I think this will be my last blog entry until my summer holidays since things are starting to get a little crazy here! Two weeks tomorrow is my final exam and I have HEAPS to do before then. I have to study thousands of pages of notes, go to 2 more weeks of class, pack up my apartment (and find somewhere to store everything), and work on helping Brent get a visa! Plus Uncle Tom is arriving tomorrow and mom arrives in about 10 days- so I want to have some time with them as well.I’m sure a lot of you have heard by now, but Brent’s sponsored work visa got denied this past Monday. We are pretty discouraged and disappointed about it all- especially since we have been working on it for almost 6 months now. The ambulance service apparently wanted to hire him, but at the last second the immigration committee decided that his Canadian qualifications didn’t meet the Australian standards.
So now, we are back to the beginning and trying to come up with new ideas. It sounds like the best option now is for Brent to try to get into a Masters program here and then apply for a student visa (like the one I have). We aren’t sure if it will work- but Brent wants to do a Masters degree at some point anyway, so it looks like it is at least worth a try.
I haven’t been up to very much exciting since Brent has been gone- but keeping up with my work seems to be enough to keep me busy most of the time. I’ve also started swimming regularly again at the outdoor pool since the weather is getting HOT here.
I went on a Masquerade Cruise that was put on by my clinical school a few weeks ago. I had a good time, and it’s always nice to see Sydney harbour at night, but I’m not sure that I’d go again. It can be fun, but most people seem to go so that they can drink as much as they can as quickly as they can- and I’m not sure I find that as entertaining as I used to (especially when I’m crammed onto a small boat with them).
Last weekend was the North American Medical Students Association Halloween party and also my friend Amy’s birthday- so I decided that I should go. I would have much rather been in Toronto with EVERYONE else watching Jamie’s band play at Neutral… but the party here ended up being pretty fun, so it was an OK second option. Australians seem to love their costumes, so most of them went ALL OUT and I was very impressed. Some of them are hard to describe, so hopefully the pictures will do them justice. My friend Ben won best costume for the night- hopefully you can tell what he is because it was pretty hilarious.
Yesterday was actually Halloween, but we didn’t do much since most Australians don’t celebrate it (despite their obsession with costumes). But… it was still an exciting day for me because Brent sent me 12 ORANGE roses and some chocolates! I didn’t even know orange roses existed! :)
Oh… and I also dropped off Brent’s application for the masters program at the Sydney University International Office- since it was the last day to apply.We started our second-last case of the year today- so that was pretty exciting. I can’t believe the year is almost done. We can’t use the “I’m only in first year…” excuse at the hospital anymore… eeeek. :( I think I’ve learned more these past 9 months than I did in my entire undergraduate degree- but I still feel like I know nothing sometimes. This is a picture of just SOME of my notes from the year!
Well that’s it for now. I am off to practice Cardiovascular examinations with my friend Martha… he he he.This picture is of a billboard that we passed heaps of times when we were driving up and down the coast in October. I thought it was hilarious to begin with, but I pretty much lost it when Brent passed an old man on the highway and the man gave Brent the (little) FINGER! He he he.
See you soon! Miss you. xox
