed me as my relatives took me to newer destinations within Maui Is. Here is one of the few shots where I went back to the beach, this time a new one for me:

This was somewhere near Kahului Airport called Kanaha Beach Park. The view was so nice (and even the camera) I couldn't help but notice the very beautiful scenery of that beach. Here are some more pictures:

These are all shots at Kanaha Beach Park. Tourists call it Kahului "Kite" Beach because of the rampant windsurfing being done there by avid water sport lovers.

Here's another beach where I was taken to by a family friend of ours:

Makena Beach, April 2010. Shots like this one can be seen on some tourist guide books (not my shot per se, but the scenery taken by professional tourist photographers). There are 2 sides of Makena: this one and the "Nude" beach. Our family friend took me there to the Nude beach, but for censorship purposes I won't put any picture of any naked person here. But for proof, here's a candid shot I took of that beach (I wasn't naked when I went there, so THANK GOD no one saw me in full glory.):

Happy? To top the bill, I lost my shades while I was there. Karma's a bitch.

Another place where we went to was the waterfalls at "the road to Hana." It was a bit nostalgic going back the road, but the sight of waterfalls was the main attraction and the main reason why I was taken there. Here's a shot:

There are a lot of waterfalls in Hana, but this is a shot of mine which I'd like to share. I don't want to make this blog too long to read because of the pictures. Let the pictures speak by itself.

We went back to Mt. Haleakala, almost half a decade since I last went there. This time, there were a lot of shots taken, from the peak down to the near-zero visibility road. The shots I'd like to show you were some magnificent shots of Haleakala taken from the lens of an SLR camera:

 Upon entry to Haleakala National Park

 Grass and shrubs all around, nearly 6000 ft. above sea level

 On top of Haleakala, 10,000 ft. above sea level. See the clouds? =)

 One of the few jump shots my uncle took. From this shot I learned a lot when taking jump shots: NEVER INCLUDE THE GROUND.

Need a ride?

Hawaii is a very nice place to go to. Someday visiting other islands in HI such as O'ahu and Big Island will be a possibility. It's just a matter of living the love of traveling. =)

Before I end my blog, I'd like to summarize that this trip made me see the beauty of nature. A lot of people dream of going to Hawaii and spend their vacation there. This blog shows some of the few pictures that I had which I'd like to share using both words and images. Pictures speak of a thousand words, but telling them more through blogs like this adds color to the scenery. 

Here's something I'd like to share to you, the reader, a picture of a Jacaranda flower which I showed to a friend of mine (Hey you! =P) who also loves to travel. So, till next time!

Traveling around the country

How I wish to travel around the different parts of the Philippines.

When I met a new friend in med school several months back, I was amazed at the stories of her experiences traveling around different places in the country. I felt so envious that I also wanted to see the scenic and wonderful places that I haven't even seen before in my entire life.

My view of the Philippines has always been within the bounds of the city: tall buildings, stressful traffic jams, jam-packed malls and morbid slums. I barely get to see the scenic wonders the country has to offer. Traveling for me within the country has always been the usual 45-minute to 2-hour drive either down south (to Laguna) or up north (to Bulacan) to the provinces of my parents. The memories of mine going to several good spots in the country are so long ago that these mental pictures are already so vague in my mind. I've been to some good spots that have been common spots like this picture:

Guess where.

Here's another one:

This one was taken by me in Subic Bay. If you check the date on the lower right side of the pic, that was the last time I've ever been there, and It was because of a school activity I had to go to.

I have other pictures of some of the places I've been to but they're missing or in some other HD my Dad may have kept hidden away. But those pics were memorable because those were the places where I have been to only ONCE in my life. Examples of those places were Vigan, Laoag, Pagudpud, Baguio, and yes, Cebu (the only place in the Philippines where I got to ride domestic). 

