Friday 14^th August 2020

15:42, Hong Kong International Airport

I have always wanted to write a blog. Now that I am hunched over my laptop in the departure lounge of Hong Kong International Airport, in what I hope is a Bill Bryson-ish, exotic-travel-writer-esque way, I find myself in the perfect position to do so. Armed with some photos of winding roads, and an original blog title, I can now take my first tentative steps into the world of blogging.

I don’t really know what form this blog will take. I imagine it will be stories about the people I meet; embarrassing situations and bit of Medicine thrown in for good measure….but we’ll see how it goes. I suppose I’m also hoping that it will be a good way for friends and family to keep updated on what is happening in my world.

I said goodbye to my parents at London Heathrow just over 24 hours ago. After multiple assurances to my mum that I had packed enough underwear, a plate of Eggs Royale and just one pint of London Pride, I set off to New Zealand for my F3 Year.

I have been excited for this year abroad for a long time. I like to think that it will be a year of learning how to look good on a surfboard, becoming a better doctor and occasionally jumping off tall things. I am excited to see a part of the world that I have not yet seen and to get to know some great people whom I have not yet met. Recently there’s also been a dose of fear added to the mix. I think that’s because much like this blog, I don’t really know what is in store. Nobody does. There is a lot of uncertainty in the world at the moment. Even recently, Auckland has gone into lockdown again which means that my expectations have changed – even about what is at the end of the flight that I’m about to board. And then there are the fears that seem trivial compared to everything else that is going on – fears about making friends, liking where I live, whether I’ll enjoy my job. These are the same fears you have when you’re 6 years old and never really grow out of…all of which are really just fears of the unknown and uncertain.

As the antidote to this fear, friends and family have been really supportive, whether it has been a card, a message or an emoji on Instagram. Their collective mentality has been to just “crack on, you’ll be fine” – a perfect dose of certainty at the perfect time. Right now, I’m hoping that this, and the number of pants I have packed should see me through the next few days at least!