And That's What Happened. (Atleast that's the version you're going to hear about.)

Picking up where I stopped yesterday,

Nammu ma'am and I boarded the bus back to Shimo and I reached at the crack of dawn and made our way back to the hostel. I met Vindhya before she left for her 'mini vacation' and she prepped me up for what to expect in the practicals.

• During Viva, try to steer the topic towards a more comfortable area. (Of course this is an art and can't be tested on all examiners.)
• Sometimes, if you don't know something, just say so. Instead of making up your own Physiology or Anatomy that might horrify the person at the other end.
• Stay calm, take your time and present the answer well.

Actually our practicals were scheduled to be held '10th July onwards [tentatively]' so most of the students had gone home post the theory exams. They began arriving in trickles by Sunday night and by Tuesday most people were back.

Anat Department had kept the Histo slides and gross specimens on display so we all had a good look around. Then Vasudha ma'am gave us another orientation on Radiology

[Basically there are different views: AP, PA, Oblique, Lateral.. and you've got to identify if its a Plain Xray or a Contrast Xray (one had with a Barium meal (oesophagus) or a pyelogram (kidney) or a hysterosalpingogram (uterus and Fallopian tubes).. you've got to mention the bones you can see, the shadow of the organs you can make out, any fractures present and so on..]

And the Embryology models that we might be questioned on..

• Paramesonephric Duct (My favourite!!)
• Placenta Praevia 
• Oogenesis and Spermatogenesis
• Foetal Circulation (:D)
• ... Lung development (Surprise Package of this year's Anatomy Paper I )

Barr Bodies formed by 'lyonisation'.

Yeah. These are Genetics charts. 

PMND and MND

Lung Development Model

*(Minor fainting episode overcome by Bournville)*

So we all had a good look at everything that we might possibly be questioned on during the 3 days prior to the exam. The cold and cough that began after I reached Shimoga manifested itself into a more virulent form and I realized that medication was essential if I didn't want to scare the examiner with my frog-like croaky voice!

Physio department allowed the students to practice on the the Clinical and Human experiments and we again had a look at the possible Case Study questions that we might face.

We peeped into the Biochem Department to have a glance at the spotters that we might be asked to identify. (Ryle's Tube for GFTs, Albuminometer, Urinometer, Hand Spectrometer) 

What ensued next can be explained in various versions but the basics are:

A slightly higher than recommended consumption of Benadryl (Idiopathic reasons) + 
loss of Birthday ring + 
Benadryl crosses blood-brain barrier + 
Sleepless night + 
Lacrimal activity commences + 
Morning walk in which my speed is 10cm/s + 
Anat revision in library + 
hyperactivity of Lacrimal glands + 
Chetan Sir delivers words of wisdom + 
Bournville consumption without rhyme or reason + 
Back to Library to read up on Radiology and Surface Markings.

Appa arrived around 3:45 and the rest they say.. is a series of *cough*- cry *cough*-cry *cough* until I was too exhausted and slept peacefully after a seemingly long time. 

The night was long and I had Coffee and biscuits to help me through. If I could write the Anatomy Exam on 4th July it was only thanks to Appa who listened to every word as I read aloud. I didn't want to give up without a fair attempt so I did what I could. What happens now is beyond my control and I'll have to accept whatever the outcome is. 

The spotters were fine and I identified the slides correctly (Kidney and Large Vein) but my diagrams could have been better and the 2nd examiner took great to be sarcastic about the size of the glomeruli in the kidney. Gross also passed uneventfully because the HOD didn't ask anything tricky. The other examiner seemed receptive. Surface Landmarks were the best because he decided to quiz us theory questions for some strange reason. :')

Post lunch was Viva and we were questioned separately by four examiners on different aspects. Radiology was a flop because the HOD didn't want to believe anything I said about the Cruciate ligaments. 

After Anatomy all I did was sleep. The next day I began Biochem but fell asleep for half the day (later the  cause was revealed to be 'ChestOn Cold' which is known to cause drowsiness). Appa left in the afternoon and I moved into Athira's room for the remainder of the college days. I spent an hour or two listening to Sumana chant the procedures for the Biochem experiments and slept uncharacteristically well. 

