...

Cathedral, when J and I were there just before Christmas.

Cathedral after the earthquake today.

What's with 2011? Maybe everything is just closer to home now, but news of the latest Christchurch earthquake is devastating. Jeremy and I spent a few days there on our holiday and it was such a beautiful little city, just getting back on its feet after the September earthquake and dealing with the aftershocks. Now, another earthquake, in the middle of the day with multiple fatalities. I can actually picture the places they're talking about. I know people who live there. I can only imagine how horrible it must be for people who have loved ones there and are frantically trying to get through. One of my supervisors at Rehab Plus has a husband who does damage assessments and spends a lot of time in Chch. I hope he wasn't there. My Auckland roomie lived there for 5 years and has lots of friends there - I met one of them, Munchkin. I hope she's okay. Everyone we met there was friendly and lovely. I just hate hearing about this.

Getting settled back in Brisbane. I'm not very good at this "holiday" thing. If I'm on holiday, I want to be going places, seeing things, busy busy busy. Quite the opposite to Jeremy who really enjoys relaxing in front of his computer game and just taking time to do nothing. He, however, is most certainly not on holiday at the moment and it'll be awhile before he gets one again. So when he does get one, he deserves to spend as much time doing nothing as he likes!

The Fairfield Library is closed, which doesn't help - but luckily, I received a new Canadian Living in the mail today (after I had just finished the last one we got) so that should keep me busy for a little while. Things pick up a bit now...trivia tonight, breakfast with the girls tomorrow, birthday celebrations for a friend tomorrow night, UQ Sports Day on Friday...and possibly Sunny Coast this weekend, depending on how J feels with his workload. I wouldn't mind staying here or going...we'll see what happens! I've also been keeping busy with errands...mailing things, applying for flood relief grants, going grocery shopping in far away places (I am so missing the Coles that used to be right across the street!

I must say, as much as I love NZ it is nice to be back in a city that doesn't cost you a zillion dollars to use public transit. I missed my student bus card and the lovely discounts it provides me with. also the fact that I don't have to pay EVERY TIME I get on to a new bus. Transfers...they're great.

Last night Jeremy and I had a belated Valentine's day dinner at this amazing resturant called Garuva. You get your own little curtained off area, and the cushion-y benches are right on the floor. The food was delicious...everything was super tasty...the service was great...atmosphere was awesome!

Alright. That's it for now. Just want to say I'm thinking about people at home and sending lots of love.

Two thirds

Slowly but surely making my way through this course! I think I can, I think I can. Had my last day of placement today. Good final review and the block placement component is OVER! I had awesome supervisors who I liked as people and really interesting patients who I enjoyed working with. I would work at Rehab Plus in a second. I will miss this beautiful city!

The weekend should be fun-filled. I'm heading out to see some kiwi bands tonight, and then more bands tomorrow at the Auckland Zoo!! Flight is Sunday night - leave Auckland around 6:20 pm and arrive on the Gold Coast at about 6:20 pm! Weird. I'll have to spend a few days adjusting to the time difference.

Quick update!

6 more days of placement, 10 more days till I return to humid Brisbane. I'm still loving my placement and I really think I want to work in the rehab field. I like the variety - swallowing, cog comm, aphasia, apraxia, dysarthria, pragmatics, etc etc etc. I have my own patients and I love working with them. Dysphagia (swallowing) is not as scary now - I don't feel like I'm going to give someone aspiration pneumonia. It's really good because my supervisor is very brave and confident, so I feel okay trying things out.

Queensland is taking a real beating lately. Cyclone Yasi in Northern Queensland is the latest disaster. 2011 hasn't had the most auspicious beginning.

Tonight, after I leave the library, I'm heading into the city. My housemate does marketing/events for SkyCity, the big tower and casino in Auckland. It's Chinese New Year, which is the event she's been working on so I'm going to check out the events. There will be Chinese firecrackers, acrobats, and all sorts of other performances. Then home to bed so I can be up at my usual early hour tomorrow - the end of my second last week!! Although I'm really enjoying it, I hope it goes by fairly quickly beacuse I miss home! I will be sad to leave Auckland (THE WEATHER. THE WEATHER. SOOOOO GOOD) but happy to see J and friends :)

I spent last weekend in the Bay of Islands. Was nice and relaxing. Met a really cool girl from Washington DC, just finishing her last year of med school. We're invited to Hawaii - free place to stay!

Ok, time on comp runs out in 2 mins.
xo