Sunday, September 30, 2012

Maybe I can do this



 
Well, I made it through my first 2 exams of vet school and I have the confidence I can do this. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday was spent studying the anatomy of a dog, cat, cow, donkey, and horse thoracic limb. Friday morning was the big exam and I think I did VERY well.  I know I made 2 really easy mistakes by overthinking the questions. But I am VERY proud of myself on how well I am doing. 

Friday night we had a MUCH needed girl’s night out!!  It was definitely a night for the books and will be talked about for a while.  Saturday was a very much needed ME day spent in bed with sugar food and SVU reruns.  Today, Sunday, was spent studying in the morning and grocery store runs.  We went to 2 grocery stores, IGA has most of everything we needed but Best Buy has the most AMAZING pound cake and cheese bread.  I do miss a lot of the items that are sold in the states but the markets are not that bad here.

On a side note I wish to congratulate my sisters of Alpha Chi Omega, Epsilon Psi, on a VERY successful recruitment and hope they enjoy their new fall class.  I spent 4 wonderful years as a member of this AMAZING chapter and I still wear my letters and pin proudly.  I can’t wait to come back and help with an AXO chapter somewhere in the United States.

Well, the life of a student is never over, we have another exam this Wednesday in physiology.  We actually have an exam every week until the first week of November so no rest for the weary.   Until the next post

Monday, September 24, 2012

One Month Ago


 
 
One month ago I boarded a plane to go to a school I had never seen, on an island I had never been to with people I had never met.  Well, I think it was a great choice!!

Routine has kind of set here; Monday through Friday we attend class and study (breaks for certain shows like Dance Moms and Switched At Birth), Friday night we try to relax a little by watching a movie or going on different adventures, Saturday morning we attend a TA session followed by a trip to the beach, come back Saturday night and study, attend TA sessions Sunday morning, study in the afternoon and go out to eat Sunday night.  This week we went to Shipwreck which was awesome as always and we tried to eat sushi Sunday night but it was closed so we ate at the Marriot instead.  We had Italian at the Marriot which was good.  I had the spaghetti which was ok, another friend ordered the carbonara which was REALLY good.  I was just a little shocked when an add salad cost $11 US dollars!! 

I apologize I didn’t update my blog on the weekend like I usually do…I was busy this weekend studying for my 2 tests this week.  Today (Monday) I had my microanatomy exam and Friday I will have my gross anatomy exam. 

I started off vet school strong with an A on my first exam!!  I am not going to rest on the past because Gross Anatomy will NOT be as easy.  It will be nothing but heavy intense studying till Friday at 8am.  After a few alcoholic beverages might be involved!!

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Week 2 of Vet School is DONE

3 of the most AMAZING people I could have met here!!

Well, I have survived another week of vet school.  I am still in shock on how much information in being thrown at us to learn. But I figure if others can get through it, I CAN TOO!! 

Besides class this week, Rachel, Brittney, Taylor and myself started looking at some places to move next semester.  First semester we live on campus in their assisted living houses (don’t call them dorms…people get upset by that).  Out search for housing had its up and downs.  We really wanted a 4 bedroom house so the four of us could live together.  Well, a lot of places were already rented. We only found one 4 bedroom that would be available (will come back to this house).  So, we then started looking at 2 bedrooms that were close to one another.  Tuesday we followed an amazing realtor, Kym to a couple different places.  We really liked Sugar Ridge even though it was a little more than all of us wanted to spend. Wednesday we were able to look at the 4 bedroom house known as the Dome home (no,  I am not joking).  Well, we fell in LOVE with the DOME HOME and we are pretty set on living there.  Who can say they live in a house that shows up when you google it (try it- Dome Home Saint Kitts).
OUR DOME HOME
 

Friday was Rachel’s birthday so we needed to make it special.  After class we blindfolded her and drove her around town so she couldn’t know where we were going.  Well, we really just drove her in a big circle and ended back up on campus to our health center where a hour long massage was waiting for her ….SURPRISE!!  We all got ready to go out to dinner at Rock Lobster.  We heard a rumor that they were closed till October so I called to make reservations and they accepted to them.  When we showed up they were indeed closed…they couldn’t tell me that when I called for reservations??  Oh island life!! So plan B was a good Italian restaurant named Ciao.  I splurged and had the lobster which I was a little disappointed in.  They have spiny lobster on the island and it is not use what I am use to. After dinner we headed to Shiggidy Shack and danced, drank and celebrated being on this wonderful island.  Most of the bars on the island are sand bars so it is all sand…A LOT different than California bars.  The bartender  made us a special house shot for the birthday girl which was AMAZING…still don’t know what was in it.
Amazing Rainbow I woke up to
 
Today is Beach fest…an all day party at one of the popular beaches on the island.  I decided to sit this one out as I need to catch up on studying plus I feel a cold coming on.  I spent this morning in a Microanatomy TA review and now planning on heading to our anatomy lab to study some more.  9 days until my first exam!! 

