Internship: Life in Balikpapan

Hello peeps! After the fuss of moving here and there, finally Im in another city in Indonesia, exploring a new life. This is my first time being in Kalimantan which is so far away from my hometown. Life's been so far so good. The internship program we had will include 8 months in the hospital and 4 months in the primary health care. We've had our orientation in the hospital and first Im placed at the primary health care. Balikpapan is a big city, being as clean as Jogja. The foods are my main problem; Im not a picky person but Im quite surprised to find myself not suited with the cuisine here. I never had any problem regarding food before. Maybe it's about time till it suits my appetite. The weather is even hotter than Medan's, which I have considered as the hottest of all. I will try to explore the city more and find interesting places and foods. Ciao!

It's even hotter in real life, feels like 40°C

Week 0.

The first batch of clinical rotation group had had the orientation for three days and it finished today.  It talked about the hospital's history and its contain, patient safety, infection control, quality improvement, and so on. It was a good experience for me as Im going to face a different situation from what I usually have. My first term will start next week and it makes me excited and curious at the same time. How are the people Im going to meet in the hospital? Will I be able to adapt well? Is it very tiring like what seniors usually say? These questions were in my mind since a few months ago but I'll know the answers soon. In these two years, I hope I'll get a lot of experience and knowledge that support me to be a good doctor. Fighting to myself~^^

Add me on snapchat: gabipratini

Once in 4 years.

It's 29 February! Im back to this city again, preparing for my clinical rotation. It's still feel surreal that Im going to do it really soon. I want more holiday! One month has never been enough for me lol I like being at home; I can talk to my family anytime I want and eat everything I like. Not to mention my wifi is much better than here's as in here I need to share the wifi's speed with other people. Nowadays I rarely watch dramas even though I always update with drama news. I had finished watching Marry Me Or Not last week and Im going to do a recap about it soon. For now I only watch reality show Youth Over Flowers in Africa because they cast Reply 1988 Ssangmundong gang (ofc this is in my must-watch list!) and kdrama Descendant of the Sun starring Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo. Song Joong Ki is one of my favorite actors; he has both looks and skills which makes me fangirling over him everytime I watch his dramas. I've watched the first two episodes and I like the plot and the characters so far. Maybe because it was completely preproduced before it was aired, the scenes aired were more detail in preparation. Im looking forward to each episode; hopefully they can keep the good pace and have a great ending of the drama.

It's February YAY

Chinese New Year is coming in three days and Im excited (but not that much)! Back then in CNY Eve we always eat together with my cousins but since most of them are medical students and they are having clinical rotation now, it's a bit difficult to gather everyone. This year is also my first time not to celebrate CNY with my younger brother; he's back to Jakarta for study. Anyway, Im happy that Im back to my hometown after being stuck in Jogja more than one month when I was supposed to enjoy my holiday because I need to settle down the things for my graduation and we also had OSCE in the mid of January.

First.

Hello it's me~ lol The first two weeks of January have been a hectic one for me. We have practical exams (OSCE) to decide when we will do the clinical rotation. I finished mine on last Wednesday and felt like I didnt do well. Whatever it is, for now I will just enjoy my holiday. Im still here till next week since we will have an inauguration night for my batch this Sunday. So happy that everything has over; having an exam when everyone has gone back home for their holiday was never a good idea. I spent my New Year's Eve with my friends and we had a little celebration or else I would just stuck in my room watching another drama. I've experienced this kind of thing twice; the first one was on my second year when we had the final exam a few days after New Year. Anyway Chinese New Year is coming really soon in less than a month. How can Im not excited?!?! Chinese New Year has always been my favorite one because we can gather with family and relatives. I miss my family so much; four years staying here doesnt mean my homesick will get any better. Luckily I can meet my brother first before he leaves but too bad he wont celebrate Chinese New Year with us this time T^T

Merry Christmas!

