I felt kind of bad about the blog post I wrote last night. I tried at the time to keep myself upbeat, but as I just read back through it, it's pretty depressing. As such, I've decided to post about some fascinating facts relating to reproductive anatomy and physiology, which is coincidentally exactly what I am studying at the moment! Here goes:
1) As per this blog title, female kangaroos do in fact have paired lateral vaginae, which is kind of a fancy way of saying that they have two vaginas. Lucky them?
2) The fibroelastic penis of the boar (male pig) looks just like an earthworm.
3) Bighorn sheep rams actually spend much of the year in bachelor herds, where they practice almost exclusively homosexual behaviour. In fact, females frequently have to mimic the behaviours of rams just to get the males interested in copulation. Also, around 10% of animals are "gay". Take that, extreme right!
4) Female hyenas are masculinized in utero, and as such they develop an elongated clitoris known as a pseudopenis. They actually do have to give birth through it, and as a result, ten percent of first-time mothers die during labour, as do around 50% of cubs. All I can say is yikes.
5) The mammary glands of dairy cows can weigh up to 60 kg.
I think that will do for now. Fascinating stuff, isn't it? Obviously, I've tried to include some of the more entertaining bits and bobs while avoiding the drier material...not that I'm sure all of you aren't desperate to learn all about histological features of the seminiferous epithelium, or the role of non-clustered hox genes in limb and organ development.
You're welcome. ;-)
EDIT: Because I am totally neurotic, I was humiliated to note that I had typed "fibrocartilaginous" instead of "fibroelastic" as a descriptor for the boar's penis. I hope I can be forgiven in light of the frequency that the word "fibrocartilage" comes up when studying anatomy. I am, nonetheless, embarrassed. *shame spiral*
Monday, August 22, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Winter
Hello my lovely family (and friends? Does anyone else read this? Haha)- I'm sorry it's been ages since I've posted. There has been so much that's gone on that to be honest, I've avoided posting for that reason. Meanwhile, life marches on and things pile up even more (the story of my life, at the moment), so I may as well do a quick blog post about life over the past couple of months. I hope you don't mind the abridged version.
BALI
My trip to Bali is probably the most reasonable place to start, seeing as the remainder of my time in Perth after final exams was fairly uneventful. My fellow firstie Cat and I departed one balmy June evening for the airport, made the 3 or so hour flight to Denpasar, and stayed for that first night in Kuta. From Kuta, we headed for Ubud in the central highlands, about an hour and a half away. This was where we would spend the next week and a half for me, and two weeks for Cat. We had a phenomenal time there, and it felt so good to be involved with proper field medicine once again! We spent time working at the hospital/shelter facility outside of town, but also had (incredible!) opportunities to go out with the mobile spay/neuter team to different rural villages. We also spent one day out in the ambulance, which was an interesting experience. We met heaps of lovely people at BAWA, and one of the things that I really appreciate about the organization is that it is staffed entirely by Indonesian vets and vet nurses. Right from the start, we were thrust straight into the daily medical care of the animals at the shelter. The vets were all lovely and were so willing to have us do as much as we wanted, which provided for some great learning experiences.
The clinic itself was home to over 70 dogs and puppies, and probably around 10-15 cats and kittens. All animals are sterilized, vaccinated, and given parasite control before being adopted out- it's so nice to see a group so committed to humane population control as well as public health. Since 2008, over 100 people have died of rabies on the island, and (as is the case in most developing countries) the strain is dog rabies. BAWA provides free sterilization/vaccination to local people who are not able to afford it otherwise, and simply asks for a minimal donation for the services from everyone else. The mobile team is absolutely amazing- they work 5 days per week, traveling to different villages each day. They set up in a public area (often a temple!), and people either bring their own dogs in for surgery, or the team sets out with giant butterfly nets in tow to wrangle the local street dog population. The conditions are certainly different to what many of us spoiled by the privileges of the first world are used to, but the dogs (not to mention the people!) are a tougher breed altogether.
