Sunday February 17/08

I'm always amazed at sundays on the island. A lot of people are quite religious here and so pretty much everything is closed today. It's a pretty big change going from home where you have things like walmart open 24 hrs a day. Not that I am complaining... pretty much there is nothing to do except study or hit the beach and when everyone else is studying you do too. As a result today was not that exciting... it was actually kind of a long day. Spent the majority of it studying for my first exam in genetics and tried to get a head start on my english paper -argumentative essay on whether animal testing is relevant today ethically. It's been a surprisingly difficult paper to write. I got the topic on thursday and thought for sure I could just write that of course we need it, but it's ripping at my soul to see some of these pictures... and that's without looking at the PETA website. Tomorrow is a really light day class wise so I should have lots of time to get more studying done but definitely I will need to get out of this room because spending a weekend holed up in one room is not healthy:) I did take a couple of good study breaks today... the mph kids (or masters of public health program) started to move in today which has caused a bit of drama because some kids who thought they were getting a single room now have room mates. Anthony and Cory are the first two that I've met. I'm excited because it means there is an influx of new people to get to know and assimilate into the Grand Anse family. The whole campus has been eerily quiet today.. I think every single program has exams early this week so everyone is keeping to themselves... I can only imagine what this Friday night is going to be like with everyone trying to unwind. In other news, Figaro has acquired a girlfriend. She appeared last week and woke me up in the middle of the night with her calling. So the routine now is that she'll show up several times in the evening, gives a couple quick chirps, Fig runs out the door to meet her and they sit and stare at one another for five or more minutes. Then she leaves and the whole thing is repeated later -it's pretty funny and kind of cute. I've made a really good friend today too -Melanie is a first term vet student who believe it or not is from Edmonton! It is so exciting to meet a girl from home that shares so much in common. Also exciting is the fact that she just got a puppy on valentines (the local dogs are called pothounds and there were four or so puppies needing immediate placement in homes). I'll have to try and get a picture to post but Tobra is the cutest puppy I've seen a long time at five weeks:) Definitely the best study break ever to run over there and get my puppy fix. I really miss Gromit so this helps a bit.