Happy Chinese New Year - gung hei fat choy

This Sunday marks the Chinese New Year and I am now happily sitting at home in Toronto after a lightning speed two-hour drive from Kingston door-to-door. I am so happy to be home and since we've finished our nephrology/genitourinary block I give myself permission to not think about school or school work (although I should probably be reading ahead for cardiology... not!) (Ha ha, when was the last time since grade 7 that I got to use "not?")

This year is the year of the dog and since they are so warm, cuddly and intuitive I think it shall be a good year for everyone. I think my dog Sammy knows it too because he was sooooo happy to see me. My mom was too and I just drooled over her new Razor phone (not really, I think they're kinda ugly) but now she's officially the coolest woman in Chinatown. Her background phone display is a pic of Sammy and it's soooo cute.

Coming home is also a joy because I always have a pile of mail waiting for me as I've been too lazy to change my address for a lot of things. For instance, I recieved my alumni York University magazine featuring Rachel McAdams on the cover. For all the flack York gets, it's a cool school. It was good to me. I have fond memories. The bookstore was kick-ass and carried beautiful, wonderful, chic poly binders in different sizes that seems to elude every other university bookstore inventory in the province (i.e. Queen's bookstore needs some decent poly binders!!) I also found out Sandy Rinaldo is a York alumnus. I've never been particularly impressed by her broadcasts on CTV, but what do I know? I guess there's a reason why friends don't let friends go to York.

My CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) also still gets sent to my Toronto address. It's a bit annoying because my mom likes to chuck them all the time because she has an adverse reaction to the accumulation of paper products in the house not related to toilet paper, paper towels or McDonald's napkins (perhaps a Chinese parent thing?) But after some gentle berating and recruitment of my little sister to save them for me (and save the poor CMAJ from an unread life in the dumps) they are now always waiting for me nicely on my night table. This week's issue is great - check this out:




It's a custom condom wrapper to help prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections in Nunvaut. It's awesome.

I really should just take the five minutes to call CMA and tell them to send their lovely journal to my Kingston address, but I got better things to do like get my hair done tomorrow! According to Chinese New Year custom one may not wash their hair on said day because that would tragically wash away all your luck for the year. So I've decided that justifies an expensive visit to the salon. And since every lucky Chinese child gets money during this grand celebration, I'll break even.

Since it's Chinese New Year and all, I'll allow myself to speak of Chinese television. Of course, this is the only thing my parents watch. I used to hate the opening soundtrack of the Chinese news, or those dumbo Chinese television series where the girls are demure and the boys are ugly (but work as cops) and there is a giant love triangle and people die. However, my parents have recently been watching some awesome stuff. For instance, they are in love with Chinese-dubbed Korean shows (which are all the rage now, btw) and they are watching one now about a third year Korean medical student at Harvard. So now my parents have this awesome understanding of what med school is like, the stress and the hard work and the other day they were even discussing the pros and cons of a surgical life with me. Granted, they are getting their info from a TV show and all (for all I know this show could be some Korean-Chinese spawn of Grey's Anatomy) but it's pretty cool. As well, my parents are watching another awesome show about medical students from Hong Kong who travel to Africa to do volunteer work. So now my mom is totally supportive of my medical travels to Kenya this May. I can't believe how the quality of Chinese television has dramatically improved over the years... aah, the magic of television.

Confucius say: The sure way to communicate with your elders is through Chinese television.

I hope in the near future they will produce a show about Chinese daughters dating non-Chinese men... or the evils of the Conservative government (my only comment on the recent Canadian elections, ahem)... or eating out at non-Chinese restaurants.

Happy Chinese New Year everyone!

In my medical opinion, the most fun winter activity: It will be an awesome couple of days in the big T-dot (Ot no rot - Toronto backwards) but there is one thing I will miss in Kingston, and that is the new market square! In the winter an ice rink is set up with a Zamboni and all and there is free pleasure skating to be had by all daily from 9:30 to 10 PM. Last weekend Mike and I went two nights in a row and it was a lot of fun! They say every little girl wants to be a ballerina, but I think that should be extended to figure skater as well. I'm sooo looking forward to the Olympics in Torino!