Entertainment

Ok, so i haven’t entirely been the most hardworking medical student of late…
Well, its not as if i’m neglecting my studies totally. I just haven’t been putting those extra hours of diligent study like a responsible student might do. I do the basics of attending rounds, going for the Problem-based Learning (PBL) tutorials i have each week, the lectures, and extra tutorials we get from arranged slots with consultants or registrars in various fields. I haven’t been roaming the wards looking for patients to interview or examine, or I have been busying myself with a newly discovered TV series called Friday Night Lights…

There’s quite a fair bit of drama going on, but watching it just reminds me of all the times i had with my canoeing team mates back in high school and i miss it. Back to the drama itself, notable storylines include how the main character Jason Street the star quarterback of the football team tackled someone down and “got a C7/T1 fracture and is paralysed waist down.” I might write more about that some day. He recovers in rehab, his girlfriend the hottest chick in the cheerleading team cheats with his best friend on the football team amidst all her support she has been giving him, visiting them everyday, he forgives her eventually, they want to get married, Jason tries to the USA quad rugby team, etc etc. It makes me wonder, what will i do with my life if i had been paralysed waist down. Will my loved ones still love me for who i am? What will by my purpose from then? Can i still be a surgeon or a doctor?

I realised, team camaraderie is exactly what i am missing right here in Melbourne. I need to join some sports team of sorts. Rowing? I’m too small. I’m only 1.68m, 70kg. Physically it is not ideal. But hey, i won the National Canoeing Championships 250m K1 sprint event, over the ~1.75 or so, 80kg, twice my size dude who was in the National Team. Was that against all odds? i would say so. i wouldnt have dreamed about it. No one expected it. But i did it in 2003 didnt i?

Kayaking here is not a big thing. There is some lake that is about 45min drive away i could go to get some kayaking action. I might one day. I miss the feeling of kayaking, and how the K1 cuts through the water, and how you sear forward with each powerful stroke, and the swift motions. It’s bliss i tell you. If you experienced it, you would fall in love with it.

Training for my marathon has been OK. I have been at the gym quite a bit, doing leg presses, extension and curls to strengthen them. I do 3 sets of 20 reps to build endurance power.. So when my blisters heal, ill be heading the roads again for more running. I gotta hit 30km soon.

Meanwhile, be safe and thanks for listening.