a LOOOONG holiday post

Hey everyone! So it's been a hectic break, but an enjoyable one. This is going to be a gigantic post, I apologize in advance. I meant to write in bits and pieces throughout the holiday, but I forgot to bring along my camera card reader, so I had to wait till I get home to post with pictures.

Anyway, so I got home from Scotland after a long day of traveling, and enjoyed a quiet night at home with my dad. The next day I got up and did a bit of shopping, and then got my hair done. Then afterward my dad and I had dinner with my friend Kaitlin, whom I've known practically forever. She gave me a really sweet gift of an angel doll, which was similar to something she had received as a child, so it meant a lot to me.

On the 22nd I think it was, we left Connecticut, picked up my grandma, and began the long drive down to South Carolina to visit my brother, whom I haven't seen in about 8 years. On the way down we stopped at some outlets and did some shopping, which was nice. I got some shirts and sweaters I'd been needing. South Carolina was surprisingly not very warm. There was one day (I think Christmas, oddly enough) when it was around 70 degrees, but the rest of the time it was pretty chilly. We visited my brother on Christmas Eve, Christmas, and the day after, and then began the drive back up.

Christmas itself was a bit strange, mostly because we were in a hotel, but especially (and perhaps obviously) because my mom wasn't there. Also I was sick, which didn't help any. I had brought along a tiny foot-tall Christmas tree, which I decorated with mini-lights and tiny ornaments. So that helped a bit, but I still missed having a real tree. We did the present thing on Christmas Eve, and I got a few things from my dad I'd asked for, like a few video games and what not, and he also got me a really pretty Swarofski ornament of a Christmas tree, and a miniature crystal dog tchatchki. I got my dad and grandma each a cashmere scarf from Scotland, and also some shortbread (yum!). On Christmas Eve and Christmas we had dinner at a restaurant in Charleston, SC, called Poogin's Porch (which I discovered to my delight was named after a dog), and had delicious food. Being sick meant I couldn't eat a whole lot, and I'm sure things would have tasted better had I not been sick, but it was still pretty good. I tried fried alligator (which was very good, kind of like a cross between chicken and fried clams), and had delicious duck, and pumpkin pie, which I have been sorely missing in Scotland.

*

Our teeny Christmas tree
*
Nana, Dad and Me
*

Visiting my brother was great. I hadn't seen him in going on 8 years I think (long story), and I was nervous at first, because I had no idea what it was going to be like, and I'm rather inept at conversation and I thought it might be awkward. But it turned out to be really good. He looked partly different than I remembered, and partly exactly the same. I imagine it must have been weirder for him, because I think I've changed a whole lot in the last 8 years. But we settled right back into brother and sister mode, and got a kick out of bickering and ganging up on my dad during a card game.

So then on the 27th we arrived in Arlington, VA, where we picked up my friend Thomas, whom I know from Colby, and went to eat dinner at a local pizza place. It was quite good. Afterward my dad and grandma left me in VA, and drove the rest of the way home.

On Sunday Thomas and I went to the Manassus National Park, which is a famous Civil War battleground, and we took a little walking tour, learning about the first battle of Manassus (I think also known as the battle of Bull Run?), and then explored a bit on our own. It was a very pretty area, and we were walking around as the sun was setting (and the weather was gorgeous and warm, minus about 2 minutes of very slight drizzle). We had fun trying to figure out if the cannons were real or replicas, and trying on union soldier hats in the gift shop. We had also brought a long a picnic lunch/early dinner, which we ate by the Stone Bridge, which was built before the Civil War. It was pretty cool. I was hoping the place would be haunted, because the Stone Bridge seemed like a spooky-ish place, particularly as dusk fell, but alas, no ghostly sightings. Later that night Thomas gave me a bagpipe lesson, which was fun. He's quite a good teacher, and he taught me a song, as well as how to read bagpipe music and everything.

*

Messing about in the park's gift shop
*
Manassus National Park at Sunset
*
Our lunch picnic spot - The Stone Bridge
*

On Monday Thomas had to work, so I hung around the apartment and basically was a lazy bum all day long. But that was fine by me; not having a tv in Scotland meant I was all too happy to sit my butt down in front of the telly for hours and hours. I also did a bit of reading, and played a few video games. When Thomas got home we went out to a local Tapas restaurant called La Tasca, and had some really yummy Paella with spanish sausage and chicken. And of course I can't forget the Sangrea. The kind we got was Sangrea Rosada, which had strawberries, blueberries, and was made with rose wine. It was soooo delicious!

