It's been a while!

I can't believe how long it's been since I last posted! I'm sorry that I've completely neglected the blog. I had to do a quick check back at my last post to try to account for what's happened since then, and I don't even know where to begin! I guess the biggest thing is that I only have three weeks left of actual class time in semester one, before moving onto finals and then a nice winter break. I have had quite a challenging last few weeks, hence my silence here in blog land. I wrote an anatomy theory exam, an anatomy practical exam, and a physiology exam, as well as numerous assignments and projects. I currently have a one week study break, during which I will be desperately working to complete another mass of projects. I will also be studying for biochemistry (I have an exam next Monday) and physiology (I have one more exam in a few weeks). I have to work hard to take things one day at a time, otherwise the sheer amount of work and the relatively short time frame left to do it in gets pretty overwhelming.

In the past several weeks, lots has happened. I made the decision to go home for three weeks in the summer, and I cannot wait. To be able to see family and friends again much sooner than I had anticipated is so incredibly thrilling. My mum was going to come out to visit in the Vancouver summer (Perth winter), but we found it hard to coordinate a time that worked for both of us. In the end, we decided that I would come home, so I am here doing my best not to count down the days! In addition to that amazingly unexpected treat (as if that isn't enough!), I will also be traveling to Bali, Indonesia for about a week and a half at the end of June to work with a group called BAWA (Bali Animal Welfare Association). I will be going with two friends from vet school (one in first year with me, and the other in fifth year), and we will be working with the veterinary team to vaccinate dogs and assist with spaying and neutering. Bali, like so many developing countries, is experiencing huge difficulties keeping a burgeoning rabies outbreak under control. The only viable solution remains the maintenance of a sterilized population of dogs with known health status, and BAWA is a phenomenal group working towards this goal. I am so excited- after a long, stressful term at school, this trip will be an incredible opportunity and an experience to help me keep ahold of my perspective.

In other news, today our best friend Geoff arrived from Canada! A friend of ours graciously drove us to the airport to pick him up, and it was so wonderful to see him. After three months, it felt like we hadn't even been apart. We went down to South beach in Fremantle and swam in the ocean. It was a cooler day today, only about 28 degrees or so (wink), so Geoff was thrilled. It was a gorgeous, sunny day for his arrival in Perth. After taking the day off to spend time with him though, I will once again be immersing myself in study over the rest of the week. He knows that I won't be available much over the next month or so, while I finish school and write my finals. That's the beauty of a best friend- it's ok to "just be" around them. 

Iain is doing really well, and so are the dogs. We are enjoying our life here, especially because we have made some really incredible friends. It feels wonderful to have people to share the crazy with; who understand exactly what it feels like to be at school for 9 hours, work til 3 in the morning at something, and then do it all again the next day. Iain is sort of vicariously going through vet school with me, I suppose. He is so incredibly supportive, patient, and understanding. He also feeds me when I get home after a long and exhausting day, my gratitude for which I can't even begin to describe. The dogs are amazing partners in this whole process, as well. Though the lives of vet student dogs may not be glamorous, they are always willing subjects for some live anatomy palpation and auscultation. I'm pretty sure attention is attention to them- whether they're being tenderly massaged or having their lymph nodes palpated!

It's getting late here, so I'd better sign off for now. I will do my best to write again soon. Lots of love to all of you! xo

Half way to half way!

I am officially half way through my first semester of my first year of vet school! Only six more weeks left of actual class time and then it's winter break. I write my last final on June 8th- just over two months away! Things have been moving steadily along here. I have now completed my first round of intrasemester exams (I wrote anatomy last Monday), and the ones that I know about went well. I think anatomy went pretty well too, despite the fact that I have NEVER been so nervous before an exam in my life. I woke up the morning of feeling physically sick and that feeling did not subside until I opened up my exam paper and went to town. I sure felt good after it was done, though!

I have an anatomy practical exam in a week and a half, as well as another physiology/histology exam the following week. I also have a couple of group projects coming up, and several smaller bits of homework to complete. Still, I am generally enjoying my school work and learning so much. Last week, during our cardiology practical, a group of us were gathered around the school horses in the barn, in our lab coats and stethoscopes. We took notes, and answered questions posed by the lecturer about ECGs and heart murmurs. At that moment I could have cried...I really and truly am a vet student. Sometimes it really just hits me in a very tangible way! During that prac, we auscultated horses (including one with a murmur than sounded like "lub WHOOSH dup), goats, sheep, and dogs. We did an ECG on a horse and on Leo the greyhound. I LOVED it.

Speaking of hounds, this week we got our two to the beach for the very first time one evening. A lovely vet school friend offered to pick all of us up at our place with her two dogs, and go down to North Freo to a beach that is always completely deserted at night. We went at about 9:30, and her dogs were safely tethered in the back of the truck while our two crowded in the back seat with me. Our friend has a beautiful three-legged pit bull, and a lovely black and white mix. Chester loved the other two dogs, and was thrilled to be able to tear around in the sand and surf. Dixie did so well with the other two dogs (she was on leash of course, and obviously didn't meet either of them face-to-face). We did the slow approach, and in no time she was happily parallel walking with one of the dogs on leash just 5 or 6 feet away from her. The "look at the dog" game has done wonders for her reactivity to other dogs. Both of them *loved* the beach, and we walked from 9:30 until midnight! On the human end, we had great conversation and a wonderful time. So I got home and worked on my biochem lab report until 2:30 in the morning...a small price to pay!

Yesterday, some friends and I went to the beach during the day, which is something that we had resolved to do for ages now before the weather turns. It feels difficult to take a whole afternoon off of doing/worrying about schoolwork, but I think it's very important to do sometimes! We went to Freo, did some fruit and veggie shopping at the markets, and then went to South Beach. We lay around on the sand a little, but mostly swam in the turquoise water. There were a lot of little puffer fish, and they seemed to really like following us around. It was a little disconcerting, especially when they would brush against you unexpectedly (as you were gazing at the shark-spotting helicopter in the sky above)! After the beach, we went to a little dining area called Old Shanghai, which is sort of a food court with lots of different types of food. Best of all, it's nice and cheap- I had delicious veggie pizza and fresh pineapple/orange juice. Yum! It was such a gorgeous day, all in all.

It's been a nice, long summer here. Though technically we're now well into autumn (which doesn't make sense and kind of blows my little Northern Hemisphere mind), it has been unseasonably warm. Apparently the weather changes very quickly though- one day you are lying on the beach and swimming for hours in the ocean (like yesterday!), and the next day, you're wearing your long-sleeved hoodie and mittens and shivering in your non-insulated house. I cannot imagine the day when I might experience feelings of being *too cold* here...it seems impossible!

I am heading off to uni today (Sunday) to get a bunch of work done. I need to study for anatomy and physiology, do some research on the pathophysiology of acute canine pancreatitis, and do a little biochemistry reading. Wish me luck!