Dental diaries

If all classes were like Oral Surgery class, i wouldn't complain again. No requirements, no calling and begging patients to come. They just walk in, open their mouths and we pull out the teeth, the job's done.

Its amazing to see a person transform completely in your dental chair. A big tough man wailing like a baby. A beautiful lady with rotten teeth. Brave indonesian maid who wanted to pull out all her teeth. An adult man who tried to bite my fingers and wriggled around when i probe. And that's just the beginning.

Now i am proud to say i extracted 7 teeth a day! Okay..only 2 came out and the other 5 i got help from the doctor. But still, its an achievement. :) My arm is aching now, even after 2days. And the doctor said, "Never eat breakfast ah, how to pull out teeth?" Alright, i shall remember to next time.

A hymn of thanksgiving

Count the stars now
one by one
Before the clouds pass by
Catch the dandelion seeds
Up and away
they fly.
The tides roll in
awish awash
Down with the sands they go
Fishes tickle my barefooted toe
Away with the stream
they flow.

I could never live without
sunsets that dapple in the sky
I could never live a day
If your love were to pass me by.

The caressing breeze
they tell me You care
The fluttering leaves
they whisper Your name
The uplifting rain
my burdens You share
Your love that still shine
When i'm tired of life's game

You led me by the waters
to quench this thirsty soul
The birds in chorus sang to me
they told me to be bold.
Oh if i had wings
then i would fly
Up and away
into the azure sky.
But if i were to stay
then don't go away
How could i go on
even for another day.

Thank You for the little things
that tells me You are here
The joy of knowing i'm not alone
Makes this life so dear.

MeBusylikaBee

I feel like a busy little worker bee, continuously buzzing up and down in search of honey. And it's not like the honey's for me.

Dentistry is not my passion. Books are. So there i go, working laboriously for God knows who. Day in day out, searching for patients, calling them, listening to their complains. Sometimes i even have to beg them to come and smile when i feel like crying. Waking up every morning dreading the day ahead, feeling all strength seeping out as the week progresses and looking forward to the Friday on Monday itself.

In times like these, who else can i look to but God himself?

1 I lift my eyes to the hills-
Where does my help comes from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
-Psalms  121

²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
   and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
   and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the LORD
   will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
   they will run and not grow weary,
   they will walk and not be faint.
-Isaiah 40

Thus this busy bee continues her flight in search of honey knowing that this treasure she seeks is not for herself but for the queen bee. And for the queen bee, everything she does is worthwhile, even if it means laying down her own life. Lord, this is for you. It is the least that i can do, for it is nothing compared to the full price you've paid for me.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.
-Colossians 3:23

 

Humble beginnings of a dentist

I got my first patient on thursday! A middle-aged indonesian lady. And she's so sweet and nice, not complaining even when i scaled her teeth and it bled. (not my fault, her oral hygeine ain't that great..) I also taught her how to brush properly and look after her teeth. It's so rewarding to be able to help others help themselves. She was so grateful and asked for my phone no! Even though i didn't accomplished much that day, but it sure feels good! :)

Second patient; didn't went that well. I made her choke when i took an impression to make dentures. It was mortifying when the lecturer came and everyone was wondering why this old aunty was coughing and spitting so loudly. Thankfully she didnt blame us.

Im amazed at how fast time goes by. It seems just like yesterday i was just a first year student, now im treating real, live patients. Halfway along the journey of the making of a dentist. And these memories would last a lifetime. They're only the humble beginnings of a dentist.

God has been faithful. In stormy days, when the waves toss and turn this boat of mine, i can rest assured that He is Lord over the seas and storm. With Christ in the vessel i can smile at the storm. And so im writting this down as a reminder for the difficult times that i know is yet to come. Remember this song, which spoke to me and made me tear on a September dawn, during early morning prayer.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases
His mercies never come to an end,
They are new every morning
New every morning
Great is Your faithfulness, 0 Lord
Great is Your faithfulness.

Someone remembered :)

There's this warm fuzzy feeling bubbling in me when someone actually remembered my special day and took the effort to suprise me. Hadn't felt that in a few years already. And i don't mind the cake or the presents.
I just love a suprise. :)

birthday cupcake

and birthday treat

At moments like these, i feel grateful for the wonderful people God has placed in my life. You may have hundereds or thousands of friends, but there are only a handful who are real, whom you can depend on and trust. As C.S.Lewis puts it, friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art..it has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that gives value to survival.

Between worlds

It's been a day after CoUZ Camp, and sometimes i still feel like floating in between worlds. Every week it feels like that. Monday to friday i'm living in one world, and come Friday i enter into another. CoUZ camp made me feel like staying in the later world forever! If i ever had a glimpse of heaven, it would be like that:

-Great fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ. I truly love this family of God! :)

My cell: ChampionSheep United

Team Purple Parrot! We won 2nd!

- Fun fun fun all the time. Games and dances and drama.

Group dance

Group cheer

Group drama

 -Making music!

The worship team

My team in action

 -Undeniably, the best thing is just being in God's presence and hearing His Word all day long.

What more can i ask? God is enough. More than enough.