On Tuesday Thomas had to work again, so I set out to explore the area, and ended up in the Pentagon City shopping centre. I got some things I'd been needing, like a gigantic Starbucks pumpkin-spice latte, thank you cards for my Aunt Cherie and grandma (for very generous birthday and Christmas gifts), and some new brushes for my makeup, as my old blush brush was getting kind of disgusting to the point where I was cringing every time I had to use it (it had a good 5 or 6 years worth of makeup caked into it). I also got cleaning pads, so hopefully I can prevent the new ones from getting to the state my last one was in, so hopefully they'll last for awhile. Anyway, then I returned back to Thomas's flat and hung out for a bit, and around 5:30 headed back to Pentagon City to meet Thomas and his roommate Chris for Mexican food (nachos and Margarita happy hour!) and more shopping! I didn't buy anything, but I helped Chris and Thomas pick out some things.

Wednesday I was on my own all day again, and I did much the same thing as Tuesday. I hit up the shopping centre and got a few pairs of jeans from JCrew, and got my nails done. A very girly day :) That night, being New Year's, Thomas and I decided to go to a New Year's Eve event at a pub called Whitlow's on Wilson nearby. We trekked there in the FREEZING cold weather (We tried to hail a cab for the 10-minute walk, that's how cold it was, but of course as soon as we decided we wanted to cab it, there were no cabs available).

So anyway, when we got there, the place was practically deserted. So instead we walked down the street to a little pub called Galaxy Hut, which had tables that were old school Pac Man and pinball games, and planned on getting a drink or two and then going back to check out the party to see if it had picked up at all. After a drink though, we decided where we were was as good as the other place, and given that the other place had a $40 cover charge, we weren't going to miss much. So we got some delicious pub food and another drink, and stayed where we were. We attempted to play the pinball game, but the flippers were broken or something, which was sad, and the other tables with PacMan were taken. Oh well. There was only a tiny TV in the pub, and before we knew it the whole pub was counting down, and then it was 2009! It was very low key, but at the same time, very nice.

*
Thomas and our pin-ball table
*

Next day was also nice. We went to the National Postal Museum, which was surpisingly cool, and hung around there for a few hours, then went to Pho75 (amazing Vietnamese restaurant) for lunch, and then out to a movie, Slumdog Millionaire, which is about a kid from the slums of India who ends up on the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire show, and the whole movie is about how and why he knows the answers to all the questions. It was FANTASTIC. I highly recommend it to everyone. Afterwards we attempted to play the Claw machine outside the movie theatre, but for whatever reason the god of cheap games hates me this week, and the game wasn't working. Boo.

*
The Postal Service's mascot, Owney
*
I forget exactly why there was a truck, but Thomas displays it wonderfully.
*
I'm a mean trucker
*

Friday Thomas had to work again, so I got up and went to brunch with Katie (another friend from Colby), and did laundry and played video games. Basically I was a lazy bum, which was nonetheless, awesome. :)

Saturday Thomas was dragged into work again for a half day, so I hung about the flat until he returned. That evening we met up with Katie and some others for broomball, which sadly I didn't take pictures of, but it was a game we all loved at Colby, which they happen to have at the ice rink by Thomas's. Basically, it's hockey, played with a larger ball, on the ice, in sneakers, with special sticks in the shape of brooms.

*
Conveniently I found this picture of Thomas playing broomball with mostly the same people at the same ice rink we played at, just so you have a feel of the game. Just pretend I was there.
*

After broomball we went downstairs in the mall to a GIGANTIC bar, and had drinks and delicious barfood and had fun.

Sunday Thomas had a friend coming over, named Julia, who plays guitar and sings. So for a couple hours he played bagpipes with her while she played guitar. It was a nice way to spend a Sunday morning, and Julia was very nice. Afterward we went to Trader Joe's, after spending about 45 minutes searching for a parking space (it was a madhouse!), and then came back home. Later that evening, Thomas had a pipe band practice, so I tagged along. I brought along my book and read while they were playing (earplugs in!). It was really cool! Watching how fast their fingers move on the pipe was nothing short of amazing. Seriously. Also it was cool to hear the actual bagpipes. It reminds me why I put up with the rather abysmal sound of the chanter. :)

My last day, Monday, Thomas had to work (dang the real world and it's jobs!), so I headed to the Mall (the National Mall, not the shopping mall), and checked out the National Museum of Natural History, after getting a dirty water dog from a street vendor.

