The Minded and The Language Barrier

Assalamualaikum wbt

The weekend is here. Nothing seems to be different except that this weekend is a bit free for me. I've 2 more topics left before finishing my Pediatrics. If you all still remember, I was sick for 3 weeks somewhere in September till 20th of October. I was having my Pediatrics cycle at that time together with Public and Social Medicince (PSM) and Epidemiology. Luckily I managed to complete the PSM and Epidemiology (read: I forced myself to attend these 2 subjects eventhough I was badly ill) but for Pediatrics, I just attended 5 out of 12 classes. Because I've got the proper leave for 24 days from the clinic I visited, I requested my doctor to have the replacement class starting from November (For your information, November was the most hectic month I ever had this semester since Infectious Diseases, Traumatology, Philosophy and Medical History were all together every week).

Actually, replacement class is called as atrabotka here which is usually attended by those students who miss or skip classes for no reasons. Therefore, I was in stress for having the thought of attending this atrabotka makes me just the same with those students. But I convinced myself that I have to attend this atrabotka on my own request (because actually my teacher wanted to make it shorter - 3 times only - but I wanted to have it like a normal cycle. Therefore it becomes longer.) When a few people here know that I'm attending this atrabotka, I know what they have in mind is: Lame... She skipped class maa. I don't care what people think as long as I myself know that this atrabotka is because I was sick sometimes ago and more special than normal classes or common atrabotka that those students attended because I have my atrabotka personally. Like a personal tuition with my doctor.

That is the advantage of having a longer personal atrabotka with my doctor. But the not-so-bad side of it is I have to be very well prepared for each class that I attended. In November, I had Infectious Diseases in the morning till 2.30pm then rushed to the Pediatrics Hospital and reached there 5-10minutes before 4pm. My personal class with Dr. Lada Sergeevna will start at 4pm as she finished with her Russian students. Usually the class will last up till 6pm. And during the atrabotka, I have to explain everything about the topics that I prepared for and then answering her questions and also doing the MCQ questions for 3-4 topics at once. Therefore, since month ago, I haven't got the real pleasant weekend that I wished so much.

Last week, I attended the atrabotka as usual but this time, I join my doctor in her class with her Russian students. That was the 1st time ever I mixed with the Russians in the same class. What made me feel special to be there was, my doctor was very mad to them for not preparing for class and she asked me to explain about the particular topic that we all coincidently had to prepare for that day. I tried my best to explain about it in Russian to them. After explaining, the teacher told the students that I am actually from the English Medium Department but managed to understand the materials in Russian and expalained it well too. The students were in silence since a voice might cause them a big trouble. My doctor was unsatisfied with their preparation for that day. So, she left a topic for each of them and asked them to get it ready in 15 minutes time. And I was left there with the Russians to finish my MCQ questions (for 3 topics).

Once she left, 1 guy tried to pronounce my name which was written in Russian in the attendance book. Mokhd Shukur Siti Sarakh Binti. That how it sounded (it's very difficult for Russians to pronounce H correctly). The family name is at the front and Binti will be the last one. So funny. But I get used to this style already. Then he said: What a long name! So, we call you Binti! (of course he used the Russian Language).

I smiled and told them the meaning of Binti is daughter of. They all laughed. Me too. Then I introduced myself as Sarah. 1 girl said that's more like an English. Anyway, it's much easier for them to address me. Starting from that moment, I eventually had become their tutor for that day. Or at least for 15 minutes. I helped them preparing and asnwering the questions given and I even tried my best to use Russian eventhough they themselves tried their best to speak English. But the point was, I didn't understand their English! Very troublesome because they are not exposed to English language in daily life nor applying it. Only 2 of them can speak well.

And now, only 2 topics left. I feel relief since it brings some happy reasons for me to treasure. the foremost is I'm going to complete my credit hour and will get her signature on Pediatrics and the 2nd reason is I can have some sweet time enjoying my sweet December. Why sweet December? Because Ophthalmology and Therapy aren't too busy and very intresting.

The reason of posting this entry is to let us (actually to ponder myself) to have good thinking over those students who have to attend the atrabotka. Not all of them who have to attend the replacement classes are bad in studies. Maybe for some reasons, they just have no choice to avoid it. As for me, personal classes that so far I have attended were very-very helpful and informative. Even better than the regular classes.

Anyway, my Hang Nokia died yesterday. I slipped in the toilet (at the Ophthalmology Hospital. Painful ok). The dying Hang Nokia fell out from my labcoat pocket. The last services of it were recieving a long distance call in the morning which had colour my day, recieving 3 messages and replying them and the last one was calling my so computer nerdy brother, Adnan, to share with him the surprise that he just recieved from his firends and our so cool ayah. So in the evening, Wanie and I went out to Novy Cheremushky Electrical Shopping Complex to get new handphones for us. Wanie's phone has been stolen 2 weeks ago. I wished to buy the SE W54S but ended up buying Samsung X520. It's a simple ones but still it's flip and maroon. Why I didn't buy the SE W54S, because I know I don't really need such gadget unless I wish to waste my money and there's none of that model there. Alhamdulillah. I can save my money to bit with something else sometimes later. Hehe. To all friends, please do send me message to inform your numbers ok. I'm still using the same number (the one that you all knew). Sorry for the request. I have lost most of them with the Hang Nokia. (Espacially to Faaiqah, Ryn, Azah, Hayyi, Kak Mas, Abg. Wan, Pacel, Kak Zahar, Nabil Mohammad Azmi and all my dearest cousins -Nisa, Hidayah, Linda, Ana, Ina, Yeanna, Najiha, Wahida, Hafiza, Dayana, Atilia and Rashidi! Please, please, please...)

Last but not least, Happy 22nd Birthday to my buddy Baiz. May Allah bless your life here and hereafter, insya Allah.