Professional Documents
Culture Documents
April 2010
Photo by Oliver Tan [a] Maung Nyein Chan, elder son of Drs Thein Aung/Brian Tan-77 batch & Khin Lay
Myint/Christine Tan-84 batch
Contents
Interview
With an icon: Prof. Hnin Yee 3 Thein Tun Ohn and Hla Yee Yee
With a senior Alumnus: Dr. Tin Hla 7 Christine Tan
Reminiscences
The AMIM e-magazine A Better Man than Me 10 Thane Oke Kyaw-Myint
2010
Stories retold: A Page from History 12 Huat Za Mang
A tale of Two Cities: Bogale and Carmathen 19 Soe Aung Htay
The Team
Health Update Briefs
Dr Thane Oke Kyaw-Myint (Australia) E-Ziwaka
Consulting Editor
A few Healthcare related updates 26
from the past month
Dr Hla Yee Yee (Malaysia)
Editor Medical Education and other Issues
Stereotyped gender roles in HIV: a viewpoint 29 Soe Naung
Dr Winston Chu (USA)
Editor
Learning pathology: Making it Easy 32 Than Than Htwe
Humour 59
Oh tell me why? 61 Jennifer Chu
How to
How to live a successful life and play golf 63 Richard Huang
Letter from
Letter from Europe 77 Sanshar (Khitta Spain)
Contents
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82
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84 ()
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89
AMIM 2010 MESSAGE FROM THE TEAM
The magazine in your hands...oops, sorry on the screen, after two consecutive years of hard-
copy publication, has to turn electronic again. The reason is to give a well-deserved break to
both the production team, particularly the voluntary distributors cum- donation-solicitors, and
of course the donors. Oh, yes. We sell those magazines to raise funds. What did we do with the
funds?
We have donated funds raised by the AMIM
magazine (from the UK) to the North Okkalapa
General Hospital (NOGH), Paediatrics Unit, and
Institute of Medicine 2 in 2009. This is for an
oxygen concentrator for use at the childrens
ward. The picture shows the machine in use at
the hospital. The life of the suffering child
hangs on the tubing emerging from the
machine.
Wrought by Nargis, destroying homes, schools
and villages made the magazine team and
AMIM leaders realise that we would need to
help in whatever way we can with the
childrens education. HEAL took on a
different perspective i.e. Health & Education
Aid through Love. Thus it was decided that
75% of the funds should be channelled towards rebuilding a school, leaving 25% for
contingencies and other community health- related efforts.
As a result, the Don Yann State Primary School" in the Kyone Darr Ywa Ma Village group bears
the inscription, in Burmese,
This School is built and contributed by AMIM Magazine & HEAL project, under
the close supervision of 79 IM-1 Old Students Group",.
We greatly appreciate the generosity of our alumni, both in and outside of the country in
helping us realise this noble endeavour. .
AMIM 2009 was published with funds from AMIMA and invited readers to donate to AMIMA.
Please see the updates for the funds raised and mode of utilisation in this magazine. Included in
this update are the kind deeds organised by the global team, made possible by the donations
from AMIMA.
The purpose
The AMIM magazine was published electronically in 2007 to celebrate the first anniversary of
the founding of AMIM, to showcase the literary talents of AMIMers and to serve as a forum for
members to air their views (please see the files section in AMIM-Annals of AMIM part 1:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/alumnimyanmarinstitutesofmedicine/files/AMIM1stAnnal/).
In 2008, another objective was identified; to raise funds to help with health related efforts in
the country. Towards this end, the theme Project HEAL [Healthcare Enhancement Aid
through Love] was adopted. The AMIM magazine- being an offshoot of AMIM- has embraced the
3P policy of AMIM: No Profanity, No Pornography, and No Proselytization on the Group Site.
Our conviction
Many AMIMers enjoyed the education that the country has provided, virtually free of charge,
and are benefiting from the fruits of that (quality) education, attested to by their successful
careers. It is only right and fitting that we pay back in whatever small way we can, to ensure that
the next generation gets a proper education. George Peabody defined Education as a debt due
from present to future generations. To pay back to the country with love: this is what the
AMIM Magazine is about.
So we would like to repeat our appreciation to all those who made this possible.
Best wishes,
The AMIM Team
(Note - all pictures are attributed to the appropriate authors and the rest are from google and
freefoto.com.)
Interviewed by
Thein Tun Ohn (Class of 79) and
Hla Yee Yee (Class of 68)
TTO: Was medicine always your first choice of profession? Is that the dream that you had ever
since you were a child or something push you towards this profession?
DHY: My father was a doctor and my mother
a nurse, so I had been exposed to matters
relating to health and disease in my early
years. However, it was not until I was told not
to take up the medical profession that I
decided I wanted to become a doctor. My
father was concerned that I might not be able
to withstand the seven years of strenuous
study and the stressful vocation. Looking
back, I have no regrets for rebelling against
my fathers wishes and I know that he has
forgiven me.
DHY: I do not remember my first patient, but one case that I can vividly recall occurred during
my internship. I was asked by my friend to help as she could not get the vein for an IV injection. I
readily consented and without asking what the medication was, I gave the injection. The patient
developed pulmonary oedema. There was no Lasix at that time, so we gave Mersalyl IM. The
patient died later. The patients relatives came to thank me and even brought me a gift, which
made me feel more guilty. It was an emotionally traumatic experience. I even considered
quitting the profession, but the support of my family helped me assuage the distress. I still have
nightmares.
HYY: You were never an ogress to us. Rather more like an angel. Anyway, who are the students you
remember?
DHY: I am better at remembering faces than names. The ones that stand out are the bright
ones, the naughty ones and the attractive ones. The bright ones gave me an incentive to try and
keep up with them, the naughty ones reminded me of my own mischievous children, and the
attractive ones because they distracted the others when I was on my teaching rounds.
TTO: We had wonderful memories as you can see in this photo when we came to see you during
your UK visit, together with your daughter Dr May Htwe Han. May we ask what are your best
memories of Wards 19 & 20?
DHY: The memories I have of Wards 19 & 20, where I worked for over twenty years, are of the
relationships and bonds forged with colleagues, students and patients. The house surgeons
farewells when the staff and my family would celebrate at home or go for a picnic are special
moments that I treasure. I often look at the pictures of the students paying homage to their
teachers after they had completed their posting. It makes me feel so humble.
HYY: There is a chance that medical education may turn private soon in our Amimyay. To what
extent do you think medical ethics should play a part in the education of the new doctors?
DHY: Medical ethics has always been a part of the medical curriculum of medical schools.
However, it cannot be taught in the classroom. The qualities of integrity, humility, compassion
and truth have to be nurtured by the educators who have to set the example.
TTO: We think the students love you and respect you because you set that example. We know that
you have devoted your entire life of your clinical years to your patients in Burma. What do you
think are the weakest links in our health services if we want to provide the best available health
care?
DHY: Health services in every country in the world face many complex challenges, and reforms
are being initiated. The government alone cannot provide effective health care for all. However,
in Myanmar, the percentage of the budget allotted for health services needs to be increased. The
role of preventive medicine through health education must be emphasized.
HYY: What advice would you give to those new graduates in these days of evidence- based
medicine?
DHY: Doctors are called upon every day to make decisions about the care of individual patients.
It may sometimes be a matter of life and death. To make the decision the doctor needs
proficiency and judgment which clinicians acquire through experience and clinical practice.
Evidence- based medicine integrates clinical expertise with evidence from research. It may not
be appropriate to rely solely on the results of research for the individual patient, just as
experience alone would not be sufficient to keep up with the advances made in diagnosis and
treatment. Good doctors should use both clinical expertise and best available external evidence.
Medicine should be an art as well as a science; it deals with the very processes of life, which
must be understood before they may be guided (Paracelsus).
TTO: What are your views on the diaspora of Myanmar doctors we are witnessing today?
DHY: Doctors as well as other professionals are migrating to other more developed countries.
With globalization, this is happening not only in Myanmar but all over the world. It is human
nature to seek greener pastures. No doubt it has a detrimental effect on the country which
invested in their training and need their services. It may be remedied in part by addressing the
causes of this brain drain. Some of the reasons for leaving are poor working conditions, low job
satisfaction due to lack of equipment and medicines and inability to maintain the standard of
living due to the low salary. Incentives such as enhancing career prospects will be of help.
HYY: Thank you very much Ma Ma, for sharing your experience and insight with us. Finally, if you
could live your life again and had a chance to change your life, which aspects would you change?
DHY: If I had to live my life over again, I would try to be more kind and compassionate. Now
that I have the experience of being a patient, I realize the importance of treating the physical,
mental and emotional aspects of the illness. At this stage in my life, when I reflect on the past
and anticipate the future, I have my share of regrets and rejoicings. However, I feel that the
positive outweighs the negative. So let me finish my answer with this quote from Einstein
Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.
HYY: Many thanks again Ma Ma, for letting us have a glimpse of your dedicated medical life, your
words of wisdom, and giving us your time.
Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Don't walk behind me; I may not
lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend.
- A Camus
In the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) those who learned to
collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.
- Charles D arwin
It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that
survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.
- Charles D arwin
My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come
out and say, "You're tearing up the grass." "We're not tearing frass," Dad
would reply. "We're raising boys."
- H armon K illebrew
Interviewed by
Christine Tan (Class of 84)
selected to attend the pre-medical class. We were taught science subjects only from 8th standard
onward. After matriculation we attended the Intermediate senior class as special pre-medical
students, skipping junior year and joined medical school a year after matriculation. Yes I jumped
one year in the intermediate class. I passed matriculation in1954 and I was in medical school in
1955, joining the 1960 graduating class. However, I graduated in 1962 because I experienced
failure the very first time in my 2nd MB senior year and again failed pathology in my final part
one.
Christine: Can you tell us your life in USA, in particular the early years and the struggles as a new
migrant.
Dr U Tin Hla: I came to USA in 1980. February 29th to be exact. I took my ECFMG Examination
in July and luckily I passed. I started looking for a residency program in any specialty available. I
applied to 60-70 programs; no luck and was getting depressed and discouraged. My wife and I
cried at night in our bed room saying we made a big mistake by coming to USA. Then I started
looking for any type of jobs and I found an advertisement from a handicapped hospital in
Kansas rural area for a house officer position. I applied for it. They liked my credentials and
asked me to get references from 3 people who know me for more than 10 years. I was in USA
less than a year and I could not get references as required. I then called my friends from Medical
school, Dr. Koung Sein from California and Dr. Talwar from Chicago. The third reference was
from my brother-in-law.
When Dr. Talwar learned that I was still looking for residency, he asked me to come to Chicago.
My wife and I went to Chicago and stayed at his house for a week. Dr. Talwar took me to his
hospital every day. He started calling all his friends to find a position for me. I had interview
from few hospitals. The fateful day was the last day of my visit there. I can still vividly recall that
it was a Friday. I had an interview at a hospital in the morning and they wanted me to attend
noon conference. I had another interview for Radiation Oncology program in the afternoon. I
attended the noon conference and it was too late for me to go for Radiation Oncology interview
and I decided to cancel that interview. But, Dr. Talwar insisted that I should go and he called the
Radiation Oncology program director and apologized for our delay. Luckily they waited for me. I
was interviewed by a Korean Program Director and he asked me why I came to USA. I explained
to him about Burmas political and social situation and uncertainty of my childrens education.
He was quite impressed with me and asked me your English is very good, Where did you learn
your English? I told him we learned all the subjects through the medium of English, but our
spoken English is a bit weak and sometimes I could not express myself what I really wanted to.
Interview with another Pakistani doctor was just a joke. He asked me How is Ne Win? I told
him he is still in power. The interview ended just like that and I came back to St. Louis where
our family lived. I got a call from the program Director in February asking me to join his
Radiation Oncology Residency Program on 1st of March 1981, one year after I landed in USA.
That was the happiest day in my life and I was so grateful to Dr. Talwar. I passed my Flex
examination during my residency years and I got my license to practice medicine. I did some
moonlighting in my 4th year to supplement my income. By the way, I got the house officers
position I applied for, in Kansas while I was attending my residency. If that offer came a little bit
earlier, I might be doing something else.
Christine: Life does have full of twists and turns. What you just described really explains the
meaning of friend in need is a friend indeed. Lets talk about Radiation Oncology. Can you tell us
about that segment of life dealing with terminally ill patients?
Dr U Tin Hla: As Radiation Oncologists, we saw many terminally ill patients. At times, we were
emotionally involved and we grieved with the patients family when the patients condition
turned sour unexpectedly. Most of the time, we could deal with the patients calmly, when we
knew the prognosis and when the patient and the family had accepted the situation
was two kyats and a humerus one. I bought a set for myself to study osteology but my friend
bought more than one of the each long bone.
The next time I visited him, he said, Johnny, you know Grant is right about bones and
fractures. I did not know what he was talking but he took me to his study, where he had put up
two vices, with a long bone clamped to both, along with an opened copy of Grant's Method of
Anatomy. He demonstrated by hitting the bone till it broke. Yes, he found that humerus bone
always broke at supracondylar region, the femur either transtrochanteric or central and the
ulna at its distal end, the perfect Colles fracture.
So Grant was right!!!!
Even in 2nd MB, my friend kept separate notebooks in all basic
sciences. When asked, my friend told me that he was keeping
these notes to use when he would do postgraduate studies. And
he did, even taking some of them to England! Talk about
planning and knowing where ones life would lead.
