Part 1: The travel

            Post first year of veterinary school activities have been an adventure so far. Alex (another veterinary student) and I head to Gaborone, Botswana to do an internship with an animal clinic. Don't have any idea what to expect yet and we can't wait to get started!
            The trip to Gaborone certainly started off with a bang. I forgot my purse in my fiancee’s car and almost headed to New York City without my passport, credit cards or any sort of identification. Luckily, Robb noticed not too long after he dropped me off at Alex’s house, that I had done so. Thank goodness for him. It’s also a good thing I am traveling with Alex because she is the most organized person I know, and has had everything done for months. Meanwhile, I am registering with the US embassy the day we are leaving….
            Alex’s parents drove us to NYC to spend the night in order to be ready for the long flight the next day. We stayed in a beautiful apartment overlooking the city. What a view. Next thing I know its morning and we are getting in a taxi to head to JFK. 3 minutes in I realized I had forgotten my phone back at the apartment… had to turn around. Then, once again we were off. Made it through airport security alright, got onto the plane and spent the next 15 hours with sore butts and swollen feet. But we made it in one piece and in good spirits!

                                                     View of NYC from the apartment

             Once we landed in Johannesburg, it was a bit of a maze to figure out where we had to go. We made it to the security checkpoint, where the surgical instruments I use to practice suturing for my trip to Thailand were scouted out. Although they had let me pass with them at JFK, these South African TSA-like authorities were not having it. They wanted to confiscate my tools! No way I was going to let that happen so I pleaded with them and they finally agreed that if I showed them some sort of documentation that I was actually going to spay/neuter animals I could take them with me. Thank you Thailand group for the detailed spay explanation that got my tools back!! Luckily I had stashed it in my backpack. The airport had some fantastic stores! My favorite, called "Out of Africa" had these cool giraffes!

           
              We finally arrived in Gaborone (see above view from the plane!) and were met by some of our internship leaders to take us to the University of Botswana where we would be staying. We received a whirlwind tour of Gaborone on the way. Once we arrived we dropped off our things and headed back out to retrieve phones and groceries. Now we are all settled in, unpacked and ready to explore tomorrow!