Writing is a type of solace. Uninterrupted writing, that is.
Sometime last week, a friend sent me a letter. 2 pages long, and oh my, HAND WRITTEN. With technology, keyboard, e-mail and getting too used to receive formal letters from banks, associations all in type and printed form, I was actually surprised to see pen ink on paper, with occasional slash and cancelled word, typo no not typo, but misspelling, etc.
The main thing that crossed my mind was… Man, this must have taken like an hour to write!
Anyway, I am not someone who writes/types regularly. I just felt a need to update here, especially these few months, time flew.
The obvious highlight was – at the beginning of the year, there was a freelance dentist wondering what to do with her life and career. And Sandakan town was acutely short of dentists. But being back at home was almost the last thing on her mind. Anyway, by God’s grace, the dentist is back in town offering dental treatment to the beautiful people of Sandakan.
Amazingly, now looking back, after the confirmed decision to start GDS (S branch – first), it only took about a month for planning, sourcing equipment, application for licensing and other paperwork. Renovation, unfortunately, took 2 months plus. Yes, that long. Suppliers warned me, but I didn’t believe.
My heart is truly grateful to God because since day 1, the whole journey is by God’s grace. Once I made the decision to start a clinic in S., I booked the next weekend flight home. I was at Ktown that time doing a full month of locum. Oh, I haven’t mention during that 1 month of planning, I was working a full time job. So I flew back to S, gas up the car and began to drive around a few localities and newer areas. After cruising around, scanning for shops with any ‘To Let’ signs, so far nothing feels straight right.
And I was about to head home empty handed when I realized that I haven’t gave Jah a chance. So at the mile 4 intersection, I prayed. And Jah sent a lot of cars blocking my intended right turn. I went straight into Bandar N instead and I found a premise that I felt is perfect. You know the kind of feeling that once you see it, you kinda know that’s it, I like it. I went home and took my mom to see the place. And later that night, my dad. The next day, premise viewing. And later the same day, confirmed and deposit paid. -phew- No way it’s coincidence. Had Jah not intervened, I might have drove home and ended up another fruitless afternoon nap. So now, when people ask me ‘Where’s your clinic?’ I got a very easy 3 words answer ‘Beside Secret Recipe.’
Another interesting milestone is the UKAPS inspection. Before UKAPS inspection, by right a clinic shouldn’t be operating or taking patients. Well, I decided to be obedient and abide by this rule. I waited patiently, while started to train my staff first. Everyday without input, we are burning money. Paying for rental, for utilities, for staff salary, and wai……..t for government people to come and give us green light so we can start taking our first patients. After 2 weeks, we received confirmation that UKAPS will come on Friday 11am. I ordered refreshment and food for them and on Thursday, prep my staff on how to behave when inspectors are here. Thursday 4pm, I received a call ‘Dr, kita dari UKAPS. Boleh kita datang inspection sekarang?’ Waahah, it was like exam dates brought forward or like having a premature delivery. My staff were so funny, suddenly everybody was busy sweeping the floor (again) or wiping the cabinets. Sure enough, the government vehicle with the familiar logo pulled up. The inspection went with a breeze, I thank God big time. Friday came and the clinic had a lil feast ourselves. Following Monday, we will be officially open for business.
While I was at Ktown, I received a word from God. He told me to go back to S in peace (oh, you have no idea about the internal war and turmoil about planting foot in S). Jah assured me of blessing, and even amazingly He said He will use me to be a blessing to S town. Oh my… big words. Who am I? No need such big deal ba, God?
So the crazy thing was, (please, I am not bragging, this is a personal blog and I just want to give God the glory) while we were waiting for UKAPS to inspect, that 2 weeks of non-operational was already steadily drawing people. When Monday came, we started our business with commendable busy-ness already. It’s not like crazy madness, but to me, a humble good start.
Those days, when I drop by daily to check on the progress of renovation, well, basically that was all I was ever doing, those days were free and easy. And thankfully, I was given a chance to go China for almost 2 weeks, all expenses minus flight, paid. It was a wonderful experience. Just as I was in the midst of deciding equipment and stuff for my clinic, I realized that we are potentially paying 200-300% more for the same item I can get in China. Then again,I am very wary of things ‘Made in China’ so I was very selective. Having said that, China is a big hub therefore another level is dedicated to products of Germany, United States, Japan, Italy, etc. I made a mental note to go to these dental expo every year if possible,and suddenly I have no eye nor interest anymore for our own local dental expo. (imagine PC Fair at KL compared with PC Fair S, you know what I mean)
…… to be continued….. maybe.
aL is here 