Throughout every year from I.Sc (A) to Final Year MBBS, I was
beaten by my friend in every subject, he obtaining distinctions
in medicine and surgery and I only in medicine in the final year.
Yet we remained close friends, more brothers than friends. We
went to England for our graduate studies where he finished his
FRCS (Edin) in next to no time, went on to study under the
Professor of Orthopaedics in Glasgow so that he could specialize
in hand surgery, before doing his M. Ch (Orthopaedics) from
Liverpool. My friend was the first person among us to continue
using a seat belt in Burma, after his return from England. He
(Picture Skeleton from Webster was a strong advocate for a law to be passed to make seat belts
online dictionary) compulsory in Burma but without success. He started the
National Programme for Prevention of Accidents and trained
many doctors in traumatology. He was the first to do a successful re-plantation of a severed limb
in Burma. While I left the government service as a mere lecturer, my friend went on to be a
professor and subsequently the rector of our medical school.
Yes, I was writing about Professor U Myo Myint.
Whoever reads this will agree with me that Ko Myo is, has been and always will be a better man
than me in every way.
By Huat Za Mang
IM (1)
huatzamang@sbcglobal.net
This article is based on the book "Za Hre Lian of Burma" by Dr.Stephen Hre Kio as narrated
directly by Za Hre Lian himself. Za Hre Lian was a cabinet minister for Chin Affairs Council
(1954 1962) as well as one of the six inner circle cabinet members under Prime Minister U
Nu. The Inner Circle consisted of U Nu, Thakin Tin, Thakin Tin Maung, Sao Kun Cho,
Bohmu Aung and Za Hre Llian
Za Hre Lian was appointed as Ambassador to France (1964 -1970) and later the
Netherlands, Spain, Egypt (1970 1975), and then to Nepal but he defected to the USA in
1976 and lived in the Washington State, working as a stock broker. His wife Sui Men Twe,
M.D. is still working currently as a family physician. He died following his third heart
surgery (coronary by pass) in April 1997.
Perfect Timing
Ne Win selected the best period of the calendar to arrest the national leaders. Parliament was in
session and all the national parliament leaders were in the city, including the speakers of the
two houses. In all, about 400 leaders were arrested, including the former President Sao Shwe
Thaike (provisional) and Chief Justice of Supreme Court, U Myint Thein.
Unsuspecting U Nu
U Nu could not believe it when the soldiers surrounded his residence in Windermere Court at
about 1 a.m.,and woke him up. He thought it might be a military exercise. Even when he was
asked to go with them he was still asking, "Does the General know what you are doing?. When
he was told that it was on the order of the General that they were taking him, he insisted that he
would call Ne Win and talk to him. He tried to make a call, but the phone line had already been
cut. He did not believe that Ne Win perpetrated the coup .His wife and other members of the
family wept, but he told them not to weep, because this was fate. He was taken to the same
house in Mingaladon as President U Win Maung. U Nu still believed and continued to believe
that Ne Win would rescue him or at least release him in good time; but his arrest lasted more
than five years.
"How are you going to dissolve the Parliament? Will you do it by military decree or what? Ne
Win shouted back angrily, "Ha'. Don't you talk to me about legality. It is precisely for the reason
that I removed (sacked) U Myint Thein. Didnt you know that the parliament has been
dissolved?" Ne Win once again apologized for having them picked up by the soldiers,
accompanied them to the waiting cars and even opened the car door for Za Hre Lian.
Za Hre Lian returned to his residence at about 8 am; he had a strange feeling that he had been
removed from power by a coup dtat.
Split of AFPFL
In 1956, the Anti Fascist Peoples Freedom League (AFPFL) was split into two factions: Clean
AFPFL and Stable AFPFL. What caused the split is unsettled. One of the issues identified by U
Nu was the fact that the socialists U Ba Swe (Vice President of AFPFL) and U Kyaw Nyein
(General Secretary of AFPFL) had been soliciting members to the party for political gain under
the umbrella of AFPFL. There were also rumours that the wives of the leaders, U Nu's wife Daw
Mya Yi and U Kyaw Nyein's wife Daw Nwe Nwe Yi were at odds with each other based on
education level; Daw Nwe Nwe Yi was a lawyer, and Daw Mya Yi was a home-maker. Daw Nwe
Nwe Yi was active politically behind the scenes.
U Ba Swe pleaded strongly against the split with teary eyes, but U Nu was adamant. There was a
vote in the AFPFL meeting and the majority of the votes went to U Ba Swe-U Kyaw Nyein (none
of the Chins in Chin Affairs Council were AFPFL members). U Nu was very disappointed and
handed over the premiership temporarily to U Ba Swe, who handed it back to U Nu after some
months, while waiting for vote of non-confidence. The U Nu Government survived the
non-confidence vote by eight votes from U Za Hre Lian's Chin Congress Party. The Nation
newspaper reported "U Nu survived by the skin of his teeth".
message. He was informed in detail about the situation but he took no personal action rather
than handing the matter to Ne Win. U Nu sat stony- faced, doing nothing.
In early January 1962, MIS Captain Kyaw Sein visited Za Hre Lian, his college classmate, at
night. The captain said, "Tell U Nu not to trust Ne Win because he is crafty. If you don't watch Ne
Win, it will not be good." What he actually wanted to do was to meet U Nu personally or at least
U Ohn (Chief of staff of U Nu). Za Hre Lian assured him that he would be in touch with them. As
per the protocol, he had to go through U Ohn to reach U Nu and on the same night he called U
Ohn telling him about the important message of the MIS Captain and to convey the message to U
Nu. U Ohn never passed the important message to U Nu, thinking that this was just a rumour.
On the afternoon of March 2, 1962 Za Hre Lian went straight to U Ohn's residence (U Ohn was
not arrested) after returning from the War Office and asked him why he had not informed U Nu
or taken action on his information which came straight from MIS Officer. U Ohn had no answer;
he broke down and wept.
The military was definitely tilting towards Swe-Nyein Party (Stable AFPFL) before and during
the election in 1960. One day, Brigadier San Yu and Lt. Colonel Van Kulh were summoned to the
War Office by Colonel Maung Maung (Staff Officer 1). As a rule , the staff officer was one of the
most powerful men in the military since he could issue orders on behalf of the Chief of Staff.
Colonel Maung Maung lectured them to the effect that the election should favour Swe-Nyein
Party. When San Yu replied that they would carry out the instructions that the Government
issued, Maung Maung responded by saying with a raised voice," Don't you know that we are the
Government?!"
Political Maturity
Among the thirty comrades Ne Win was second to Bogyoke Aung San militarily, and he was a
capable and intelligent military leader. He preached and practiced the Principles of Democracy
during his Care Taker Government more so effectively than U Nu. He could have followed the
examples of General George Washington. After the Revolution War was over his army wanted
him to become the Emperor, but he refused. When some army troops were on their way to
storm the Congress and take power, he intercepted them and punished them. He resigned from
the generalship and became a farmer again. Later, he was elected to be the First President of
USA, and got the second term. He was approached to go for the third term but he refused saying
that I might become an autocrat or a tyrant.. The country prospers through the Principle of
Democracy and free trades this is called a political maturity, which Ne Win and U Nu were
lacking. U Nu broke the branches of Democracy and Ne Win uprooted democracy. Both of them
had a lust for power for their own benefits and comfort but not for the progress of the country.
Democracy does not work but always work but better than Authoritarian Government.
Authors Note: Permission was obtained from the original author of the book.
Editors note:
According to another version, the Border agreement was signed by U Nu and Chou En Lai, in
October 1960, after U Nu had won the election. Gen. Ne Win might have been part of the
negotiating team but as far as I could remember U Myint Thein lead the negotiating team
together with Col. Saw Myint, Northern Division Commander and U Shan Lone, Administrator of
the Border Areas.
Dr. Maung Maung wrote about this Border Agreement in ASIA SURVEY: JSTOR Jan 1961. Please
see the following page.
As to the villages, the Chinese called them not as Si San Bana as the Burmese do - it's Yip San
Banna - Yip= 1, San = 3, and funnily Banna = Pali Bhandar = Treasure - the Thirteen Treasure.
They wanted this area back as this was where the Chinese Coffin Trees grow. We got back over
one third of what is now in the Kachin State.
TOKM
Prologue
These are my lifes stories of practising medicine,
first in Burma where I was born and later in
United Kingdom, where I was given opportunities
to practise, two contrasting scenarios of medical
practice.
Yes, the contrast was so profound between the
two countries.
On one hand, the United Kingdom is a developed,
democratic country and on the other, Burma is
ruled by a military regime. Both countries
claimed to give free health care services. In Burma
the hospitals and health centres are operated by
government staff and funded by the government
while in UK, it is the National Health Service. The
people or patients from both towns are very
similar. They are generally very nice and
appreciative of the healthcare they receive. Both
towns are at the mouth of rivers.
Bogale
Bogale was the town where I first went and practised as a General Practitioner (GP) after my
graduation as a doctor. It was one of the highlights of my life then and even now, I was still not
sure whether I did all the right things for my patients while practising there. I am sure a lot of
us have those kinds of experiences, if one has served in Burmas country side, towns or villages.
Hope it would bring back some memories for many of us who did the same as I. I used real
names for the people who were associated with me at that time but not my patients.
Bogale is one of the delta towns in southern part of Burma about eighty nautical miles away
from Rangoon. It is built along the bank of Burmas main river, the Irrawaddy. It can only be
reached by boat at that time. The boat journey from Rangoon took about 12 hours! I am not
kidding. It could take a lot more time if there were any incidents or engine trouble.
Recently there was big news around the world when Cyclone Nargis struck it fiercely and at
least one thousand people were killed in Bogale and probably many more disappeared from
other towns and villages.
This is the story about my experience when I went there in 1977 to open a GP clinic.
I was terrified
As a newly qualified doctor I was terrified to go out and make a living as a doctor-without being
supervised. In the UK, after foundation year 1 and 2, one would be trained as a specialist under
supervision. Or if you chose to do general practice, you would have to undergo training by
working under a principal GP.
I did not even know whether I could cope on my own as a doctor in a strange place and with
people who I did not know. There were going to be a lot of "Read one, do one and pray a lot"
instead of "See one and do one".
My main assets
My main assets were my willingness to work hard and some confidence in what I had learnt
during my medical school years. There was no choice but to try. I had tried to learn a lot from
my sayagyis and sayamagyis from IM (1). The clinical knowledge and skills that I had learnt
from Sayagyi Reggie Ba Pe, Dr. Daw Hnin Yee, Dr U Hla Myint, Dr Daw Myat Kyi Than, Dr U Kyee
Paw, Mr Kumar and Dr Aye Aye Myint to name a few. I could blame them if there were any
short comings in my practice. Just kidding!
I chose Bogale because there was a friend of my aunty who lived there and she was going to help
me. There were about four hospital doctors and four general practitioners.
In contrast, Carmarthen has about two hundred hospital doctors and a hundred general
practitioners.
My resources
I asked one of my best friends Ko Myo Win, who
graduated from Rangoon Arts and Science
University in Chemistry to come with me. He could
help me out running the clinic and I would help him
out to start tutoring matriculation students in
Bogale. He would be my clinic manager, my
personal assistant and my adviser. I would be his
assistant in his tuition school. Anyway that was
plan "B". I needed somebody to hold my hands.
I was also lucky that one of my mums dressmaking
students would come with us as a general help, a
cook and a nurse if required. A stethoscope, some
medicines, needles, syringes, a couple of artery forceps, some dressing and stitches, a mercury
sphygmomanometer, a small hand pumped kerosene stove, a tin cooking pot for boiling and
sterilising needles and syringes. There I floated in a boat, down the Irrawaddy river, enjoying
the beautiful scenery on its banks.
those people around her. I had my bad experience when I had to pronounce my grandmother
dead in our house. That night, I had a nightmare in which she woke up. I remembered our
Forensics professor U Mg Mg Taik's advice : when you were called to witness a dead body one
should take time, have a bath, a coffee and go slowly so there would be some rigor mortis signs
and prevent a chance of premature burial. Here it was too late to do any delaying tactics. So I
took some time to examine the patient and talking to the relatives. Only after then did I tell
them that the lady had already passed away. Then I left.
I thought some elders should have recognised the signs of death before I arrived. They tried to
give me call out charge but I had no heart to take it and politely refused it. I was glad I did not
hear anything from them since.
and rigour but history was not that reliable. I did recall Dr Daw Myat Kyi Than's teaching about
hard signs and soft signs as well. There was absence of neck rigidity, abnormal breathing and
chest signs, upper motor neurone signs, and jaundice. Spleen was not palpable. Liver, I thought
was just palpable. Abdomen was soft and there was no tenderness.
By exclusion method of sayagyi Reggie Ba Pe I made the diagnosis of typhoid fever. I gave the i.v
injection of Chloramphenicol and antipyretic and I returned to my clinic. I put up normal saline
drip with B complex as he was not eating and drinking for a couple of days. The next day I
called to see him again. He was afebrile and conscious, but very weak. The major problem then
was he had a terrible hiccough. I gave him another i.v injection of chloramphenicol and i.m
injection of chlopromazine for the hiccough. I also gave oral chloramphenicol capsules and
paracetamol. Another infusion was given even though he had started to drink by himself. The
hiccough was gone.
The next day when I called to see him, he was still in on the floor, on a mattress. He looked more
alert and I was told his hiccough was getting worse a few hours after I left. He was not drinking
and eating because of it. I read about the treatment of persistent hiccough from my synopsis of
Anaesthesia and found that one way of treating intractable hiccough was to do phrenic nerve
block. I thought if he didn't have hiccough he should be eating and drinking. I realised that it
was hard for them to pay any more money for the drip.
