Finally an update!

So sorry it has taken me so long to post on here!  Not having internet has been a real pain.  I never realized how dependent on it I was until I didn’t have it for a week.  In a foreign country.  With no idea of where I was going.  Long story short I now have internet at the house and am no longer suffering technology withdrawal.  So here is a quick recap of what’s been going on.

Wednesday:  We left for the Philly airport after saying goodbye to my grandparents.  At the airport we had drinks thanks to Scott and Sue (though the cosmo was not a good as a Scott-mo).  I met a wonderful lady at the bar who is from Northern Scotland and we had a nice chat before boarding the plane.  The flight was good I suppose, but I can’t seem to sleep while sitting up right.  Not that I would have been able to really sleep anyway.  Here are some pics of the descent into Glasgow.  Everything is so green!!

Thursday:  We arrived in Glasgow around 8am and went through customs.  I am so glad I brought all the supporting documents for my visa otherwise I may not have made it in.  After clearing customs we walked around the airport a little and ran into two police officers that were chit –chatting.  While holding GIANT machine guns.  Welcome to Glasgow, eh?  I decided it would be best NOT  to get a picture of them.  We took a taxi to the house and met up with the landlord and got my keys.  The house is great!  The previous tenants (also vet students) left us so much stuff including a printer, books, notes, and everything a kitchen could need.  Except a coffee maker.  Oh well.  We ended up walking around the block to the Pound Stretcher store and Morrisons and got groceries and stuff for my room.

Friday: We decided to be adventurous and take the train down to the city.  I really feel like I am starting to get the hang of this!  We walked around central Glasgow and I absolutely fell in love with all the architecture there.  While walking around, we came across George’s Square.  However, it was blocked off by big black gates and there were all sorts of cranes, emergency vehicles and other things around.  Upon closer inspection, I noticed that the ambulance was from Philadelphia.  Turns out they are filming a movie called World War Z.  It is a zombie movie featuring Brad Pitt.  Throughout the week we wandered around and saw them filming and might have even seen him!

Looks like we're not in Glasgow anymore, Toto.





The real street lights look nothing like this and are far more complicated.  Let's just say that pedestrians do not have the right of way. . .



The filming notice.  Not quite sure why they picked Glasgow to film instead of Philly. . .



Saturday:  Another trip into the city where I got my new phone on the orange plan.  I have some free international minutes so I can keep in touch.  In our adventures around Glasgow we visited the cathedral, the Kelvingrove museum, the St. Mungo’s museum and the necropolis. The necropolis is a grave yard that has a great view of the city. We also visited the modern art museum.  Outside of the Museum of Modern art is a statue of the Duke of Wellington.  From what I've heard, teenagers used to place an orange traffic cone on his head every night only to be taken down by police in the morning.  Now they just keep it on 24/7.

Entry to the Kelvingrove museum.  A lot of fun with many hands on exhibits.

Kelvingrove area.  So pretty.

Duke Wellington with his trusty steed and traffic cone accessory.





We’ve accomplished so many things in the past few days.  We had amazing Spanish tapas (even practiced my fading Spanish with the waitress.  My Portuguese is much better right now).  We wandered around central Glasgow and Byres road in the West End.  We also visited the vet school (met up with the lovely ladies who have helped me through everything from student loans, to UK bank account and visas) and the main university and picked up some sweatshirts.  The main university is AMAZING!  It truly looks like Hogwarts.  Hard to imagine I’ll be there for classes twice a week.

My new vest.

The river and Lock 27: the unofficial vet school pub.

I'll be taking double decker busses to the main campus twice a week.

Cloisters on the quad.

The main university.

We also took a trip down to Edinburgh by train and explored the castle. The best way to get there would be to travel off peak and in groups.  They give some pretty great discounts.  We also headed down to see the Elephant House café.  Anyone know what it is?

Hint:

Yes, I'm a nerd.

We visited the Edinburgh cathedral and walked around for several hours.  The café we stopped in for lunch was pretty cool.  They had 50 different flavored vodkas.  I tried a drink with lemon and lavender vodka that tasted like nerds candy.

View of the castle from the ground.

There was a festival in Edinburgh with street performers.  This is a balloon Loch Ness monster.

A man on a super tall unicycle.  Enough said.

To end this rambling post, I am working on uploading photos to a site and linking it here for easier viewing of additional pics.  Until next time, Cheers!

