disOriented

Moving to Iowa with little more than a bunch of clothes, my cat, my girlfriend, and my school books meant buying pretty much everything I needed when I got there. We went to Wal-Mart and Target probably ten times in the day and half before orientation started. My only regret would be not making it to the mattress store before closing the first day in Ames; one night sleeping on the floor is one too many.

Orientation was an...interesting blend of activities spread out over three days, a mix of talks and team-building games. There were a ton of lectures on school procedure and getting acclimated to vet school, with a huge emphasis on professionalism and building our confidence that we can make it through the program (which was very encouraging).

The rest of the time, we were broken into groups of 10-12 students to complete generic ice-breaker games: tossing a tennis ball to remember names, linking arms to create and then escape from a human knot, getting every group member to fit on a small wooden platform and so on. It was a pretty silly, but it did break down the awkwardness of getting thrown into this alien situation without knowing anyone. A necessary evil I guess.

One thing I could really have done without? The two hour+ presentation on emotional personalities which can be summed up in one sentence: Some of us are introverts and some are extroverts, we are all different.

That's deep.

I Would Drive 1100 Miles...

I just got back from studying all night with my anatomy lab group, and decided I had to play catch-up on the blog. I only got an internet connection a few days ago, but I arrived in Ames on the 17th after an enjoyable but L-O-N-G ride.

The drive from New York was mostly uneventful until reaching Chicago, the high point being a couple stops at WaWa. Around eight hours into the drive we crossed in Cuyahoga National Park in Ohio, but decided against stopping as it seemed rather small and uninteresting.

After a mind-numbing 12-13 hours of driving, we started calling pet-friendly hotels in Chicago. Surprisingly the Hard Rock Hotel was very reasonable and accepted pets. We couldn't have picked a better location that allowed for a whirlwind tour of the city. The hotel was on Michigan Ave, equivalent to Park Avenue in New York. We did a quick run through Millennium Park, and ate some deep dish pizza (of course).

For the whole ride, Fritz did a pretty amazing job of staying quiet and relaxing. I bought him an oversized kennel carrier fit for a springer spaniel, and put a small litter box and a towel inside. Unlike some carriers, this one had a gated window on the sides as well as the front so he could see us and I think calmed him down.

After Chicago there was still a 5 hour drive to Ames. When one thinks of Iowa, they may imagine endlessly flat farmland. The second half of the drive actually proved that Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio are more vertically challenged. Iowa instead consists of rolling hills that are covered in crops and dotted by farms, silos, assorted livestock, and the occasional small town. It's not extraordinary eye candy, but the scenery was serene and more enjoyable than I had imagined.

We arrived in Ames just in time to get my apartment keys. Pictures will be up eventually, but the pad is awesome. The front door opens to the kitchen which leads into the living room, giving a great wide-open feel. My bed room and bathroom are off in an alcove next to the living room, with the bedroom fitting a desk and a full-size bed very comfortably with lots of extra room. An added bonus is being on the first floor, which made moving in a million-times easier than the 4th story walk-up I was used to in undergrad. Also, the complex has a fitness center, covered parking, tennis courts, and a pool!

Time to pass out, next post will detail getting settled and orientation.

T-Minus 10

With only a week and a half before I start my drive to Iowa I, not uncharacteristically, feel nowhere near ready. On the plus side I've purchased all my books. I decided to go the half.com/amazon/Barnes & Noble route and saved ~$150 rather than order from the school bookstore. I also ended up with a stethoscope, and a rather nice one to boot. The animal hospital was given one for free, but none of the vets needed it. Never underestimate the perks of working at a veterinary hospital!

Although I waited a while, I also signed a lease for an apartment last month. The difference in cost of living between New York is ridiculous. ~$640/month in Ames gets you a 1 bedroom apartment including utilities, Internet, and cable with many amenities and covered parking. On Long Island, you'd be paying that much to live in someones bathroom.

On the downside, I haven't packed anything. I still have to buy new clothes so I can appear somewhat decent, I can't even remember the last time I when shopping. I know my classmates aren't the fashion police, but I can't show up to class in ratty t-shirts. My car still needs to be inspected before I drive 1100 miles with an expired sticker. I have to finish getting my Grad Plus loan. I'm probably forgetting ten other things I need to do.

And how many days off to I have to finish up before I leave? 2!

Applying, Interviewing, Preparing. The stress beings long before classes do; The Joy Of Vet School knows no bounds!