Vet School Year 1, Take 2

Well, I survived the finals grind of first semester, and passed all my classes-- actually surpassing my grade expectations in most classes- or at the very least meeting them.  The only class that was a surprise in the end for my grade was immunology.  I knew going into that he was a keyword grader, and I suspect that was the big issue for my final/assignments, but I really didn't expect that class to become my lowest grade.  In the end it didn't matter, I passed all classes clearly, and my overall average was good.  So bring on semester 2!

I took time over the winter break for me.  It was refreshing to spend so much time at home and with friends-- though I will say I was on the run and ate out an awful lot!  I loved seeing my friends from home again.  There were a few people I was unable to connect with-- but trust me if you're reading this I WILL make a priority of it when I am home again!  It will be less crammed full when I am home again because I will have a bit more time.  I was fortunate enough to have dinner with some of my oldest friends from high school, spend time with my best friends, have great lunches out, and had a family holiday party, plus a work holiday dinner. As fun as it was seeing everyone I was TIRED!!  I am looking forward to when I am home for the summer break where I can more leisurely break up my time to see people, and hopefully see EVERYONE!  

Christmas was a quiet event-- except my sister came home and surprised us!  It was great to see her since I live up in PEI and she is in NY and our schedules don't typically mash up well for getting together.  I always enjoy my time with her and the little crazy dog Ruca.  I often wish we lived closer so we could see each other more often.  At any rate her presence made it more like a Christmas from when we were younger- as last year she didn't make it home for Christmas.  I also spent a good chunk of time with my brother and it was nice to do so.  Even if we do argue sometimes-- but then again, what siblings don't?  I know my parents were surprised and excited to have my sister home and the holiday felt great!  

I spent time doing things I really enjoy this break too-- especially hiking and spending time with my Evie dog.  She might be getting older, but she lives for her ball/swimming (not this time of year)/hiking.  Most days you wouldn't know her hips were horribly riddled with dysplasia, and she is quick to let you know she wants to go go go all the time.  She loves the snow- and I got my wish for lots of it while i was home!  Though we did have a light layer on the ground for Christmas it was after the holiday that we saw two quick storms dump 2 feet of the white stuff.  The second storm was less predicted and Nikki and I had all the dogs out for a hike while it was piling up.  It was beautiful to walk in- but the trail was deep snow, and poor Evie did have a bit of trouble with her legs that day.  All the same- it was a great time!   hiking the trail at home

Like all vacations it was not long enough!  I closely watched the weather patterns for my trip to try and decide when I was going to come back to PEI.  Classes were set to resume on the 7th and my plans were to leave either on Saturday or Sunday.  For those unfamiliar it is a 12 hour (or so), 745 mile long trip from home to my apartment.  I can make decent time (it is pretty much all highway driving from New Hampshire on) but even so I have never done the trip in under 11 and a half hours before (and that was really a fluke and good timing in the more densely populated areas).  The weather reports looked clear over the weekend as we were getting closer so I decided I would drive back Sunday after breakfast with my father.  Friday PM the reports along my path said flurries in places-- well I am from VT I can drive in flurries... so I continued to plan a Sunday departure.  Saturday the weather forecast for VT in the afternoon was iffy-- reporting snow squalls to be expected but I planned to be out of VT by 10:30.  When I finally got on the road (yes, I waited to pack until Sunday AM...) it was cloudy and flurries were expected a few spots along my drive but overall the trip looked clear.  

I have never been caught off guard like I was driving back.  In NH the sun was shining, and in a good chunk of the state the temp was low 40!  By the time I reached Bangor ME, it was dark out, the roads were wet and the temp was cool but overall the going was fine.  Shortly after I passed the Bangor exits the roads went from being wet to being a bit slick and a light snow was falling.  The further north I went towards the Mt Katahdin region, the more conditions deteriorated.  What is normally a quick stretch of road (with a speed limit of 75), turned into a lengthier piece of travel.  I always stop in Houlton to gas up before crossing the Canadian border, and by the time I left my gas stop snow was coming down in pretty good shape.  It was about 7:30 PM when I crossed the Canadian border.  From there the trip usually takes me about 4- 4 and 1/2 hours depending on traffic and bridge crossing.  From  that point forward on the highway I did not go above 50-55 MPH.  When I left the highway for the road that eventually leads to the bridge onto the island you could not see roadway anymore.  The highway had taken me over an hour longer than normal to drive.  The trip onto the bridge was very slow going and I had no choice but to drive in 4WD as the snow pack was otherwise untravelable.  At this point my nerves were frayed, my body was tired, and I still had an hours drive (in good weather) before making it to my apartment.  FINALLY I made it to the bridge and white knuckle drove across it (ice, wind, poor visibility-- none of my favorite things on a regular road let a lone a bridge!).  I should insert for those unaware that this bridge is not a typical short up and over-- it is an 8 mile long bridge that rises above the Atlantic... it feels like you are driving it forever on a clear day.  The island road conditions were much the same-- at times I couldn't tell if I was driving on a road or where I might be in a lane.  It was 12:45 AM so there was not really other traffic or signs of people driving the road before me.  I had no choice but to go slowly and hope for the best.  At 1:40AM I pulled into my apartment driveway.  The trip took me about 15 hours-- and I had to be up for class by 6:30.  I regretted my decision to leave Sunday AND I was annoyed with the weather predictions.  The only plus side was that I was able to see just how well my car did in the snow (which by the way was excellent!)  

Aside from all this the first week of classes (abbreviated due to a large veterinary conference the school is hosting) was very busy but relatively uneventful.  This semester I have Pathology, Parasitology, Histology II, Macro Anatomy II, Physiology II, Embryology (half the year- this takes over the second half of histology II), structure and function, clinical orientation and epidemiology.  The new classes so far seem pretty good, though I admit to being a bit bored in Parasitology having taken a lot of it at VTC.  Clinical orientation is a lab course on handling and restraint- a lot of which especially on the small animal side of things is review for me and requires that we take care of a beagle (by walking it twice daily), grooming a horse and a cow.  At least it is hands on with animals!  Once I get a full week more or so under my belt I will know better what to expect from the classes and will update with more information there! 

I wish I could procrastinate my studies more-- but I already did that well enough for today so it's back to the books for me!  I studied yesterday and after today I hope to be mostly caught up so I can enjoy some morning sunshine outside tomorrow!