Volunteering in the Endoscopy Ward

One of my motivations for coming to Australia was getting to see healthcare on an international level and gaining some clinical experience outside the U.S.

So for the past couple of weeks, I have been volunteering in the endoscopy ward at St. John of God Hospital in Subiaco. It’s a really simple job; I take food to patients who have just had endoscopies (i.e. procedures in which the doctor inserts a endoscope or fibrescope into the patients to observes their insides).

I work Mondays 9:30 – 12:30, making sandwiches, coffee, soup, etc. and then taking it to the patients. It’s not the most in-depth clinical experience (i.e. I’m not working in the ER at Presbyterian in Albuquerque), but it’s a really nice way to interact with patients and have a one-on-one experience with them. It also gives me something to do on Mondays when I don’t have school.

Here are just a couple pictures of what I do. Hopefully I can start volunteering on Tuesdays too... maybe working in another ward or something like that. We'll see...

Here is me making sandwiches & coffee

St. John of God Hospital in Subiaco

Once the food is ready, I put it on a tray and take it to the patients.

This is the actual building I work at - Bendat Family Comprehensive Cancer Centre

And finally here is me walking home... It's a rather random picture, but I just wanted to show you how I look most days (hat on, pants on, sunglasses on, sunblock on, and umbrella in hand). Haha, I'm fightin' the Australian heat... NO skin cancer for me!

I HAVE A ROOM!

After 9 weeks of living in an "office," I finally have a room!

My two roommates Makiko & Martin just moved out, so I was allowed to move upstairs into one of their bedrooms. I chose Martin's because it had more windows (more light), and it had a walk-in closet.

I'm ecstatic. My new room looks amazing. It has tons of windows, a queen size bed, and a walk-in closet!

For the past two months, I have been living in the room/office downstairs, which was okay but kind of frustrating at times…

But now I have my own room! And I feel great because it reminds me of my dorm room at UNM. Hopefully it will make me more productive because I got to get studying for these upcoming midterms… EEK!

My new room... Look at all the windows!

Walk-in closet

My bed

More beautiful artwork by my tenant Jane

I've never had a WINDOW in my closet before... how cool!

View outside my bedroom of Wembley

Exploring Perth… Finally!

Since I’ve been in Perth, I really haven’t taken the time to actually explore the city. I guess I’ve always assumed I can explore it later when school is over.

BUT…

Today my friend Kevin flew in from Sydney to come look around Perth. Like me, he is from the University of New Mexico and on student exchange in Australia, except he goes to school at the University of Sydney.

So he, his friend Sean, another friend Andrew, his friend Tal, and I explored Perth today.

We went to Kings Park and Scarborough Beach. It was a really nice day… a little rainy & gloomy, but overall, I had a great time.

Here are just a couple pics from our outing.

A good picture with Perth in the background

War memorial

Perth

The "Eternal Flame" - a war memorial

Boab Tree... this tree is over 700 years old!

Some couple got married in the park today... what a great wedding background, don't you think?

Hollywood Blvd. has palm trees... Perth has eucalyptus trees

Another shot with Perth in the background

Perth

"DNA" tower that overlooks the city

We found some jellyfish at Matilda Bay

Scarborough Beach

We went to the beach to watch the sunset and play some "footy"

Beautiful day at the beach

Running to get a quick dip in the water

Sunset

Nice day without crowds of people

Update on Thailand Internship

As many of you know, I am doing a medical internship in Chiang Mai, Thailand, this summer, so here is just a quick update on how the planning is going…

I am currently fundraising to raise money for my program. It is going to cost about $1600 USD, so I am asking people and organizations for donations of any type ($5, $10, $20, $50, $100+).

Thus far, the motorcycle club of Clovis, NM, has given me $250, so I'm off to a GREAT start. I still have a ways to go, so if you are reading this blog and would like to donate anything, feel free to contact me! Email me for more information. Any contribution would truly be appreciated!

