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| 98% DoneGraduation Date: Friday, May 16, 2008. North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE): PASSED!!! California State Boards Examination: PASSED!!!!! New York State Boards Examination: None required. 1 Year Internship: California Animal Hospital, Intern 6/2008 - 6/2009 Match Day results were released last Monday. I didn't get my first choice, so I guess I'll be here in Southern California, specifically the LA area for another year! Pros and cons. But boy, I was pretty shocked originally when I saw where I matched to. Nevertheless, I'm excited to meet my internmates and the rest of the hospital staff. And scared shitless when I have to start dealing with emergencies. Hah, can't wait!!! | | |
| Summer on the East CoastSeptember already! Having spent the majority of the summer externing or rotating through hospitals for school, I am surprised that there was actually a nice balance between work and fun. A total of 8 weeks was spent at one of the top hospitals in Boston for my first 2 clinical rotations in oncology and cardiology. I definitely learned a lot and the oncologists and cardiologists there were wonderful. Lots of patients receiving chemotherapy and saw what seemed like an endless amount of echocardiograms being performed. Heart murmur anyone? Much thanks to Jinnie for housing me and putting up with my bug neuroses. I thoroughly enjoyed Boston thanks to the Boston Crew, or rather, the "Cornell aKDPhi Boston girls plus respective boyfriends/husband", hahhaha. Below are just a few pictures from the millions that we took due to the millions of dinners/get togethers that we had. Majority of pics are all on facebook.    
Also spent a total of 6 non-consecutive weeks at home in NYC. Attended my Biggie's Bridal Shower/Bachelorette Party. Will be back in NYC Columbus Day weekend for the wedding. Congrats Helen and Jason!    
Attended 2 weddings this summer - Jennifer & Johnnie's (Hong's real brother) and Pei & Dave's (Hong's fraternity pledge brother). Unfortunately, I only have scant pics from Johnnie's Rehearsal Dinner.  
Pei and Dave's Bristol, Rhode Island Wedding. The scenary was beautiful - grass, ocean, flower gardens, and huge mansion. However, the wild outdoors led to paranoias of blood sucking mosquitoes, high heels sinking into the grassy dirt or tripping along cobblestones, and the annoying wind in your face and hair. Nevertheless, it was very nice.    
Now it's time to buckle down and starting studying hardcore for the national board examination in November. My next rotation will definitely be crazier since it's a core rotation in internal medicine at a California hospital. Oh yeah... and I have to apply through the match program for internships post graduation..... So many things to do!!!! Since I never really considered Jan. 1 to signify anything new, here's to the start of a new school year! | | |
| The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber SpyglassHaving read Philip Pullman's trilogy almost 10 years ago, I am anxiously awaiting the first book's adaption into a movie this coming December 2007 - His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass. Thinking back, I would have to say that this trilogy was one of many books that I would consider my favorites. I actually don't have a favorite book or series; I've read far too many and consider many of them excellent (for example, The Dark is Rising series, Where the Red Fern Grows, etc etc).
I can only pray that the movie reaches my expectations. But I think I'm going to be disappointed. The books have far too much rich detail and creativity to be properly mastered on screen (much like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings). The other problem that I learned recently, is that the director was going to cut out the themes of religion and the bible, fearing that the movie will not make money in the US because it is anti-Church. (I guess they fear protesters similar to when the Da Vinci Code came out.) That's bullshit! The core of his trilogy is about original sin, human consciousness, the difference between adults and children (innocence, maturity, puberty), and how the church is bent on labeling everything good/pleasurable as sinful. In the last book, The Amber Spyglass, there is a full out war against the Authority (or God). Furthermore, the Authority was NOT the creator of all worlds, he was merely the first angel to be created out of Dust (embodiment of knowledge and consciousness), and then told the later angels that appeared that he was the all power creator. But wiser angels figured it out, and thus the first rebellion. Interesting twist/interpretation on God and religion, huh? I don't know how they plan on continuing with the movie if they're not going to address these issues. I would comment more, but I don't want to spoil the story any more. Then again, if they're not going to even have these themes, I may as well let everyone know, haha.
In preparation, I am currently re-reading all three books, so that my memory is perfect with all the details. Hmmm, that sounds really dorky.......
And on a totally unrelated note - I have a cavity and my eye is dry from overuse of contact lenses. I guess wearing them for 12+ hours every single day has taken a toll on my cornea - the doctor said the surface looked very "rough". She therefore recommended glasses for the next three days, with frequent eye drops; and when I do wear contact lenses again, to frequently lubricate my eyes with drops. Blah. Funny how I've gotten used to the dryness that I had no clue my eyes were in bad shape.
I'm back in NYC for June; let's play!!!!!!!!!!
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| aKDPhi 10 Year AnniversaryaKDF 10 Year :: 100 Sisters!!!! Thanks to EVERYONE for a spectacular weekend. Words can't describe how proud I am of Cornell akdphi! 
