No longer a Firstie.

Hello all.  I'm writing you from my bedroom, in AMERICA!  I have finally finished first semester and made it home for Christmas break.  So much as happened in the last few weeks...
We all survived our first round of final exams.  The stress, the long nights, the back to back exams were just as bad as everyone said they would be.  But we all made it through.  The last day of finals, my roommate and I moved to our new apartment, which means I had to remove my wallpaper (which I did so gladly):



























We all learned more information in the last 14 weeks than I feel I have learned in all my years of school combined.  Our professors shoved information into our brain and expected us to regurgitate every detail that was taught.  And we all did it.  My entire group passed first semester and I'm so proud of all of them.

Friday, I got on a plane and got off the rock.  I landed in Miami, chowed down Chili's, and waited for my connecting flight to Baltimore.  The flight was delayed two hours due to mechanical issues.  I was supposed to land in Baltimore at midnight, catch a cab, and stay in a hotel until the next morning.  When I landed at 2am, my parents and sister were there and I was completely shocked.  I had no idea and it was truly the best Christmas present ever.  I wasn't shocked that they were there but because I had absolutely no idea that this was planned, yet everyone else on the planet did.

I got to spend the next morning with Sara, Hunter, Cooper, and Jeff and it was so nice catching up with family.

After going to the fire station and out to lunch, my family and I headed back to the airport.  My parents and sister were on a different flight back to Detroit than I was.  Their flight had no difficulties... mine again was delayed two hours because of the snow in New York.  So I turned on my St. Kitts patience, enjoyed an Arby's sandwich, and parked myself in between two trash cans and surfed the web.  I finally landed in Detroit at 8:30ish and made it home by 10:00 pm.  I got to see my Kodi monster and took a long bubble bath and finally fell asleep in my centipede-less, sand-less bed.  It's so nice being home but it's weird not having to use my brain or stress every minute.  I'm just using this time to prepare myself for next semester.  It's amazing how we just finished finals and three weeks later, we have to start all over again, from week 1.
We all survived first semester, which means we all know what it takes to survive second-tenth.  I'm so happy to be home and thankful for my friends and family who kept me sane.  I'm off to go shopping today for Christmas clothes and last minute Christmas present shopping.   So happy to be home.

Almost There.

Hello,

My mother has informed that I've been neglecting my updates but I promise I have been for good reason.  Veterinary School has hit us all in full force.  We have one more midterm to take (Microanatomy on Monday) and then we're in the final stretch, heading straight for finals.  I have approximately 1,500 powerpoint slides to learn just for my exam on Monday.  The time that I get to sleep is not productive sleep, even after taking my sleeping pills and two Tylenol PM because the stress just keeps you up all night.  I'm becoming the unibomber again with strange writing and charts covering my walls in my bedroom, making up for the lack of wallpaper.
My roommate and I got a new apartment for next semester and we're excited to move in. The puppy is doing well, getting bigger, and is definitely a troublemaker.  But he's really good to study on when he's behaving or sleeping.  Here's him and I in his first time in a pool.

The past few weeks, we got to dissect the thorax and abdomen of our dog, which was incredibly exciting.  Probably more than it should be.  Especially the cracking of the ribs and the sternum...that was my favorite part.  We found out our dog has whipworms today when we cut the cecum open.  I also got to learn how to differentiate heart and lung sounds during small animal palpation today.
During our Introduction to Veterinary Medicine class this week, we had a guest speaker talk to us about how to not be poor, living in student debt for the rest of our lives.  That was encouraging :)
In Microanatomy, our next exam consists of "Blood/Hematopoeisis, Lymphatic System, Respiratory System, Digestive System, and Endocrine System".
In Nutrition, we just finished our midterm, where we had to identify different grass and seeds that farm animals would eat, including how much energy, fiber, protein, etc. is in each.  That was not fun.  Now we're learning about feeding cows, which has no use to me but I'm doing my best to pay attention.
In Physiology, 1/3 of the class failed our last midterm exam.  I somehow passed and have no idea how I did so.  The test was very unfairly written and we're hoping that our final exam will be a lot easier.  We're studying respiratory system.
In other news, today on the St. Kitts radio, they announced how to properly get rid of your waste water and how to return your library books.  Yes, I guess they have a library here.
The weather here is wonderful.  It's about 80 degrees everyday, low humidity, with an awesome breeze.  We're finally out of hurricane season and we're enjoying it.  We spent last Sunday at the beach with the dogs, getting burnt.  Because there was a cruise ship in port that day, we got to talk to a lot of tourist with the most popular question being "Do you LIVE here?!" It was incredibly relaxing and a much needed beach day.  The mudslide and chicken fingers helped too.
Yesterday, we went to see Harry Potter and we got it here about 6 hours before the States.  And the entire movie theater was sold out, all by Ross students.   It was amazing.

