Musings

Before I start...the cab driver in the story below, was this middle aged Lebanese man, who was giving us advice in his broken English on how to stay well etc. (and also adding helpful comments like "You don't look a bit sick...you look VERY sick!") and then he asked me where I was studying. When I told him I was studying Commerce at Melbourne U he turned around with this big beaming smile and said "Very good boy!".

My friends and I got a similar reaction at Victoria Market by this Russian salesman who commended us for getting into Melbourne Uni for Commerce.

Everyone thinks this is a big deal except for me. At A.S2's dinner, I told the congratulatory table that I didn't really think it was a big deal because I scraped the bottom of the barrel. I'm surrounded by utterly amazing individuals in my course, and I'm going "What the hell am I doing in this place?". In the Dean's message to the first years, she said that the Commerce degree in Melbourne Uni was one of the hardest to get into in Australia. So again, what were they thinking letting me in?

I know it was all I was aiming for, and all my eggs were in this basket. But...do I deserve this?

____________________________________________________________________


When my mom left for Sydney on the 8th, I thought it would be a pretty simple departure.

Instead, I fell sick! I couldn't even swallow properly, cause my throat hurt so much! At 10am we bundled into a cab and headed to Footscray which was 20 minutes away. My mom's transport arrived at noon, so we were a bit pressed for time.

I was given a prescription for antibiotics and at 11.20, we left the clinic, reaching Arrow at 11.45 since the cab driver hit the gas, and did what no Aussy had ever done before : break the speed limit!

I wanted to stay with my mom till her transport arrived, but I was feeling too weak so we said goodbye at my apartment. At 12.10 I forced myself out of bed to go back down, but I saw her bus just leaving. Since I was down already, I decided to take a tram to Melbourne Central to get my medicine, and on the way back, I saw her bus again - this time leaving QV.

The following days my throat got better, but I started developing a fever. I had to stay home from Uni for a week, but I forced myself to tutorials since I didn't want to lose attendance.



Once, I woke up at 3am to let off a huge sneeze, and immediately I thought "Uh oh, I would have waken Mummy and so she'll come to check on me now."

I lay awake waiting hopefully, and then it hit me.
She was gone.


Being sick really put a damper on things, because it made me feel a bit depressed, and I feared that I would think of going back to Kl (my dad suggested it). I had nothing to do except watch Free TV! But I managed to supress those feelings by sleeping them off. At least I got sick now instead of April, when my mom really leaves for KL. Once I got better - largely by self medication - I was fine.

Also, thanks to Ching Ching and Seok for being so caring and kind. Ching voluntarily dropped by with dinner on the first night I fell sick, and even made me lemon and honey to sip. Seok came all the way 2 days later, to take me to Safeway incase I needed help. I really appreciate it :)

Everyday I drank Crema Chai which I bought downstairs. I drank lemon and honey mixed once a day, drank 2 Apple Juices, 6 glasses of water, steered clear of chocolate, coffee and oil, and ate only pasta. Phew. I steamed myself twice a day - once with normal vapour, once with Vix vapour. I took steam showers, and changed my linen every day.

I did everything! So in a week, I was ready and well, and thank goodness - I had to leave for Sydney in a few days time.

So thank you to God and friends :)

I SURVIVED MAN!!!!