Empire State of Mind

I spent most of yesterday with my mom and aunt in New York City.   Stupid me forgot my camera, thus I have no pictures of the city itself, but I'll post some googled pics instead.  We started off by taking the train from New Jersey to Penn Station right next to Madison Square Garden.  From there we crossed the street to the post office to mail some letters and then hopped in a cab to Central Park.  Interestingly enough, with all the times I've been to New York, I've never been to Central Park.  We explored Strawberry Fields, visited the castle weatherstation, walked around the lake, and then sat down for lunch at the zoo cafe.  We actually managed to wander in the zoo on accident without paying (oops!) and watched the seals in their exhibit. 

The weatherstation in Central Park.  Actually a castle built almost 300 years ago.

Afterward we crossed over to 5th Avenue and perused Tiffany's, Saks, Coach and other places before crossing over to Times Square to meet my cousin in John's Pizzeria. The pizza place was actually built into an old church and still maintains a lot of the original architecure!

Times Square

The ceiling in the pizzeria

Today, we drove out to the Hudson river on the NJ shore and walked the pathway.  Did you know that you can actually stand directly under the bridge.  Although they don't promote you taking pictures.   I got yelled at for taking pics of the underside of the bridge by a security officer.  There were beautiful views of the river and the city which was amazing because the shore we were on was a dense wooded area with beautiful cliffs.

24 hours until take off for Glasgow!   Tomorrow my parents and I will drive over to Philly mid-day and get ready for take off!

New Jersey, Firemen and VIN; oh my!

Just a quick update from here in Saddle River, NJ. 

Had a wonderful day meeting up with my mother's side of the family and an interesting dinner.  While attempting to sleep (ahem, perusing VIN), I noticed flashing lights outside our hotel window.  I took a quick look outside and noticed three firetrucks outside the door.  I opened the door and several (cute) firemen walked in and started looking around the hallway.  They told me the fire alarm had gone off most likely due to a power surge but were going to check the building anyway.

Anywho, for those of you wondering about VIN, it is an amazing veterinary internet resource that has journal articles, rounds, message boards, case and diagnosis challenges, etc.  Pretty much a nerd's paradise.  I have found that I LOVE the case challenges and can keep up and even most of my hunches are pretty spot on.  Cue the insomnia now.

Last but not least, a fun fact about NJ: You are not allowed to pump your own gas here; an attendent must do it for you.

Here's to new beginnings

A lot of things have changed recently.  These past few weeks I have been able to hang out with some of my closest friends from the past ten years.  It's crazy to think that we met as twelve year olds and now are off to start our own lives.  From law school, to buying houses, to starting new jobs, to buying cars, we are finally starting to resemble adults.  It may sound ridiculous, but the last Harry Potter movie was a real turning point for us.  We all grew up reading the books and going to midnight premieres (because we're awesome like that!) and bonded over the series as teenagers.  It's kind of poetic, the last movie was released at the same point that we are moving on to adulthood, a metaphor of sorts, I suppose. We went out to the midnight premiere and had a wonderful time hanging out at the theatre (for fifteen hours?) before the movie (awesome, right?).  So here's to new beginnings and the best time of our lives :) 

In other news, my parents and I left for New York on Thursday after a great get together with friends (though at this point I would just call them family) on Wednesday.  After a dinner of pizza and wine (weird combination, I know, but works for us), we introduced my parents to the hilarity of Lonely Island. In short, we had a blast.  Our flight left Phoenix at 5am on Thursday (so early, especially after only a couple hours of sleep) and landed less than an hour later in Las Vegas.  There we boarded a plane to Philadelphia and were upgraded to first class (yes!) and enjoyed some free pre-flight cocktails (merlot at 7am? yes, please).  After landing in Philly we drove to New York and met up with some family.  Friday we went to my Aunt's wonderful wedding and had a fabulous time.

Another update: my dad has decided to come with my mom and me to Glasgow!  He originally was going to fly back home on Wednesday, but managed to get some time off to come with us :)

Hard to believe that I leave in just four days! I'll probably post once more on Tuesday before leaving for Glasgow (most likely due to anxiety insomnia).  I may not post the first couple days I'm there.  We land in Glasgow Thursday morning and will meet up with my landlord to go over the lease, explore the house, and take inventory of what I need to purchase for the house.  The previous tennants were also vet students and loved the house so much that they lived there for four years.  They have graciously left us a fully furnished house, so I'll only need to purchase a few things here and there to get settled. 

After meeting with the landlord, we plan to go to shopping for sheets and towels, etc.  Friday I have my bank appointment and will set up the internet account (it will take two weeks for someone to come out to the house!). 

In other news, I got my email account with the Uni -- message me if you would like to get the new email! 

Signing off from New York; cheers!




Credit to JMB for the wonderful photo!



Two weeks. . .

