Try

This week I have been preparing for belly dance class next Monday, trying to relax without the overwhelming feeling of restlessness taking over, helping friends with their semesters material, and of course studying.  I had a scuba club meeting on Wednesday.  Hopefully I can get some more dives in this semester to keep me occupied. Friday will be hard since all of the 7th find out their clinical placement. Good luck to all of you though!  Saturday is brunch and beachfest.

Try - Colbie Caillat

Blue Semester Banquet/Cat trip

Blue banquet:

Cat trip:

There is a phenomenal world renowned photographer (Scoop Anothony) that has been capturing St Kitts life as well as some of the Ross students while he lives down here.  I was fortunate enough to have him photograph me around the island on Tuesday and watch him as he worked on Wednesday.  I felt a sense of empowerment and inspiration while working with him.  In his young age, he has had such a beautiful and passionate life that would humble most people.  I very much enjoy his art, I feel he is able to truly capture the emotion and spirit of the person that others don't see. Check out his amazing work on his website: Scoopstills

Blue/Pink BBQ and the Leadership awards dinner are both on Saturday if the hurricane continues to hold off, but unfortunately I have a lot of work to do before finals, so I will have to skip them.

Because this summer has just been way too hot:  Sleep In The Heat

Rain

Unfortunately, Mr Ross was canceled last Saturday due to the rain.  We were back stage about to go on when they called it.  Luckily, it was rescheduled for this Friday, so we will try this again!

I was afraid that our cat trip was going to be canceled as well since there were looming clouds that morning, but luckily the weather turned out to be ok and we had a great time.  It's crazy to think that cat trip might be one of my last ones.

This week it was catch up time with the little studying I did last week.
I had a cadavor lab on Wednesday where we practiced placing drains and suturing actual skin.  That night a few of us went to dinner at Sprats.
On Thursday, the 6th semesters were all invited to take the PAVE exam.  The PAVE is what the students here use to have to take before they were able to practice in the States.  They wanted us to take it as a practice for the NAVLE exam.  So we were in the exam center from 7:45 - 1:30pm.  I had to do a video of myself showing the proper technique to enter an isolation stall for LAM on Friday.

I was pleasantly surprised that I got paid for  the research work that I did last semester.  Unfortunately, I don't know how much research work I will be able to help with this semester though.  It was definitely a great opportunity and experience and I have Dr. Ketzis to thank for that.

This weekend is beachfest, if we hopefully don't get rained out!

Less Than One Month Left

This past weekend was time to relax!  There was Bingo night on Friday night where I won 50% off of Domino's, which I'm sure I will sure over finals, and Saturday was much needed the catamaran trip.

Monday: Our schedule is going to be pretty crazy and switched around the next two weeks as everyone scrambles to get everything in before finals.  We had a Path quiz today, but it was attendance based, so as long as you signed in, you got the points.  We also had three hours of pharm today in order to have a week off the week before finals.  I sent numerous emails to various people in the hopes that I can still get some help with my pharm extra credit.  There are so many amazing belly dance events going on next year that I keep hearing about and I'm so jealous that I can't be a part of them!  I am still seriously considering teaching next semester.  I've had some many people ask about it, so stay tuned for details once I figure out my schedule.
Tuesday: We had our Path/Epi exam review that morning and then there was a lunch meeting about the new portal system for the school.  I had a tutor that night, of course, followed by more studying.  It's basically crunch time for studying now.  I printed most of my study guides and I'm ready to start on finals.....this semester cannot end fast enough.
Wednesday: We had an extra pharm session again, an MOD exam review, and I then went to the Josh Project dinner that night.
Thursday: In the morning, I helped with the avian video filming, so next semester the 4th semester students can just watch the video and know how to clean the aviary, and make the aviary manager's job easier.  It was actually pretty entertaining and I can't wait to see the end result.  It was Amber's birthday dinner at Chinchilla's that night.
Friday: I have EVS where we have to watch an avian husbandry video on campus followed by lots of studying all night....yeah for finals.....

THIS WEEK I AM THANKFUL FOR: My health and well-being: strong body and a clear mind.  

This weekend, as much as I would love to go to the beach, I will studying and preparing for my parents to come!

