So after a 20+ hour trek across the Pacific I finally arrived in Brisbane! I had a 4 hr. layover in LA, which was tolerable b/c for some reason Qantas gave me a "lounge pass" and I had access to this super plush lounge with free food, drinks, and internet access. So I decided to take advantage of the opportunity and drink as much wine as I could in 3 hrs. to hopefully pass out on the plane. It was moderately successful and although the flight from LA to Melbourne was over 15 hrs., it wasn't all that bad.
After arriving in Brisbane, Dr. Bowden's office manager picked me up from the airport and I got to my apartment which was nice. I have everything I could need- frig, freezer, stove, microwave, washer/dryer, TV, A/C (thank God!), and it's got a cute little balcony/patio out front. The location is great b/c I am only 2 blocks from the train station and a grocery store and other stuff is only a 2 minute walk away. It only took me 10 minutes door to door to get the hospital today and was real easy.
Dr. Bowden (Blair) and his staff are awesome and so laid back. It is the most perfect setup ever, b/c he just lets me see whatever surgery I want and all I have to do is show up for surgery and when it's over I can leave. I don't have to see patients or do any of the pre-op/post op crap that I would normally have to do. Also, Wednesday afternoons are designated as sailing days (can't wait!) and Blair encourages long weekends, frequent trips to the pubs, and not getting too stressed out (everything is "no worries mate"!). So I am pretty much in heaven. Over here, they call the OR "theatre" and they have other funny terms but I love the accent. I am trying really hard to get one before I come back.
I am already trying to figure out how to spend my weekends and pack as much into them as possible. This weekend I am planning to go to the Gold Coast, which is about an hour south of Brisbane and is where most of the good beaches are. I am going to try out surfing while I am there and hopefully will not get too many concussions or get eaten by any great whites. Maybe I'll do some bungy jumping as well (apparently they have this thing where you go 4Gs in about 2 seconds and travel over 400km/min.) and just lay on the beach and relax. Then next weekend I am going to go up to Cairns (in north Queensland) and check out the Great Barrier Reef and do some snorkeling, boating, etc. There are some other great islands around here and cool stuff to do so I will be pretty busy the 3 weeks I am here.
Hope everyone is doing well and I will continue to update as much as possible.
5 comments:
You have no idea how pumped I am about this Blog! Roger and I miss you already!!!!
If I had to go to the OR, it would make me a little nervous that you call it "theatre." Hope the sailing and beaches are enjoyable - did you go over there to study surgery or marine life? Seems like the latter to me.
Dude, 400kM/min is only like 10 miles per hour if you do the conversions. You might as well just jog down a hill...Hope you are having fun with the shrimp and the barbees and whatnot.
Chris - please send me an application to ECU med school. This lifestyle sounds very different than what I had imagined for a doctor. I look forward to hearing about your boomerang lessons and seeing pictures of your pet koala bears. Have fun and enjoy watching movies in the theater.
test for Dad
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