first week in london

hello everyone!
what a change from zambia! (no? really? duh!)

it's been a tough couple of weeks for a number of reasons. malaria. pneumonia. and especially because lots of tough things have been going on at home since i've been away. the whole european experience is going to be different. and i don't know how things are going to be, when i come back home.

it's interesting, how swiftly the winds of life can change things! one day you can be certain about lots of things, the next day it can all change, and the only certainty - sorry for the awful cliché - is uncertainty.

i guess for that reason it's important to know that the only real time we have is - now. it's important not to postpone things. it's better to over-express than under-express one's appreciation, gratitude, love, hopes and dreams with one's loved ones. because tomorrow may be too late.

anyway. i don't think this blog will work very well as a journal for my innermost, most personal experiences. i don't think i can, or should, lay it all out in the open here. i just have to say though - thank you to all those who support me, and are there for me. it means so much to me.

so. being so far away from home and having so many things to worry about has not been easy. i was so happy that matthew oliver met me at the airport. it was very nice seeing a familiar face. it's nice to know that there's a kiwi close by.

i am staying at a homestay in east dulwich in the south of london, which is a ten minute bus ride from where i am working, at the maudsley hospital. it's a nice little house, inhabited by a psychotherapist (the owner), her daughter, and a spanish research student who works at the institute of psychiatry. the houses are narrow and all stuck together, but they're tall. i have a nice spacious room with a super comfy double bed, a tv, a wardrobe, and nice big windows.

so far i haven't travelled much around london. just been getting settled in, doing grocery shopping, exploring dulwich village nearby with its quaint streets and shops and restaurants.

in terms of work - so far i have just been introduced to everything, sorted out a timetable, and attended some teaching sessions on cbt (cognitive behavioral therapy). the five weeks here promise to be an interesting experience, i feel, an experience almost completely different to my experience in zambia. my time will be spent in the following ways: sitting in on as many psychotherapy assessments (psychodynamic, cbt, family and group) as i can, attending teaching sessions, attending seminars and presentations, grand rounds, helping out with an rct on bulimia and the use of internet-based cbt, days with the liaison psychiatry service at the nextdoor king's hospital, a trip to the ocd ward, hopefully some days on the wards and meeting some contacts i have been linked to, and also lots of free time - for reading and reading (there is the most amazing library here at the institute of psychiatry), and mucking around on the internet, like what i am doing currently.

i am reminded of a super quote from the movie 'about a boy':

"I find the key is to think of a day as units of time, each unit consisting of no more than thirty minutes. Full hours can be a little bit intimidating and most activities take about half an hour. Taking a bath: one unit, watching countdown: one unit, web-based research: two units, exercising: three units, having my hair carefully disheveled: four units. It's amazing how the day fills up, and I often wonder, to be absolutely honest, if I'd ever have time for a job; how do people cram them in?"

and so it seems, that i will have to master the art of making up days and things to do to fill my consciousness over the next five to six weeks.

the silent patches in between units are tough. during these patches the mind wanders and distresses itself over distressing thoughts and ruminations. these are trying times, but i am trying to keep myself occupied as much as possible. this weekend i plan to go to the city and do some sightseeing, eating, exploring, and other touristy things.

i think i have blabbed for long enough now, trying to kill this empty hour before lunch! more updates next week!

hope everyone and everything is well,
thanks for all the support,
dha