Happy Diwali

3 of us, Michelle, Yuet Hee and me, officially made it to visit Kanchana on Deepavali Day. To those who can't make it, you don't have to be guilty or remorseful...hahahaha :P

When it was eating time, Kanchana introduced a variety of Indian dishes, namely spicy prawns with petai, mutton with dried chilies, curry chicken, non-spicy long beans, etc. The first thing i told Mic was "You can only eat the rice with beans," and i started laughing before Mic sempat give me a 'sweat' look... -i know i'm evil- muahahaha......

Another funny incident after we finished our meals using banana leaves. Kanchana said, "If you will come back, then you fold the banana leaf towards your side,". Then, itu Mic, folded the banana leaf away from her. I quickly told her to fold it the other way round but she refused, saying that she was already full, she didn't want to eat anymore. That small incidence gave us a very good laugh.....

Kanchana was so busy attending her niece and nephews that she hardly have time to sit down with us for a meal and chat. Almost towards the end only we managed to chat - uni life, friends, evil course mates, good-looking lecturers, exams, etc.....

It begins with you...

That's the take home message from the AIDS conference today.

HIV infection or AIDS is quite a common term in the modern days. Almost everyone would know that HIV is a virus which can weakens the body's immune system and hence, increase the risk of getting other illnesses such as pneumonia, tuberculosis and even cancers!

So, i would like to share some points, which i think they are crucial but not known or understood by many.

1. How do i know if i am infected?
You'll never know unless you go for a blood test that detects for HIV antibodies in your blood. The presence of HIV antibodies in the blood shows that the person has been infected and those antibodies are only capable of fighting off the disease at the initial stage.

2. Where can i go for HIV Antibody Testing?
If you opt for free testing, you can always go to the government hospitals. On the other hand, private hospitals and clinics may charge between RM15 to RM35 per test.

3. If the result is negative (which means no detection of HIV antibodies in blood), should i go for the same test three months later even if i do not involve in sexual activities?
The first test with negative result does not necessarily mean that the person is not infected. It may due to the low level of HIV antibodies production as the body's immune system has yet to react towards the virus.

4. What if i'm HIV positive?
Seek for counselling and follow strict medical treatment to maintain health and prolong life. Do not be in denial as it will only worsen your health conditions and lead to death.

5. Is it compulsory to inform my employer if i'm HIV positive?
You have the right to keep it confidential!

5. What if i'm HIV negative?
Practice safe sex, that's all!

6. If i'm HIV positive, what's the chance of getting an infected baby?
In overall, about 30% of the babies born to HIV positive mother are infected with the virus. However, the percentage can be greatly reduced by anti HIV therapy and medications. Most importantly, do not breastfeed!

7. What should i do if my friends or family members got infected?
Most importantly, show compassion and don't treat them differently...
You can always hug them, shake their hands, share utensils with them and sit beside them. The virus can never be transmitted through casual contact.
Never judge them just because they are HIV positive. Sometimes, it isn't their fault to be infected.
Encourage them to adhere to medication regime
Share your life with them as it has always been...

I love this particular poster :P - The reds are no less sweeter

'It is human nature to segregate things that are different. Growing up, young people are influenced by the general consensus that AIDS only happen to "bad" people and refuse to talk or have any association with it. However, history has shown that AIDS can infect anyone indiscriminately. Let's talk about it so that more people would know how to prevent themselves and others from infection. To discriminate is only a sign of ignorance. With our understanding and support, HIV patients will have a better outlook on life.' by Canace Teoh

It begins with you...

TJ saved the day

Prior to the Biological Science tutorial session yesterday, Dr TEL mentioned that he'll hand-pick students in class to answer his questions. In order to be 'low-profile', most of us will dress down. So, we'll avoid bright yellow shirt or neon blue or shocking pink.

Although, i was in dark blue top, i moved to the second row right before his class started. As predicted, TJ, who was happily clad in yellow-orangy shirt was 'fortunately' to be the lucky one. Btw, TJ was just sitting right in front of me!!! TEL 'invited' TJ to answer his question to the whole class of about 150 students. To him, Biology is 'sap sap sui' for him and he managed to gain applause from the whole class.

