How to be a Blogger, Choose a Work Placement and more...

Introduction I was talking with one of my readers last night and we discussed how, to be a blogger, you should write every day. The conversation stimulated me into putting finger to keyboard once more. This is because, as you may have noticed, I had disappeared into the ether for two months. There is a reason for my truancy. I have been completing my course. To do so, I came back home to my native Britain. The first four and a half years I studied in Brazil. As you know, of course, if you are a regular reader of this (and if not, why not?) I have been studying in Brazilian Portuguese, a language I learned in the street - that is to say, by ear. But I am pleased to say that I never fell prey to that classic mistake many language learners experience to their chagrin. I have usually managed to avoid using offensive language. What remains nearly completely beyond my comprehension, even after 12 years, is idiomatic experessions, for example, `Ingles para ingles ver`. What is easy to learn are swear words, because the little boy in me loves to learn them (with a relative being ex-military, dissent in the family ranks was never tolerated in my youth). But of course I rarely repeat them. Of course not. Never. Not me. So I hope it makes sense when I say that I wanted to spend the final semester of my course back in Britain (good Old Blighty) to re-learn my own language, strange though that no doubt sounds. You see, duing four and a half years at Vets` school in Brazil this Britisher acquired almost every veterinary textbook and dictionary published, anywhere, ever, in English and Portuguese. Yet still gaps remained in my knowledge, some caused by confusion due to my knowledge acquisition being lost in translation. So I came home and spent the longest period on these shores for 12 years. And it has been glorious. I don`t mean the weather. I mean the people. Sure, the first few weeks I was at a clinic seeing practice where I was almost entirely ignored. Okay, I did not expect the red carpet treatment, because it was largely them doing me the favour, but nevertheless a hint of friendliness, as opposed to near-indifference, would have been nice. I am exaggerating, but only slightly. Then I was switched to a different branch of the same practice, and things could not have been better. By the second day I was given meaningful tasks to do, and by the third I had performed surgery by myself. I am highly appreciative of the cat`s involuntary participation in this surgery. Even though there is no doubt whatsover in my mind that I am now bttom of said cat`s Christmas card list, having surgically ruined his marriage prospects. My best advice I can give to anyone thinking of doing veterinary medicine is that it is all about people. I have made some brilliant new friends over the past few days. So how do you choose a work placement that is right for you, no matter what your course? For me I have always been most settled in friendly atmospheres. As one vet said to me, if you have a chance to visit a practice, try to observe the way the support staff interact with each other as that can be an excellent indicator of the working environment and atmosphere.