Off to Mildura...

Tomorrow I'm leaving for Mildura, to begin my first day as a responsible doctor in a hospital, an emergency intern. It's a position feared by many, sounding ominous on paper (to be working in the emergency department in a rural area), but it's actually not as bad as it sounds. We're actually quite well supported in our role, the consultants who supervise us are understanding, and it's an excellent opportunity for learning and development. I hope that it turns out to be that way.

Another thing is the seven hour drive, and scorching heat. Buried in the northwest corner of Victoria, Mildura is famous for its heat, averaging a maximum of 32C in January, and recording a highest ever temperature in excess of 50C! I hope there's not too much hostile weather, or else I'll find myself working overtime.

The job itself sounds quite cushy, averaging 41 hour weeks (contrast that with the 60+ hour weeks some of my friends are starting off with!), every second weekend off and occasional weekdays off. We also get two return flights paid for, which is a bonus. Also, Sharon is coming up to work in the surgery team! So, at least I'll always have a close friend nearby. Praying for a safe drive up, hoping for good weather.

Enough about work - today is a day of celebration! Congratulations to Pearl and Martin on their marriage! It was a beautiful wedding - although today was just formalities to register marriage in Australia, there was a video of the ceremony in Korea, everything from the procession, taking of vows, photo shoots, traditional Korean music, and all sorts of traditional Korean ceremonial manoeuvres that I didn't fully understand with lots of bowing, pouring and sipping of drinks. Pearl's wedding dress was like out of a fairytale, and she was made up to near perfection with her hair done up in a traditional wreath like a halo above her angelic face. It was interesting, the move from the more Western formal Church ceremony to the traditional Korean ceremony. The bride had to exchange her dress for a coloured silk gown, as did all the other women in the family. Another cross-cultural touch was the playing of Pachelbel's canon on Korean stringed instruments.

Best wishes to you both, Pearl and Martin! May God bless you with many happy years together, overflowing with love, and honouring Him who created you!

Time now to sleep. Oh, lonely sleep, without Sal around. Am missing her so much. It's really so true, the saying that home is where the heart is. I feel like a stranger in this house sometimes. Anyhow, next time I update, I'll probably be in the land of oranges and wine, Mildura. Till next time, God bless!

Oh, back now...

Have arrived once again in Melbourne, came back a couple of days ago. I'm a picture of tiredness and lack of motivation - jet lag? or more like the kind of blues that sets in when you miss someone so much? I don't think it's yet fully hit me, the truth that I'm no longer overseas and on holiday, spending every moment with Sal. I mean, it's obvious to me, but I'm still like a stunned mullet, simply swimming along in the stream of time, but doing little more than existing. Activities of life are more like chores now without Sal around to share them with. Other things - like sorting out my medical registration, setting up my bank account, talking to the people at Queen's to arrange accommodation for the year - get done out of sheer necessity. But when I'm doing things like that, I'm able to put on a successful façade of cheeriness, putting my true feelings behind me to simply observe and not interfere.

Sal, it's such an emptiness without you. Time passes so slowly now, while the past month seemed to go like a flash. Around you, everything seemed so much more vibrant and exciting, the mundane became thrilling, and it was awesome simply to discover all sorts of things during our adventures together. I guess I recognise that this had to come eventually, where I'd have to come back here and work, and leave you to study there. Maybe I wasn't prepared for the emotional difficulty, but I'm sure things will get better as time goes on, and the time draws closer to your return.

There's no shortage of stuff to deal with here at home though. While we were away, a pile of letters accumulated on my desk for me to deal with, most things dealing with starting work next week, one 21st invite for this Saturday (the RSVP was two weeks ago), and a few other bits and pieces. So I still have been running around doing things during the day, and today I officially became registered as a doctor. Just in time for work. Am slowly making my way through the papers, phonecalls, etc. to set everything in place. So much effort required just in this transition period, and I'm glad to have accommodation pretty much already sorted out so I don't become snowed under by all that as well. Coming back to Melbourne has also meant a return to the land of hay fever. I didn't count, but as I tried to return to sleep this morning (having woken up a bit too early) I sneezed about thirty times straight! I hope to adjust to this soon.

Shall sign out now. Thank God for His comfort, and the sense of perspective that we gain by looking to the cross and putting Him at the centre of our lives.