I am a Fourth Year Vet Student!!!!!

Wow, saying I am a fourth year veterinary student really sounds exciting and almost hard to believe. Now is when things get really good, and really full on. Next semester we will be applying all we have learned and of course be learning heaps more.



Fourth year has been equated to "trying to drink from a fire hose with a sippy straw " Apparently the information comes at you that fast and you will be lucky if you absorb a sippy straws worth. Oh well...the toughest year yet will be upon me before I know it.

Right now, things could not be better. I helped organize a Thanksgiving dinner for the international students that turned out really really good, better than I had hoped even. We had pumpkin pies, green bean casserole, broccoli slaw, turkey...yes real turkey, mashed potatoes and cider. It was all right in the middle of finals but well worth it and it will be a new tradition.

I think I did ok in my finals, and I studied harder than I ever have and did not work for once. I think that made a huuuuge difference. My boyfriend and I just celebrated one whole year together, I cannot believe it went that fast. He has been amazing, and I could not have done it without his help, he cooked dinner and even lunches for me while I studied AND cleaned the house as well so I would not be stressed. I think he is a keeperLaughing

I have just started my two jobs both within two blocks of where I live. I got a job at Jandakot Veterinary Hospital which seems really promising for 35 hours a week. I also got a job at a bar and grill to get even more hours and save save save. I need to save because my brother is coming to visit and I am so excited I can hardly contain myself.

I want to take him to Rottnest Island to snorkel

Rockingham to swim with Dolphins

Sunday Sessions at the Left Bank, Waverock, Kite surfing, wake boarding, surfing, etc. I will have the time off work then as well. I also plan on paying off as much as I can of my US credit cards and saving for next semester because it will be hard to work.

I am excited to say the website is being worked on as we speak and that the magazine article in SET magazine that I was interviewed for has just come out and looks great....the title is pretty funny too.
http://www.videomags.net/magazines/set45/launch.html (this takes a few minutes to load, and you then have to electronically turn the pages.. Vet articles in general from page 18.. Murdoch articles pages 23-25)

Hope everyone is doing well, and has a happy holiday!!!!

Cheers,
-Christina

3rd Year is Almost Done!!!

3rd year is over already and it is time for finals.  I might disappear until Nov 30th when all finals are done and I can breathe again.  I have a final in Parasitology, two in Pathology, and one in Virology.  All of them are going to be pretty full on, plus I will be starting a new job soon.

 

Finally took pics of where I live!!

Update again

Random writings of the goings on at vet school Down UnderUuugh I spent so much time writing an update late last night only to lose it all when I got booted from the internet.  Sorry it has been so long since I have written but so much has happened.  So much, I dont even know where to start.  For starters, we celebrated our 1/2 way through vet school day with a Halfway to Wonderland theme.  Keaton and I moved AGAIN, hopefully the last time, and I got a new job.

For a little while, it was tough again.  My loans kept coming about 5 months late through no fault of my own.  I applied on time, the other parties kept messing up.  This just meant I had to work all the time instead of concentrate on my studies.  I thought everything was fine because I was passing all my classes.  Not so, I was sent a letter from the US government saying I have been put on Academic Probation and I had six months to get my grades up really high or all my funding would be stopped.  Now as you can see, I have been in a bit of a panic while trying to work this all out.  Life changes definitely were needed.....

Fast forward, I moved out of Central Freo into the white picket fences of suburbia.  It is so quiet, and I thought I would panic being away from it all, but I actually really like it.  I have been able to concentrate on my studies again by moving to a much cheaper place and having some great support.  I am happy to say that I got High Distinctions in all three of my midterms.  I just hope I can do that for finals.  They will not be rid of me yet.  As my dad always said "You can fall face first in a pile of s$%t and always come out with a rose in your teeth."  So after hitting some difficulties once again, I am wiping the crap off, the tears away and soldiering on with my rose.

3rd year is almost over, we were asked for our measurements for our clinic coats for fourth year and told we need to buy our surgery packs very soon.  How exciting, surgery next year, it is all paying off!!!

So the grades are back up again, I have been dating the most wonderful guy ever, Steve.  Yes he is Australian, no not all Australian men are jerks  I have a new job at a family restaurant and I hope to get one at a vet clinic here over the break, which starts December 1st.

I hope everyone is doing well and I would love to hear from you.  I know some of you have moved, or gotten new jobs, or even have kids now, or new ones.  Send me photos if you can. 

