Well there are a lot of you are wondering about my life at London. So, millions of you people emailed me. The first email I replied was full on energy but with the many more subsequent emails asking about the same thing, I think the momentum has gone down. So here’s my one-month’s worth story…well, let’s hope this doesn’t sound like an FAQ corner.
Most common question: How’s studies?
An important question although the answer is expectantly lame. I think the next time anyone emails me asking this question again I’ll just re-direct them to this page.Haha. You the crap that people say about medical school being really (R.E.A.L.L.Y) tough, is kinda filled with half-crap. So far, the exorbitant demand of the medical course, if this ever exists, hasn’t taking its toll yet. I myself was at first surprised at the very relaxed nature of the course. I talked to my KMB seniors here, and they said that 1st years is just 50% of the intensity of IB (only now I found the reason to actually be grateful for taking the course, when the past 2 years I had been cursing it!). Was talking to Wan Jun, one of my seniors about her 2nd year medical course, she noted that she find that although it becomes tougher, IB is still tougher. So I could safely conclude that I could sail through at least the first year of my studies well, given that I’ve trodden a more treacherous road before! Muhahaha!
During the first week of class, I felt very intimidated, in a sense that quite a number of the medical students in my batch have done a science degree before this – when they asked questions, oh my goodness, I heard so many unfamiliar concepts! They seem to know everything! 4 out of 8 people in my PBL are science graduates and they are super hebat too! It’s like they hafal the entire encyclopaedia! But they are very humble and nice people… I also met this guy who never did science course before. He holds a degree in mass comm.. He’s looks like at least 10years older than me, and he’s a first year as well! Now I guess anyone could do medic, as long as you are determined!
Next: how’s London?
I love this question, and I don’t mind answering this a lot of times coz every time it will be a new answer, with additions of newer things that I’ve done! I love this place since the first day I arrived. It’s veeeeeeeerrry pretty!!! Lots of shopping malls, and given the money given by JPA (guess how much), I could actually go shopping every 2 weeks (just bought this jacket for £25 at Oxford street…it’s cheap love it!) !! Of course I’m not a shopaholic, so I could save more money doing lots of other things like traveling (went to Oxford the other day)! Maybe I should give myself another treat of shopping; besides my birthday is really soon…haha.
In Central London, there’s not a single shopping mall; all it has seems to be just posh departmental shops….beautiful and cheap stuff (well don’t convert to RM lah). Put it this way lah..go by percentage: to buy a Nike shirt here is just 3% of my monthly allowance; it would take 30% away if I do that in Malaysia. Conclusion: damn cheap! Of course there will be high end things like this £200+ leather, which would be stupid of me to buy lor…that is just too much!
Restaurants here are very posh as well: a decent plate of meal would be £4.50 minimum. So far I’ve been trying out Japanese restaurants here. The first I went to is called “Misato”. Ryan and Helen were there as well. Went together to have lunch there after church. Great and HUGE amount of food for just £4.90! I struggled a bit finishing the portion – I succeeded, but I was so sated that I skipped dinner that day. I could feel a bit more food left in my stomach the next morning. The other Japanese restaurant I went to was called “Wagamama”. Seems like a high-end restaurant. Went there for dinner after we (including Pei Kee, Diana, Ryan, and Clarissa) came back from Oxford trip. I had “Umai udon” (can’t remember the exact name), a noodle dish. For £6.60! And it’s here that I discovered sparkling water – I thought it was something exclusive of a Japanese restaurant, so I ordered it. To my disappointment, it’s just a … tonic water!
Came across lots of nice and equally strange place here in Central. There was one time that Eliza, Diana and I went around on foot – for 6.5 hours!!! We came across and took pictures at a lot of places – Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, London Eye (haven’t rode unto it – too many people!), Leceister Square (particularly Chinatown), National Art Gallery, Hyde Park (damn huge!), Picadilily Circus, and Oxford Circus. And we also passed the prime minister’s housing area – I heard we could book online a tea reception with the Prime Minister; not sure can believe or not! Then of course we passed the ‘red light district’. That was at an evening outing with Rama, Zul and Elias to check out the night life here. We entered an adult shop (is that a better word for ‘porn shop’?)and it was just less than a minute when we left the shops ….Kami masih mengekalkan nilai-nilai ketimuran la…. Saw lots of ‘intriguing’ things (let’s not discuss on the finer details, ya?) … we left, like we entered, remorse-less; however, we (especially Elias) freaked out looking the tauke of the shop… he had this very menacing,-hysterical-serial-rapist-like laugh!
Now com’on … it’s just ONE DAMN MINUTE!!
Next: How are you adapting?
Queen Mary rocks man! I think QM is the only uni with a proper campus in London… and what’s really great about that is my flat is just 2min walk to the lecture theatre. We don’t really have many lectures there though. We usually have lectures at the Whitechapel campus (20minutes walk, 5minutes on a ‘free’ bus); so it’s still a great deal! No rush! And it’s only 30minutes to central by bus!
My room is really great! Contrary to KMB, room here is almost twice the size, and I don’t have to share it with someone anymore! Has lots of sockets, and it’s en-suite (i.e. I have my personal bathroom!), and I even have my own fridge! With bills included, I only need to pay £97 per week. With almost nothing need to be spent on traveling (and I get a very good exercise too!), I say it’s a very good deal (for your information, en-suite rooms are very,very expensive in London! And normally that excludes utility bills! And need to pay for the travel some more! And no personal fridge!). The deal gets better as JPA is paying for the bills and in the end when calculated I still untung!
Furthermore, QM is at East London, so everything here is cheap, and don’t go clubbing or drink = more money to spend!
Right now, I’m committing myself to Alpine Club, it’s really fun doing rock-climbing! I really wanted to be committed to rowing club (my mum will definitely freak out hearing this), but it always clashes with rock-climbing; furthermore I can’t swim! And I know from Elias that it will take up my weekend, so don’t want (want to go jalan-jalan, and church)
Misc: some matter-of facts
*Apparently the two most famous words here are : ‘posh’ and ‘dodgy’ ..don’t know why.
*Chinese Indonesians can’t put their Chinese surname in their names. I know this coz I have two Chinese friends from Indonesia whose names are Diana Rosalinda and Arief. Very Indonesian.
*Plans in the next month: Learn more recipes (my cooking acumen is coming along the way well)! Get a digicam! Get a winter coat! Visit Scotland! Enjoy a White Christmas!
I LOVE LONDON!