Hello guys it's 25 December, Merry Christmas! Im happy and sad at the same time though. Im supposed to spend the end of the year with my family in my hometown but because I have an exam in January so now Im stuck in this city where everyone is enjoying their holiday. However, Im sooooo happy because I dreamt about Song Triplets yesterday! This sounds ridiculous; I dont even know how I can dream about them. Perhaps because the latest episode of Superman had them interacting with people through volunteering and I wish I lived in Korea so that I will be able to see them. In that dream, I met them accidentally with Song appa and asked if I can take photos with the triplets and he said yes. Surprisingly he can speak fluent English and we communicate well lol I took selfies with the triplets! Yes, it was just a dream but it makes me happy! Anyway, Christmas has always been my favorite since I was a child; I love the hype! Too bad in Indonesia we dont have winter and Christmas market. That's why I really want to go abroad to celebrate Christmas. 

Merry Christmas from Song Triplets!

The last block exam.

Happy Mother's Day to every mom in the world! Im not the type who stay close to my mom all the time but I try to say I love my mom (and my dad of course) whenever I can. People say you live everyday and die once so express your true feeling to your most loved one. Today marks the end of my academic year. I had my very last block exam this morning and the only thing left is my practical exam before I enter the clinical rotation. It's been a bittersweet journey for me in these 3.5 years studying about medicine; I have a love-hate relationship with it. Flashback to the first time I arrived in this city, feeling amazed and confused at the same time because the culture was so different with the one I had in my hometown. I cried a lot in my first semester; homesick was getting worse and worse. Slowly I started to adapt to this society, even though till now Im still not 100% comfortable living here. I dont know why; there's just something missing compare to my hometown. Im still trying to adapt till now so that I can get my truly comfort zone. It's 3 weeks more to the practical exam and Im supposed to study but the feeling is not here yet. You know the energy you have when the exam is right around the corner is always the best; you can study and exercise effectively and sufficiently lol I hope I can get a good result for my exam and proceed to the clinical rotation smoothly. Let's pray for the best. Aza aza fighting!!

Herbal Medicine (my last module) and motivation quotes.
I stick them in front of me so I can see them everytime and they motivates me more~

December, my favorite!

Hello it's December, my favorite month of the year! Christmas is coming closer and after that we'll face another new year. Im not ready for 2016 yet! I still remembered back then in 2012 there's a rumor saying the doomsday will come on 21 December 2012. Im so thankful to God that we're still alive till this day. Times flies so fast that Im already in my last block of my academic year and in January I'll have my last exam before entering the clinical rotation. Im a bit aware of my laziness in studying; will I be able to survive the clerkship? After my random blabbering last time, I felt better a bit since I cant tell anyone in my real life about it. It might be because I tend to overthink, but writing about it did really comfort me. Now I have a notebook to write about life quotes and it helps a lot; you get stronger each day when you read good quotes. I find this method when I watch a youtube video. Im not the type who writes diary; I prefer to write on my blog since it's easier if I want to search for the memories.

Judge less.

Love more.

If you want inner peace, resist the temptation to gossip about others.

Starbucks' red cup = Christmas is coming!

Kick out the negativity!

It's the last day of November! The end of the year is already right around the corner and in one month we'll face another new year. These days I've been thinking a lot (since Im already in my last year). Can I pass my final practical exam and be able to do the clinical rotation in first or second batch? What will I do when I have graduated and become a doctor? Where will I be placed for the internship program? What is actually my interest in this field and where should I continue for further education? I have this kind of insecurity. People said we should just live for this moment and enjoy it. I guess this might be true for person like me who is always overthinking most of the time. I hope I can reduce the negativity out of my life and be a more positive person in the future. Fighting!!!

Semi-holiday.

