Locard's Exchange Principle

Every contact leaves a trace. So states the most famous principle in forensic science, and herewith it dictates that there will always be physical traces left behind after a physical contact. Does it apply to interpersonal relationships too? Then, would not every word, every glance, every wish leave an everlasting resonation like a ripple through a neverending pool?

As The Train Leaves The Station

18 Nov marks the end of the module with the submission of the blog self-assessment form, and incidentally, it is the eve of Christmas eve. After that, all of us will probably depart on our separate ways, just like trains leaving the station. A consolation, however, is that sometime down the rail, we are bound to meet(and hopefully catch up).

Through the journey of 13 weeks, I am proud to declare that I have learnt(and not simply reproduced hard knowledge), and it is the most enjoyable module that I had. I had had the privilege and honour with working with everyone in class, from the peer teaching group, to the mock interview and class discussion groups, and finally the proposal group. I started to appreciate the difference and qualities of different individuals. It is almost like clockwork, where there are quartz needed for internal lubrication and metal for external protection; the tensioned spring needed for driving the clock and the dynamic gears for coordinate the hands. We have tech-savvy Yongxin who looks at the big picture, and interactive Jonathan who looks at the fine details. We also have forthright Yong Chean, and reserved May (and of course, our brilliant maverick Brad). It is virtually a jewel box, and it is indeed a beauty when you can appreciate the different qualities of the individual gems. =)
Sentiments apart, the module empowered me, with not only communication skills, but collaboration skills. The exercises and assignments(which you guys/gals know very well already) played their roles well, and allowed us to hone our abilites to both write and listen actively--hallmarks of effective communication and colloboration.

The most impressionable point the adopting of a "You-Attitude". Just like how the points must connect to the greater purpose in the communication, the communication itself should connect to the correspondent. I failed that once in that in my first cover letter, and in light of the suggestions and comments (Thanks Yong Chean and Brad!), I managed to write a better draft for the mock interview. The importance of the You-Attitude surfaced again during the oral presentation. While I might have connected verbally with the audience, the You-Atttitude did not manifest in my non-verbals. I was standing in the dark, and mentally I had not psyche to connect with the audience emotionally. As a result, I lost a connection with the audience on that level. However, I was glad that the course exposed me to such a challenge, initiate an "immune response", where the exposure allows me to work against the problem and be eventually able overcome it in the future. This would definitely be an aspect I will work on.

The un-(but soon to be)-conventional assignments such as blogging and wiki writing were refreshing in that it also provided media for off-class interactions. The blog was an innovative and apt method to demonstrate key principles of communication-- currency and intereactivity. Quoting Brad, who said that the best thing about blogging is that it is not cast in stone, the fact that we could edit and update the blogs is truly a merit. It allows the communication channel stay current and responsive.

On the other hand, I felt the wiki required some improvements before it can become mainstream. The interface, for a start, was unattractive. But, what I thought was damning was that a great injustice was done when the promotion of wiki had not played to its advantages.
In the exercises, wiki was projected to replace current collaborative platforms such as Google Doc as a superior platform. However, the lack of real-time editting impede such success. Currency is an important principle underlying collaboration(and communication), and the currency offered by wiki was not up to par with real-time programmes. However, I believe there can more creative uses to wiki, such as as a presentation aid. 
Regardless, it was a good gambit to include the e-portfolio as part of the assessment, as it would expose students to not just conventional communication, but also newer communication routes via the internet.

Just as the tides come and go, this old train goes and new trains will come; it carries off a crowd, so that the new trains can bring in a fresh new wave. And someday, rails may meet and the trains will end up in the same stations.
All the best guys!

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Seek: Honest Opinions!

Finally, there is a chance to surface and gasp for a breath of fresh air. The week had not been easy, and I am proud to survive. What made me more proud was the presentation, which I felt was my best one so far. It was quite a joy to work with wonderful people who can think on their feet. They are definitely a boon to have on the same side for a presentation.

In hindsight, I felt the team on the whole delivered on the purpose of the proposal. For my segment, I was gratified that the introduction of the team and team members were successfully executed. I was so glad that the water binging helped to maintain a functional throat after the drink-and-mug regime(i.e. drink lots of coffee to stay awake and study for the night). A clear voice is an essential tool in a presentation, but I had overlooked the importance of others, such as stance and facial expression. 

I felt that while I was stating my points clearly, I could have interacted or engaged with my audience more, like my team mates did. I did not feel that I maintained positive facial expressions, which could have helped me connect with the audience better by seeming more amiable. Perhaps I had let too much of my severe personality show, and it made me seem more distant. Well, in self-consolation, my perfomance would be probably not be out of place with a bunch of serious and sombre audience. Or perhaps it was not that bad when I was not entertaining(channelling Chimamanda Adichie). Then again, I guess I am not a good judge, especially of myself. So please, guys(and gals), pull no punches!