I promise I will try to post some pictures up here. My camera remains at large somewhere in the house, but I think I have a few good ones! Cat and I gave premedication and anaesthetic induction, and monitored surgeries. We also worked in recovery and administered vaccines, parasite control, antibiotic injections, and pain control. I can tell you there's nothing like the feeling of pushing the plunger on a syringe full of precious rabies vaccine in a place where you feel like that one small action genuinely COUNTS for something. One life saved, maybe more...
In our spare time (!!), we wandered the town of Ubud, visited Monkey Forest (a resplendent green jungly place filled to bursting with mossy stone carvings, ancient temples, and the titular long tailed macaques), purchased souvenirs for loved ones, and even climbed a volcano! The latter was accomplished after a 3 AM drive out even further into the countryside and a 2 hour uphill hike in the pitch dark. I think it would have gone better if I also hadn't been suffering from a touch of the (in)famous Bali Belly. Still, it was an incredible experience to watch the sun come up across Lake Batur with Lombok in the distance and Agung, another active volcano and the highest peak on Bali, casting an impressive shadow over the water.
Cat and I have excitedly discussed the idea of returning to BAWA each year to work with our new friends and continue to be a part of an organization that is clearly making a significant impact on the lives of people and animals in Indonesia.
VANCOUVER
Arriving in Vancouver after 35 + hours of traveling from Denpasar to Singapore to Hong Kong and then home was absolute bliss. I was greeted at the airport by mum, Fiona, Emma, Ken, and the most beautiful little nephews anyone could ever imagine, Will and Freddie. It was a little tearful, but so, so amazing. We went back to mum and Alan's and had a wonderful dinner together. I spent the next couple of days catching up frantically, and felt immediately like 3 weeks was just nowhere near enough time to be there. Then, on the Saturday night (I got back on Wednesday evening), we got some news that mum was sick. She was admitted to hospital and it was there that my family spent the next week or so, waiting for test results. I guess I don't feel like getting into all of the details here. All that I can say is that my mum is one of the most important people in my life (and in those of my sisters, and many, MANY other people). As such, I don't think I need to explain just how absolutely terrifying the whole experience was.
Amidst all of it though, I could appreciate the beauty of the timing, if this had to happen. I was and am still so very grateful that I could be there with my family during that time. It was very, very hard to come back to Perth. My mum is stable and will be undergoing some more testing, which is very stressful being that I cannot be there while it is happening. I'm still trying to find the best way to give over what ultimately I have no control over, and focus on my schooling, until I return again at the end of November. My trip home, with its unforeseen circumstances, certainly made me realize how very far away from home I am, going to school here in Perth.
Hmm...not sure what else to say about that. I made the decision not to accompany the CAAT team to the Yukon in July, for obvious reasons. That was disappointing, but still one of the easiest decisions ever to make (if that makes any sense!). I needed to be with my family, and I feel so lucky that I had that time with them. I am struggling quite a bit with homesickness right now, and the desire to be back home is so strong sometimes that it can be hard to cope. Still, I'm getting through with the help of Iain and the dogs, and some wonderful, wonderful friends. Please keep my mum and family in your thoughts this week while mum has a procedure done in hospital again. I have a physiology midterm on Thursday too, so I'm doing my best to concentrate on studying and keeping positive.
Still, with all this, I'm grateful to be here in vet school, with an amazing partner by my side, and a couple of great dogs. I will try to update more regularly! I hope everyone is well, no matter where in the world. xoxo
BALI
My trip to Bali is probably the most reasonable place to start, seeing as the remainder of my time in Perth after final exams was fairly uneventful. My fellow firstie Cat and I departed one balmy June evening for the airport, made the 3 or so hour flight to Denpasar, and stayed for that first night in Kuta. From Kuta, we headed for Ubud in the central highlands, about an hour and a half away. This was where we would spend the next week and a half for me, and two weeks for Cat. We had a phenomenal time there, and it felt so good to be involved with proper field medicine once again! We spent time working at the hospital/shelter facility outside of town, but also had (incredible!) opportunities to go out with the mobile spay/neuter team to different rural villages. We also spent one day out in the ambulance, which was an interesting experience. We met heaps of lovely people at BAWA, and one of the things that I really appreciate about the organization is that it is staffed entirely by Indonesian vets and vet nurses. Right from the start, we were thrust straight into the daily medical care of the animals at the shelter. The vets were all lovely and were so willing to have us do as much as we wanted, which provided for some great learning experiences.