The Practical part was pretty much a fiasco due to so many reasons. Topography, Memory and Lucky had deserted me. The Examiner #1 clearly saw what was going on and questioned me accordingly. Examiner #2 was extremely interested about my Dad's occupation and other such details but that seemed to work in my favour. Prior to viva I had a coughing episode that distracted me from the forthcoming viva fear.

After this was Physio and most of us merely glanced at the books in the day before the exam. One of the examiner deserved a medal for his bitingly sarcastic responses. 

*If I kick you, you'll go fall in Chitradurga*
*Become a cowherd*
*Aren't you supposed to be a good student? Don't embarrass your teachers*

 But the same people were docile during viva. The externals were okay and only the internal (Vasanthi Bhai was having fun.)

*Plasma proteins. Name and function*
Me: (Blabbers)
*What happens if Plasma proteins decrease in the blood?*
Me: Osmotic pressure exerted will decrease : Hypoproteinemia and edema
*Ok. So what's your name?*
Me: Jayashree
*Oh, so you're Jayashree!* (evil cackle) *difficult questions follow*

And after this, we were officially FREE. B)

I can't type in my sleep. Unsafe blogging may occur. :P

After What Seems Like Forever.

I fervently hope that I haven't forgotten how to blog. But in case I have, there's ample time to re-learn the art. :)

The past two months have been eventful to say the least. I could go on and on about it but for now, the less said, the better. I'm going to focus on the positive aspects.

Exams came and went by. Those days were hectic, sleepless and tiring. Prior to the exams, the 'fear' of the exams caused a breakdown among most people. But once they began, there was no time to get scared. We had to do what could be done, there wasn't a moment to be wasted. 

As you probably know, Libu has been my haunt for most of the year. But towards the end, I finally mastered the art of studying in my own room (but then I had the company of Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, etc.. ;) )

The tension on the night before the exams.. was written large on every student's face. We all just gobbled something down and hurried out of the mess. To sleep or not to sleep.. that was the question.

The bus journey to SIMS Government College was a terrifying one, especially on the first day. On the first exam, we literally had no idea what to expect. The avalanche of possibilities was overwhelming, the consequences weighed heavily on our shoulders and people seemed to forget the most basic things in the tension.

As we were walking through the corridor towards the exam hall, people were shooting questions at each other. 
S: "Hey please tell me the sympathetic and parasympathetic roots of Ciliary Ganglion!"
Me: Whaaat?! Plexus around Ophthalmic Artery I think.. And Parasympathetic is Nerve to Inferior Oblique...Wait... I'm confused. Let's ask somebody else. And tell me about Diploic veins please!
R: ....... Ok, don't worry you'll remember in the exam.

And before Physio exam:
Me: Dude, Olfactory Pathway!! Tell me the highlights.
Ap: Don't ask me anything!
Y: Striae, Bulb, Tract... Opercular Insular.. No sorry that comes in Taste Pathway.. Ask Somebody!!

And the epic one before Biochem exam:
Sumana: Salvage Pathway!!
Abhi: APRT and HGPRT are the enzymes right?!
Me: Yeah. Wait. What does it convert?
All 3: *Freak out* 

So that was us during exam week. 
Coffee has been my savior and soul mate in the past one year. But any health issues can be attributed to the same drink, unfortunately. The day before Biochem was a day of internal battles. And the exam by itself spread a pall of gloom that dampened the post-exam euphoria. 

Following these exams, I traveled home for a few days. Met my mad caps (Anjali and Medha). We had a lovely, loony day. I'm not sure which was the best part; being goofy and spazzed out or the food and beverages. (Tough choice, considering how people like me aren't sure whether they 'Live to eat' or 'Eat to Live') Anj gave us an introductory course on Korean pop which is pretty radical to say the least (All I remember is BigBang, Exo and a couple of guys grooving amazingly well). College stories were exchanged, Deeksha memories were recaptured and plans were made for future meetups. All in all, the company of fellow insane fools gives a warm feeling of comfort that one cannot gain anywhere else. 

