Term 2 Recap
Hello from New York!
I’m currently on break in the city to see some friends and escape the UK for a bit and figured it was finally time to get some updates out! It has been, as you can imagine, busy! I hit about halfway through the term and then it took off at light speed! Term 2 did go pretty well, though. I feel like I am starting to gain some footing on how to balance studying and having a real life. It’s not perfect but it’s getting there! The weather is finally getting brighter and less dreary which I think also has been a huge help.
I had actually written a good update in late February and then never got a chance to edit and send it out. Oops! So, I’ve just added the rest of Term 2 and this will be an overview by week of all the activities of the term! It’s a long update so thanks for listening!
After this, I plan to also share some details about my trip to Portugal and my experience on my school placements at the rescues this break. Then, maybe some photo albums to share too but it’s a matter of how much time I have before I get back to class! I have one more placement to go to next week and then classes kick off with a dissection of heart and lungs. So, we will see! At the very least, here is this update on Term 2.
Jan. 26- Feb. 1: Concert on the Canal
This week, I pulled the trigger and bought Conan Gray tickets with a friend of mine for his show here in London in May. I had been debating these tickets for months and finally decided that I wanted to go and the cost would be worth it. There weren’t many tickets left and the options were either VIP tickets in the pit or nosebleeds at the very top of the arena….we got the VIP tickets! All things considered, they were not as expensive as they could have been. I think it was about $250 USD which is a pretty good deal. My friend and I are both pretty big Conan Gray fans and the album he is currently touring, Wishbone, is truly one of my favorites. Definitely go check it out if you haven’t heard of him! He’s a very lyrical, alt-pop vibe. I’d argue his music is in the same genre as the likes of Chappell Roan, Gracie Abrams, Olivia Rodrigo, and Renee Rapp but sad. So, I’m definitely looking forward to the show!
I also got my film back from development and the roll had my trip to Edinburgh on it. I shot it on Portra film on my little point-and-shoot camera and I think it turned out pretty good. If you want to check it out, the album is here.
I have yet to find a film lab here in London that I like. I had to get this roll developed in the states over break. I did find a lab in Camden, not far from where I live, that I’ve been meaning to investigate. They actually host film developing classes there and have a membership program where you pay a certain fee and then have access to their lab to develop your photos yourself! They also allegedly will develop photos for you but it’s unclear if they scan them for you or not. I have some more research to do there but I’m definitely interested in, at least, taking the class. I haven’t been shooting as much film this year but I still do enough film photography and I’ve always wanted to learn the process. Plus, this means I don’t have to buy all the chemicals and store there somewhere in my shoebox of a room. So, I’ll keep you updated!
Lastly, almost every Wednesday, my friends and I take advantage of our half day and go get lunch out instead of from the cafeteria. We opted for this Mexican restaurant in Coal Drop Yards that, all things considered about British cuisine, hit the spot. They have pretty solid quesadillas and salsa that scratches the itch. It will never fully come close to the Tex-Mex I crave but it works! Can’t be that mad about an al pastor quesadilla and a Mexican coke.
The day before, an artist I really love, Maisie Peters, announced a pop-up show in London to celebrate the announcement of her newest album. The show was scheduled to be on a boat in the canal behind Coal Drop Yard for Wednesday. So, I decided to just hang out in the area after lunch until the show started that night. I found this really cool listening lounge called Spiritland. The vibes at this place are absolutely immaculate. Everything is like wood and velvet and just has this perfectly curated and warm energy. There’s a big DJ table toward the front that’s got record players. The shelves are full of vinyls and CDs. There’s even a recording studio in the back with big windows so you can see people recording from your table. They are open late and do signature cocktails in the evening and have a bunch of interesting food options (focaccia hotdog, to name one) and house-made sodas (including a cilantro-pineapple flavor that I had!) during the day.
