It's tough to be a doctor

I'm sitting next to Yasmin right now, in her room at 'Kolej Kediaman Ibnu Sina' a.k.a Sixth College of UM. It's been a long time since the last time I met her. She is now in 2nd semester of her 1st year. And now she is finishing her PSS, something to do with Biochemistry. Well, I sneaked her picture out from her folder. That girl, wearing brown in colour tudung and cloth is her friend, wacky crazy Azira. Also a doctor-to-be.

Frankly speaking, this post's title only apply to Malaysia and any country that use the same way of teaching. This system stop student from mingling around and prevent them from joining most of the outdoor activities. (Well, this statement is crystal true only for student that overworried about their result and thus confine and isolate themselves in their room and face the books 24-7) *ulat buku some would said*

By studying medicine in Malaysia, your early adulthood seems to be the long-devastating life ever. 5 years in uni, 2 years HO and not including the failed year which you need to repeat in order to resume to the next year. Plus the 2-month-supplement you might have to endure if you done badly in your 1st and 2nd semester of a particular year.

But, if you see it on the bright side, Semin said this suppplement program will give you an early boost for the next year as your memory is still fresh with the previous year of lectures.

(hmm... betul jugak tu.. tapi seksa la..) (Hai... terpulang la pada individu) Where there's a will, there's a way. A doctor-to-be is always strong in determination.

And by now, Semin has fall asleep with her book opened. She said "5 minutes", but now it's almost half an hour past midnight. Poor Yasmin.. Chaiyok! Chaiyok Semin!

Dentist check up

"Siap Yun, pas Izzat dtg kite pegi terus"

Out of blue, my mother shouted from her room's door. With a quizzical look, I opened the door.

"Ape bu?"

"Siap. Jap lagi nak pegi klinik gigi. Ibu nak tampal"

Owh, ibu wanted to meet her dentist. (Ok, ikut je la) Like a robot following an order I dressed up my self, as simple as possible (pegi klinik je pon). About only 5 minutes driving, we reached there, 'Klinik Pergigian Asfaliza'.

After the 3 of us, ibu, Ika and me registered ourselves, we sat and waited for the doctor to call our names. My sister went in first. The drilling-like sound came out from the operation room soon after that.

"Wah, tu mesti kene tampal jugak tu", I made a guess.

When the eerie-like sound stopped, the door opened. Ibu and me turned in almost unison, looking at my sister with her bleeding gum.

"Fuyoo! Ganasnyer doktor ni. Sampai berdarah".

Next, my turn. I tried to be a stoic ladies, so I stood without looking back even a glance. (Be brave man) I greeted her just to hide my nervous. I leaned on the special chair, occupied with big lamp intented on my face and also a small tray full with things that a dentist need to do their job which attached to the handle connenting tha lamp with the chair. I told her what ibu wanted her to do on my teeth.

"Cuci je doktor"

And the drilling sound seems to echoe in that small back room which they consider as the operation room. Minutes after that I'm done.

"Gigi kamu tak rata tapi bersih la"

Huhu.. A dentist praised my teeth. Yeah.. (I'm proud with my teeth!)

Then I thanked her and walked out from that operation room. Next was my mother's turn. And when she was done, she came and looked at me.

"Nak buat braces tak?"

"Ala, tak yah la"

"Nak tak? Ibu tengah ada duit ni. Gigi bawah ko tak elok la"

"(Pulak dah, die kata gigi bawah aku tak elok pulak) Ibu saggup ke nak bayar?"

"Boleh la, sekarang tengah ade ni. Nak tak?"

"Boleh la, jom.."

Wah, I'm going to have braces... (Tak pernah terfikir pon) And I walked again into the operation room and told the doctor that I wanted to have braces. She smiled....

And the first step was to inject me with some kind of anaesthetic and thus numb my feel nerve. Few seconds after that, I felt that half of my mouth on the right side swelled. Then the doctor use her spanar-like tool and pull out my first molar teeth which is situated after the canine teeth. I was terribly bled.. She quikly put some small bandage-like cloth onto the bled gum and told me to grip it tightly using my upper and lower teeth.

"Miggu depan datang lagi. Kita cabut belah kiri pulak ye"

I noded, barely able to speak a word (OK.... I'll lose more blood, again) Then when the braces has been applied, I will look akin to another Betty.