A week of beees!

No not the insects, but the grade B!

Today I got my result for both the physiology and biochemistry credit tests, both of which I got B grades in. I also got a B in the weekly credit test in anatomy, which was on the topic of the urinary system, so the kidneys, ureter, bladder and urethra.

In the anatomy lesson this week, we studied the male reproductive system, which means looking at lots of testicles and penises! As well as all the related glands etc. So if anyone asks what I am studying this weekend...

Week 31

I'm 31 weeks into my course, and sometimes I still can't believe that I am actually here and I'm doing this. I'm going to be a vet!!!

The next few weeks are going to be manic, with a trip tomorrow, 3 credit tests next week and 2 the week after. We have 5 days off over Halloween, due to November 1st being a National holiday in Slovakia, for All Saints Day, which many people are using to go home. I have decided to stay here and plan to spent a day or two exploring the forest, as a friend and I found a footpath on Sunday, though a very pretty area. I love exploring, although my friend started to worry when it started to get dark and we had no idea where we were! We were doing a loop, so I knew at some point we had to come out somewhere we recognised! 

And of course there is plenty of studying to do, and notes to prepare ready for the final exams at Christmas, which I hope to do most of before I come home. 

I am watching skyscanner closely, waiting for a flight at a reasonable price (under £35 I hope, but that is probably wishful thinking!) to book to go home on the 20th or 21st of December. Ryanair seem to have stopped the flights from Bratislava to Bristol, which is annoying as that is the route I have taken most. Last year they stopped the Birmingham to Budapest route, meaning there are less and less ways to get home. I wish there was an airport in Mid Wales, with direct flights to Kosice! Its so easy now for people who live near Luton, as the direct flight from Kosice-London Luton begun operating last month.

When not studying, I have been doing some writing and surveys online, as well as entering some competitions. I have recently cashed out nearly £100 from a few sites, and won a £50 Amazon voucher, as well as a couple of books and some face paints. My twitter account it @elljem if anyone would like to follow me and see the competitions I enter.

Blood!

Our last three Physiology practicals lessons were all about blood. We have done several experiments to test and count red blood cells (erythrocytes) and white blood cells (leukocytes). This week we were testing our own blood, as opposed to an animals. One of the tests was to test for blood group. This test involves placing a drop blood into two different antigens, anti-A and anti-B. To get the blood, we had to sterilise our finger, and use a needle to 'stab' it! This gives a few drops of capillary blood to use.
My blood had agglutination in both antigens, meaning my blood group is AB.
We also rested our blood using the Rhesus system, to test for the Rh antigen. This involves placing a drop of blood into a drop of antigen D. I also had agglutination in my sample, meaning I am Rhesus positive, so my blood group is AB+ which is one of the rarest blood groups.
Next week we have a credit test in Physiology, and as it is the day before the weekly anatomy credit tests, I need to get most of my studying done on Saturday.

3 Weeks in

Well 3 weeks have passed already, meaning that in a couple of days I will be 1/4 way through this term!
OR 11.5% through second year
OR 18.6 % through my course
(Yes I love numbers!!!)

This year is more interesting than last year, so although the work is harder, its not so bad as all feels more relevant.  We are spending more time with live animals, and have recently practiced restraining and handling animals, as well as taking blood. My first experience of taking blood from a rabbits ear was nerve-wracking but exciting, and I was pleased to get blood on my first attempt.

As usual there are plenty of tests, with at least 2 a week. So far I have passed two Anatomy Credit Tests, with an A and a C grade. I have also passed two Biochemistry tests, with 90% and 80%.

We have several trips planned for the next few weeks, firstly a trip to the Radiobiology department at the medical university in the city. Then on the 19th we are going on a trip to a show, we havent recieved much information on this yet, but I think it is the Slovak National Rabbit and Pigeon show. We are also going to see the university's pig farm soon.

In Anatomy we are studying Splanchnology at the moment, which is a study of the organs. Firstly the digestive system, from oral cavity to the anus. Today I am studying the intestines and abdominal cavity.

I have started running again, as I used to run a lot in 2011. Getting back to being fit slowly, did a 5km run today in 36minutes, 32 seconds. It was the Kosice Peace Marathon today, which is the oldest marathon in Europe, celebrating its 90th Anniversary. I am thinking of entering to run the marathon next year, although looking at the results, I am likely to be in last position!