The show was so fun. Also, one of my friends who I had gone to lunch with decided to stay and check it out since the show was free. I think I made a new Maisie Peters fan by the end of the night! She was performing on a houseboat that is actually a little library called Word on the Water. There’s a little path along the canal and an overlooking patch of grass where everyone packed in to listen and watch. Maisie has already released a few singles off the new album, Florescence (set to release in May!) so we got to be the first show for her to perform the new songs at! Then, she played a bunch of other songs from her previous album, The Good Witch. It was such an intimate show so it was really special and very chill and acoustic. I really enjoyed it. I do want to see her on tour eventually because every time I’ve seen Maisie Peters perform, it’s been in a more acoustic setting. When I saw her at All Things Go in D.C. a few years ago, the venue was having sound issues and she had to do her show fully acoustic. She always is a blast to see but I’d really love to see some of the songs in their stage variations with the full band. One day!
And after the show, my friend and I grabbed chips (fries) at this restaurant overlooking the canal before heading back for the night. Really fun!!
Feb. 2- Feb. 8: Humbling Histopathology
This week was a lecture-heavy week. We had started our unit on neoplasia which is about abnormal growths, ie. tumors and cancer. Part of the week had just been on skin which seemed pretty straight forward but then neoplasia and pathology started and my confidence in the topic was quickly humbled. To be clear, it’s definitely very interesting! Cancer is fascinating mechanically but also incredibly complex. The biggest challenge of the week was our lectures on neoplasia histopathology. This is where we learn to identify cancer and the type of cancer by looking at histology slides under the microscope. Theoretically (according to my very smart pathology professor), you can identify what type of cell the cancer started as by just observing it under the microscope. It sounds much simpler that it actually is in practice.
For example, if the original cell type that was mutated was epithelial (such as squamous skin cells), they will retain some of their original function. In the case of epithelia, which would be classified as a carcinoma, they should generally keep producing keratin and it will be visible on the slide. This would be relatively true for every cell type but it’s not perfect and it can vary a lot. For example, in a benign tumor of vascular endothelial cells ( the cells that line and form blood vessels), also called a hemangioma, the endothelial cells would still form vessels that work but there would be an excess development of vessels, making it a growth of tissue or a tumor. This is because benign tumors are generally well differentiated meaning they mostly mature into specialized cells and retain significant function and general morphological appearance to the original cells. Malignant tumors, in contrast, are poorly differentiated meaning they do not resemble the original well and have often lost their specialized functions. Poor differentiation is usually related to a poor prognosis as the cells have more inappropriate behavior and growth patterns. So, returning to the vascular endothelial example, if we had malignant tumor development borne from vascular endothelial tissue, we would see blood vessels that neither appear normal or function well. This malignant tumor is called a hemangiosarcoma instead of hemangioma. It gains the suffix of sarcoma given its malignancy and type of cell. Sarcomas are from mesenchymal origins, so connective tissues and the like, while carcinomas are malignancies from epithelial origins.
I know that may not sound simple if you haven’t been exposed to this before, but this theory part is actually the simple part of the lecture. The identification process of the slides is so hard. I’m working on it though! I have historically really enjoyed histology and learning to identify the structures of cells and tissues under the microscope and its pathology implications are really interesting. However, this humbled me and has definitely made me reconsider a bit.
After all these lectures, my friends and I decided we needed an outing on Friday. One of my friends found this jazz club and convince us to go. It was in Camden so not too far away and the venue was really cool. I truthfully don’t know the name of the woman that performed but she was a really great performer. She apparently had started her career at the venue and hadn’t played in London in years. However, my friend had convinced us to go on the pitch that it was going to be jazz-style covers of popular songs…that was not the case when we got there. The woman played her whole album and while it was very good, it was not covers of songs. But we stayed, vibed to the music and had a drink.
After the show, my friends decided to keep on going and head to the clubs to dance and I decided to head home. Still, a very fun night!
Feb.9-Feb. 15 : Vietnamese, Penguins, Galentines
This week, my friends and I tried a Vietnamese restaurant for lunch on the Wednesday half-day. It was actually like a fast food style place but it did hit the spot. I got their mushroom bowl and I’ve never had mushrooms that taste so much like meat. It was delicious.
