Booze

So yesterday was my first day at the hospital, and actually it went ok.  It's VERY different from working in the UK, but that was to be expected.  I went to the hospital with Simone so I didn't have to walk alone, and as they start their first case at 630am, he has to be there at this ungodly hour.  So, the alarm went off at 0510 and eventually we dragged ourselves out of bed at 0530.  We left the house and it was a little bit chilly, just enough to wear a cardigan.  Well out on the streets you would think we were 30,000m at the top of Everest- all the locals were wearing big coats and balaclavas...  I mean is that REALLY necessary?  Aside from the necessity, they look bloody scary.  I was half expecting to see a pair of salopettes and snow boots, and there was me, prancing down the street in flip flops- 'bloody tourists' I can hear them muttering in Hindi........

Anyway, yesterday after work we stopped by a local eatery and picked something off the menu- a random choice because of course we have absolutely no idea what anything is... It makes it interesting and exciting, waiting to see what will be put down in front of you.  It was actually really really nice and even now I can't tell you what it was, because I have nothing to liken it to.. We came home and Simone collapsed (he's not used to this work mullarky(I disagree!!! by Simone) at 8pm and I did some reading- work stuff, of course, like "how to interpret and ECG" NOOOOOOOT, a good old trashy novel :)

So this morning I really couldn't be bothered to go to work at ridiculous o'clock so I decided to brave it and walk alone.  It was fine, no problem at all, and all the scary ski outfits had gone- of course because it was light by this time.  I started work at 8 and finished at 3, I think I can cope with this.  My pink scrubs go amazingly well with my array of shoes that I brought out here, which is great, because 'footwear' (and I use the term loosely) in the hospital is whatever the hell you want- so tomorrow I'm going to don my gladiators :)

Being in the hospital is strange because everyone looks at me like I just fell out of the sky (which effectively I did).  Not only because I am white, but also because I'm in pink, and also because they wonder what on earth a western nurse would come over to India for.... In fact yesterday I had 2 male nurses chase after me out of the hospital asking me where I am working and what I am doing here (and I wish I could answer both of those questions, but I really can't).  Well if I thought I got stared at alone, huh, when I am with Simone, they look at us in a state of shock and then turn to each other, start whispering and look back at us- I get the impression Dr's and nurses don't mix over here.  Oh I still haven't got my ID badge btw........

So today after work we ventured in to MG road on the bus, again another pleasant bus journey.  We got off the bus and stumbled upon a PUB.  So we went in and had a beer- it would have been rude not to.  BOOOOOOOOOOOOZZZZZZZZEEEEEEEEE, we found BOOOZZZEEEEE, yippppppepeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee- no I'm not an alcoholic.

So we travelled along, and then stumbled upon a swanky bar selling mojitos- M-O-J-I-T-O-S.  Ok now, I know, I can definitely live here for one year.

We ate in the bar, which had a very varied menu, including mexican, italian, fish and chips etc etc.  SO what does Simone order?  "I want something Indian"...  I mean, our one opportunity to eat something 'normal' and he chooses chicken tikka masala.... but oh no, as expected it wasn't chicken tikka masala as we know it, it was HOT and watching him struggle to get it down the hatch was enough to make me rather smug that I had ordered 'mediterranean vegetables', which went down really well with my rather tasty mojito...............................

Oh and FYI... Freddie Mercury isn't dead.  He is working as a bus conductor in Bangalore

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