The Lucky One

Today has been great!!

This morning I woke up a bit early and got to take my time getting ready.  I went to my 8am class and found out my lab tomorrow is canceled!  After class I ran to the library and printed an essay out.  I decided I wouldn't go to my 10am class and instead work on a lab report.  I went back to my room, finished my lab report, and studied for my setswana quiz all before 1pm.  I headed to Setswana class to find out she had canceled the lecture so all you had to do was take the quiz.  I was out of there in five minutes!  I found out from a classmate that the class I skipped at 10am had been canceled anyway and on top of that the lab for that afternoon was canceled!  I was ecstatic!  With my afternoon completely free, I decided to do a load of laundry.  I went to the facility, walked right in and got a machine!  WOO HOO.  After the load finished, I exchanged my sheets for new ones and headed back to my dorm. 

Then for the best part of the day I SUBMITTED MY VMCAS!  I am officially done tweaking changing, and worrying over it!  Now, I am just waiting for my last two evaluators to submit their letters and everything is done!  *ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh*  Can you hear the angles singing?  Because I can.  I am so relieved!  I aplied  to Georgia, Iowa, and Mississippi.  I may still apply to Tuffs, that application is due November 1st. It would be my biggest reach school.  I'm not really sure how I would afford it if I did get in.

My roommate and I went for a run around 4:30.  The timing was perfect.  It was cloudy and just a bit windy.  We ran for 35 minutes which is a little less than usual but we increased our speed by quite a bit!  Woot woot.  We ended our run at Chopies, the local grocery store.  We entered all smelly and sweaty.  He he Hope they didn't mind too much.  After going through the check out line twice because I had forgotten to weigh my banana, we headed back to the dorms.  I took a warm shower! We decided to hit up the dining hall and found they had mac and cheese!  I had pasta salad and a veggie salad for 12 pula!  What a deal!  Now, I am laying in bed watching The Lucky One.   Why hello there Zac Efron.  When did you grow up? 
I finishing up the night with a cup of chi tea and a rusk.   I couldn't have gotten a much better day.  I should have bought a lottery ticket or something.  

Tomorrow, I only have one class and then I'm at the vet clinic all day!!  
I leave for break on SUNDAY! 
LIFE IS GOOD. 

Mokolodi Adventures

Mokolodi:  

Project # 444 Complete!

Today, our project was to build mice cages out of wire.  I'm going from zero experience building things to a pro.  Okay Okay, maybe not a pro, but I sure am learning!!  I may not be getting a lot of hands on experience with animals, but that's okay.  I think being able to make things is an important skill. 

  

The start of our adventure

  I should have taken an after shot!  The cages turned out well.

 

 Today, we also weighed the venomous snakes and our lizards.  Now by "we", I mean the two other UB volunteers and the new guy... first day on the job.  I have very limited experience with snakes.  I was not about to go messing around with venomous snakes in the middle of Africa.   I did observe techniques and help record weights.  It's amazing the free range we get.  I guess this is Africa.   Working with the lizards was neat.  They are spunky little things.

 While they played with venomous snakes, I played with this African Rock Python, Ripply.  He's a champ.

 For lunch, we all splurged and got milkshakes at the restaurant.  They were delicious!

But really, just thinking about them... yummmm

We left a bit earlier in the afternoon in order to catch our ride.  We decided to hit up Game City.  Bryanna had her phone stolen and needed to replace it.  The thieves cut her bag and took the phone while she was grocery shopping.  She didn't even notice. Boo Thieves!  Rebecca wanted a 2.90 pula ice cream cone from KFC.  Good Stuff.  I wanted to check out the outdoors store.  I priced some nice backpacking bags.  I probably should have made a purchase then but I knew I would be coming back Saturday.  I want something nice for my trip over break and something I can use for my month long trip after school.  Rebecca and I took a combi to Rail park and then just walked back to UB.  It was so pretty outside and nice just to have the time to spend on a 2 mile walk across town. Back at home, I would have been thinking of all the things I really needed to be doing during that time spent walking.  

I came back to a card from my granny!  Yay Letters! 

I was happy to see it because it was sent before my birthday!  The good news is that your stuff will most likely make it here, the bad news is you shouldn't be in any hurry. 

 

Thanks for my card!  I loved it!  

Tonight, I suppose I should be productive.  

Last night, I spent my evening watching a movie and reading.  Good times! 

Bring it Setswana!

Monday Love

Mondays are just good days!  (I know, I know... These words almost don't make sense together.)

TODAY I RECEIVED A PACKAGE!!!