Otherwise, I have already booked my flights to & from Thailand. I leave for Chiang Mai on June 25th, and I return back to the states on July 30th. I’m very excited. It’s going to be a life-changing experience and a great way for me to gain first-hand clinical experience (shadowing a doctor & working in a hospital) without having to worry about school or a job.

My internship will be for 4 weeks, Mondays – Fridays from 8:00 AM to about 4:00 PM. And I will have the weekends free to travel and explore Thailand with the rest of the interns… I’m so excited. Thailand looks amazing, especially Chiang Mai!

Plus, the volunteer program that I am going through (Experiential Learning International) seems very friendly, supportive, and legit.

And if all goes well with this internship, I am probably going to plan another medical internship in Mexico for next summer…! But first, I have the MCAT this fall… EEEK! Wish me luck!

Here are just a couple more pics of Chiang Mai, Thailand... courtesy of Experiential Learning International's Facebook profile...

Teaching Program at a Monastery, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Un-Wed Mother's Home, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Oldest Temple, Chiang Mai

Volunteer Accommodations, Elephant Sanctuary, (just outside) Chiang Mai

Life in Perth: More Randomness

Just some more random pics of life in Perth... ENJOY!

Ok, let's be real... Australia likes to save electricity. As a matter of fact, they like saving the world, because unlike the U.S. where we tend to be lazy, they don't use dryers... which is amazing to me because I thought "hanging laundry out to dry" was something that only my grandma in her 80s did, but I guess not. Anyway, here is me hanging my laundry out to dry in the backyard...

Beautiful shot of UWA

My school's motto - "Seek Wisom"

Yep, this is me on my 21st birthday... at like 7 am in the morning studying for a midterm... Haha, not really how I envisioned my 21st birthday, but whatever. P.S. I like how I have a wrinkle on the right side of my cheek from acne medication drying out my face... lame

Here is the only gift I received on my 21st birthday... a chocolate Easter bunny from my roommate Makiko

$650... you know what time of the month it is... RENT DAY!

Here is Australian money... It looks & feels a lot like Monopoly money.

It is also a lot smaller than USD.

Here are some Australian coins... Unlike the U.S. penny, they actually have value... Pictured are a $2 coin, a $1 coin, and 50 cent coin, respectively. The cool thing about them, however, is that on each one of them, there is an Australian "icon." On the $2 coin, there's an Aboriginal man; on the $1 coin, there are kangaroos; and on the 50 cent coin, there is an emu & kangaroo.

Queen Elizabeth II graces the back of all the coins

Here are some more Aussie "icons..." on 20 cents, a platypus; on 10 cents, well, I don't know that is; and on 5 cents, there is an echidna.

Let's be real... this is where I spend most of my time... studying, doing homework, watching lectures via internet, Facebooking, etc. haha!

My New Passion: Running

One marathon & two half-marathons later and I thought I was officially done with long-distance running for a while... But being in Australia around all this beautiful scenery, I just had to pick up running again.

Besides school, it has become one of my biggest passions.

Here are just a couple of my favorite places to exercise & run…

Hands down, this is the best place in Perth! Alderbury Sportsground has become one of my favorite places to go. It's located about 1/2 mile from my house, so I run to it everyday to just do sit-ups & push-ups, stretch, and clear my mind. It's amazing.

Ahhh, there's nothing like it... Wide open spaces with nothing but green for acres and acres... love it!

Trail that I occasionally run that leads to the top of Reabold Hill... where you can see spectacular views of the city and the ocean

If you stand on this bench, you can see the entire city of Perth

And I present to you... Perth! Nothing but green everwhere, except downtown, which you can see barely in the background

A zoomed-up version of downtown Perth from Reabold Hill

Reabold Hill

Some people just enjoying the spectacular views atop Reabold Hill on a beautiful evening...

On the other side of Reabold, you can see the Indian Ocean... AMAZING!