It certainly feels like living a double life in two very different worlds. Being a citizen of the world and a citizen in the kingdom of God where love covers all. Where you know that your life in the first world is only temporary and the second world lies awaiting for you.

Goodbye home!

4 months sailed through so quickly, it's time to return to university. Spending the last few days of sweet home life voraciously gobbling up storybooks to last me through uni days. So many books, so little time.
Meanwhile dad is trying to get as many snapshots of me as he could, in a desperate attempt to pin down a memory, a fragment of time on print and paper. Don't we all? Like books and photographs, they're embodiments of bittersweet memories and thoughts.

One of dad's pic..

And so is my mind. I'm taking pictures with my mind, keeping them away for a rainy day, when i'm lonely and homesick. The smell of mum's cooking, the touch of my sister's cool cheek against my lips, the sound of dad coming home with the newspaper. The feeling of waking up late to a prepared breakfast, the liberty of watching movies and reading storybooks to your heart's content, without guilt gnawing away in your chest.
Ah, i could go on forever!

The slow-paced life.

Goodbye for now and see you again!

The secret of happiness

I read an article in the newspaper about happiness in general. What makes a person happy? Factors such as relationships, family life and work. It concludes that to be happy, you must be satisfied. Contented with life. I find this difficult. Isn't it better to strive for more, to aim for the moon and the stars? Isn't it human, to always yearn for more? But in Christ, we are supposed to be dead to our human nature.

I was struggling with this until i read what Paul had to say.

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." Phil 4:12

And that secret is no other than the famous verse which is often misused;

"I can do all this through him who gives me strength." Phil 4:13

Initially i didn't understand how this could be the secret of being contented. Then it dawned unto me that i should be contented in Him, in God who will provide for my every need. To be satisfied, knowing that whatever i need, God will surely supply.

"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." Phil 4:19

And that, would be the secret of happiness the world has been searching for since the beginning of time.

Officially adult.

A day which stirs the nation into an uproar. A day when history is made, the threshold of change in this country. Bersih 2.0 - July 9th. My birthday as well, but oh well, who cares.
Birthdays are usually depressing days for me, because i grow older and the day itself is always a let-down. I have a whole history of bad birth-days.

July 9th of 2008, the worst birthday ever. I was homesick in college, away from home, came down with a sore throat, and was penniless (figuratively, with only RM7 left) and had Gardenia bread for dinner. To top it off, nobody wished me Happy Birthday.

July 9th of 2009 is second on the list. First few days in university, homesick again, being bullied by seniors, and no birthday celebration.

But July 9th of 2011 turned out okay after all. Although i only got a gift from my parents, at least there's a birthday cake this time. And i guess what makes birthdays special after all is being celebrated by loved ones.

Dream on

I have a dream. No, i have many dreams. Not just every night, but every moment of waking and breathing and living. One day, i saw a little brown bird with a patch of red on its head, jumping from twig to twig on a orchid plant outside my window. For a moment, he stopped and looked straight at me. I smiled at him and i told the bird my dreams.
Dreams of being an author and seeing my books on bookstores' shelves.
Dreams of standing under the limelight on a stage for once and not hiding behind curtains.
Dreams of being in love.
Dreams of being able to drive and own a car.
Dreams of living in a big mansion with a room full of books up to the ceilings.
Dreams of traveling around the world to places where i could never go because i'm not rich.
Dreams of not having to work, but to do something i love everyday for the rest of my life.
Dreams of having everything i ever wanted.

And the list could go on and on. But then the little bird began telling me about another girl in another land far away, and of her dreams.
Dreams of having a mom and dad.
Dreams of being able to go to school, read and write.
Dreams of knowing where her next meal will come from.
Dreams of having pretty clothes to wear, and another pair of shoes.
Dreams of being loved and cared for.

When the little bird finished his story, he looked at me, cocked his head and said, "Dream on."
And he flew away.

Shadows

A fleeting shadow on the wall

Flicking unsteadily

You’re nothing more.

Never good in anything

Tagging behind

Second best in everything.

You do what he does

When he moves you move

Where’s your backbone

You dependent fool!

Just a dark figure on the wall

Gone unnoticed

You’re nothing more.

He’s the person, real and true

You’re the image

which sticks like glue.

When twilight comes

and the sun goes down

Like mists you vanish

Without a sound

Without a trace

Gone unnoticed

to where shadows abound.

"Shadows" by E.Y

An unfortunate event

It was the 24th of June. My mum was driving, i was in the front passenger seat, to fetch my sister from tuition. As my mum stopped at a U-turn, a motorcycle came and ran into the left front bumper of the car. The two girls fell from the motorcycle, and it landed on one of them. Meanwhile, our car lost its bumper.
I was just going to say, "Look out, there's a bike coming." But it happened so quickly. My mum hadn't even made the U-turn. And now, according to the law, she was to blame.

My sister and i stood watching as people started crowding at the site of accident. My mum was shocked and kept making calls. I was afraid the motorcyclist was going to die but thankfully she just broke her feet or something. But it did looked bad cause she was bleeding. An ambulance took her away.
We stood there not knowing what to do, and i can't help overhearing passerby s discussing what happened. It was amusing because each of them had their own version and some do exaggerate alot! I wanted to scream, "Hello! I was in the accident, and the motorcycle certainly did not 'fly'!!!"
Since my mum was busy, the journalist in me came alive and i managed to take some shots before my aunt came and took me home.