So I've basically learned how to survive with incredibly high cortisol levels and I'm sure I'll feel the effects of that when I go home in a month.  I've informed my family that I plan on sleeping for 24 hours straight the day I get home.  I live day to day, class to class, studying when I have time, and attempting to sleep when I'm sick of studying.  Tonight, it's Friday night and I'm spending it in my room, studying.  I think I'll figure out a way to get the sand out of my bed and I need to find a store that sells toothbrushes.

All is well.  Miss you all.  Be home in 30 days.

Round Two

Hello all.
It's Saturday, October 23rd.  We are all preparing for our second round of block exams, with our Microanatomy exam on Wednesday, Anatomy and Physiology the week after that, and then Nutrition.  However, we do have our "mid-semester" break this weekend, which means we have Monday off.  But I guess that just means more time to sit around and study.  We're having our "family" dinner on Monday so I get to cook my hamburgers from back home.  I'm excited to eat food that somewhat resembles a normal meal.  Tomorrow, I'm spending a few hours at the beach then back to studying.  I think I may make it to the beach on Monday as well.  I need that Vitamin D.
In other news, my roommate and I found a new apartment for next semester and hopefully for the rest of the time I'm here.  It's brand new, two bedrooms, two and a half bath, with two balconies.  Just if it was over looking the ocean.  But we're excited.
My roommate also adopted a 5-week old puppy.  So I've become an aunt again.  I'm constantly reassuring myself and my family that it is NOT my puppy.  But he's a cutie and he provides some entertainment during the study breaks.

I'm off to bed early tonight, partially because I'm sick of studying and because I want to get up early and head to the beach.  We've had good weather the past few weeks without an tropical storms but I hear that there's a few forming out in the ocean right now.  I guess we'll wait and see.  A hurricane would be rather nice, say on Wednesday this week when I have my Microanatomy exam.  Maybe?

Miss you all.

Midterms.

It's Wednesday, October 6th and I'm sitting in a coffeehouse.  There's basically a hurricane going on outside (I'm exaggerating but there's definitely a tropical depression) and it's been raining for 4 days straight.  Everything is flooding, mudslides have occurred, we don't have internet at the house, the ocean is incredibly angry and spewing sand at everything.  All of us are happy because last year, they built a "by-pass" a.k.a. the only highway on the island that goes from Frigate Bay (my town) to school.  That way, we don't have to drive through the city.  They have roads that turn into giant rivers, usually resulting in cars drifting into the ocean.
It's been a while since I've posted.  We had three midterms so far and one more next Wednesday. I passed my microanatomy exam with a B and I'm rather pleased with that.  We had our three hour anatomy exam this past Monday, which started at 7am.  We get our results back tomorrow and I'm pretty nervous for them. Today, we had our physiology exam.  All of us just crammed for it because we were so busy studying for our anatomy exam.  But I'm pretty sure I got an A on it.   But I don't want to get my hopes up.
Things that I miss from the United States- McDonald's French Fries.  Taco Bell.  Street Lights.  Pandora/Hulu.  Climbing into bed without checking for centipedes.  Washing a load of clothes without the fear that the washer will flood everywhere.  Real home cooked meals instead of microwavable dinners.  Milk that doesn't expire the next day.  Or two days early, the day after you bought it like today.  Not seeing stray dogs on the side of the road.  Not dodging goats/pigs/dogs/cows while driving.  A room not full of sand.

Today, I was standing in line for lunch and the girl behind me was complaining about how cold it is.  Today, the high temperature was 86 degrees.  I get that it's raining but don't be a drama queen.  We're all really excited to watch the Michigan State/Michigan football game this weekend.  That's after our Nutrition review 10-12 and Nutrition Mock exam 12-2.

I have to get back to studying.  I hope everything's good with everyone back home.  Love you all.

Histology/Embryology

It's Saturday night, September 25th (My half birthday!), 8:30ish pm.  I've survived officially a month on St. Kitts and it feels like I've barely been here a few days.  Not much has changed.  We all live day to day in order to keep up with classes, studying, and the stress that comes with both.  I'm starting to find time for breaks and fun time, like watching Glee and Grey's Anatomy this week with my friends, heading to the movie theater on Friday night to see "The Town" and taking a two hour study break tomorrow to head to the beach in the morning.  I realized that Vet School, besides the studying, is really a six-day a week job.  On Saturday's, I'm basically on campus reviewing and going to tutoring sessions from 10:30am-3pm.  Thursday's during the week are my worst days, arriving on campus at about 7:30am and leaving at 7:00pm.  But as long as I take it day by day, I'm okay.  I've never appreciated weekends more than I do now.  If it's not the catch up days, then it's the break days.
I hear that it's starting to get cold back home.  It was 88 degrees today.  As it was yesterday.  And I'm sure it will be the same tomorrow.  It's always "hot, hot, hot" as the weatherman says.
We had our first PAWS adoption day today and I fought the urge to adopt a dog, although I know it will happen sometime next semester.  But I bought Kodi his Christmas present... a "My mom is a Ross Vet" collar and leash.  I'm sure he'll appreciate it.
On Monday, I have my first Veterinary School midterm, Histology/Embryology and we all feel really good about it.  I guess we'll see what grade I actually get to see how I'm holding on.  A week after that on October 4th is our first anatomy exam.  That's the big one that everyone stresses about.  Wednesday, October 6th is our first physiology exam.  And a week after that is our first Nutrition exam.  Nutrition is the class that people have the most trouble passing so we'll see how I do.
On Friday, my group of friends and I found a path in the woods on the edge of campus.  We went down there and found this.  This is a picture of my lunch break on campus.  It's not so bad :)

I hope you're all enjoying the last week of September.  I'm sure I'll spend it studying.  Talk to you all soon.  Love you all and miss you.

