16th French Film Festival

This event reminds me of my passion for foreign languages and culture. Still, I haven't tried studying French. So far, my checks go for Mandarin Chinese and Japanese. According to my Philosophy professor, the mind can accommodate 5 languages, wherein you can be fluent in each. I envy him so much since he can speak in French, Greek, Latin, Spanish (I think)... I believe he tried to master the various European languages. My dream is to master the following: Mandarin Chinese, French, Greek and Italian. Each language brings about a unique taste of the country's culture without even traveling to their cities. It is in their languages you can get a glimpse of their short history and greatness as a society.

Below are the movies I'm interested in, to be shown at Shang-Ri La Plaza Mall.

7 Ans (7 Years)
June 10, Friday 6:30 p.m.
June 13, Monday 6:30 p.m.
June 17, Friday 9:00 p.m.

Adele: Rise of the Mummy
June 11, Saturday 1:30 p.m.
June 17, Friday 4:00 p.m.

Dans les cordes (Inside the Ring)
June 14, Tuesday 9:00 p.m.
June 15, Wednesday 6:30 p.m.
June 19, Sunday 6:30 p.m.

La Tete de Maman (Mama's Smile)
June 16, Thursday 4:00 p.m.
June 19, Sunday 4:00 p.m.

Un Poison Violent (Love Like Poison)
June 9, Thursday 9:00 p.m.
June 13, Monday 4:00 p.m.
June 18, Saturday

Madamoiselle
June 9, Thursday 1:30 p.m.
June 14, Tuesday 6:30 p.m.
June 18, Saturday 4:00 p.m.

A Question on Professionalism

This is my third week as a medical clerk. So far, I believe that I have an idea on how to go about things when I am stationed at the Medicine floors. Yet, the self-directed way of learning is still ever present. Clerks, interns, and residents run around the floors when they see consultants -- run around to hide or to go after them. Being equipped by our school with a new perspective on how Medicine should be, we never fail to receive a rude comment, a constructive criticism or just plain gossip going around from consultant to resident to intern to clerk. Imagine, it's as if my idea of high school life in medical school suddenly had a sequel! It is hard to hold on your reigns since you don't have anything to hold on to. Yes, you will feel that you are the lowest of all creatures or even frustrated since 3 years of medical school seem to have just slipped away in a dark corner.

Despite the many personalities and moments of ignorance, a few have tried to shed some light on a new way of teaching medicine. One of the values that keeps medicine firm is compassion (I would like to believe so). Compassion since this profession is service-oriented. Service does not matter when done out of necessity. It's just empty. In relating to their patients, it is a must to show such value. What amazes me is how such compassion and sincerity sometimes disappears when faced with their colleagues. Superiority does not equate with respect. Respect is earned. It is not an obligation. It is just funny to observe those who got their MDs to be still acting like little adults. In that tiny world, all medical professionals are really shut off from reality. Now, I have a dilemma on how should I be.

The rigidity of the system puts pressure that it reminded me of my previous dilemma of continuing medical school. Imagine a consultant reprimanding you in the corridor because you are holding a cup of coffee. It looks unprofessional. How should professionalism be defined in the healthcare system? Is the participation in a circulating gossip becoming of a professional? Does superiority issues reflect true professionalism?

If we bring this structure into a business perspective, this will soon become bankrupt and close down. Rigidity in its systems will not help a company survive. Flexibility is the key since globalization is fast approaching. Healthcare is one of the big industries that should keep up. In that rigidity, many have become narrow-minded. In that setting, frustrations easily arise, insecurities pile up on top of the other, suffocation and death due to social pressure can be a possibility.

It is fun to observe a new clique of individuals. In each day that I wake up and enter the office at 7 am, many of assumptions are affirmed and some are negated. On our part, we should learn the value of patience and humility. Both are hard to master but should be mastered. Hopefully, the time would come where you would feel your importance as part of the medical team. Appraisals rarely come in this field, which is sad. The pressure that such profession builds is in its unstable form that it may just explode. It is easier to say "You did well." rather than comment on the wrongs they have done.

I would like to stay, it would take more than a decade for the school's VMO to take place. Now, I would say we are still far from it.