• Monday: 
  • Tour around SUMS with a Malaysian PhD student.
  • Briefing with staff from the International Centre
  • Observe the autopsy of a man involved in an MVA case with a forensic specialist from the Legal Medicine Department.
• Tuesday–Friday:
  • We observed and were involved hands-on in a variety of autopsy cases guided by our supervisor, Hitosugi sensei, in the morning.
  • Assisted in Gramme stain procedures involving the autopsy cases
  • observed an automated method of producing organ slices involving autopsy cases.
  • I attended mini-lectures from different lecturers in the evening.
• Wednesday (PM)
  • Attended a welcoming party arranged by the Legal Medicine Department.

• Forensic specialists, dental surgeons, and the forensic police department are involved in autopsy procedures.
• Autopsies in Japan are only performed when the death of the person is due to unknown diseases, is suspicious, or is related to a police division crime.
• Signs of death in certain organs can indicate the natural cause and mechanism of death.
• Gramme staining is an important step to be taken if the autopsy case is suspected to be due to an infection or disease.

• I really enjoyed every single day in SUMS, as they are very eager to teach us forensic medicine and welcome us like family.
• I am amazed by the culture in Japan. They are very respectful of other people.
• I enjoyed doing autopsies every day and learned the signs of death to indicate the natural cause and mechanism of death.

• Language barrier during autopsy procedures because most of them are not fluent in English. I cope with this concern by using a language app to interact with them.
• Handling grotesque bodies during autopsies every day. I cope with this concern by having courage and eagerness to learn during the session, as this is a very rare chance to be hands-on in a variety of autopsy cases.

• involve hands-on involvement in more interesting cases of autopsy.
• Observe histology slides involving autopsy cases.
• Go for a trip to Kyoto and Osaka with Beppu sensei and his family that lives in Penang.

• Monday: Tour around Shiga University campus with a Malaysian PhD student and received a briefing from the International Student Center. After that, we observed an autopsy of a man involved in a MVA case.
• Tuesday - Friday: Observed and involved hands on in a variety of autopsy cases guided by our supervisor, Hitosugi Sensei. Attended mini lectures related to Forensic Medicine from different sensei(s) in the evening. We also assisted in gram-staining procedure and observed automated method of producing organ slices involving the autopsy cases.
• Wednesday (PM): Attended a welcoming party arranged for us at a local cafe and ate at a halal Nepal restaurant afterwards (the butter chicken was oishi!)

• The police department, forensic specialists and dental surgeons are involved in the autopsy procedure.
• Autopsies in Japan are only performed when the death of the deceased is suspicious, unknown, or related to a police division crime.
• Signs of death in a certain organ can indicate the natural cause and mechanism of death.
• Gram-staining is an important step to be done if the autopsy case is suspected to be due to an infection.

• The people here are very nice to us/each other and have very high respect towards people. I am still overwhelmed at the warm welcome that they have given us on the first few days.
• Japanese food is the best.
• Convenient stores are very convenient to buy snacks/food/coffee.
• A new experience having to perform the autopsy by removing organs and exploring a real human body. At first it gave me goosebumps but I got used to it (also learned the japanese words for some organs! Eg: pancreas is suizo)

• The language barrier had me struggling a little, however I made an effort to learn Japanese basics and used Google translate to help communication with the people here.

• Exhilarating and blessed.

• Performing more autopsies and attending mini lectures and exploring Kyoto and Osaka with Beppu sensei with his wife that lives in Penang.

• Monday: Tour around Shiga campus and hospital with a Malaysian PhD student. Afterwards, we observed the autopsy of a man involved in the MVA case.
• Tuesday till Friday: observed and involved hands-on in a variety of autopsy cases guided by our supervisor, Hitosugi sensei. I attended mini-lectures prepared by different forensic specialists during the evening. We also assisted in the gramme staining procedure and observed the automated production of slices involving the autopsy case.
• Wednesday: We attended a welcoming party arranged for us at a local cafe and ate at a halal Nepal Restaurant afterwards.