I was also randomly inspired to make a Club Penguin account this week just to play some of the games again. It has honestly been really fun and I can play on my computer between lectures. I would also definitely not play it during lectures…that would be irresponsible….But to be fair, I’m a good multi-tasker. Anyway!
This week’s lectures have moved on from neoplasia to reproduction. We’ve covered reproductive anatomy and we’re moving on to study hormone cycles and embryo development. There is something objectively funny about being in the anatomy lab for class studying reproductive organs leading up to Valentine’s Day.
My friends and I had a ‘Galentine’s’ Day party on Friday night. Most of my friends all live in one apartment together and they decorated their kitchen with strings of little hearts. I brought flowers and chocolate covered pretzels. Some of the others brought wine and candy. We ordered pizzas and spent the evening just drinking and hanging out in their kitchen for the holiday. Very fun!
I also have become fully obsessed with the focaccia place I went to a few weeks ago, Focaccia Mia. I discovered over this weekend that they deliver. Though, because it’s so far, they up-charge a ton. I ended up paying over $30 for my meal but it was worth it because I had leftovers for dinner. I won’t be doing it all the time but trust, I do think about doing it pretty often.
Feb. 16- Feb. 21: Listening Parakeets
This week, our lectures continued to build on reproduction. We mostly discussed pregnancy and birth in lectures. It’s interesting but it’s now about halfway through the term, and I am feeling the effects. My list of things to review continues to grow and now we’re entering the last few weeks where it’s time to really focus in. I’m trying to get out and do some fun things and take breaks and not totally stress out about the looming exams in a few weeks.
For example, I stayed in on Wednesday (my half day) to study after lectures but I ordered a little motivation from the same Vietnamese place, HOP, from last week. I got the mushroom bahn mi—so good. And, I have had my sights set on getting tickets to go see MUNA perform here in London in May. They had their presale on Wednesday where I failed to get tickets. The minute I got through the virtual queue on AXS and placed the tickets in my basket, the platform kicked me out because they thought I was a bot. Then, when I tried again to get in, they had already sold out. The whole thing happened in about 5 minutes. But, I tried again during the regular sale on Friday and managed to get tickets!!! I am SO excited. They’re performing at a really small venue here in London which I think will lend itself to a great show. In fact, most of their tour will be smaller venues which I think is really cool. VERY grateful I got tickets!
In addition to getting tickets to their show in May, I was also able to snag tickets to their listening party and Q&A session on Friday at Rough Trade. Rough Trade is a record store and record label based in London since the 1970s. I got to listen to 3 unreleased songs off the new album, Dancing on the Wall. Then, they talked through their inspiration and goals with the album which just really added to my eagerness to hear the full album come May. I wrote about the event HERE, if you want to hear more!
Also, after the show was over, I went to the bathroom at the venue. I waited in line and by the time I was in, the building was mostly cleared out. When I walked out, I walked RIGHT into their manager and all three members of MUNA waiting in line for the bathroom. I waved, said hi, but kept walking because I had no idea what to do and I was so caught of guard. Crazy! And then, I just had to go home like normal after that somehow?
But, the Q&A was not the end of my day. I had my friend’s birthday party after. We had a raging pre-game in their kitchen for a few hours and it was so so fun. But, after treking 40 minutes to Rough Trade, standing in line for an hour, standing for the 2 hour event, and then taking the train all the way back, I was so tired. They all went out to the club and I headed home to bed. So! A very fun and eventful day!!
The next day, I took a break from studying and went on a walk to Hampstead Heath. It was really nice. It also has been so rainy in London (shocking, I know) so a lot of the park is covered in mud and puddles. I saw so many muddy dogs who were in absolute heaven. They were frolicking around, positively gleeful to roll in the mud, much to their owner’s dismay.
I also saw a guy giving a free concert on the balcony of his apartment to passersby on the street. He was pretty good but I couldn’t see his name on the banner behind him!
