Settling in

Well. We made it. Can't believe we're here after so long talking about it. I'd like to say the journey was smooth and effortless, but Unite & BA did their best to take any joy out of the journey here. Heathrow Terminal 5 was a disaster zone with staff running round like headless chickens. It took us 3 hours to clear check in and security.

If anyone is planning to fly to the USA with BA you are allowed to take 1 checked case plus 2 hand luggage, but you have to check in one of the hand luggage (for free) because new security rules say only 1 bag is allowed on the plane (unless you are business class - which is odd cos I thought most terrorists like to travel business class). Unfortunately most BA staff do not know the rules and they will try to charge you excess baggage.

Despite the complete lack of crew in economy on the plane, no hot food, (in fact only 1 service for a 8 hour 40 min flight) we were very grateful that we arrived sfae with luggage in chicago.

We hired a huge American Chevy 4x4 (does up to 20mpg on a good day!) and drove to Ann Arbor - staying at a motel overnight on the way.

Our first impressions:-

1 - Everything is bigger. Literally everything.

The cars, the roads, the trees, the apples, the food servings, houses, the milk cartons (buy by the gallon!)

2 - The town is spotless and clean. I haven't seen any litter anywhere

3 - The roads are falling apart - now I know why everyone drives big 4x4's

4 - Everyone we've met has been really nice and friendly, and everyone is very polite.



The house is amazing. Loads of space, and character, a real log fire, a huge basement, a toy room for the kids, massive fridge/freezer, big garage, back yard backing on to a park. Even a basketball net. Yep we're living the American dream alright. The neighborhood (as they spell it here) is very middle class - big beautiful wooden houses and tree lined streets, lots of parks and trendy cafe's, restaurants and bars. I feel at home alright.


Popped in to the hospital yesterday. UofM Main hospital (where I'll be working) is just one hospital in a huge medical centre that is roughly the size of Cardiff city centre. I got lost driving through it. It has at least 3 multistorey car parks,and best of all there is valet parking!! It is also immaculately clean inside. I went to the Anesthesiology dept and got shown around, taken to the hospital bank where they issued me my bank account - complete with $10000 loan already set up for me - all there was for me to do was choose how to spend it. (Actually it will all be blown on buying a car and our first months rent).

I also got shown my office and desk and personal computer (no - I'm not joking) I share an office with some of the other "rotators". There is a big Union Jack in there to make us feel at home - though I plan to change that for a Welsh flag at some point.

I get 1 days induction next week -introduction to the computerised patient notes, billing system (?? - I thought they were getting free healthcare now anyway) and anaesthetic machines, then I start work on April 1st.

So TTFN, Will let you know how it goes,

Drake.

1 week to go...

Welcome to my first ever blog. I will try to keep this up to date and interesting. The idea is to share my experiences of moving and working in the USA with friends and colleagues back home, (and remind people that I still exist).

With only a week to go I am feeling surprisingly relaxed. There's not much I can do in a week I suppose. The mad rush of moving out of our house and getting it ready to rent is just about over. Now we just have to remember to cancel the phone, TV, Sky, gas, electricity, council tax, etc. The boys are having their last day at school / nursery tomorrow. They're very excited, asking every day when we're going on the aeroplane.

The BA strike was the last big stressful hurdle, and at present, touch wood, it looks like we got lucky. Strikes are Sat, Sun, Monday and we fly Tuesday morning. Nice one Unite! It takes something special to make me think that the BMA isn't so bad after all.

We're arriving in Chicago on 23rd, hiring a car (which will hopefully be big enough for all our luggage - 4 suitcases plus hand luggage) and staying in a motel somewhere for 1 night, then driving the 4 hours to Ann Arbor (or A2 to the locals). We move straight in to our new home on the 24th which we are renting. I've already bought the furniture from the previous tenants who are moving back to the UK the same week. All this has been arranged by e-mail, but the photos look nice. It looks very stereotypically american.

Not really sure what I'll be doing in the first week. I know I have to get a social security number and a bank account. We're buying a car (more like a tank) from the previous tenants. My new employers are kindly arranging a $10000 loan for me on my arrival to pay for the car and help settle us in. I can pay it back direct from my salary over the next 12 months. Work starts 1st April so I don't have long to settle in. I've got a copy of April's rota already but I really can't understand it. I'm hoping to have a gentle induction, but we'll see...

I'm really looking forward to new challenges and some exciting cases. I'm really not looking forward to the early morning starts.

I'll post the next blog after we've been there a few days. It's just dawning on me that in just over a week I'll be doing the same thing in a new house on a completely different continent.

Take Care,

Drake