Finally in Sydney!!!!

Sorry that I made you all wait for so long... but after I made it to Sydney safely, got to my new place to stay, I found out that I do not have any interent access there... And until all the paperwork wasn't through I did not get access to the University computers, but all that is taken care of now... so I hope I can post more frequently now!
The trip wasn't all that bad. It was long, but due to sleep deprivation, American working hours and benadryl I managed to sleep quite a lot. I already fell asleep at the LA airport waiting for the plane to leave. It was not easy to find the right gate at first, but I managed with the help of a lot of nice people. On check in I was pleasently surprised to not have to pay overweight, because appearently Quantas is not changing their weight limits until March 2009.... I was really happy about that.
Descending into Sydney we did not get to see much. It was cloudy and we approached from the wrong side... So no opera house yet....
Once I got off the plane I was a little worried that I might get in trouble with some of the things Deb got me before leaving so that I would get over the first few days if I did not find a grocery store or the time to go there, but they did not mind my cereal bars and oatmeal...
I had to take a cab to the hospital, because the first bus was too full and the second one didn't go where I needed it to go and since I was not familiar with the difference between the appearantly several Nr.400busses I decided to take the cab.... The taxi driver did not really know where the house was and tried to find it, which added AUS10 to my bill (not good) and he ended up dropping me off the hospital where I first suggested to drop me off....
When I first saw my room, I was a little bit shocked, but I got over that and with pictures up on the it isn't all that bad anymore. It is very small with a bed (about a third of the bed at tim and deb's...), a desk without a chair and a big closet. The balcony is not supposed to be used due to security issues. And when I checked in they told me that I can't check in for the entire time of my stay, because they are not sure if the place will be torn down after March 7th.... That was a shock, but I talked to the medical student assistant supervisor and she assured that I will not have to worry about that and that they will find a place for all the students to stay if this place should be closed, which is not 100%sure right now anyway... So that will be another adventure.... But it might also give you an idea on how that place looks overall.... ;) But the sunrise on Tuesday morning was pretty....
By now I have finally finished all my paperwork, I am registered visiting student at UNSW and I have spend the first 11hours in the private neurosurgical clinic yesterday. We usually start around 7.30 and then stay till whenever things are done, but that is still not too bad and right now I wake up in the middle of the night anyway.... Still need to get used to the time difference.
I have also already managed to find the beach. Very pretty and from the 8th floor of the public hospital I got to enjoy the view across the pacific... It is really pretty and I will hopefully soon be able to share some pictures with you on here.
Now I need to get back to the OR and I will write more about my first impressions of the doctors and the hospital later.....