Summer Medcamp
It’s best to speak of things while they’re ongoing, but I was too busy, too preoccupied - everyone is during the whole duration of the camp I hardly find time to bath and sleep, and needless to say to blog when I was still in Taiwan. The TCU Medcamp was hosted by TCU’s faculty of medicine for the purpo0se of introducing high school students to the life of a medical student and doctor. High school students - young lads and ladies easily influenced by the media and fake impressions, need exposure particularly before deciding their path into this perilous, challenging and demanding career.
I participated in Medcamp practically because I wanted to make my prescence felt in my class, and particularly too because the summer is void when I made that decision (now it’s packed full to the brim). The 9th Medcamp began with us all staff gathering according to our work units and set off for 7 days of gruelling (and for some, boring) preparation checklist. I will admit that the preparation course of the camp was a little aimless for me and I had many times before wanted to call my airline and book the next flight home, but my partner for Medcamp silently held on to me and cheered me up with his outspoken personality. I was lost until my little kids came.
On 12th of July 148 high school children flocked from all parts of Taiwan into TCU, with their arrival times ranging from 11.01am to 16.30pm, it was a tiring task for group leaders like us. My partner and I was the only all-boys group, and we were to take care of 12 children in Group 12.
Taken on the 3rd day of our camp, showing all 14 of us. Our group, though led by two boys, was nonetheless as easygoing and talkative as the others. The camp generally included introduction to the life of a doctor (big yawn for us now), some lessons on anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, histology etc (of course, they all must be degraded to high school level in order to fit into the minds of a 16-year old). Besides the academical aspects of the camp, we do have other outdoor activities as well as on-stage slots for all groups. While it is the group leaders who has to be the most actively participating and most actively contributing ideas, our group, thanks to my partner’s deregulation of power at the beginning of the camp, were basically ruled by the two ’small’ group leaders we appointed.
Time really flies when you’re busy and tired. Every night I went back to my room exhausted and unwilling to move another muscle. After scrambling up and climbing 6 stairways down to ensure my kids are all well in their rooms, I scramble up 6 stories up again to shower and sleep. 6 hours later I would be dazingly grabbing my glasses and run for the basin before skipping 3 steps at once to meet my kids again. Not that I’m so willing to see them, but the schedule is arranged so and if I (or my partner) were not present before the appointed time we’d be screwed for the next 5 years.
Anyway, the camp finally ends on noon of July 18, and that’s the same day we had our feedback meetings and celebration dinner. After the dinner I dragged my partner to a shopping spree of local goods to be brought home, as my train departing for Taipei will be leaving in less than 18 hours. I hastily packed and slept for 9 straight hours.
Me and my partner (and my little rabbit down below).
The 9th Medcamp had left something in all our hearts, may it be to treasure friendships (for me) or to expect less from ‘commercial’ camps (like my friend), or the skill to produce 20-minutes movie clips in 30 seconds, or to learn to how not to screw up on-stage performances, it’s a worthwhile experience for all of us (and a fat chance of getting sunburnt too). I’d like to say thank you to my partner for the wonderful lessons and guidance all the while. It brightened our summer.
July 24th, 2007 at 12:08 am
Don’t forget about Harry Potter ya!hahaha