UMMC

Ummc from afar

Today the roles were reversed. I got to visit another university hospital ( not the one I'm working in) as a patient's visitor rather than a doctor. For starters,my usual trips here are as examiner so we have transport and don't have to worry about parking. Plus there is usually a group of us getting lost together as we make our way through the maze that is UMMC passing clinic patients and long corridors before being greeted with our fellow colleagues at the other end all smiles and welcoming.

Today's visit was different. I used the parking and found it easy enough to get a spot but had to pass through a very narrow spot before I got to my spot. I drove through saying a little prayer.  Then I got lost at the car park and a very kind lady ( bless her) said to follow her ( which I did ) and we went down the stairs together and passed through casualty and walked across some barricades and finally found ourselves at Menara Utama. What a walk. I'm afraid I started worrying at this point whether I would ever find my car on my journey back.

Had to squeeze through a very narrow place before getting to this spot

 This was my spot. A lucky find. And yes my parking and driving skills are amazing. Cos the car wasn't scratched and I parked in one single go. Really!

Got confused and used the stairs instead

 Here are signs at the lift. With little else to guide us. I now realise signages are very important .

Nice tunnel

I don't remember the tunnel being so nice. So I'm guessing this is a new thing. Don't you think it's bright and cheerful?

A dear friend's mother is admitted and she is dying. This was the reason for visiting. So here is what I found. Everyone speaks English in UMMC. The guards are polite. The visitors gel with each other because they share a common bond of visiting a sick relative or friend. Everyone is polite and helpful.

The nurses are generally friendly and helpful. They are quite firm about wearing gowns and gloves and hand washing. Its different to be on the other side. No wide smiles and no greetings.

I realise in public service, a simple extra smile goes a long way to make someone feel warm and happy.

Old lecture hall

Old lecture hall, originally uploaded by andreaban2009.

This is an old lecture hall in UMMC, dewan kuliah 3. Look at how steep the incline is. I nearly tripped when I was walking up here. ( Felt like climbing up Batu Caves...not that I have but I'm sure it's just as steep) What impressed us was the quality of the wood. So many years...so many bums and hands and feet and yet it has stood the test of time. They don't do things half as good as they used to. What a pity!!

* i spent the morning here from 7:30 to 12:45. Before heading back to PPUKM

Car park

Car park, originally uploaded by andreaban2009.

I was at UMMC earlier today. ( And I mean early....before half seven in the morning) Woke up at 5:30am and decided to give running a miss. I spend the time doing nothing really useful and left the house early enough. I did two wrong turns, one which left me making a dangerous illegal u-turn. Finding a place to park is scary. You keep driving about and all you find is cars already parked. Did they suddenly mushroom up from the ground?I parked at a cul-de-sac.

 Got boxed in. So I had to call two people( who thoughfully left their contact numbers on the dashboard) to come and re-park their cars. I left UMMC grounds feeling rather darker and sweaty and dehydrated. It's been a while since I've had to park like so. My car and I are now very grateful for the allocated basement carpark slot we have at work.