Since I hadn't seen any sign of a package slip I went to the mail room in the administration building.  Thankfully they had the slip!  The package apparently arrived on the 10th.  I guess it's been lost in translation for awhile.  Oh African Time.   I took my slip to the post office and was helped within 20minutes!  SCORE!  The package was safe and sound! :)  

The package was from two of my favorite people of all time.  They sent me two books for my birthday!  I can't wait to dive into them both!  (And with break right around the corner, I will be able to!!) I also received the nicest letter which is joining my bulletin board of all things good. It's hard to beat a good letter!

THANK YOU ROBERT AND ROSIE! 

How did I become so lucky to have you in my life? 

The rest of my day went as usual.  At the vet clinic, I saw a few checkups and vaccines.  I met a couple who has been stationed at the US embassy through the army.  They are heading back to the states on Thursday and are shipping their two dogs back.  They needed to get papers signed by their vet and then papers signed by a government vet.  They said the process wasn't difficult and it was pretty easy to bring a pet back into the US.  That's nice to know!  I think it's because we already have most of the problem pet diseases like heartworms.   I was hopping to see a knee surgery that needs to be done but it got moved to Tuesday morning. Darn.  Is it worth skipping class to go and see it?  Still deciding...

After work, I stopped by spar and bought a loaf of bread.  I used the bread slicer for the first time.  It was a bit of a struggle and thankfully some poor guy had mercy on me and helped me out.  I ate the bread with my  left over instant Indian curry.  Yum.  I attended Setswana for an hour and since then have been in my room being productive!  Check!  I applied to a sea turtle hospital internship in Charleston and the vet hospital internship at Animal Kingdom.  I'm still not so sure I just don't want to spend my time in Columbia before vet school, but I wanted to have options!  If nothing else, I got to practice writing cover letters!

Tonight,  Tumi, a friend I met at the laundry facility, came over and hung out.  She's motswana and finishing her final year here.  She studied in Malasia for a year and a half.  Awesome!  I had a ton of fun talking to her.   I also got a few movies from her so now I have something to watch when I need some chill time. Yay for friends! :)

Oh a completely unrelated note...  Windhoek, Namibia is apparently called "little Germany" because of it's strong German influences.  They have an October Fest the weekend of October 26th which is supposed to be really fun.  I was love to go to it but I looked up the bus price and it is the equivalent of $100 US dollars there and back.  Now, if I'm going to spend 100 dollars for transportation, I want to stay for more than just a weekend! Anyway,  I just thought you guys should know that they indeed have October Fest in Africa.  Who would have "thunk" it?


Signing off.
Love you all.

BSPCA

Sunday, I had the pleasure of going to volunteer at the BSPCA again.  I recruited two other girls and we headed out of UB at 10.  We took a combi to BBS mall and from there started walking to the shelter.  Luckily, a girl from one of my classes saw us and stopped.  She told us to hop in and drove us to the shelter!  At the shelter, we walked several dogs around the paths they have on property.  We then came across a group of puppies that we doted on.  They were so cute.  How can you beat puppy breath?

 Next, we moved into the cattery.

Finally, I ventured into the older puppies cage.  My goodness, what a bunch of terrors.  They were chewing and grabbing and eating my hair and jumping on me. I tried my best to teach them a few manners while I covered them in love.

We started our venture back.  It's about a 2.2 mile walk to the BBS mall.  Fortunately, the odds were in our favor and the BSPCA van left the facility shortly after we did and picked us up.  So for the second time that day we got a ride to our destination. Sometimes things just work out!

At BBS mall, we found this store called "fruit and veg."  It ended up being a small Indian grocery store.  I hit jackpot!  I found strawberries and kiwis for a good price, kabuli chana (dried chick peas) and these instant Indian curry meals.  We jumped on the combi and enjoyed our chip peas, banana chips, and chili potato sticks on the way back.

It was a great day!  I finished the afternoon with a run and some school work.


~;~;~;~;~:~;~;~;~;~:~;~;~;~;~:~;~;~;~;~:~;~;~;~;~:~;~;~;~;~:~;~;~;~;~:~;~;~;~;~:~;~;~;~;~:~;~;
I lost a good friend over the weekend.  Brody was a sweet, beautiful German Shepard mix who I've know for years. He was ancient and his health was fading.  But, I am happy to know he lived a long and happy life.    Although, he did not live with me he was titled my dog.  I spent many days with him wading in the river, hiking harbison trails, getting smoothies and he was even there for me for my first heartbreak.  He was one big, loving, goofball and I will miss him dearly. 

RIP Brodyman.  

"The best place to bury a good dog is in your heart"

Vet stuff

Friday, I went to French and then took my exam.  It had 8 or 9 short answer questions and one essay response.  I didn’t think it was too bad and felt comfortable with all the questions.  I was again the first one to finish.  The professor gave me this surprised look like… oh you’re already done??  I take tests extremely fast.  Not sure why.  It’s been working for me though, so I’m sticking to it. 

