Culture shock of sorts...

Okie... me I'm a simple girl. Mildly goday if you like (though not in the league of the estimable DDA.) For the last few years my time was spent mostly ambling around the National Hospital, the rest of the time in bed saying "amme, how my feet are aching!"

Ok, there were good times too. I had a great gang of girlfriends to gossip, go shopping and do the "girl-stuff" with. My boyfriend turned up regularly to sweeten my life with cream buns and by taking me "out". We'd go check out the clubbing scene occasionally - even though the last time we did that we ended up in a brothel. (Long story). Money was always in short supply - text books, equipment and stationary are quite pricy, shoes get worn out fast, clothes get gunk on them and need replacement and there were unforseen expenses like having to replace the earpieces on the stethoscope because a kid in the ward had eaten them.

So my point is, whenever there was a wedding or a party or a big do, I'd just wash my hair, slap on a bit of powder, drape a saree around myself and rush off. Getting dressed and primped and all pweety at a saloon was an alien experience until my wedding day. And it was a wonderful experience... I had so many people fussing over me and even my fingers were made-up!

So the season has dawned again, and there's a big family wedding next week. Having splurged on a fancy saree and a stylish jacket, me wanted to go the whole nine yards, so called a nearby saloon (a moderately famous one) for an appointment - hair, saree and makeup.

"That will be Rs. 2500/-, Madam" twitters the young lady, as if it were pocket change. I try very hard to swallow and inquire in a nonchalant manner "how much for a hairstyle ony?" "Rs. 850/-, Madam."

Holy macaroni.

How much does a Doctor charge for a consultation? A consultant? Rs. 350/-? Rs. 450/-? This is with 6 hellish and un-fun years as an undergrad, gruelling training in the wards for PG, exams and more exams arguably described as the hardest in the world. Painstaking setting up of a practice and essentially working 2 jobs.

Damn, I'm in the wrong profession! In a 15 minute appointment, with absolutely no responsibility whatsoever for my client's life and well being, with no exhaustive thought process or analysis of symptoms, with merely an aesthetic appraisal of the shape of the face, type of hair etc., I could have earned double the money doctors 15 frikkin' years senior to me are earning.

I'd have time to take care of myself, get regular pedicures and possibly have a more fun and interesting life. I'd be around carefree people instead of stressed co-house officers and patients. I'd not get calls in the middle of the night that so-and-so was seriously ill, or requests to go see someone's, someone's, someone in hospital. I'd have time for my loved ones... and for myself

Anyway... I thanked the saloon lady politely and put down the receiver. I think I'll just wash my hair, slap on a bit of powder, drape a saree around myself and rush off.

:)

Tag time, again!

Tagged again, this time by Chaarmax, Pink Mist, Samanalee and Charmed... feeling a deep and comforting sense of belonging in blogosphere (mad grin!). Will not be posting any rules or tagging at the end, because everyone else I know seems to be tagged already!

Okie, here they are.

1. Needles terrify me. Whether I'm on the giving end or the recieving end. Not good, when it comes to my line of work.

2. I love kiddie parties. The stuffed eggs and cheese bouchees, the rainbow sandwiches, baby cutlets and homemade birthday cake. Ok, ok, I just like the food, the kiddies are optional.

3. I used to (and still can) bite my toenails too! And so can my best friend. What is this, a national past time?

4. I'm mostly deaf in my right ear. This makes conversations difficult when the other person is to my right. It also provides an interesting answer when senior doctors bellow "are you deaf???"

5. The first day of my honeymoon was spent shopping... Odel, Romafour, Wildflower etc.

6. I won't say I'm an animal lover but I can't stand to see animals die. This includes fishing ants out of teacups, blowing at mosquitoes (and stopping others from slapping them) and rescuing spiders from the toilet.

7. I read books that I love over and over again, the Anne series, Bridget Jones, books by Terry Prattchet and James Herriot, Pride and Predjudice and Pollyanna. I can quote entire paragraphs at a stretch.

Well... that's it. Not terribly interesting, but hey, it's me!

Monthus Horribillius...

...or is it mensus horribillius? Pardon my Latin.

Anyway, that's what the coming month is promising to be. Hot on the heels of the car crash, my poor father falls ill and needs to be hospitalised. Severe respiratory infection with a suspicion of low cortisol response. Icy cold peripheries, dehydration, fever at 104F and low BP. Dispropotionately low pulse (low 60's). All this had Mums and I scratching our heads and trotting back and forth between the ward and the lab. Happily, the drugs worked and he's back at home and on the mend. Phew!

