dear jacob,
it may have only been 5 short years, but know that you were loved dearly. i hope you're happy with the angels up in heaven now, running around playing with your paper aeroplanes.

this morning i found out that my little cousin in brisbane had an accident in the pool and is now in an induced coma. i cried when i heard the news. for the rest of the day i had difficulty concentrating at work. he's just a kid. he's tiny. i couldn't understand why such an awful thing had to happen to someone so young and innocent. i hated that i couldn't go visit him. i felt so helpless. for the first time i regretted choosing dentistry over medicine. at least if i were a doctor i could help fight for the lives of little children like him. so instead i prayed hard cuz that's all i could do for him.

as much as i'm enjoying life after dental school, there is one thing i really do miss and that's the school holidays. i've been fortunate enough to get 24 days annual leave which is unheard of for many of my fellow non-dental fresh graduates. nonetheless, 24 days is nothing compared to the 13 weeks-a-year breaks we got as students :(

used up 7 days of my leave on a 10-day holiday down under and o.m.g. i wish it had been longer. aus is beautiful in spring! we go down every year to visit the grandmother but it's always in summer when temperatures hover at a sweltering 38 degrees. this time queensland was a more acceptable 32deg (except when the sandstorm hit and it went up to 36deg for a day :| ) further south in tasmania was even better at a gorgeous cool 10-15deg :)

when you manage to acclimatise a difficult, apprehensive 4 y.o. to the point where his parents tell you you're "good" and ask for your name so they can request for you to treat him again at the next visit.


it's moments like these that make up for the many many shitty moments. shitty moments that make you feel like quitting your job/never having children/shooting yourself (or more frequently, the kid.) it's amazing how a simple heartfelt thank you can brighten up the darkest of days and make you feel like just maybe, you're not that crap a dentist afterall.

at home
me to my dog:
"that's a good boy, bruno!"
"you're doing such a good job!"
"wow, aren't you a clever boy!"
"thank you for pooping on the grass!"
"no, don't bite me."


at work
me to my pedo patients:
"that's a good boy/girl, XX!"
"you're doing a GREAT job!"
"wow, aren't you a clever boy/girl!"
"thank you for opening your mouth so wide!"
"no, don't bite me."

i'm totally enjoying working life. it feels wonderful to be able to head home straight after work and not have to worry about labwork, patient scheduling, requirements, tutorial read-lists and anything dentistry-related. i am free to take my naps, play with the crazy pup and just do whatever i want! 

life after dental school is FABULOUS.