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| Physio Camp for the second year students - organised by 3rd year students! |
Holidays are over & it's time to unpack our books, uniform &
knowledge stored from last year. We've just finished O-week (orientation week) & Camp for the second year physio students. Physio camp was first on the social calendar and I managed to pop out to see how it was all going on the second day of physio antics. Physio Camp is a three day event (Thurs, Fri & Saturday of the week before O-Week, 12-14th Feb) for students to meet other peers in a relaxed social environment. The student physio exec plan and run the event. There were games, challenges, a DJ, a bit of drinking amongst other shenanigans. The photos below are a snippet of some morning events on the physio camp.
O-Week is organised by Otago University Students Association for all university students. There are some big gigs, college sports day, toga party, wild food festival, TV3's Seven Days (live filming of a weekly TV comedy show), a tent city on campus etc. There was also a highly contested rugby match between the Otago Highlanders against the Canterbury Crusaders at Forsyth Barr Stadium - with student discounted tickets. Within the stadium there is a seating section referred to as 'The Zoo'. The Zoo is the stand reserved for students, this is probably the most rowdy stand at the stadium. And yes, students tend to dress up in supporters gear, animal onesies and other creative costumes.
We only have three papers this semester. Looks can be deceiving, the workload for these three papers is not going to be a walk in the park. Pathology is only a first semester paper - the other two (rehab science & clinical practice) are both full year papers. There have been reports from past third year students and physio school staff saying third year physio is significantly more 'involved' [read: challenging] than second year was. Some staff even recognise third year as a year where many students really become 'mature'. I'll talk about each of the papers next week when I know more.
We were warmly welcomed to our third year of undergraduate physio by many staff members in a preliminary lecture on Friday 20th. The preliminary lecture was to introduce new department faces (e.g. the pathology paper coordinator), remind us about the expectations of the physio school and to give us an overview of what they year holds for us. We were again reminded of our graduation at the end of 2016 (provided we all pass) and the importance of learning, in depth, the content offered this year before fourth year placements begin. Content in year three of the professional programme will be the nuts and bolts of our physiotherapy career!
We were warmly welcomed to our third year of undergraduate physio by many staff members in a preliminary lecture on Friday 20th. The preliminary lecture was to introduce new department faces (e.g. the pathology paper coordinator), remind us about the expectations of the physio school and to give us an overview of what they year holds for us. We were again reminded of our graduation at the end of 2016 (provided we all pass) and the importance of learning, in depth, the content offered this year before fourth year placements begin. Content in year three of the professional programme will be the nuts and bolts of our physiotherapy career!
Dunedin is a beautiful city with historic architecture, culturally diverse residents and, of course, spectacular scenery. A major draw-card for studying here, for me, is being able to escape the city and be in the countryside within 10min of almost anywhere in the city by car and slightly longer with other modes of transport. The area offers plenty of scenic walk/bikes in native bush, farm-land, up small mountains, beaches, harbour walk/cycle ways. Here is one bike ride, with multiple vantage points, worth giving a go: travel up North East Valley to Sawyers Bay then follow the harbour back to Dunedin city. I rode this loop in just over an hour.
Talking about cycling... on the Saturday before 'O-Week' I was out with the sport medicing crew again. This time in Mosgiel for the New Zealand Cup on Wheels (Saturday 14th Feb). This is a track cycling event at a velodrome for all ages/grades. We were positioned in the middle of the velodrome. Initially we were getting dizzy turning around, watching the pack of cyclists, as they raced around us - but with three medics on hand, we decided we could cover most of the track and face each other to have a good chat at the same time. We were there from 3pm to 10pm. I look forward to participating in the medical team in as many future events as possible. This year I will be working with the Dunedin Tech football club again and Sunday mornings & alternatively each fortnight on Monday evenings at the Otago Sport Injury Clinic.
This year Australia & New Zealand were hosting the ICC Cricket world cup. Although I prefer to play backyard or beach cricket I decided to head along to watch the cricket with my partner and a physio mate. Cricket spectating makes for a good opportunity to picnic and to catch up with friends. We went to the Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan match on Sunday 22nd February. Tickets to the first round matches were $20 - not a bad price for an international display of sporting excellence.
Welcome to 3rd year physiotherapy!
Let the games/work/fun/study (whatever you want to call it) begin!