Cheers!

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For whom are the wedding bells ringing?

Weddings had always been an interesting issue to me.
A question had always baffled me:
Truly, for whom is the wedding dinner meant for?
I could never tell if it was solely for the couple themselves, or should it be for the two families that would be soon linked in union.

A wedding I attended two weeks ago(11 Sep to be exact) provided me an insight. Two perhaps.
One, there are wedding styles that are either "Cheena" or "Beng contemporary-wannabe".
Two, never try to hybridize freshmen orientation programmes and wedding dinner.

"Cheena" would describe the culture of southeast asian chinese. Typical Cheena convention would include coming late for wedding dinners(being punctual is tantamount to drooling over the dinner yet to start), wedding gift moneies that are proportional to the number of people attending(it is an enterprise, the guests eventually pay for your wedding dinner) and "Yiam Seng" is to be howled in place of "Cheers" when proposing toasts(in fact, it goes "yiaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam.............. seng.")

The second style I mentioned seemed to be a up and coming style, popular among the younger generation I suppose.
It involved programmes, emcees and bad jokes: just like a high school graduation, but imagine your grandaunt and cousins all graduating in the same batch. The couple decided to make a pun out of the Sep 11 incident, and opened the event with an Agent 911 inspecting the audiences for contraband items. The Agent came into the hall, with his sleek groom suit, complete with batik shorts and a bow, and demanded to search an 80 year-old lady for filming devices. After a 30min inspection, the Agent was finally satisfied and the wedding dinner finally commenced with the entry of the newly weds. The event then saw a stream of video, which was supposed to entertain the guests. One of them was on how to happily keep (out) a marriage, another was why the bride and groom ended up each other, adamantly ruling out desperation.
Last but not least, after the toast, the newlyweds were initiated by having the bride, pass a banana through the pants of the groom.(ring a bell?). These really brought me back to the 20th century, when I last had my high school graduation night dinner; albeit I had a better time then.

The experience scarred me, and it incepted, in me, a few questions.
Has the "me" culture overgrown our cultural roots?
Is the wedding for the newlyweds, or the families and friends of them?
Is it really ok to make a joke out of anything?
The last question is one I can answer: Cheena says no, but Beng goes ahead.

Peer Teaching: Wiki

Hi everyone!
We hope the peer teaching session last Monday proved to be helpful on the appreciation and use of wiki.
Please kindly provide some feedback with regards to the session so that we can all learn and improve.
Your comments are important to us.
Thank you!!! =)

Cheers!

WB WP YX

P.S. As the grouping is, there is coincidentally one wiki expert in each group. So use them wisely and treat them nicely.

Application Letter

Job Advertisment Description:

Pharmacist/Clinic Pharmacy Manager (Singapore)

Responsibilities:
You will be responsible for the management and operation of a polyclinic pharmacy and to
ensure the provision of quality pharmaceutical care to patients. This includes the
management of pharmacy staff, provision of drug counseling to patients and drug
information to healthcare professionals. You are also expected to handle queries from the
public.

Requirements:
You should possess a Degree in Pharmacy and be a Registered Pharmacist with Singapore
Pharmacy Board. Highly motivated and results-oriented, you should also have leadership
qualities, with good interpersonal and communication skills. Relevant experience in an
outpatient setting is an advantage and pre-registration pharmacists are welcome.



The application letter follows:


Lee Wee Boon
29 Octer Rd
Singapore 871029
September 2, 2010


Human Resource Manager
Singapore Health Services
31 Third Hospital Avenue #03-03 Boywer Block C
Singapore 168753


Dear Sir/Mdm

I am a 3rd year pharmacy major in the National University of Singapore. Your ad for a pharmacist presented me an exciting opportunity, and I would like to apply for the mentioned position.
Through the course, I have managed to pick up skills that would be valuable not only in a pharmacist career, but in life as well. The curricula empowered me with the clinical knowledge that grants us deeper appreciation and understanding to available medication and supplements; a pharmacist career allows me to render service, and in the process, empower the patients, just like the curricula empowered me.
The preceptorship programme and the part-time work at a retail pharmacy also provided training ground for counseling and patient care skills. In a particular incident, a patient was complaining of muscle cramping. He was adamant on that he was suffering from a bone disorder and was insisting on calcium supplements. After a difficult counseling session, the misconceptions were dispelled, and he was finally convinced. Ultimately, he opted for a more suitable supplement. I believe these developed skills will allow for effective patient care in the healthcare system.
In tuition charges, specific lesson plans would be drawn out. They are tailored to the students’ need and style, in order to bring out the potential in them. I believe this can be applied in the corporate environment, where the staff can be groomed to unleash their greatest potential.
I would welcome the chance to discuss the opening. I can be contacted at 96501356. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely



Lee Wee Boon


Enclosure



EDITED

Entitled Grace. Or Not.