Yesterday was another scare as around 7.15 am Brother's girlfriend calls to say there's been a bomb in the train she was travelling in! She was thankfully unhurt but quite naturally shocked... and was now walking along Galle road, avoiding crowds and she felt jumpy whenever there were more than a few people around her. A few hours after dropping her home, I read Dinidu's post on the subject... and got to thinking of how many people were nervous about loved ones... real panic beats on the edge of your mind while another part of you keeps chanting "okay, it's going to be okay..." over and over again like same manthra.

And now, the Ministry of Health announces that Internship will be starting on the 1st of July. Now, this means we get an overlap and save 3 1/2 months of waiting but aaaaarrrrgh! I've gotten used to this cushy lifestyle and I don't wanna go! Clinical oriented though I am, the thought of doing casualties, clinics, ward rounds and on calls bloody sux! :(

I need comfort food.

Crash!

Oh dear!

Darling was involved in a car crash last wednesday... with one of those famous white vans that was speeding in order to get a couple of foreigners to the airport. Thank goodness no one was hurt... all Darling has is a bit of neck and shoulder stiffness and a bump on his side. (Phew!) And thankfully, a motorcyclist narrowly avoided being squished by the two skidding vehicles.

I shudder at the thought of what could have happened.

Brother was called out, and Mums went with him... I stayed at home getting jitterier with each passing minute. It was past 2am when they towed the car home - pretty much wrecked on the right side. Bonnet dented, doors crumpled, radiator broken, tires busted, front and rear lamps smashed... :S And we only bought it a few months ago...

So now the car is in the garage and the saga of haggling with the insurance company continues.

Darling has come out of the whole thing rather like a Highland yoghurt - shaken, but not stirred.

Marriage has taught me...

Well, it has been six months yesterday since Darling and I tied the proverbial knot and stepped into the murky and shark infested waters of married life. Continuing in the same vein, Daling has been the proverbial tower of strength during the panic attacks, tantrums moods and moments with which I responded to the minor crises we faced.

During this period, I have gathered many pebbles of wisdom. Many more are scattered around the boggy shores. Some may make those who are further down this beaten path shake their heads in nostalgia / frustration. They may serve as a heads up for those who wish to step in, and serve as more fodder for thought for those who are patently anti-matrimony. Here goes.

(Ahem) Marriage has taught me...

... that being cuddled to sleep is a luxurious experience, subconciously missed since childhood

... that the limbs of a sleeping male are incredibly heavy. A carelessly flung out arm could easily lead to suffocation

... that there is absolutely no underlying satisfaction in washing your husbands dirty socks

... that no matter when or where you decide to be intimate, it is always a good idea to double check if the door is locked

... that time for self is low priority and dwindles down close to zero

... that it is possible to develop an allergy to gold only on the 4th finger of your left hand

... that the once abbhored period can become a welcome beacon of successful family planing

... that you cannot eat so much as an extra cutlet without the aunty brigade wondering aloud if you're pregnant

...and the list goes on. Stay tuned for more!

Tagged!

Wow...I've been tagged! For the first time ever!! By both Chaar and Santhoshi!! I feel absurdly pleased about this! Okie..., in no particular order, here are 10 random things that make me happy...

• Food!! Potato salad, strawberry milkshakes and licking half melted toblerone.
  
• When Darling gives me a foot rub.... sigh.... sheer bliss!
  
• My parents, especially have fun when we sit together at meals and just talk...
  
• Being cuddled, can't get enough of that...
  
• Photographing weddings. I must be having over 4000 photos of various people getting married.
  
• Teaching... maybe the kick comes from telling people what to do! (grin!)
  
• Talking to Brother, few people get to know of his wit and sense of humour.
  
• Drawing. Haven't drawn a picture in years. What happened?
  
• Bubble baths. Lotsa bubbles!
  
• Movies with happy endings! :)
  

Well... that actually took a surprisingly long time. Now if it were ten bad things, I would have had much to say about Thai journal editors who give impossible deadlines.

Hmmm... who to tag?

Nisadas and Agni... you're it!

Hmmmm....

So I'm back...

After weeks...

After being crazy busy at work, and feeling quite exploited about it...

After ignoring good buddies, missing birthdays and feeling like a crappy friend... (still feel bad :( actually)

After forgetting the password that gives me access to this particular typepad...

After running around as if my tail was on fire, looking for the little bit of paper with the password written on it...


Watch out world!

- - - But don't hold your breath!! :)