Foundation: That’s a Wrap!

/ Raquel Dubuc

The past two weeks have flown by faster than I expected and the Foundation block is now officially done with Cardiorespiratory around the corner, starting tomorrow. From practicals that ranged from a hematology lab to our first dissection and many, many lectures and two group cases in between, it’s been a busy couple of weeks! Our first dissection (rabbit) was incredibly interesting — getting to watch and assist the experts (looking at you, Brianne!) do post-mortems at my previous workplace, Mildmay Veterinary Clinic, really gave me a solid foundation of basic anatomy, body cavities, and normal/abnormal organ presentation.

The hematology lab in the Pearson building and a portrait of a cow that lives in the campus bar, Centaur Arms

Much of the lectures revolved around general content and review from our undergrads, but there was some notable exception for me: ecto- and endo-parasites and case-specific details within our group work.

Thanksgiving isn’t celebrated in the UK, but a roast chicken dinner followed by making a delicious soup stock helped make the transition easier — as did viewing Bristol’s harbourside and the Clifton suspension bridge at night!

Between studying all the ILOs of our case-based learning scenarios (Itchy Dog and Smelly Rabbit) I’ve spent time decompressing with Miss Cleo either on walks or studying in the living room while she insists on her polar bear being thrown. On Sunday nights, I have also been joining my lovely landlady and her son to watch a weekly episode of “Traitors,” a tv show that has been very entertaining (and also the talk of all the my classmates!).

I found a field with beautiful views that reminded me of back home. Cleo bringing me Poley, and some fun white board revision of ectoparasites with friends

This past week I spent watching my landlady’s son while she was away in France for work — we had a great time with board games, watching Miranda, and eating French toast for pudding (a.k.a. dessert!). Walks with the dogs between school being done and dinner being ready made the days so much better — spending time in nature really does help decrease stress!

Exit from Dolberry Warren with Miss Cleo

This past week was the end of our Foundations block. Thursday/Friday were the first days where it really sank in that I am in vet school! Between new content and learning material and completing the formative MCQ and short answer quizzes for the end of foundation block, the reality really sunk in — and honestly, it’s so incredibly exciting to learn new things, build on content and make connections between concepts I hadn’t fully understood before!

Slide from an interesting talk held by the BV Clinical Club

To celebrate and decompress after finishing our first systems block, a couple friends and I travelled to Bath, the home of all things Austen, the Roman baths, and much tourism. The weather was sunny and perfect as we trekked around the city enjoying all the sights, taking fun pictures, eating tasty Indian wraps followed by a sweet ice cream treat all while soaking in the sun while sitting on the grass in a lush green park. It was a truly perfect day!

The Jane Austen centre with costumed staff. Shadi, Lilly and I enjoying our wraps in the sun. A fun, spontaneous photo shoot with some pretty autumn colours

Next week we start a new case: “The Coughing Calves” and we’ll also be delving into One Health concepts, NAVLE, and upper respiratory structure and function. It will be an exciting week! The week after that will be going over paperwork for our animal husbandry placements (and did I mention that three of my friends and I will be heading to Ireland in the spring for a three week lambing placement?!?), two dissections, and two farm/equine housing practicals — again, another great week ahead of me there too! For now, I’m relaxing with a cup of tea after a busy week, while I write this blog post and look forward to the next installment of Traitors tonight : )

RD

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