Oakura, New Zealand

Well we have had a pretty busy week down here.  The kids started school, I started working at the hospital and Jenny, having opted for the challenge of renting a completely unfurnished house,  has been running all over the place trying to secure the things we need.  She has been to new and used furniture places, been on Trademe (the NZ equivalent of eBay), and been scouring the classifieds for stuff.   She got beds for the kids for $50 each, a refrigerator for $100, a dining room table and chairs for about $100, and a nice queen bed for $125.  She just recently outbid someone on trademe for an outdoor furniture set.  Jenny can wheel and deal with the best of them.  We have also benefitted greatly from other expatriate ED physicians who come and go.  We have gotten many of the essentials from them and will buy one of our cars and probably a TV set from Tony and Kelly Defelice who plan on returning to Minnesota later this month.  It is really amazing how many little things you need to run a functional household.  

      We have settled in to our place in Oakura nicely.  The hospital was great in providing us a very acceptable flat for the first two weeks down here but it is nice to finally really unpack and get organized.  

Downtown Oakura

Oakura is a great little town on a beautiful stretch of Taranaki coastline about 9 miles west of New Plymouth.  There is a short main street with a few shops, a convenience store, gas station, coffee shop and of course a pub.  It is typical of the many small, scenic, rural towns dotting the landscape of New Zealand.  Oakura means the place of the flashing redness in Maori, and is supposedly named for it's beautiful sunsets.  We have experienced several days of overcast skies and pretty impressive rain showers so have yet to enjoy the sunset but are looking forward to many as the sun sets right in front of us over the Tasman Sea.  

88 Messenger terrace from the street
Our home for the next year
Four to possibly five bedrooms so room for guests if anyone can make it down here

Our view from the living room looking west
The windows slide all the way open 

I have been told that the prevailing winds on the North Island come directly from the south, and with the massive Mt Taranaki due south of us we are supposed to have pretty mild windless days.  This past week though the winds have been ripping off the Tasman sea to the west of us and we have had some horizontal rain showers and some major surf on the beach.  

First day at new school

We wanted to get the kids in school pretty quickly as there is a two week break coming at the end of next week and we wanted to give them a chance to meet some friends.  I know it must have been difficult for them coming to a new school in a new country in the middle of the school year but they have really done excellent.  Really much better than I could have ever expected.  The principal is a wonderful lady and the kids were paired up with a student or two to show them the ropes and they have all thrived, no resistance about having to go all week.  It has been hardest on Owen who is used to half day of kindergarden and none of the other kids seem to pay him any attention for the first week.  He is a trooper  and I am proud to say that he would wipe off a few tears in the morning and then march right into his classroom and now seems more adjusted and even went over to another boys house to play this weekend.
I think the kids will really enjoy this school.  There is so much focus on the outdoors and the ocean,  they take their shoes off as soon as they get to school in the morning, they can have their morning tea (snack) indoors or out.  They have beach clean up days, monitor and help protect migrating animals including one species of penguin and spend some time in the national park that encompasses Mt Taranaki.  The teachers are all very nice.  Owen commented that it "would not be too bad to be sent to the principal because she is so nice".  The Oakura school is a decile 10 school which is the top ranking for schools in New Zealand.  I think they really make an effort to view each child individually and help them develop,and challenge them at a pace that is appropriate for each child.  Overall a very nurchuring and supportive environment.

Courtyard which all the classrooms open to 

I have worked my first week at Taranaki Base Hospital and have to say that it is a bit of an adjustment.  The organization and flow of patients through the department here is a bit confusing at times and surprisingly far less efficient than what I am accustomed to at Research.  We see between 80 and 100 patients per day here.  I have not been spit at, swore at, physically assaulted or told by a patient that they were going to call their lawyer yet which is nice.  There was an ambulance report the other day of a gunshot wound which got people relatively excited since I was told that it has been at least 5 years since the last GSW here. In the end it turned out to be a dog bite.  Most medicines go by different names and many of the antibiotics I am used to are not available.   I will write more on my hospital experiences at a later date.  In the end it is still medicine and taking care of patients but some of the challenges faced in the ED will be different.

Hard to believe we have been here two weeks already.  We have seen and done so much.
We all really miss our friends, family and KD stateside but are so far really enjoying the experience.