Still here

Happy New Year!! Yes I’m still here, even though I haven’t blogged for well over 2 months – where does the time go??

I just don’t seem to have as much time on the computer as I used to in my pre-EATM days, hence the lack of blog updates. Lots has happened over the last couple months though, now I just have to try to remember it all!

Rewind back to November….I got to do my first care-taking week at the zoo with a hyena, a wolf and a serval. Totally cool and so much fun. In December I did another week care taking on the same animals. It was great cause I was allowed to talk to them, feed them and touch them. I am so in love with Savuti, the hyena – he is so incredibly intelligent not to mention adorable!

I got really sick mid November for a couple weeks – I think I had the H1N1 virus thing. It was nasty and I was pretty out of it for awhile. Not fun at all, and when I was finally mostly recovered from it, I was right in final exam week! Totally stressful and chaotic time! I was so stressed and so worried I’d screw up one of my finals and get lower than a C in the class – and then I’d get dismissed from the program and I’d be moving back to Canada. So many sleepless nights over this. Luckily, everything turned out great and I got straight A’s in every class, and just 1 B. Whew!!! Finals were over Dec 16 and then we had a bit of a break for a few weeks during Winter intercession at the college. No classes, but we still had zoo duties. I got sick again a few days before Christmas and was still at the zoo every day. It got worse and I ended up spending a few hours at the hospital on Christmas day between my 2 zoo shifts. It was definitely a different Christmas this year for sure – for many reasons. First Christmas that I haven’t been with my parents, that was tough. We had a big dinner at our house on Christmas night for any students in our program that wanted to come, those that couldn’t go home either. Everyone brought food and it was amazing. My friends were so great and understanding while I was sick: staying at the hospital with me, taking me to the nearest 24 hour pharmacy Christmas night, helping with the dogs, etc. And I did get to do a few fun things during the holidays too: Went to see the special holiday celebrations at both Disneyland and Universal Studios, and went to Las Vegas for New Years! A quick trip but lots of fun!

California Adventure Park

Whoville at Universal Studios Hollywood

Our group in Vegas : )

Last week my parents came for a visit! yay!! I haven’t seen them since July and this is the longest I’ve ever been away from them ever. It was so great to see them, I wish I could see them more often. It’s hard being this far away from everyone and not being able to go home.

I did manage to get a bit of scrapbooking done recently! I made a mini book (of course!) for my parents on my life here at the zoo.

So, life here is pretty good, hectic but good. The next semester starts tomorrow so that’s pretty exciting and a little stressful at the same time. Weather has been beautiful – not a winter like I am used to at all! Today I wore a sleeveless top and capris to the zoo!

“Happy” the Alligator

“Peggy” the opossum