Age is JUST a number....

I must say, I think I was born in the wrong country because turning 25 in the Southern Hemisphere was just pure magic.

Woke up in Apollo Bay, a tiny coastal town along Victoria's famous Great Ocean Road. Enjoyed a bad coffee and brick toast from a dodgy side-of-the-road cafe, stood with the 12 Apostles (which is actually 9, thanks to nature and time), ate some McDonald's along Torquay Beach, followed by a dip in the ocean along one of Victoria's best beaches. Returned to Melbourne and had some Afghan food "on the floor" (our Sunday night tradition), surrounded by some of my best friends from South Dakota and Australia.

All signs are pointing to a fantastic year.

'Oh the weather outside is frightful....'

Believe it or not, I chose to live in the most unpredictable, extreme climate in Australia. Just like my home state, the weather motto around here is "If you don't like the weather, wait 15 minutes and it's sure to change." I can attest to that now....

Christmas Eve: 'Rain Rain Go Away'.... Our mission to the 11pm Christmas Carol Service required jeans, and a jacket. There was no white, but we're feeling the Christmas magic....

Christmas Day in Melbourne: a crisp 70 degrees F- perfect for carrying out Australian Christmas traditions: Bon Bons, BBQ at the park with fellow Christmas Orphans (hot dogs, Budweiser, and chips and dip), followed by a free tram ride to the square for drinks.

New Years Eve: Unapologetically hot. I think I took 3 showers that day. Not because I wanted to, but because I had to. My Tina Turner dress and dress-up mullet did not help the situation. I learned of my true ability to "sweat like a pig" and "smell like a dog." 

New Years Day: Back to long sleeves and pants. The 19 hour heat wave over, I shower off last nights sweat and rain, and embrace what I have decided is the year of the ?-Mark

11 January- Turns out we made history this day. Hottest night in over 100 years. Don't think I slept at all that night. Walking into handover at 7am on the 12th, I could tell by the look of everyone the difference in who had air con, and who didn't.... 

12 January- Out for drinks at the local warehouse bar, back to jacket and jeans..... 

And I just wrote a blog entry based on weather... what is my life coming to????

Socialized vs. Private??

I have wondered how to word this entry, because I don't want to come off as political, or "unpatriotic." Rather, I just want to point out some differences in a socialized vs. private healthcare setting. There are certainly positive and negative aspects to both. 

If there's anything I have learned working in Australia, is preventative medical care is key. 

Will result in less co-morbidities, healthier families, and less stress about hospital visits. 

Should healthcare be included as a basic human right? I do believe so. It should not just be for those who can afford private insurance, or for the employed. But who should be responsible to ensure everyone is cared for? That begs the real question. 

I do believe personal responsibility is the next key. People need to know their bodies, know their General Practitioner, know their family history, know their medications and why they take them.  

The first part is actually much easier- insuring everyone. Whether it's the government, or another form of money, if everyone is insured the easy part is done.

I think the next part, the most challenging thing for America will be changing an entire state of mind. Educating people that healthcare is a team effort- with players including medical staff as the coaches, and citizens of the world as all the players. If one player or coach doesn't pull their weight, then all members fail. 

The next best lesson I have learned is: that healthcare integrity is universal across the ocean. I count myself very lucky to have worked with an incredible team of healthcare professionals in the United States, and also to work with an equally smart, honest, hard-working group of professionals in Australia as well. All work for the common good of society, and all practice good medicine. 

Pest control in a world full of them...

I have indeed met my match.

Not many things scare me. In fact, more things should frighten me. Not the bungy, not skydiving, and certainly not moving to Australia (the people are entirely too friendly here for it to be scary at all!)

The MICE. 

Those little shits. 

They are little, but fast and furious. And sneaky little buggers. And they cause me to have chest pain. I can't sleep, I can't relax, and every time the wind blows I think the mouse is going to jump on my face. 

I tried to nicely shoo them away. Who am I kidding? Besides for a brief moment of consideration of the humane traps, I have been trying to rid my house of these evil beings for 2.5 weeks now. Now it's time to bring out the big guns, the Navy Seals of pest control. 

Maybe then, I won't have to sleep with the lights on, with shoes near my bed so I can throw them at places before I step on them. 

I suppose this is something I should get used to, living in Australia? No? 

Shanjean and Kelli's Thanksgiving Extravaganza!

I really have so much to be thankful for this year... in keeping with the theme, I would say as far as my Aussie life goes, I am oh so thankful to have found an American "mate" here, Shanjean, a Duke University Medical Student doing research here in Melbourne. Together, we have weathered the storms of awkward living arrangements, the Melbourne housing crisis, homelessness, and health care worker related culture shock. 

Even though we are quite content not in America right now, we knew we needed to properly bring a Thanksgiving holiday to Australia. After all, with English ancestry in all of us, we so have the common factor of being happy to be in our respective countries.