• The police department, forensic specialists, and dental surgeons are involved in the autopsy procedure.
• Autopsies in Japan are only performed when the death of the person is unknown or related to a police division crime.
• Signs of death in a certain organ that indicate the natural cause and mechanism of death.
• Gramme staining is an important step to take if the autopsy case is suspected to be due to an infectious disease.
• Drug tests were also done during the autopsy to eliminate the drug’s toxicity.

• There are a lot of new things that I have learned in this past week, including the system of determining the cause of death in Japan and the procedures that have been followed during and after the autopsy.
• All of the people here are very welcoming, and they help us a lot throughout the week.
• Our sensei even gave us some pocket money to buy some groceries and food during our stay.
• Although there is a language barrier, they help us as much as they can to make us understand the autopsy cases and all of the procedures.
• The welcoming party was so much fun, and it was my first experience with a welcoming party event. And everyone is so friendly and kind.
• It felt like my first time being treated in a good way in a hospital setting.

• Since most people in Japan learned medical terms in Japanese, there were times when there was a language barrier in terms of describing organs and diseases.
• We use Google Translate a lot to cope with it, and we also learned many simple Japanese daily conversations to converse with the staff and other people.

• A winning effort begins with preparation. I learned the importance of being well-prepared before new beginnings.
• Begin with the end in mind. I learned that envisioning my goal is the first step to success. I believe that this approach shall enable me to work strategically towards my goals and eventually turning it into a reality. 
• It always seems impossible until it’s done. I now know that its extremely important to persevere through challenges in order to reach my goals.

• I was concerned that I won’t be able to communicate effectively due to our language barrier. Hence, I learned a few common Japanese phrases so that I could avoid any conflict.
• I was also concerned that I might get lost because the transportation network in Japan is extremely complicated and confusing. I spent a lot of time understanding all the transportation system, so I can plan an efficient and cost saving trip.
• I was struggling to finish the fund application essay because I was preparing for exam season. However, my friend and I motivated each other to finish the essay and we managed to submit our essay before the deadline.
• I had a hard time getting my iStar paperwork approved. After multiple discussions with a friend whom I’m going to Japan with, and a few phone calls with the person in charge, we eventually got it sorted out.

• It is inevitable that adapting into a new environment can be difficult sometimes due to the cultural difference but we can overcome as we can take this as a chance to learn something new
• Almost every day in Malta we can hear fireworks! I was shocked initially by the amount of fireworks I heard in a day as there were fireworks during day time. Then I realized it's a tradition in every village in Malta as they are celebrating the Saint that protect the villages.
• There are a lot of difficulties and rejection I faced when I was applying to different universities and also during preparation period, but no worries because persistence is always the way. I am glad I did not give up despite all these and I am really grateful to my parents and friends who supported my decision.

• Study the public transport correctly and always focus when riding the trams, buses and metros in case of going the wrong direction!
• Communicating with a language barrier can be hard thus utilizing Google translate when speaking, translating emails and labels
• Getting out of the bubble and being more outgoing when speaking to and approaching international students during shared events
• Importance of knowing the appropriate fluid management for patients according to their blood result
• Different types of renal replacement therapies and their significances according to the patient's condition, state of health and welfare
• Engagement during the discussions with the supervisor to increase knowledge and get clarification towards case problems I do not understand

• Plan a trip to Lublin, Krakow, Gdansk 
• Have a kayak trip
• Visit museums on designated free days
• Observe some procedures in the nephrology ward