 

Right after my test I headed to the vet clinic.  I arrived around 11:30 and was just in time to see the vet check a duck before lunch.  I went to lunch with one of the vet students shadowing at the clinic for two weeks. We ate at pie city in main mall.  It was pretty good. I enjoyed being able to talk to her and her friends. After lunch, I headed to the grocery store to get bananas and peanut butter, my two essentials!  I spent the rest of lunch reading the Ireland veterinary journals.  I love those things!  

The vet was 40 minutes late getting back to lunch (African time)  and so when she returned there was quite a lot to do and the time flew by.  I was able to see my first case of distemper (but unfortunately not my last).  A dog came in lethargic, with a high fever, and discharge from the eyes and nose.  It had never been vaccinated and was not doing well.  The vet did a distemper test and it was positive.  There is no cure for distemper so unfortunately the dog had to be put down.  Distemper is a big problem here.  There is a push for people to get their pets vaccinated to try and slow the spread of the disease.   In this case, as in many others, money was an issue.  People do not have the money or do not want to spend the money for vet care.  In this particular case the owners had to face the expenses because the dog had a highly contagious disease.  Another problem common here is tick born diseases.  I have seen many dogs come in with tick born babesiosis who are anemic and lethargic. Thankfully, each dog has had a positive outcome.  Almost every dog that comes in has ticks!  Dipping/tick treating your dog is a must around here.

Friday night, I scarfed down a peanut butter and banana sandwich and took a shower before grabbing a quick nap.  I then went to another international student’s room and hung out with a big group of people.  We listened to music from Finland, Sweden, and America and had sing a longs.  It was a bunch of fun.  I love that this experience gives me the opportunity to meet people from all over the world.  

I was up early this morning to meet Nora to walk to the vet clinic.  We decided to go in on Saturday because there were several patients there and one particular duck we were interested in.  We stayed until they closed at 12:30.  It was quite a morning.  It served as a reminder that vet work can be tough, discouraging, and can make you cold if your aren’t careful.  I know that sounds depressing but it’s the truth.  A puppy in really bad shape (that should have been brought in a week earlier) came in and was diagnosed with distemper.  It had to be euthanized.  Distemper is a nasty thing around here.  I’m glad that it isn’t as prevalent in the US.   The duck was also euthanized and a postmortem was done.  Euthanizing avians can be tricky and for this poor duck it wasn’t an easy process.  This experience just made me that much more thankful for my time at CROW.  The postmortem was interesting because I got to see the soft eggs still in the bird and the eggs that were developing.  Calcium is an important part of a layers diet people!!!    I left a bit discouraged but all the wiser.  The people at the vet hospital really are quite wonderful and I’m so glad that I am able to get a glimpse of veterinary medicine in Botswana.   I have a whole new appreciation for the US.   I’m all the more motivated to start vet school so that I am better able to make decisions and form opinions! 

Now, I’m sitting in my room drinking tea and eating a rusk.  Yes, I made the mistake of buying a box of rusks.  I’m really going to try to limit my daily intake on these babies.  My plans for this afternoon are to run and work on the vet school application.  I realized that I need to submit my application before I leave for break.  That means I need to submit it before Sunday.  OH MY!  I have less than a week!!!! Luckily everything is pretty much done but I need to go run through everything again… and again.

Better late than never

Hello people!  Here's a post from earlier in the week that I wasn't able to post because of sketchy internet! Apparently this week, UB did not like google or any other fancy website.  Thank goodness there are other search engines out there or I would have been in a pickle!   On the topic of intenet, Pandora will not work here but I found a new website called Jango.  It streams music for me pretty well.  Yay music! :)

Tuesday

Tuesday was a "get er done" day.  I went to class Tuesday morning and then decided I would do laundry instead of attend my 10am class.  I packed up all my dirty clothes, grabbed my laundry detergent, and headed to the washing facility.  When I got there it was like a mad house.  Of the machines that were working, all of them were being used and people were calling machines so that each machine had a line of people waiting to use it.  I was a bit overwhelmed and finally these two super nice girls helped me out.  They arranged for me to get their machines after and then chatted with me for awhile.  I did two loads and headed back to my room to hang my clothes up in the windows of my common room.  The whole process took about 2.5 hours.    Once I was back in my room I got busy working on a lab report.  I was tempted to skip Setswana in order to continue working on the lab report.  Instead I made a deal with myself that I could have an egg and cheese papata if I went to class.

It was delicious!  I know this isn't the best picture but I'm including it anyway.  I really miss eggs!  After class, I continued to do school work and then went for a run.  I ran 39 minutes averaging a 11 minute mile.  Woo hoo!  It's nice to see progress! I ran with a girl who does track and cross country so she's a good motivator. 

