So, it has been a long time since I have updated here, and a lot of things have happened. I arrived here, of course, and had to find a place to live. I have now succeeded in finding the place, but Shaun and I have to wait till Feb 18 to get it. That’s a bit of a stress because Shaun (my future housemate) needed to have a place for the beginning of this week. As it turns out he was able to stay with some friends for the time being and will make the move in a few weeks. The place looks great to me and it fits a lot of my hopes. I didn’t know what kind of place we would be in, with me initially thinking that we would look for an old house in the hills. I had imagined a place in the bush that was a little isolated and cheap because of it. I looked all around and there were some good options. But then we kept adding wants to the list, like being close to the urban center and being closer to the coast. We have come so far, and have a chance to live near the water, and we wanted to take advantage of that. So it turned out that an apartment fit our needs better.
I met with the owner, which was great, as often you are only able to meet the real estate agent in this country. Things look like they will work out well.
Then I had to move all my stuff out of my house and into a storage locker, because I was headed on my rural medicine rotation. I have done that now, and headed up to Rockhampton, for orientation. Today is the end of the orientation, and over the weekend, I will travel to a small town called Barcaldine. It is in the middle of Queensland and seems like it’s going to be great. Whatever happens out there, I think it will give me a good taste of what is going on in the far corners of this country. Phone and internet have been spotty this week, as I am out of my home zone, there is very little coverage. I’m hoping to change carriers to fix that problem.
This week has been filled with lectures and practical sessions to try equip us as best as possible to handle some of the things we are going to see and do. We have done sessions on xray, injection, IV, intraosseous infusion, casting, CPR and many more. It’s been a really good all around review and a good way to start the year. I am looking forward to the weeks to come.
While I didn’t actually write the post when I started, this is the time I woke up, at Matt’s house, to get ready to leave Canada. I didn’t get back in bed until the post above.
Actually I have been home for a while. Phoenix was great, a really cool place and a great time to be there. I am looking forward to going back! Since being home the weather has been a lot warmer and we have all been together. Things are starting to wrap up with people going their ways. Andy and I had coffee this morning that turned into lunch and ended up being a 4 hour event! Loved it.
With Edmonton posting its coldest ever temperature, somewhere around -46 C, I am getting outta Canada! Well I am not going cause it’s cold, just going with Dad. Should be good fun!
We are watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” and we’ve all got blankets to fend off the cold. It is minus 30 something outside!
Olds, Alberta is a snowy snowy place right now, but it’s home and I made it, after all the flying. Five different flights between Brisbane and Calgary. It’s good to be home.
PS - Results were released and now I am officially done second year.
Actually I am just stuck in the airport. My 1130h flight got moved to 1247 then 1302 then 1320 then cancelled. Fortunately I got moved to a flight later today, but some guys in front of me got moved to tomorrow. Still, had I known I would leave later it would have been a bit better, as I could have made visits this morning. Oh well. Calgary here I come.
The weather this last week has been great in Vancouver. The images below show what we are working with. These photos are the ones from the top of the Harbour Center. Erika took me there as she has a special card allowing her to take guests to attractions for free. It was sweet. Ron did not like me taking his wife away from being there for him at lunch though!
Made it back and it is so great to be here. Family, friends, Tim Hortons, Reese’s, root beer and sunshine surprisingly. I have a rental car this time and that is really helping me get around, glad I did that. This morning I went to the Vancouver Lookout, i will have to post photos later, but it was great. On my way out to the valley where I used to live. So many memories…
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