*

The Rotunda of the museum
*
Hamster (on a piano), and squirrel
*
Prehistoric dog!
*
Giant sea turtle!
*
Butterfly garden!
*
The Mall at night
*

Afterward we went to a local pub for pub trivia. I knew a few answers, but not a whole lot. One particular one I DID know, and got really excited about, was "The lateral collateral and cranial cruciate are examples of what?" Ligaments! Haha. Glad to know vet school was good for something, eh? :)

Anyhoo, the next morning after Thomas left for work I lugged all my stuff on the metro, and made my way to Union Station to catch the Amtrak. My train ride was uneventful, and I arrived back in Connecticut about 3pm. I relaxed all of that night, which was nice.

Yesterday I ate lunch with Kaitlin and her mom, then went back to Kaitlin's and hung out for a bit. I've known Kaitlin since 1st grade, so getting together with her is amazing. Even when I haven't seen her in awhile, when we get together it's like always. It's so great to have a friend like her.

After visiting Kaitlin, my dad and I went out to dinner at a local pan-Asian restaurant, and then to visit Mrs. Bucholz, my old piano teacher. We haven't seen her in years as well, so it was nice to see her again and have a chat. I played a little piano for her, what I could remember of my old songs, anyway. Then I got home and relaxed some more.

So here I am. Today we're going to visit my grandma for lunch, then my cousins for dinner I think. I'm kind of sad it's my last night at home. The thought of going back and studying makes me cringe a little. I know it'll be great to get back, but I'm having fun just relaxing!

Anyway, that's all for my loooong post. I guess I'll see you all back across the pond!

1 semester - DONE!

My first semester of vet school is officially DONE! It was incredibly challenging, but overall very fun, and I learned a ton!

The final exam was quite challenging, but I think I did ok. I knew all the short answer questions really well, and the essays I think I knew enough to get by. The multiple choice was probably not that great, but that's never been my strong suit. Anyway, I refuse to speculate about how well or not well I did, because it's subjective, and there are always resits in August, much as I would hate to have to do that.

So the night before the exam, I took a break from studying to have an early Christmas dinner with my flatmates (and Hannah, who used to live with us, but moved to a flat closer to the school of divinity). It was actually really nice, because I hadn't spent any real time with them, because we never seem to be home at the same time, and when I am I'm usually crammed in my room studying. While they were cooking (because they knew I was studying and so graciously let me off the hook for cooking and most of the clean up duties), Lusanda got her new keyboard. I thought my keyboard was nice, but her keyboard is AMAZING. Not only does it have the entire set of keys, but it is weighted exactly like an actual piano, and it sounds like an actual piano. She got it for not too much more than mine cost too, but oh well. Too late now. And mine is good, it's just not THAT good, lol! Besides when I'm older I plan on having a real piano, so this is just a temporary thing.

Anyway, so we set up the keyboard, and were playing around with it while waiting for the food to finish cooking. We taught Hannah and Lusanda's boyfriend Dan to play a little bit (they were actually quite quick at it, I was impressed), and then played and sang christmas carols.

*

Dan and the new glorious keyboard.
*

So then the food was ready, and we all sat down to eat. It was quite good, and this is apparently what the typical British Christmas meal is. It's very similar to our Thanksgiving meal, only minus the cranberry sauce, and for some reason they traditionally have brussel sprouts?! (although thankfully we opted for peas and carrots instead!). There was turkey, gravy, stuffing, potatoes, yorkshire pudding (which is in fact NOT anything like a pudding), sausages, peas & carrots, and orange squash (juice) for a drink.

*

Delicious dinner!

*

For desert we had Torron (not sure how to spell that), which is a Spanish Christmastime dessert similar to Peanut brittle, and Miriam made a champagne lemon sorbet drink, which was really good, but I couldn't have a whole lot because I had to study. We also had little mini mince pies, and Christmas pudding.

*
Miriam, Lusanda, Hannah, and Me all together!
*

So then after the test we went back to Summerhall, where Professor Alastair MacDonald had mulled wine, minced pies, and some other sort of christmas bread. It was delicious, and much needed after the stress of exams.

Then I went back to my flat and packed and tidied up a bit, and then relaxed for awhile. At around 7, Anik, Pookish and I went to Jessica's flat to have tea and exchange presents. Jessica gave me a really cute hedgehog stuffed animal (apparently Britain's only spiney mammal, who knew?). I have yet to give him a name, but I shall let you know as soon as I come up with one. Anik got me geode windchimes from the German market. They are very pretty, and I hung them up as soon as I got home. Pookish got me a really pretty spun glass piano. I, as expected, broke it on the way home, but I managed to at least for the moment situate it so you can't tell, and I'm going to get some glue and fix it when I get back. Clearly delicate things don't do well in my hands. I'll post some pictures up after I get back. I managed to leave my camera in Jessica's flat, boo.

