6 Day...4 Exams...DEATH...but DONE!!

Well, I can officially say I survived hell week and I didn’t do too bad.  For the future ross students…Hell week of 2^nd semester is defined as 4 exams in 6 days.  This is NOT finals week for us (we still have those in 4 weeks) but it sure tests you!!  2 of the exams were in anatomy which made up a total of 25% of our grade, 1 of the exams was in Physiology which was 20% of our grade and the last one was Immunology which was 30% of our grade.  I have gotten 3 of my 4 grades back and I am happy to report that I earned 2 A’s and a B+ (one question away from an A).  We will get our immunology grades back tomorrow and I am a little nervous about this one.  The first midterm of this class, I received the lowest grade I have received in vet school (a 74).  This test I felt pretty prepared for the exam and thought I knew the material but the test was a lot harder than I thought it would be.  I am hoping for a high B…but I will be happy just passing. 

It is funny, when I started 2ns semester I was most scared about my physiology 2 class which is taught by Dr. Reich.  He is an amazing professor but he is known for his hard tests.  He really makes sure you KNOW the information. And going into finals this is my BEST class with a mid-range A.  The hardest class, in my opinion, is immunology.  So watch out future second semesters…your only fear is NOT being Reiched!!

I did have one bump in the road during this hell week…a wonderful ticket.  I know have received a ticket in two different countries (I bet a lot of people can’t say that).  For what you may ask…tinted windows…WTF!!!   On the island they do random traffic checks usually in the beginning of the month to do random checks to make sure the driver has a license, insurance and the wheel tax is paid.  Well, I was randomly selected to have everything checked (which I had) and then they put this machine on my back window.  I was not sure what it was but when there is man (in an army uniform) holding a VERY large gun you don’t ask too many question.  Well, the officer came up again and stated that my window tint was too dark!! He said that he could seize my car and take me to jail if he wanted to (for TINTED windows)!!  Sure a lot different than the fix it ticket you would receive in California.  Luckily my car was not seized and I was not taken to jail but I did get a wonderful $150 ticket that I had to pay in 10 days or I would go to jail.  The ticket is now paid so lets see what the next adventure the locals will make me go on!! 

I am going to relax this weekend and then kick it into high drive until finals.  This break I am not going home but my mom is flying down here and we are island hoping!! We are planning on going to Antigua, Saint Martin, Nevis and explore Saint Kitts a little more too!!

Procrastination



Enjoying the ocean during our catamaran...Don't worry both beers are not mine...I was "holding" it for someone

So week 10 and 11 are the weeks of hell for second semester because you have 3 test and 1 quiz in a matter of 6 days.  I have no idea why they do it like this but they do.  So I needed a study break so thought a blog entry would be a good way to take a break (or procrastinate more).

So to start where I left off…the catamaran trip was SOOO much fun and I didn’t get that burnt.  We left around 10:00 in the morning, headed over to snorkel (or float around in the water) in a private cove and then headed over to Nevis for the rest of the afternoon.  It was unlimited food and drinks so we all had an excellent time.  I can’t wait for the next one!!  Monday was spent recovering and trying to be good students again since we had a test the following week. 

Week 8 was pretty normal…nothing outrageous…which I am not complaining about!! We just played catch up all week since week 9 we had a parasite exam. Parasitology is not a hard class but it is A LOT of material.  This exam consisted of 87 different parasites where we needed to know the taxonomic classification, the host, the common name, its life style, its infective stage, the diseases it causes, the clinical signs and how you would treat the parasite…YES it is that much. I never thought I would ever get that much information crammed into my brain but I did and was able to pull my grade up to a B (which was my goal).

a classmate made these charts for our parasitoly exam...WOW

Pink (my semester) did have some amazing fundraisers for our 7^th semester banquet (I will write more about this later).  Between our multicultural pot luck, selling shirts, shorts, flaks, and winning the color party we FINALLY have some money in our bank account.  HUGE THANKS to our fundraiser chairs for doing such an amazing job organizing everything.  

My days have now been spent studying for these exams.  On the weekend we do tutor sessions at our home but this weekend we had a little suprise.  Addie (the other Dome's dog) came over during the session to play.  Well while we were paying attention Addie snuck up into Taylor's room and then snuck back down with a piece of material and jumped on the couch next to everyone.  Well, the piece of material ended up being one of my roommate's pink thongs.  We all got a good laugh about it.  It is the small things in vet school you have to laugh at. 

Addie saying, "I am sorry"

 

I wish I had more exciting things to say but sadly the life of a vet student is studying.  I am in vet school surrounded by paradise.