Week 7 of Semester 2--Midsemester!

Ah finally... the coveted midsemester break.  The only day off each semester that the school gives us.  I'm so drained... it couldn't have come at a better time.  :)

I've decided to dissolve the Flyball league down here--there are simply too many things that have gone wrong.  Most recently, the field wasn't reserved for the makeup practice after we decided to give things a break when the 3rd semester had their midterms.  Maybe in the future, we'll consider starting it up again... but it just was too much of a headache for right now.  It was pretty good timing for it--I found out that although I didn't get a research assistant position with the St. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network (SKSMBN), I was assigned to Saturday morning patrols at 6:00am anyway... so, it works out.  (Not my own picture, by the way--it's from the website.  :P)

I managed to pull the physiology grade up to the passing range... although I HAVE to do better on the next one to get a better cushion in case things go south during the final exam.

I've started to get my motivation back in regards to studying, so that's what I've spent most of the weekend doing, while many others went off-island to celebrate the break.

Lost the volleyball game again... but this time, I blame a lot of it on the wind--the ball went in directions it shouldn't have.  Haha.  It was fun, as always.

Well, I suppose that's about it--it was a quiet week.  :)  See ya the next one.

Week 6 of Semester 2--Exam after exam after exam!

I should've warned you all about missing a post last week.  Week 6 was pretty crazy, with an anatomy exam on Monday... immunology on Wednesday... and parasitology on Thursday (a quiz that had as many questions as half an exam).  And honestly, they didn't go so well... I sometimes feel like it doesn't matter how I study--the material doesn't stick in a way that helps on the exams.  I'll have to just do better on the next set of them--there's no other real answer for it.

Volleyball's going pretty well--we've only won that one game... but it's fun.  Actually, it's a lot more fun than I thought it was going to be... and I hope the team continues to get better.  It seems like we are.

I got my car fixed... again... but now the check engine light is on.  I'm just glad it isn't the transmission.  She would've ended up in the ocean after having a new radiator and then the head gasket repair.  I also took a few (minor) repairs into my own hands--like gooping the bumper corner back in place.

Flyball got canceled this last week due to the overwhelming abundance of exams coming up this week, so I'll have 2 weeks of it in a row.  At least it gives me time to finish getting the string of hurdles done... and I hope the next lesson goes better than the last one.  I hate trying something new when I have limited knowledge of how to teach it to someone... like, I know how to train my own dogs, but teaching other people how to train them is a bit more complicated, since they all learn differently.

Poor kitten got spayed a little over a week ago--stitches hopefully come out Monday or Tuesday...

I find out this week if I get the orientation leader position... I'm not counting on it--I didn't get it last time--but it would be fun if I did.  If not, then I can at least put in more hours at the clinic again and get some other things sorted out in preparation for the next semester.

Well, that's been about it this week--I'll see you all next weekend!

Week 4 of Semester 2--Injury and Repair

My apologies for the lack of a post last week--it was The Unknown's first official volleyball game.  I now remember why I stopped playing sports 10 years ago now--I sprained my finger while trying to knock the ball back over the net about halfway through the second game.  I at least got it over the net, but we still went on to lose.  Last week, I feel as though we all played much better and it showed--we won.  So far, we're 1 for 2.  :)  I'll admit--it's fun.

We had our first round of exams this week... Physiology II and Parasitology.  I didn't do as well as I had hoped, but I'm going into the next set of exams with a better idea of how to study.  I passed, but just not as well as I would like.  We have this next week free of exams, but the following week has 3--Anatomy II, Immunology, and a Parasitology quiz.  I'll definitely be studying like crazy this next week.

I coached my first flyball class yesterday--it went ok... but I definitely need experience teaching training classes, though.  It's just so hard to keep positive when the owners/handlers aren't motivated to teach the dogs.  I had one girl throw the ball, the dog showed no interest, and she sighed, saying "well, that's a waste.  I'm done."  Seriously.  If you show no interest, how do you expect your dog to?  I hope the next one goes better (and that we have the hurdles constructed properly by then).

Well, that's really about it that's been going on, so I'm going to head off to get ready for my first day of walking the school's kennel dogs.  Urgh...

Week 2 of Semester 2--Deception!

What an epic title, huh?  :P  The truth of the matter is that things don't seem so bad just yet... although I'm warned that everyone goes into it thinking that.

Anatomy II so far has been a review of the reproductive system in dogs and cats, and then we simply have to apply the differences to cows and horses.  Avian anatomy is pretty basic, after you'd been working with birds for years (although I've gotta say I'm glad that Dr. Clements is back to teach it--she seems the most bird-savvy of the anatomy team).  We've got a quiz Monday of week 3, so I hope it goes well.

Physiology II is with Dr. Reich... and, well, it all makes sense when you think of what we learned in Physiology I.  It's just applying it to the renal system... so you just have to take into account that the body tries to maintain homeostasis and get rid of waste products through it.  I've been to Gretchen's TA session too, and it just seems to all make sense...

Parasitology isn't too horrible yet--we've covered Dirofilaria immitis (the heartworm), Spirocerca lupi (esophageal worms), Toxocara canis/cati/leonina (roundworms), and Ancylostoma caninum/braziliense (hookworms--aren't they interesting looking little guys?).  We also spent practically a whole week going over the life cycles of the basic families of parasites...