Anyway, So today I got up at 6am and stuffed the last few things in my suitcases, lugged them down the 4 flights of stairs, and dragged them down the road to hail a cab. At 6:30 I finally found one and got to the airport around 7ish. Also, funny story, when I got in the cab, the guy was like "where're you headed, Hen?" (also, I'll never get used to being called "hen" on a normal basis), and I guess I thought he was being conversational, because I assumed that he'd get that I was going to the airport with 2 gigantic suitcases, so I replied "Uh, America." His response? "Ah, well I cannae take ya there, Lass." Haha. I kind of wanted to be like "REAALLYY? I had NO idea!" But I figured I'd let it go and just pretend to be the dumb blonde I come across as at 6:30 in the morning, so I simply said, "Ah, haha. Yeah the airport, please."

So anyway, my flight was originally supposed to take off at 9:05. It is currently 9:02, and the plane hasn't even arrived in Edinburgh from Newark yet. The supposed time it's going to leave is 1:50pm at the moment. Lame.

Now normally I would be extremely bummed about waiting for 5 hours in an airport, and I am, truth to be told, not extremely happy about it. But I'm okay with it. Why? you ask. I cut the gigantic line at check-in, I am sprawled on a comfy couch, drinking a free latte (and about to get a free cappuccino, or maybe a mocha) and eating free pastries, enjoying the sunrise from the picture window of the Business class lounge, and potentially pouring myself a glass of classy Scottish wine when it comes to lunchtime. For whatever reason the only seats left on the flight were business class, so here I am.

*

The Buisnessclass lounge. AMAZING.
*
Latte/capuccino machines, pastries, shortbread, wine, and fully stocked mini-fridges. Can life get better? I submit that it cannot!
*

I don't know if I'll ever be able to fly economy again. This is amazing. They have free wine and a fully stocked mini bar, computer stations, couches, flat screen tvs all over the place for the different little cubby hole areas, and it's quiet and bright, and warm and cozy, and the floors are carpeted and I there are no children running around screaming, and it smells good.

*

My cushy little area.
*

I can't wait to actually get on the plane, and enjoy a (for once) comfortable and cushy plane ride. Brilliant. I really wish I could travel like this all the time. I hope I'm loaded when I'm older, because this is fantastic. The only thing I can possibly complain about is that I have to pay for the wireless. For as much as this business-class ticket cost, they should give us free wi-fi passes or something. But then again, 24 hours was only £5.95 (as opposed to £3.95 for one hour, so not too bad).

Anyway, I'm going to take a nap I think, and then get some more food! Maybe I'll update later if the mood strikes me.

Exammmms

So I had my first official vet school exams today. Suffice it to say, they were pretty horrendous.

First off, we had a "spot" exam. This is essentially where tables are set up throughout the room, and each person sits at a table, which might have a picture, specimen, or some other sort of question on it. We had 5 minutes for each of 11 stations, and each station had somewhere between like 8 and 10 questions on it.

First off. That is NOT enough time. That didn't even include a few seconds to switch tables and get our bearings and read the questions (and I am a FAST reader). Bad system, and led to hastily scribbled answers and widespread panic amongst the masses.

Anyway, so the first table I got, I was really really confident. I answered everything, and even after looking over stuff afterwards I think I got it all. Score: Me, 1; Vet School, 0.

Next table. Complete blank. I put something down for everything, and I think I at least got a bit of it right, but still, just ick. So maybe like... a quarter of a point. Me, 1; Vet School, 1.

The next table I knew a fair bit on, and the table after that was so-so.

So on and on that went for 11 tables. There was one station I got near the end that was a "sit and relax" station and I used that to look through and see how I was faring. All in all I think I did ok. I'm not going to say I did well, but I think I made it through (crosses fingers!). Fortunately again this isn't worth a whole lot of our grade.

So then was the oral exam later in the day. This part was only worth approximately 2.5% of our entire grade, so I wasn't really too fussed about this. Everyone seemed to get the same examiner we had in our "practice" exam back in August, so I had Dr. Kempson again (What a woman!). I was still extremely nervous, despite the fact that this was such a small part of the grade. Probably just cause it's a pressured situation.

I heart Sue Kempson. Not only because she is just amazing, but because she is fair. I know she's probably a harder examiner than some of the others, but when she does the oral with me I actually learn from her. So while I'm pretty sure I completely bombed the oral (I got stuff right, but it was sort of like pulling teeth), the stuff she asked me is stuff that I will probably remember for next time. The problem was mainly that she asked a lot of stuff on the nerves, which I just can't do, and when I'm flustered I say stupid things like "that's the trachea!" when we are nowhere near the trachea, and I know it's the oesophagus. But again, her questions were fair, coherent, and were things that were I not in pressure mode, I would have known.