Someday whenever I'd get the chance to travel, I'd prioritize traveling to some of the best places in the Philippines. I'd definitely want to go to so many places like these scenic destinations, for example:

Boracay

Puerto Princesa

Bohol

Davao City

Camarines Sur

Cagayan de Oro

The Philippines is truly a wonderful place, the problem is that I didn't get to see its inner beauty. City living blinded me from the beauty that remains to be seen in some other places within the country. The beauty of other countries has also shunned me the opportunity to see what my country has more in store. Hopefully I'd get to travel when I have the chance, either with friends, family, or just myself. Loner much? =P

Sadism and masochism in Med School

**before reading this, don't take SADISM and MASOCHISM as sexual/erotic terms. The words used are just being utilized as FIGURATIVE terms. Please lang po. ;)**

Medicine is like a sadist and some med students are like masochists. Medicine inflicts some of the most mind-torturing, brain-(expletive) damages in the mind of a student (in a positive kind of way). The student, on the other hand, just gives in to the pain just to make the passing mark and get promoted.

Sembreak has arrived and when vacations like these come in the life of the med student, one would seem to notice that there are times that the sadist things that medicine does to the mind becomes something worth missing. Yes, it is true that each and every student wants the vacation to come because everybody in med school wants to get out of the painful and stressful world of studying, but hey, admit it: there are times that each med student would (slightly) long for studying medicine again. This is where the masochist-like attitude of the med student sets in. Because of the top-of-the-scale knowledge each student gets to learn, the student, though tired and stressed out and now resting from those unpleasant moments, gets to realize that he/she has nothing else to do (besides some fun activities that may be in store) but to search for that sadist thing again. You'd get to hear from other students that during the vacation they are starting to buy new books, print out new transcriptions in advance, skim through some books early before classes start, and even some try their luck on checking out the samplexes that may have been given to them by the upper batch men. I personally admit that during the other day, I checked out almost all of the upcoming transes and OSCE checklists in advance and I even started to watch some Surgery video clips. I really can't explain very well, but sometimes even when students are stress-free as of this moment, some would just look through those seem-to-be stressful notes and skim through these like a pocketbook. The regular school days are stressful, but sometimes worth yearning because of the knowledge it brings.

It'll be a few more days before 2nd sem starts. For now I'm not considering checking out transes and samplexes. What I did was I just bought another G-Tec Pen and another ream of 8.5 x 11 paper for next week's classes. I still don't know if I'll be buying Schwartz (Surgery) and the Pedia book for next sem. I admit, there are times that I'd become a masochist for med school stress, but the knowledge that it'll impart once learned and understood is just too priceless to be taken for granted.

Medicine: 1 1/2 years since

Let me show to you a picture of mine when I was still a nursing student:

Yeah. I still looked like a kid wearing a v-neck uniform carrying a bag of pastry for the thesis panel. This was me way back then, when I was still a young student nurse, with that beaming aspiration of a bright future in nursing.

Let's put in another picture.

This is my picture with my ICS groupmates. This was just last February after our Clinico-Pathological Conference.

Let's add in another picture:

This is a picture of mine with my friend and classmate from college. He's also a med student just like me.

Why am I showing pictures?

I'd like to share to you how life has been for me 1 1/2 years since I entered the world of Medicine. I know it's too early to show some changes, but I can't stand wasting my sembreak doing nothing.

During the 1st day of classes, our Biochem prof with a knack for scaring students about failing 1st year told us to keep a picture of ourselves during the first few weeks of medicine and compare it with the succeeding pics that we may take as we progress along the road less taken. We laughed it off at first, but mind you, what she said was literally true: med school does change a person.

Let me show you a picture of mine when I was in college:

This was me when I was in 4th year college. My favorite study place was the coffee shop just across the street from my school. I'd go there with a few notes, play songs through my headset, and study away. My study habits back then were just superficial. I have to be honest. I barely get to highlight my notes then. My life was just 80% slacking off, 20% study. Example of my slacking off? Here's a picture:

This was my vice,  my addiction: Maximum Tune. My whole college life almost revolved around this game. Sometimes after classes, I'd go to Timezone or Power Station just to play this game. If I didn't feel the need to study, I'd just load PHP50.00 and play this game either by myself or against someone or some people. This was how my life felt before: a pretty fine adrenalin rush fueled up by video games. Hey I had friends! Here's an example:

This was Laguna, 2006. The last time I had friends come over for my birthday party outside Manila when I was in 2nd year college.

Let's get to the topic at hand, shall we?

