Finally done with the exams today. The OSCEs were really exhausting, we had 9 8-minute stations, and before each station we had a rest station for 8 minutes to prepare, plus in between there were 2 minutes for each change over. In short, the whole process lasted for 3 hours. My brain was almost fried towards the end =S Was really nervous at the start because it’s the first time we don’t have any stems; in previous years, we always had the scenarios released to us a week beforehand, so that we were able to prepare and focus our practice. However, this year was very much difficult as we couldn’t really predict what would come out, and hence we just practised widely and prayed hard that at least some of the things we had covered would come out. Which it did, so that was good.

I guess overall the scenarios were more ‘real’, because in the real world, we would be examining patients when they present to us, not having any prior information. The bad thing was that I couldn’t think on my feet fast enough, and there were times when the diagnosis came to me the SECOND I stepped out of the room. Bloody hell. I felt really angry with myself, really. Oh well. I’m just glad it’s over and I pray hard and hope that I pass. We were told that we should know by the end of next week if we need to sit for the supplementary exams or if we have failed beyond salvation. No news will be good news.

So my holiday of 2 weeks and 3 days have begun. So short, yet so much to do. I need to:
1. Exercise. Been slacking for the past 2 weeks and eating/snacking heaps, need to stay active.

2. Work. Probably can only work for the next 2 weeks, not sure how my schedule for next semester will be like, but I’m pretty certain I wouldn’t be able to continue my Tuesday nights. Damn, I will miss bubble tea :(

3. Write my proposal and apply for the MIGA elective grant.

4. Hurry the slow-poke faculty and associate dean to approve my elective application so that I can proceed with flight bookings and travel plans etc. I dropped the coordinator an email early last week, my reason being January is 6 months away, and should they not approve, I’d have to source for another elective and some places require application at least 6 months in advance. She said I should have a reply end of the week or next week, ie this week, but I’ve yet to hear anything. I’ll have to email again on Monday if there is still no reply.

5. Read. I’m halfway through Six Months in Sudan, and I’ve got House of God and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas sitting on the bookshelf. Oh, and also Lonely Planet Tanzania.

6. Study (yes I’m a nerd, I admit). I have plans to start studying for paeds since everyone’s been saying how it’s impossible to finish reading everything. But I don’t know if that plan will be put into action. Also plans to meet up with the study group and start on some VIA revision.

7. Watch Wimbledon – it starts next Monday!

8. Do work for *secret club to be revealed in the near future*

9. Do work for Project ‘Miles for Smiles’, an initiative to raise funds for the Children’s Cancer Foundation Singapore.

10. Shop! Then again, I’ve bought a few things online in the past few days, so maybe I should stop spending. But I’ve got a date with the girls for Monday, I reckon some window shopping won’t hurt :)

11. Catch up with people! Haven’t seen some people for a while, or even if I have, haven’t had the chance to have a proper chat and hang out. Meals, mahjong, hanging out at my place, whatever. I just want to see YOU! :)

That’s a longgggg list, I honestly don’t know how much I will be able to achieve in 2 weeks. I guess at the same time I should rest well in preparation for the next, supposedly more intense, semester. I can’t wait for this year to be over.