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As I’ve noted before, I’m an introvert by nature. As a locums physician, I meet new and interesting people at each placement. This gives me the opportunity to push outside of my comfort zone. In fact, I try to make at least one friend in each city in which I work, especially on longer assignments. As a part of this exercise, if asked to attend an event or go out to dinner, I typically default to yes.
One day, in the operating room, I looked up to a warm smile above the mask. For those of us who work in the surgical subspecialties (or any profession that requires your face to be covered, I imagine) you learn to do a lot of communication with your eyes. At the end of the case I met my anesthesiologist, and soon to be friend, Dr. Tanisha Robinson. Before long, we had a routine, at least twice a week we would head to the gym or walk in the park, followed by dinner. We attempted to explore all the cuisine options that Danville, PA had to offer.
I worked in Danville over the course of 8 months before moving on to my next job that year. Tanisha and I stayed in contact and last year she said, “Hey you like to travel…want to go to Australia next year?” My answer was my default, “Yes!” I must admit, I was a little nervous. Tanisha and I had never traveled together domestically, let alone abroad. Other than the dates, I had no idea of the proposed itinerary once we arrived. The plans evolved over the course of the year and at one point, I was even worried they would fall through. In January, I received the flight plan, including a stop in New Zealand on the way home. It was official!
Transitioning back from Kenya, I didn’t have time to ask many questions about the trip leading up to our departure. Due to my work schedule, I had to leave for Australia a few days after my travel companions. Even with arriving on the continent later than the rest of my group, I still had plenty of time to create some amazing memories. From the Opera House in Sydney, to snorkeling and the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns, to the majestic views along Great Ocean Drive in Melbourne, to the quaint shops in Christchurch and lunch in the Sky at Auckland’s Sky Tower. I left these two countries with the desire to return. And I found a new go-to traveling buddy in Dr. Robinson. I’m glad I defaulted to “yes.”
