Half Way!!

Can you believe it?!!! 

I can't believe it! 

I am half way through my internship! I feel like I only started yesterday, but I also feel as If I have been here forever! It's weird to think that in two and a half months I will be done...this experience will be over......

....but I'm not done yet!

The last few weeks have been immaculate! Who knew one could love a fifteen hour shift so much??? It sure beats a seventeen hour shift, let me tell you! This place is actually slowing down a bit, which I honestly thought would never happen. It is so much more enjoyable now, because I can actually slow down and appreciate the experience. Before I was always trying to frantically organize what needed to be done in my head. Here are some of the animals I have had the pleasure of working with the last few days!

We have three swans right now! Before I came here I had never handled a swan, and rarely ever saw one! (They're not native where I come from in Ontario) I actually thought the swans would be a little tricky to carry, but its kind of like carrying an over sized football (that bites!).

We also have some young turkey vultures right now! I never knew that turkey vultures imprinted easily on humans. They just didn't seem like that kind of bird to me. Anyhow, because they do, we have to wear sheets so they don't think we are human. It might be a little hard to move in the thing, but it is definitely worth wearing to watch the little vultures gobble down their meat!

 We also have a porcupine  right now, who is the cutest little bugger ever! I haven't been quilled by her yet, so we are still at good terms with each other!

And last but not least the opossums! I didn't know they existed in Canada, but apparently they do! They are also way bigger then I had imagined! I thought they would be the size of a muskrat, but they are more like the size of a young raccoon!

And boy do they stink!

They smell so bad, almost as bad as skunks! However, despite the smell, I have the pleasure to say I have handled an opossum! (How many Canadians can say that?)

Looking after the animals isn't the only part of the intern experience though! I introduced Lucinda to the Terry Fox run this past week. I thought Terry Fox was common knowledge, but I guess not in other parts of the world. Anyhow, we had a lot of fun walking 5km together in support of cancer research!

During the summer Sue took some of the other interns and I to Melon lake! It is absolutely beautiful and I had a lot of fun this summer exploring the landscape around it!

And last night Sue took us to a local barn dance that was raising funds for Sandy Pines! I am quite used to the country atmosphere, so the dance wasn't strange to me, but the other girls were truly having an experience! I was glad that they had the chance to hear some traditional Canadian fiddle music, and get a good taste of the country culture! I think we all had a fabulous time, and I wouldn't trade these girls, (or Sue) for the world!

And last, but not least, I love every second with Sue's horses! Over the summer I have formed a bond with them. They may not listen to me all the time, or be polite, but we trust each other now! They have become more like friends then anything, and sometimes I wish there was an extra hour during the work day where I could work with them too!

Cookie is quite the chore to clean, and to make it worse she rolls in the dirt right after! However, you can't help but love the little bugger!

Saffy and I happy to be out for another ride! (well...at least I am!)

Summer is over and fall is here! More of the animals will be leaving soon, and I am really looking forward to the cooler weather!

This summer was far too hot!