And THAT REMINDS ME: I purchased books!! :D

• The Water Babies (Charles Kingsley)
• Gideon The Cutpurse (Linda Buckley-Archer)
• If It Is Sweet (Mridula Koshy)
• And.... My first M & B (Don't give me that surprised look. One must read all genres in their lifetime. I can only read it as a nineteen year old, not a ninety year old. ;) )

Plus, Medha has been kind enough to donate:

• Fly By Night (Frances Hardinge)

Looking forward to restart my reading habit. It's been about 4-5 months since I read any novel and I'm eager to voraciously read as many as I can these hols. (Hello JustBooks!)

Following this, was the customary and cool visit to Vnagar. Hogged, chatted, went out with Nidhi, hogged some more and had a nice time.(Blueberry and GreenApple Mojito B) )

As has become a standard practice, Nammu ma'am and I boarded the bus back to Shimoga and I froze in the chilly air that night.

World Cup's begun, readers. I'll seeya soon. :)

Lost.

It takes very little to slip off the edge of an iceberg, but a lot to clamber back to safety.
Back at college. Practicals and viva pending.
I miss the uncomplicated times. I miss the way music could heal all wounds.
Apprehensive about what lies ahead.
Social networking might be fun,but contentment comes from within. It stems from internal bliss satisfaction.
I am convinced that I have the uncanny ability to decipher emotion.s inspite of attempts to conceal them.
Have faith they say. In whom I used to wonder. In myself would be the best option.
In testing times, it is our resolve to remain true to ourself, to our values and principles that will get over the bad times.

Unconditional love is rare. I miss Pings. :'(

LubbDupLubbDup.

I am scared. I am terrified.
I have been soo foolish, naive and gullible.
I need to clamber out of the web I have spun around myself.
I must go now.

It was a phase. A horrible phase. It shouldn't matter anymore.
Exams in one week.

ManiaMoodiaMadia

Cats. :)

I have officially forgotten how to study.

Or my pea sized brain has calcified.

Or my hippocampus has degenerated leading to memory worse than a goldfish.

Or maybe the phoneswapping has affected me.

Or maybe I'm thinking too much about things that don't matter right now.

Or maybe this is the price to pay for watching Telugu movies.

Or maybe eating Maggi everyday is causing Monosodium Glutamate to form killer proteinaceous particles that cause atrophy of neural tissue.

Or maybe its a phase.

Or maybe is a neurological degenerative disease.

Or I'm having a nightmare and will wake up soon.

Hey There.

Things have changed so much, so drastically that it all seems so unreal.

Back in Bangalore post 3rd internals. Will be heading back to hostel over the weekend. 

Di no longer seems like a little kid. She's taller, stronger, sharper than before and now there's a little girl blossoming in the house; one who gets cranky and hyper, but also one who can play quietly and make people laugh with her words of innocence. She plays chess well for a beginner (learnt under Appa's tutelage) and can swim a few basic strokes as well. Doodles, drawings and artworks adorn the household, Pogo is on 24*7 and a mound of toys, trucks, dolls, ducks, building blocks, bubble guns, teddy bears and tigers are stacked at every inch of free space.  On the whole, she's in a different world altogether, Chota Bheem is her hero, summer camps, daycare centres and swimming pools are her world, weekends are at Innovative, Snow City or YemmenKay Park, Ma and Pa run around in circles to make sure she's happy and it's very similar to how things were before Di's time..

Di Posing at the Upkar site.

Bangalore is as heavenly as ever. The weather is out of the world. Unlike most people, I happen to love those cloudy, slightly drizzy days when all you want to do is sit on the terrace and watch the wafting clouds, ponder about life's endless possibilities and enjoy a slow Bollywood track.

Yesterday some of the Subbaiah Bangaloreans (Likki, Nammu, Govi, BP and I) met up in Mantri for a movie 'Million Dollar Arm'. The movie was surprisingly good and we had a nice time and as always we hogged. (3 small pizzas, 1 Medium size pizza, 1 Birizza, Garlic bread, Potato wedges and drinks)

The movie is based on a real life story about sending two Indians to major league baseball teams. Unlike most sports movies, the human aspect dominated over the technical details of baseball. The movie depicts how the opportunity changes all the characters as people and they discover more about themselves in the process. Familiar faces include Jon Hamm (Don Draper of Mad Men fame) and Suraj Sharma (of Life of Pi). 