Is grace an entitlement?
Clearly, some take grace for granted and expect it as an entitlement, especially when they are being serviced by sales personnel.

A lady came forth to pay for her purchases, which had included some bandages and alcohol swabs, and presented a ten-dollar note for payment. However, the note was significantly damaged; the Singapore crest on the top left corner was desecrated, so much so that half the crest could not be seen. To protect the interest of the store, I declined the note as legal tender, and explained that we cannot accept the note due to the damage.

The lady was relentless and insisted I accept the note. She claimed that she did not have other notes to pay for her $3.65 purchase, and she needed the items urgently for her daughter. She further insisted that the bank will definitely accept the damaged note, and taunted us to contact her if the bank refused. I looked at her daughter, who seemed absolutely fine with no imminency of a haemorrhagic shock. The lady further explained that she had gotten the note from elsewhere in a weak attempt to justify her request.

I stood firm and rejected the note, quoting Section 19 of the Currency Act. Finally, the next customer, who happened to be a neighbour offered a intact ten-dollar note. The lady declined at first, saying, "What if the bank doesn't accept?" Eventually, she accepted the goodwill and the transaction commenced. On her departure, she labelled me an inflexible service staff. She then asked for my particulars and threatened to lodge a complaint against me "for my inflexibility", and added that she was "disappointed" with me.


Clearly, there is a conflict of interests here, between that of the consumer and retailer. On my side, I need to act in the best interest of the customers without compromising on that of the company and staff. I was not planning to take on such a liability for the possibly selfish desire of the customer. Especially when her claim of desperation and urgency was not at all compelling. It would not have been fair to the company and staff, or any other unfortunate customers who may end up taking up the damaged note. I was both legally and morally justified to decline.
On the other hand, the lady had probably felt that she could stomp her way through, banking on her status as a customer. It was apparent that she knew her request was not a legal one, and she was trying her luck with the store. When a social grace was not entitled to her(which was not to her expectations), she turned nasty and decided to launch a threat in attempt to force her way through. Child's way.
In retrospect, she probably felt upset for her mistake in accepting the damaged note, and hoped to rectify it by paying it forward(literally). She was clearly abusing social graces, and expected it as her right. Despite that, I did have the choice to "dispense" her a social grace, and offer to settle her purchase out of my own pocket.

In reflection, I have only one question to pose: Do you accept the note?

EDITED

Chinese Bull vs Western Bull

To take the bull by the horn means to face difficulty directly, and fearlessly. This is the explanation I had been offered by freedictionary.com.

In Chinese Idioms, there is an seemingly similar phrase: 钻牛角尖
A literal translation is to bore through the tip of a bull's horn. The phrase is commonly used to describe fixating on futile plans.
However, I had a prior misconception on its meaning and use, and thought it was the chinese equivalent of "taking the bull by the horn". This led me to put a negative connotation on latter, and thought that it described doing things the hard way. After verifying the true meanings of both idioms, what that had seemed like misunderstanding attributed to a cultural difference was actually one that was due to my own ignorance. Shame was quickly followed by an epiphany: Besides pride and prejudice, ignorance is also a major barrier to effective communication! Kudos!

Anyhow, the morale of the story was actually to not assume anything too soon. At least, make sure the facts are right in the very first place.

Super Salad?

Communication is a means by which individuals connect. It is a two-way process, where conveying and receiving are both critical. As an inevitable part of everyone's life, it is apparent why effective communication skills are important.

It is especially so for professions that are constantly at the frontline dealing with customers or clients. An example would be the class of healthcare professionals.
A physician would not be able to efficiently and accurately diagnosis without effective communication; a pharmacist would not be able to properly counsel a patient without effective communication.

In my experience, I find it impossible to help patients in any way if I do not know their needs. When such situation arises, good communication have to be employed to elicit any signs (or symptoms) that may indicate their needs. These signs are almost never straightforward or logical. I once encountered a patient seeking for “Super Salad” in the pharmacy. It was frustrating then for there were no reasonable leads as to what she truly needed. It was only upon further enquiries—questions about what she planned to use it for and what was wrong with her—that I realised that she had meant Spersallerg eyedrops for her itching eyes. Good communication skills save the day!

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