Wednesday

I skipped French class in order to split a cab out to Mokolodi with Rebeccca.  Yay reduced price!  Our project Wednesday was to catch up all the birds, check them over, and weigh them.  This included two large vultures, a martial eagle, a heroin, and two owls.  We also weighed the tortoises and two pythons.  It was quite an ordeal.  I’m glad I had the experience from Crow on how to properly handle the animals.  Another volunteer is trying to start a program where they will be weighed every month to keep track of them but I really doubt that will happen once we leave.  It’s a tight rope to walk because on one hand you want to make sure the animals are healthy, but you also do not want to stress them too much or cause injury to your volunteers/staff.   How do you ensure that captive wild animals have an adequate lifestyle, enough enrichment, proper diets, the correct habitat all on a nonprofit budge with not enough staff to go around?  Keeping animals that were previously wild in a cage for the rest of their lives is a big responsibility yet they can do a lot of good in educating people about the importance of respecting wildlife, conservation, etc.  Again.. It's a fine line to walk.   I'm still working on where I stand with issues like these.  Meanwhile, I'm busy collecting experiences!

Miss. Jones- A vulture with an old wing injury.  I believe she's been there for 10 years or so.

 The martial eagle.  What a majestic animal.  He was actually really docile when caught.  I think a past volunteer tried to train him to a glove.  I can't imagine.  He's simply too big.









For the rest of the day we played with snakes, broke up some dirt, and made a few adjustments to the new roof we put on.  While holding the larger python, I apparently moved my leg to fast for its liking and it bit me.  It’s the first time I’ve been bitten by a snake.  It really didn’t hurt, nothing like a dog or cat bite, but it did draw some blood.  I got this great picture that makes it look intense, but I promise it wasn’t.   The girl has been feisty recently because she hasn’t been getting handled as much as she should be.   The employee running the sanctuary is no longer working there so everything is in a bit of transition right now. It felt that most of the day we were just waiting around for a job, or waiting to find someone, or tracking down this.  The time of doing nothing can be a bit frustrating.  I always feel like I should be doing something.  I think this is just part of the adjustment to African time. 

Wednesday night I was exhausted.  I hand wrote the lab report I had finished the day before.  It took me like an hour and a half.  Quite a waste of time!  The teacher wanted everyone to practice their penmanship.  Unfortunately, I believe that she will be requiring handwritten work for most things.  Well, I guess here is one way for me to work on my spelling abilities.   After writing that I hit the hay.  

 

Thursday

Ohhhh Thursdays… My longest school days… and usually the most special.

My morning was normal as usual.  I had two classes and then went back to my room for a bit of a snack and to study.  At 1 I headed off to Setswana.  I’m better adjusting to the new teacher but it still has it’s special moments.  The teacher really tries but it is all a bit slow and boring.  Never less, I am learning Setswana bit by bit!  ( I can tell at the vet clinic I’m better able to recognize words!)  After Setswana,  I headed to my physiology lab.   The same man who gave me heck last week for trying to walk into the lab room without my lab coat on again caught me outside the lab today.  He walked up to me and asked what lab I planned on going to.  Confused me was like uhhhh bio 214…?  His response was “not with those shoes, I will not let you in this lab, you must go…” and then he sashayed off into lab before I could respond.  I started the long journey to the other side of campus to put on shoes that were not opened toed.  It bothered me so much because he had been so rude about it.  Like obviously, I’m not sure to the way things are done here.  I didn’t think drawing and labeling eye ball and ear models would require close toed shoes. I arrived back at lab twenty minutes late and still managed to walk in with four other people.  The lab itself was simple and basic.  They didn’t like my drawings because I hadn’t used a ruler and it wasn’t perfect, but everything was labeled right and you could obviously tell what it as.   She gave me a 7/10, preached to me the importance of drawing well and how I would fail the test if I couldn’t, and sent me on my way before most of the other students were done.  Aye Aye Aye. I’m sorry but I do not have the patience or motivation to spend two hours meticulously drawing an eyeball.  There is a reason I’m a scientist and not an artist. I think I’m destined to just be the odd man out in that lab.

After lab, I decided that a run was necessary because I was all antsy (and trying to avoid studying for my test…)  I did a new loop where I left campus and headed to river walk.  I enjoyed the loop but felt pretty tired and stopped after 31 minutes.  I used map my run (love that thing) and saw that I ran a 10 minute mile!  (I increased speed so that’s my excuse for running less time….)   For the rest of the night, I studied for my Dynamics of Savanna Ecosystems test on Friday and then crashed around 12.  

It was quite a busy week.  I think next week will be much smoother and then it will be time for break! Woo hoo!

Gratitude lately

I am grateful for...

Clean sheets and a fresh made bed

 Letters from home

 Tea time!

Easy open cans of beans! 

My roommate!

 My computer and how convenient it is to contact home

 

 

 How easy my first test was

My 2nd adventure abroad with this chick finally official.

Three months and counting...

 

Have you taken time to be grateful today?