I had left 2007 full of apprehension and anxiety early this year. I remembered about the same time last year, how scared I was to start the new year. I had feared moving and studying away from Dunedin, the city that I had grown to love for the past three years of my life. I had feared losing precious friendships that had developed in that city. I had asked myself million of times on why I had chosen to leave when really, my best friends were in other cities? I had feared starting clinical medicine. I feared of starting everything new because, early in the year, I feared walking away from my comfort zone.

Now, 2008 feels so yesterday. In retrospect, 2008 was a different year altogether. It was exciting, it was tough, it was fun, it shed my tears, it fed on my confidence, it was surprising. It was also a year of change, of adaptation. It was a year full of possibilities and exciting prospects, but not without crashing expectations and dreams.

I have moved to Christchurch early this year – which marks the start of something new. I have gotten to know my 5 classmates better through living together. Brockworth place, is a place where these new great friendships started. I have spent many nights camping in that cramped living room downstairs, feeding on multitudes of cakes and ice cream, divulging on intimate details of our lives. Ah.. I so love pillowtalks – because it was during those moments past midnight, soft murmurs held honesty.



This year is also my first year of clinical medicine. I love it. I can honestly say fourth year is the best year of this course so far. It is challenging and fun, different and exciting, and relies mostly on my own motivation. I have been screamed at countless times by the nurses (screw you SARA nurses! Whahaha), been told of by a couple of patients while doing venepunctures / iv luers, I have been scared of a couple of mean consultants .. but I’ve met a lot more of kind, nice people. I have been stressed out, I have felt tired and unmotivated, I have felt overwhelmed with the hordes of information that I was supposed to know..

I am glad to be around people who care and have been helpful all the way. I am thankful to Syaz and Yati – for their endless help and guidance in writing up coursework, for their tips to survive attachments, for being that familiar faces from Dunedin when I was lost. And then, there was this one time early this year, when Nisa and I met up with Naz, Zana and Nurus at this quaint little café in the city. They didn’t know it then, but the thought of starting school the following week had scared the hell out of me and talking to them, ‘experienced seniors’, really did alleviate my anxiety a fraction. And Naz, was actually my first Trainee Intern of my first team – my personal mentor during my first week of surgery attachment. I am, truly, blessed.



You know how I typed in my previous paragraph that I have feared losing friendships? It was that out of sight, out of mind mentality – which fortunately, didn’t turn out to be true. Diyana, Sharon, Mizah and Saidah are still my closest friends in Kiwi Land. They are the first friends I turn to whenever things get rough. Diyana – I have your pink hippo too which reminds me of you. Sharon – I no longer frequent starbucks because I no longer have you to go with. Mizah – I am still the same, underneath all these I am still the same silly girl back in Cumberland who enjoys boytalks and singing along. And Saidah – you are my only friend in this Kiwi Land that I have known for more than 10 years, that accounts for something doesn’t it? I trust you, which comes on automatically.



This summer too, so far, I’ve had a blast. I have met old friends that I haven’t met for years. 14th November, I met rusy again for the first time after 4 years. We met up time and time again after that for lunches and movies and chit-chats. I’ve met up with the poppiahs, not everyone though, just some. I’ve met up with the robot.. also after a couple of years. I’ve been out every other day, meeting up friends and occasionally cousins. So far, I have a good, fun summer. ^.^



This year has been a good year. I have learnt that steering away from my comfort zone is really, not that bad. In fact, I have enjoyed my life this year. I have met and got to know a lot of awesome people while still nurturing the friendships that I have had. I may have my priorities mixed up at some points this year. I may have made a couple of mistakes – but now, is not the time to mourn right?

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!!!

Here’s to a good year ahead. Amiin.