• Make sure to always be inquisitive and interested in learning about new cultures and social background of different people from all over the country. It is a good conversation starter topic when you have a solid general knowledge regarding their countries which gives a good first impression of Malaysians. It’s definitely acceptable to not know some things because that is the fun part in meeting new people from different background where you get to learn and venture more about them.
• Do enough research before doing something so that you won’t become a victim of fraud and feel safer such as local currency and basic phrases in their local language.
• It’s okay to be worried in the beginning as there’s always a first time to everything. Eventually, things get better and even more fun!
• Never be shy in mingling around, just be yourself! Never hinder your self limits as it will only backlash to your daily activities.
• Always ask,ask & ask if uncertain because everyone is new and trying to survive there, there’s nothing to be afraid of

• Language barrier with both locals and other incomings. I tried learning their language as mentioned above and with the other incomings, we mostly talked in English and it wasnt quite a big problem as most of their English were fluent and understandable.
• Obtaining halal food and performing religious duty (prayer) is one of the biggest concern for me knowing that I will be staying in a European country which muslims are minority to them. How I overcome them is that in restaurants, I would opt for vegetarian options of food & if I were too buy anything from the convenient store, I had google application on my phone that enables me to scan the ingredients of the food that I want to buy with translation in English so that I could identify whether it contains ingredients that I am not allowed to consume or not. I am grateful that my roommate too previously has had muslim friends so performing prayers in the room was not a big problem.
• Operating their washing machine & commuting public transportation. Again, i mostly used google translate to scan and get the meaning in English to operate the washing machine and was recommended by some locals on the useful applications that would help me on riding the transportations in Poland which was “Jakdojade”, an application that shows which trams or buses that would be scheduled tailored to our desired destination. As someone who has not been independently using public transport in Malaysia, i was quite anxious, worried if I might get lost easily or miss a tram, but after being briefed about the application and rode it a few times with the guidance of locals from there, it was pretty manageable and convenient where I developed a feeling of enjoyment using it.

• Always be prepared to face any challenges encountered during the trip
• Study the route of public transports earlier prior departure and always be aware of the last stop getting off the bus 
• Do enough 'homework' before actually starting anything, to save twist and turns
• Always be patient and more understanding with people and surroundings
• Don't be afraid of speaking up and always approach people when you need help

• I was very excited as it has always been my dream to study abroad and I was lucky enough to be accepted by the University of Malta. It was not easy to convince my parents  as they felt insecure for me to travel alone especially they have not heard about this country before. Hence I was extremely grateful with the opportunity granted knowing that I would have lots of fun doing my electives here.

• It was very clueless especially during the first day as we were left at the roadside, and we had to figure out ourselves where to check-in. And also after knowing that the check-in time was 2 hours later, I suggested to leave our baggage at the dedicated baggage room and decided to walk around the Campus.
• Due to the unfamiliarity with the public transport, we were so vulnerable, and it was so easy for us to take the wrong bus or missed the bus. After a few times missing the right bus, I tried my best to keep my eyes on the GoogleMap and eventually we made it to our destination. The most important thing is always stay calm.

• grateful and thrilled

• Learn about the healthcare settings in Malta
• Attend ward rounds daily and operation theatres every Tuesday
• Observe and assist as much procedures 
• Plan a few trips and travel after working hours

• 21st July 2023 marks the beginning of my elective posting journey in China! After touching down in HangZhou, I was greeted warmly by my cousin where I will be staying at her house for my entirely trip in China. Before starting my posting in hospital, I planned to travel around other nearby provinces - Nanjing and ShangHai. 
• Exploring Nanjing's historical sites, like the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and the ancient city wall, has been awe-inspiring. I also visited the Confucius Temple area and experienced the lively markets and delicious street food. The extremely hot summer weather was a challenge to me to walk and travel around. 
• After two days in Nanjing, I took a high-speed train to ShangHai. Adjusting to life in Shanghai has been thrilling. The city's blend of traditional culture and modernity is apparent everywhere, from the ancient Yuyuan Garden to the stunning views of the city's modern skyline, historic European-style architecture, and vibrant atmosphere of WaiTan. 
• The day before we leave Shanghai, we visited the largest Disney theme park in Asia. It covers a significant area and offers a wide range of attractions and entertainment, making it a prominent destination for Disney enthusiasts and tourists in the region.

