Friday, November 21
News update
Watching the news just now i come across two stories that felt were blog worthy or at least my reaction to was blogworthy.
Before i do that i'm so annoyed that you need a membership to access online news at the top english speaking paper here (scmp) i had to go the trusty age website to find out more.
Although google news search really is great (now blogger since you have some sort of partnership can you upgrade my account?)
Back on topic
Firstly, the trivial but still relevant piece of information of how:
"Hong Kong schools struck by virus
Around 400 people in Hong Kong have been struck down by gastroenteritis.
The outbreak emerged at a primary school last week and has since spread to four more schools and a hospital.
At least four students have tested positive for a highly contagious virus called Norwalk and are under observation in an isolation ward. " (from here )
Mmmm i wonder if any of my students are from one of those schools.
Secondly the suicide bombings in Istanbul, particuarly the one at HSBC bank headquarters. Its surprised me a little. Guess which bank i am with here? yes you guessed it. For those of you don't know HSBC stands for Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.
I know i know HSBC is a one of the worlds biggest banks(in fact the 2nd biggest), and it was most likely the uk association with it.
Another piece of useless trivia: HSBC was actually the first bank to offer Islamic mortgages in the Britain. As Mark Tran (from the guardian) puts it "How cruelly ironic that a bank seeking to service the needs of Muslim communities around the world should be singled out as target by what were probably Islamist fundamentalists. "
But still watching the news over here with tragic events like this just gives me a extra shiver down my spine.
I was also surprised at my reaction when the news commentator mentioned that none of the casualties where from Hong Kong. I shouldn't be i mean i'm in HK back home we state that all the time. But i wanted him to report where all the casualties were from including Australia. Its amazing how one's sense of patriotism increases when your overseas.
I guess that will teach me for watching midnight news by myself.
Having written all of the above, i feel quite selfish because well who am i too complain about feely a little spooked. When the victims, family and friends of the victims, and the residents of Istanbul are actually suffering.
My hearts go out to you all. (Why can't i re -read that without it sounding like a bloody political speech- i am being sincere.)
Comments
Watching the news just now i come across two stories that felt were blog worthy or at least my reaction to was blogworthy.
Before i do that i'm so annoyed that you need a membership to access online news at the top english speaking paper here (scmp) i had to go the trusty age website to find out more.
Although google news search really is great (now blogger since you have some sort of partnership can you upgrade my account?)
Back on topic
Firstly, the trivial but still relevant piece of information of how:
"Hong Kong schools struck by virus
Around 400 people in Hong Kong have been struck down by gastroenteritis.
The outbreak emerged at a primary school last week and has since spread to four more schools and a hospital.
At least four students have tested positive for a highly contagious virus called Norwalk and are under observation in an isolation ward. " (from here )
Mmmm i wonder if any of my students are from one of those schools.
Secondly the suicide bombings in Istanbul, particuarly the one at HSBC bank headquarters. Its surprised me a little. Guess which bank i am with here? yes you guessed it. For those of you don't know HSBC stands for Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.
I know i know HSBC is a one of the worlds biggest banks(in fact the 2nd biggest), and it was most likely the uk association with it.
Another piece of useless trivia: HSBC was actually the first bank to offer Islamic mortgages in the Britain. As Mark Tran (from the guardian) puts it "How cruelly ironic that a bank seeking to service the needs of Muslim communities around the world should be singled out as target by what were probably Islamist fundamentalists. "
But still watching the news over here with tragic events like this just gives me a extra shiver down my spine.
I was also surprised at my reaction when the news commentator mentioned that none of the casualties where from Hong Kong. I shouldn't be i mean i'm in HK back home we state that all the time. But i wanted him to report where all the casualties were from including Australia. Its amazing how one's sense of patriotism increases when your overseas.
I guess that will teach me for watching midnight news by myself.
Having written all of the above, i feel quite selfish because well who am i too complain about feely a little spooked. When the victims, family and friends of the victims, and the residents of Istanbul are actually suffering.
My hearts go out to you all. (Why can't i re -read that without it sounding like a bloody political speech- i am being sincere.)
Comments
Thursday, November 20
General Update
The anniversary of my three months passed and i didn't even realise.
Time goes alot quicker with me working.
On the news front i recently picked up my id card.
Id cards a must here. Its basically a sign of your citizenship. You even need one before you can join a gym. Now that i have one i can borrow from the library with it. As a extra bonus i received the new 'smart' id card which has an embedded computer chip that holds all my information including a digital copy of my thumbprints.
