Swedish journey of a Pakistani doctor > UK

Few days back I went to a Pakistani gathering where I was asked a question multiple times: How long have you been in Sweden? I casually replied: 2.5 years. What? I had to repeat it a few times inside my head to make sure it really was what I heard myself say. To be precise it's 2 years and 2 months. I was surprised how much time has gone by. But I was even more surprised by my own casual way of saying it, of making it 2.5 years even though it's been just over 2.  Have I accepted this way of life? This sleeping in through half of the day, this doing nothing and still being content, this series of unproductive, unexciting days? Have I really?   When I got my results two weeks ago, I though to myself: Do I have any desire left for working in healthcare? Do I even care if I clear this stage or not? The answer could easily be NO, in the spur of the moment. But once I reeled back my mind to April this year when I entered the hospital for a praktik. I tried to re-live the thrill ...

My plan for after this test was to meet my mentor and start praktik and vikariat (substitute) while I wait for the house job (AT) results. Last date to apply for second half of 2013 was 13th March. Since I haven't cleared the exam and have to take it again, I didn't even bother applying for the house job (the procedure now clearly states that foreign doctors should apply with a copy of TULE result. I met my mentor anyway. She is a barnkardiolog (child specialist with a sub-speciality in child cardiology - that's 8 years). She arranged for a practice where she works, i.e. at the pediatric department at hallandssjukhus. I began 18th of March and continued up till 12th April. Working at the hospital was a great experience. I got to know about the health system in Sweden, and saw a lot of different cases. Also I was highly appreciated for my language skills. Mottagning is the word used for the out-patient department/day. So the specialists had their OPD and then there was ...

It's time to write the post I was never looking forward to writing. Because this is about NOT clearing TULE. My worst nightmare has come true. Something I had never expected and still am unable to accept. I have to admit it, I am still shocked, and wake up every day hoping and wishing that all this that happened in the past month was just a bad dream. But it's not. It's true. I did give the exam, and I did not clear it. That makes me feel like a really dumb student, because this kind of failure is something I have never experienced, nor awaited. Let me go into the background a little bit. I am a good enough student of medicine, I have never failed any exam, I chose this profession by my own choice and I am very passionate about it. Since the time I found out I'd be moving to Sweden, I have been trying to find out about this particular test. From whatever I gathered (and I can't quote any sources, unfortunately) the practical test is a breeze, because all th...

There are things I always wish I had tried, not to get them, but just to know how they would have gone for me, how would I have performed in them?... like the O and A levels, taking both maths and biology in F.Sc., going through the house job interviews, FCPS exams, AKUH residency test, working as an RMO, taking USMLE steps, IELTS, PLAB, AMC and many others that I don't even remember right now. How would it have felt completing residency and FCPS in paediatrics within 4 years? On the contrary I have done things that I never imagined I would go through.. Coming from a small place and getting admission in PECHS college, then after topping the jamiat medical test, getting into DMC, Hamdard and KMDC, even qualifying for D-pharm in Karachi University and NED, clearing medicine degree in first attempt, within 5 years, without having the power to 'ratta'fy,and while coming to know how good my Clinical skills were. Then moving to Sweden just after 4 months, Learn...