Here is a link to my photos, some old, some new.....Photos

Stay tuned for pics of the house and my new neighborhood

-Christina

Will Be Chewing For Awhile

Let me explain the title. I ALWAYS bite off more than I can chew, yet somehow I manage to struggle through it and finish it. What have I gone and done now?? Lets see here, I took the Americans that I met on my website under my wing so to say and showed them the ropes. Helped with housing, took to banks, the grocery store, out at night etc. It was great fun to see how they all reacted to a new country, and it was funny how they kept asking me how I could have done all this alone.

Oh, and I must vent that I have not gotten my loan ONCE AGAIN and so I get to freak out and cut classes in order to work and try to survive and pay rent until the loan comes in. I always apply well ahead of time, I do all the paperwork correct, and somehow...something goes wrong. It is almost like I am not allowed to just smoothly sail into a semester. I am only allowed to start the semester stressed beyond belief from either my bank account in the states being emptied, my cards racked up and my credit destroyed. told I cannot get any more loans because of said bad credit, we just lost your paper work...etc etc etc, this time...we are "having problems" getting the US government to certify the loans. Oh GOODY!!! Maybe it is because just the other day I had them contact me and say we have been trying to contact you to start paying your loans off...they are no longer in defferment. WHAT!!!! So now I have to figure out how to fix this....CANT I JUST STUDY PEOPLE?? The whole reason I came here...come on now.



Ok, on to another project I was helping with...Half Way Day woo hoo...it is this Friday and so much work has gone into it. We had a $10,000 budget and we met it...it will be the party of the year that is for sure. I was able to secure two party buses for $700 and we got great deals on everything else. Champagne breakfast at the Left Bank for 80 people. Then mini golf and a Bar-B-Q after...and then, 3 pm back to campus for a HUGE celebration with food, DJ, Drinks and Madness. My costume is very interesting as it is a Halfway to Wonderland theme and I will look like a crazy bad mad hatter acid trip white rabbit thingy LOL. Now that that project is done...on to the next

So everyone knows I love Costa Rica...and I love Veterinary medicine. So naturally as soon as I found out a year ago that there was a program that incorporates both these things...I have been slowly working on how to make it happen. I need it to count for 2 of our 12 weeks of clinic work between 4th-5th years otherwise it wont work, and I need it to be sponsored. So with the help of my friend Courtney we are approaching all the appropriate people and have even gone so far as to have a meeting with the president of the veterinary school. He is ready to back us all the way.....planned trip for July 2008...still ALOT of work needs to be done...on to the next project.

The International Vet Trust person has contacted me again and wants to know if I want to be the Vet Trust Ambassador...alot of work and still thinking about that one....on to the next project.....I have quite a few more in the works and we will see how all of those go in the long run. This is all while working, studying, attending classes and trying to spend time with my boyfriend Steve. And THAT is going wonderful. In fact out of all of these projects and events...the one I am really looking forward to is going away with Steve and his friends to a houseboat for 4 days in September...I cant wait to get away and just spend time with him staring at the perfect glassy water.

So uni started again this week and these are the lovely classes I have to look forward to


Welcome to VET341: Veterinary Microbiology
This unit provides basic knowledge and practical skills in microbiology relating to infectious diseases of animals. A generalist and integrated approach to pathogenic microbiology is adopted, but includes separate sections on bacteria and viruses. Sections comprise an introduction to features of pathogenic micro-organisms including structure, metabolism, genetic composition, culture and identification. Emphasis is given to the mechanisms causing disease and to principles of diagnosis and control. The unit includes a component of self-paced learning.

Welcome to VET343, Veterinary Applied Pathology. The purpose of this unit is to integrate your knowledge of "veterinary biology" and "the processes of disease", with an understanding of the tools and techniques of the diagnostic process. In doing this you will be laying the foundation for the "total view" of disease and disease diagnosis that is essential to becoming a competent diagnostician and veterinarian.

The role of the veterinary clinician is akin to the "case manager". The veterinary clinician must be able to integrate their knowledge and understanding of veterinary biology, diagnostics and epidemiology to be able to make accurate and informed decisions about the cause(s) of disease and then what the best course of action is. To succeed in this unit (and thereby develop the skills to become a successful clinician and diagnostician!) you will need to recall and integrate your understanding of physiology, anatomy, biochemistry, immunology and general pathology as part of the diagnostic process. In fact your knowledge and understanding of these subjects is assumed, so you should keep your notes/ texts on these topics close at hand when you are working on this unit so you can refer to them if your understanding of these topics becomes a little unclear.

