UAA 2018

I watched a youtube video, saying that if you're sad, down, blue, depressed etc. You should start by looking at the things you're thankful for.  That gratitude is a way to make you feel better.  So here I am trying that advice...

When I submitted my research to UAA 2018, I have initially no plans of going.  Well because of a lot of reasons, I felt guilty about it, I felt I was punished for it, I felt I'm not making a difference and  lots of reasons. 

But do you believe me when sometimes, Divine intervention really wants you to do something??  And suddenly there were lots of signs thrown to you urging you to do something.

I'll begin with receiving an email.  From UAA itself! Inviting me to the convention.  I felt honored, well because this is the first international convention to send an email to me, a mere resident only.  It may be a bulk email to random people, but I was really touched by the gesture from their part.  

So after receiving the email, I thought to myself, too bad I couldn't go... hay...

Then came the next sign: my paper was accepted for presentation! I was happy and giddy with the news.  But again, my mind told me... "they will not allow you to go, ang dami mo ng labas..."

The 3rd sign was when the PURA president called me, "Avy! Gusto mo mag UAA? Naghahanap sila ng 3 senior residents na papadala dun, sponsored yun hotel and yun precongress workshop."

So I then asked my dad, "Pa, they're offering me to go to Japan, they'll sponsor the workshop daw. Do we have money to go to Japan?"  Then my dad said, "It's a rare opportunity, you should grab it, I'll take care of how we get the money to go.  Though you should ask permission first to your head"  So I did, I asked permission from our RTO and our Chief of Section.  Eventually I was allowed to go.

I actually felt really bad after the conversation.  But hey, it's new year's eve, so I can't welcome the new year with a very sad and negative feeling.

Then the 4th sign came: I was chosen by UAA to represent the Philippines to do a lecture in the precongress. I mean Wow! And this was discovered by one of my consultants and he emphasized to everyone that this indeed is an achievement not only by the resident but the section as well.

So my dad, being the best supportive dad that he is, went with me to UAA.  

Upon arrival at the UAA site, I was so happy.  I guess all those negative things and experiences you got before you get to the convention, made you appreciate the opportunity of being there more.

Then came the poster presentation.  Good thing nobody asked any questions though.  See my #stagedad?! hahahaha.  I wouldn't spend this with any other man anyways.  When you were young, you often see or hear other people getting embarrassed when their parents would like to go with them on something like this.  I couldn't remember I was embarrassed though... I guess I never saw it that way. Or maybe that's just how much I love my dad.

Of course we're proud that there's 7 of us residents representing our country.  Each with research paper to contribute to the field of Urology.

 And it's always nice when you meet your consultants there as well.

Plus points if they took a picture with your poster to show their support.

Here I also tried for the first time the robot simulator.  And it was AMAZING! No wonder why so many doctors venture and train in this new technology.

Oh I should have sad anything about the convention hall.  Look below, looks magnificent right? very organized, each with table.

And if you'll look closely at the table....  There's a charging port, a lamp and when you sit on the chair, the chair automatically moves you closer to the table!!! Now who needs a gentleman to push your chair? The chair automatically moves forward and backward when you're going to sit or stand.

But wait, there's more!

If you'll look up, and sideways, you can see some people up there. Doing on the spot translation of the lectures! In the lecture halls, there were headsets, and you just switch channels if you want it in Japanese or English.  If the lecture was in English, those Japanese who don't understand much English can just switch the channel of the headset and someone there is translating what the lecture is talking about on the spot!  I actually was able to try the English channel, because there was one lecturer who preferred to speak in Japanese, so I switched the headset channel to English and there I hear it! 

UAA 2018 definitely gave me an experience I would never forget.  Thank you UAA 2018, for being patient with me, urging me to go.  

You can also read of my UAA 2017 experience and AURC 2018 lecture experience.