Again in Genetics class, TJ's 'outstanding' appearance made him the 'lucky' one to be chosen by Dr YBC....soooo funny!! hehehe

Mathematically, the probability of being chosen twice by lecturers on the same day is approximately 0.0000444!!!!! Where got ppl so lucky wan? hahahaha.....

Once again, TJ saved the day!!!!

Closed case

Finally, all the projects, poster and practical reports which are due tomorrow are FINALLY DONE.....These group works aren't difficult to be done but the most troblesome thing is that they are GROUP WORKS. Can understand?

Basically, i'm in 3 different groups doing 3 different projects. It's not just me, most of the students are in different groups. So, we'll have difficulties in finding the right time to gather. Because of these difficulties, we'll have to do work individually and then meet up in subgroups of the main group.

FYI, these projects are Statistics for Health Sciences project and assignments (project and assignments are 2 distinctly difference things), General Chemistry poster ( we printed it in poster form which is about 4 X 3 feet big ) as well as my Genetics practial report.

So fast....

Everything is just so fast. In a blink of an eye, it's already the end of my 1st 12 weeks in Imu and in another 1 week time, it'll be EXAM time....then semester break!!! yay ^^

Although exam is very soon, i still manage to find time to go for movie, shopping and food with my dear friends. Eight of us watched The House Bunny today but we didn't get to sit together. Anyway, if u need some good laugh or if u're having a very stressful week, i strongly encourage u to watch it :P....I'm looking forward to watch 10 Promises To My Dog, a japanese movie which is about a golden retriever puppy with its owner. By the way, the producer of this movie is the one who was involved in the movie Quill, another touching and thought inspiring movie about guide-dog.

Btw, i was really really really happy yesterday with all da sms-es, calls, gifts as well as surprises from my lovely friends. Thanks you sooo much!!! Especially my Imu mates, they did so much for me, cakes, card, surprises and everything, making me feel so special and cherished....Moreover, they refused to let me 'belanja' when we went out for dinner yesterday evening at Secret Recipe. Btw, i still haven't eat my birthday cake, it's just too pretty and meaningful to be eaten :P

My cake is sooo cute, right? about 5 inches in diameter

One big happy family ^^

* From the left, 2nd row : Shi Ying, Li Xian, Wai Fun, Wei Loong, Ching Ju, Su Yu, Tatt Jhong and Beng HongIn Secret Recipe, Sri Petaling...i found out that Times Square's Chicken Cordon Blue is sooo much more delicious
Ji Sen, Wei Loong, Beng Hong and Tatt Jhong...

To my zhi-muis who are studying near near and far far away from KL, terima kasih banyak-banyak!!! especially Samantha (i know u want me to highlight this) who never fail to sms the birthday boy/girl at the moment the clock stikes 12 midnight....Lynn-lynn and Mel as well, who sent me some 'jampi' which can 'enrich' my life with white horse prince...hahaha ^^

Besides, it Koi Yi's sweet 20 as well!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Many many thanks...Merci Beaucoup....

Direction, please...

This should be a random one...

On the way back home yesterday, a foreign guy who sat beside me asked for the direction to 'Chinatown'. My immediate response was looking up at the LRT map which was above the LRT automatic door, without even responding to him verbally. Then, i turned to him mumbling " You should get down at 'Plaza Rakyat' station, which is the 3rd station from the intercom," (pointing at the map, which i wasn't sure if he got what i mean as well as if that 'thing' is really an intercom). I was too 'nervous' to answer him as his face was soooo near to mine, about half-a-metre, where he had 'invaded' into my 'privacy bubble'. He replied " Ooooh, is it da station after 'Hang Tuah'?"......Haih, i should have answer him 'the station after Hang Tuah' instead of the unnecessary pointings and head-turnings...

By the way, he looked like Zinedine Zidane

Chanel, the bachelorette...

Recently, every batch of the first year students (medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, health sciences, etc) had to send out a guy and a girl as its representatives for the 'Bachelor and Bachelorette' competition. The bachelor and bachelorette are determined by the number of votes and of course, the number of votes that the guys always outnumbered the ladies'.

The main point is that CHANEL represented M207