Coming to Bengaluru is always an unplanned fiasco. This time it was because I didn't want to write the practicals post the theory exams and remaining in the hostel would be a difficult thing to do, hence Nam and I hopped onto the Airavat on Wednesday evening and that explains how I'm here right now.

The evening after Biochem theory, Likki, Kruthi, BP, Sahana, Deepthi, Nammu, Abhi and I went out with the sole goal of HOGGING. And hog, we sure did! Golgappas, Vadapaos, Sandwiches, Masala cokes, Masala Dosas (dipped in oil) and so on! B) Enroute we met HKM and Rakesh and they too joined the Noble Cause that we had embarked on. It was a fun evening (legpulling/ amputation was the agenda for the evening or so it seemed. ;) ) and we reached pretty late by Shimoga standards. (8:30)

Abhi and Me @ Goli

Hostel food exponentially expand one's appetite. I speak from personal experience and I also speak for my fellow nocturnal snackers in the hostel. Midnight maggies and fruitsalads are catching on in Subbaiah and they're a lot of fun as well. The other day we had the most delicious, nutritious and lipsmacking salad that was wolfed down in minutes. 

Mango+ Apple+ Pomo+ Mosambi+ Grapes + Sugar and Spice= AH-MAZING.

Exams are approaching, revision plans are being made, old chapters are being reopened and the library is filled to the brim these days. In the midst of all this, friendships are being strengthened and bonds are being formed. It feels different, surreal and new, but it is a wonderful feeling, I must admit.

Kruthi, Abhi, Ehra and me. :)

Sometimes the things you hear can break you. Sometimes you decide not to care. And that one little decision can make a lot of difference. 

Sometimes you put up with crap, not because you care endlessly about them, but because they're anything but that. So their good and bad is the same to you. It's a feeling of detachment that prevents disappointment.

Sometimes you look back and yearn for the past moments, the way people were before they changed, the way you were before you changed. But then, you've to look ahead and deal with the present. Clinging on to the past is no good. 

Sometimes you've got to remind yourself about the things you want to achieve, the goals you want to reach, the people who need you, the commitments you've got to honor, the places you want to see, the people you want to meet and most of all, the person you want to be. Because, often we tend to get sidetracked.

Musicophilia:

• Kabhi Jo Baadal Barse : Now that I actually understand the lyrics, this song has potential to become the next PNM. 
• Sahib (from Bhoothnath Returns) : One of those songs you will always love listening to.
• Mast Magan : Not sure if this will last the test of time or if it will become another 'Locha E Ulfat'. But for now, the joy that this song resonates makes it one of my favourites.
• Baby Doll: Stop getting psyched. I heard it for the first time during the cultural day. Curiousity prompted me to get the entire song a few days ago. The interest is bound to be shortlived, I assure you. It's similar to how a long time ago, I was hooked onto 'Lucky Boy', 'Kambaqt Ishq' and even 'Lat Lag Gayi'.
• Offo : Peppy, mood-uplifting and the Yeh Ishq Hai of the current times.

Here's something I found on Instagram. But I'm still very ambivalent over it. What d'you think? :P

Cya soon!. <3

I.Can't.Think.Of.Any.Sensible.Title

24/4

I mean seriously. Because I'm not sure what I'm going to blog about in the first place.

College is nearly over in terms of portion completion (anatomy will extend into mid May by the looks of it) and internal tension seems to be in the air. Library is practically crowded these days. My seat (where I always sit, rain or shine, exam or no exam, crowded or empty) was actually occupied for a day or two by some early birds but now I'm back in possesion of my seat. I know it makes no difference, but for me, its a comfortable spot where I quickly get into the 'groove'. XD

Basically feeling more forgetful than a frikkin' goldfish these days because I'm probably just reading without effective recalling. Or maybe I'm too tired when I'm reading. Or maybe I'm not concentrating. Whatever it is, I've got to revise more.

