Day 3 part 1

I wake up and don't really feel like I'm halfway across the world.  I don't know if I will every feel like I'm continents away from home.  Singapore is very much like the western world.  It's very culturally diverse but you have the Starbucks, McDonald's, clothing stores, etc that we have here.  It is very comparable to New York City.

Singapore is a very clean city.  Littering is a hefty fine, so people don't do it.  In the early morning, there are always people out sweeping and cleaning.  The MRT systems are super clean, very different from the metro in nyc.  There are no homeless people riding the train or in the train stations.  The trains are enclosed so that their are doors outside of the train that have to open too to get on so it's super safe.  There is no bad smells since everything is entirely enclosed.  Surprisingly, smoking is pretty big here.  You wouldn't know it because there aren't cig butts everywhere and you can't smoke inside places and even in some areas outside.  Today while sitting outside of McDonalds at a table, I saw the Singapore police make some people put out their cigs and they were across the way, not even close to Mickey Ds.  I have adapted to the heat and humidity pretty well so far.  It only really affects me if I am walking around in my work clothes for too long outside.

Today I am going in the office for an hour to observe how the doctor does her new patient exams and reports.  I will observe one more on Monday and then the rest of the new patients will be scheduled under me.  I love the way the doc practices-it's pure and simple chiropractic, the way it should be.  I will learn a lot practicing the way she does and hope to bring that back to the states if I ever move back.  Her office is just one office on the 31st floor of a building in the central business district.  The view out her window is phenomenal (pictures will come later; I will take them once she is not there anymore).  All that's in her office is an adjustment table, a spine, a desk, and two chairs.  All the furniture is very nice.  The ladies at the front desk only job is to greet the patients and call the doc when the patient arrives.  We do everything else-we take the phone calls, schedule, money, whatever else I'm forgetting right now.  We schedule one patient every half an hour and a new patient gets an hour.  The patient visit takes an average of 15 minutes, which allows the other 15 to do all the things we need to do. 

Some of the things I'm learning are very important to the doc-first impressions, appearance, patient care (of course, as it should be!)  She is very adamant about the doctor looking their best and looking better than the patients.  She believes as a doctor and health & wellness professional, we should be well groomed and look like we are a doctor.  She is so adamant that she gave me my first week's pay already to get some shirts tailored for myself.  Now that was fun, I got measured and picked out 6 fabrics to have my first ever tailored work shirts done!  To give you an idea of costs, the price was S$75 per shirt (S$ is singapore dollars) which is roughly $63 a shirt.  I don't think that's too bad for a custom tailored shirt.  Another thing the doc is doing for me, is taking me to get my hair done tomorrow (on her).  My hair does not tolerate humidity, so I haven't taken the time yet to do it curly with gel yet.  So everytime she has seen me, I have had my once straightened slightly frizzy hair back in a knot thing.  I don't think she liked the look too much for the professional setting....

I really appreciate all that she is doing is for me.  Already three days in, this has been such a unique and cool experience! :)  How does it get even better than this??