Knock.. knock.. knock... at the flat door... "Hi, we're here to see the flat!" Yep it's that time of year again. Landlords are re-listing rental accommodation for the next year and students are busy viewing the listed properties. You can often identify these people because they're roaming the streets in groups with a map leading the way (the map being the distinguishing factor between flat hunters and students heading into town to down some drinks). Unfortunately there are no early bird specials, but it sounds like a good idea to first year students regardless. My current landlord decided to renovate the bathroom without our consent or giving us any formal notice this week. I don't think any of us living here were surprised because they had painters working outside our bedroom windows for most of last week without any formal notice too. Anyway, apparently now is the time to start flat hunting! My tip for surviving physio is to choose the best possible accommodation that you can call "home" for the year. Here is a brief check-list:
- Warmth
- Sunshine (especially in winter)
- Insulation of walls, roof and underlay under carpet
- Double glazing & Low ceiling
- Well fitting doors and windows - no leaks/water stains on the ceiling
- Heat pump or fireplace
- Ventilation: extractor fans & windows
- Location
- Proximity to university, work or supermarket
- Neighbourhood
- Hill vs Plateau
- Car parking (free!?)
- View from inside out and from outside in.
- Other obligations e.g. having to mow the lawns?
- Costs & facilities
- Cheap Rent & Bond
- Cheap Power, Gas & Internet
- Furnished vs Unfurnished - check walls and curtains for mold!
- Quality of features e.g. energy efficient appliances, smoke alarm and clothesline
- Friendly Tenants
- Good Landlord
This is my second week at a community physiotherapy placement. The chronic diseases class is held at Unipol, which is the student's gym at the University of Otago (free entry with a current student or staff ID card). Unipol backs on to Forsyth Stadium, a covered sport stadium for mainly rugby and soccer matches. During the placement half of the student physios contributed to a great warm up and cool down. I will be contributing to this next week with the other half of the physio students.
In many ways, University of Otago is like Hogwarts. There are many old buildings (some that look like castles!), many stairways (luckily they don't change!) and secret passages between buildings. The secret (or not so secret) passage to Barnett lecture theatre is always exciting! Barnett lecture theatre is located in the Dunedin public hospital and I feel like this is becoming our second lecture home. I like it because there is an over-bridge between the hospital and the anatomy and physiology department where Gowland lecture theatre is. Let me take you on the over-bridge (secret passage) to Barnett! The lecture theatre itself looks like it was taken straight out of the Harry Potter movie too!!
Phty 254 MSK and anatomy were in sync this week with presentations and assessment of the knee complex! We are now expected to learn the assessment techniques at home before the lab to fully utilise the lab time (perfecting the technique). This means that we partner up as soon as we enter the lab and start mobilising joints. When other students arrive, we test their joints out too! I am always pleasantly surprised to find joints that I previously thought were very well stuck together, actually have a reasonable amount of accessory movement!
Home is not only a geographical place, such as the town you live in, a flat or parents house. Home is a place of personal significance, attachment and comfort. At home this week my flatmates and I are having a potluck lunch on Saturday. I hope they decide to flat together next year! After the potluck lunch I'm travelling to my other home to see my parents - so that's two delicious meals in one day! Lucky me! It snowed again on Friday, so our Pharmacology lecture was cancelled - it was a good idea to stay at home in the warmth.
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