Back for second year

I am back in Slovakia, have registered, filled in my student record and have my timetable. I am ready for second year to begin! This term we have Anatomy 2, Biochemistry, Physiology, Animal Husbandry, Public Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Ethics and Radiobiology. I know that there will be weekly credit tests in at  anatomy and biochem, maybe more, so there will be lots of deadlines and plenty of work.

I was happy to see that most our days start at 8.05am this semester, with no 7.15am starts like last year. Monday is the easiest day with only 2 lectures, then the week gets harder, Friday being our longest day, with 2 lectures and 3 practicals from 8.05-16.30.

I applied to be on Deal or No Deal the other day, which involved a 12 page application form, with many questions such as 'Tell us about yourself in 50 words or less' and '5 interesting/funny/unusual facts about you'; enough to give me a headache trying to think of answers! I hope that if I do get invited for an audition, that it is during my holidays from uni. It would be amazing to be on the show, and to have the chance of winning some money.

I met up with a lovely girl who is just starting first year at the airport and travelled back to uni with her. It was nice to have someone to speak to on the journey. We went out for a few hours last night and met more of the new students, it seems like last week when it was me being shown around the town! Still amazing to think that I survived a year here and am now 1/6 or 16.66% vet!

Facebook

Today I woke up bright and early ready to sort things before the electricity went off,  only for it not to go off! So I have been productive (!!) and instead of starting my biochemistry notes, I had a few ideas on how to raise funds, and have started my own Facebook page. I will post more about my ideas when I have some dates and things sorted, and develop the plans further. 

On my Facebook page Student in Slovakia I plan to raise awareness of my journey and run some competitions. If anyone would like to donate a prize in return for advertising or to sponsor me, please contact me at Email. Thank you!

September is here!

Well time flies, and its is September already. Summer has passed very quickly, in a blur of revision and working. In only 5 days I will be flying back to Slovakia to register as a second year student and on the 16th I will be back in lectures. I am excited to go back and eager to get back into studying, which will seem like a rest at first after working all summer!

I flew back to Slovakia a few weeks ago to sit my Histology and Embryology final exam, which was a subject I didn't really like as I struggled to understand, so it drove me mad revising! The sheer volume of knowledge needed was overwhelming until I split it into small chunks and revised one section per day (while working 12+ hours a day). By the time I got to the exam and understood the topics I found it interesting and I was very pleased with my exam grade.

Since my work experience I have worked almost everyday, with my main job being working for a catering company, in a burger van ( hog roast or fish and chips van some days). We travelled around the country working at several events, including the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, the Royal Welsh Show, National Eisteddfod and Bournemouth Air Festival which has been hard work, but nice to travel around and see different places.

I have also done some bar work, waitressing, gardening and decorating. Glad I live on a farm where tradesmen are not called unless we are desperate, meaning I can do a lot of DIY and am not afraid to get my hands dirty! I even took our toilet to pieces on a rare day off to work out why the water wasn't running in properly when it was flushed! I have however ruined almost every pair of jeans I own, with paint or superglue on them :( Ordered a couple of pairs for £6.99 online the other day, and hope that they arrive (and fit!) before I go back to uni!

I am behind on my online earnings due to never being at home, so need to catch up on them; my inbox has over 4000 unread emails at present! I did win £14 on a free bingo site the other day :) http://birthdaybingo.co.uk?ref=140 If anyone wants to join, here is my referral link. Its very simple, your bingo card is your date of birth, just register and keep checking the site until your date of birth comes up.

I have 84 biochemistry questions that I would like to start writing the answers out for before I go back to uni and get too busy, as I am hoping to sit the biochemistry final exam before Christmas, so that is my plan for tomorrow, as the electricity company is switching the electric off in my area, so no internet or work to distract me!

Work Experience

I have just completed 2 weeks of work experience in a local mixed animal veterinary practice. It was amazing, and made me so glad to be in vet school and on the way to being a vet. I was there up to 12 hours a day, and assisted with consults in the morning and evening, and surgery 3 days a week, as well as going out on visits to large animals.