• Technology and Payment: Mobile payment apps like WeChat Pay and Alipay are widely used in China. I need to familiarise myself with these apps so that it can make transactions smoother.
• Patience and Flexibility: Traveling in China may involve waiting in lines, navigating crowded places, and encountering delays. Being patient and adaptable will help to navigate these situations smoothly.

• Take Breaks: Find quiet spaces or take breaks in less crowded areas to recharge and regain composure.
• Plan Off-Peak Visits: Try to visit popular attractions during off-peak hours to avoid the largest crowds.
• Travel Partners: communicate my feelings and work together with friends to find solutions that make the experience more manageable.

• Preparation for my attachment in Second Affiliated Hospital Of Zhejiang University. Recap my knowledge from Internal Medicine Posting. 
• Explore how to go to hospital from my cousin’s house. 
• Make new friends during first week in Endocrinology Department. 

• To kick start my IFMSA exchange in University of Szeged, Hungary, I began my preparation early on in May. I completed the necessary documents and did my medical check-up as part of the requirement for the exchange. I also bought my flight ticket early to get the cheapest offer. After my exams in June, I got in contact with the Contact Person (CP) assigned to me, Edina Toth, via email to ask any question regarding the exchange and the life in Hungary. I also did my research on places to visit, transportation means, must-have apps, activities to be done and data plan since I will be there for a whole month. My CP, Edina, was also very helpful in providing answers to all my enquiries. During my free time, I also tried to pick up the Hungarian language bits by bits.
• On July 1^st, 2023, I bid farewell to my family and embarked on my “Solo Trip to Hungary!” To give you a quick run-down of the flight itinerary, I will be travelling from Malaysia to Hungary with a 12-hour layover in Dubai. After 7 hours of being cramped up in the plane, I finally reached Dubai. It was a shame that I could not explore the city of Dubai since the arrival time was 22:20 at night. Therefore, I took my time to walk around the airport and enjoyed a cup of americano in Costa Coffee. During the layover, I also charged my phone, did some reading, worked on my presentation about Malaysia and took a quick nap. It was so hard to pass a 12-hour layover and I could not imagine myself doing it ever again. When it was about time, I went to my boarding gate and was so excited to finally head to Budapest, Hungary.
• I arrived at Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport at 14:25 in the afternoon. After going through border control and getting my passport stamped, I collected my luggage and headed to the bus station. I took Bus 200E to the Ferihegy train station, and from there I took the train headed to Szeged. It felt so surreal to me that I was now 2 hours away from my destination of exchange. 
• Arriving at the Szeged train station, I was picked up by Edina. Well, more like we met up at the train station and walked back to the student dormitories (id. Jancso Miklos Kollegium) together. It was only a 10-minute walk and Edina said to me, “you will soon realise that you can reach most places in Szeged by just walking.” I then checked into my room and Edina showed me where things were around the dormitory such as laundry, kitchen, shower, gym and the yard.
• After unpacking my luggage and settling down, I met up with the rest of the exchange students at a bar. I felt warmly welcomed and after introducing myself, everyone followed suit. There was a total of 21 incomings including myself. We talked about the departments that we were placed in and our expectations for this exchange. When it was getting late, we walked back to the dorm together and settled in for the night since we will start our clinical clerkship at the hospital the following day.

• Don’t be shy to ask around when we are unsure of something, even if it means we’d have to step out of our comfort zone and talk to strangers. 
• It is always good to prepare beforehand, but also understand that the real situation might be different from our expectations, so we must stay calm, don’t panic, and think of the best solution. 
• Speak up and be yourself comfortably in social settings, it helps a lot in the early stages of getting-to-know-each-other.

