No. 4 really likes her grass.

So we ventured over to the cow pasture today for a look-see on our way back to the dorms. Almost immediately the curious babies ran up to the gate for their own version of a look-see. Momma was close behind, and had a much more menacing look to her than the li’l peeps.

Cristin says this one's her favorite. I think it looks like the bovine version of a shar-pei dog.

Please may I play?

No you may not. Stay on 'our' side of the fence dear.

But I really really want to momma!

You get back here right now!

As we stood there admiring our fine bovines, more and more of the pack (gaggle, litter, group?) wandered over until it was a veritable ruminant fiesta. These guys have pretty distinct personalities: the overbearing mom, the inquisitive but mistrusting child, the adolescent boy who is into trying new things (and by new things I mean licking one cow’s butt and drinking another’s urine while it was peeing), and the laid back Holstein who enjoys some good grass.

Grass. It's the gateway drug. All it takes is a little taste.

She looks stoned even after just one bite.

She won't be smiling like that when we play with the other end. Neither of them, actually.

Next thing you know, No. 4's addicted. And so are we!

Of course, then I begin to philosophize about what constitutes a soul, if a cow can have a personality does that mean that they can formulate thoughts like we can, etc. Then my head starts to hurt.

Do they have a sense of humor?

Or a some sort of vanity? "Take one of my good side, please."

We couldn’t rip grass out of the ground fast enough for No. 4. She’s quite the photo ham, as well. And their tongues are interesting, very muscular and used almost like a tool to wrap around the food and take it from you (which makes sense for the ripping of grass to eat). It’s almost creepy.
Off to study more of what happens when No. 4 ingests her grass. I think you all know the end result. But it’s the journey that counts, and not the destination, right?

How can someone ever be afraid of an animal that looks at you with those eyes?

It's hard to imagine ever being unhappy working with cows. Despite the mess.

Lesson of the Week #1.

Since starting here, I have learned some very quirky things about the world of animals. Thus, I've decided to begin a Lesson of the Week to pass along the interesting information learned in the annals of vet school. These lessons will come in varying forms; some in the form of a story, some as a recounting of events.

Lesson of the Week #1.

Prologue: We are sitting in histology this morning enjoying a lovely discussion about the tissues of the male and female reproductive organs. Dr. Stimmelmayr (yes, that is spelled correctly) begins to talk about the hormones produced during ovulation, and the process in which the follicles on the ovaries develop. She then abruptly interrupts herself by calling out to Dr. Kainer in the back of the room (filled with approximately 100 students): "tell them about testing for pregnancy using rabbits". Or some such nonsense.


Aside: Dr. Kainer is a very 'mature' gentleman, one who has seen many years in the scientific field and who is always willing to (very slowly) share his wisdom with his students.


Background: Prior to the advent of "the most advanced technology you’ll ever pee on", when his wife thought she was pregnant with their first child he had his wife submit a urine sample to him, which he then injected into a rabbit. A hormone called Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) is released shortly after the egg implants itself on the uterine wall. This hormone causes the placenta to release progesterone that aids in preventing the rejection of the developing embryo. The hCG hormone is detectable in a pregnant woman's urine. Injecting the urine containing the hormone hCG induces detectable ovarian changes in the rabbit. Specifically, the ovaries develop many follicles, which can be seen upon dissection.

Lesson: [Story by Dr. Kainer] Thus, Dr. Kainer explained to the class that in order to determine if his wife is pregnant, he injected urine into a rabbit, gave it a few days to take effect, and then dissected the rabbit to examine the ovaries. In his case, the ovaries were covered with follicles and so they celebrated that evening with a supper of rabbit stew.

Yes, if you didn't catch that, they ate the freaking rabbit. After injecting it with urine. Ah, what a child they must have created.

May I say, it is very nice to live in the advent of technology.

It's the RADIUS and the ULNUS!

You know that you've been studying the same 4 bones for too many hours when you very loudly insist that the bones are the radius and the ulnus. And there wasn't even any beer/wine present.

On the bright side, I think I now have the bones and muscles of the thoracic limb pretty well under control.

Saskia 1, Anatomy 0.

FYI - There are WAY more details to learn than this picture details. I swear.

I'm drowning in powerpoints.

Quick update: I'm getting a better handle on physio, feeling a tiny bit better about histo, nutrition is scaring me to death, and anatomy is just plain unorganized and not fun. But we haven't cut into anything yet, so that may change. Joined the scuba club, plan to get open water certified in my 'personal' time (i.e. between midnight and 8am). Haven't left campus in two weeks, except for a trip to the grocery store and bank. Dying for an extra large plate of nachos with sour cream and lots of cheese.

Back to the tour of campus...

Got a little distracted by the sea side voyage, forgot to share my pics of the campus. Not too many of them, it's hard to get clean shots of anything interesting, and we aren't allowed to take shots inside any of the buildings. But this will give you some ideas.

This is the patio off of the student union that overlooks some of the campus and the ocean.

Our trusty mailroom. Seriously. It's like a little shed with lattice doors.

View of the dorms from from the student union patio.

One of the student lunch areas outside of the anatomy lab. Yum.

This is the area where they sell produce and meat. :)

Sunset over the anatomy lab.

One of many stairways throughout campus. I'm serious. My legs are gonna be solid tree trunks soon.

Large Animal pavilion, where surgery happens!

Close up of the surgery areas for large animal.

View up the mountains past the small animal clinic.

Bookstore and Student Union.

Pastures for the horses and donkeys.

Sunset again. Just too pretty to only take one.

The walk back home...down one large hill and up another.

I know these hills don't look like much, but seriously dude. Try carrying 20# of books & climb them at noon.

On our way back to the dorm, we saw a really cute car for sale. Since we're getting a little antsy living on campus and not having any way to get into town or to the beach, we thought we would check it out. I think it's a real sweet deal. Just can't understand why it hasn't sold yet...

Um, yeah. We'd be better off having our family and friends just ship us a car piece by piece to be reassembled on the island.

What amenities! A solid plywood backseat! It can double as your hurricane window protection!

Another shot of that fabulous backseat.

Bonus! The door is still on the hinges.