I observed and assisted many dog and cat spay and castrate operations, lump removals and emergency surgeries. Every day was different and I saw many animals from cats and dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, a hedgehog, fox, seagull, cows, sheep, horses and chickens.

Although I am yet to study radiography, it was great to be able to look at x-rays and recognize the parts of the bones. There were some very interesting cases, including a cat who had been in a car accident, and had a paralyzed tail, and after x-rays we saw that there was a large space between the vertebra at the base of her tail, and the vet was amazed that she didn't have more damage.

We also had a chicken called Beatrice in who had an impacted crop, and she was on holiday with her owner as she couldn't leave her at home with her father on the farm. The lady had taken the chicken to 5 different vets, and none of them were willing to operate, but the vet I was with operated successfully. I assisted in surgery and monitored her breathing and anesthetic while the vet removed a kidney dish of grass from the chicken's crop. She went home to a very happy owner.

Many cats and dogs come to the vet for routine vaccinations, and I prepared and administered many vaccines, as well as taking their temperatures and checking them over. There were several cute litters of puppies which I helped health check and vaccinate.

I learnt how to calculate the amount of fluid needed to re-hydrate a dehydrated animal, and learnt how to set up and monitor a drip for an animal. I administered tablets and applied spot-on wormers and flea treatments to many cats and dogs. I also removed stitches from animals that came in for post-op check ups.

The saddest times were when animals came in to be put to sleep, and as it was my local vets I knew many of the people and their pets. I had tears in my eyes when I was raising the veins for the vet to inject the animals, although I knew that they were very sick and that it was the best thing for them.

The vets, vet nurses and many clients were very positive about me studying in Slovakia, and everyone had lots of questions.

I loved my work experience and cant wait to do more! But now its time to work like crazy all summer, so that I can afford the rest of my course. I have a job in a burger van and another in a pub.

23 days to go!

There are now only 23 days of lectures to go, until its exam time and the end of first year! Time is going so fast, we are on week 9 of this term already. I went home for 12 days over Easter which was great, nice to have a rest, see my family, friends and my pets. I've been back since 3.30am on Sunday, and it feels like I never left! It was actually not raining in Wales for once, but they need rain now, as the ground is dry and there is no grass for the sheep to eat. It is the last thing that farmers need when they have lost so many sheep/lambs in the recent snow.

I have received the results of all the credits I did before Easter now, all passed which I am glad about, as there is enough work now without worrying about resits! This week we have the first muscles credit test in anatomy, which is the muscles of the shoulder and thoracic (front) limb. It will be the first morning in 3 weeks that I have had a lecture at 7.15am, and I'm not looking forward to it!

Today we had Histology where we studied the skin, which has many different layers and types. We looked at microscopic slides of the ear, lip, hoof and mammary glands. I have a break now and have just been to pay rent, I am going to catch up with the surveys in my inbox now, then off to anatomy self study to study the muscles from 5.30-8pm. Then an early night I think, as I was still awake at 1am, thanks to someone thinking it was a good idea to sweep the road outside dorms from around 10pm-1am!

Food in Slovakia

Food in Slovakia is a bit different to the UK, so I thought I would make a post for any prospective students so you know what to expect. There is less junk food here, although we do have a McDonalds! There are less preservatives in food, and things have a shorter shelf life. This is better for your health but annoying at first! Bread is different, most loaves are oval shaped and taste different to bread at home, although they do sell some American style bread which is similar to what we are used to.
Milk is mainly UHT milk, and 'normal' milk is hard to find, though I am used to UHT and don't notice the difference now. Cheese is Edam at best, a lot is similar to cheese slices, and no sign of cheddar! Many students bring cheese from home when they come back after the holidays. Butter is unsalted.
There are some different fruit and vegetables here, and they taste great, with massive watermelons in summer, twice the size of the biggest ones you will see in the UK! There is less choice in winter, as most fruit and veg are seasonal. The usual apples, bananas, potatoes etc are available all year round.

Why Slovakia?

