SOME FOND MEMORIES OF UK: 3

It is said that in West London (where we lived for most of our time in UK) you can be green with pink spots, and nobody will look at you twice.

The greatest learning experience for me when living in London was the amazing cultural diversity. I just wish to share one incident which crystallised it for me. The MRCPsych part 2 results used to be put on the College's website at about 4-5 am in those days. I tried to remain awake on the night our results were supposed to be announced, but gave up at about 3 am and fell asleep. At about 5 am the phone rang and one of my friends announced with excitement that both he and I had passed. I was so charged up that I couldn't go back to sleep even though the next day was a working day. I started ringing those family, friends, and teachers who I just couldn't wait to share the good news with, till the working days started.

It was many months later I suddenly reflected one day on the huge variety of people I had rang in those early hours of the morning to share one of the happiest moments of my life, and who I knew won't get upset even if I rang them at an unsocial hour to share this good news with them; my mother, a Pakistani Muslim, a Nigerian Christian, a British Christian, a British Jain of Indian origin, a British Jew, an Indian Hindu amongst others. 

I especially want to mention some amazing teachers I had during that time. The top of the list was the guy who would invite a group of us to his home on Sundays before exams to do exam coaching, not something I have ever know any other consultant to do in UK. Then there was the consultant who mentored me during nearly half of my specialist training, and gave me a three page reference, something I had never had before, or have had since. When I emailed him 8 years after leaving UK, at the time of applying for a leadership position, he wrote a 2-page guideline of what I should be mindful of before accepting it.

My whole experience of living in UK was shaped by these people and I will remain grateful to them, and will remember them with kindness and love, for as long as I live.

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