So what happened since my last update? A lot I think...
We finished the Body Systems module almost and I'll be writing an exam for that in about a week and a half!! I'm only on the third body system right now (neuroanatomy) and I still have 4 left to do!! AHhh!!!!!!!
I haven't gone on any trips since my last post, been waaay too busy with school but I did have some interesting practicals.
We are actually taking lectures for our last body system (reproductive system) with the 2nd year class which is cool but the only lecture theatres that fits all of us are about a 10 minute walk away...which is a lot, especially compared to summerhall which is right across the street from where I'm living at the moment. We are taking so many more lectures as well compared to our other body systems...which I think is because we're taking it with the 2nd years. Some of the classes are little over kill though, they don't need 25 lectures to learn about the reproductive system. If it was just the GEP class, they probably would have cut it down to 10. The good thing though is that we're doing a lot more practicals which would have been squished into one big practical for us.
Just yesterday we got to dissect a sheep uterus to understand the foetal structures and to try to age the foetus inside:
It was pretty interesting to say the least. From the pic above, you have to imagine that the two lumpy things on the top are the uterine horns and the giant blob in the middle is the uterus. Everything else basically has been excised.
From there, we got to dissect into the uterine tissue:
And that's a lamb foetus. We believe that most of these ewes did not survive through pregnancy so the ewes were not killed just for the sake of this practical.
This one lamb shown above was a male...with some pretty huge testicles. We aged him to be about the fifth stage of pregnancy.
I'm not going to show any more pics because we got a little scalpel happy and were super curious about everything in the body. If you want to check out more pics, I will most likely post them on my facebook.
More about lambs though...we have a practical today for lambing and got to go to Easter Bush where the flock of sheep are kept. Most of the ewes had already lambed and they were SO ADORABLE. Here are just some of the examples:
When the lambs are first born, they are very wary about going to far away from their mother. After some time adjusting to their new environment, they start leaping around everywhere.
These lambs were kept in a pen by themselves because unfortunately they are orphans! The ewe may have died or their mother were ignoring them. Either way, they were extremely friendly and alert and also had a good suckling reflex. This reflex is important because if they don't develop it within the first hours of life, it is likely that they won't be able to suckle milk...and would therefore die. However, if the farmer is alert enough and notices this, he can stomach tube the lamb and feed it that way. A bottle wouldn't even work since the lamb doesn't know how to suckle.
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In other news, Kyle and I have found a new place to move into in May! Although my contract doesn't end till June 4th, I wanted a buffer period where I could move my stuff over and get comfortable. Also because I have an exam on the 4th of June and didn't want the stress of moving as well. We found this amazing place that is just the right size for us and is fully carpeted...except for the washroom and kitchen of course. It is up 3 flights of stairs and is right above a Starbucks! It's also on a very common street where there is a 24 hour convenience store (ScotMid...very rare in Edinburgh from my observation) and right down the street from stores like this Chinese store (I can buy my instant noodles!) and a grocery store. Will post some pics when we start moving in!
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Heidi mentioned my crochet hats and I have to say...people are starting to ask me to make things for them! I made my flatmate a pair of handwarmers and I also bought myself some red and white yarn to make a touque before the Mens Hockey Gold medal match (go Canada!!). We won so now I have to wear them to all of my exams!
I also made a blackberry sock...which was eezy peezy after making hats and handwarmers. I have to say though..gloves are more of a challenge...I didn't buy a tapestry needle (basically a giant sewing needle) so I can't do anything with fingers yet.
Here are my best creations so far:
My Waldo/Canada hat with giant pom pom. It makes my head less round. I had just recently finished another toque and decided it was time to make one with a GIANT pom pom!
And these are my "canada" handwarmers. I don't know how to make a Maple Leaf yet so I made a little bow instead. I attempted one and it looked like a leaf that was trampled on several times and didn't really look like a leaf at all anymore.
After doing all this crocheting, I feel like it really helped me with my dexterity and also with my concentration. I need steady hands to make these and I think that it will help me in the future with my suturing. I think a couple of my friends want to learn as well which is great! Also, it makes you feel good that you accomplished something, no matter how minute it is, but it is enough to get you through the day. It also is a new way to make gifts for friends!
And finally, now I feel like I'm not going to be one of those moms in the future that can't be a homebody and make things for their kids and can't cook etc. Speaking of cooking, that's going to be my next big thing...to learn to cook awesome things!
Anyways, I should get back to learning about the prosencephalon, mesencephalon and rhombencephalon.
Cheers and have a good night.
Barb out.
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