The clinic itself was home to over 70 dogs and puppies, and probably around 10-15 cats and kittens. All animals are sterilized, vaccinated, and given parasite control before being adopted out- it's so nice to see a group so committed to humane population control as well as public health. Since 2008, over 100 people have died of rabies on the island, and (as is the case in most developing countries) the strain is dog rabies. BAWA provides free sterilization/vaccination to local people who are not able to afford it otherwise, and simply asks for a minimal donation for the services from everyone else. The mobile team is absolutely amazing- they work 5 days per week, traveling to different villages each day. They set up in a public area (often a temple!), and people either bring their own dogs in for surgery, or the team sets out with giant butterfly nets in tow to wrangle the local street dog population. The conditions are certainly different to what many of us spoiled by the privileges of the first world are used to, but the dogs (not to mention the people!) are a tougher breed altogether.
I promise I will try to post some pictures up here. My camera remains at large somewhere in the house, but I think I have a few good ones! Cat and I gave premedication and anaesthetic induction, and monitored surgeries. We also worked in recovery and administered vaccines, parasite control, antibiotic injections, and pain control. I can tell you there's nothing like the feeling of pushing the plunger on a syringe full of precious rabies vaccine in a place where you feel like that one small action genuinely COUNTS for something. One life saved, maybe more...
In our spare time (!!), we wandered the town of Ubud, visited Monkey Forest (a resplendent green jungly place filled to bursting with mossy stone carvings, ancient temples, and the titular long tailed macaques), purchased souvenirs for loved ones, and even climbed a volcano! The latter was accomplished after a 3 AM drive out even further into the countryside and a 2 hour uphill hike in the pitch dark. I think it would have gone better if I also hadn't been suffering from a touch of the (in)famous Bali Belly. Still, it was an incredible experience to watch the sun come up across Lake Batur with Lombok in the distance and Agung, another active volcano and the highest peak on Bali, casting an impressive shadow over the water.
Cat and I have excitedly discussed the idea of returning to BAWA each year to work with our new friends and continue to be a part of an organization that is clearly making a significant impact on the lives of people and animals in Indonesia.
VANCOUVER
Arriving in Vancouver after 35 + hours of traveling from Denpasar to Singapore to Hong Kong and then home was absolute bliss. I was greeted at the airport by mum, Fiona, Emma, Ken, and the most beautiful little nephews anyone could ever imagine, Will and Freddie. It was a little tearful, but so, so amazing. We went back to mum and Alan's and had a wonderful dinner together. I spent the next couple of days catching up frantically, and felt immediately like 3 weeks was just nowhere near enough time to be there. Then, on the Saturday night (I got back on Wednesday evening), we got some news that mum was sick. She was admitted to hospital and it was there that my family spent the next week or so, waiting for test results. I guess I don't feel like getting into all of the details here. All that I can say is that my mum is one of the most important people in my life (and in those of my sisters, and many, MANY other people). As such, I don't think I need to explain just how absolutely terrifying the whole experience was.
Amidst all of it though, I could appreciate the beauty of the timing, if this had to happen. I was and am still so very grateful that I could be there with my family during that time. It was very, very hard to come back to Perth. My mum is stable and will be undergoing some more testing, which is very stressful being that I cannot be there while it is happening. I'm still trying to find the best way to give over what ultimately I have no control over, and focus on my schooling, until I return again at the end of November. My trip home, with its unforeseen circumstances, certainly made me realize how very far away from home I am, going to school here in Perth.