The school has started teaching the children xmas carols, and decorations have already started showing their heads in stores. But i guess that started even earlier in Australia.
Xmas is certainly going to feel odd here.
Its the first time in my life i won't be spending it with my wonderful family.
I'm not really sure how i will celebrate it here, but i'm sure i will think of something and you can bet there will be at least one call back to Australia.
As i said to Sarah (one of my adorable cousins) my family will have to celebrate twice this year once at the normal time and then again when i come back to Australia in mid January.
And in case you are wondering i'm slightly better and back to work.
How are you? ( i havn't heard from many of you for a while)
Comments
The anniversary of my three months passed and i didn't even realise.
Time goes alot quicker with me working.
On the news front i recently picked up my id card.
Id cards a must here. Its basically a sign of your citizenship. You even need one before you can join a gym. Now that i have one i can borrow from the library with it. As a extra bonus i received the new 'smart' id card which has an embedded computer chip that holds all my information including a digital copy of my thumbprints.
The school has started teaching the children xmas carols, and decorations have already started showing their heads in stores. But i guess that started even earlier in Australia.
Xmas is certainly going to feel odd here.
Its the first time in my life i won't be spending it with my wonderful family.
I'm not really sure how i will celebrate it here, but i'm sure i will think of something and you can bet there will be at least one call back to Australia.
As i said to Sarah (one of my adorable cousins) my family will have to celebrate twice this year once at the normal time and then again when i come back to Australia in mid January.
And in case you are wondering i'm slightly better and back to work.
How are you? ( i havn't heard from many of you for a while)
Comments
Monday, November 17
You know i'm sick when
i give in and go to the doctors for the first time in this country
i start taking evil antibiotics.
Warning do not read if you are feeling queasy or just want to avoid topics such as vomiting
What i don't understand is the vomiting. I vomited for the first time Friday night or rather sat morning at about 2am.
Then was fine(in terms of no vomiting) all of Saturday, and then Saturday night too.
You would think that considering i went 48 hours without vomiting that the vomiting was gone.
Unfortunately i was wrong as last night i vomited again at 2am (don't ask me why its always at the same time)
All the rest of the sickness i am experiencing i can almost handle but the vomiting that really put me over the line.
I surprised to find out that the doctors office actually provided the medicine rather than having to go to a chemist. He gave me so much medication: three bags of different types, cough medicine and a extra two emergency bags if the vomiting and unmentionable bowel problems continue. I have no idea what i am taking, although i'm reassured it is not the nasty penicillin which I'm allergic too.
The other thing is work tomorrow. I phoned them and told them that the doctor advised me that i am most probably contagious and don't think i will be coming in tomorrow. I hated doing this especially considering i have my drama class tomorrow and its only two weeks before their perfomance. Tomorrows class is critical and if i don't come they have no replacement and will have to cancel the class.
I'm off now to take the doctors medicine as well as my own prescription: plenty of bad tv (until i convince Michael he should hire dvds for me) peppermint tea and vegemite on toast.
I need to get well asap!
Comments
i give in and go to the doctors for the first time in this country
i start taking evil antibiotics.
Warning do not read if you are feeling queasy or just want to avoid topics such as vomiting
What i don't understand is the vomiting. I vomited for the first time Friday night or rather sat morning at about 2am.
Then was fine(in terms of no vomiting) all of Saturday, and then Saturday night too.
You would think that considering i went 48 hours without vomiting that the vomiting was gone.
Unfortunately i was wrong as last night i vomited again at 2am (don't ask me why its always at the same time)
All the rest of the sickness i am experiencing i can almost handle but the vomiting that really put me over the line.
I surprised to find out that the doctors office actually provided the medicine rather than having to go to a chemist. He gave me so much medication: three bags of different types, cough medicine and a extra two emergency bags if the vomiting and unmentionable bowel problems continue. I have no idea what i am taking, although i'm reassured it is not the nasty penicillin which I'm allergic too.
The other thing is work tomorrow. I phoned them and told them that the doctor advised me that i am most probably contagious and don't think i will be coming in tomorrow. I hated doing this especially considering i have my drama class tomorrow and its only two weeks before their perfomance. Tomorrows class is critical and if i don't come they have no replacement and will have to cancel the class.
I'm off now to take the doctors medicine as well as my own prescription: plenty of bad tv (until i convince Michael he should hire dvds for me) peppermint tea and vegemite on toast.
I need to get well asap!
Comments