• It is a dream come true for me to participate in this exchange abroad. I have always imagined what would it be like to study abroad and now I get to experience it for myself. To be honest, I was confident that I would be fine travelling alone to such a faraway country. However, I still had my concerns about unexpected situations arising, especially with the fact that my journey involved a lot of transit with flight, bus, and train. Arriving in Szeged, I was quite proud of myself for handling everything independently without panicking. Now that I’m here in Szeged, it is finally settling in that, yes, I am indeed about 9000km away from home. I feel so excited, and I am looking forward to what the upcoming four weeks of exchange will offer.

• The currency used in Hungary is Hungarian Forint. However, when I was in Malaysia, I was unable to find any money changer that provides Forint. I was quite worried that this would be a problem when I reach Hungary, especially if I am in urgent need to using money. My solution was to exchange my money into Euros instead since it is one of the most widely used currency in the world. With Euros in hand, I can exchange them to Forint in the local money change when I reach Hungary.
• When I arrived at the airport, I was unsure of how to buy the bus ticket since the ticket machine was is Hungarian. Thus, I approached a local for help. He was kind enough to help me operate the machine and I finally bought the ticket in the end.
• After doing some research, I found that buying the local sim card, Yettel, for data plan would be cheaper than buying data roaming for a month. However, I could not find any Yettel store in the airport. Therefore, I asked for Edina’s help to buy the sim card first in Szeged and I’ll pay her when I meet her.  Luckily, I studied the route beforehand and most of the travelling did not require internet usage. The train also arrived on time in Szeged. So, I did not have the need to use the internet to inform Edina about any changes. When I arrived in Szeged, she passed me my new sim card and I was able to inform my family about my arrival immediately.
  
  

• Exciting 
• Fulfilling 

• Familiarise myself with the surgery department.
• Meeting with my supervisor for the first time.
• Going around the city with friends.
• Joining social programs planned by the CPs.
  
  

• Getting official documents ready!
  • Since it is a medical elective abroad, there were quite a number of documents and official passes that I had to prepare. I made sure to start early beginning by renewing my passport since it has been quite a few years since my last travel. Other than that, I also had to get a letter of Dean’s recommendation, submit an I-star, get a Certificate of Good Conduct, a Nepali Visa and complete registration on the international volunteering website (International Volunteer Headquarters (IVHQ)). I was glad that we had Dr. Syamsa constantly remind us of the deadlines for uploading UKM-related documents. 
• Language and culture
  • When travelling to a new country, it is always best to know a bit about the place so that we can get the opportunity to immerse in their culture. I always like to start by learning their language. Communication is key to bonding no matter where we go and it always excites me to be able to speak with locals. Thus, I spent the first part of my semester break binge-watching Nepali TikToks and taking up free online Nepali language for beginners.
• Finding tourist attraction
  • Since we were going in a big group, things have to be a bit more planned and systematic especially if we are travelling together, which we will be. Thus, my friends and I involved ourselves in an itinerary planning for about 2 weeks. We understand that although the itinerary might seem perfect, we are pretty sure that there will be changes when we are there. So, we managed to come out with a very flexible and versatile itinerary.
• Vaccines
  • Nearing our date of departure, I also received the Typhoid and Influenza vaccines. These are the vaccines recommended for travellers to Nepal. I was advised to take the vaccines at least 2 weeks before departure to ensure the immunity has reached its threshold.

• Never procrastinate. It is always important to make a list of the things that I need to prep to avoid last-minute struggles just in case any documents fail to be approved.
• Reconfirm with people around as we may receive different instructions regarding protocols of governmental documents. Calling the authorities to reconfirm prior can help to avoid incomplete documents or miscommunication

• Unsure of what to expect
  • Details of the location of the accommodation were kept private and confidential until the day of arrival. Thus, there were a lot of uncertainties and potholes in our planning since it was hard to estimate the travelling distance and mode of transport. However, we were still able to proceed with our plans by considering Gandaki Medical College (hospital of elective posting) as our centre, assuming that our homestay was near the hospital.
• Money changing
  • Due to the fluctuation in the economy, surprisingly, it was quite hard to buy Nepali Rupees (NRp) I searched all over Perak for a money changer that had enough NRp but they either did not have enough or ran out of cash. In view of this, one of the money changer managers advised me to change to the United States Dollar (USD) since it has much more value than NRp. So, a few of my friends and I went about with this idea.
• Getting documents ready before going back for semester break
  • EOP was getting near and there were documents that needed to be settled at the office. Thus, it was slightly a hassle since it was our first time travelling to Nepal. So, I made sure that I constantly updated myself with the things that I needed to do and reconfirmed with my friends and designated authorities so that I did not miss out on anything.