Immunology was another deceptive one--I didn't think I got it at first (especially when he went into an hour about haptens)... but after going to the TA session, it all made sense.  From what I hear, any detail in his notes is fair game for a test, though.

Otherwise, it's just been a week of club meetings and make-up lectures and the AVMA site visit.  The Unknown (my volleyball team) had their first scrimmage game on Friday, but Lexi and I had a make-up lecture with Reich, so we missed it.  Apparently, we lost, but that's why we're in the B-league--we're in it just for the fun of it. 

I finally got my car fixed (the head gasket that had blown last semester)... only to have the tire go flat on me and Lexi while we were out with some friends getting Indian food at the Thursday buffet.  I'm glad I learned how to change a tire, and that Lexi also knew what to do, because it would've taken at least an hour for the Ross Security to make their way out to us, I'm sure.  Luckily, it was a cheap fix, and she's back on the road again.  I'm back to being the object of many people's envy--I have a working car with an A/C and a radio.

Saturday was the BratFest... and I've said it last time--beer, bratwurst, and women in bikinis on the beach.  Every American male's dream.  ;)  It was worth it though--the food was good and I learned how to play cornhole.  (Yeah, I know... the name makes me still smirk too.)

... weekend went away far too fast.  :(

Week 1 of Semester 2--Movin' on Up!

Winter break went well... just very busy running around visiting everyone back home (and to those I missed, I'm sorry... much love... just not enough time in the day!). It was nice to go back to the frigid cold in Boston, but it was also nice to come back to some peace and quiet on the island before classes started.

Well, I've made it--semester 2 is now looming over the black class. (I'm not sure if I'd mentioned it before--each semester has a class color, and we rock 'em out at school-wide events to show our class pride. I'm currently in the black class... my first class was pink... so I tend to wear both. The pinkies still consider me one of 'em.)

The schedule for us is a little more relaxed:

• Physiology II -- Monday-Friday from 8:00-8:50am
• Parasitology -- Lectures Monday and Wednesday-Friday from 9:00-9:50am and then lab Tuesdays from 3:00-5:00pm
• Immunology -- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11:10-12:00pm
• Anatomy II -- Lectures Tuesdays 11:10-12:00pm and labs Monday and Wednesday-Friday from 1:10-3:00pm

We have breaks every day from 10:10-11:00am and get some nice spare time to ourselves on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It's less credits than last term (only 18), but I'm told it's a doozy. We'll see how things go... but they don't seem so bad yet. I've taken on a position as an A/V representative, so that I can help fix any of the microphone/powerpoint/sound problems that the instructors have while teaching--it's an easy "job" and I'll get a stipend at the end, so I figured what could it hurt?

Clubs are picking up, and I've been put into several staff positions...

• P.A.W.S. -- The rescue group I've been in since day 1. Still webdesigner... but with the new president, there seems to be more work ahead of us and more collaboration with other groups and clubs on campus.
• AAFP -- The American Association of Feline Practitioners... yeah, I'm still in the "cat club." My roommate has elected me the vice president this time.
• Scuba Club -- No change there.
• Holistic Club -- I was informed that they've been more active over the last semester, so I figured I'd give them another try... I mean, I want to do acupuncture after all... and it'd be nice to hear about the lectures earlier.
  
• ZEW Club -- The Zoo/Exotics/Wildlife club. I've stepped down as a zoo feeder (due to time constraints), but I'll still attend meetings and whatnot.
• ABC -- The Animal Behavior Club. This was a new one just started last term, and they had asked me to become a trainer and coordinator to start a Flyball league down here.
  

Last night was the Mr. RUSVM pageant again... and it was SO much better this time (I hadn't gone last semester because I was still in the "this sucks" phase of repeating the term). I wasn't sure who I had wanted to win--black (2nd semester... for obvious reasons), pink (3rd semester... once again, for obvious reasons... and Warren was just HILARIOUS with his ribbon-dancing routine for the talent portion), blue (4th semester... Brendan dressed up as Frankenfurter from the Rocky Horror Picture Show for his "favorite movie" theme portion), orange (5th semester... Richard was just AWESOME. He was the roommate that moved out of the house I'm currently living in. He's an excellent dancer, and he has a great sense of humor--if he hadn't gone to vet school, he'd be a hibachi chef and steal the ladies on dates), or purple (7th semester... Frank was my orientation leader, and he's pretty funny... I just don't think I ever want to see him dress up as Ariel ever again, even if it IS his favorite Disney princess). Orange won first place; pink won second; and purple won third... so at least my top 3 all placed. I hope I can find some pictures on Facebook soon enough to steal (and of course, provide proper credit to the original photographer).

Tomorrow marks the first day of our AVMA-site visit... basically, the big-wigs are coming to tour the campus and interview students and make sure we're doing as well as we claim... and if it goes well, we'll be an accredited university. This basically means we're on-par with American veterinary schools and don't have to take the ECFVG or PAVE exams (which would cost an additional $6000-10,000). Fingers crossed... we'll know for sure in March. You can learn more here.

I believe I've chewed your ear off enough... so until next week!