There's a yearbook being organised for our year level and we all have to answer these questions and attach a profile pic :p Here are my responses (had to be 15 WORDS max - but I digressed here..)

1. A lasting message you want to leave the year level (quote, message,
send-off, etc...)
- We are an awesome lot of physios - best of luck to everyone in the future! We've had a great ride the last four years - will miss the times!

2. What is your best physio memory?
- Just sitting in our modern lecture theatre listening to Jenny Hayes speak about migration of the testes, then someone's writing platform thing swings off, makes a loud sound and paper is everywhere...

3. Favourite PBL/prac moment?
- First prac ever (after the communication ones!) - gait analysis. Still remember everyone stripping nervously and then strutting professionally!

4. Favourite staff member/lecturer
- Jenny Hayes in 1st/2nd year. Amazing!

5. Ideal future job title
- Senior Physiotherapist...

LOL at question 5. I didn't quite know what to write there...
So this morning, there were two La Trobe 1st year Physio students and it was funny 'cos I had this flashback and I still vividly remember being in that position...what? 3 years ago? They were just kinda standing there awkwardly not exactly sure what they were meant to do (whilst I just got on with it and instructed pilates to a client). Over lunch, managed to chat to them and they of course, had a few questions to ask me. I told them about placements, about what to expect, how daunting it is, how good it is. It was cool 'cos I felt like I could lend my experience and stories to them...I felt...old (even though one of them had just finished a Science degree) and felt like I was mentoring them :) I didn't quite manage to tell them, 'cos I'd probably scare them, but if I was to give advice to anyone just starting physio I'd say this: Don't expect it to be easy - physio has this false stereotype that we are the weakest health science or easy to get into and easy work...but not being biased or anything, it is HARD as and the four years is a tough slog. I don't think we get enough credit or respect for it. Having said that, there is so much personal and professional growth and the outcome results in one of the most rewarding jobs you could have and that is what makes it worthwhile. When people ask me why I chose physio (like during an interview with Jamie at MD Health on Wed to help with personal development of staff etc.) I always just say some lame-ass thing that I liked sport, health science stuff but didn't want Med, so chose physio. Then Jamie asked me if I had any success stories, so again I told of my first patient who had a SC tumour removed and was at RoyTal, and I got her back to walking. And when I was talking to her about it, it just felt so good and I felt proud and just happy, if that makes sense. I still remember her name...and the clothes she wore...bit freaky I know :P So yeah, it just kinda clicked as to why I'm in this position and why I chose this career path - didn't quite think like that three years ago! It's been an amazing ride. 64 days till graduation.

...what do you say to a client who is doing pilates when you then realise her pants are torn at the back in the crotch part such that skin is now showing?

SOYA CRISPS!

They are so amazing I can't get my hand out of the box...

Why do weekends go by so quickly? Even with a Friday off? Hmmm..Friday night celebrated my aunty's 50th at Kunyit! Awesome food and so-satisfying KEK. Saturday put the alarm early, but body just kept sleeping - eventually woke up at about 1045, watched AFL Game Day, did some study then off to IELTS at 1. Was one of the few shifts actually finished late-ish and thought I'd miss the GF - drove speedily home with 774 ABC on radio and realised I could still make last half of the 4th quarter! Woot! Then what? Draw?. Funny. Was bored at night so watched 'The Proposal' on lappy. Today, more study, 35 mins of cycling, watched Miffy sleep, lick paws and eat, more studying, FB, eating, Jnr Masterchef and Modern Family. Yeah, exciting stuff. Tomorrow, another week begins. Just feels like life can be an absolute bore when you're bogged down and there's nothing to look forward to. Hmmm?

Heeheee I umm saw this on morning news :P Funny as!



And check out Google Street View

In real life news, one week DONE of MD Health. (Y) Think Imma gonna be pilates freak by end of another 3 weeks. In some ways feels like I've been there for ages! Have 2-9 on Mon and Tues then 7-2/3 on Wed & Thurs...still trying to figure out how to study around those hours =S Plus IELTS this Sat = yay :)

Kind of like this.

