We started the morning learning how to do a chicken exam to screen for Avian influenza. Drew blood on my first bird and got it on my first try :) Then we euthanized my patient with 10cc of air IV :( I held it while they did it. They were going to kill all 3 so each group could do a necropsy, btu we talked him into letting the other 2 live and him just doing a necropsy demonstration for us. We finished and got to use the slowest Internet ever for a little while and I found out I got some scholarship money :) We switched groups in the afternoon and worked on catfish. We did an exam and then killed it. I'm not crazy about their euthanasia method- chopping off the head and pithing ... read more

Today was so much fun! We went to Udzungwa National Park and climbed one of the mountains to a waterfall. Jocelyn and I jumped off a rock into the water. It was absolutely frigid. But we were the only ones from our group that did it and I'm glad we did. It was amazing. We hung around and swam for awhile until we had to go back down the mountain. I struggled with the climb up and it wasn't that high. It makes me worried for my ability to finish Meru. I won't giv eup though. We're going to go at my pace and if we get passed by snails, I'm okay with that. I won't quit until I am physically incapable of continuing, but I am preparing myself for failure. Now we're traveling form Udzungwa ... read more

Long day of travel in cramped quarters. I read a book, not much to report. One cool thing was that we transitioned from very dry and dusty (so dusty that you get coated in it after a brief time outside) to the very wet and green of the Udzungwa Mountains. Its really beautful. Oh, and we're staying at a very nice tourist lodge. Its their first night open, so there are a lot of kinks, but at least its beds and our own bathroom with a shower (though the hot water didn't work last night). There is a breathtaking view from the side of the mountain on our balcony.... read more

Today was insane. Giraffe immobilization day! We started the morning watching the boys practice roping each other. Then we left to search for giraffes. We got out first one quickly. We all had assigned jobs ahead of time. We were in specific cars based on our job and the cars drove in a specific order: 1) Gun car and blindfolder 2)Ropers and head holder 3)Water and monitoring 4)Samples and measuring 5) Everyone else. I didn't hav ea job for the first immobilization, so I was assigned photographer. The first shot went off and messed and it took a while to get the second dart loaded up. Our car wasn't quite sure what was going on, so we were just waiting and watching. The 2nd dart hit! The giraffe stayed calm for a while; after about 20 ... read more

What I am about to write is not a lie or an exaggeration in anyway. I am writing under a mosquito net by lantern and there is an elephant outside my banda eating the bush that is against the wall of my banda. I can hear him chew and each branch he steps on. True story. We left Chogela Camp this morning and drive in the bush vehicles a few hours to Ruaha National Park, the largest national park in Africa. The ride was rough and I was tired and dehydrated from last night and ended up throwing up when we got here, so I skipped lunch and rested. I was feeling better, so I went with the group on a game drive. We saw lots of elephants, impala, giraffes, zebras, kudu, dikdik (they are always ... read more