• Thrilled
• Excited

• Travel to Nepal
• Get familiar with the currency (by knowing the conversion rates to avoid getting scammed)
• Be outgoing and responsive!

• My elective posting begins on 31 July so I decided to travel to Nanjing and Shanghai with my colleagues - Yueh Chee and XIn Qi. Both of us will do our elective posting at Hospital Zhejiang University School Of Medicine. After touching down in Hangzhou, I was picked up by Yueh Chee’s cousin who we will be staying at her cousin’s house for the entire trip in China.
• At Nanjing, we visited a lot of tourist spots like Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, the ancient city wall, and Confucius Temple as well as experienced the night markets and delicious food there. 
• After two days in Nanjing, I went to Shanghai by high-speed train. Although we separated on the train, but luckily there was no language barrier between me and the native there, because we both speak Chinese. We went to Nanjing Road Walkway to try the local foods and also the bund. The night view at Yuyuan Garden and Town God‘s Temple of Shanghai was really unforgettable. Before leaving Shanghai, I was able to visit the largest Disney theme Park in Asia. Its size is 3 times bigger than Hong Kong Disney Theme Park. 

• Familiarize myself with the payment method in China
• Be patient and understanding people’s culture there
• Do early preparation before traveling to another country 

• I was excited and happy because got accepted by Zhejiang University to do my elective posting abroad. I appreciate that my parents encouraged me to do this elective posting abroad and get experience from it. Hence, I was extremely greatly with this opportunity. 

• Payment method in China. I didn't realize that they are more likely to use e-wallets for payment, especially all the public transport. My wallet balance was 0 at that time because I bring cash only to China. Fortunately, Yueh Chee’s cousin was able to transfer some money to my e-wallet and make me survive the whole journey.

• Grateful and Exciting 

• Start my elective posting at the second affiliated hospital Zhejiang University School Of Medicine. 
• Familiar with the hospital’s environment and my supervisor 

• Always remember that things are different in a different country. Always be more open to accepting and embracing differences.
• Always start preparing earlier to not miss out on important documents or things.
•  Enjoy this journey and always be grateful no matter what happens

•  Excited
• Anxious 

[3/7/2023, Monday: First Day of My Clinical Elective in Cardiology Department at FAHZU] 

[4/7/2023, Tuesday: Met New Friends from Diverse Countries] 

[5/7/2023, Wednesday: Clerked a Patient] 

[6/7/2023, Thursday: Teaching Round on Mitral Regurgitation] 

• Public transportation: Public transportation in China is exceptionally convenient and can take you to virtually any destination you desire. This is particularly beneficial for me as a foreign student, as it allows me to travel freely without concerns about transportation. Additionally, a unique aspect of China is the widespread availability of bicycles for rental, offering another mode of convenient and eco-friendly transportation. The distance between my hostel and the hospital takes around 20 minutes on foot, and to make the journey even more effortless, I often opt to rent a bicycle. 
• Contrasting Health Information System: One of the differences in the health information systems between FADZU and HUKM is that all the patient reports, including the case summaries, laboratory report and the treatment plans, were paperless and integrated into the computer system. In FADZU, Year 5 medical students took on the responsibility to clerk a patient, which involved documenting their medical information and subsequently completing the patient’s case summaries within the system. However, it is important to note that medical students were not permitted to create treatment plans for patients, as this responsibility was delegated to physicians. They were also required to sign off on these summaries upon completion and the case summaries would be reviewed by seniors’ doctors during daily ward round discussions. This approach stood in contrast to our system, which might rely on more traditional paper-based methods for record-keeping, and where medical students are not eligible to take on the sole responsibility of a patient case summary for hospital records. 