Vet 344 Vet Parasitology This course has an applied focus since, from a practical point of view, the aims are to provide you with the necessary information to be able to diagnose and control parasitic infections of veterinary and zoonotic significance. This cannot be achieved without knowledge of a parasite's life cycle. This information is essential before one can implement strategies to 'break the cycle' whether these are drugs, vaccines or public health measures.

Understanding the life cycles of parasites requires a detailed knowledge of parasite ecology. We are interested in ecological interactions in their broadest sense, from the environmental aspects to what happens when parasites are in their hosts (the 'host-parasite interface'). As you can imagine, such studies will draw on many other disciplines such as genetics, biochemistry, physiology and pathology. They are also dependent on a fundamental knowledge about parasite biology; their basic structure, how they feed, where they live, how they survive, and the mechanisms they have developed to get in and out of the host.

There is a huge diversity of parasites that are important to veterinary science, and these are found in two animal kingdoms and several phyla. Consequently, an appreciation of the taxonomic groupings that together comprise parasites of veterinary significance, is an essential pre-requisite for a comprehensive course such as ours.

And here is my oh so lovely schedule.



Mon
8:30- 9:30 LECT1, VET343, Veterinary Applied Pathology

10:30

11:30- 12:30 LECT1, Vet 344 Vet Parasitology

1:30 – 4:30pm PRAC/WS, Vet 344 Vet Parasitology



Work 6-12



Tue

8:30-9:30 LECT1, VET341: Veterinary Microbiology

9:30-12:30pm LAB VET343, Veterinary Applied Pathology

12:30-1:30pm LECT2, VET341: Veterinary Microbiology

2:30 -4:30pm LAB1, VET341: Veterinary Microbiology



Wed

8:30am

9:30-10:30 LAB2, VET341: Veterinary Microbiology

10:30 -11:30 Lect3, VET341: Veterinary Microbiology

11:30 -12:30 Lect2 VET343, Veterinary Applied Pathology

1:30pm

2:30-3:30 Lect 2, Vet 344 Vet Parasitology



Work 6-12



Thu

8:30am-9:30 LECT3, VET343, Veterinary Applied Pathology

9:30am-10:30 LECT4, VET343, Veterinary Applied Pathology

10:30am

11:30am -1:30 LECT3, Vet 344 Vet Parasitology



Fri

8:30am-9:30 LECT5, VET343, Veterinary Applied Pathology

9:30am

10:30am

11:30am-12:30 LECT4, VET341: Veterinary Microbiology

12:30pm -1:30 LECT5, VET341: Veterinary Microbiology



Work 3 till required



Work Saturday or Sunday….but hopefully not both

Its Mating Time!!!

Random writings of the goings on at vet school Down Under
Ha ha got your attention.  Just got back from my Alpaca farm prac and that is what time it was...more on that.  Lets see here....the Americans who were active on my forum are here in Perth now.  Welcome Chris, Jared, Emily, and Marie...and Steph your an awesome friend for coming here and helping Emily set up. 

It has been great fun watching them get used to their culture shock.  Favorite line of the year, "Was he trying to smell me?"  LMAO.  No, he was giving you a kiss on the cheek as a greeting.  Yes, the culture is different...no you dont tip, yes the stores are already closed he he.  I helped them with their banks and took them to campus and now they have a four bedroom four bath house which is unheard of here.  Get ready for your first year here guys it will be quite an experience.

On to the farm!  I just spent the last week at River Gum Rise Alpaca stud....check it out.  So up till now I have wrestled with sheep, captured pigs, mustered cattle, and herded horses.  Handled, drew blood etc from all of them.  This is my first time with Alpacas and I think I found my new favorite animal.

The pros of the Alpaca...very intelligent, I will not speak for the cattle and sheep, but lets just say not playing with a full deck.  Cattle have liquid poo which they wont hesitate to do all over you.  Alpacas have solid movements that they only do on communal piles.  They dont smell, they are clean, they are soooo soft, they are not too big, they like cuddles and the owners may have 400 but each one has a name and a history.  Alpaca owners are great to work with.  They are not the type to just shoot one if it breaks a leg or gets sick.

