employed...ahoy hoy! hehe.

I knew I didn't want a summer job for 4 months. So I just volunteered and slacked about in May and June. It was loads of fun, but I was uncertain that I would find a job in July + Aug. that will be flexible enough to keep my hours at nygh. I figured no one really wanted to hire me under these circumstances. But lo and behold, someone did...and it was my church! hahah...I'm very excited about it, as I'm a summer intern with the English ministry for the next 8 weeks. My main responsibilities is to oversee outreach nights on Weds. and aletheia fellowship Fridays. All those things that I've been meaning to attend anyway now count towards my 30 hrs there. :o) How sweet is that? It's gonna be a fun job as well, to work with friends and those I respect. Though I'll have to put up with all the jokes and antics of the pastoral staff. hahah.

I'm so scared England's gonna lose like Argentina....ahhhh...I feel so bad for them.

T'was fun and had lots of interesting experiences at nygh this week. I saw bile for the first time. Yellowish green mucous that is excreted into the stomach to emulsify food particles into chyme. This little 4 y.o. girl had a GJ tube from her stomach, and bile just shot out from it when I was seeing her. I couldn't believe my eyes seeing that stuff running down her pant leg...and I'm like "is that..." her mom nonchalently says "yes, it's bile". Oh my. My last experience that topped this one was getting peed on from a 11 y.o. boy with behavioural problems. heh, what a crazy ward. Yesterday, I got to take care of a 1o month old infant, while his mom changed his brother's diaper. We were left in the office alone, and little baby nathan was so cute, laughing and smiling at me....and he smelled soo good (johnson's baby shampoo I think), his bald little head was so smooth and soft, that I couldn't help it but kiss his head. How many times? lol...you don't want to know. hahah....I'm thinking "I know this is soo unprofessional of me...but I want you cutie-pie!"

Happy Canada Day weekend everyone!

As summer approaches the halfway mark, I'm reflecting on events taken place these past two months...

I'm so blessed to have such an incredible opportunity at North York General Hospital, volunteering with dren, dietitians, and the cheif of paediatrics at the paed-ward. Students and dietitians alike are telling me to take advantage of the experiences, and learning opportunities at hand. Knowing that opportunities like this is rare outside of the internship world. I really enjoy each day that I'm there, meeting unique outpatients, case-by-case, learning to take a good medical history, a nutritional assessment, offering sound nutritional advice, and encouraging those fighting against disease, and other medical conditions. There's much freedom in how things get done when I'm on my own with a patient and their family. But I learn more working alongside dren (it's like a tag-team), or a medical resident.

People interact differently, and it's so important to learn the most effective communication skills, in order to relate and be personable with each patient or their parent. They don't teach you this in school. And it's amazing to watch Dr. Berall, and the head dietitian Karen work their magic, being able to pinpoint the real problem in each case, no matter how subtle or insignificant a piece of info is. It's challenging work, as we debrief with the Dr. Berall, I'm afraid he'll ask me questions that I won't know the answer to. Which is pretty often...but he's so nice, and will go into detail as to why, and add-in funny anecdotal comments to help you remember.

I'm only there tues. and thurs. But the 9 hrs there on thurs. just zip by. It's so busy that I only take a 10 min lunch break. It's an intense but enjoyable 9 hrs...I guess it goes to show that this is something that I'd like to upon graduation. *fingers crossed for clinical dietetics*

Rest-it's been such a nice, comfortable time at home...resting mon. wed. fri....hanging out with out-of-school friends, family time, quiet time with God. Finding peace...it's been a while.

Highlights in June have been: 1)Rick Hansen's Wheels in motion event at CNE. 10k bike-athon was no sweat. We're going for 20 next time!
2) Meeting up with Ben and crashing a bachelor's day party. Possibly the most awkward social position I've been in. But I beat the groom and his 7 groomsmen in the indy500 race at playdium...lol. They must think I'm good, but I never win at a driving game. It was the ultimate GB-ing experience. (cho's term - gay-breaking) ;P
3) Convocation. mmm...my family loved Barakat. Kelvin said it was worth the 2 hr trip, and sitting thru a boring ceremony. My mom only fell asleep once and I had a good chuckle looking at the faculty staff dressed up as chess pieces. keke. The ceremony gave me time to imagine what it'll be like to be in the world of Harry Potter. My sister chooses to be a Griffindor, but I wouldn't mind being a 'good' Slytherin.

learning to live...

No one is born either naturally or supernaturally with character; it must be developed. Nor are we born with habits— we have to form godly habits on the basis of the new life God has placed within us. We are not meant to be seen as God’s perfect, bright-shining examples, but to be seen as the everyday essence of ordinary life exhibiting the miracle of His grace. Drudgery is the test of genuine character. The greatest hindrance in our spiritual life is that we will only look for big things to do. Yet, "Jesus . . . took a towel and . . . began to wash the disciples’ feet . . ." ( John 13:3-5 ).

Oswald Chambers

let's see what my character truly is...

Chocolate saturation reached...mmm

It's hard to lose weight when adjusting back home...a very chocolate friendly environment. I don't know of any room in the house where you cannot find it in some form. Perhaps the bathrooms. I've got Twix bars right beside my computer. Lindt dark chocolate in my bedroom. There's Purdy's chocolate hedgehogs in the fridge. There's truffles in every cupboard, and my dad has recently discovered English chocolate, and decided to buy 1 kg bars home to share. There's lots of chocolate in my sister's closet, and her sock drawers. She used to hide them there to keep me away....but my chocolate sense is just too powerful. muahahhah... I wish I could explain what happened to our last three Toblerone bars. But anyways, I know I gotta cut back, or else I won't be able to move in that bridesmaid dress.

I have an incessant sweet tooth, so I've been trying to substitute the dark master with hard candies, gummies, and fruits. I hope to someday invent a form of calorie-reduced chocolate that helps people lost weight. A few nights ago, I dreamt that I was an X-men, and my mutant power was the ability to consume any food without gaining weight. My stomach was like a black hole. Wow, that would be too perfect.

its not a coincidence

Something really cool happened when I was doing devos last night. This has happened on occasion, but I love it how God just brings things together and stuff make sense and finally click. I've been trying to read through the Bible in NASB since I've been given one. I read 3 different passages everytime, from 3 different points. So I started at Genesis, Psalm, and Romans. These 3 starting points were picked simply because I wanted to read 'em again. So last night, I read Numbers 22, of the misadventures of Balaam and his talking donkey. Then I read Proverbs 26, and what stuck out to me was the simile of a fool that repeats folly is like a dog returning to its vomit.

I didn't really know how to incorporate this lesson and wisdom together....so I went on to reading the Book of 2nd Peter....lo and behold in chapter 2...Peter writes his warnings of false prophets, in my mind, Sunday Christians, pretend believers, or real believers that turn back to living in sin. What's so awesome about chapter 2 of 2nd Peter then? It's cuz he talks about Balaam AND the dog proverb! That's insane....what are the chances of me stumbling upon 2nd Peter right after reading Numbers and Proverbs? And its not like these events were significant enough to be mentioned more than twice and together in the NT. So yeah...really delved into the truths and wisdom in 2nd Peter. Check it out...*points to you*