Georgia, otherwise known as Peach state, is in the deep south of the USA and right in the middle of the bible belt.
It is a state famous for its peaches yet anyone will tell you South Carolina's are better.
Atlanta is a big yet unassuming city. It is where coca-cola was invented and the secret formula lives, CNN comes from and it has not only the largest (and coolest) aquarium in the world but also the largest piece of solid granite 'Stone Mountain'.
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Emory Medical School
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Yes, I've been enjoying my time in the sleepy city of Atlanta. My elective is Paediatric Cardiology. I get in at 8am for ward rounds then try to sneak into cardiothoracic surgeries or clinics where all the action is. I have to say, it is a very depressing unit with some very, very sick people. The kids are beautiful though and my team have been decent in a make-as-many-cracks-at-the-Australian-as-possible way. I've seen some cool things and even got to assist with an open heart surgery. The medical students get in allegedly at 6:30am and leave at 5 every day. I'd say they are crazy but my intern only gets two days off a month. Here's an observation: Americans work crazy hours and never have a break, I would take medicine in Australia any day.
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| Lynn in a Greenes Candy Store |
The elective is amazing and I've learnt alot but the most fun I'm having is with everything ese. I'm living with Lynn, a university lecturer whose room I'm renting and it's fantastic. My room is spacious with a four poster bed and a desk, the house is amazing and Lynn is fascinating. She's fun to chat with about travel or generational observations or even (with some trepidation) politics and religion. I feel very lucky to be staying with someone I get along with and respect so much.
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Lynn's Family at the Brick Store: the coolest bar in town
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The hospitality in the south is amazing. It extends from holding open doors for all women to taking complete strangers around the city for the day. Saying 'bless you' after anyone sneezes is absolutely mandatory. Since coming here Lynn's family have taken me to all sorts of interesting places from funky bars and restaurants to a hiking morning up stone mountain with her son Patrick. I've caught up with my distant relatives Patrick and Angie and their kids a well as Jacqueline and Jaime. Living in the most amazing houses, having dinner together has been a treat and they have been full of fascinating stories about Chile, my family and their most recent travels.
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| Jacqueline and Jaime |
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| Barbara and Steffy |
One of the coolest days I've had so far has been yesterday with a friend of my mum's, Barbara, and her daughter Steffy. Barbara is a north-eastern born and raised attorney who is not sure how she ended up in Atlanta but has built her families life there. She is sharp and funny and full of stories of travels with my mum. She definitely doesn't have the mild, laid back manner of a southerner and don't ever try and waste her time! First stop: the biggest aquarium in the world!! Words can not describe how cool this place is. It's like diving some of the most diverse dives without having to get cold!! There were whale sharks and piranha's and even an albino crocodile. We watched a dolphin show that was a mix of broadway musical and amazing dolphin tricks with a corny story attached, I was in heaven. Next we headed up the tallest building in the south to a revolving restaurant! From the warmth of this place we had a 360 tour of Atlanta while enjoying our turkey and pecan wraps. The elevator is glass and you definitely get a little vertigo going up.
With very full stomachs we headed to our last attraction-the coca cola museum. I was expecting something old and run down but on entrance I realised truly how much money coca cola has. Imagine a place with three theatres, over sixty tasters from all over the world (unfortunately the Latin American ones sucked but not as much as Italy's Beverley flavour) and an extreme vault where the secret formula is kept. I had my first 4D experience: the sign on entrance was 'do not enter if you have neck, knee or other muscular problems'. It basically involved us getting shaken around and wet- we loved it.
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Southern Soul Food
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Finally, after an amazing day Barbara showed us her hood- the funky and beautiful Buckhead. I met her multiple designer pets and toured her funky house. We were still so full from the coke but headed out to the quintessential southern restaurant 'the ok cafe' for deep fried pickles, squash soufflé, crab and crawfish. Finishing off a perfect night we headed for the typical frozen yoghurt dessert.
Currently I'm chilling in front of TV watching the superbowl. Pretty good day. Pretty good city.
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Me at the top of Stone Mountain
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The elective is amazing and I've learnt alot but the most fun I'm having is with everything ese. I'm living with Lynn, a university lecturer whose room I'm renting and it's fantastic. My room is spacious with a four poster bed and a desk, the house is amazing and Lynn is fascinating. She's fun to chat with about travel or generational observations or even (with some trepidation) politics and religion. I feel very lucky to be staying with someone I get along with and respect so much. 
One of the coolest days I've had so far has been yesterday with a friend of my mum's, Barbara, and her daughter Steffy. Barbara is a north-eastern born and raised attorney who is not sure how she ended up in Atlanta but has built her families life there. She is sharp and funny and full of stories of travels with my mum. She definitely doesn't have the mild, laid back manner of a southerner and don't ever try and waste her time! First stop: the biggest aquarium in the world!! Words can not describe how cool this place is. It's like diving some of the most diverse dives without having to get cold!! There were whale sharks and piranha's and even an albino crocodile. We watched a dolphin show that was a mix of broadway musical and amazing dolphin tricks with a corny story attached, I was in heaven. Next we headed up the tallest building in the south to a revolving restaurant! From the warmth of this place we had a 360 tour of Atlanta while enjoying our turkey and pecan wraps. The elevator is glass and you definitely get a little vertigo going up. 
With very full stomachs we headed to our last attraction-the coca cola museum. I was expecting something old and run down but on entrance I realised truly how much money coca cola has. Imagine a place with three theatres, over sixty tasters from all over the world (unfortunately the Latin American ones sucked but not as much as Italy's Beverley flavour) and an extreme vault where the secret formula is kept. I had my first 4D experience: the sign on entrance was 'do not enter if you have neck, knee or other muscular problems'. It basically involved us getting shaken around and wet- we loved it. 
Finally, after an amazing day Barbara showed us her hood- the funky and beautiful Buckhead. I met her multiple designer pets and toured her funky house. We were still so full from the coke but headed out to the quintessential southern restaurant 'the ok cafe' for deep fried pickles, squash soufflé, crab and crawfish. Finishing off a perfect night we headed for the typical frozen yoghurt dessert.
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