These guys were great fun to work with...just look


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Random writings of the goings on at vet school Down Under

2 years ago today I was sitting miles away from home or anyone I knew in the Auckland airport about to start the craziest journey of my life ever. It is weird but being at the half way point I have almost those same feelings as I did that day...ok maybe not quite as bad.

So much has changed since I have arrived it is crazy...two years ago I was absolutely terrified of round-abouts, thought vegemite was from Mars, could not find any comfort foods of home and craved them constantly. I was amazed at how dark all the streets were at night and how the stores closed so early. Speaking of stores it would take me a good 2 hours to get through the darn grocery store as I had NO IDEA where everything was kept and what the heck everything was and nothing was familiar and it was frustrating. I rode public transport and when I crossed the street I looked the wrong way and almost got squashed many many times. I had no job, no family, no friends, no car, no dog and knew nothing about ...well anything. It was a giant blind leap into the unknown.

Learning experiences were daily: What the heck is a "shout"? What does it mean you are pissed, are you angry?? Wait, no you are drunk. You took the piss out of someone...huh? I dont get it? What is a middy? A tinny? A stubby holder...huh? Your going to your nan's for Chrissie to unwrap pressies??? Oh your going to Grandmas for Christmas to unwrap presents...got it!!! This abreviation thing is going to take a bit to get used to. Sausage rolls and pies....hmmm might try them eventually and no way not the vegemite. What a cocktail is $15 but I only ordered one...oh that is the price for only one. Australians dont really like Mexican food....what!!! No Mexican food??? I guess it is a far swim from Latin America...hmmmm.

Do Australians work??? How laid back is it really I cant remember ever missing a day for holidays back in the states. I cant remember people getting holidays off. I worked every holiday ALWAYS and if I did not there was someone who would. I worked after hours, over hours, every hour....and here I see job advertising for veterinarians that state paid annual holiday leave of 4 weeks, paid conference leave, no after hours required...but every third Saturday and only 4 days a week. What in the heck is that??? I do believe a veterinary job in the US would say ....80 -90 hour work week a must, holidays , weekends, after hours, over hours on call every day all day 365 days a year mandatory

And what is with everyone saying they will call or will be there and then never doing either...hmmm and never on time LOL!! And WA stands for wait awhile..oh yes it does. There are waiting bays at fast food restaurants... Why is there not pay at the pump? I have to go inside always, well that used to be dangerous crossing the parking lot where I come from he he. What no tips??? I dont get tips and I dont tip anyone??? Very strange...there is more soooooooo much more.

Two years later...I know where everything is in the store and I am in and out like a flash now...I can find orange cheddar, jalepenos, heinz ketchup, American hot dogs....some equivalent of Ranch dressing... and almost anything else I need. I can make some pretty good Mexican food and a killer margarita. I can now officially "take the piss" out of anyone who takes the piss out of me and apparently I am liked for it. Roundabouts are fun especially while shoving a sausage roll or pie in your face after squeezing tomato sauce on it with those nifty squeezy sauce dispenser packet thingies. I dont look the wrong way anymore when crossing the street and I do get in on the right side of the car now

I plan my shopping accordingly in order to avoid the massive crowds of Thursdays and Saturdays.

Even I find myself abreviating words he he...and being a bit more laid back about EVERYTHING...it is nice. Vegemite on toast in the morning with a slice of cheese = yummy. American friends are great to have here but you truly need Australian friends to get over home sickness....and of course to take the piss out of each other.

My dog is here, I have a car, I have a job, I have made friends, and found the greatest guy ever...actually he found me :P And no Australia is no longer a male based society with womanizers on every corner. In fact, it is not like that at all in any way as far as I can tell. Soooo much has changed, and all for the best I believe...bring on the next 2 years and then wooooo hooo graduation. I cant wait to see what else I will discover, what else will happen....where will life take me.

Two years in a nutshell

DONE!!!

Random writings of the goings on at vet school Down Under

What a great experience I had in Esperance. The last week was busy as well. Trying to catch an untame foal..led to her and me getting injured, but we both recovered. I witnessed a cow with tumors getting shot and then we performed an autopsy ( I left those photos out for the squeamish). We had the vet come out and geld one of the horses there which is much different than the cows. One of his testis was retained as well, which made it a bit difficult, but not much.

More castrations for me to perform, I think with a total of 20 under my belt now. I had an amazing time, but I am glad to be back :)