I had done some supraclavicular brachial plexus block at the Rangoon General Hospital
emergency theatre with my cousin Dr Thein Aung, an anaesthetist who is now in Hong Kong. I
used lignocaine and did the block. Before injecting the local anaesthetic I wondered whether he
would stop breathing. Thanks god he didn't and the hiccough stopped immediately. It worked.
From then on, he made a complete recovery. He visited my clinic a month later with pain in his
right hypochondrium. That time his liver was enlarged and tender. I thought it could be
amoebic hepatitis and gave him chloroquine and emetine i.m. No relief. So I advised him to go
to RGH. They had to sell their hut and everything they owned to go to RGH. Later on I found out
that he died from liver cancer at the RGH. Could it be double pathology when he presented to
me first? Looking back, I wished I had ultrasound at that time. To this day I am still wondering
whether I did the right thing for my patient. Doing phrenic nerve block without resuscitation
equipment!!! Was I careless or was that a lucky escape?
Little boat rides in Bogale and the helicopter ride in Carmarthen
I felt great when we were given some fish, big lobsters and
vegetables from some of my patients and they kept me going.
Edible frogs were another delicacy that my patients brought.
I would be rowed in small boats to see the patients day and
night. It was a bit scary during the night time; I was worried
that the big boats might hit you when you crossed the
Irrawaddy River. There was only a small kerosene lantern in
your boat. Nevertheless, It was lovely and tranquil scenery
and at night times, with a full moon above us. One would never forget the feeling. I remembered
watching fireflies flying en masse which was also an awesome sight.
We were shown how to catch field rats during the rising tide when the river banks were flooded
and the rats would be seen swimming along the river as their homes were flooded. It was so
easy to catch them as they were swimming slowly rather than running fast on the ground. They
were really big rats and delicious to eat. Yah!!
One day we visited a village called Sat Su where Ma Pyone, our young ladys parents lived. I was
naive at that time not to suspect that my friend Ko Myo Win and Ma Pyone were interested in
one another. They got married after I left Bogale and were still happily married in Burma.
Flashing lights
In the helicopter we were all strapped up and ear phones were put on. Just before we left the
pilot asked me how I wanted him to fly. As this was my first ride on the helicopter and I had no
clue why the pilot was asking me that question, I simply said fly safe and try not to make a speed
record on that transfer. He then said what he wanted to know was whether I wanted him to fly
low or high. I then said just fly safe and not to hit the big cables. As soon as it started to lift up I
noticed the amber lights on the dashboard were flashing. Then I heard the conversation
between the pilot and the paramedic saying what they should do as one of the copter engine
failed. They decided to take the helicopter to Swansea airport as it was dangerous to land
somewhere else. The helicopter had to land like a bit of aeroplane gliding instead of vertical
landing. There was also a fire-engine car with red light flashing waiting for us. It was a very
sunny day and the aerial views of West Wales were very beautiful (photos-bySAH)
So my thanks go to . . . . .
my aunt Daw Khin Moe Kyi and her friend Daw Mya Yin
and her family, who supported me throughout my stay in
Bogale. I am grateful to U Mya Than who rented part of
his house for me to live and open a clinic, and advised me
about local contacts as well as the Dos and the Donts of
Bogale, and of course those patients who came to me as
patients but ended up as friends. I would also like to
acknowledge my gratitude to the senior doctors who took
me under their wings when I arrived in UK and who
supported me throughout my stay in Carmarthen.
Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Overall Cancer Risk in the European Prospective
Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)
According to a recent report in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, increased
consumption of fruits and vegetables is linked with a "very weak," but a statistically significant
reduction in overall cancer risk.
The study was based in the European countries, and nearly 480,000 adults completed food-
frequency and lifestyle questionnaires. They were followed for about 9 years. During that time,
6% were diagnosed with cancer. After adjustment for smoking, alcohol intake, and other
confounding factors, an increase in intake of 200 g/day (roughly 2 servings) of fruits and
vegetables was associated with a 4% reduction in overall cancer risk. So one might say that this
report adds to our knowledge that efforts to increase fruit and vegetable consumption could be
fruitful. Nonetheless, there are shortcomings with this study, as there could be bias with self-
reporting about dietary habits.
In conclusion, these intakes might lead to beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease, but better
evidence is still needed.
(P Boffeta and colleagues. The Journal of the National Cancer Institute. April, 2010)
According to a recent report in Stroke, brisk walking for longer than two hours a week cuts the
risk of a stroke by more than a third for women. The background to this study is that, a number
of factors are linked to the risk of having a stroke, including age, family history of strokes,
diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking. Modifying lifestyle factors,
such as reducing alcohol consumption, staying active and eating a balanced diet, may help
reduce the risk of weight gain and, in turn, the risk factors associated with strokes. The study
was carried out by researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, in the USA.
They examined the association between physical activity levels and the risk of having a stroke in
39,315 healthy American women aged over 44, who had participated in a study called the
Womens Health Study. During this current study, the participants were followed for an average
of 12 years and the links between various factors, including exercise and stroke outcomes, were
assessed.
The researchers suggest that exercise is a modifiable risk factor for strokes. They concluded
that there is a tendency for leisure-time physical activity to be associated with lower risk of
stroke in women. In particular, walking was generally associated with lower risks of total,
ischemic, and hemorrhagic stroke.
But a quick look at other studies assessing the link reported inconsistent results. The fact
remains that the findings of the study are difficult to interpret as they were only of borderline
significance and had some shortcomings. Therefore, more evidence is needed from better
designed studies, as well as those which include men.
(Sattelmair and colleagues, Physical Activity and Risk of Stroke in Women. March 2010)
A VIEWPOINT:
Stereotyped gender roles in Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections
By Soe Naung
IM (1), Class of 79
others may be put at grave risk. This applies in particular to very young women who are often
sought out by older men because of their presumed passivity and freedom from infection.
Cultural pressures of this kind are reinforced by gender inequalities in income and wealth.
For many women, their economic and social security often sometimes even their very
survival is dependent on the support of a male partner. Sexual intercourse done in the way he
desires may well be the price that has to be paid for that continuing support. In some instances
this bargain will be explicit as social pressures in many parts of the world push women towards
selling sex for subsistence.
In other situations it may only be implicit, but the fear of abandonment can be a powerful force
especially in those societies where few roles exist for a woman outside marriage and
motherhood. In many societies, divorced or separated women and their children are even
discriminated against and in some countries, women have no legal right to refuse sex with their
husbands.
In addition to economic and social insecurity, many women also have to face the threat of
physical violence if they are not sufficiently responsive to a partners desires. Under these
circumstances, many will prefer to risk unsafe sex in the face of more immediate threats to their
well-being. It is the outcome of complex interpersonal negotiations in which the social
constraints of gender inequality play a key role. It is often the poorest women who have the
fewest choices, run the most frequent risks and are most likely to become infected.
If a woman does become infected with HIV or with any other STI, gender inequalities may affect
the progression of the illness and possibly her survival chances. In those parts of the world
where AIDS is commonest, politically health care budgets are often so small that neither sex
can expect sophisticated treatment. However, funds are still spent disproportionately on men.
Even in the United States where resources are more abundant, there appears to be a greater
bias in their allocation. Moreover, women have often been excluded from clinical trials.
This exclusion of women from many research studies on HIV/AIDS has had the additional effect
of prolonging the male bias in research into the disease, so that key questions concerning
biological differences in female and male experiences of AIDS remain unanswered. Researchers
are beginning to address this lack of information but it still affects some womens ability to get
accurate prognosis and treatment and may exacerbate the uncertainties they face in making
choices about their reproductive future.
In summary, womens vulnerability to HIV/AIDS has been recognized as being due to lack of
knowledge and access to information, economic dependence and in many cases, forced sex. In
order to fully understand the gender implications, questions need to be asked such as which
gender roles of women and men need to be strengthened/modified for prevention.
As medical professionals, we need to develop an understanding of possibilities for gender
sensitive care through exploring the concepts of gender, and gender sensitivity and through
reviewing relevant knowledge about gender and health.
Gender sensitive care involves recognizing the significance of research related to social
influences on health and understanding health care in its socio-political context, and care in the
context of gender relations. Experiential learning can synthesize learning across varied learning
modes, bridging learning through experience and formal analysis. Exploring concepts, evidence
about gender, health and personal experience will all be important in the development of
gender sensitive care.
LIFE
Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.
- M other T eresa
LEARNING PATHOLOGY:
Making it Easy
ByThanThanHtwe
IM(1),Classof79
W iththechangingtrendintodaysteachinginteractivelearningactivityinundergraduate
medicine, there is growing evidence that introducing new strategies can improve
understanding and active learning especially in subjects like Pathology. Referring to the
followingrecentlypublishedarticle,IhavetriedtoperformthisapproachtomyPhase2MBBS
students from our college: University Kuala Lumpur Royal College of Medicine Perak, Ipoh,
Malaysia. It was exciting and students really enjoyed learning in such a way, which not only
helped them memorize new terms and vocabulary, but also improve their critical thinking ,
communicationandcooperativelearningskills.
Introduction: The 2nd year medical
UNIVERSITI KUALA LUMPUR
R OYAL COLLEGE OF MEDICINE PERAK
students are introduced to many new
terms and concepts in a short time frame
especially in the hematology system and
Pathology Cros sword Competition
PHASE 2 MBBS theneoplasiasectionoftheundergraduate
10th Nov, 2009 (Tuesday) pathology course. It is a challenge to
3.0 0pm to 4.00pm
Pathology Teaching Lab provide adequate practice and necessary
Organized by:
Pr of. Dr. Mazidah Ahmad Mansur (Professor and Head, Pathology Discipline)
repetition to reinforce key concepts.
Dr.Than T han Htwe (Senior Lectur er, Pathology Discipline)
D r. Shayesteh Jahanfar ( Lectur er, Public Health Discipline) Learning and assessment by crosswords
puzzleisausefultool,aquickandeffective
way to reinforce capturing essential
conceptsandvocabulary.
Method: Crosswords with ensured content validity built on a free internet resource were
completedbythestudentsincollaborativeandcooperativegroupsof78.Anattractivereward
wasgiventothebestperforminggroups.
Results:Studentsenjoyedthecompetitionandtheyfounditusefulforidentifyingkeyconcepts
andvocabularyandfortheircollaborativeandcooperativelearning.
Remarks:ThejudicioususeofCWswasuseful
TherewillbeaPathologyCrossword
for near transfer content and provided an
Competitionon10thNov,Tuesday34pm
opportunity to discuss and recall essential (Practicalteachinghour),inyourTeachingLab.
concepts,criticalthinkingandcollaborationin 10minsbriefingand30minspuzzletest.
smallgroups.
Studentgroups:accordingtoyourclinicalgroup
Reference: Crossword Puzzles: Active Prizewillbeawardedtothegroupswhoperform
Learning in Undergraduate Pathology and well.....1stfinishedintimeandhighestscored.
MedicalEducation.SaxenaAetal.ArchPathol Donotloseyourchancetoshowyourtalentand
LabMedVol133,Sept2009;14571462 gettheprize....
AlumniMyanmarInstitutesofMedicine|emagazine 32
UPDATE
The following are some of the other projects that
AMIMA/AMIM was involved with and we would like to state our
appreciation for all those who donated as well as those who
joined in the team efforts within the country:
1. Myanmar Burma Emergency Aids net work (post Nargis total US$ 8,000 )
2. To purchase paddy fields from HeinGyi Kyune and 2 threshers to take care
of Orphans from ZayTaVon monastery, US$ 6,000
3. Donation for drinking water pond in HeingGyi Island US$ 1,400
4. To rebuild classrooms destroyed by Nargis at HlaingTharYar, US$ 18,000
5. Dr Saw Simon Tha clinic support US$ 15,000
6. Myanmar Dental Association US$ 1,000
7. Beyond Rangoon - Big Sky Sun project, arranging free medical care to Burmese kids
needing major surgeries US$ 6,000
8. Actor Kyaw Thu's Free Funeral Society performing Nargis relief work - US$ 5,000
9. Relief activities under the umbrella of MMA team US$ 28000
10. Prior years donation for free clinic at Yay Tain village/Dr Thanda Win US$ 6,000
11. Drs Dicky Soe Win & May Ag Lin (BANCA- Biodiversity and Nature Conservation
Association) building shelters post-Nargis and digging drinking water wells, repairing
ponds AU$ 4,666
12. Shelter project in Hlaingbone Village, Lapputta (via Burma Cyclone Support Team
Alinyaung) AU$ 1,500
The Guardian
By Thet Tun (Say-Thatepan)
O ur train, the Number 71 Prome Express, had been sickly and staggering all the way since its
departure from Yangon Central Station. Now it had stopped at Latpadan. We got off and
promptly headed for a popular roadside teashop while the railway engineers were hitting the
wheels with a hammer. We are regulars on this route and we know when train trouble is
brewing. In no time, as we suspected, an announcement was squeaking out through the
loudspeakers The train is having a safety check. The wheels are very hot and we will stop for
30 minutes.
Later, my friend and I were in animated conversation when the announcement came, Please
come back and take your seats; the train is departing soon. But it never reached our ears as a
Twante Thein Tan song was in full blast in the crowded teashop. Only when we saw the train
leaving did we realize that we were stranded in Letpadan.