My Saturday Night

Flexor Carpi Radialis Supinator Pronator Teres Pronator Quadratus Abductor Pollicus Longus Common Digital Extensor Lateral Digital Extensor Ulnaris Lateralis Flexor Carpi Ulnaris Superficial Digital Flexor Deep Digital Flexor Extensor Carpi Radialis Biceps Branchii Long Head of the Triceps Branchii Lateral Head of the Triceps Branchii Accessary Head of the Triceps Branchii Medial Head of the Triceps Branchii Fascia Tensor Antebrachii Coracobrachialis Sternocephalicus Superficial Pectoral Muscle Deep Pectoral Muscle Latissimus Dorsi Cutaneus Trunci Cleidocephalicus Cleidobrachialis Bracialis Trapezius Deltoideus Omotransversarius Teres Major Teres Minor Infraspinatus Supraspinatus Subscapularis Serratus Ventralis Rhombodieus Anconeus


This is my Saturday night.


It's Saturday, September 18th.  This morning, I went to Rams (the grocery store) and TDC (the home improvement store), did a load of laundry, went to the Anatomy Lab from 1-2pm to study our dog limb, which I cut off of the actual dog a few days ago, Microanatomy Tutor from 2-3pm and then the beach!  Hurricane Igor has passed us but left behind some enormous waves that have overtaken the beaches.  Today, we decided we were going to head to Shipwreck beach but once we got there, we saw that there was no beach left.  The tide was so high that the beach was covered so we drove on to Reggae Beach.  Reggae Beach is a bit better because it's a cove on the Caribbean Sea side of the island.  But the waves had brought up all the seashells and seaweed so it was a lot more difficult to go swimming.  But I'm not complaining about spending the day on the beach.  It's been thunderstorming all day but it's neat to watch from my apartment because you can see the clouds roll in, especially from the Atlantic Ocean.  I'm off to study the night away.  We have a three day weekend with Monday being St. Kitts Independence Day so we're all thankful that we have an extra studying day... or an extra beach day, depending on who you ask.  
Miss you all.  Talk soon.

Another week

I haven't updated this in a while so I thought this would be a good form of procrastination.  It's Wednesday, September 15th (Happy birthday dad!) at it's 9:00pm exactly.  My life has consisted of class and sleep, with a few hours of studying in between and about 5 minutes for meals.  It's a lot of time in class but I feel prepared all of the information we're talking about now I learned in undergrad at Michigan State.  In Physiology, we're learning about action potentials and neurotransmitters, which I learned in Neurobiology at MSU.  In Histology/Embryology, we're learning about gametogenesis and fertilization, which I learned in Developmental Biology at MSU.  And in anatomy, we're learning about bones, muscles, and joints, which I went over in Comparative Anatomy and Physiology of Vertebrates at MSU.  So far, I'm not overwhelmed by the topics we're learning about, just the amount of time that I'm actually on campus.  The last two days, we didn't get a lunch break.  We had to eat during our lectures.  This Monday is St. Kitts Independence Day so we don't have class.  But the school forgot this and scheduled lectures for this time.  So we have to make up all the lectures that we miss.  So my schedule tomorrow:
Anatomy 8-10
Histology 10-12
Lunch!! 12-1
Nutrition 1-2
Physiology 2-3
Nutrition Make up Lecture 4-5
Dinner!! 5-6
Nutrition Tutor 6-7
And maybe I'll make it home by 8 for bedtime at 9.  It's an overwhelming amount of time in a classroom but I have to say that the people here make it all okay.  We're all new at this and we've all moved down here by ourselves, living outside the US for the first time.  And all of us have the same passion for animals so we all have something in common.  Everyday, we have the same classes together, at the same time, with the same amount of information needing to be learned, and the same amount of time to learn it.  So we all stick together and drag each other through the mud.
It's been incredibly hot the past few days with little wind.  But we're all thankful that Hurricane Igor missed us.  We're expecting thunderstorms all night because of him but none of us had to be evacuated.
I'm off to study the muscles of the canine thoracic limb.  I'm having a hard time keeping these muscles apart...I think you'll understand why:
Extensor Carpi Radialis
Flexor Carpi Radialis
Pronator Teres
Pronator Quadratus
Flexor Carpi Ulnaris
Lateral Digital Extensor
Common Digital Extensor
Ulnaris Lateralis
Abductor Pollicus Longus
Deep Digital Flexor
Superficial Digital Flexor

Back to studying.  Miss you all