of medical students and conferences, day 4

1. Working to the absolute last minute (as usual), i manage to get my group's video to work for the HIV/AIDS media project. My group members come up later to thank me, but in actual fact they were the stars.

2. Waves of shock and respect cascade over me as our guest of honour makes an eloquent and hard-hitting closing speech. Later on i have lunch with him, and i feel his passion on the issues close to his heart.

If ever there was a period in time where HIV/AIDS became real to me, instead of just numbers and facts and pie charts, i think it would be this moment.

3. Suks and I host the public poster competition in Sunway Pyramid. I get a young seventeen year old girl to talk about HIV/AIDS.

On a more personal note, being the public face for the conference and Monash University was a huge honour and privilege. Certainly not something that happens every day.

4. Waiting in the van for "Encik Ron" while we sing along to "Fall For You" by Secondhand Serenade.

5. A and i have our first serious discussion.

6. The cultural costumes come on as cultural night begins! The Cambodians gave us a traditional dance; the Australians waltzed in with Matilda; the soulful voices of the Indonesians gave us chills; Hong Kong gave us taichi and breakdancing; the Japanese went all kawaii on us; the Jordanians gave us another mad round of dancing; the thunderous roar of the Korean drums had us wishing we had one ourselves; a lone Mongolian folk song; a children's Filipino song; Thai Royal Guards dancing with the lovely ladies; Rasa Sayang from Malaysia; and finally a Taiwanese love duet.

What a night.

7. I lead the Malaysians in several cries of "Malaysia Boleh!" Dream come true.

8. I receive souvenirs from all around the world - from Korean biscuits to wooden Thai frogs to Indonesian mats. I am touched by the sincerity of everyone around me.

I did not expect much from it; but over the course of the last few months - and especially over the last couple of days - i have grown much more than i have in the past few years. I have learnt so much; from my seniors, from my peers, from the delegates - and i have become part of something that is truly bigger than me.

This isn't just rhetoric. This has been an incredible opportunity for self discovery, almost life changing. I will never forget EAMSC 2009.

Thank you for giving me this precious chance.

9. And just like that... it's over. The last picture, the last cake, the last goodbye.