Kapunda

Kapunda

I’ve finished my first week in Kapunda, and I’m not really sure where to even begin. How ‘bout this:

I was chasing horses that had broken loose from their pen and needed herding, I helped feed the sheep and managed to dump a bale of hay over my head and down my shirt, and ended up with dog poop on my pants and chicken poop on my shoes. And this was just the first day.

I think we can safely say I am *not* cut out to be a country doctor.

Max is the local doctor who decided to take me in. He’s been working in Kapunda for 15 years, and living outside of town on a farm. On his 100 acres he keeps horses, sheep, cows, and chickens, a few dogs and cats, plus three kids. And Bryan.

I think it’s easy to figure out which item doesn’t belong…

On the medical side, I have been seeing patients with Dr. Max; it’s been really interesting and I have learned a lot. Not sure how much of it will translate into being a doctor back home; I mean, how often does one treat patients with Orf in DC? (Yes, Orf is a real disease; you get it by being around infected sheep. Trust me, this past week has been stranger than fiction.) Not to mention how much I have picked up on raising rabbits for fun and profit, the cost of having the local butcher turn a lamb into lambchops, and doing physicals for people to get their horse-racing license.

And I have another week of this?

On Wednesday night, I decided to get some exercise and walked around the property (read: I was trying to get away from the kids – age 6-11 – who were really getting on my nerves.). So I went out and looked at the sheep, petted the pooches, and patted the ponies. I was a bit worried about the horses; they weren’t very active and seemed quite sad – depressed, almost.

So I asked them, “Why the long face?”

And with that, it’s the weekend. I decided to come back to Adelaide for a few days of civilization, and to get some studying done. Not to mention my hands were getting chapped from milking the cows…

As always, Love to All and keep working on your 101 List!
Bryan