• Fulfilling
• Enriching

• Making new friends and engaging in deeper conversations to foster friendship and expand my understanding of diverse cultures and perspectives.
• Exploring Hangzhou’s unique culinary delights and vibrant streets to fully embrace the local culture.

[3/7/2023, Monday: First Day of My Clinical Elective in Cardiology Department at FAHZU] 

[4/7/2023, Tuesday: Met New Friends from Diverse Countries] 

[5/7/2023, Wednesday: Clerked a Patient] 

[6/7/2023, Thursday: Teaching Round on Mitral Regurgitation] 

• Public transportation: Public transportation in China is exceptionally convenient and can take you to virtually any destination you desire. This is particularly beneficial for me as a foreign student, as it allows me to travel freely without concerns about transportation. Additionally, a unique aspect of China is the widespread availability of bicycles for rental, offering another mode of convenient and eco-friendly transportation. The distance between my hostel and the hospital takes around 20 minutes on foot, and to make the journey even more effortless, I often opt to rent a bicycle. 
• Contrasting Health Information System: One of the differences in the health information systems between FAHZU and HUKM is that all the patient reports, including the case summaries, laboratory report and the treatment plans, were paperless and integrated into the computer system. In FAHZU, Year 5 medical students took on the responsibility to clerk a patient, which involved documenting their medical information and subsequently completing the patient’s case summaries within the system. However, it is important to note that medical students were not permitted to create treatment plans for patients, as this responsibility was delegated to physicians. They were also required to sign off on these summaries upon completion and the case summaries would be reviewed by seniors’ doctors during daily ward round discussions. This approach stood in contrast to our system, which might rely on more traditional paper-based methods for record-keeping, and where medical students are not eligible to take on the sole responsibility of a patient case summary for hospital records. 

• Fulfilling
• Enriching

• Making new friends and engaging in deeper conversations to foster friendship and expand my understanding of diverse cultures and perspectives.
• Exploring Hangzhou’s unique culinary delights and vibrant streets to fully embrace the local culture.

• Ensure that you have all the necessary documents and additional copies prepared before embarking on a journey to another country. Research thoroughly about the destination and familiarize yourself with its cultural nuances.  Vigilance is essential as tourists are susceptible to scams and fraud.
• Planning your trip thoroughly is essential because travel can be unpredictable, especially when dealing with factors like weather. It's crucial to have a rough idea of what you want to do and create an itinerary to help guide your journey. 
• In the lead-up to your trip, make an effort to acquire basic vocabulary or phrases in the local language. This will prove invaluable in overcoming language barriers that you may encounter. 

• I was filled with excitement about travelling overseas with my friends for the first time. We had to go through a few procedures, including obtaining visas, certificates of good conduct, the Dean's letter, and I-star. I'm grateful that all my friends were cooperative, and together, we successfully managed to complete all the necessary tasks. As the elective posting days drew nearer, I began to feel a sense of panic. I was worried that I might overlook something important, but thankfully, everything fell into place.

• I did not set my expectations high when I decided to volunteer in Nepal. Nepal is a developing country and their healthcare is less advanced than our country. I aimed to immerse myself in the environment and gain insights into their distinctive healthcare setup.

• Before travelling to Nepal, we faced difficulties in exchanging Nepalese currency because it was limited in Malaysia, and the exchange rate was unfavourable. I had concerns about this, but fortunately, we found that the exchange rate at the Nepal airport was more favourable.
• The main challenge we were going to encounter was the language barrier. The primary languages spoken in the area were Nepalese and Hindi. Communicating with the locals proved to be quite challenging since their English proficiency was limited.

