J's words of wisdom

Okay so J has been down at Ross medical school for about three weeks now and here is what we have learned.

 J's Ten Wisdom Suggestions

1) Invest in luggage with wheels (no one wants to carry 50lb bags all over the place, J got bruises on her arms)

2) Pack some of your guilty pleasure snacks (you'll be in a new place with stressful stuff happening, having your favorite pop tart might settle your nerves)

3) Invest in a big, good quality umbrella and rain boots....and a rain jacket (when it rains it pours! and even if it's sunny one second, it can storm the next 20 mins and then return to perfect sunny weather like nothing happened)

4) Bring a sketch pad and box of colored pencils (you'll be drawing out body systems and organs and such and you'll appreciate it, trust me)

5) bring a small personal fan (it's an island....need i say more?)

6)Bring cash on your person so if there is any problem with banking you don't have to fret because you have cash

7) multiple charging cord and a power strip

8) a good quality water bottle and a back up (just in case)

9) make sure you can live off what is in your carry on bag for two to three days. ( you are going to the caribbean and there are storms that delay flight and it is very possible that you could be stuck in an airport overnight. SO pack your toothbrush in your carry on lol)

10) Lastly be friendly and make friends. Join clubs and don't wait to join study groups. Dive In!

J is off to Med School and I'm working on finishing stage 2 of my application to Vet School

Well it's the night before J leaves to go to Ross University School of Medicine. I'm so proud of her and will miss her very much. J says she is nervous about leaving. We always grew up knowing this day would come but we never really prepared for the good bye part. I also never thought I would be send J off first, since I'm the older sister! But hey that's life, it always has it's own plan and doesn't really care too much about any preconceived notions about what might happen now and in the future. I look at J's room and see essentially her life packed up into four suitcases, a carry-on bag and a backpack.

It will be strange not having her just upstairs or a short drive away. I guess in the same sense that I always knew we would move away from home but I always pictured it as a future event. I want to hug her and not let her leave but I know that is silly. It has been pointed out to me that at least now I won't have to worry about my clothes going missing. (she was notorious for wear/taking my clothes/shoes)

J is pretty worried about her baggage being lost and not making it to her final destination. So we will just have to see. Keep you updated!

ROSS UPDATE FOR ME:

It had been about 10 days since I had sent my transcript in the mail to Ross and had my GRE scores sent electronically. But I didn't see them as being received yet on my Ross application page, so I called the admission office in New Jersey and chatted with someone. It seems that they had come in but had yet to be processed. They inputted the info and it all checked out, aside from the fact that they forgot to input that I took Physics 1 already. I called back and left them a voicemail to try and correct the error. I'm sure they are really busy with a new semester starting at Ross Med and Ross Vet in the next two weeks. 

I do want to let you know that I sent in my current transcript that shows that I am currently taking Biochemistry and Genetics. So if I get an interview and then if I get a letter offering me a spot, it will be on the basis that I pass those two required classes and then resubmit my final transcript. 

Keep You Posted!! Ask if you have any questions!

Application Update: Slow going....

So it is officially four days before sister "J" goes off to medical school. It is really getting down to the nitty gritty stuff. We packed up three duffel bags full of stuff and kept weighing it over and over again trying to make sure we are not over the 50lb limit for the airplane's baggage rules.

I went and picked up my books for (hopefully last semester at Wichita State University) fall classes. They start this coming monday and I'm so looking forward to them. Every semester I get closer to being in class where I go "yes I do think that information would be useful on a day to day basis in a vet clinic". Let's be honest, no vet is sitting in an exam room mulling over the molecular structure of Hydrochloric acid or debating the role of physics in their ability to exam a dog with a cough. But I know that in the end it will all be worth it.

I know that there is a possibility that one of you reading this might also be feeling a little glum. I have felt that stab of self doubt in my journey to where I am today but it gets better. It does not get easier but I do think that you get stronger as you go through. I am talking about college courses, friends, family and life in general.

I look in the mirror and I realize that all my life I've been dreaming of moving out on my own and applying to Vet School but now that it's finally happening it's odd. I never really thought this day would come. In a way I guess I have been dreaming for so long that it's hard to believe that I'm taking the next step. I guess from here on out every step will be a "new" step.

