So I got a pretty awesome package delivered to the hospital the other day - my uniforms! Now I have 5 days worth of clothes to wear to work instead of 2. That means less washing! Which is the best part of having a uniform by far. And it's also pretty good not having to think about what to wear, and feeling like I actually now work for Queensland Health :D Although I still don't have an ID card, something to do with the new template not being available since Torres and Northern Peninsula Hospital and Health Service amalgamated with Cape York HHS to become the Torres-Cape HHS.
Pinafore and blouse
Culottes, so comfortable. Remind me of
primary school!
Tuesday 9 September - Friday 12th was the Torres Straight cultural festival, named the Winds of Zenadth. Don't ask me what Zenadth is... a google search has not helped me :/ The Winds of Zenadth only occurs every two years, alternating with the music festival on TI, so I was pretty lucky to be here just at the right time. I worked the opening night, but managed to just have enough time to walk down and get some dinner - I had to wait in line for about 20mins! I had my dinner break at 6ish, and even though it was suppose to start at 4pm, not much was happening! That night I had a bean curry, which was kind of like chili con carne, and very tasty :)
After work I came home and some of the other girls from Groupshare had brought me some turtle and vegetables to try. Yes that says turtle and I had a little bit. The turtle and veg were cooked underground, and had this horrible smoky taste that I didn't like one bit. So I didn't eat much. The vegetables were cooked in the same manner and had the same smokiness as an after taste. Even though they were in a coconut milk sauce, which was nice, the smokiness came out and I couldn't eat that either!
Turtle. The dark greenish stuff on the bottom left piece is fat :/
I had Wednesday and Thursday off work, but didn't get to see much of the singing and dancing until Thursday because on Wednesday I had dinner with some of the other nurses. We all brought a plate of food and had a great feast :) The next night I was invited to another dinner, but declined as Thursday would be my last chance to experience the cultural fest, as I was working Friday afternoon/evening. That night I went and watched some of the dancing and singing, and bought myself some local art :)
Cutest turtle - would have loved to have bought him, but he's
too big :( Check out the artists website for how he makes them: www.ninosabatino.com.au
The mini ones didn't look quite as cute
Dancing and singing :)
My dinner - Seemur Chicken. ALL the stalls were selling it,
so I decided it must be the thing to eat. Was quite nice -
chicken in a soy sauce with vermicelli noodles and rice
The first time I've had ice-cream in about 6 weeks!
Some more singing and dancing :)
Bought the bowl to put my shells in that I got from
Goods Island - plan to collect some more
Dugongs - from the same guy who made
the turtles
Turtles :)
Friday morning before work I rode up with a friend to watch the parade. Locals from each of the different islands had decorated their cars with weaved palm leaves and flowers, and were singing as they walked along. For lunch I had a meat pie and lamington (very cultural - haha!). And then it was off to work for public holiday rates ;)
Well I have managed to get my picture in the paper after less then two months on TI! The picture was from the Wongai Ball (see previous post). I suppose when you live on such a small island the chances of being in the paper are higher - just like your chances of running into someone you know are much higher. Happens all the time :P
On Sunday 31st August I went with a group of friends to Goods Island. One of those friends has a boat! And was nice enough to take an early trip over and back just so I could get to work on time (I started at 1pm that arvo). Goods Island is about 20 mins away by boat, west of TI. We had a bit of free time to relax and explore the beach, while more people were picked up from TI and then we went for a walk up to the light house. This was followed by a walk down a very steep rail track and then a bush walk back up another hill to some war shelters. It was then a rush back to the boat and back to TI, where I got home at 12.30 - just enough time to have a shower and gobble down some food before starting work fairly exhausted especially after a late night from the Wongai Ball. But I had a great time. Would have loved to have had a swim after our walk as the water was so amazing, but I will have to save that for next time.
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