Hmm...not sure what else to say about that. I made the decision not to accompany the CAAT team to the Yukon in July, for obvious reasons. That was disappointing, but still one of the easiest decisions ever to make (if that makes any sense!). I needed to be with my family, and I feel so lucky that I had that time with them. I am struggling quite a bit with homesickness right now, and the desire to be back home is so strong sometimes that it can be hard to cope. Still, I'm getting through with the help of Iain and the dogs, and some wonderful, wonderful friends. Please keep my mum and family in your thoughts this week while mum has a procedure done in hospital again. I have a physiology midterm on Thursday too, so I'm doing my best to concentrate on studying and keeping positive.
Still, with all this, I'm grateful to be here in vet school, with an amazing partner by my side, and a couple of great dogs. I will try to update more regularly! I hope everyone is well, no matter where in the world. xoxo
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
"Today, I had Corn Flakes instead of Sultana Bran for breakfast!"
The title of this post is exactly the kind of thing I would like to avoid in my blog. I don't write that frequently for a couple of reasons- the first is, of course, simply the lack of time. I feel that I'm reasonably well-justified with that one. Secondly, though, I don't want to write just for the sake of it, because there's no part of me that believes that every little mundane aspect of my life is grippingly readable (refer to title of this post, true though it may be!).
Still, apparently I don't blog enough for the liking of some, and for those people, the very trivial may be just fine (how flattering!). Goodness knows, I understand the feeling- I cling desperately to the every day goings-on back home like a lifeline when I'm homesick and just wishing I could take my nephews to the park or go for coffee with my mum. So, here goes: A few ramblings about my last few weeks here, before I no longer have the ability, time, nor inclination to update my blog for another month. :-)
After my triumphant last blog post when exams finished, I felt a bit of post-exam letdown. I'm not sure why I was surprised- I've never in all of my years of education experienced so much stress and anxiety going into finals for anything than I did a month ago. For me, post-exam letdown is a hallmark of being a perfectionist and weirdly neurotic, when the period after exams heralds a time to dissect my (never good enough) study habits, answers to questions I could have written better, and without fail, the thankfully-short but nonetheless desperately uncomfortable moment when I question whether I am cut out for this and whether I will ever actually be the kind of doctor I strive to be. In all honesty, I am prepared for many more of those moments. From what I've seen, every vet, let alone vet student, experiences them. I will be ok, because I know fundamentally and at the very core of my being that I have fought tooth and nail to get here, and that I'm in the right program, at the right school, at the right time.
So what have I done since finishing up? I've been taking the dogs on long walks, watching lots of movies with Iain and Geoff, and working bit by bit on my manuscript. It's been nice to walk the dogs during the day while it's warm, rather than at 6-something in the morning when it's freezing (look at me complaining..."freezing" in my mind now is 8 or 9 degrees), and I have to rush the dogs along so that I can bus into school on time. My friend and I went to the travel doctor to get our rabies boosters, and it is literally the only clinic that does them here. I suffered no real ill effects from it, other than a sore arm and a nasty-looking bruise that's still there, more than a week later. I have to get a Q fever test and vaccine done when I'm back in Vancouver, because I missed the boat and didn't get it done at uni a couple of months ago. We are on the farm all of next semester, so it's an important one to have. Q fever is a nasty bacterial infection that is spread mainly through the bodily fluids of cattle and sheep.
Apropos of nothing related to cattle bodily fluids, I had a really lovely birthday spent with some good friends and doing very normal things. Iain made pancakes for breakfast and then we went to a rally downtown at the Parliament building in Perth in support of a full ban on live export. Hopefully most of you would have received my emails on the subject of live export, and what can be done to stop it. Live export is the shipping of live animals to foreign countries, where they are then slaughtered. I won't get into a rant right now, but here's an appropriately biased website that generally shares my views. I am ok with the bias, because you won't find equal care given to both sides in any West Australian newspapers, that's for sure.