26/4

Sometimes life presents you with the most unexpected surprises. 24 hours I was wondering why was I so slow in grasping the functions of Thyroid gland. Right now Dad is in Shimoga, we had lunch at Akki Dabbi (Rice Bowl), watched 2 States (on a sudden whim) and I've been chatting nonstop on everything ranging from dissection and upcoming internals to the anchoring and Eunoia. :) There's nothing like spending time with Appa. :D

Recently spoke to a friend after a sort of long time and I felt unnaturally happy about it! We mostly spoke about the approaching exams and the tension in the air but I felt a lot more positive and hopeful after that. 

Once again I'm plagued by thoughts that I'm not focussing enough on things that matter. Barely 50 days left for the finals, the countdown has begun.

Oh and btw. I've got a cartload of fruits and snacks. I can't wait to stay up late and study so that I get to feast on all the amazing stuff! :') 

Thumbelina.

Feeling helpless and sleepless thanks to a painfully swollen thumb. One cannot fathom how essential a thumb is for the simplest of tasks, such combing one's hair or even brushing one's teeth. Be that as it may, work must go on and I've an avalanche of topics to cover and revise in a shockingly limited number of days.

In the past fortnight, the college was abuzz with activities. Eunoia 2014 was Subbaiah's maiden college fest. We had a sports day (800m 4th, 400m 4th, baddie semis), a cultural day (quiz 2nd) and a college day (co-anchored the formal program).

I feel the desire to have a Nutella-Milkmaid dessert. I've got a strong feeling that it would taste divine.

During the debate. Topic: Should a person know when he is going to die?

Saree day

BP and I; Sports day. (Phoenix!!)

The Practice.

Fresh out of medical college, Ayush was raring to plunge into clinical practice. He had been cautioned by seasoned veterans that his enthusiasm was ephemeral and soon he would be exposed to the murky side of medicine in the country. But like any determined youngster, he was unfazed by naysayers and was eager to begin the journey of service, self discovery and a lifetime of learning.  He chose to engage in a rural internship even though it would have been easy for him to work in the city.

It was a nondescript village perched at the foothills of the Himagiri, nestled in the lap of Mother Nature. The village was an oasis of tranquility with meditative cows, birds chirping merrily and sparkling streams that gleamed with thriving sustenance. But despite its sylvian appeal and relative placidity, the village was largely neglected due to poverty, unemployment, illiteracy coupled with lack of basid facilities. The villagers had accepted their fate and trudged on with the few privileges bestowed upon them.

After an 8hour journey from Bangalore, Ayush emerged from the local bus at the crack of dawn and surveyed the valley of mist. He stood at the makeshift bus stand grasping the scenery surrounding him. Enveloped by lush green canopies and enriched by melodies from a distant songbird heralding the arrival of a new day, the village was a utopic dream in his eyes.

With some help from the villagers, he located the quarters designated to him for his year long stint in the village. He had been prepared for the worst, so in that sense he was relieved by the comforts accorded to him. It was a small room atop the local municipal office, furnished with a small stove, wash and a fan to compensate for the asbestos roofing. A straw mat was his bed and the large verandah offered a breathtaking view of the hill ranges beyond the village.

As he started to unpack and set up the household, he thought about the hurdles he had to cross to begin this life of simplicity. Coming from a fairly well-to-do household, his family members were at their wits' end as to why he chose to lead an ascetic life but they knew he couldn't be coaxed or cajoled to remain in Bangalore so they only hoped that he would come back soon, realising the impracticality of his decision.

He wasn't able to pinpoint the reason for his firm stance on the matter but he suspected that it had something to do with his upbringing. He led a sheltered life, cocooned from inequalities and unexposed to the realities of life. During his 4 years as a medico, his worldly views began to slowly but surely change. He developed a deep desire to contribute towards society, to lead a simple life and he also began to appreciate the value of life and the necessity to lead a principled life.

Ayush looked around the room and smiled at his handiwork. It had everything that he needed and nothing more. He sat down on the porch to observe the setting sun with restful contentment.

