Bahamas

Thanksgiving this year was in the gorgeous Bahamas! I can't explain enough how happy I was to be back in the warm weather at the beach. 

Turks and Caicos

My family traveled to the stunning Turks and Caicos for Thanksgiving! This is the 7th year we have traveled for Thanksgiving and each year has happened to be somewhere in the Caribbean.  I can honestly say that the Caribbean is one of my favorite locations on this earth. Not only was it home for 3 years, but the food is tropical and delicious, the weather is my favorite temperature year-round, the water is indescribable blues,  but island time is the best way to relieve stress and just be present. It's a type of freedom and therapy that you can't obtain anywhere else. 

 Conch spring roll

My bliss

 Iguana Island

Those blues though

Rum punch on a Caribbean beach to celebrate an American holiday

 Conch fritters, crack conch, and fried plantations 

 Scuba

Champagne on a boat while fishing 

"See the line where the sky meets the sea, it calls me!"

 Conch outside of its shell

 Rum punch mon'

Creole conch

The rescue facility on Turks and Caicos

 So who needs snowflakes when you have seashells. I'm going to have to break up with winter. It's time to start seeing other seasons. Summer is hotter and clearly better than you.

Turks and Caicos Recap

Banquet/ Thanksgiving

Saturday night was banquet!  We had such an amazing time!  I keep saying this, but it will not be the same without you all next semester!

Monday and Tuesday were spent getting ready for my family to come on Wednesday!  I was asked to participate a "subject" in a photo clinic and the photographer got some great pictures of me.

On Wednesday night we went to La Belle Vie and saw The Hunger Games.
Happy thanksgiving on Thursday! We had a fun little family photo shoot and then went to dinner at The Pavillon, while stopping at the Salt Plaque.

Friday we went ziplining and had dinner at Spice Mill.

Saturday is a beach day and dinner at Carmobola, then on Sunday we had massages and lunch before I had to take my family to the airport.  I feel like I ate so much while they were here.  Everything was so delicious though, it was hard not to!

It Begins!

 Fun times with the family this past weekend!  We ate tons at Rituals Sushi, Ottley's, Lobsterfest, the Italian place in the Marriott, and the Marriott Sunday brunch.  We checked out a little bit of volleyball on Friday and went to Nevis on Saturday.  We walked around the four seasons, ate at Golden Rock, and hung out at the beach with some Killer Bees at Sunshines.  There is still so much I want them to do but it will have to wait until next Thanksgiving!

 It starts
I seriously cannot believe it's December already.  This semester has flown by; it's definitely one of the fastest semesters so far.
Monday: Path Lab Final 8-9am; ClinPath at 10am; PAWS meeting at noon; Epi review at 2pm
Tuesday: ClinPath Lab Final 8:30-10:30am; MOD at 11am; continued PAWS meeting
Wednesday: Study day!  (I've been craving Cheerios for some reason....better run to the store...)  I had to clean the aviary out today as well.
Thursday: MOD final (not really counted as a final) 11:10-12:12am and Pharm review at 2pm
Friday and weekend - Study, study, study!!

15-reasons Why (Not) To Date A Vet

Nothing but studying

Monday and Tuesday were full of lots of studying and leftover desserts!
On Wednesday, we had an Anatomy quiz and then it was on to some more studying for finals....exhausted yet? I know I am.
Thursday was a long day because of a late tutor session.  During my usual morning break, I studied some Immuno with Jess.  The only break I'm allowing myself until finals is meals and sleep, or lack there of sleep.  My diet has gone to hell as well.  My dinner consisted of a grilled chicken sandwich, too many M&Ms and Dr. Pepper....the fun of stress eating!
Yay finally Friday, but yay more studying....not.  Danielle and Karen had a birthday dinner at Rock Lobster that I went to in order to give myself a study break, but then after dinner it was right back to it.  In order to promote prostate awareness, the guys in my class decided to do no-shave November.  Here is them on the last night of November!

This weekend will consist of, you guessed it, studying for Parasit Lab final as well as the rest of my finals the following week.

Finals

What to get me for Christmas

80s/Thanksgiving

On Friday, after our fun flash mob (see previous blog post), that night there the 80s party!  Tons of 80s music, so much fun!  Everyone looked great too!

On Saturday I hung out at Liz's pool for a bit then, since I was still on an 80's kick, went back to my place and watch 80's movies the rest of the night (Say Anything and Can't Buy Me Love).   I also made shish kabobs...yummy!  Sunday, it was back to study mode and cleaning before the family comes!

Monday wasn't anything too exciting other than I made chicken parm for dinner because that was basically had in the fridge....I feel like I'm always running out of food! I didn't think I ate that much....
Tuesday wasn't anything too exciting either, other than having a break from 10-1pm where I met with my Immuno teacher and went to the gym.  We no longer have Anatomy on Tuesdays, so we will have this long break until the end of the semester.
Wednesday was the day Dr Gymiah, our Immuno teacher, dressed up for winning the Josh Project coin fund raiser (remember Dr. Reich as Ace Venture last semester).  It was very hard to take him seriously.

 Also, my family came for Thanksgiving!  I was so excited to see everyone!  We took our family picture and then went out to dinner.
Thursday was Thanksgiving.  I was able to get out of class at 10am and spend the rest of the day with my family.  We went to Reggae beach and then had Thanksgiving dinner at the Marriott.
Friday I set up a paddle boarding trip for my family while I was in class which they seemed to really enjoy.  We then went to dinner and saw Life of Pi.
Saturday morning I had a nice relaxing Marriott massage and then had some lunch and drinks poolside.  My family then had to leave and I had to start studying.  I did however get my freezer stocked up: 

Finals are approaching