As a result, we discussed an emergency plan, and changed the venue for dinner. Our plan for the
night was to have a quick dinner and phone a friend for an unplanned sleepover. The friend in
question was the Railway Medical Officer stationed in Letpadan and had a big house. So our
surprise visit would not be too much of a bother for him.
The restaurant was nearly full when we arrived.
We asked if there was see beer which comes in casks. I prefer them to the bottled beer. So we
ordered beer and I was catching up with my friend when an odd - looking group of people came
in. First, there was this giant of a man, followed by a thin and reedy looking person, two very
short dwarves and the hairiest lady in the world. They sat down as a group and ordered their
dinner. As we were watching, the dwarves broke out into a quarrel and the others had to
intervene to stop them getting physical. It was quite a sight to see these diverse humanity so
near us.
Then there was this ordinary- looking man who came in with the assorted collection of
humanity. He was dressed in a beige taik pone and appeared quite a suave guy from the way he
was speaking to his troupe. That was until he came over to our table and start talking non-stop.
We discovered from his first sentence that he was the monkey master from the circus.
Hmm Pretentious guy! Why cant he say monkey handler, or a monkey trainer? I thought.
Then he started to tell us about his monkey, Hnin Mhone and how his little monkey was the
best. She could dance. She could sing. Maybe within a few years she would soon write. Who can
tell?
Definitely he couldnt as he was getting quite tipsy now, from the beer he had had, I thought.
I was getting really frustrated with him; no, angry with him, barging like this into our
conversation. Yet he went on about how his monkey was like a little human. How she liked to
dress up as a princess. How she liked her gold -sequinned lady shoes. How she liked her red
dress that he made especially for her. Oh yes, he said, She can put the dress on herself on top
of her brassiere!
Really? my friend asked, whether in awe or amusement, I was not so sure. Still, my friend
asked for another beer for the monkey trainer. This time I elbowed him scowling, to pass on my
message.
The master did not look towards me, but looked at my friend and went on talking about his
princess. He was teaching her maths and how to write and Oh! How bright she was. That is not
all, he went on. She is really pretty, you know, and she can use the beauty compact that I gave
her as a birthday present. She can do her own lipstick and eye-shadows. And Oh! She likes only
Maybelline! You know, shes posh! I thought I had reached my limit. That is the limit of my
patience, I mean, not the beer.
So I shouted above the din of restaurant
noises. Hey Mister, will you leave us alone as
we have urgent thing to discuss. And I added
for emphasis, Personal things! My glare, I saw the giant nudge the
which could have frozen him, went unnoticed, hairiest woman in the world and
and he just went on again to continue with his he said, Now who is looking
favourite subject; his little cheeky princess. after whom? Is the monkey
Suddenly, the whole hall went quiet. I was looking after the man or the man
sitting half -facing the doorway and looking after the monkey... Who
immediately noticed from the corner of my is the guardian now?
eye the cause of the sudden change of noise
level. It was a monkey, dressed up in a red
dress, yaw htamain and wearing sequined
lady shoes, standing in the doorway. She had full rose lipstick on, and blue eye shadow.
Oh my god, is that his princess! I gasped.
She paused in the hallway for a moment, looking around. Then she saw the guy talking to us. Her
master. She started to head straight for us. I watched silently. The talkative guy, who had his
back to her and was still in his element talking about his beloved monkey was just bringing his
beer glass to his lips when, with an angry squeal, the monkey snatched it and threw it on the
floor. The glass shattered.
The giant elbowed his friends by way of pointing to the unfolding scene.
Hnin Mhone let off another high -pitched snarl and pulled up the man, who seemed to be very
drunk now. The last thing I saw of them, the staggering duo, was of the monkey pulling and
shoving her trainer towards the exit.
I saw the giant again, nudged the hairiest woman in the world, and said, Now who is looking
after who? Is the monkey looking after the man or the man looking after the monkey? Who is
the guardian now?!
Everyone returned to their previous conversation, once the interesting spectacle was gone. I
saw the dwarves started to squabble, again.
Then I remembered my wife. I should phone her.
[Translators note- Thet Tun aka Dr Khin Maung Lay was a GP and a prolific writer. Many of his short
stories had been published in Mahay-Thi, Nwe-Ni magazines etc. Sadly, he passed away in 2009. He was
a graduate of IM1, 1979. This short story was originally from Mahay-Thi (The title was Oke-htain- thu)
and was adapted and translated by Thein Tun Ohn. Permission was granted to translate by his sister.]
Contrast
By Christine Tan
IM (1), Class of 84
side effects could make her worse physically and mentally. Aged Care Assessment Team [ACAT]
was notified for domiciliary assessment and for possible minor home modifications for Meryl.
Discussion was also made in regards to Power of attorney as it is possible that Meryl would lose
the ability to comprehend many of the intricacies of financial management and eventually
would forget to sign her own name.
A Little Daughter
By Thane Oke Kyaw-Myint
I M (1), Class of 67
Up till then, I was trying to be stoic, had so far managed to hide my sadness at my friends loss.
The sight of the little girl sucking at her mothers breast broke me down. Tears welled up and I
was joining my friend in crying and sobbing not only for Ma Khine but also for the little
daughter and the five older children she had left behind.
It was nearly thirty years ago, I never brought up this moment ever again to my friend. A few
months back, I saw my friend now settled down in another country. We sat down to catch up
with one another. I was told that the little girl had become a doctor and would be finishing her
internship soon.
Since retirement, I had been using the internet, email and social networking sites. I came back in
touch with many friends, former students, colleagues and even former patients and children of
friends. A few weeks back I got a request to be a friend on Facebook, from someone, who also
sent an attached message. Uncle, I saw your name among Pa Pas friends on Facebook. I am
moving to New York to start my residency. We often think and talk about you and the times Pa
Pa spent with you at the Childrens Hospital. With love.
I looked at the name and as I clicked accept to be connected again with her, the image of her
suckling at her dead mothers breast came back vividly in my mind.
Memories of both the happy and sad times that I had shared with a few close friends during my
seventeen years at the Childrens Hospital rushed through my mind.
And finally, I was thinking of how proud her mother would be, if she could only know that the
little daughter that she had breastfed even at the time of death had became a doctor and was
now about to start her career as a physician.
[Note: I hope that readers would not debate on whether the right medicines had been used then
or not but I wrote as much as I could recollect of the incident.]
No painters brush,
Nor poets pen
In justice to her hame
Has ever reached half high enough
To write a mothers name
- Author unknown
Twilight to Dawn
By Win Htin
IM (2), Class of 68
his abdomen and did not find any organomegaly. I concluded the physical examination with a
system review which I found to be altogether normal. What could there be anything wrong in a
previously healthy 14 year old boy.
I then turned towards his fatherand with a pensive look started to prepare him for my next
step which is an excisional biopsy to be performed under local anesthesia.
Mr. Warren, I think that Christian has a growth which both Dr. Nathan and I think should be
removed for a biopsyI am going to do this as an out-patient under local anesthesia which will
require just going to the hospital out-patient department and my nurse will arrange for that to
happen this afternoon. This procedure does not have any significant risk at all.
Doctor, what do you think it is?
I cant be sure at this stage but I think that this may represent a type of skin tumor which
should be tended to sooner rather than later I replied.
[II]
About 4 days later a pathology report was waiting for my perusal on my desk and it confirmed
our worst suspicion that it was a malignant melanoma, nodular type, Clark level IV, Breslow
thickness 10mm. These are prognostic factors which are the most advanced levels of invasion.
I spoke to the parents of the report and Christian underwent a metastatic survey which did not
reveal anything suspicious for spread. I informed them that it will require a treatment which
would be wide excision and an inguinal lymph node dissection. These were performed
successfully but the lymph nodes had micro-metastases under the microscope.
I spoke to Dr. Nathan and of course, both of us knew that the prognosis of this stage of Malignant
Melanoma in a young adolescent boy was very grave. I discussed this with the parents and
obtained consultation with other oncologists but in the absence of demonstrable widespread
disease further treatment was not recommended.
[III]
We were keeping a very close eye on the development of any new lesions and after about 8
months there were in transit lesions as well as retrograde intradermal metastases were visible
and palpable on his right thigh. He was sent for consultations at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in
Philadelphia and the recommendation was for me to proceed with removal of all the skin
bearing the lesions and to skin graft the area.
Again I performed the operation without incident and that seemed to have done the trick, but
only as far as external components are concerned. During the whole of this follow up period we
were never able to demonstrate any more skin or superficial lesions.
[IV]
Chemotherapy is not very effective in metastatic malignant melanoma but Christian is now
under the care of a heme-oncologist. One day I was told that he had been admitted to the
hospital and that he had been operated on for gastric outlet obstruction and hemetemesis. The
cause was erosion from submucosal metastatic melanoma. Serosal lesions were also noted and
CT scan showed brain lesions as well.
I visited him in his hospital room and he was surrounded by his familydad, mom and his only
brother who was about two years younger than him. They were all very nice-looking people and
this was an opinion shared by everybody who had known them. But today the stress and the
concern they had for Christian made them have a different kind of look which I cannot describe
but which hung in the air and it was almost palpable. The density of this atmosphere had
changed them perceivably. I knew the gravity of his condition and so did they. He was comatose
and never was aware of our world again.
[V]
A week later, Christian passed away. It was two years after I had met him first and when he was
just 16 years old. We always say that he has found his peace, but do we really know what we are
saying and talking about?
I think that he did find peace, but it is not to be so for his family. Two years later his brother was
killed in an automobile accident and the world of the Warrens fell apart. I last heard that the
parents divorced and moved away from our town. I was very moved and felt their loss, since it
is also a loss where try as hard as I did, in the end, I was vanquished. The Buddhist belief of
impermanence, suffering and non-self, manifested its full meaning in this one experience in its
many facets.
[VI]
I learned during my recovery that I was in the emergency room brought by ambulance because
my wifes assessment of my physical condition was correct. I was very ill, she knew it, I didnt,
she sought for help and the team of physicians and staff were successful in their endeavour to
save my life. I was saved. I had no blood pressure that could be measured for a period of time. I
was totally unaware of the events. All my suffering was after my salvagewhich was the most
difficult part of my illness. The recovery was very hard and required a great deal of energy,
resolution, determination and of course support from my family and lots of luck.
I have been asked what it felt like being there; did I see lights and people from the past? Tunnels
and tugs and pulls and witnessing ones own corpus from above or from the sidean out of
body experience. My answer is no & nois it because there was none or because I did not
remember, I shall never know. Maybe I will know it for real when the real event comesbut
most likely not until then. It will most likely be too late to tell others about it then also; but I
have no fear of the unknown since I know a little more than I did.
But one thing I know, Christian probably found his peace.
[Authors note - All names have been changed with the exception of the authors, to protect
privacy.]
Google Image
Ka-sone
Last year this time, Ko Tun tried to save the life of his daughter. But she died in the rising
waters. Since she passed away we were devastated. But we decided to move on with our lives.
My Buddhist beliefs helped me a lot. My sayadaw used to say, Try to stay in the present
moment and so I tried. But I always remember my daughter and you, in my prayers and metta-
po. We have moved to Taung Okkala as I stopped working as secondary school teacher in our
old town. My mind has not been normal yet since that day. That dream about the seas, always
comes back nway, moe or saung. Later, we went to the monastery and paid our respects to the
Sayadawgyi, and served the food that I cooked for the monks, a Swun kwyay.
I am going to tell my son that I want to go to a good clinic. I cannot delay this anymore. I have
been taking my thway say regularly but my wuun is not getting better. I mean my passing of
blood. I feel faint when I get up in the mornings. It comes about every two or three days. That
dream also came back yesterday. Its again about the sea, and I was trying to swim towards
that light. I was so tired that, finally I just let the warm water embrace me. So I woke up later
on that morning, as I did not sleep well. On the first Sunday of that month, I even forgot that it
was my birthday. At new year, I planned to go to the Shwedagon for my birthday with my son,
but I have no energy. I just took the five precepts in front of the Buddha, and remember the
bayar gon daw all day.
Na-yone
I went to the clinic at the first week of the month. The doctor tested my wuun and gave me some
antibiotics. He also told me that I may need a special X ray where my inside will be
photographed. I remember him explaining a lot to me about something called Barium meal
43 e-magazine | Alumni Myanmar Institutes of Medicine
SHORT STORIES AMIM 2010
and taking X rays. I thought it sounds ugly and dangerous. I think he is a specialist doctor. He
took a few minutes to listen to my chest and put his hand on my belly and he seems to know
what is wrong with me. And he said he want to see my insides with X-rays? How can they do
such thing look inside me? I feel a bit shy what will they see? I feel very anxious also.
I must talk to my son. How I miss you, Ko Tun. I am not sure my son is that knowledgeable. And
he is occupied with his wife. His wife is always grumbling. Anyway, I took the medicine from
the clinic.
Waso
Bad news! Very bad news! I have cancer. I am dead! Then I woke up, numbed from this bad
dream and I cried and cried. I must see my doctor again , and asked what is the operation like if
I had to undergo an operationand will I be OK after it. The truth is that my wuun is not
getting better. The doctor explained things the last time, but I was thinking about the money
that I need to pay to him, and forgot to pay attention to his words. Hmm.. stupid of me.
Towards the end of the month, my son looked a bit occupied, and I asked him if anything is
bothering him. Then I was pleasantly surprised when he told me that his wife is expecting a
baby! It brought tears to my eyes, tears for becoming the new grandma. This is going to be my
first grandchild and I look forward to it very much.. Ooh.. pyaw like tar!.