During my walk, I also learned a very fun fact about London. Did you know that there are wild green parakeets that live in the city? I’m still researching the exact origins of these birds. There are a plethora of urban legends about them. But, it is true and I’ve seen them! They are beautiful, lime green parakeets with bright orange beaks. It was honestly so jarring to see them on my walk. There I was, strolling through Hampstead Heath’s muddy moors, dotted with leafless, dead trees. The giant crows hopping branch to branch fit right in with the gloomy, grey sky above. But, the bright green parakeets on the neighboring branch stood out like a neon, sore thumb. I didn’t get a picture this time but I’ll have to go back armed with my big camera and see if I can get one some day soon.
Feb. 22- Feb. 28: Painting & Pig Petting
I signed up for a painting class at a city college and spent all day Sunday oil painting! I never took painting in high school and I regret it. I just was stubborn and intimidated by color and the necessary patience of waiting for paint to dry. I have painted for fun in water color and gouache but never was committed enough to buying all the supplies for oil painting. So, I figured this was the perfect time and setting to get my feet wet. It was from 10-2 and we spent the morning portion do a value study in charcoal. I hadn’t gotten my hands on charcoal in years and it felt so good to work in the medium again. I had forgotten just how much time I had spent building all of my understanding of drawing in charcoal. It’s such a fun medium because it builds so nice and it’s so satisfying to get into it with the eraser and make the white pop against all that dark.
The reference image (left), charcoal study, and painting (right)!
After a lunch break, we came back and broke out the paint! I, still intimidated by color, opted to paint in black and white. I wanted to really get a feel for how paint builds and moves compared to all the dry mediums I’ve worked with. I loved it. It took me a second to find my footing with the viscosity but once I got going, it was a blast! I definitely want to paint again, either by going back to a class like this or committing and buying the supplies. I really want to play in color too. It was honestly such a lovely break from studying. I just got to turn my vet school brain off and focus on art for a whole day! With the exam getting ever closer, it was a very needed change of pace.
The rest of the week wasn’t too bad, though. It was technically R&R week and I used the time off to catch up on lectures and start studying for the exam. On Thursday, we had our animal handling day at the barn in Potter’s Bar. We practiced handling chickens, pigs, and horses. We will be tested on chickens and horses. The horses were super sweet! They definitely aren’t built like our Texas quarter horses. These look more like Draft or Cob crosses with big stocky builds and feathered hooves. I got to practice with a horse named Apollo who was actually a rescue! Now, he gets to live his life being fed lots of treats, groomed and loved on by RVC students on a semi-regular basis. Not too bad! We also got practice working around pigs. The day at the barn was honestly pretty chilly so when we showed up to the pig housing, they were all cuddled up with each other napping in the corner. They made a big nest of their hay. It honestly looked very cozy. We were the second group to work with them that day and they were worn out and uninterested in getting up from their nap time. We ended up just talking about pig handling and care while sitting around and petting them.
This is me and a few friends in a farrowing pen. Farrowing pens are for sows (female pigs) to give birth and feed her piglets and the cramped design prevents her from rolling over and crushing the piglets. This design does open up a little bit but its overall pretty cramped by nature. It’s a on-going debate about what’s the most ethical and cost-effective method for farrowing.
The only bummer with barn days is just that they are SO long. We have to be at the Camden campus by 7 to catch the bus which means leaving my building by 6:30. I usually don’t end up getting home until 7 or 8 pm.
Mar. 1- Mar. 7: DOPS & Naethan Apollo
This week we were tested on all of the handling we learned from last week! We had our horse and chicken DOPS and I had sheep resits. I did great on horse and chicken and passed without a problem! It was a nice win after how terribly DOPS went for me in December. However, I failed sheep again. Which sucks. We spent an hour practicing before hand with tipping sheep. I had no problems. I tipped 4 sheep and it was going smooth despite these ewes being significantly larger than the ones from the test in December. However, when I got to the actual testing, I had a very stubborn sheep. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t lift her head to walk her back off the fence and turn for the tip. I ran out of time and no tip means a fail. It’s incredibly frustrating, not going to lie. Especially since I had no problems in practice and even tipped the sheep successfully on my first round of testing. But, I get one more chance at the end of summer. Nothing else I can do about it now. At least I passed horse and chicken!