I now realize fully what goes into planning a Thanksgiving meal, and I am happy to report, we TRIED to go all out, but with lack of certain resources, it made for a slightly modified, better-than-the-average, Aussie style Turkey celebration!

What we wanted: 

Turkey, cooked, dressed, trimmed, and whatever else you do to the turkey made and baked by us. In two hours since it was NOT an Australian holiday and both of us had to work...

Gravy, also made from the turkey, homemade. 

Mashed Potatoes, freshly picked, mashed, and buttered to perfection. 

Sweet potatoes, only the recipe from Jean Snyders. And my favorite part of the meal...

Green Bean Casserole, keeping with the theme, homemade, with freshly picked green beans and onion...

Cranberry sauce, not from a can.

Pumpkin pie, yes- homemade crust, with homemade pumpkin as well...

Apple pie, same thing, only with freshly picked Australian Granny Smith Apples

Football: Would stream game online to have in the background and to nap to post-turkey

What actually happened:

Turkey, ordered from Rosie, the sweet African lady at the Victorian Market. A perfectly smoked, marinated to perfection turkey breast (turkey on a diet, not nearly as fat as our American turkeys!)..

Sweet potatoes: Yes, using Jean's recipe- never as good as mom's, but still, you get the picture...

Stuffing: homemade WITHOUT measuring cups, or taking into account the metric system... I think it worked....

Cranberry Spread: no, worse than cranberry from a can... but you get the idea. Had some dried cranberries on hand for those missing out on the flavor. 

Apple Pie bought from Woolworth's grocery store, heated up in pans to look like we made them... totally worked. 

Guest Appearance! My pet mice... they were also hungry, and since they can't show their face, decided scurry around the house like little rascals and make pests of themselves... oh those little shits.......

And it was all perfect! And I appreciate all our friends who came to the occasion and pretended they were celebrating Thanksgiving too! 

Also, would like to throw out a special tribute, to a special man- My Grandpa Jim, who turned 80 this week! Now for those of you who don't know his story, know that this man has given the world a great lesson on the resilience of the human spirit. He's a tough man, but a softie at heart. I am so thankful for his story, and for what his life has taught me about the true meaning of living. So thank you!

Medical Terminology/Slang

Australia vs. American Medical Terminology/Slang

Posturals vs. Orthostatics

Cannula vs. PIV(peripheral IV)

TOE vs. TEE (for Trans-esophageal Echocardiogram, who spells Esophagus, Oesophagus?!)

Gastro vs. Diarrhea

Panadol vs. Tylenol

Wee vs. pee

Mate vs. Sir

Bowel action vs. Bowel Movement

Registrar vs. Attending

Nasal prongs vs. Nasal Cannula

(Sorry for all the fecal references, part of my job!) 

Important Life Lessons 101

I am a firm believer that life experience will provide one with more lessons than any classroom can teach... so here is a list of things I have learned along the way- some good, and some- maybe not so good.

Housing Crisis: 

   Learned quickly that a flat/apartment complete with my own bathroom, bedroom set, and fantastic Australian flatmates doesn't appear magically. Therefore, many hours will be spent on gumtreee.com upon arrival into new city. 

Awkward Moments: see above. 

   Going into various stranger's homes, looking around.... but small chat does get less awkward after the 200th house....

Problem Solving:

   Dropping toothbrush, toothpaste, all contact lenses just bought from states, inhaler, retainer into hostel toilet isn't a total loss. Perhaps will meet a dashing Australian optometrist....?

Socialism:

   There are no more tears in the pyxis room at work. Everyone helps out. And no, that crazy lady in the hallway fingerpainting with her poo isn't just YOUR responsibility. 

Nutrition:

   It's not ok when you are homeless to eat lolli's for meals. Will result in nutritional deficiencies, leg cramps, and exhaustion.

Homelessness:

   Even Lonely Planet messes up sometimes with recommendations. Because the hostel they say "everyone stays here for weeks because it's so homey" may not be that hospitable. A park bench may be safer than some beds. And syphilis can be just as airborne as swine flu.... 

Patient Population:

   Neurological patients are the same universally. Inappropriate. Getting yelled at in English is one thing, or Spanish. But Italian and Greek may be different. Especially when other patient's can translate. "Um nurse, that patient just told her to go get stuffed..."

Accents:

   "What part of Canada are you from?" 

   "The Southern part. South Dakota. you know, the United States?"

Skin Care:

   A hole in the ozone layer does result in much higher levels of UV exposure. Never leave home without sunscreen.

New Life Motto:

   Work to live, don't live to work. 

Public Transportation:

   ... Is a game... and inefficient. Walking is much more time friendly.

Aging:

   As a result of walking everywhere: Swollen feet, sore muscles!  Must get TED hose... 

To be continued....