Wa-khaung
Yesterday, my daughter-in-law told me that the baby
is in an awkward position. My son looked distraught
and he said he will work overtime, trying to earn
some money in case they have to go to a private
hospital. I want to hold them both, and comfort them.
They look so worried. I said some words to soothe
their worries .but I am not sure if I did a good job. I
know I am strong and I must be if I want to see my
grandchild. If Ko Tun was here, he would like me to
help them raise their first child... so I will survive. I
must. I still miss you Ko Tun. It rained heavily this
week, and the fields around us were flooded. I feel
depressed and anxious all day during these rainy
days. I dont know why.
Taw-tha-lin
I am not really feeling bad this month. My bleeding is less. Maybe the thway say and the Korean
medicine that my son brought from Save life clinic is working. He has a lot of faith in that
clinic It is important to have faith and trust in your doctor.
For me my nature is such that I am not very trusting towards others. And all that I have read in
the papers did not help. But basically, I have faith in the doctors who trained so many years. I
pray that my yaw-ga gets better and I will see my grandchild. Oh my karma! What have I
done in my past lives to deserve this bad bleeding?!
Thadin-gyut
Finally, I did the X ray. My bleeding was bad this last week, so I went to the doctor and got the X-
rays and it is confirmed. I have Oo cancer and they suspect that it might have spread to my a
thair Oh Lord, what shall I do? Ako Tun yaywhat shall I do? The cost of the operation will be
five lakhs they say. The cost of staying in the hospital probably may come to the same
amount.What shall I do? I dont have the money. I cant remember well about that night, but I
thought I cried myself to sleep, but that dream woke me up again.
Tasaung-mone
My son was away, nearly the whole night yesterday. He works as a trishaw man, and he is
struggling to cope with his family, and me adding to his woes. I sat up waiting for him to return.
These days when you go on the streets the lighting is terrible, and the potholes are big in our
Taung Okkalapa and there are so many accidents. I remembered the news about a doctor
killed on the spot, while he was on a trishaw. I dont know what happened to the trishaw man,
he must have been killed also.
I overheard some quarrels between my son and his wife today. They are struggling to get the
money for the birth of their child. And I know my son wants to give some money to me. But I
wont take it as they need it more. If I had some money, I will give it to them today. It is so clear
to me where the money should go.
Nat-taw
My niece and her husband, from Bogalay came on Sunday. She grew up on my hands, as we
used to say in our village, as her mother was poorly at that time. She always love me like her
own mother. Their visit gave me much joy and much need support. Their kind nature shines
through their faces. They listen to my health problems and tried to persuade me to go for the
operation. They then sat down in front of me and kandaw, paying their respects to meand
give me a shwe lat-kaut to use it for my operation. I said sadu, sadu, sadu and tears rolled down
my face. Later we went to the nearby monastery and we had five precepts and took sabbath.
The sayadaws words kept ringing in my ears- life is suffering. The main message of his talk is to
prepare ourselves for death, which is inevitable.
I heard a story about a 15 year old girl dying after she had an operation in a big hospital in
Yangon. Some say she had thway lun toke kway. Everyone was shocked about this news. No
one came out to explain from the hospital .at least not in the journals, my friend said. My
impression is that, even if you had money, you cannot run away from your fate, your karma.
Anyway, it is so simple when you think like this...my daughter in law is carrying a baby, a new
life and me ...I am carrying death.
Pyar-tho
The women in the market today told me about this
bama say saya who is an expert in this cancer. So,
without telling my son, I went to see the say
sayagyi. He charged me quite a lot for half a hour
of examining and his medicine. He looked at my
tongue and eyes and even took my blood pressure.
Later when I came back, I had a shouting match
with my son, about the operation. He wants me to
decide quickly for the operation. Also he is looking
after his wife who is a bit poorly the last few days.
So, a bit short tempered like me. I was angry with
him for a moment but remembered that he was
worried for me.
Tapo-Twae
I dont even have the energy to cook these past few days. Today my wuun is bright red. I have
lost weight. The Bamasay seems to make it worse. So I have decided. I will leave the little
shwe lat-kauk for my grandchild. I have been hoarding this for my rainy day. I decided that my
son can use it for whatever he wishes for my grandchild. I dont want to see my son working so
hard day and night.
Ta-baung
I decided what I had been thinking all along. I bought Polo -the rat poison- on the pretext that I
have lots of rats under my house floor. I do have them. So it was not a lie. But this time it is not
for them. I have cooked a delicious arloo hin that my son likes. I will pray for the last time. I
will pay in samsara, but I hope my grandchild will forgive me. Tonight, I will do the deed.
Tagu La-san
Yesterday, the day that I decided to end everything, my son and I had a late night talk. He told
me about their little daughter, my grand-daughter. He told me that she is growing well inside
my daughter-in-law. How wonderful! He was so excited. Me too. It gives me strength. And wait.
listen to this, her chosen name is Htwe Ei San. Htwe in front of her name, is in honour of his
grandmathats me. So there I was, thinking about my grandchild, and with the picture of
myself holding Htwe Ei, cuddling her to my bosom well, the Polo never had a chance that
night.
So I will go to the hospital tomorrow and see if they can do anything. If operation is still
possible I pray and I hope that is possible, then we will go for the operation. And if not if not,
I dont know.
But I can see the little plastic bag containing the Polo. It is still waiting for me.
Epilogue
Ko Tun and his daughter passed away on 2nd May 2008. Daw Htwe is one of those who suffered
from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the aftermath of the cyclone. Repeated,
disturbing memories, thoughts, or images of the stressful experience, dreams, avoidance and
sad thoughts are part of the spectrum of symptoms for PTSD.
A-thair - Liver
Bayar-gondaw - the 9 Attributes of Buddha
La-pyay-nay - Full moon day
Oo cancer - Bowel cancer
Nway - Summer
Moe - Monsoon/Rainy season
Saung - Winter or cold season
Shwe lat kaut - Gold bracelet
Swun Kwyay - Food offering to monks
Thway lun toke kway - Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever
Thway say - Traditional medicine
Wuun - motion
A phrase we learnt in kindergarten jingle in my mind whenever I think of Maung Aung Thar:
mattat yat loh lan hmar ngo (standing on the road, crying). At the same time, I remember a
novel of that name (in Burmese) published some time back.
Maung Aung Thar is a young man in his early twenties, who was in that situation. He was
dropped by a roadside in Kuala Lumpur, with his passport, a phone number and eighty cents to
call somebody who would help him get back to Myanmar.
as they served the food and drinks. Aung Thar had no idea how to fill the little white card that
they were supposed to fill . Luckily, a Myanmar doctor who had a seat next to one of them
helped them all. He thanked his guardian nats for looking after him.
Landing at the KL International Airport was such a thrill! As they followed the Myanmar doctor,
clutching their overnight bags, he felt as if he was walking into a new world of glass and chrome.
At Immigration, the doctor parted company with them and they were herded together near the
counter as the agent cleared their papers. Three of his fellow passengers were detained as their
agent had not come for them. They would spend the night at the detention centre until the agent
came. Again, Aung Thar thanked his guardian nats that his agent had been on hand.
At the damayone
The offering of yellow robes was over and the monks had retired to their room after delivering
the sermon. The lay people were chatting and having lunch. I noticed a young man sitting alone
in the corner. I asked if he had had lunch, and he started telling me his story, with tears in his
eyes.
"Aunty, please help me! I called the number on the slip of paper, but the person answering was
speaking Chinese and English". And he could not speak either! He was standing by the roadside,
very scared, with nowhere to go to, when another Myanmar youth asked him, Shwe lar?. He
said yes, and asked if the other person knew any of the names on the card that the Sayadaw
had given. Luckily, one of the names belonged to a regular visitor at the damayone, and by
another stroke of luck, there was a kathina ceremony at the damayone that day. He was brought
to the damayone and the person in question was indeed present. I talked to him, but he said
there was nothing he could do. Dead end!
Aung Thar had the number of the agent in Yangon. He was not happy that I had traced him, and
complained that he had lost two cars already because these boys fix up their MCs and go; and
when they fail their medicals, I have to bring them back!. I told him I understood, but inwardly,
I held him responsible; how could these young people fix things by themselves? Why was he
shirking his responsibility?! He told me he had gone back from KL only the day before, and had
left RM 700 for Aung Thars fare home, with another person. I called that number, but he was on
his way back to his hometown for the long holiday break; he promised to be back by the
Monday.
That posed another problem. Where would we keep Aung Thar over the weekend? We might
have taken him home with us, but we were also going to Penang the next day. After discussing
with Minn Thike Htun, the damayone keeper and the person Aung Thar had initially looked for
(who had by now joined us in our crusade), we agreed that Aung Thar should stay at the
damayone for a few days (the damayone does not normally accept lay people overnight, but they
bent the rules this once) . I left RM 50 for Aung Thars meals and we left for Penang, for the
holiday break. We also agreed that Minn Thike Htun would take Aung Thar to the Embassy if the
man with the money did not turn up.
When I called from Penang on Monday, I was relieved to be told that the RM 700 had been
delivered, "But, Sayama, the air fare is now 800, Minn Thike Htun told me. I said I would add
on the RM 100 when we returned..
Epilogue
They told me he looked excited, clad in a new suit, going back homeafter all, theres no place
like home.But I feel sorry for the struggles awaiting him, and often wonder how he is doing.
[This is a true story. Some details are woven in from the experiences of other general workers in
Malaysia, but the basic facts about Aung Thar are real]
A X-mas Story
By Lavender
IM (1), Class of 79
lavenderhtwe@yahoo.com
Preface
Its Christmas time again and this is
our third year far away from
friends and loved ones from our
motherland. I feel lonely, missing
my dear ones especially since it is
Christmas time. However, its also
good to experience different places
with different cultures and customs
in celebrating the birth of Jesus
Christ. I still remember carol
singing by the little ones in our
just- cool winter nights in Burma.
Just a few days back, I made a call
to my family, and heres a nice story
about a poor family that I would
like to share.
Once, when I worked as an in-house doctor at Yangon Traders Hotel, I helped the elder boy to
get a job as housekeeping staff in the hotel. I was warmed by the smile and satisfaction on the
fathers face. He was really happy and thankful to see his son working in the shade and having
regular meals provided by the hotel; no more hard work under the hot sun and no more dirty
and messy helper- mechanic job!
After a few years, Tony was able to send his two sons to Malaysia, to work in a furniture factory
with much better salary, earning RM 600 to 800 a month; that was around 200 US dollars. The
two boys could save their earnings in the first few months and sent the remittance to their
parents (actually, they still had to repay their loan money to the agent for the boys to come out
and work overseas). When I went back to Burma, I saw the smile and tears in the fathers face
through the wrinkles etched on his face and the signs of hardship.
Unfortunately, one day there was an outbreak of fire in the factory compound and the place
where the two boys stayed was burnt down. They lost all their savings and clothing. But, the
employer was kind and paid compensation and rebuilt new lodgings.
That was almost a year ago and now the parents have finished paying back their loan money.
Some days ago, I called my sisters to wish them Christmas greetings and I came to know from
them that Tony and Kathy are planning to have a big Pot Bless Porridge Christmas party for
their neighbour railroad workers and their families, as thanksgiving for their two sons getting
jobs overseas.
I feel so happy and want to share
this true story, a wonderful
testimony of true believers
walking faithfully in the way of
the Lord without any complaint
and grumble. They are poor but
live a spiritually bountiful life.
Many people around us are in
poverty. We do not need to look
far beyond Rangoon. Christmas is
a time to share and a time to pray
for the needy. Though they
themselves are poor, this family
has truly done a great work in
Google Image Christmas time: a lesson for me to
ask to myself, How about me?
NB. The names of the couple are their real names. One of the sons (in a yellow t shirt) is seen in
the picture, with the authors family.
An Embezzlement
By Khin Maung Gyi
IM (1), Class of 66
Prologue: This took place in the 1950s when open market policy was flourishing in Burma.
Ko Htoo
Ko Htoo is a man of thirty plus years, who is still an available bachelor. He is living with his
widowed mother after his fathers death, as he is the only offspring in the family. Because of love
for his mother, he remained single though his mother wishes to get him married in no time. He
works as a clerk with the Housing Department after he was matriculated.
He is an avid reader of detective stories and looks things in a peculiar way which often makes
his friends uncomfortable.
Tonight, after watching a late night thriller movie, he is walking home thinking about the brave
acts of his favorite actor and the scenes. His watchful eyes noted the shadows which changes in
size according to the distance from the lamp posts. Sometimes the sound of the fast moving
vehicles distracts his attention. Often the lazy bark of the stray dogs fills the air.
When he reached one of the intersections, his eyes caught a sudden dim light coming from one
of back rooms of the big store famous for ladies fashion wear. His curiosity was aroused. He
thought why should such a room has lights on in the middle of the night?
He went to the back of the building to find out what was happening. Because of the blinds, he
could not see much. His trained ears then heard some muffling sounds coming from one side of
the room. Later, through a large show case mirror, the image of a person of average built coming
in with a brief case. He wore dark glasses with shoes with distinctly high soles. He was seen to
start taking bundles of cash from the drawers which were then stuffed into the brief case. Next
he wrote something on a pad placed on the table.
