Final Thoughts...

A final summary (slightly serious, my apologies)

This trip has been the journey of a lifetime. I have never been more excited to wake up (well, after I got over the shock of the alarm, of course!) and never so disappointed to leave.

I think a big part of that was the fact that I was in surgery. Well, not just IN surgery, I was DOING surgery. It was challenging, it was difficult, it was frustrating, it was fascinating, it was fun and it was real! I found out that what I thought was something I would enjoy doing for the rest of my life is actually enjoyable. Will I change my mind in vet school? Maybe! However, this trip gave me the satisfaction and complete stillness in my soul that I am on the right track and am headed in the direction that my life should be going.

Other great parts of the trip:

The scenery. Oh my! It seemed that all I had to do was turn my head to see something prettier than what I had been looking at the day before! All I kept thinking in my head was, "These are the places that people look at on calendars and say, 'I want to go there!' and I'm THERE!!"

The group: I loved being surrounded by 21 other people who were working towards similar goals. Yes, we all had differing opinions on all sort of things but in the end we were just a group of people who cared about animals and helping people who don't have as much access to health care as our own animals do.

The organization: I was so impressed by VIDA. They had everything well planned, they stuck to the itinerary, and they worked their hardest to give us a safe and productive trip. They cared about the team and addressed problems as they arose (and fixed them!). As an example: I had not even arrived at home yet and I had already received an e-mailed official letter with a statement of my hours and a list of the activities that I had participated in. Impressive, VIDA!

Sorry for a 'sappy' last post! I am just so incredibly happy that I was given this opportunity and if you haven't figured it out yet - I loved every minute!

Back to reality.
Or (teehee…hold onto your cheese for this one) let's see what I can do with my "life after that!"

8/19/2010 - Final Day

I'll admit I was just a wee bit nervous about the zip line canopy tour today. Let's just say that I get about enough of an adrenaline rush from pulling my car out of the suicide lane into traffic. I'm not exactly gutsy. THIS. WAS. FANTASTIC. The strapped us up (hello, wedgie!) and sent us up into the trees. I couldn't help but scream every time! J It wasn't scary - it was fun! On one of them, I went upside down. Yup. Who know how many feet in the air and I was upside down. Perfect! On the last one down to the ground, they pull on the rope to break you but they purposefully do it really hard and it makes you fly up and down. FUN! I laughed the whole way down and quite possibly sounded like a crazed monkey. Whatev.

Next was a reptile farm. It was ok - I was coming down from my zip line high and really just wanted to take a nap!

Last thing we did before heading to our final hotel was go to a local zoo where most of the animals have been rescued. We were allowed back into their rehabilitation area and a veterinarian from the zoo talked us through how they work them back into the wild. My ecology/biodiversity background kicked in and I found myself wishing I could speak Spanish so I could do an internship there.

Absolute highlight of the zoo was hanging out with a lion! I have always had a small infatuation with them. So, of course, when we arrived at their enclosure, I switched into 5 year old mode jumping up and down and adding the obligatory "oooh's" and "ahhh's." After a couple minutes, most of the group moved on and a couple of us stayed back. At the point, one of the females started acting like she wanted to play - and who am I to turn down a lion? She chased me up and down the outside of her enclosure, we pretended to pounce on eachother, and when I walked away, she jumped up on the bars, stuck her nose out as far as she could and watched me leave. I'm not sure I can really put into words how incredible it was. I played chase with a lion!!

I'll be home tomorrow!

8/18/2010 - Last Clinic Day :*(

Last day of clinics :(. Today was slightly better than the island - this time we were in a hallway that was mostly covered! We were with the med team this time but they finished up about 3 hours before us. Slackers. Of course, the only thing that I have heard about what they are doing is health histories and pap smears - don't blame them for not using a whole day…I'll take the aggressive dogs, thanks!

Last day and I finally got to castrate a male dog! Woohoo! I also learned how to do a Miller's Knot - which I'm pretty sure I have already forgotten. (360? Short end over long end? Grab something 'er other with the needle driver??...oh well!)

Today I discovered a part of the trip that I didn't like: Inventory of boxes. Blegh.

8/17/2010 - Rec and Travel!

(Above is Ojo de Agua)

Started our day off with a nature walk through a lagoon that was near our hotel. There is a legend surrounding the lagoon that the person who first owned it, made a deal with the devil in exchange for a loved one's soul. It's said that if you come at midnight and have a shaman with you, that you can make a deal, too. I guess selling Ben's soul to get into vet school would be a little extreme, right?

Next we went to my absolute favorite spot on the island - it is called Ojo de Agua and is a spring. The water temperature was perfect, the sun was perfect, the views were perfect. I couldn't have been happier. I would have happily spent an entire week there!

For lunch, we went to a restaurant owned by a family from Massachusetts. The restaurant was gorgeous and even tough it took a while to get the food, I loved it! They have a small hotel that is geared towards English speaking backpackers. I asked for a job and they said yes. J So, I promptly texted Ben and asked him to bring Trinity and some clothes. The team made me get on the bus anyway…

Eventually, we took the ferry back to the mainland (with less bugs on the way back, yay!). The trip is WAY longer when you aren't doped up on Dramamine like I was the first time! :)
And on a side note - at this hotel, our room flooded, twice. Soggy, moldy, poopy clothes smell GREAT!

8/16/2010 - Smanimals on the Island!

Well, these were the worst working conditions yet! Clinic today was in a brick building with no roof. The only covered area was on one side where there was a stage. One of our guides said that the area is used for dancing and community activities.

SO, with rain clouds in sight, they arranged for us to have a tent for intake and we did surgery and recovery on the covered area. Of course, once it started raining both the tent and the roof proved to not actually be waterproof! It also got pretty dark when the clouds rolled in so a lot of people did surgery with headlamps. Now that is TRUE vet med right there!

Completed 2 more spays today - one was still actively nursing and let me tell ya: If you're incision is only an inch or so long, that stinking mammary tissue is just a LITTLE in the way!!

Last Full Day - Already?

I'm alive! Will try to update as soon as I can! :)

Large Animals

Whew! It has been CRAZY!!!! Yesterday was awesome- we stayed in a
nicer hotel (hot water- yay!) and spent half the day relaxing pool
side. I finally got to talk to Ben and relax a little.... Which I
needed after partying Nicaragua style the night before. BUT that's
all I have to say about that since the locals promise us that what
happens in Nicaragua- stays in Nicaragua! ;)

Our new hotel is on an island in the middle of a lake at the base
of an active volcano. I can't wait to show you pictures! The ferry
ride was a little scary - we had 2 trucks full of cement blocks
plus two cars and our bus. The parking was a little tight!

Today was large animal day. Not exactly the way we do it in the
states! One bull climbed up over the other cows in the chute,
jumped out and charged us!!! We were almost knee deep in mud and
crap. I had so many adrenaline rushes by the time we were done
that my hands were shaking! We had to give each one a SQ
Ivermectin and an IM B-vitamin complex. I am now pretty well
practiced in the art of "stabbing, jumping out of the way, running
back, aspirating, jumping out of the way, running back, injecting,
and jumping out of the way!" a little scary! Will post pics when I
can!

Off to the orphanage to play with some kids.

Lordy- I need a stinking Starbucks!