The next day he was briefed about his duties at the primary health centre. The centre was true to its name, primitive, primary and unequiped. But patients were aplenty, doctors were insufficient and nurses were few and far from trained to handle the cases.
Over the next few weeks, he began to settle down into a routine that began with an early morning walk, cooking his own meals, the major portion of the day in the hospital and twilight in the privacy of his verandah watching the starlit sky studded with the moon.

On one such early morning stroll, he glimpsed a face amidst the bushes, supposedly scouring for leaves and flowers. It was a face that did not belong to this village. It was a face that shone with radiance in the semidarkness, a face that reflected serenity and placid confidence. It was also the face that regularly reappeared in his dreams but never glimpsed again in daylight.


(To Be Continued at: http://moodymusings95.blogspot.in/2014/07/the-practice-continued.html )

Offo!

Every person without sensorineural or conductive deafness and must listen to the above song. :D
I've got a thing for exuberant, vibrant and peppy songs. What else can explain my misplaced addiction to 'Punjabi Wedding Song'?

So last Saturday, Annlee, Saniya and I accomplished the Herculean task of watching the movie 'Yaariyan' which is probably made solely to test the tolerance level of simple minded individuals. If the movie wasn't banned from theatres for undermining the IQ of movie-goers it is solely because the sound track tries to mollify the viewers. The cliches are one too many, logic is extinct and common sense should not be exercised. Nevertheless, we had good fun poking fun at nearly every scene and the badly phrased subtitles only added to the mess.

So we've got this fest coming up in college, a first at Subbaiah and I guess everybody's pretty excited. The entire college will be divided into two teams which will compete for the championship trophy based on the sports and cultural events. I am more excited than I thought I would be and I hope it's going to be an amazing event! The other day, I played Baddie with the seniors (one of them was a State level player!) and I even got to play with a Yonex racket. 

This is probably my last visit until the Finals are done and considering the Physio quiz also in the same week, my visit got extended and I'll end up staying here for nearly a week. 
But Time has a horrible way of deceiving you since Time literally flies when I'm with Di. I'm missing out on a lot of things. Each time I come home, She's different. I only stay long enough to catch up on the differences. I wish I were around to watch her and be a part of her growing up. I don't want to be a mere spectator..

Yesterday was good. I met Pinki after ages and also met Praj near KIMS. The joy of meeting old friends can never be explained. The joy of hogging on Margherita Pizza is equally immeasurable. ;)

Some people will only cause pain and disappointment, because we tend to expect a lot more from them. It's best to stop having any expectations from anybody and stop putting people on a pedestal for their 'goodness'. 

There's just about 2 months left for Final exams of 1 MBBS. It's time to accelerate studies and revise and work hard now because the famous 'last minute' is finally here.


A week or so before second internals, MaPaDiMe had a weekend getaway and we spent time at Sirsi (Marikamba Temple), Sonda (Vadiraja Mutt) and Gokarna (Beach!!).

Sonda is small little village in the Sirsi taluk of Uttara Kannada district situated at a distance of around 450km from Bangalore and 20km from Sirsi. It is mostly known as a pilgrimage center due to the presence of three prominent Mutts: the Swarnavalli Mutt, the Vadiraj Mutt and the Jain Mutt. These attract hundreds of pilgrims mostly through out the year. The green surroundings, typical to the Malnad area of Sonda and Sirsi add to the serenity of these places of religious importance. 

Here's how we celebrated Holi in our hostel :)

Here's how our college looks around 6:30 in the morning; enveloped in mist and fog until the Sun overpowers and clears the sky.

I read about this article in TOI, about one Mr. Mirchandani of USA proposing a plan worth several million $. It involves the simply sensible point of changing the font from TNR to Garamond. Now this seems absurdly insanely simple to be actually true and here's why my suspicion was confirmed:

http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/mar/31/ask-a-designer-switching-fonts-save-us-government-millions

I intend to go walking/jogging with Dad tomorrow (don't we have a Saree day coming up? :) ) so it would be prudent to catch a few hours of good sleep :D

Everybody should take selfies with their dad. They're like the coolest thing. Ever.