 

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Week In Review


White Coat in Hand
First Day of School
 

Well friends, I survived my first week as a vet student!!  Let’s just say I have studied more this week than I EVER studied in undergraduate.  The material right now is not hard just a lot of memorization.  School started Monday the 3rd at 8:00 am (did I mention I am not a morning person?).  Monday was filled up by my Gross Anatomy Lab, Macroscopic Anatomy, and nutrition.  We did not have physiology Monday because we had to get ready for our white coat ceremony.  The ceremony was amazing and defiantly got a little misty yes as I realized I was finally here.  One thing that really stuck out in the administration speech was that we were chosen because the administration thought we could complete the challenge of vet school.  They did not select us thinking oh she will only last 2 semesters.  After the white coat ceremony we took TONS of pictures and then headed to Spice Mill for dinner.  The food was AMAZING there and hopefully I can make it back there before the end of the semester. 
The Moms
 
Tuesday and Wednesday was filled with school and studying.  Thursday was a tearful day as my mom and Lynda headed back home after spending the last 2 weeks helping me get adjusted.  They are both so proud of me and I love them so much (and everyone else who has supported me).  Thursday evening I went to semester Olympics were Pink (first semester) was CREAMED by black semester (7th semester-they are leaving the island).  Then THANK GOD IT IS FRIDAY came where we fit in a few classes, studying, and then off to semester Olympics for the football game.  Pink semester BEAT orange semester (3rd) and we are tied with red semester 12-12 at halftime.  We have to finish the game later since the lights were not working.

Saturday I spend the morning in afternoon in my anatomy lab studying bones and muscles.  Then Saturday night was Mr. Ross.  Mr. Ross is where a male from each semester is nominated for a beauty pageant.  This semester’s categories were Pet Peeve, Talent, Superhero and musical.  The judges are our professors and many other professors come out and enjoy the show.  Well when you combine boozes, music, and a beauty competition you get the Vegas show Thunder Down Under being performed by students for their professors.  The show was AMAZING and I couldn’t stop laughing at some of the acts.  If I can find any videos I will post them.  We got home around 1:00am but the best thing about being from California is it is only 10:00pm so I was able to talk to my old coworker and amazing friend Margaret for about an hour before going to bed.

And now it is Sunday.  I am straightening up my room and then heading to the beach to study for a few hours. 

Until the next blog…

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Last day of relaxation


Well, tomorrow vet school starts and the vacation is over.  This morning part of my orientation group went zip lining which was A LOT of fun.  I have zip lined in Puerto Vallarta so this was not my first time doing it.  The rest of today is going to spend getting organized for all my classes.  It is a little annoying how you have to go to separate websites to get things, one for your classes, one for your teacher notes, etc.  I am sure once I am use to it I will be fine but right now I am like a lost puppy dog.  Tomorrow is my white coat ceremony so if your free PLEASE log on and watch!  Besides that HAPPY SUNDAY!!



Zip Lining

The Catamaran Trip

Saturday, September 1, 2012

And what do YOU do for your Vet School's oreintation week?


 
I apologize for the lack of post yesterday, I have been really busy balancing out the necessary school orientation “stuff” and relaxing and enjoying this beautiful island.  Where to start??

Wednesday we spent the morning on campus learning about the island, how to dress, behave, and act in the city, and learned more about our classmates.  Once that was done we took an island tour to see all of the island’s history!! WOW…it was so interesting to say the least.  The tour included the Caribelle Batik which is a botanical gardens with cute boutique, tours through an old sugar cane mill, an old blacksmith shop, walked though the Central Forest Reserve National Park, drove/hiked to the Brimstone Hill Portress and many other wonderful sites.  After the island tour we cleaned up to head down to port for  a campus sponsored BBQ and hand out.  I have an amazing time with my group even though we waited for 3 hours in the chicken line but lets just say we kept ourselves VERY entertained with Fat Tuesday Drinks, dancing, singing, and a few buckets of beer.

Today (Saturday) we had our catamaran trip at 9am where we went to the tip of the island and go to snorkel and hang out some more.  The snorkeling was AWSOME and I saw lots of colorful fish and shells.  Our boat crew was amazing and on the way back to the docks we sang, dance, did the tango line, limbo and of course the maracana dance.  It was an AMAZNG TIME!!  I am so lucky to have met some wonderful girls in my orientation group! After the catamaran we headed to Reggae Beach to meet up with my mom and  Lynda.  The beach was BEAUTIFUL and we finally got to see Wilbur the pig, Mocha the Goat and  the monkeys the beach has adopted.  Tonight I am staying in to organize things for class since I am on this beautiful island to study and go to school.  Tomorrow we are going zip lining and then who knows what in the afternoon.  I hope you enjoy the pictures
Brimstone Hill Portress
Mocha the Goat
Lava rocks
 
More pictures to come later