Costa Rica: Veterinary Experience

I went on the 22 day veterinary experience! My mom wanted me to see how life in a vet career would look like and so she sent me on this trip. I wasn’t scared at first, not really wanting to go at all and being far away from my family especially with the limited phone time. In the end, I wished for the trip to last just a bit longer, just one more week or maybe too. I had a great group, I made a ton of friends despite being worried I would have trouble, everyone that goes on this trip will have something in common with you which is they all see themselves in the vet career. I really learned a lot about myself on this trip, knowing how to be independent from your parents, how to deal with stressful situations, applying what I learnt in our daily vet lessons to practice…everyday I reread my journal from that trip so I can pretend that I’m still there. Each place we went to was different, some places we really learned how living in the hot jungle is like with little AC, the traditions of the country, the wildlife, the different activities. There wasn’t a day I think back on and wish I didn’t have, the good and the bad. I sweat a ton and learned to take cold showers. I loved our lessons! Not only did I feel I was actually already in vet school, learning content from horses to cows and exotics, but then later applying what I learnt. I got to stick my hand up a cows butt, zip line upside down, go galloping for the first time with Akila (working at the stables was the best part of this trip, the people are wonderful), watching spays and neuters, having Abuelita feed us at the clinic, watching the World Cup whenever we can at the restaurants…we even got to have breakfast for dinner one day at the Airbnb! There were moments when I was bored out of my mind, but boredom makes you creative. Instead of being on my phone I would read, watch the scenery, sing along, talk to my friends….and I didn’t miss home as much as I thought I would because this experience really makes you to busy for it and you have to much fun. I would tell anyone that wants to be a vet or just likes animals to do this trip, I would do it all over again. I would however suggest you learn some Spanish beforehand, you really get to connect on a different level with the people that way.

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This trip was truly everything I had hoped it was and so much more, and although it may sound cheesy, this trip truly did change my life forever. This trip taught me, someone who has always thought they would become a veterinarian, that really working as a veterinarian is very different than just in the pictures. This trip provides in-depth experiences working as, and with, veterinarians in an every day setting. Even after realizing that being a veterinarian wasn’t for me, I still enjoyed every moment of this trip from beginning to end. The activities when working with animals was hands on every step of the way. Even lectures were super engaging and fun. We worked with animals in so many different kinds of environments, which is really what helped guide me into what category I wanted to work in. For example; when working with horses, we were split into groups to practice veterinary care, and go on a fantastic horseback ride through the Costa Rican wilderness. We were also able to learn basic behavior about the horse, and then in turn how to use horse behavior when communicating with the horse. The community that I had on my trip was truly like no other I had ever experienced, everyone got along and by the third day everyone was like family. I was extremely nervous going on this trip, especially going by myself, but I will tell you that participating in this trip will be one of the best experiences of your entire life. Not only is this trip educational, but it also involves a ton of fun! And the best part is you have your best friends to do it with you every step of the way. If you have any interest in veterinary work, or even if you don’t, I would highly recommend going on this trip. You will never forget it.

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