• We will be arriving at  Kathmandu for our orientation. Then we will travel to Pokhara for our Medical Elective 
• I'll be joining the internal medicine department next week and am eagerly anticipating the opportunity to observe and learn from interesting cases.
• We're making plans to explore Pokhara during the weekends

11/7 - 31/7

1/8 - 6/8 

7/8 -9/8 

• Pay attention to the climate and weather when planning your trip. 
• Make use of reliable weather websites to stay up-to-date on upcoming weather conditions. 
• Prioritize safety first.  Always follow local authorities' advice if severe weather is forecasted during your trip.
• Maintain flexibility in your travel plans. 

Adapting Travel Plans Amid COVID-19 Policy Changes in Taiwan 

Adjusting Travel Plans Due to Typhoon Khanun 

• Adventurous
• Enlightening

• Conduct extensive research to make well-informed decisions. This is a fundamental practice that enhances the quality of our decisions, reduces risks, and ensures that our choices align with our objectives and values.
• Earlier preparation is significant as it contributes to work efficiency. It also can enhance our time management skills as we can allocate time effectively to various aspects of a project or task, ensuring that nothing is overlooked.
• Being patient despite difficulties faced. Even when progress is sluggish or challenges appear insurmountable, patience is the force that propels us forward.

• I was pleasantly surprised to receive an offer letter from the hospital I had hoped to apply to. It is a valuable opportunity for me to learn family medicine in depth in a hospital in a different country. 
• I feel a strong sense of curiosity about the culture, environment, and healthcare practices in the location where I'll be posted. At the same time,  thinking of adapting to a new environment also makes me anxious. 

• Actually, I only chose to apply to this hospital after spending a lot of time doing research and getting advice from my uncle, a doctor who worked in Taiwan; as a result, I was pressed for time when it came to finalizing the paperwork and making travel arrangements. I was initially anxious because I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to complete the tasks before the application deadline, but I was able to overcome the difficulties by creating a to-do list and completing all the critical tasks piece by piece.
• Zhi Xuan and I had already purchased our plane tickets earlier in the week since the hospital had decided to impose a quarantine period before we could begin our elective posting. However, as July approached, the hospital changed its mind and allowed us to skip the quarantine period and arrive only on the actual day of our elective posting. Since our flight was scheduled to land in Kaohsiung earlier than expected, we were shocked and concerned about the accommodations. However, we managed to remain calm and reach out to the hospital administrator via email to ask for permission to stay at their hostel as before, with the understanding that we would be willing to pay for it.  In the end, the issue was resolved and our application was accepted. 

• Anticipation 
• Nervousness

~ - 2nd Aug 2023 - Preparation:

2nd of August - Departure to Seoul 

3rd of August - First day in Seoul 

4th of August - Orientation Day 

5th & 6th of August 

• Adapting to Seoul's environment and its distinct culture was a significant challenge. Korean customs, characterized by courteous greetings involving bows, starkly contrasted with those of Malaysia. Language differences presented an additional hurdle, forcing me to adapt to an environment where I couldn't fully comprehend the language.
• Planning and punctuality are crucial. Arriving slightly late to the orientation meeting had an impact on others' impressions of us. It's essential not to be overly confident and to account for possible delays, even when using navigation apps.
• Stepping out of my comfort zone by using my limited Hangul language skills was a personal challenge. However, this challenge yielded self-satisfaction and boosted my confidence, as no one looked down on my efforts.

• Do not settle the application documents last minute, prepare it at least 9 months before the elective date because some documentation need time to complete. 
• Do a thorough homework on the hospital selections they offer before making the decision. 
• Always plan ahead and prepare beforehand to avoid making any unnecessary mistakes 

• Excited 
• Anticipating 

1. After settling all the payments, I will be planning my trip and book my flight ticket to Singapore few days earlier from my ep date. 
2. Attend the online orientation briefing organised by NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine on Friday (11/8/2023)