First Day of Placement

I’m still living in Hong Kong time.

Last night I tried to get myself to bed before midnight which I always did (before 11pm actually) before I got back to Hong Kong. But then I kept tossing myself in bed without a slightest trace of sleepiness. I ended up having 3 hours of shallow sleep before I headed to my placement on the first day which demanded my indispensable concentration.

Luckily, my pumping adrenaline pulled me through the day.

Morning –

Once I stepped in the paediatrics zone, I was like being placed in the middle of an ER scene—alright, not that chaotic or dramatic but everybody was on the run doing something important, though I didn’t get a clue of what’s going on. I was left in the swirl of confusion, trying to absorb the situation while being bombarded with different sorts of information. I was being lucky today as I was told that it wasn’t that busy all the time.

Despite that, I managed to (be dragged to) sit in two assessment sessions for two different cases and attend the discussion sessions that followed. I had to get myself readily blended with the team which posed a challenge to me, though all others seemed nice and supportive.

Lunch –

Australian laid-back style. Everybody packs their lunch here (lovely). I got my veggie sandwiches as well :)

Afternoon –

There’s a team meeting during which my supervisor dispensed new cases to us interns. While she was presenting cases after cases, there was a case that caught our attention: very little kid, minimal spoken English, grieving family, immigrant from developing politically unstable country, brain injury, genetic deficit. I felt sorry for the kid but that would be my dream case: it involves all aspects of complexities.

While my supervisor was going through the case history, I kept muttering under my breath: “Give it to me give it to me give it to me pleeeeaaaasssseeee give it to me…”

“Shan, can you follow up this case?” My train of wishful thoughts was broken.

“Sure.” I replied. Succinct. Professional. Cool.

Grreeeaaatttt! It’s mine! MINEEEEE!

When my excitement (and obviously my adrenaline) subsided at the end of the day, I felt drained and post-party-ly miserable. The day was a bit overwhelming to me. But deep down I know my inadequacy and it's time for me to work hard and sharpen my skills and judgment in this field.

I will always keep my fingers crossed for the days ahead.