I'll calm this post back down and get off my soap box. I send my GRE scores, WSU transcript and my application fee (money order by mail). I paid for it all to be sent out last thursday (so a little over a week). Last night I saw that Ross received my $100 application fee but I am still waiting on my transcript and GRE scores to come in. I call and left a message at the Ross admission office this morning to check on the progress and to see if they had arrived yet. I have not heard back from them and since it was friday, i am sure they were busy. So I look forward to hearing back from them maybe by monday or tuesday at the latest.

Keep You Posted
Stay Strong!

Random Cuteness Picture of Gryffindor

2016 Update!!!

Hello Everyone!

So Aunt K has brought that I have been lacking of my post for some time now, so here we go! 

So I am currently applying to Ross University of Vet School for January 2017. The home office for Ross is in New Jersey  and I have sent my transcripts, application fee and my letters of recommendation. So I am currently waiting for all of these things, along with my GRE scores to be processed and attached to my application. Once all my required paperwork is in then comes the part when I wait. I wait for the acceptance committee to review and possibly get invited to have an interview (skype interview) and then hopefully get that acceptance letter! 

Little Sister J is currently packing up for Medical School. She got her acceptance letter from Ross University School of Medicine on Dominica. She leave Aug 25,2016…..so in a 9 days! 

You can follow J’s travels on her blog!

http://jess2md.weebly.com

Now time for a farm update: 

Lil Darling had a bull calf named Rufio

Black Mamba had a bull calf named Hercules

Merida had a bull calf named Mad Hatter

Belle had a heifer calf named Tuppence

Sam, Kitty and Layla are still doing well.

I have a new little addition.  Meet Gryffindor! My little orange pumpkin tabby, born April 26,2015. He is about to turn 4 months old this August and is already 6.5 lbs. Hoping my little guy keeps filling out. I hope to take him down with me to St.Kitts if and when I get accepted. He would come down with me after my first semester down there because you have to stay in the dorms first semester and pets are not allowed. But after first semester I would get an apartment or a house with other classmates.

SOoooo Right now I am signed up to take Biochemistry and Genetics this Fall Semester at my local Kansas University! I will try to keep everyone updated on what happens next!!!

Sign up for a Ross Seminar

I can't believe how crazy my life has been lately. Lots of changes that have really tested me but hopefully I can push through. I know that it has been a really long time since I did a Ross University update, so here we go again.

I just finish signing up for the Ross Vet Med seminar in Kansas City on March 7th. There are still spots for anyone who is curious and has questions. We just go to the university's website and there is a tab about seminars. Go to the tab and select the seminar nears you and sign up for it!

If for some reason you can not attend but still have questions, feel free to post the comments your question and i will get answers at the seminar!
 I must say that Ross seems like a wonderful school with the students, just becoming one big family. The hands on aspect of the college really draws me in and i love the expands semesters that help with keeping information fresh in the students minds.
I am really looking forward to apply to Ross in August!!!!!

I know that some of you may be already applying and that's super. There is another student that is already there and her blog helped answer alot of questions for me and even helped me decided to go visit the school.

This is her blog:

http://terraannosaurus.blogspot.com/

Well on a side note, my little sister and I are taking a Scuba class to get certified in open water scuba diving so that we can scuba on our islands and such! I will try and give some updates on that as things become more splashy-splashy! (aka when we get into the pool part of the class).

Well I guess that's all for now! As always,Ta-ta darling readers!

End of the 2014 Year Update!

 Okay well it's been a few months and lots have happened! SO lets break it down into sections!

My Little Sister:
She has decided to go to Ross medical school after we went to visit this summer! She is planning to leave this fall (about September).

Animals:
 We purchase 5 heifer calves for our farm. So we have a small heard of 9 head of cattle.
There are the new five heifer Dexter calves; Redd,Lil Darin',Bedlam,Black Mamba and Turk (the smallest).

Then Daisy, our pregnant black Dexter heifer,  then there is Moose, our only steer, and then the two Disney twins, Merida and Belle.
 Then of course, we still have our three dog; Layla(Great Pyrenees), Kitty (Rottweiler) and Sam (Blue Heeler).

Me: 
Yep! that right! If everything goes as planned, I will be going to Ross Veterinary School, if i get accepted, and would leave this coming Decemeber (2015). I'm really excited but life is crazy so i will keep you posted!
I also work at Countryside Pet Clinic now!
Also ran a half-marathon with some of my best girls!

Well that's pretty much the basics. Thanks for reading.

Until next time, ta-ta!

