Week 8 Done :)

My helpful study buddy...NOT

Well, not much to report for this week besides lots of class and not enough studying.  We are getting ready for our second round of exams. Trying to play catch up in our classes and more and more memorization.  The days will be spend reading, writing, and some more reading.  I am having a hard time getting interested in the material this semester which makes it even harder to study.  

I forgot to mention that I did have my first necropsy last week.  For pathology 1, we do 1 necropsy a semester.  You are given a 24 hour notice of when yours will be so you don’t know when your chance will be. My case was interesting…pretty much the animal died as result of excessive blood lost due to a dog fight.  Sad case but was interesting to see how the bites penetrated multiple layers and how the underlying tissue, vessels and muscles compensated. 

Kitts had her first advanced obedience class this morning and was a rockstar.  I was worried she would have a hard time focusing with other dogs around but as long as I had a hot dog she was PERCECT.  I really hope to be able to compete in agility and obedience with her once I return to the states.  I have one CD title on a dog but never attempted any other performance events.  Kitts seems to love it so as long as she is having fun we will continue to train.  

This week we also got to celebrate Brittany’s 23^rd birthday on the island.  She didn’t want to do anything for it (well we know that never happens).  I tricked her into thinking we had an off campus meeting by the dorms but instead I had made her a surprised appointment for a massage.  I think she liked it but I know she is still going to kill me for the surprise.  We then went to Karma which is a restaurant that has Indian, Chinese, and tai food.  I was not impressed with the food but the view and service was great.  Katie also made an AMAZING ice cream cake (though by the time they served it, it was turned into a milkshake).  Birthdays are hard on the island since there is not too many things you can do.  Surprise party, rum run and dinner but I hope this is one Brittany will remember  

Brittany's Birthday Dinner

We got our lease for our new place next semester.  Hoping it is a smooth move.  REALLY looking forward to break and having 13 days at home.  

Wish I had more exciting stuff going on but my life is consisting of school and studying.    

Half Way Done

 

Kitts in her official Ross Vet Pet collar

Well, I am officially half way done with 3^rd semester but it hasn’t been without a struggle. 

Feel like the majority of the beginning of this semester has been spent studying. I heard the trick to surviving 3^rd semester is to do REALLY well on your first set of exams because finals are super tough and the less pressure you have that week, the better.  First exam was pathology which I felt super prepared for.  I finished the exam within 20 minutes and felt super good about it and then I got my grade back…a B.  I know I shouldn’t be upset about a B but it really surprised me.  After going back and looking at the test I made some VERY stupid mistakes.  I didn’t see the word NOT on one question and on another one I didn’t see accept.  UGH!! Silly mistakes that could cost me an A in the class but lesson learn must SLOW down and read the entire question.  Next exam was bacteriology which  I was SUPER nervous for.  I did not give myself adequate time between Path and Bacteriology to prepare for the exam.  I was literally a nervous wreck before the test but luckily the questions were SUPER nice and I was able to pull off a really high B.  Next was Pharmacology which basically tested the general aspects of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion.  Test was fair was was finally able to get an A on an exam.  Next was virology which was super nerve wrecking because we only have 1 midterm and 1 final so the midterm is worth 50% of our grade.  Happy to announce  I pulled off a B+ for that test. 

We don’t have exams for a few weeks now so I am trying to play catch up and stay on top of the material.  Finals will be hard because we are learning over 75 viruses, 50ish bacteria and 70ish drugs and all their important properties.  Trying to keep these straight in your head in the main challenge and is what makes finals so hard.  But no one said this was going to be easy!! 

This quarter I am also one of the physio 2 tutors which have been great for earning a little extra money.  Some of my future colleagues that I tutor are doing awesome and I am super proud of them.  School overall has been going great, studying lots and getting the grades to prove it but my living situation sucks. 

For those that have been following my blog since I found out I got accepted may remember me ranting on how I didn’t want a roommate.  Well, I should have followed that advice!!!  Some people make good friends and not good roommates.  This is kind of the situation I am in now.  Being around the same people ALL the time has really gotten to me.  So sadly, I have decided that I have to move out of the dome.  I am super sad about this because our landlord is great and the house is so neat but for my sanity and happiness the change is a MUST!!

Brittany and I have been looking at places.  Apartment hunting on Saint Kitts is VERY different then America.  Your wish lists are completely different.  On the island you are happy when there is a washer, dryer and hot water (ok the last one may be a little extreme).  But this process sure makes you looks at things a little differently.  I think we have a place that we both are SUPER excited about.  I will post details once we sign the lease!!

This break has been great so far.  Friday after class we headed to the Marriot to gamble our tuition money on black…just kidding.  But we did enjoy gambling and got some advice from a very strange source.  Didn’t get home till almost 3:30 in the morning and let’s just say we will probably talk about this night for years to come!! Saturday we went to our pink class fundraiser Woofstock which was an all-day activity for your dogs.  They had everything from owner look a like contest, highest jumper, fastest agility time, who could wag their tail the most in 60 seconds, etc.  It was a REALLY fun day and Kitts won 2^nd in the agility completion and FIRST in the number of tail wags in 60 seconds.  She was expertly handled by Brittany for 97 wags.  I would post the video on how she did this but she would KILL me.  There was a decent turn out for the event but wish more people came.  I think once the word gets around on how awesome it was next semester will be great.  It is funny how fast people are to complain about something but yet they don’t step forward and help. Huge thanks to EVERYONE that helped plan the event...it was awesome!!

Later went out to dinner at Rock Lobster (been craving some crab legs) and calling it a night.  Tomorrow I think we are going to the beach for a little bit and then might attempt to study and become students again.

This was a MUCH needed break as I have not been enjoying this semester as all with all that is going on.

I also forgot to mention Kitts is doing GREAT post-surgery.  She did have a sermoa arise a week after it and still a little big but nothing to worry about. Students that did the surgery said is it caused by her being too active post-surgery.  So back to leash walks and hot compresses on it.

Kitt's incision site and the seromia

Back at home my sister successfully completed her sophomore year of high school…where has time gone?  I am so jealous she is on summer break.  Since we are a year old school we really don’t get a summer vacation.  She also won her last pageant competition and is now Miss Teen Southern California. What us kids get our parents in to…Me dogs shows and her crowns.  But hey…they support us in everything we do.

Mckenzie and her new court

Well that is pretty much my life in a nut shell right now. Until the next blog…