It has really started to sink in that in exactly two weeks I will be on the overnight flight to Glasgow.  But I am truly more excited than scared.  I am so ready to embark on this adventure.


I thought I might use this post to help explain a little more of the Glasgow Veterinary Programme (notice the British spelling) for those who don't know much about it.


The program is five (eek!) years long.

• First year and second years: Animal husbandry, anatomy, physiology and biomoecular sciences
• Third year: The "-ologies": Microbiology, pathology, parasitology, pharmacology, professional clinical skills
• Fourth year: Production animals, public health, companion animals, Principles of Anaesthesia, Emergency and Critical Care & Professional Skills Behaviour & Ethics, Internal Medicine and Infections diseases, alimentary and urogential systems, neurology and orthopedics, cardiology, oncology, exotics, and "small furries"
• Fifth year: Clinicals

In addition to classes, a program unique to the UK allows students to gain hand on experience.  Extra Mural Studies, EMS, allows students to observe and assist in procedures and observe the day to day of veterinarians.  We are required to do 12 weeks pre-clinical experience prior to third year and then 26 weeks clinical experience before graduation.  Some of it may even be performed in the States!  I can also travel all around the UK and Europe to gain my experience.


And finally, some pictures of the new veterinary hospital at the Uni:

Cheers!

Visa has been. . .

Issued!!!  What a relief.  I have to say the whole visa application was quite a stressful process.  First, the questions are so vague and don't make any sense.  Second, they ended up putting an older appendix form up after I had already submitted the updated form.  Nearly gave me a heart attack.  Thank goodness everything went smoothly at the consulate in New York.  The consulate overnighted my passport with my fancy visa sticker.  The process was much faster than I anticipated, I think it took nine days from the day they let me know they received my package until I got it back.  Not too shabby.

In other news, I have packed the majority of my bags with the exception of clothes that I will be wearing until the departure.  I have two suitcases of clothes, shoes, photos and other miscellaneous things.  One bag is entirely full of books... I really hope that it doesn't exceed the 50 pound (or should I say 22.7kg) limit.  I also purchased a new backpack this last week to use as a carry on bag.  I have a carry on suitcase that will have all of my clothes for the wedding in New York, but before leaving for Glasgow, I will switch out for some warmer clothes just so I have stuff in case my luggage is lost. 

The poor living room looks like a war zone with all my stuff strewn about.

But things are now a little more organized:

The following picture is scientific proof that cats love luggage.  Just ask Olivia and Sarzo:



Olivia always wins.

 The countdown in getting closer!  We leave for Philadelphia in two weeks, and will drive to Newark to pick up my sister the next day.  Then we will attend my aunt's wedding in Newburgh and will spend sometime with my east coast relatives before driving back to Philly the following Wednesday when my mom and I will leave to fly to Glasgow! Only 14 days until the 4952 miles or 7967.77 kilometer treck begins!  (I better get used to using the metric system soon). 

The weather change will be quite different too.  Right now in Phoenix it is about 105 degrees Fahrenheit with about 15% humidity.  In Glasgow it is about 16 degrees Celsius (62 Fahrenheit) with 80% humidity.  Extremely different, but I am so excited to escape the heat and go from this:

to this:

More to come soon as I prepare for the big move.

Cheers!

Getting closer...

Things have finally slowed down around here.

I submitted my visa application online and then had to collect all my paperwork that I received from the "Uni" and sent that in after my biometrics appointment.  I had an appointment set for noon, but I didn't realize that the UK consulate branch was part of the US Department of Immigration, thus it was quite busy.  I ended up waiting for about two hours, but at least my appointment went smoothly.  I should hopefully be hearing back from the consulate this week. Fingers crossed that everything goes well!  This whole process was so confusing and the application was rather vague.  I had to do a bunch of research to actually understand what the questions were asking!  I plan to put together some of my research to help out future freshers.

I also moved back in with my parents this week.  It's kind of weird being back at home and not having to leave again for work.  It's also very strange to not have a job.  However, it's nice to relax by the pool, visit with my friends that I haven't gotten to see very often, and have time to run errands. I'm currently working on packing some books and notes from undergrad that I plan to use.  I've also been looking through all my pictures and plan to develop some of them this week to bring with me.  

We had a fantastic 4th of July party this week!  So much fun with many good friends.  For a minute, I realized everything that I would be missing by moving to Glasgow.  Five years definitely seems like a long time.  But this move is much more than just pursuing my career dream, it will make me an independent person who can handle any challenge that comes her way.  I mean, if I can move to another country by myself, I can handle everything else!

Only six weeks and two days till departure for Glasgow! (And five weeks and two days until New York/Philly!)

Cheers!