www.liveexportshame.com
The rally was disappointing in that there was a huge pro-export presence, and the pro-ban side was soundly overshadowed. Western Australia and the Northern Territory are the two biggest exporters of live cattle, so we expected that there would be a lot of people coming to protest a possible ban. The thing is, I and anyone else I know who is for a full ban is also in full support of protecting and preserving the livelihoods of farmers and cattle producers. This wasn't really reflected in the signs, posters, and chants by "our side", which chose for the most part to appeal to people's emotions rather than present itself as willing to work on a solution that benefits all. I genuinely believe that is possible in this case, though it will take time and patience. I am not ok, however, with the animals being "patient" anymore...this cruelty has been going on now for far too long whilst government bureaucrats claim ignorance and use pretty words to placate the population's ever-growing unease with this practice. The treatment of these animals is absolutely horrifying, and too many Australians are passing the blame onto the foreign countries utilizing inhumane slaughter practices. If you can stomach it, I would encourage every single person to watch the recent "Four Corners" expose on the live export of cattle from Australia to Indonesia, which has caused such an outcry in the country. It can be found here, but I warn you, the images and footage you will see is extremely graphic and disturbing. Consider watching it anyway.
http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/special_eds/20110530/cattle/
Oops, I guess I went on for a bit anyway. My feelings about the whole debate are best summed up in this way: Animals are not televisions or iPods...if you are producing them, you are responsible for their treatment from birth to slaughter. No exceptions.
After that very brief departure from my initial topic (which was...?), in other news, I'm starting to throw clothes in a pile and think about what to pack with me to take to Bali and Vancouver. So far, I have my stethoscope, a couple of pairs of scrubs, and some clothes that I don't mind leaving behind when I fly to Vancouver. Living in Australia, it seems, is hard on clothes. Very few people have dryers here because the weather is so nice most of the year, so you can just chuck everything up on a line outside. Between the hard water and the moths though, our clothes have taken a beating. Cautionary note: Shake out dry clothes before folding and bringing inside to remove any unwanted stowaways of the arachnid persuasion! I am looking forward to picking up some new (cheap) clothes back in Vancouver, as when I arrive back in time for school starting in August, spring will have arrived and it will start getting hot again, unlike this hideous 15-22 degree weather we've been having, haha.
I am really excited for Bali, Vancouver, and the Yukon. What an odd/amazing combination of destinations! One amazingly privileged problem to have in vet school is the excess of opportunities, and not nearly enough time or money (!!) with which to pursue them. Case in point: My recent email from an Asian elephant sanctuary in Thailand imploring vet students to come and help out with various amazing things. *groan* Still, the experiences that I've had even BEFORE vet school, and now the doors that have been opened as a result of being IN vet school, are nothing short of miraculous. I have to really focus on each day and not let myself get caught up in all the hyperventilating, "I want to do it all, right now, otherwise bad things will happen, and that would suck, and, and, and..." kind of mentality. I have a whole lifetime in which to make the kind of difference I hope to make, and that starts with learning respiratory physiology and renal clearance calculations and the structure of fatty acids and neural organization. But you know what? Not right now, not anymore...I'm on holidays.
Still, apparently I don't blog enough for the liking of some, and for those people, the very trivial may be just fine (how flattering!). Goodness knows, I understand the feeling- I cling desperately to the every day goings-on back home like a lifeline when I'm homesick and just wishing I could take my nephews to the park or go for coffee with my mum. So, here goes: A few ramblings about my last few weeks here, before I no longer have the ability, time, nor inclination to update my blog for another month. :-)
After my triumphant last blog post when exams finished, I felt a bit of post-exam letdown. I'm not sure why I was surprised- I've never in all of my years of education experienced so much stress and anxiety going into finals for anything than I did a month ago. For me, post-exam letdown is a hallmark of being a perfectionist and weirdly neurotic, when the period after exams heralds a time to dissect my (never good enough) study habits, answers to questions I could have written better, and without fail, the thankfully-short but nonetheless desperately uncomfortable moment when I question whether I am cut out for this and whether I will ever actually be the kind of doctor I strive to be. In all honesty, I am prepared for many more of those moments. From what I've seen, every vet, let alone vet student, experiences them. I will be ok, because I know fundamentally and at the very core of my being that I have fought tooth and nail to get here, and that I'm in the right program, at the right school, at the right time.