U Mya
U Mya is an accountant of the famous ladies wear fashion house. He is in his late forties living a
comfortable life. He was married for fifteen years but without any children. However, he uses
his spare time doing all sorts of bad things - from drinking to horse racing to gambling. All his
earnings were thus spent foolishly and always had to borrow from his friends and colleagues to
fulfill his domestic needs. Like all gamblers he was always thinking of the day when his bank
accounts will be showing with tons and tons of prize money.
Last week, one of his betting friends gave a sure-tip on one of the horses which would win the
cup. He gambled all what he had for this race. Unfortunately, it came out second best and he lost
all that he had plus a large sum borrowed from his friends. He now had no choice but to take out
the firm money which was kept with him to introduce new lines by the management.
He came to the company tonight knowing that watchman Maung Than was having stomach
trouble and has taken off sick. He had been preparing days ahead for this type of activity buying
all the paraphernalia needed. He even practiced to write his right hand as he had been a south-
paw through generations. Now his new hand writing is perfected.
He does not even go to deposit the monies these days as he is urgently in need to repay his debt.
To convince the management, he signed the cheque book to indicate that the monies will be
deposited without any hitch.
He smiled with great satisfaction knowing that the mission had been successfully accomplished
and switched off the lights.
Finale:
U Mya was caught during a raid to a gambling den after he absconded from work for a week.
Ko Htoo was satisfied as he rightly reported a crime where a person with a disguise can be
brought to justice within a few days.
But then, U Mya after confession to the police was fuming inwardly.
How the hell did he know I was LEFT handed???
If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation, you will discover that your
life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul.
- R abbi H arold K ushner
When you find peace within yourself, you become the kind of person who can live at peace
with others.
- Peace Pilgrim
Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become
limitless.
- Jamie Paolinetti
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop
questioning.
- Albert E instein
To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.
- O scar Wilde
Emerging from winter's darkness into the meadow where birds sing
Wonderful to see nature's green, blissful to feel the fresh spring
Dr Aung is a consultant pathologist working in UK. Before he came to the UK, he worked in the Pathology
Department, IM (1) in Yangon. He is a graduate of IM1, 1979. [The wintry photo was courtesy of Dr Aung]
At humanity, worldwide!
My environments in my making.
I am transported, in solitude
Mother Moon
By Wynn Aung
A popular cardiac specialist died and at his funeral the coffin was placed in front of a huge mock up
of a heart made up of flowers. When the pastor finished with the sermon and eulogy, and after
everyone said their good-byes, the heart opened, the coffin rolled inside and the heart closed. There
were sobs and tears.
Im a gynecologist.
A Professor of Medicine, a man well known for his earnest and oft-proclaimed Temperance views,
was (yet again) lecturing the medical students on the damage that alcohol can do. To demonstrate
its effect on the nervous system, he took a worm and dropped it into a glass of gin & tonic. The worm
wriggled around for a few minutes before finally giving a few convulsive twitches and dying.
And can we deduce anything from that? asked the Professor with the triumphant air implying that
only obvious conclusion could be drawn.
Yes, came a voice from the back, if youve got worms, drink alcohol
VN:F [1.8.8_1072]
ROUTE - 119
Sitting on the side of the highway waiting to catch speeding drivers, a State Police Officer sees a car
puttering along at 22 MPH. He thinks to himself, this driver is just as dangerous as a speeder!" So he
turns on his lights and pulls the driver over. Approaching the car, he notices that there are five old
ladies -- two in the front seat and three in the back -- wide eyed and white as ghosts. The driver,
obviously confused, says to him, Officer, I don't understand, I was doing exactly the speed limit!
What seems to be the problem? "Ma'am," the officer replies, you weren't speeding, but you should
know that driving slower than the speed limit can also be a danger to other drivers.
Slower than the speed limit? No sir, I was doing the speed limit exactly... Twenty-two miles an hour!
"The old woman says a bit proudly. The State Police officer, trying to contain a chuckle explains to
her that 22" was the route number, not the speed limit. A bit embarrassed, the woman grinned and
thanked the officer for pointing out her error. But before I let you go, Ma'am, I have to ask... Is
everyone in this car OK? These women seem awfully shaken and they haven't muttered a single peep
this whole time, "the officer asks. Oh, they'll be all right in a minute officer. We just got off Route
119."
(jokesnjokes.net)
"I keep my friends as misers do their treasure, because, of all the things
granted us by wisdom, none is greater or better than friendship."
- Pietro Aretino (1537)
Oh tell me why?
By Jennifer Chu
IM (2), Class of 71
Mirrors
Driving
1. Why do you always want to look at
1. Why do you keep
yourself in the mirror when you see one
on driving fast if all
or into every mirror when you see more
you want to do is to
than one?
get into my lane
while I am trying to 2. Why do some mirrors make you look so
get in your lane? good and some make you look so ugly?
2. Why is it that every 3. Break a mirror and have 7 years bad
white car that pulls luck, why 7? Is not 7 a lucky number?
up behind me
4. Why did you not know that magnifying
reminds me of a
mirrors that show all your facial flaws
police car?
are precursors of HDTV?
3. Why do I feel guilty when I went
through just a bit of the red light yet the
car behind me went through the Mirroring
stationary red light without qualms? 1. Why do you always want to stretch your
4. Why did you wait so long to make this neck when you see someone else doing
turn until my car gets close to you? it?
2. Why do you always want to check your
watch when you see somebody else
More driving
doing the same?
1. Why do you want to duck your head
3. Why do you always want to yawn when
when driving under a bridge?
you see somebody else yawning?
2. Why do you want to swerve your body
4. Why do you always want to laugh when
as your car turns a corner fast?
others are laughing?
3. Why is there a pothole as you begin to
speed up?
Clothes
4. When did keep your eyes on the road
literally meant "look out for potholes"? 1. Why is it that just when I became good
at matching my top and bottom
outerwear so well in Burma that I come
here to find out that it is called pyjamas?
2. If yinphone eingyis demise and the
appearance of long blouses to wear with
the longyi was to cover protuberant
stomachs why did they not think of that
fashion when we were in Burma? It
would have saved much embarrassment
Air Travel
1. Why be so eager to stand in line to
board when you know you know there
is more standing in line in the loading
zone? Thoughts
2. If you are going to get a pat down, why 1. Why do they roam?
can you not have a choice of where you
2. Why do you always think you have left
want it and how long you want it for?
something behind on the way to the
3. Why stand up to deplane when all who airport?
are standing are not moving at all and
3. Why are some thoughts dull and some
you are hunched under the overhead
so vivid?
bin?
4. Why are some thoughts so quiet, and
4. Why is it that when you have only 15
some so noisy
minutes for catching the plane for the
second half of your trip that your gate is
in the next terminal needing a shuttle
train but when you have 90 minutes to
spare that your gate is only 10 feet
away?
Aging
1. Why you cannot read smaller print?
Food 2. Why you cannot remember the other
1. Why is it that you always want to eat persons name?
everything you see at a buffet? 3. Why you cannot remember your own
2. Why is it that if you believe that eating name?
greens will make you lose weight, did 4. Why remembering is not an issue
you forget why elephants are so large? anymore?
3. Did airlines stop giving us food on board
because we complain of airline food?
Oh tell me why? Oh tell me why?
4. Why is it that putting salt and
lime/lemon makes food taste so much (Planning to make the world pain free)
better?
People say that life is a journey. It is true for everybody. But what makes it different is that some
people are walking, some are riding a bike while some are in their private cars. But how would
you quantify or measure a successful life, the answer will be your choice. It depends on how
much success you want in your life. In other words, how much you want out of your life. If your
aim of your life is higher, you have to spend or invest more effort.
Okay. Let us assume that you have your goal, you have fixed your target but you cant find a way
to get there yet; here are some tips that might help you. Everybody wants something good to
happen in their lives. But most of the time it is just a dream and it wont come true until you
decide to pursue the goal. The very first step is the most important step. The motto after the first
step is to never stop what you have started. When you have made up your mind and your goal is
not unrealistic, the only thing left is to make it happen.
This is all about the path. Everybody has to find their own
path in their lives. It starts during our childhood. It starts
from learning. When we are young we dont know what we
are learning. It goes on until high school. Some students
choose their own path before graduation from high school,
but some do not. Whether we like it or not we have to choose
our path after high school. Some go to college or higher
education and some decide to start their career. Whatever
you choose, it becomes the path of your life. Some of them
are straight and clear of trouble but most of them are not.
Some of them are wasting their lives away and dont have a
clue what they want from their lives. If you think your life is worth living in a practical way, the
following tips may be handy.
1. Start early. That is common sense. If you start early, the possibility is that you might get
there early.
2. Prepare for the journey. Whenever you go for a long journey, you dont just start off
without preparation. You want to include your essential items in your luggage. If you
dont know what to prepare, think about the whole journey. Starting from day one to the
end, you should consider every possible eventuality and make a list of the necessary
items. This is a big segment and in real life it coincides with your learning process. It
might never be completed but try to fill up your tank as much as possible.
3. Make a first step. If you never make a first step, you will never get to your destination.
We have a lot of proverbs that I dont need to say here.
4. Keep going. Even though your progress might be slow, if you keep going, you will beat
the one who has stopped altogether. We have learned about a race between a rabbit and
a tortoise since childhood.
5. Practice or rehearse when it is necessary. We know that practice makes perfect. Does
it make sense?
6. Go extra miles than you need. It adds more sense to the above.
7. Pay attention to detail. I can assure you that the one who is thorough will win the race.
I shall go into detail about it later.
8. Break down your goal or your journey into bite sizes when you cant take it all. That
is quite similar to the above fact. You have to understand that you cant jump very far or
very high in one step. But you can walk up a stair higher than your jump can reach or you
can walk further than your jump can go. It includes the realistic assessment of your
abilities and acceptance of your limitations.
9. Never do reckless things. It is just a reminder of an obvious fact.
10. Love yourself and dont destroy your body. A healthy life is the basis of everything. A
healthy mind is invaluable too.
11. Dont take unnecessary risks. But when you need to, sometimes No guts, no glory can
be the truth too. I would say it is a last resort for a special situation. If you want to take a
chance, you need to be prepared to pay the price. Sometimes the price can be quite dear.
12. Learn whatever you can but practice considerately and righteously. Understanding
is always good. Detailed knowledge is better. Grasping the true facts is precious.
Commanding the truth is priceless.
13. Always formulate an idea of cause and effect relationship. So you can avoid
repeating errors. In other words, cultivate an analytical mind. Try to answer the question
of Why? if you can.
14. If you come across a problem, try to solve in two or three different ways. Dont
underestimate the bystanders views.
15. Make alliance with good people. Treat people sincerely, so you can keep long term
relationships. You can read How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
for more details. Avoid making enemies unnecessarily. But stay away from wicked
people or trouble-makers.
16. Find out your strength and weakness. Enhance your strength and improve your
weakness.
These tips are not exclusive. You can add more tips if you find more things useful.
Lets say you want to play golf and you are just a new kid on the block. After you read about golf
and watched video instructions from well known PGA players or instructors, you will get some
basic ideas about golf such as scoring, terms and some basic rules, address, grip, swing,
everything.
Then you go to the range and try to hit the golf balls with your second hand clubs or cheap set
that you bought from Ebay. You found out that every time you hit the ball, it is going everywhere
except straight or you dont hit the ball at all. Or once in a while the ball goes straight but you
thought you can hit the ball further. You scratch your head and then you decided you want to be
a good player. You watched more golf instruction videos and read more golf books. You found
out that your swing is about the same the next day.
Then you find a real semi-pro instructor and start to learn the
swing properly. He will ask you to hit the ball the way he hits.
He will show you a different slow motion video of how Tiger
Woods swing is all about. Or maybe he will show the swing
of Jack Nicklaus. You follow the instructions. You try to
practice at home and at the range. Then, when you thought
you have grasped the idea, you start to play on the course.
But on your first day you found out that your balls like to go
towards the lake, or bunkers. Most of the time, it doesnt go
where you are aiming. You talk to the instructor and he will
start a new set of practice and swing. You try to practice more but the improvement is slow.
Then you start to think, to test and learn the swing by yourself. Then you rely on yourself to
learn the swing. You might need to apply the analytical mind to understand the idea of a golf
swing.
The basic idea of a golf swing is that you need to hit the ball squarely at the center of a club
which is called a sweet spot. You need to hit the ball more or less consistently towards the target
that you are hitting. Every club has a different angle, length and weight. And your body has
numerous joints which will affect your body positions when they move.
You need to move or use the whole body to get distance. You
need to breakdown the swing into several steps. Upswing,
down swing, quarter swing, half swing, full swing, and so on.
Our mind cannot think and execute two or three different
things in a fraction of a second. So you have to choose only
one thing in your swing thought. Mostly it should be on the
impact. You need to find out the club head or face position at
the time of impact which will give you a perfect distance.
When you get it, you need to formulate how to get to that
position of swinging movement. You need to practice the
movement until you dont need to think about it when you are swinging. Pay attention to your
body position, movement of the feet, knee, hip, waist, shoulder, elbow, wrist, fingers, head and
neck. Every detail counts.
As stated, you need to pay attention to the face of the club head, the axis and direction of the face
in the swing. Try to find out why the ball is going left or right. Understand why the ball goes too
high or too low. Figure out how to fix the problem or how to adjust your swing. If you can find
out the cause and effect relationship, you will make significant progress. The basic idea is if you
dont hit the ball squarely on the face, your ball wont go straight. To understand those things
you need to practice a lot. To master the swing, you need to practice more. I heard that
professional golfers hit more than a few thousand balls a day. There is never an over-practice.