While researching universities I discovered the option of studying abroad. I researched many universities before deciding that the University of Veterinary Medicine in Kosice, Slovakia was for me. The university has a great reputation, with the lessons taught in small groups, and a good lecture to practical work ratio. There is an established English course in Doctorate in General Veterinary Medicine at the university, with students from all over the world studying here. It is an excellent opportunity to travel, make new friends and study my dream course. Completing the degree will allow me to practise in the UK and the rest of the EU without having to sit further exams.

The tuition fees and living costs here are lower than the UK, with my rent around £100 a month and fees of approx £6000 a year. (Depending on the GBP-EURO exchange rate). Although unlike in the UK, I do not get any loans or grants from the government to study abroad, so everything is self funded. I am doing everything I can to earn the money I need, and work 2 jobs when I am at home. But it is still going to be difficult to earn enough, as my parents cannot afford to help me, so any donations would be very gratefully received. (Paypal donate button on the right or email/comment if you would like to donate by another method). Thank you

Week 18 of 156

Time is going so fast, it is already week 5 of second semester, only 8 and a half weeks to go until I only have exams left to do before first year is over! I am now 18 weeks in, of the 156 weeks of lectures it takes to be a vet!

This semester there are lots of tests, with weekly tests in Biochemistry and Anatomy. On Tuesday I had the first Histology credit test of the term, on the digestive and respiratory systems, which I passed and achieved 96% in the practical section. In anatomy we have now learnt all the bones in the body, with only the head left, which we are doing in the next 2 weeks.

There are over 100 labels on the skull alone as it is made up of many different labels, and to make it a bit harder, its all in Latin! We studied Latin medical terminology in first semester and it makes you sound clever saying things like 'Processus zygomaticus partis squamosae' !

I am glad that it is Friday today and I can have a lie in tomorrow, don't think I will ever get used to the 7.15am lectures! This morning I walked to uni at 7am in a blizzard! We thought spring was coming last week as the sun came out, and it was almost shorts and t-shirt weather, but now its back to thermals weather. I wouldn't mind the snow if it wasn't for the wind, as it was -17C in the wind apparently!

Today we had a lecture on hypothesis testing in statistics followed by a lecture and practical on root crops in Plant Husbandry and Feeds.

Where am I?

I study in Eastern Europe, in Kosice - the second largest city in Slovakia. The city is European Capital of Culture for 2013. More info on the city is here.

The city has a population of approx 250,000 - over 100 times that of my home village in Wales!

Survey sites

I use many survey sites to make a few extra pounds and thought I would make a list of them here. It is possible to make £100+ per month survey sites. I would really appreciate it if you use my referral links as many sites offer a small reward for referrals and every penny helps! 
More sites and details to come.

They are a great way to earn a little extra while you are watching tv. There are many website that offer surveys, not all of which are legitimate.  Here are some of my favourites:
1. Yougov Several surveys a week are emailed to you, one of my favourites as you are never disqualified. 
2. Swagbucks - Earn from searching the web, surveys, watching videos, playing games and more.
3. Rewarded opinions Email surveys. Please enter Referral code: 2011841899.
4.Inboxpounds - Earn from receiving 1-3 emails per day and clicking, surveys and the odd video.
5.Viewsbank - Polls, surveys, mystery shopping and more
6.Vivatic -Polls, surveys and tasks
7.Gift hunter Club  - Surveys, offers and videos. 


These sites pay by either paypal, cheque or amazon vouchers (great for saving for textbooks).

I have a spreadsheet with all my sites listed, and I edit it every time I earn, then when I cash out so I know what I'm expecting and when it should arrive. My February total added to my accounts was £108.39!

There are other sites which are email referral only, if you drop me an email on lucyjmorgan@live.com I can send you some more referrals.

There is also mystery shopping, which is great fun. Send me an email or leave a comment with your email for a referral link to my favourite site.

Also Website reviewing, I have recently joined WhatUsersDo and have earnt £16 so far, for reviewing websites, you have to have a microphone and you speak your thoughts while going throuh the website and searching for certain things. The tasks pay £8 each and take around 20min, so great pay per hour! If anyone is interested in joining here is my referral link.  http://whatusersdo.com/panel/?referrer=2624066

Welcome!

Hi and welcome to my brand new blog. My name is Lucy and I am a first year student at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Kosice, Slovakia. I have decided to write a blog about my experience at university abroad and my struggle/challenge to self fund.