Four years later... I'm not sure I want to leave. I was talking to one of my good friends Rachel this morning and we were talking about how when we graduated high school we couldn't wait to leave. I felt the same about undergrad, but this time its different. Don't get me wrong, I'm so excited about all the fun I have ahead of me, but I am going to miss my friends alot. I'm not even sure alot covers it. They've become my family. So, I thought for one of my last 'still in school' posts I'd give a quick run through of my last 4 years in Saskatoon because they've been some of my best :)
1. I'd like to think it started with these two. At the end of third year of undergrad, I had decided I wasn't going to try to get into med school. So I decided to give vet school a chance. These two, along with my favorite two roomies Jill and Jodie, helped me get through the last year of my undergrad.
2. After I got into Vet School it was off to Saskatoon; I was lucky enough to have my Grannie and Grandpa come out for our White Coat Ceremony. I don't think I have given my family enough credit over the last eight years on how supportive they've been!
3. Midway through the first semester - actually make that - midway through September, I realized that Vet School wasn't going to be like undergrad. What I had learned in a month of undergrad, we learned in a day in vet school. Although most of the teachers were great, there were a few that lacked teaching skills and organization (reference: Physiology). Therefore, by October, Travis and I booked a trip with our sisters to Mexico... as a way of de-stressing.
4. Travis and I got married....as a way of congratulating myself for making it through the first year. Kidding. It was one of the best days of our lives. I hate being the person to say it just because it's so cliche but it's really true! We got to spend it with lots of people we loved (and even my friends from school came - my mom thanked them for being friends with me... as well as telling some she'd pay them later!).
5. Our honeymoon. We went to Vegas. It was great. We also headed to Penticton that summer. It was then we fell in love! (with Penticton, not each other, we already liked each other prior to going)
6. Molly - you don't think I could have made it to number 6 without mentioning her again. Travis thinks that I love her more than him. He's not wrong sometimes. Every summer she got to go home and go to fat camp. As you can see......
.... it didn't go so well
7. Second year need not be mentioned. Although I had lots of fun, it was hard. Really hard. So, I'd like to forget about it. The summer after second year was great - Travis and I both worked in Lethbridge (I know, amazing - being in the same area code that is); so we got to spend alot of time doing fun things. Hiking Waterton with Brett, Garrett and their cousin was one of the highlights... enjoy the pics, I'm sure they'll kill me later about them.
8. We managed to get back to Vegas. Little did I know, I'd be there 3 times in less than 2 years. Each time was awesome though. In our infinite wisdom the second time however, we bought a time share. To make a long story short, we wanted free show tickets and to get them you had to see a time share presentation. Well, to be honest, it would have been cheaper to just buy the tickets. We weren't going to tell our parents (for fear that they'd call us on our brilliant investment plan), however that plan was foiled when Tracy (Travis' mom) called asking if we bought a time share. I said "No, Why?". She replied " Well, I just got a post card saying "Congratulations on your new time share"". Shit. We never were good liars anyways.
9. That summer I also got to go houseboating for one of my great friends stagette. I also managed to skip enough school to get to the wedding too :)
10. Oh third year. Besides fourth year, it was one of my favorites (does that give it good odds? Seeing there has only been 4 years?) I loved it because we actually go to to do things..
Like my first cat spay - with a great partner!!
And travel..
.... to Hawaii!!
Symposium!
And last, but certainly not least, Vegas (again!) for Garth. With some of my best friends ever!
11. (I just had to look up... I'm losing count). After third year had ended, Travis graduated. I was really proud of him. He'd worked really hard, and managed to become almost as awesome as I was at school. Alot of people laugh when they hear how long we've been dating - either that or make fun of me for never having another real boyfriend (no comment on boyfriends prior to Grade 11) but I think its been awesome. We've worked hard through both our degrees and I couldn't imagine anyone else being there with me!
12. The summer of third year was by far the greatest - I worked for two of the most amazing vets I know in Pincher Creek. I got to run an Ultra Marathon, hike in the mountains and hang out with my friends. Travis, Tania, Marc and I also got to go to California which I loved: 47 C and all.
13. And so began the last year. For the first three years, you always heard how great fourth year was. And it really is. For several reasons: A. You no longer have to sit in lecture for 8 hours a day. B. There are no finals (well, except the board exam but thats a different story). C. You get to hang out with alot of different and cool people. D. You get to travel - I went to Seattle and Calgary E. You get to let everyone know what you don't know... But really, its been awesome. Here's some of what I got to do
Small Ruminants Rotation: I got to hang out with goats and sheep for two weeks.
I wanted to take this little gaffer home - I'm fairly certain I could have hid him from Travis for at least two weeks. I decided not to take the chance.
Cardiology Rotation: It was so fun! I learned alot from some really smart people. I also got to stay with a wonderful couple with three really great dogs. And... I only worked 4 days a weeks o the rest of the time I spent eating fried clams and cinnamon rolls (and yes - I joined a gym when I got home)
The Christmas Party: After writing our NAVLE we all needed to destress - or drink - which ever you choose. And that we did. For three years I had an annual Christmas Party but this year Rebeccah and Chad decided to have it. It was 80s themed and so much fun.
13. So now I"m on anesthesia - my last rotation. Its been going really good. I was really nervous to start but I really like the techs and clinicians and I'm learning alot... I'm also learning all the things I've done wrong over the years which is pretty scary. The next few weeks are going to fly by... so if I don't update that's why. We move at the end of the month, I head out to Penticton and Travis heads to Swift Current. I then have Jill's Stagette and Wedding to look forward to and we leave for Spain on the 20th of June! So that's the plan if we don't update. We are going to try to update while in Europe but we can't promise much (sorry mom).... Anyways, here's my number 15.
15. It's the final countdown.... I have done countdowns every year I've been in University and when I started this year, I started a count down too. I have 15 days and 19 hours left until I am done vet school. As tough as its been, I've met some of my best friends here. So here's to my next 15 days.... I'm not going to count them down and anxiously wait until they are over; instead I'm going to enjoy them while they last.
