Well, the journey was long. The first 12 hours to Singapore nearly killed me, but the final 7 were not bad at all. I’m staying in Coogee, which is a 15 minute drive from the airport, 5 minutes from the beach and 20 minutes ambling slowly to the hospital. My room is lovely- nice double room and the flat is really convenient for supermarkets etc. My flatmates are good fun. After a questionable night’s sleep (my body doesn’t quite seem to have adapted to the nine hour time difference), I woke at nine and ambled along to the beach (see attached photos). It was a glorious, warm day, despite my flat mates telling me it was freezing. Coogee beach is really sandy and appears to have good waves, so I may yet make it onto a surfboard… I pottered along the headland for a bit, before realising that I hadn’t eaten since 5pm the day before and needed feeding. I found the supermarket- Woolworths- and sorted myself out. In the afternoon, I found the medical school and began registration. It is a fabulous complex of university buildings, with lots of outside space for socializing. Registration involved lots of forms to sign agreeing that I was not a child molester and that I had a CRB check (4 actually). Enrolment was in a stunning new building by the library lawn, where you have to collect a ticket as though you were waiting at a supermarket delicatessen. I can’t quite see Newcastle adopting the same process. Finally, I met the Clinical Teaching Department and had my mug-shot taken for the security department. I start officially on Tuesday, as Monday is a bank holiday to celebrate the Queen’s birthday. No, I didn’t know that until I got here, either! Maybe we should institute it in the UK. On my way back to the flat I tried to buy a10-journey bus ticket, which involved the man in the shop asking me whether I wanted to get off before or after St Martin’s Place. I declared that I had not a clue, at which point he tutted, and I felt duty-bound to play the ‘daft blonde’ card. I think it worked as I certainly have a card that will take me to most places I might want to go in the city centre. I arrived back to find that the news was on and the weather forecast was telling us that this was the first day of the ski season, but that they might need fake snow… I love this country!
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