Charters Representing! Lucie, Hellin, Patti, Kelly, Natalie and Michelle. 
Okay, since there are a GAZILLION pics on facebook and what not, I decided to just post family lineages and a few other random pics since that would incorporate almost everyone (although......my memory is starting to get fuzzy with all these new additions!!!) Below is PML! Look Jinnie, your name stuck and the family has grown! 
Light Lineage!  ADD Lineage - fastest growing and craziest line. 
And below is the Wood and Paper Products Lineage (I guess this name will be sticking, huh?). The line is smaller because it's one of the THREE remaining lineages that are straight with no adoptions or twins. (That means these three remaining lineages are PURE. Lol.) 
And of course we have the best lineage EVER, the Champagne Lineage. (Hint, it's one of the pure lines!) Don't worry grandlil and lil lil lil.....we'll get a FULL lineage pic one of these days. 
Okie, below is (clockwise) Cindy (middle), Kim, Selina (green), and Kelly. Cindy and Selina are representing Crazy Sexy Cool. 
Clockwise here is Jess Hsu, Cindy, Jen Jout, and Annie. And in the adjacent pic is Diane and Linda (Head of the 10 Year Committeeeee!) Now it gets kinda confusing since the remaining lineages don't have a name and they're in scattered pics. (Or do they??) Representing from Helen Jen's Lineage, are Jen Jout and Diane (the last of the three straight lines).  
I'm missing one more family!!! Kelly's line with Annie, Nancy, Sammi, and Cindy present.... sorry guys, couldn't find a comprehensive enough pic. =( Random pic of me and lil lil lil....maybe I should call you lil3 or L3. Ooooooh, L3 like the larval stage of parasites!!! Nevermind, that's disgusting. Hahahhahahhahah, I'm such a dork. 
Jenn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good seeing you, you covert operator, heh heh heh. 
And here's the best banner EVER, the Zeta Banner! 
And that's all! Sick of me talking about akdphi yet?  "From the outside looking in, you can't understand it; from the inside looking out, you can't explain it...." | | |
| Role of the Laboratory Animal VeterinarianThese past 2 weeks at the S_ Research Institute have been extremely laid back. For this particular rotation, I'm learning about the animals used in research, and what a lab animal veterinarian's job entails. (So many options to choose from as a vet - food animal vet, small animal, large animal, mixed, equine vet, exotics, public health vet, zoo vet, shelter vet, clinical/anatomical pathologist, etc etc. Whatever your heart desires.) Of course, one cannot learn about research animals and NOT hear about animal rights, welfare, grants, politics, and its own rules and regulations. A lab animal vet does not DO the research, but rather, is responsible for the care and well-being of the mice, rats, rabbits, birds, moles, nonhuman primates, and whatever species the research is being performed on. The vet checks up on the animals, performs daily rounds, prescribes treatment, and sadly, recommends/orders euthanasia. Which is usually the end verdict of the mouse. Mice must be bred by 3 months of age, and "retired" by 6-8 months of age. If the mouse has a severe case of dermatitis and has been scratching itself for 2 weeks, and treatment hasn't helped, euthanasia is usually the only option (because no one is going to spend the $$$$ for crazy extensive procedures). Yesterday was very cool. We suited up (changed into scrubs, put on sleeves, DOUBLE gloved, wore 2 forms of eye protection - goggles + face shield) and proceeded into............................................................the rhesus monkey room and the baboon room. I don't think I've ever been this close to these animals - they were just on the other side of the cage! And in both rooms, these nonhuman primates had their own tv so they could pass the time watching nature shows and videos. They watch TV! The whole experience was very disconcerting. It's one thing if you're looking at a mouse, cat, dog; quite another to be looking at a monkey/baboon. I mean, they have fingers like us, and can grab you!! Not to mention, this facility was level 2-3 biosecurity, AND we had just learned about the DEADLY diseases that nonhuman primates can pass on to humans. (herpes B! - don't let them scratch you! fling poop at you....) I can understand why people have issues taking such intelligent (and closely related) species, putting them in cages, doing tests, etc. But rest assured, in research, only 1% of the animals are nonhuman primates. The 90% are mice. I have to admit though, I had scenes from the movie OUTBREAK playing in my head when looking at those monkeys, heh. What are your views on using animals in research? Where are you on the spectrum of animal use, animal rights, animal welfare? My opinion - it's beneficial to both us and them; it must be done (What, you rather the experimentation be done on human primates? Haha.) But it should be done correctly, minimizing pain and suffering whenever possible. For those who don't know: Animal rights = extreme, think PETA, animals shouldn't even be pets (dogs, cats) because they have the exact same rights as us. Other extreme = animals are there for our use, we can do whatever we want with them. And animal welfare = somewhere in the middle, use as needed, minimize use, look out for their well-being. | | |
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