St.Kitts Tour: Everything we learned today

We went on a lovely tour today. It took us about 4 hours and cost about 27$(US). We rode around in a tour van with our driver. They have a tour company called "Rose and Jim's: taxi and tour service". It's a husband and wife, we rode with the husband. He was very nice and knew about about the island.

Here is a basic history of St.kitts:

The island is 68 square miles. If you drive around the outskirts of the entire island it is only 32 miles!  It has a population of 40,000 people. Most people that we have talked to (in my opinion) have what Americans think of as Jamaican accent.

First we went to Black Rock, which is the side of the island where the lava from the volcano came down. You can still see the black lava rocks layers over some part of the cliff. The sand on the Atlantic shore is black from the grains of lava rocks that break off slowly as the ocean waves smash against them. Because of the lava rocks on the Atlantic side of the island is very fertile.
The volcano is 3,792 feet above sea level. It's name is Mt. Liamuiga.

The island originally was home to natives that were driven away and killed by Indians from the main land ( northern region of South America). The Indians were then driven out by British and French military forces. When the British and French killed the Indians there was so much blood in the water that ran down a side of the mountain out into the sea, it is now called Bloody Point. (Kind of creepy)

In 1493 is when Christopher Columbus landed on the island. (The island was originally called St Christopher but has sense been changed to St.Kitts). There are still old signs that say St. Christopher.

Then the island was ruled by the British,  who brought over slaves from Europe and Africa. The main income for the island was sugar cane.  There were 68 sugar mills. Whatever slaves that were not working in the sugar cane fields, we're used to build the military fort, Brimstone Hill Fortress.
The fort took 100 years to build! It was built in 1690. It is on 40 acres. It held 800 British soliders.
All of the villages are named after the sugar cane plantation owners, who are viewed very highly by the locals on the island. (So i was told)

The French laid seige to Brimstone Hill Fortress in 1782. The French were then in command of the island but the allowed the British to march out in full uniform (letting them keep their honor). After the Treaty of Versaille the French had to return it back to the British. It wasn't until 1982 (only 32 years ago) that St.kitts received their independence from England.

The main industry of the island, changed from sugar cane to tourism.  There is only one town on the island, it is called Basseterre (which means low land in french). There is only that one town, all the rest are villages. Sandy Point is the largest village and Kayon Village is the 2nd largest village.

There is another village called Middle Island (which my first thought was Middle Earth, from Lord of the Rings). This village is the resting place of sir Thomas Warner(1624-1648), the 1st birth governor of St.kitts.

St.Kitts has a sister island called Nevis.  If you go down the peninsula of St.kitts it is two miles to Nevis.

St.kitts is bordered by two oceans. On the east side of the island is the Atlantic Ocean and on the west side of the island is the Caribbean Sea. They are two different colors and you can see them smash against each other as they meet. Most people never swim in the Atlantic Ocean because it is rougher and can change on a dime and pull you out to sea quickly. 

A big place where many locals work is the stone quarry, the big boulders are used along the shore line and the small boulders are crushed for concrete.
The minimum wage is about $150.00 per week.

A really big things is they drive on the LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD! the speed limit is either 20 mph, 30 mph  or 40 mph. Everyone will honk at each other (short little beep or short double beep) to say hello. But if they hold their horn down for awhile then that is an angry honk.

A Huge Side Note:

DO NOT WEAR CAMOUFLAGE! that is the color of the army and you can be arrested for wearing it if you are not apart of their army. (Mom was about to wear her camouflage hunting hat and I had to tell her! I saved her been throw into jail! Best daughter of the year award goes to.....this girl right here ^-^ )

Next, you can take a trip of the island on the old sugar cane train tracks. It was a little costly so we decided to skip it.

They have community centers, churches and schools for shelters during hurricanes.  They have lots of churches here ( methodist,catholic, ect.). Our tour guide joked that "there are more churches than people". Every village had its own elementary school and the children wear uniforms. School goes from sam - noon then starts again 1pm-3:30pm.

Most all water comes from the mountains (which are protected against development by the government) for the island. When we went up the mountain sides, into the rainforest, there was a huge tree that was over 400 years old brought over from Africa.

They play football (Americans call it soccer) and cricket. When teams come to play they practice in the villages and play the games in Basseterre.

Another important note: there are only 7 gas stations on the island. There are only two hospitals on the island (one in Sandy Point and one is in Basseterre).

Along with Ross Veterinary college, then is also a nursing and medical (not US recognized) schools on the island.