Site of accident

here's the poor car

When all of that happened, i didn't feel scared or nervous. Perhaps that's because i wasn't the driver. Hah! But the one thing i felt strongly on that unfortunate day was thankfulness. Thankful to be alive. Because if it was a car instead of a motorcycle that ran into us, i'd be dead by now. I'd hate to die in a car accident because it distorts your figure and makes you look bloody and ugly. The worst is all the pain you have to go through. Or what if you didn't die? What if you lost a part of your body, or became paralysed? Or if you die, are you certain where you'd end up in?
It takes an encounter with death to make you aware of living. Once you've stared death in the face, you begin to appreciate the mundane little things you do everyday, because that's proof that you're still alive. And i begin to examine my relationship with Christ, because for me, spending eternity with Him is what that truly matters. For i've realised that each day could be my last.

Not so bad after all

The best thing about working, as I've found out, isn't about the job or the pay, but how you get to meet people from all walks of life. People are so interesting. I guess the dental profession isn't so bad after all. Perhaps it isn't the greatest, but it's okay.

Since i've been helping out as a dental assistant, i get to see all kinds of different people who share one thing in common; they have dental problems. Duh. I met an adorable elderly lady who talks to me about how expensive a crown is. I met a girl who screamed and cried when she saw the dentist, and tried to spit blood all over me. And a nice, handsome kid who drank the water he's supposed to rinse his mouth with. They're so cute! :) Most of the adults are boring, though.

People are definitely entertaining and interesting. They make my day. And i figured the best thing about being a dentist, giving you a deep satisfaction after a tiring day of labour, is putting a beautiful smile on people's faces. Literally.

Days of hibernation

It feels like a long winter has set in, and here i am, like a big brown bear, all safe and snug in the comfort of my own home. I've been lazy and sleepy. I'm doing practically nothing. Boy, it sure feels good. By the time winter ends and classes start, i'd be all rusty. And i'm dreading that. But as for now, i'm trying to silence the voice inside me that screams "Come on! You're wasting time, you lazy pig!" The voice of guilt.

Therefore, to make myself feel less miserable and guilty, i agree to help out in a dental clinic. Note: help out, NOT work. There's a big difference. It's pretty interesting and there's much to learn. But sometimes i'm just plain lazy. And i'm trying to write a book. I'm pretty sure i won't be able to finish more than half of it, or i'd probably give up, but hey, at least i'm getting one step closer to my dream of being an author!

There's alot more on my to-do list, like learning how to cook and re-learning how to drive, but that can wait. Those aren't my favorites. Besides, it's still winter and i'm hibernating.

Vacation in Cannosian, Time of Rejuvenation.

It feels great to escape to a quiet little town right after the exams. A quiet little town known as Kluang, in Johor. We stayed in a convent, Cannosian Convent in fact; a big, empty, mysterious convent with nuns and we are the only visitors. It reminds me of the Famous Five adventures i read ages ago.

 

 There's also so much good food and i gained 2kgs..this is soo depressing, im trying to lose the extra weight now. 

I did exercise though, but i don't think its enough. I was forced to climb a mountain. Pastor says my name E.D.N.A stands for Edna Deliberately Naik Atas but that's so not true! But this is true, E.D.N.A = Edna Didn't Naik Atas. Because i gave up halfway. Hehe. So Pastor says E.D.N.A = Exercise Daily, No Arguments.

Obviously, i hate doing this.

But the best thing about our time in Kluang ain't about the food, but it's what we saw and experienced that made a lasting impression. We went with Pastor Jit Pang and his youth to distribute food to the poor who lives along the railway track. And these people live in run-down houses, have medical problems, lots of kids and no money. Most are elderly people who are abandoned by their kids.

this lady can't walk and she has to depend on her husband's income of RM10 per day

this lady cried cause her son only visits her for money

a blind old man shaking hands with everyone

If you're on a train, passing by the rows of houses, you wouldn't have guessed that there are still people living in poverty there. And suddenly you just realized how lucky you are, how ignorant you have been, and what really matters after all.

 We also went to help out Pastor Victor and Pastor Kelly in a youth talk, acting as facilitators to a group of teenagers. It wasn't easy because the topic is 'Premarital Sex'. Yeah.

i thought i was shy, but the kids were shyer!

had to do all the talking in the end

yeap, we're the facilitators!

After 3 days and 2 nights in Kluang, we headed back to kl, but not without stopping in Malacca for dinner.
And not forgetting some sight-seeing and window shopping in Jonker street, where Edward says, "Even sardines in a tin have more space than this!"

haha! satay celup!

cocky faces

no, i didnt finish all of that..

Then we headed home and it's the end of our journey, leaving the five of us with shared memories of great times and laughter.

edward the joker

daniel the storyteller

fiona as lovely as ever

andrew after he was infected with E1T1 virus

Goodbye! :)

THE END.