First week in Melbourne

Sunday

After breakfast, I walked into town to catch the free City Circular Tram. It was just like those in Christchurch except it's free. I love free public transportation!
I arrived at DFO (Direct Factory Outlet) Spencer which looks like a gigantic fancy dressmart. I had 5 minutes to look around before Nick came to pick me up to have BBQ lunch at his place. His house is a 150 year old renovated Victorian style one-storey beauty. It was beautiful - it would just be the house I want to own one day when I grow up ("When I grow up...") .

It was seafood BBQ with LARGE prawns and scallops, and a bit of sausages and lamb.Very delicious! Nick and Susan invited their friends Rob and Denis . They are all dentists and spoke a little of their dental business during lunch which sounded like a foreign language to me. I always wonder how come doctors do not know anything about teeth.. nothing at all? Perhaps it should be an area I should read upon on.
Before sunset, Nick and Susan drove me to Williamstown (just 10 minutes from city centre) to take a look of the city. Monday

The first day that I met the Orthopaedic Surgeons, I wondered to myself, "why did I choose to do Orthopaedics for 6 weeks again!?" mmm.. I guess I probably wouldnt know what else to choose.

Most of the consultants are away this week on a conference, so I met the registras - all men.. all typical surgeon-type men. Hmmm.. Apparently there are no females in Orthopaedics.. other than house officers who I do not have much contact with.

I attended outpatient clinics and operations this week. Since the consultants are away, the registras advised me to not bother spending too much time in hospital - I agree, they do not do much teaching, probably because they are slightly stressed out with the workload this week. But still, not bad. Im seeing cases and trying to remember the basic orthopaedic jargons used.

On my first day, as I was looking at the first patient's X-ray.
"What does it look like Cindy?"
"mmm, a fracture." (I was still half-awake and nervous from meeting new people!)
"Yeees, what kind of a fracture?"
"mmmmmmmmm (a even longer mmmm)... a fragmented fracture?" (My god, which medical student says that!!!??)
"Mm. What do doctors call that?"
"mmm (DING! Light bulb went off in my head) -- it's a comminuted fracture!!" (I smiled with satisfaction)
"ah. yes" (The doctor has the "thank goodness she knows something look" on his face).

Most of the afternoons, I take time off to explore Melbourne. Im waiting for May and Jeff to both arrive to do the proper sight seeing tours (self-guided of course) with them. So for now, my main focus is shopping.

Melbourne is beautiful. I love the feel of the city, the Victorian style buildings, the trams, the people, the weather! I have already decided, this is the next place I would be moving to once I have decided to leave NZ for a break.

Here are a few photos I took.

This is inside Melbourne Central Shopping Centre.

This is the view from the south side of the city (Southbank)

This is one of the 4 major train stations that borders the central business district.
This is the State Library of Victoria. It's beautiful. I have yet to step in.
This is the town hall.
This is the not so impressive Chinatown. I was not impressed at all. There is not much to do in there except eat.

I tried cream puff which I love to eat if Im in Taiwan.
DFO (Direct Factory Outlet) on Spencer Street is the place to go for shopping. I havent quite finished the mall, so will come back with May when she turns up on Friday.. hehe.. I love bargin shopping!
Here is Myer - it's like a fancy farmers.. very fancy.
And here is a photo of me - I couldnt take a photo of myself until I found this mirror..