Today, felt like everything hit me. Meeting up with Adriane at MD Health was fine - she was lovely and seemed particularly young. Gave me a stack of stuff to look at on my USB before telling me "shifts" were either 7-2 or 2-9pm and mostly at Templestowe clinic. Caught tram back after a 10min wait or so. Got home and then when mum came back and asked I dunno...I started to tear up...think there was just this hugely overwhelming feeling that came over me. Yesterday just made it all real when there were talks about careers and jobs and salaries and superannuation and registration and professionalism and APA and public sector vs private sector and Symmetry Physiotherapy and clinical exams and theory exams and hospitals and graduation and final days and last assignment and employability and interviews and CVs. So I think it's just sinking in. I went cycling in the rain 'cos wanted to refresh my mind...I couldn't think. I went to sit outside Miffy's cage and stare at her whilst she licked her paws. And now have migrated to bedroom to surround myself in emo-studying.

DATES

September 21st - Li's 22nd birthday
September 22nd - Li's drinkies
October 15th - Official last day of uni // Connie's birthday
December 3rd 6pm - Graduation

So after not replying my email which was sent last weekend, I summed up the courage to call MD Health. Rehearsed out loud before ringing...so scary. At least this time I didn't write anything on a piece of paper and sound like a recorded message :p Got through to the receptionist lady so told her I was a PT student blah blah starting this Monday so what time do I rock up? Of course she didn't know so got my details and said would call back later. At about 3, picked up phone and did not catch what her name was, but it was a pleasant physio supervisor lady and asked me if I was free on Sat to catch up with Adriane at 1:30pm to give an intro - oh and also reminded me to bring in a USB stick, wear black socks because the floor is something-or-rather-didn't-catch-her, wear polo uniform but 'normal' clothing on Saturday.
If you're curious: Meet the Staff

Nice email today. It revealed:

Mon 25th Oct - 9:15-11:30am - Neurology and Neuroscience 2 Written Exam
Tues 26th Oct - 9:15-11:30am - Musculoskeletal Clinical Science 2 Written Exam
Wed 27th Oct - 9:15-11:30am - Cardiorespiratory Pathophysiology 2 Written Exam
Thurs 28th Oct - 9:15-11:30am - Paediatrics Clinical Science Written Exam

+ Clinical Exam somewhere

Crap.

One more week of holidays. There were six weeks but now they're basically gone. I dunno..I feel like there's been a lot on my mind these last few days/weeks..just a lot of thinking about...I don't know, things. Wouldn't say it's been a stressless break. Maybe because there's too much time to think about anything and everything. Probably because of that. Mind just wanders. I need to get busy. Get motivated. Settled.

4) OTHER INFORMATION CONT'D
Do you have any physical or medical conditions, injuries, allergies, special needs or fears that we should know about? Physical/med conditions: Nil, Injuries: Nil, Allergies: Nil, Special Needs: I need glasses, Fears: Heights a bit
Are you currently taking any medications? No
Do you smoke? NO, Gary.
Do you drink? Yes
Do you have tattoos? No
Have you had plastic surgery? Definitely not
Have you ever been arrested? No
Is there any litigation or criminal proceeding currently pending against you? No
Have you ever been subject to any non-judicial disciplinary or administrative hearings or tribunal(s)? Yes, legal studies in Yr 11 (Y)
Have you ever hit someone in anger or self-defence? Yes, probably my bro when we were younger and fighting. Else *throw my hands up in the air*
Have you ever applied for, acted in, performed in or appeared on a television show
or a film? Monster House FTW
Has your image, in any form (eg. photo, video, sketch), ever appeared in any media (eg magazine, newspapers, web, video, film, etc.)? I don't believe so
Have you had any advertising or sponsorship affiliations in the past 12 with any company for any product or service? No
Do you have a personal website or a homepage on any social networking site such as
facebook, myspace or bebo? If yes, provide the link to the site/s: FB = yes, MySpace = No, Bebo? No. // FB.com/suwii
Do you belong to any affiliations or organisations? Australian Physiotherapy Association :p
Are you represented by a talent agent or management organisation? Have no talent, thanks
Do you know anyone involved in the production of “The Amazing Race Australia”? No
What is your primary motivation for being on “The Amazing Race Australia”? Travelling to different countries/places, the experiences
What is your secondary motivation for being on the show? $$$$

And THAT, thank goodness, is ALL.

Europe revised.
Plan is to leave Melbournetown Jan 16th. Stopover in Frankfurt, Munich, Salzburg, Vienna, Budapest, Prague, Berlin with the sandyrad + jonwong + jonwongloverfriend. Then head over to London by myself for about two weeks before heading to Singapore for cousin's wedding on Feb 26th. How's it sound?

Then when I looked up on singaporeair.com the flight from London --> Singapore & Singapore --> Melbourne, and saw it was the A380-800, omg it just about SEALED it for me! WOOOTTT