11 April 2005

I have been living in Brighton Beach (just across from the beach), just outside of Melbourne for almost a month now (time flies).
There has been quite a bit of adjustment getting back into having a routine. I'm working 5 days per week and have around an hour commute each way into the city (I know, most of you are saying...so do I), it makes for very long days.
It has been such a learning experience working with Steven. He practices Chinese gynecology, so his practice is very specialized. He uses Chinese herbs to treat everything from fertility problems, to endometriosis, and PMS. He has been in practice for 20 years, and gets amazing results. I am working in the herbal pharmacy, filling formulas and also sitting in during patient intakes. I am learning not only about specific herbal prescriptions, but also about strategies for dealing with patients, and how to run a medical practice. Steven has done some of the translating of our primary herbal texts and has started to teach me Chinese, and about reading characters....it is so daunting!

Overall I am enjoying Melbourne, it is a very international and young city with tons of stuff going on, festivals etc.. I miss Jim tons....it's been two weeks since he left (two weeks to go!). At the same time, I am enjoying the time to myself. This time has allowed me the chance to process the experiences I have had in the last year. I have been so lucky to see so much of the world, and the thing, which has struck me the deepest is how influential the US, really is on the entire world. Like an older brother, we truly are a nation that most others look to, and it makes me wonder about the example we are setting.