After you have learned to swing consistently, then you can start to learn the strategy of playing
the game. From then on, you can proceed to learn your strengths and weaknesses. You need to
avoid unnecessary risks or reckless action to improve your score.
Golf, like medicine, is a life long learning process. So how strongly you want to learn and how
much effort you want to invest will be directly and closely related to how successful you will be
in golf. Hopefully, you can apply the tips to other life scenarios successfully. I am sure it wont
hurt you.
I write this document now in case my memories of the event slowly decay in my old age and
become lost beyond retrieval, and if that were to happen I would be sad but to no avail it
would be too late. I must act now to ensure the preservation of the treasured memories of the
68ers fortieth anniversary reunion in Los Angeles from 17 to 19 October 2008.
I arrived with Mary in LA with plenty of time to spare, so that I would not miss any part of the
celebrations, unlike my rather late appearance at the summer holiday of April 1964. By 16
October I had already checked in to the Courtyard Marriott, Los Angeles, in Monrovia. Whereas
in Sydney it was spring, here in California it was the fall as they call it (autumn to us). The
weather was mild, a little cool in the evenings, and contrary to LAs reputation, the air was clear
and not at all polluted. This made us feel that LA was welcoming us to the reunion. It was as if
the pleasant weather had been provided just for us. On the other hand, the reunion would be so
wonderful that we would accept any kind of weather that LA might have to offer come rain,
come hail, come shine!!! From the 16th onwards, I had to be vigilant while moving around the
hotel, because I might meet an old friend by chance and I might be a little slow to recognize him
or her. Meanwhile, the view from our hotel window was magnificent, including a background of
a mountain range with a sprawling metropolis at its feet.
On the way to breakfast, the first of my classmates that I met was Tony Chen, an ophthalmic
surgeon in Florida, with his wife, who were staying not far from my room. Before we had
recognised each other, Tony greeted me in Burmese, guessing that I was probably there for the
special occasion. Tony and his wife Delma immediately impressed me as a distinguished yet
jovial couple, who were carrying a large quantity of parcels. Tony explained that the parcels
were presents for all of us, that they were handmade with a special logo, and included our name
badges and note pads that would allow us to write short notes during the reunion. Tony and
Delma had also designed and brought a large poster with the MC1 logo, which would display the
number 40 with a globe in place of the zero to mark the global representation of the
graduating class of 1968.
During the morning, more of our classmates began to arrive and to gather in the foyer of the
hotel. The squeals of delight, amazement and recognition soon echoed around the building.
Then Tony Chens name badges made their way around the group, overcoming any doubts and
hesitation. Among the first to arrive were Alfred Chit Myaing and his wife Jill, Thomas and Rose
Wong, Tommy Leong, and Ivan Teoh. Then followed Rosie Taw from the UK and Shirley Chiu,
Peter Wong and his wife, Pam; Pamela Soe Nyun, Lim Chung Hwee Sein Win from the UK., Zau
Mun and his wife, Hkawn Ji from Burma; Sandra Rahman; Linda Liang and her sister Janet. We
formed groups of different sizes and compositions for a very busy photographic session. We
were all so busy looking at old photographs taken during schooldays (brought by Sandra) and
trying to identify some of our classmates.
At 11 am one of our hosts, Primrose, arrived to take us on a bus trip to the Hollywood Walk of
Fame. The bus ride gave us time to get re-acquainted. Pamela, who lived in LA, often told us
about different parts of the city, eg, the more affluent suburbs. Interestingly, our bus driver
could not speak English, so Thomas and Janet interpreted for us. It appeared that he was giving
us a guided tour of the LA highway system, including several turns around the clover-leaf. We
thought he was just being stubborn and going his own way, but it was a problem of
communication. Then Pamela took charge and made a phone call to ask for detailed directions,
which were passed to Thomas to interpret to the driver. At first it was frustrating but we soon
saw the funny side of it. It gave us more time to talk and laugh.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame
was crowded with
international visitors. In front
of Graumans Chinese theatre,
we took some group photos,
and others had their pictures
taken with Marilyn Monroe
(look-alike?). Zau Mun and his
wife searched for souvenirs for
their grandchildren in Burma.
Mary had her photo taken with
Superman for Joshua and
Victoria.
The evening function was
hosted by Aisha and her
husband at their magnificent Newport Beach mansion, which was in a gated community. We
enjoyed panoramic views of the beach, which was especially beautiful at sunset. Their
hospitality and the Indian cuisine were also excellent. The desserts were laid out on a table so
that they spelt the number 68 in Burmese.
Grace Sein, the widow of Michael Aung Sein, was courageous enough to attend the function. This
would have been extremely difficult for her, given that Michael had been one of the original
organisers and that she knew how he would have liked to see all his old friends enjoying the
celebration. We all comforted Grace and shared memories of Michael.
Winsome took over Michaels role in the organising, but could not join us during the day
because of ill-health. Fortunately she was able to attend the evening celebrations. I thought that
this showed real leadership, to make such an effort to be present and to get involved. On a
similar previous occasion, Winsome had been the organiser of our wonderful summer holiday at
Moungmagan in April 1964. We wish her well with her current treatment and hope that she will
soon be able to organise more events for her classmates.
Tony Myo Lwin, a radiologist from Vancouver, joined us in the evening, having come straight
from a Mexican cruise. He left medical school in 1964 to migrate, first to Taiwan and then to the
Philippines, where he completed his medical studies, before settling in Canada. It was
interesting to find that Tony, despite his early departure, still remembered most of his
classmates from Rangoon.
Both Tony and his wife, Vicky, were overwhelmed while catching up with Tonys old friends
from the early years of medical school. Each one of us spoke about our lives since 1968, our
achievements and setbacks. I was most impressed by the fact that Aisha, in addition to her
academic excellence in the field of corneal transplant surgery, had directed a great deal of her
energy into humanitarian causes, such as leading medical missions to developing countries,
sponsoring disadvantaged children to study in the US, and more recently, helping the victims of
Cyclone Nargis. Not surprisingly, Aishas husband provided great support to her behind the
scenes, as in the old saying that behind every successful woman, theres always a hard-working
man.
Alfred Chit Myaing, a cardiologist, came from Washington DC with his wife Jill. He was busy
videotaping the reunion. I remember Alfred as a very serious young student, but now he seems
much more easy-going and just enjoys life.
We enjoyed the sumptuous meal prepared by Aisha and as a group of 68ers, we celebrated our
achievements. As Tony Chen said, we are grateful to our Alma Mater, Rangoon Medical College,
for our excellent basic training and foundation for our later careers.
The next day, we visited the Getty Villa, an imposing building which houses Gettys vast
collection of Antiquities. We learnt a lot about art and archaeology through the ages. As a
psychoanalyst, I was interested to notice signs of phallic obsession and of castration anxiety
during certain epochs of history. I was also fascinated to learn of Odysseus long journey home
after the Trojan War, and I thought about my own odyssey after the reunion.
Another classmate, Judo Soe Myint, joined us that day, and in the evening, another classmate,
Aung Win and his wife, joined us.
Our visit to Malibu beach was memorable for its beautiful white sand and the surrounding
scenery where many celebrities make their homes. We noted that this was the opposite side of
the Pacific Ocean from Australia. Primrose enjoyed getting knee-deep in the water while Tony
Chen kept himself busy recording. We all felt rejuvenated from being there at Malibu.
The evening was hosted by Primrose at her sisters house, where another friend, Kyin Hoe, and
his wife, Grace from Fort Lauderdale, joined us along with a few of Rose Wongs friends. We
enjoyed delicious Burmese cuisine, complete with pawpaw salad and Burmese desserts. A few
of us made power-point presentations about our careers and family life from matriculation in
1961 until now. My old friends, Kyaw Shin, Kyaw Win, Ba Shwe and Win Kyaing, made a video
recording of the medical hostel (Lanmadaw/Godwin Hall) and the medical college with the help
of ophthalmologist Dr Soe Moe and sent it to us to view it as a group, which we enjoyed. We had
had fun dressing up in Burmese formal attire and posed, dancing for the cameras and group
photographs were taken.
We skyped with Hla Yee Yee (Shwe Shwe) and Mala Maung in Kuala Lumpur and had a lot of
fun as they struggled to identify some of us as we greeted each other. We even sang Auld Lang
Syne (should old acquaintance be forgot) together with them. When I put up the lyrics of Red
River Valley to conclude my power-point presentation, the whole group sang with me and this
experience made my heart leap with the same excitement as I had felt when I learnt the song 44
years earlier on the train returning from our summer holiday in Moungmagan. This experience
rounded off a great reunion for the 68ers.
Primrose presented to each one of us a copy of the beautifully prepared Face Book, the result of
her dedication and creativity. We will treasure them for the rest of our lives and we thank
Primrose for her inestimable contribution to the success of the reunion.
The farewell lunch on Sunday at a Chinese restaurant was an emotional occasion, as we
prepared for our sad departures. Tony Chen was thoughtful enough to present the three
organisers, Winsome, Primrose and Aisha, with a replica Hollywood-style gold statuette,
symbolising best friends. We resolved that we should meet again in the not-too-distant future.
We wished each other well and knew that we would never forget this reunion experience. Mary
and I thank Pamela and Sandra for their excellent hospitality during our stay in LA.
Coming Home
By Khin Aye Aye
IM (1), Class of 75
(MBCA- Myanmar Business Coalition for
AIDs)*
2001
The year I came back. Its nearly 9 years now and how time flies. I still remember the first day I
came back and the happy indescribable feeling of returning home; the joy of walking along the
roads in our neighbourhood, the feeling that you have with every step and your heart echoing
this is my land, this is my country, the joy of listening to the koel, the soothing tinkling sounds
of the pagoda bells, the chanting of pathanna ..
2010
Years have passed and the joy of returning is sometimes dimmed by the daily challenges; but
when you think of the time when you were away, when there was no one to speak your
language, no monk to receive your donations, no pagoda, no tinkling bells nor the koels calls
when you were among people but you were alone, when you were in the most luxurious of
houses but you were not at Home!
than most people. If you are in touch and have come back often, you will see the progresses
made but there are still many needs.
Do you remember the dust roads, the paddy fields, the little
boys running barefoot in the rain, the ascaris - filled tummies
and the scabies- tattooed limbs? Children chanting their
homework , learning by rote, orphans in monasteries &
orphanages, young professionals running around attending
classes after classes, youth hanging around in pubs, older
group hanging around in teashopsThey are still here.
Nargis and the aftermath, the resilience of our people, the
loitering youth who became heroes and leaders They have
proven they can be leaders and responsible citizens.
Do you want to hold an orphan in your arms? Help a child with
his education? Encourage and motivate a young professional to
become a valuable citizen? Feed the hungry? Attend to the sick? Or start a business and employ
thousands?
Do you want to build a thousand homes for a thousand families?
Do you want to fill the gaps , help flowers bloom , make spring come to many many lives by
giving the autumn of your life to humanity ?
Are you retiring?
Will you return to Myanmar?
Are you coming home?
The arrival
We arrived on Malaysian soil early morning of 20th November 2009. Despite our efforts from
UK, to inform the hotel that we are arriving in Kuala Lumpur (KL) early and we would like to
have the rooms earlier, when we went to the front desk to check into our rooms we found that
there were no rooms available.
What?! No rooms!
Angry and alarmed looks were exchanged. Then we were told that the rooms were still being
cleaned. We waited for an hour. And waited some more. They then star ted to give us the rooms,
at an Olympic record-breaking pace for a tortoise. It reminds me of the Malaysian
characteristic slow and steady . Not a good start to the holiday, we thought.
Our hotel is situated in the bustling centre of KL; the so - called golden triangle, it is a thriving
business area and hotels mushroomed out in different sizes and shapes in this area. I not iced
that there were big differences from the KL of the nineties. The immediate thing that struck me
was this huge raised mono rail and the train, which is gliding smoothly along. The KL Monorail
is a system that serves 11 stations running 8.6 km with two parallel elevated tracks. It connects
to the transport hub within the golden triangle. According to reports, it was completed at a cost
of 1.18 billion Malaysian dollars and opened in 2003, and is an indication of the city developers
commitment to wards good public transportation.
As we were getting rest less and hungry, we
decided to go out for a walk. Before we went
out, I slipped out by myself to get a mobile
phone card so that we can keep in touch with
all the friends in Malaysia while we were there.
I stepped out of the hotel and the twin towers
greeted me. Then, walking about ten paces
from the hotel entrance, I was pleasantly
reminded of the place that I called home for
five years, i.e. Kota Bharu (KB). This was
because I saw a nasi-lamak hawker by the road
side. Just like the good ole days in KB. Here the
twist was that, instead of road side shops, I t
was sold from a car, parked on the side of the
main road. So it seems like nothing has
changed much in the Malaysia that I cal led home during 1989 to 1994. Then I saw road signs
that were pointing towards Ampang, and memories came flooding back.