Medicine has given me a life secluded from the outside world. I have not gone out with college friends or high school friends ever since I stepped my feet inside the (old) halls of my present Alma Mater. How has med school life treated me? It was hell, to be honest. I told a college prof of mine the other day when I visited my old college that I realized that I had to study EVERYDAY, yes, everyday in order for me to pass. Example? Here's a picture taken 2 weeks ago:

But don't exclude reading and reading and yes, reading from my med school life. I'd get to enjoy the company of friends and schoolmates. Here are some pics:

Med school barkada. How I miss them. Haven't been hanging out with them for months because of changed study habits. Before, I'd get to hang out with them, but nowadays, I just hit the library during free hours. I don't know if they still remember me. All I know about is I don't get to talk to them that much anymore. Hope they'd let me hang around with them again if I had the chance. Anyways, here's another one:

That's me (at far left) with the other delegates to the APMC summit in DLS-HSC. It was a good experience, seeing other med students from different med schools. I have to admit, waking up at 4:30am and going there, taking pictures and having some good time with the other delegates was well worth it.

What am I trying to point out here?

It has been a year and a half since I entered Med school. Medical school has changed me from a young carefree individual into a hardworking walking textbook. I'm not saying that I'm a genius and I can give the exact pathology of a certain disease. It's not like that. I'm saying that Med school has made me mature into a person, a person of responsibility.

Responsibility has cost me somehow. I look old now. For my age, I look like someone who looks like I'm almost 30 years old. But I don't regret it. Stress has been a normal thing for me. I never regret entering med and ranting about stress too much. The pressures of medicine make it more challenging and more inspiring for me to get promoted to the next year level.

I still have 2 1/2 years to go before graduating. It's a long way to go, but the decision is still the same: continue taking the road less traveled in order to end up successful in the end.

The nursing life

Nursing is a thing of the past for me. It has been 2 years since I had my last duty, being behind the nurse's station and going through every client doing nursing stuffs. Whenever I make a patient smile with every little thing that I did, their positive vibes strengthen my personality, not just my personal features but also my professional attributes as well. Life as a nurse (student nurse or SN, I never get to live my life as a working RN) was complicated but it was worth the experience. Knowledge physicians usually possess are also innate within nurses. Nursing life was almost similar to the life of a physician, only with some differences. Nonetheless, nursing was a fun experience I took with me when I jumped ship and moved to another profession: Medicine.

The 8 hour duties of nurses are burdensome yet worth it, depending on the work environment and the current situation within the workstation. When I was a SN, life inside the hospital started with endorsements. Our RN preceptors receive clients (I'll mention patients instead of clients after this, I'm not used to saying clients anymore) from their predecessors from the previous shift and from there, the workload is divided between the RN and the SN. Some RN's give the lighter tasks to the SN's, but there are times that the workload between both nurses is just equal or, in some cases, carried more by the SN rather than the RN. After endorsement, the SN's task is to visit each patient and check that person's status. Checking the patient out initiates the assessment process, and from that moment on, the real work begins. For 8 hours, the SN's usual task was to check the patient's vital signs, give out medications, monitor IVF's, attend to the patient's needs, perform other procedures such as CBG monitoring, and endorsing issues to the preceptor/clinical instructor. Other fun things which we SN's did before was acting out as charge nurses, answer calls and relay information to resident physicians. Specialty procedures that SN's did before included assisting a surgical procedure, delivering babies, and taking care of newborns in the nursery. At the end of the shift, the SN's task was to endorse his/her patient to his/her preceptor, have a post-conference with the clinical instructor, then the shift ends.

The job was tasking but the memories were worth it. Being an SN clearly was worth the experience that can be brought anywhere from point A to point B and so on and so forth. Personally, the experience was the only thing that I brought with me when I entered Medicine. Whenever I think of Nursing, I'd just think of it as a thing of the past. But wherever I go, whatever I do, the nursing life always stays with me. That past life lives within me and shows its color through means of applying nursing knowledge while learning new and complicated topics only learned in medicine. I get to teach some group mates on med procedures that are exactly similar to nursing procedures. Truly, the nursing life is applicable to the medicine life that I now start to live. Though nursing is a past thing for me, this thing will always live on, even if I achieve my goal of becoming a doctor a few years from now.