Say hello!

I haven't really been able to get myself into any rotations notes yet because we are still not started back. I'm trying to distract myself with work in the meantime before any hint of boredom sets in. If you happen to drop by the blog please introduce yourself and say hello; I don't bite, honest!

I currently have a student from France staying with me and she is taking a rotation in the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals over the Christmas holidays with the oncology unit. Today she had a few consults with a lymphoma patient and she has seen several dogs receiving chemotherapy for mast cell tumours. She really enjoys the research side of veterinary work and is considering pursuing a masters in her last year of the course. I think that's really nifty. In England there isn't much love amongst the students for those choosing to pursue a career in research; it seems to me that this is largely due to the fierce competition for places and that research is seen as 'taking a place from someone who really wanted to be a vet'. It's sad, but true, that most of the people who make this argument are only doing so to convince themselves that they still really want to be a vet. A large proportion of my colleagues definitely did not arrive here to be a vet; it is more that this is where they ended up and now they have to make the best of a bad situation.

I would very much like to work for some time in France and having Emilie with me has meant my out of practice French took a bit of a bashing last night. However, it is only by practice you can improve so once more into the breach I stroll...