Midsemester Break

Friday:  Rum Run

Saturday: I had my first scuba pool session.  It was scary but fun too.  We had to learn how to breathe with the regulator, take it out and put it back in underwater, take our mask off and put it back on underwater, learn how to float in the water, put our gear on in the water, and buddy breathe (where you put your buddy's extra regulator in your mouth underwater).  Next dive will be in the ocean, which is even scarier!
Sunday: Catamaran trip!

Monday was midsemester break, so we had the day off from school.  Sunday night I got a flat tire, so I spend Monday getting that fixed.  While I was driving, I realized they didn't tighten one of the tires enough, so I had the pleasure of doing that when I got home.  I then spend some time at the pool and had a cookout with some friends.
Tuesday I just spent my day catching back up on school work.  I've had to switch foster homes for 5 of PAWS' cats, so I've been dealing with a lot of emails about that.
Wednesday there was a town hall meeting for the school to go over the changes the are going to put in place.  They are trying to improve the school, which of course is always good.  Here's a list of what they are doing in order to reduce the attrition rates by 5%:

1) Final exams will no longer be worth more than 50%. For midterm exams in general, they will do their best to space out exams appropriately.
2) For first semester students, they are now allowed to come back and repeat if they fail two courses. This is because students are still getting used to the island and living in a different environment.
3) To increase the NAVLE passing rate (currently is at 97%, which is a little below average compared to US schools), 7th semesters are now given vouchers to take the NAVLE exam to get a feel for the types of questions and length of the exam. A minimum of 80% passing rate is needed to maintain accreditation at Ross.
4) There will be well defined learning objectives for all courses.
5) To be decided by administration today: for the beginning of both 5th and 6th semesters, they will be allowed to take the PAVE exam (this used to be the old exam that Rossies had to take at the end of clinical year before the school received accreditation). This will not be given for a grade but as a diagnostic exam to see where the student stands at this point and how well the professors are teaching.
6) According to the administration, in response to a question, the class sizes have plateaued and will not be getting any larger.

Other improvements to be completed later this year:
1) Gazebos are being built on the lawn in front of the student union. In addition, more tables and umbrellas will soon be placed at the bottom of the lawn.
2) The patio area by clinical skills has been completed. Additional tables and chairs will be placed there for more seating/study areas.
3) The new diagnostic imaging lab is well underway.
4) Classroom 4 is currently being built into new facilities offices and will also have additional break out rooms.
5) The East Parking Lot guard gate is being moved to the outside of the parking lot (will increase security).
6) 10 new permanent seats are being added to Upper Aud.

To be completed by January 2015:
1) The new student union: aerobics room, a gaming/pool table area with TV and couches, coffee area, more break out rooms.
2) Moving the mechanics facility out to the back corner of the East Parking Lot.

Thursday wasn't very eventful, although I did see the American Kestrel that I've been looking for at our apartment.  A group of us went to see Identify Thief.
On Friday, I ran errands, checked on the shorebirds for nest, went to volleyball, and helped with the donkey research.
This weekend, I will probably catch up on some more school work.  There is a flipcup/beer pong tournament that Gavin, Kelli, Amanda, and I are going to be a team for on Saturday.  Maybe some beach or pool time sometime this weekend as well!

7 Weeks Down, 7 To Go

Weekend - Friday Island Idol...friend was amazing.  Saturday I just relaxed and didn't open a book all day which was a very nice change.  Sunday was the catamaran trip which was a great time.  We had lunch on Nevis and I took a nice nap on the beach.

 That night was the paint party which was fun even though we were so tired from the sun all day.

Monday I did catch up on some work and made food for the week.  I made Chinese chicken and broccoli from scratch.  It was actually really good!  I ended up counting over 60 mosquito bites from the weekend...I swear even when I use bug spray it does not stop them.
Just a lot of studying all week long, with a very long day on Thursday.  During my break, I had to run into town to go to the bank and the pharmacy.  Apparently the last time I went to the pharmacy I was undercharged, so I was not expecting to pay so much this time.   We had an optional vitamin and mineral lecture by Dr. Reich from 4-6pm that I went to which was pretty interesting.
On Friday, I might be spending some time in the lab to review everything before next week's exam.  On Saturday, I am going to shadow the current Feline Foster Intake Coordinator for PAWS during the adoption day to see if I'm still interested in taking over the position.  Other than that, this weekend will be spent studying for the Physio exam next Wednesday and the Anatomy exam next Friday.  Next week starts the second round of our exams, so I will have an exam every week again until finals. :/
7 weeks left...