After World War II about 1946, the British created the Malayan Union, and later the Federation
of Malaya emerged in its place. The Federation gained its independence from Britain on 31
Alumni Myanmar Institutes of Medicine | e-magazine 72
AMIM 2010 DOWN MEMORY LANE
August 1957. Singapore, which had a mostly Chinese population, remained outside the
federation as a British crown colony. Peninsular Malaysia became an independent nation called
Malaya. Tunku Abdul Rahman became the first prime minister of Malaya. In September 1963,
Malaya, Sarawak, Sabah, and initially Singapore uni ted to form Malaysia. This country, with a
melting pot of customs from four of the world's major cultures - Chinese, Indian, Islamic and
Western cultures gradually developed in the SEA region. Malaysia always had been grateful for
one of the sons o f Burma, United Nations Secretary - General U Thant. U Thant played a crucial
role in mediating the confrontational politics between Indonesia and Malaysia (during its early
formative year). Thus they have named one whole area of Ampang, east of Kuala Lumpur cit y,
as Taman U Thant (U Thants Garden). Also they have named a major road after him, Jalan U
Thant. Taman U Thant is the area where most Embassies are in KL, and of course our old
Burmese Embassy. This is the place where we al l had to converge every summer, while we
were in Malaysia, to accompany our kids in their attempts at remembering the Burmese
language and passing the Burmese state exams. I dont think the kids or t he parents enjoyed
these summer holidays!
Enough of this sidetracking about the Ampang area. As I mentioned, we were getting restless
waiting for the room, so when I returned with the mobile card, we all went out for a walk. As we
were getting hungry, we crossed the road to the shop opposite the hotel, and were pleasantly
surprised by some young Myanmar waiters who welcomed us. So we decided to eat and we had
our first sampling of Malaysia and Thai food, albeit cooked by Myanmar. Then, of f we went to
Sogo (one of the major malls in KL), taking the monorail. As mentioned these are the new
networks that have become the principal mode of public transport. They were not yet built in
the 80s and 90s when we were in this country. It does speak volumes of the leaders, and the
speed that a country can develop if they really set their minds to it. At least thanks to that
monorail trip, we were able to appreciate the congested traffic and the city from an elevated
perspective. Afterwards, we decided to stretch our tired legs with a quick trip to Sogo Mal l, and
the ladies as usual found some bargains and handbags as usual.
Ko Victor said that he will be putting up a reminder with the, running ticker on the home page.
This is for the AMIM Magazine deadline and we talked about AMIM and the discussions and
many things that we shared in common. Even though Ko Victor is a bwin bwin shin shin saya
on AMIM, he is a true gentle man and we were pleasantly surprised by the warm recept ion we
enjoyed that day from Ko Victor; although I must admit that I was a wee bit anxious after my
friends reminder about OK corral. Of course, our Kogyi Htin and Ma Ma were the perfect hosts
throughout the trip. We learned that Kogyi Htin was busy with the sar pay hawpyaw pwe in
Malaysia and he has been doing that regularly for the past few years. A great job, well done
Kogyi Htin!
And then we phoned up the rest of our classmates based in Malaysia, informing them, making
sure that we were well organised for the coming days and trip to Ipoh. Later, Ma Ma Shwe and
Kogyi Ht in later showed us around Petaling street, Petaling Jaya, the IMU building which was
resplendent in the evening skyline of their area. Then we said farewell to everyone, to return to
our hotel to prepare for tomorrows reunion in Ipoh with Lavender, Ko Minn Lwin and our own
Victor (KoThant Zin). We never knew that there will be Saya U Soe Lwin waiting for us there.
Ipoh reunion
We woke up early again for the trip to Ipoh. I t was a lovely day, and the sun was shining in the
sky. Ma Ma San was the first person we met at Ipoh, and she treated us to a mouth watering
Rambutan meal. We joined up with our class mates, Lav, Ko Minn Lwin and Ko Victor on the way
to the rendezvous. On the way to the restaurant, we picked up Saya Soe Lwin at his place. He
was still a jolly fun guy and Kogyi Htin seems to hit it off well with him. Then we went to the
seafood restaurant -and a slap up lunch. It was a great way to catch up and enjoy the friendship
of classmates and teachers (Picture of the friends reunion, with lush green mountains of Ipoh in
the background).
We went back later to Lavs house
for the best durian and mingut
dessert. Again we enjoyed the
company of all the friends in the
lovely house of Lavender together
with her family. Lavender and Minn
Lwin indeed managed to excel
themselves for the reunion despite
their busy schedules. Minn Lwin
was our coxswain when we did
rowing together in our university
days. We also enjoyed a game of
scrabble or two during those days.
So as you might have guessed we had a lot to catch up. Later we went to see Victors better half.
Victor is now based at the university in Trengannu and his lovely better half is working at the
renal dialysis centre in Ipoh. It was a great gathering.
On our return journey from the reunion, we popped in to the temple cave just out side of Ipoh,
but found that it was closed for the day. Yet thanks to Ko Thuras diplomatic words, the doors
were opened up especially for us. With the grand bell, inside this temple, being tolled every few
minutes to bring in the best of luck for these travellers, Buddha was smiling benignly on us and
we paid our respects to Buddha in the cavernous and cool dwelling place. Every nook and
cranny inside this cave temple got a Buddha or the Kwan Yin mother, blessing the visitors.
These limestone caves were breathtakingly cavernous and cool inside. Finally, Kogyi Htin drove
us back home, to Asia caf and we tasted the best food in Malaysia! We ordered all that we
wanted and more and enjoyed another thoroughly Malaysian dinner on the food court!
Now back to our trip. As Kogyi Htin parked the car deftly right at the picturesque town centre
with all the trishaws, and the lovely gardens, we just went for the photo opportunity. So that
was how the picturesque windmill and the tour group picture came about. Later, we moved
our car to another car park but it was perfectly timed to avoid the car park wardens who came
charging out of no where. So be ware of these wardensall in all, it reminds me of a tourist town
in UK.
Later, our pictorial director, Kogyi Htin, directed us to the best viewpoints and how to take the
best pictures. I am sure we could have won a Visit Malaysia short film award. To recount, there
were the pictures with the floral trishaws, trying to look like we were running away with the
trishaws, the lovely garden at the town centre, the church, the windmill (I am not sure of the
significance of the windmill) and on the roads and many more. Some of the lovely old houses
have similar windows, slat, frames that we see in Burma which reminds me more of home,
again.
Then we went up a very tall mountain to the church and look out point. We were out of breath
at the top but the view and the place was worth the effort. This of course, was naturally followed
by a hearty meal at the food court.
Later, we went in for some more traditional shops where the ladies enjoyed their best hobby--
shopping and haggling and buying sarongs.
Another grand dinner we enjoyed was in the hotel. No, it was not in the grand dinner hall. It was
in the hotel room number 2007, where we had a brilliant dinner of durian, mingut thee,
rambutan etc. in other words, a fruity feast to the full. It was food heaven. That will remain as
our third best dinner of the trip. Because the joint first prize would have gone to the meals at
Chez Kogyi Htin and Ma Shwe, and the seafood restaurant in Ipoh.
We thoroughly enjoyed this visit, and we would like to say our heart felt appreciation to our
Sayama Ma Ma Shwe and Ko Gyi Htin for being the best hostess and host for showing us the best
of Malaysia in this year -end trip that we will treasure for life; and we have the photos to prove
it. Without the patience and expertise of our guiding angels, we would not have enjoyed it
completely. Also our grateful thanks to all
our classmates in Malaysia Lavender, Minn
Lwin and Victor, whom we met up, and who
entertained us. And to all our classmates in
Myanmar pyay, whom we met up after this
trip from Malaysia, and refresh our
friendships and made us welcome, we thank
you all from the bottom of our hearts.
Now this Burma trip will be a new
travelogue in itself. I will leave you with a
picture as an appetiser for the next chapter
of my travelogues. So until then, au revoir.
bloated mass of mohinga. Needless to say, Sayadaw was not impressed with my cooking advice
to the Europeans. (Photo- Dhammramsi compound covered in snow)
But I think I made some progress with my
translation work during the daily Dhamma talks
and during the sessions where the yogis had to
report back to sayadaw. Because there was much
feedback regarding sayadaw's teaching and the
mediators appeared to appreciate a lot of his
teaching, which was translated by the
translator. So the daily translations and the
short summary that I did for the talks, I might say,
was a help and not a hindrance.
Then there was this guy. I will call him Mr Van Gogh. He was a highly strung mediator.
Alternatively, you might describe him as a manic depressive. The first seven days he was ok,
then on the 8th he took a turn down the manic path. He worked non- stop, cleaned non-stop in
the meditation centre. He said he cannot do the sitting meditation and went for a long walk
along the beautiful river nearby (see picture). Sayadaw had private Q& A sessions with him to
guide him back with loving kindness. We tactfully asked him to note while he do daily activities
etc. He was jolly, then morose. Later on the 9th day, he returned home. In this case Dhamma was
not able to help him gain insight, yet short meditations might help him in the future, and of
course he must also be taking regular medications. But the good news was the rest of the yogi
made good progress.
This Theraveda centre that we conducted the retreat is
the fruition of the efforts of Marie Cecile Forget. She is
the torch bearer for Theraveda Buddhism in Belgium, in
particular the Burmese Buddhist tradition. She and her
team had made this abundantly clear on the signs in
front of their retreat in Namur, Profoundville near
Brussels. In comparison to the Tibetan centre, there
were no locals selling the touristy wares and
protective amulets of Buddha. Just down to the basics,
that is insight meditation practices and the books by
Sayadaw U Pandita. It was like home to me.
The centre is called "Dhammaramsi, and it was stated
in bold and Burmese alphabet like "signboard, in front
of the compound. I would encourage you to go and
meditate in this peaceful place in Belgium, if you have
some spare time and want to do some visiting at the same time. Aptly named Profoundville or
the Profound valley (to you and me), one can develop and pursue the profound wisdom of
Buddha's teaching under the guidance of Burmese sayadaws, all trained in insight meditation.
For me it has been a joyous and often emotional journey of translation and inspiring work.
Helping these Dhamma relatives, all Europeans, who appeared to be more dedicated than me
in their journey of Dhamma discovery, assisting them in trying to translate and describe their
findings in their daily meditations was motivational. Assisting them in their path as they become
more confident and progress in their search of the noble path and the noble truth has been
inspirational. Overall, an empowering experience.
This meditation retreat teaches us about the
Buddhas words of wisdom; let us have a
glimpse... No, a real feel of peace on earth. In
addition, we learned about temperance,
"thamadi, uppekha, perseverance and these
may carry over into the other spheres of our
lives. And of course the ultimate truth, if you
persevere to continue in the practice.
In other words, the benefits are not only for
samsara, but they are of practical importance in
our daily life. Peace of mind is what many of us
try to achieve in daily life. IM is the way to
achieve it. Moment to moment. The ultimate
peace with freedom from fear and anxiety, freedom from worries, freedom from suffering.
Sayadaw stated at the last day, that we have helped create exactly that, PEACE in this Profound
valley.... however temporary. He stated also that the giving of Dhamma is the best of all "Ahlu,
the best charitable act.
Given that we were born in Burma, and immersed in the teachings of Buddha, we rarely practise
what He has preached. Nevertheless here in the UK, Insight meditation (IM) has become an
accepted pathway for the general practice, and the GPs are encouraged to refer those patients
who had mental health problems. So, that tells us how far IM has become accepted globally. As
you can see in this photo, the spread to Belgium is well on its way also.
Dr Kabat Zinn, one of the main proponents of the Mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR)
based his teachings on IM practice. He had delivered many talks explaining very well how it
helps in our daily life. And he was credited with the fact that he brought IM into the mainstream
medicine. In conclusion, as you are
studying Psychiatry, in the footsteps of Dr
Zinn and many others, perhaps you could
tell us more about the link between
meditation and good mental health next
time we meet. Finally, I would like to
thank Sayadaw for inviting me to this
retreat. Maybe Ko Maung while you are
here in the UK, you can help Sayadaw.
Sanshar
(Khitta Spain)
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84 ()
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wrf;wpdwf ...
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tdrfjyefcsifNyD
..
I want to go Home
Khin Maung Gyi
rsufajzvuFm
www.gallery.hd.org
'FORGIVEN''
When one's star starts to rise
That of another set to demise
Thus, these events, changes and happenings
Often regards a natural swing!!
tpdrf;a&mifr[kwfwJhvlom;rS tarodkU
()
(My birth place and mom were left behind, far far away in thousand miles)
I did not know the life would be very hard and hostile
(I had to look for a greener pasture in the east and the west)
I've got to be far away even from mom's life and death
(Being in Hell makes you unafraid of hot ashes too)
Difficulties back home pushed me and helped to sail the world through
(You know yourself best, the true colour of skin underneath)
Two different worlds will never meet
(Being a man not in green, but full of determination)
You can tolerate all kinds of discrimination
(Mountain of swords and ocean of fire, I had to cross and overcome)
There were many battles in life I lost and won
(In the global village, I wish we could proudly roar "Burma" before our national flag)
We, all, are working hard with our tear and sweat
(After every New Year I thought, I would come home and see mom happily)
As the global village has awarded me my destiny
(However, mom ........ the ruthless man in green has separated us forever)
Your heart will be broken if you know my chance of coming home is almost certainly -
never and never
(Burglish Poems)
AMIM
. . . AMIM
. . .
()
rNyD;ao;aomwm0ef
wacwfwcgu aw;t&om
()
(Feeling)
(Feeling)
(
)
(Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy)
consulting room
()
Therapist
(Attentive listening)
(Empathic Attunement)
(Non-intrusive Approach )
Therapist
(Music Therapy)
series DVD
DVD
...
...
DVD
(-
)
() ( )
() ()
wHwdkif;
()
....
()
()
()
(sense of ownership)
()
(
)
()
( )
(land cruiser)
()
Sun scan technician
professional
first name
()
() L'opera
boundaries
dim sum
YKKO
.......
( ()
( ) )
******************************************************
ttun6@yahoo.co.uk