Yes exam has finally over yesterday! Fyi we only have one final exam per block; it was quite nice because you can get everything finished at one time but the preparation is just hellish. The material is all what we have learnt in one block. Now Im having a few days holiday and ofc it is nice xD there's a rumor saying TVXQ will have Asia Tour next year and this makes me super excited! I've seen JYJ a month ago and I need to see Homin to make it complete. Im pretty surprised that Im still here waiting for them to come back together even though 5 years have passed. Sometimes I keep wondering why should I wait for them this long? I cant find a reason why I should stop and even though this is very tiring, Im happy with my choice. #alwayskeepthefaith

Yo school life

I really felt my second year flew really fast; this week will be my last academic week in this year and next week I'll have my exam. I learnt more in this year even though I dont think Im getting more diligent. I always try to make a new resolution every year but it's just half-achieved. Boo yeah. I hope in the 3rd year I'll be more active and diligent and do more activities despite academic things. Fingercrossed xx

6 weeks to go, play hard work hard!

Today is the start of the new block which means I can count down 6 weeks to go home! I know Im THAT excited as home and family are always the one I miss the most. Had been warned that this block is surely a hectic and difficult one, I try to change my study habit a bit. I dont think I can change 180 degree directly. This time we cant even celebrate new year since the exam comes the day after new year. I think it's okay because it's going to be paid off with the holiday. But still I cant change my habit of watching drama *cry* Currently watching hongkong dramas "The Hippocratic Crush" telling about the life of medical students and situation in the hospital. This one is the medical drama that hooked me up the most because I feel it's really real. The main leads are doing a great job in portraying the characters and they got high rating as well. Im going to review it as soon as I finish watching. Ciao!

Sometimes it's just boring.

Yeah, i do feel that sometimes I feel bored with my routinities. My university life mostly contains study-exam-organisation-friends-eat-sleep-watch movies-exercise. Im an easily bored person and I know it. I want to do something new but it's just being blocked by money and permission. Exam is coming in this friday and after finished, it means I'll be facing my last block for the 3rd semester. Never realised that I've been here for almost 1.5years and I still feel homesick as I did in the first semester. To be honest, my fondness toward this city hasnt grew at all. I like the environment here because it's really a good place to study but not with the food, locals, etc although I find a few people are really good to me. I find too many differences and kinda difficult to adapt. Hope that I graduate soon and go back to my hometown as fast as possible. Thinking of joining an exchange program, I just realise that the chance for med studs are sooooo small because of the lack of opportunity. Mostly exchange program needs students from other faculties and I kinda pissed off. Well, I still believe that I can get a chance and hope it'll come true. Fingercross for this block's final exam and counting 7 weeks to home! xx

Randomness.

These days I dont feel like writing about anything and I even forgot to write a drama recap which was supposed to be posted last month. September and October have been really nice to me. I met my badminton idols in September although some of them didnt join the tournament and had a short holiday with family in October. I also went to watch Jay Chou's concert at the same month and did a small reunion with my classmates. The second year of my university is okay so far and I start to enjoy what Im learning now. Homesick is still my very first problem although it's not as worse as it was in my first year. Without I realised it's already been November and Im going back in 2 months. Last saturday, an incoming from Switzerland has come and we talked a lot. I really like it when there are people from other countries come because we can talk and ask about their countries' differences with Indonesia's. I always excited about it and thought it was weird. I've been quite random lately and I just doing things randomly. Life's been sooo good ^^

Another bad, another good.

Yeah I cant say it's a good news or bad news. This afternoon I attended the briefing for OSCE year 1. Fyi, it's a practical exam for all the skill sessions we've learnt during the year. At first it was scheduled on 19-31august. We only got a session and it was according to our student number. I've bought my ticket back on 18 july right after I finished my cbt that afternoon and everybody at the auditorium today was super shock when it was announced that the exam would be moved a month forward. Can you imagine it's just a week after cbt?! Most were panicked here and there, probably because they also had bought the ticket back to their hometown. My university is famous for its students' diversity, from Sabang till Merauke. No doubt everybody panicked because of that. It's good because after exam I'll be having a full month holiday, it's bad because I'll be damn crazy for the preparation. Ganbatte ne!