So what have I done since finishing up? I've been taking the dogs on long walks, watching lots of movies with Iain and Geoff, and working bit by bit on my manuscript. It's been nice to walk the dogs during the day while it's warm, rather than at 6-something in the morning when it's freezing (look at me complaining..."freezing" in my mind now is 8 or 9 degrees), and I have to rush the dogs along so that I can bus into school on time. My friend and I went to the travel doctor to get our rabies boosters, and it is literally the only clinic that does them here. I suffered no real ill effects from it, other than a sore arm and a nasty-looking bruise that's still there, more than a week later. I have to get a Q fever test and vaccine done when I'm back in Vancouver, because I missed the boat and didn't get it done at uni a couple of months ago. We are on the farm all of next semester, so it's an important one to have. Q fever is a nasty bacterial infection that is spread mainly through the bodily fluids of cattle and sheep.
Apropos of nothing related to cattle bodily fluids, I had a really lovely birthday spent with some good friends and doing very normal things. Iain made pancakes for breakfast and then we went to a rally downtown at the Parliament building in Perth in support of a full ban on live export. Hopefully most of you would have received my emails on the subject of live export, and what can be done to stop it. Live export is the shipping of live animals to foreign countries, where they are then slaughtered. I won't get into a rant right now, but here's an appropriately biased website that generally shares my views. I am ok with the bias, because you won't find equal care given to both sides in any West Australian newspapers, that's for sure.
www.liveexportshame.com
The rally was disappointing in that there was a huge pro-export presence, and the pro-ban side was soundly overshadowed. Western Australia and the Northern Territory are the two biggest exporters of live cattle, so we expected that there would be a lot of people coming to protest a possible ban. The thing is, I and anyone else I know who is for a full ban is also in full support of protecting and preserving the livelihoods of farmers and cattle producers. This wasn't really reflected in the signs, posters, and chants by "our side", which chose for the most part to appeal to people's emotions rather than present itself as willing to work on a solution that benefits all. I genuinely believe that is possible in this case, though it will take time and patience. I am not ok, however, with the animals being "patient" anymore...this cruelty has been going on now for far too long whilst government bureaucrats claim ignorance and use pretty words to placate the population's ever-growing unease with this practice. The treatment of these animals is absolutely horrifying, and too many Australians are passing the blame onto the foreign countries utilizing inhumane slaughter practices. If you can stomach it, I would encourage every single person to watch the recent "Four Corners" expose on the live export of cattle from Australia to Indonesia, which has caused such an outcry in the country. It can be found here, but I warn you, the images and footage you will see is extremely graphic and disturbing. Consider watching it anyway.
http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/special_eds/20110530/cattle/
Oops, I guess I went on for a bit anyway. My feelings about the whole debate are best summed up in this way: Animals are not televisions or iPods...if you are producing them, you are responsible for their treatment from birth to slaughter. No exceptions.
After that very brief departure from my initial topic (which was...?), in other news, I'm starting to throw clothes in a pile and think about what to pack with me to take to Bali and Vancouver. So far, I have my stethoscope, a couple of pairs of scrubs, and some clothes that I don't mind leaving behind when I fly to Vancouver. Living in Australia, it seems, is hard on clothes. Very few people have dryers here because the weather is so nice most of the year, so you can just chuck everything up on a line outside. Between the hard water and the moths though, our clothes have taken a beating. Cautionary note: Shake out dry clothes before folding and bringing inside to remove any unwanted stowaways of the arachnid persuasion! I am looking forward to picking up some new (cheap) clothes back in Vancouver, as when I arrive back in time for school starting in August, spring will have arrived and it will start getting hot again, unlike this hideous 15-22 degree weather we've been having, haha.
