Arrival to Adelaide

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It's been pretty fantastic so far! The arrival was a bit rocky. Mechanical issues on the plane led to a delay in LA for 24 hours (though I got to have dinner with Chris and Kyla) and then when I arrived in Sydney a day late, I found they had left my luggage behind in LA. Everyone at the airport found this quite a nonissue and laughed about it. They said no problem, they would just ship it to me. However... I had no address yet. So they said no problem, they would just call me. But I had no phone number. So I was less than thrilled, but I got contact information and went to catch my connection to Adelaide. Good thing I was quick about it, because I had to get a bus to a different terminal and barely made it on time, I arrived in Adelaide to huge rainy gusts of wind. So I sucked it up and hailed a cab and arrived at Flinders Medical Center.

I went to security and picked up my arrival package and in typical Ariel fashion started walking the opposite direction in the pouring rain until some nice maintenance man took pity on me and picked me up and drove me to the flats. Then I tried to get in the drivers side because the driver sits in the right in Australia ... Awkward. But I made it to the flats and the woman who runs the flats gave me a comforter, umbrella, and some cook ware and utensils (very nice.)

The flats are... Not nice. But more than adequate. My room has a twin bed, a dresser, a wardrobe, nightstand, two desks, and a sink and vanity. I share a bathroom and shower mad kitchen with 4 other people. It is cleaned daily and well kept. I've only met two people in my flat and they are pretty shy and keep to themselves. One is a phd student at the uni.

That night the residents were meeting for a bar night and dinner for an end of year type of gathering (after going to the shooting range). I missed the range but figured out the bus system and bussed to the bar. I had no idea what anyone looked like, so I made friends with a different group until I realized I was in the wrong place. I quickly settled in, got a whiskey, and met some residents and fellows. Flinders attracts a lot of international applicants. The trauma fellows are Yoris from Holland and Alisdair from the UK (looks identical to my ex Barry). Both have been in practice for a while and have families who are also here (see inset - Orthopaedic training in Adelaide). There is also Lucas from Netherlands (looks like Ivan Drago) and Akash from India who work at the Repatriation Hospital doing arthroscopy and arthroplasty. I also met Meenu, a service registrar, originally from Malaysia, Amee and Akina who work in the research lab, Sylvia who is originally from Canada and now the Orthopaedic secretary and the "mom" of the group, Osama a first year registrar, Saleem a third year, Will a service reg.

We had a great dinner at a steakhouse (Gaucho's) and everyone was kind enough to give me a ride home. So, although bumpy, my ultimate arrival ended pretty well.

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Comments

[D MJ Binkley]

Wine country
Wow, great photo.

[ArielP]

Wow, I always just figure it's my grandma reading these things. Thanks for the comments! My friend is a doc in DC and he's coming to visit at the end of November.