Welcoming June.

Time indeed flied really fast. I still remember the first I arrived at Jogja, not knowing what to do or any place to eat or shop. Just now I opened my past block books and pretty shocked that those blocks have passed few months ago and yesterday I just ended my fifth block. One block left for me to end my first year of medschool and still got 4 and a half years to graduate. Few days ago the result for SNMPTN has out and I reminiscing on how I didnt put my hope that much in this case, and turned out I didnt disappointed with the result. This year has been really good although I should say my exam mark wasnt excellent or superb but I survive and enjoy my days as a medical student. When people say med stud will study everyday and befriends with thick books, I live my life to the fullest (yes just considered me as one of the laziest one here). It's just according to what you want to do, some people study everyday and others study when they want to and play at the other time. Im glad my result isnt bad through this year and I promised to improve more. But still, I have to sleep at 10pm and need a 6-8 hours sleep. Even my friends are calling me a baby haha. Good luck to those who will take SBMPTN! Your hardwork will surely be paid off^^

2 weeks moreee to the end!

Oh please this block will end in 2 weeks time and I hope I do well this time. I dont even think of meeting this block's material again, it is difficult as almost hell. Im pretty sad that everybody will be going back home right after I finish this block while I have to wait for 2 months more to go back home. To worsen the news, I just found out that someone from my highschool got an exchange program to korea. It really made me want to cry T-T Live in Korea has always been one of my dream and I also plan to join an exchange program but looks like it's not supported by my faculty's studying program. Should I just join medical exchange? But I feel I want to learn about the language and culture, not something related to medicine. I absolutely dont want to do something with extending my study (A BIG NO OF COURSE) I want to graduate as soon as possible. Should I go to korea and live there for a year? I really want to fulfil this dream because my other dream watch TVXQ concert live with full members is somekind difficult to achieve. Actually this is really not connected to the title but who cares, I write whatever I want.

 

 

alone and bored.

5 on 5.

The title actually means nothing. It's been May and I dont feel like it's almost a year since I stayed here. So many things have changed. I still havent found someone who is really close to me like my friends in my hometown. Back there, I have my family and cousins to chat together. I miss them a lot you know. Im in the mid of block 1.5 and it means countdown to go home in 2 months yeay! A few days ago I looked at photos inside my harddisk and was shocked about my look before I went to jogja. To be honest I was never grateful about my skin color especially my face, but now I did regret that much. Not to boast, I feel my face was really white that it looked like snow(?) lol Now im trying really hard to get my skin color back and of course my weight -______- forever weight problem.
nb: this WAS how I looked a few months ago.

And I really miss high school.

Annoyed that much...

Im sorry I didnt update my blog that often, not because I didnt have the time but my boarding house internet connection has pissed me off these few months. In the past it used to have a SUPER fast speed, I didnt need to buffer if I wanted to watch youtube videos and the download speed can reach 500kb/s. I enjoyed that so much but after I came back from my holiday, these things started to act like feses. Even when it was connected, the speed was damn slow and now the worst part is it cant open google, youtube, and blogger which is part of my daily life. I like to write, not to gain more followers but because I love to write. I've tell the keeper's of the house but they seemed didnt care that much. I need internet that much that I feel like living in a cave when the connection is off. I WANT THE INTERNET FAST SPEED TO BE BACK SOON OKAY

March.

The first post in this month. Im on my second week now, pretty good so far. I think Im starting to change my study habit and it becomes vice versa with what I did before. Lots of things will happen this month and can be said as my busiest month since I entered university life. SCOPE WWPC joint project around march-april, Kamadhis' LPD on 23-24 march, ALOHA 2013 on 16 april. I enjoy participating those events, since I got no experience in organisation during my high school days. Let's pray for everything can succeed. Fighting!