I am really excited for Bali, Vancouver, and the Yukon. What an odd/amazing combination of destinations! One amazingly privileged problem to have in vet school is the excess of opportunities, and not nearly enough time or money (!!) with which to pursue them. Case in point: My recent email from an Asian elephant sanctuary in Thailand imploring vet students to come and help out with various amazing things. *groan* Still, the experiences that I've had even BEFORE vet school, and now the doors that have been opened as a result of being IN vet school, are nothing short of miraculous. I have to really focus on each day and not let myself get caught up in all the hyperventilating, "I want to do it all, right now, otherwise bad things will happen, and that would suck, and, and, and..." kind of mentality. I have a whole lifetime in which to make the kind of difference I hope to make, and that starts with learning respiratory physiology and renal clearance calculations and the structure of fatty acids and neural organization. But you know what? Not right now, not anymore...I'm on holidays.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
And just like that...
...it's all done! I am simultaneously bewildered and elated to announce that I have (barring any unforeseen circumstances!) officially finished semester one of school. That means that I am exhausted, puffy-eyed, a little worse for the wear, and 1/10 of a veterinarian.
I wrote physiology today and it went better than I thought it would. I was terrified for this one, so of course it had to be last, drawing the pain out to the bitter end, haha. It still felt a little surreal to sit outside in the beautiful autumn sun at the campus tavern and just chat with wonderful friends, and then head home to walk the dogs, who have gotten the short end of the stick lately. I took Chester and Dixie out for a really nice long amble, and it felt like late summer in Vancouver- warm but with a light breeze. Picture the smell of wood smoke to that, and you're getting there. The dogs were absolutely thrilled and it makes me really happy to see them so happy. It really brings home the idea that animals want to be where their people are. Chester and Dixie would be happy living in a box on the street, as long as they were with Iain and I. It's nice to have confirmation though that they are happy and settled, despite the stressful, expensive, time-consuming process of getting them here. Iain and I stressed about it constantly and worried about their ages (Chester and Dixie are turning 12 and 10 this year, respectively), their health (Chester with his mystery neuropathy), and whether it would be unfair for them to have to adapt to a new country, new climate, new lifestyle. As always though, they've risen to the occasion and made the most out of everything, as dogs always do. Ultimately, we knew that either all of us come to Australia, or none of us do. They are family, and they go where we go.
Now, onto my next projects. I have three weeks here in Perth to revise and submit another draft of my Steller sea lion manuscript, which was accepted pending major revision (emphasis on the "major revision" part) to a journal. I am hoping that after the semester I just had, it will seem like a cakewalk to make the changes necessary and send it back to the editor before leaving for Bali. I also have my birthday to look forward to, and it's so great that I get to spend it with Iain, Geoff, and others here who are not away for the winter break. I think too that I am going to do some touristy things here that I haven't done yet due to a chronic lack of time. Maybe a trip to Rotto (Rottnest Island) is in order? We are also hoping to go camping somewhere up north for a few days. It feels crazy to be living in a place where there is perpetual camping, all year round- usually Iain and I have to finish up in late September if we're lucky, and by late April we're chomping at the bit to go play outside in tents. Here, you can go all year...ALL YEAR! Too bad vet students are pitifully time-poor.
I feel a real sense of relief having the first semester done and out of the way. A lot of people say it's one of the worst parts of the whole degree (though it depends who you ask!), and I can see why that might be. Not only have I started vet school, but Iain and I have moved across the world and settled in a brand new place. We didn't have our dogs or a solid place to live for the first month, so we spent all of our spare time house hunting and trying to look like responsible, reliable tenants. It's nice to see where we were 4 months ago, and where we are now. Speaking of which, I have to go- I have friends coming over for pizza and wine. Let the celebrations begin! Lots to be happy, grateful, and proud about. Those of you in the northern hemisphere- see you very soon! xoxo
I wrote physiology today and it went better than I thought it would. I was terrified for this one, so of course it had to be last, drawing the pain out to the bitter end, haha. It still felt a little surreal to sit outside in the beautiful autumn sun at the campus tavern and just chat with wonderful friends, and then head home to walk the dogs, who have gotten the short end of the stick lately. I took Chester and Dixie out for a really nice long amble, and it felt like late summer in Vancouver- warm but with a light breeze. Picture the smell of wood smoke to that, and you're getting there. The dogs were absolutely thrilled and it makes me really happy to see them so happy. It really brings home the idea that animals want to be where their people are. Chester and Dixie would be happy living in a box on the street, as long as they were with Iain and I. It's nice to have confirmation though that they are happy and settled, despite the stressful, expensive, time-consuming process of getting them here. Iain and I stressed about it constantly and worried about their ages (Chester and Dixie are turning 12 and 10 this year, respectively), their health (Chester with his mystery neuropathy), and whether it would be unfair for them to have to adapt to a new country, new climate, new lifestyle. As always though, they've risen to the occasion and made the most out of everything, as dogs always do. Ultimately, we knew that either all of us come to Australia, or none of us do. They are family, and they go where we go.
