I know this post is extremely belated but I’ve just been so busy lately with catching up from spring break and taking tests that I never had time to write my last post about the VIDA trip, so here it is. The trip was amazing, I learned things I didn’t think I would learn until vet school. I got to work with so many wonderful people, and got experience working with lots of dogs, which was great. All the people I met on the trip, and while in Nicaragua were kind and generous.
    Clinic Day three was much the same as 1 and 2 except we were in a different village. We ended up working on a lady's front porch for the surgeries, and our intake tables were out under an overhang from her house. I got to witness a neuter performed on a dog who had cryptorchidism: a condition in which the testes of the dog never drop into the scrotum but remain in the abdominal cavity. It was extremely interesting because the neuter had to be performed much in the same way that a spay in normally performed. Clinic day 4 consisted of de-worming and giving vitamins to cows, a few horses, and some pigs. This was the large animal day, and while I didn't mind the pigs, I was still scared of the cows. Clinic day 4 was also our last clinic day, so we also did case discussions with the other members of the pre-vet team.
  Our final day in Nicaragua was spent at the beach, and it was another nice change to relax and enjoy the sun. This trip was a wonderful experience, and I am thankful for all I was able to learn. I know I will miss the heat, the long days in the sun, and I hope to one day return as a vet. I want to thank everyone again who made this trip possible, I cannot even begin to express how amazing this trip was. I am completely confident that my passion lies in veterinary medicine.

Clinic days 1 and 2

Two clinic days and our first free day went by so quickly. Our free day ended in Diriamba,  a smaller town than Masaya about an hour and a half from our free day destination of Lagoon De Apollo. The lagoon was really beautiful and it was a nice opportunity to relax after two strenuous days of work. Our clinic days consisted mostly of general exams, de-worming, and ear cleaning. While here though, I have learned about how to properly intubate a dog, how to measure what entubation tube size is appropriate,  how to insert insert a catheter and how to tie a Miller's knot. The veterinarians here are so ready to share their knowledge with us volunteers. Tomorrow is our only clinic day in Diriamba, on Friday we will be working with large animals out in the field which will be interesting as well. Although I am tired at the end of each clinic day, it has been nice to know that the work I am doing here does make a difference in the lives of these animals.

Arrival Day

Hey there! Welcome!
I am so excited to be going on a VIDA Volunteer trip and all the possibilities that it holds. My first leg of the trip began this morning at 3:30 as my parents drove me to the Atlanta airport. We said goodbye and I entered the long line of dreary passengers going through security.
At the gate, I met up with two other UGA students going on the VIDA trip, both pre-Med The flight to Miami was nice and short and I was able to take a much needed nap. After the Atlanta to Miami flight, we stopped for lunch at an Italian place where I got pizza and baked ziti. We talked our hopes for the trip and shared details about our lives. After briefly browsing the airport shops, I grabbed a venti coffee from Starbucks and boarded the plane to Managua.
Although I normally don't talk to the passengers around me on a flight,  the friendly lady next to me asked me why I was going to Managua and we talked about the city.It turns out that she was born in Nicaragua and grew up there but she now lives in Miami.  We talked about various cities and towns in Nicaragua and she told me that the first town we get to visit is a beautiful safe town with a wonderful market. I'm definitely looking forward to going to the market and talking with the locals.
After landing, we boarded the bus, got roommates, and checked into the hotel room. Our next activity is not until 6 when we have dinner.