Memorizing techniques from around the world

While students in UK or US universities have only just started their new academic year, we — students hanging upside down in the Southern Hemisphere — are in exams. (Hey Southern Hemipshere, in case you have the 'oh-no-I'm-gonna-fail syndrome,' better think of it in this way: the long summer holidays are near!)

I have been constantly reading my books, lecture notes, wikipedia, and of course Scitable, during the past couple of weeks or so (as well as watching movies, playing computer games and going out Friday nights). And with my first exam scheduled this week, I have started the laborious process that is memorizing.

My memory has never been any good. Just ask my girlfriend about my non-attendance at her birthday party earlier this year. Well, actually, please don't. Point is, if I can't remember my girlfriend's birthday, how am I going to be able to memorize different fungal pathogen names like (umm, wait let me flick through my notes) Pityrosporum furfur or Sporothrix shenckii?

Seeking advice on the matter, I asked some of my friends how they went about doing their memorizing. What I found interesting was that people from different countries had different strategies of their own:

Singaporian: "It's easy, man. I read it once and it's all in. Why? Isn't it the same for you?"

Sri Lankan: "Well I just read and read the same notes over and over you know. Then I discuss the notes with friends and re-read the same notes again. But for some reasons I never am able to complete my revision."

Australian: "Yah, mate, it's hard, isn't it? I dunno, really. I suppose I just somehow manage to cram it all in last minute, you know. Well, anyways... Cheers, mate."

Maldivian: "What? We are expected to memorize all of that!??"

Indonesia: "The key is to start studying early. See, I started four months before the exams (and that's saying something considering semester started three months ago) and now I know everything..." [Giggles from the other twenty Indonesian students in the group.]

South African: "As my dad used to say: 'Look at Didier Drogba, he got the feet but you, my son, you got the brains.' Okay, seriously, I just walk bare-chested back and forth in my room reciting the notes. It's really hot here, isn't it?"

Malaysian: "Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god... EXAAAMMSSS!!!" [Sobbing.]

Mauritian: "Oh, I haven't started studying yet. When's the first paper anyway?"

I suppose we're all in trouble -- bar the Singaporians and Indonesians.  Happy revision!

Image credits: Khalil A Cassimally; freedigitalphotos.net