Houston

I know it's been a long long time since I have written in this blog. So, for those of you who still check back sometimes - thank you for reading what I write.

I was planning on setting up a new blog because I am done with school and just wanted to keep my work life separate from my school life. However, now that I think about it, I think I miss this blog too much to close it down. So, I guess I will write my personal thoughts here while leaving that blog more as an official work blog.

This is my third week in Houston. Life in Houston is radically different from that in Illinois. The weather is so much warmer. I think I did a good job settling myself in Houston. I never knew that I could be so independent and move myself from Singapore to Houston all by myself. My mother helped with a lot of the packing when I left in Illinois but I was on my own during this move. This move has taught me that yes - I can be independent and am a capable person.

Graduation

The long awaited graduation time! It was rather fun seeing all my classmates again for a final time. I will miss a lot of them especially since I got to know a few of them really really well in clinics.

Now I am back in Singapore in the sweltering heat. Life of someone relaxing everyday is rather awesome! Eat when I want to, sleep when I want to. This is the life.

I think I am not ready

So today, I went for my working interview and the vet asked me if I would like to take up cases. I would still be under her supervision but would be able to make independent decisions. When told that, I declined because I was already feeling stressed. Now thinking why I am not ready for it when I should totally be doing it all when I am going to be a doctor in 2 weeks. Sigh!

I did decline doing vaccinations on a cat who seemed to be having an infection and so I think I did one right thing. I realized today exactly how much I have to know as a veterinarian.. all the drugs to use, all the technicians looking to you when it came to difficult cases or patients and how all clients expect you to give them answers for everything from - do giraffes make noises to is my dog going to die from a heart murmur?

I think deep down I have the information inside of me. However, explaining everything is going to be difficult and I think I am not ready for this. I feel like a pseudo doctor. Arrgh - I feel superbly stressed thinking about graduation.

Also, no american can pronounce my last name, so instead of being Dr Ng, I have to be Dr Christine instead. So generic.

All in a day

Just feeling a little overwhelmed. Wanted to book a rental car for my upcoming trip to Houston and realized that there were no more cars.. no more rental cars in the whole of Houston. Can you believe that? NO NO NO more cars all due to an oil convention. It is upsetting all of my well-laid plans of what to do. Upset.

Fortunately, was able to re-plan accordingly and going with new plan.

Anxious

Going down to Houston again this weekend. It's going to be my third time going to Houston in a short span of 2 months. First time for interviews, Second time for boards and interviews and my third time for a working day and looking for housing.

I am anxious.. Monday is going to be a big decision day for me. Which company to work for? I am worried that I will make the wrong decision. I know that most people stay in their first job after graduation for only a year. However, I really want to start in a job that will make me excited about being a veterinarian and where I will be able to learn a lot, a lot from it. I don't want to start off on a bad foot and get new graduate fatigue which is what happens to some people and they just dread going to work all the time. New graduate fatigue has already happened to me once and once is more than enough.

That said, I really cannot tell which job I would be happy at. Both hospitals are accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association. Both jobs are in Houston. Both jobs are small animal and in modern facilities. That's where the similarities end.

Maybe Monday will let me know exactly what I want from a job.

Pictorial Travel Post

Lake in Boston - it's so cold that it's all iced over

One of the highlights of the freedom trail in Boston

Boston town center

Brewery tour - first time drinking cider. It was sweet!

Skyline of Boston

Really fresh oysters

Italian Pastry - it was delicious!

Pretty pretty Marzipan

Interview outfit in Houston - my one and only. A little nerdy but pretty effective.

Co-hosted my first bridal shower

Graduation pic that is going to be on the walls of the school building for life

Nightmares on Equine

So.. I have been doing so much milking and feeding both my mare and foal (every 2 hours) that I had a recurrent nightmare last night. I would wake up every hour and subconsciously tell myself that it's time to either feed the foal or milk the mare. It was awful and shows how stressed I am on Equine.