Now, onto my next projects. I have three weeks here in Perth to revise and submit another draft of my Steller sea lion manuscript, which was accepted pending major revision (emphasis on the "major revision" part) to a journal. I am hoping that after the semester I just had, it will seem like a cakewalk to make the changes necessary and send it back to the editor before leaving for Bali. I also have my birthday to look forward to, and it's so great that I get to spend it with Iain, Geoff, and others here who are not away for the winter break. I think too that I am going to do some touristy things here that I haven't done yet due to a chronic lack of time. Maybe a trip to Rotto (Rottnest Island) is in order? We are also hoping to go camping somewhere up north for a few days. It feels crazy to be living in a place where there is perpetual camping, all year round- usually Iain and I have to finish up in late September if we're lucky, and by late April we're chomping at the bit to go play outside in tents. Here, you can go all year...ALL YEAR! Too bad vet students are pitifully time-poor.
I feel a real sense of relief having the first semester done and out of the way. A lot of people say it's one of the worst parts of the whole degree (though it depends who you ask!), and I can see why that might be. Not only have I started vet school, but Iain and I have moved across the world and settled in a brand new place. We didn't have our dogs or a solid place to live for the first month, so we spent all of our spare time house hunting and trying to look like responsible, reliable tenants. It's nice to see where we were 4 months ago, and where we are now. Speaking of which, I have to go- I have friends coming over for pizza and wine. Let the celebrations begin! Lots to be happy, grateful, and proud about. Those of you in the northern hemisphere- see you very soon! xoxo
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Surfacing briefly!
As I head into final exams for my first semester of vet school (!!!), I have about 3.2 seconds to reflect on how INSANE this last four months has been! My life here very much feels like a life I've been living for a long time- not sure whether that's a good thing or a bad thing. Honestly, I'm not surprised that vet school feels familiar to me- I've been working towards this life for almost 25 years.
I have a whirlwind next couple of months. My first final is a week today, and the exam period ends for me on June 8th. I will be working on a couple of research projects right after that, and am hoping to have them completed by the time Cat and I fly to Bali on the 27th. I spend about 10 days there working with BAWA (www.bawabali.com), and then fly home to Vancouver for three weeks. Technically though, I'm not really there for three full weeks, seeing as I will be spending one of those weeks co-leading an animal wellness project in the Yukon with CAAT (www.caat-canada.org)! A team of us will be flying to the tiny village of Carmacks to sterilize, vaccinate, and provide parasite control to the community's dogs and cats. I am so unbelievably fortunate to have these opportunities! Every single day I am thankful for where I am and for the many people who love and support me along the way.
Speaking of people who love and support me...Iain has started his new job at one of the local universities, working in animal care. The workplace has already implemented some of his suggestions as far as animal husbandry is concerned, so he has already made a big difference in many ways. I'm so proud of him. He'll be holding down the fort here with the dogs while I'm away this summer.
My apologies for a short and probably pretty unsatisfying update, but I'd better get back to anatomy study. Chester is lying here next to me and feeling pretty thrilled about being prodded and poked in the name of science! I will update again when I've emerged from final exams. Love to all of you! xo
Monday, April 25, 2011
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
Saturday, April 2, 2011
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!
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!
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