Brisbane, Australia!

Hello from Down Under!

It's only my 5th day here but my life has changed so much in that time... in a good and exciting way :) New friends, new flat (moving in this wkend!), new job, and a totally new way of life!

Every night I keep thinking I should pen down daily the new things I've seen and the surprises I've experienced but then seem to run out of time ...so here are my top 8!

1) From the moment I landed I've been touched by how friendly everyone is here. My airbnb hosts came to pick me up from the airport at 2230 despite starting work the next day at 0700... the supermarket lady taught me to how to use the buses... to my patients who tell me "Alex, you'll stay". Also no one in hospital gives you any hassle for referring or requesting. I mean it's their job no? The pharmacist actually said to me "don't feel you need to look after everything. There are separate teams for that."

2) Australian wildlife is as wild as it gets... a few examples:
Every morning at dawn I wake up to the raucous cries of birds. It feels like you're in a rainforest!
I'm also used to the sound of cats running on the roof - actually the sound of possums scurrying. Oh and random insects/spiders everywhere. Thankfully no tarantulas yet.
The ibis (a bird! That's what the hotel chain is named after - nope I didn't know that either) is also crazy. One stole my lunch on day one. Google image them - they look like they're from the jurassic era and are as common here as pidgeons in central London.
Oh and wild "bush turkeys" roam the streets. Google image them too. They look so important!

3) The Aussies are so. laid. back.
It's almost like time has another meaning! They also love to chat and joke. Even at work. To the point where I admit it irritated me beyond belief on my first day at work but it does make the work environment seem extremely relaxed! I think I just need to adjust!

4) They love organic. Anything that can be organic should be organic it would seem.

5) Brits are everywhere. And I mean EVERYWHERE. Two of my patients told me I must be from London just today!

6) Stuff is expensive. Who charges £3 for a pouch of instant noodles? The Aussies.

7) Brisbane is a rise and sleep early kind of city (due to the heat). My present job starts at 0630! The concept seemed initially crazy but I'm already kind of used to it and actually quite like it that way. It makes sense to utilise daylight! Also it means you have so much more time in the hospital day... e.g. if the patient is aiming to leave at 10am, you have 3 hours (rather than <1) to sort it all out! Plus if I ended on time (more on that another time) I would technically have a whole half day to do whatever I pleased!

8) There are so many words (and drug names) that are different here. My favourite example is Pom which means a Brit. Sounds like a bad word right?! But kind of cute. Like half a pom pom.

Overall it's really great. Whilst I do miss my family and friends, I love the people, the weather (that may change in the summer), the attitude (can do), the lifestyle... Sounds dangerously good and it is!!

Planning to commence a new blog for this year soon. Watch this space! :D

London at its best

This last week has reminded me of what an amazing place London is and how lucky we are to call her our hometown! I love that everything is always continually changing - I'm sure you could easily fill 365 days with entirely new activities every day. Since I have a rare full week just to enjoy life/not be at work I've been trying to make the most of it!

My 3 highlights of this week have been:
1) Aladdin the musical (oh my goodness go see it! Check out dayseat.com for how to enter their daily ticket draw if you're feeling lucky),
2) The ingenious Orbit Slide at the Olympic Park (30 seconds of super fast, super scary sliding time! £15 but £3 more gets you an annual pass - great for visitors and locals!) And lastly;
3) Kanada-Ya in Soho for ramen so good even Japanese folk seem not to mind queueing for it!

4 days til the big flight! That suitcase is still looking pretty empty though..!

The Countdown

The packing has slowly started, I'm pleased to report! I keep thinking of new "must do's" however before I leave in exactly a week's time... Wish me luck!

F2 to F3

Well for the first time since leaving University I finally had total freedom for 6 weeks and what I did I do with it? Pack it full of course! But as much as I like to complain that is of course the way I secretly like it.

Post Mull, I worked in a small DGH acute medical unit as a locum (temporary doctor). It was pretty eye-opening having never been a locum myself. The unit were clearly having staffing issues with most of those there from various agencies.

Most of the locums were in a similar position to myself- on an "F3" aka the medical gap year. Some were more senior though and I soon realised these were not doctors in ever intended to go into training. Quite the opposite. I was frankly a bit appalled by (not all) but some of their lazy behaviours. Despite being paid a premium they clearly worked inefficiently and knowingly so. It was like meeting the antithesis of every medical students' idol. They weren't bad people (one could argue) but they were certainly bad doctors. I was encouraged however that the permanent members of staff, though clearly working in less than adequate conditions, strived to do their best and tried not to allow the daily staffing issues take away their smiles and admirable bedside manner. I was also moved by my fellow compatriots - we each were caring for probably more patients than we ever had done, doused with extra responsibilities in a unit unfamiliar to us, but despite this they would offer to help me and answer my endless questions about the computer system, and likewise I would chip in what I could. The camaraderie was palpable.

And whilst one day in particular will stick in my mind - a no lunch, no time to go to the bathroom sort of day - ultimately no matter the stresses, I found my love for medicine rekindled once more. No matter how bad the day is I can't deny the exhilaration felt when you correctly diagnose and treat a problem, and in some small way help someone through a difficult time in their life. Every down has twice the ups. And so despite me thinking quite certainly I was going to be a GP... I've now realised that I must spend at least some more time in hospital post Australia! Life can be funny like that. 

Other than that I've done some teaching, finished off some research recruitment (woo!) and have been to Canada to see my family - a trip that turned out to be unexpectedly personally and culturally important but that I won't bore you with. I've also set up an Australian bank account, booked accommodation, arranged meet ups with everyone I care about and that leaves me just under 2 weeks until I head Down Under. Time to start thinking about packing... maybe :P