The 2014 Post

So another year has passed...

For some reason, to me it feels like 2014 has flown by way too fast. My overall impression is that it was a good year, though at the top of my head, I can't recall any specific event that would more or less be the 'mark' of 2014. Let's just examine everything and make a list, for tradition's sake.

Study:

• The first half of the year consist of  nothing too special, as I went to university as usual. The two exam phases passed by with so-so results. The subjects of my interest, like Pharmacology, were studied with a great deal of enthusiasm and the exams delivered matching results. Other subjects that I found less interesting, like Radiology or Surgery, of course weren't as well revised... I could've done better on the exams for sure, but it's nothing I'm reproaching myself for too much. One interesting thing I've realized is that the more clinical the subjects get, the more I'm certain that I wanna work in the internistic field later on. Pediatrics is super cool too, especially Neonatology. But anything surgery-related has yet to really pique my interest. :P
• One funny obsession I've obtained this year is going to conferences. It started with my extra Pediatrics classes, where we were continuously sent to gatherings of the kind. I love the very thoughts-inducing atmosphere there, the however small gain of knowledge through speeches and discussions of intelligent minds (coz we as students probably only understand half of what the docs and researchers say, but either way it's an awesome feeling), and most of all, I love the FOOD. The food is the best part. They always offer so much delicious food for free. ♥_♥ Anyway, the German Pediatricians' Conference in 2014 also gave me the chance to meet Dr. Hop, the Vietnamese doctor who organizes the volunteering operations in Danang via www.deviemed.de. I really wanna join his team when the opportunity arises. :) 
• The second half of the year was wholly dedicated to my dissertation thesis in research. Well, no surprise there. Starting to work in the lab is definitely an experience worth every while. For one, it was a refreshing change of environment I much needed in that part of my life. Then, it has also helped me come to an important realization: I love reasearching, but I'm not researcher-material. The way of acquiring knowledge through the methods of researching is a suspenseful, exciting road that I want to stick my career to. But directly sitting in the lab and doing the actual work? Not my thing. It is way too time consuming for a person lacking the skill of accuracy (hence no Surgery for me either!) and patience like me. Also, the clinical work holds a part too huge of my passion for me to be satisfied with just sticking to the lab. So that's why I realized I should probably embrace clinical trials, lol. Working in a university hospital is a must in Germany if I wanna do research. And then when I reach some higher positions, I can lean back and do the thinking, while the actual work, I will be able to delegate to some employees. Wouldn't that be great? haha :P

Relationships

• Friends come and go. This is a realization that gets kinda repetitive every year. It's always so weird to think back one year, at any time point, because I always have the feeling the 'now' and the 'then' are worlds worlds worlds apart. 2014 brought a lot of changes. So who knows what 2015 will bring? Especially now that I have shifted to another semester? I will just let life surprise me. The ones who care will stay. The ones who don't... well, they won't probably matter as much. So, I'll take it easy. And I'm open to new relationships for sure. :)
• Family, the only constant in my life, stays where it is. The most up and downs in 2014 are probably all related to my puberty-ridden brother, but love conquers all, I believe they're saying. So in a few years' time, I'm certain we'll just look back and laugh at it all. Oh, and my grandparents visited us during the summer. That was definitely a great highlight. :)
• The matter of partnerships, as I call it to distinguish this kind of love from the other, not less important kinds, stalls in my life as ever. But it will be a story for another time...

Personal stuff, for the lack of a better word

• Basketball, I'm loving it. I've become better than last year I guess, but there's still a lot more I can do. ;)
• Travel, oh yeah. At the beginning of 2014, I tried to not make any travelling plans as 2013 was already so eventful, but now when looking back, I can't say that 2014 lacks adventure times. I visited a friend in Dresden, spent time in Strasbourg, went to Paris, drank wine in Rüdesheim, and had a glimpse at Berlin twice. So no, I really can't complain.

I think that's it. Gosh, I'm getting so tired of writing. I've been sitting in front of the PC for one and a half hour already. T_T Let me just finish with my 2015 resolutions and maybe come back later to add some other 2014 events.

My 2015 resolutions

• Read ten non-medical, not obligatory uni-related books. (I got an ebook reader for Christmas!)
• Cut down on sugar consumption. (Less popcorn, less Nutella...)
• Finish the Nails book for mom and dad (hopefully in time for next Christmas).
• Create a rough structure for my dissertation thesis so that I can start writing afterwards.
• One last resolution I have to keep to myself. It's a bit... personal. :P :)

So yeah, let's see how it all works out. What did I say last year? Something along the lines of... 

2015, bring it on? :)