Oh well. Totally not worth moaning about, cause in the grand scheme of the year it's not going to bring me down. Who knows, maybe I scraped by anyway? I did after all correct myself on a bunch of occasions and did manage to get a number of questions right off the bat. Who knows. Sue Kempson will do what Sue Kempson will do.

Plus this time we had a "shadower" who was another professor who followed us around writing down what our questions were. They were basically there to make sure that when it came down to grading, students were given fair grades based on the difficulty of questions asked and how it compared to what other students were asked, etc.

Also I heard that one examiner (who shall remain nameless), asked CLINICAL stuff. We are not supposed to know anything clinical, so I feel horrible for the people that had her. She was asking stuff like "what is the clinical significance of the oesophagus entering here" (to which apparently the answer was that it's prone to an oesophageal hernia), and then asking what the dog would present with if it had such a problem. WTF?! Totally unfair to those people, and I have to wonder why they let her examine students. But then again, that's what the shadower is there for, although you'd think one of them would have piped up and said, "um, they are not meant to know that yet." Lame.

Anyway, now all that's left is the crazy written exam on Friday. I'm taking the night off tonight, because I hit the wall, so to speak. Yesterday night before the exam I was freaking out and sick to my stomach and I couldn't concentrate, so I just put my book down and attempted to sleep. The stuff I was studying turned out not to be on the spot or oral anyway, so it fortunately didn't matter. I woke up about 4 times during the night because of the noise the wind was making, and then again at 5:30am when my flatmate got up for work and I heard her moving about. Normally I wear earplugs cause I'm a light sleeper, but I was so terrified of sleeping through my alarm that I didn't last night. Then I woke up 60, 40, 15, and 5 minutes before my 4 separate alarms went off at 8:30. Ick.

Tomorrow it's time to review the digestive system, and the metabolic system, and brush up on whatever else I think I need to. I feel oddly confident. I know I suck at nerves, and muscles, but those are hard to learn in a book. I had them memorised in the book (even looking back at pictures after the oral I knew them all), but the actual thing looks NOTHING like the book. Everything else though, I dunno, I feel alright. I'm still stressed out, and I'm likely going to be freaking out tomorrow night again, but for now, I'm taking a night to just chill, and maybe make some flashcards if I'm motivated enough.

Oh also, in my procrastination last week, I reorganized my room. I think it's a much better arrangement now, and it seems like I have way more space. Here's a pic:

Now my keyboard has it's own well-deserved spot! I also got a bedskirt, so that ugly blue bed base is covered by a nice white sheet now. Yay!
*

In addition, I got a pedal for my keyboard, and some headphones, and a cover for it is soon to arrive in the mail (my room is surprisingly dusty!).

Anyhoo, laters!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

So another week has come and gone. This week was full of studying, but I finally feel like I'm getting somewhere. I'm almost done with my preliminary revisions of my notes, then I'm on to making sure I know it all, or at least 50% of it.

Today was pretty good. I went to the Elephant House to study for awhile. I like studying there, not only because it's got great food, but also it's got a great view of the castle. Plus Harry Potter was started there. Awesome.

*

View of Edinburgh Castle from the Elephant House
*

Then I met Anik and we walked around and got a lot of Christmas shopping done on the Royal Mile. The touristy shops never get old, and I seem to discover something new every time! Like Anik and I went up to the top of the Royal Mile, and headed down, systematically, and the first store we went in was awesome! It was the Edinburgh Old Town Weaving Company, and they've got a museum AND a working mill in the basement.

Then we found a timeline of kilt styles from ancient times until now. And of course, being the mature 23 year old that I am, I did what any self respecting woman does when confronted with a maniken in a Scottish kilt....

*

He was a real Scotsman, in the sense that he was wearing nothing underneath. But there was also NOTHING under there, like a Ken doll. Probably for the better... that would have been a wee bit weird.
*
Picture of the tartan-weaving process. It was coooool!
*
The museum/shop in the basement.
*

Later that night, after visiting the ratty babies at Anik's, we went back up to Princes St. to the Christmas Market. We met up with Jessica and a bunch of other people, and had fun eating delicious food, drinking mulled wine and meade, and enjoying the Christmassy spirit!

*

The Scottish portion of the market, the "Highland Village Market." The other part was the German Christmas Market.
*

Jessica wanted to ride the carousel, but I was freezing, so I took pictures instead.
*

I was having way too much fun with my camera settings :)
*

Now I'm back in my warm and cozy bed, looking forward to a fun day tomorrow, with just a wee bit of studying. Not sure what I'm doing yet otherwise, but I'm sure it'll be great fun! Once again, I love this city! :)