The rest of the week was just studying. We had one or two lectures Thursday and Friday but otherwise, lots of free time. I’ve been on a big flashcard kick and have just been making lots of cards for the upcoming test.
However, over the weekend, I took a break! I went to a Naethan Apollo concert at the O2 Academy in Islington. It’s a pretty small venue and it was sold out! What a GREAT show! Naethan Apollo’s last 2 albums are concept albums inspired by his DnD campaign. He also has a DnD podcast (I have not listened to it, in truth) that he DMs in. The albums are really fun and have a great mix of engaging storytelling and hip-pop. The energy at that show was genuinely unreal! In that MUNA interview from a few weeks ago, they had commented on how London crowds really engage so deeply with music. At the time, I thought, “Yeah, sure. Okay.” But this show really exemplified that the London music scene is a league of its own. Naethan Apollo certainly knows how to engage a crowd and perform live but the crowd was just as willing to match his energy and take the whole thing to a different level. He didn’t even have any special backdrops or set design, but he didn’t need it. Truly incredible. I took my little digital camera and took some great photos that you can check out HERE.
Mar 8 -Mar. 11: Preguntas & a Portuguese Vacation
Last week of Term 2: Exam Week! We had a practice version of the oral exam that we’ll have in the summer on Monday. It seemed like kind of an unideal time to have it, in my opinion. I was so focused on studying for my real test that the idea of studying for a practice version of a test I’ll have in several months seemed silly. This practice test was designed with several booths representing the major topics of study from the start of the year. You were randomly assigned a booth where 2 professors sat. Each one represented a different topic and you had a total of 10 minutes to answer questions with each of them. There’s 3 levels of questions.
Level 1: What is it? Level 2: How does it work? Level 3: What is the clinical relevance?
For example, one of my professors was the immunology professor. He showed me a plastinated specimen and asked me to identify where the popliteal lymph node was. He then asked what the role of the lymph node is. Then, we just got into more and more specific questions. What are the different types of immunoglobulins? I listed them; IgM, IgG, IgE, etc. What does IgE do? What causes hypersensitivity? How would we treat it? And so on.
It was daunting explaining verbally on the spot. Especially since I had not reviewed anything from Term 1 immunology. At the end, they told me my score and that I would have been just under a pass if this were the real deal. All things considered, that’s not terrible. I plan to actually study for the real one so should be okay!
Then, the real sit-down exam came! We took it at this fancy hotel by the Marble Arch and it went fine. Multiple choice was more or less a breeze, bar a few tricky questions. I found the short answer to be not terrible but other people were livid. It did have a stupid question of “What is the most common dairy cow in the UK? How much milk does it produce in kg/year?” Milk in kg/yr is a crazy request. I also had no clue. I had expected more questions on stuff we spent weeks talking about—estrus cycle, parturition, maybe even hormone regulation of lactation. But no! Instead, we were asked about mammogenesis (the development of mammary tissue) which is perhaps the most random of the reproduction systems to ask about. We talked about it for maybe 30 minutes one day? Anyway, outside of the milk question, it went fairly fine. I got my test scores back over break and I actually did even better than the last test! I passed! So, I’m pretty happy with that!
That’s about everything from Term 2. It’s been a really busy one so I apologize I’ve been updating less. I’d love to say I’ll be better about Term 3 but I fear its going to be also jam-packed. But, I’ll try! I still have some updating to do with the remainder of my current break which includes a trip to Portugal, my time at the wildlife rescue, a stopover in New York, and some time at an otter rescue! Eventually, I also should have some book reviews and essays but now that’s starting to sound a little overly ambitious!
Anyway, thanks for reading! I know it was a long one!
Love,
Sam
