Things are always changing . . . by Alison Reindel

Flying over the rugged landscapes of Labrador, I was mesmerized by the rocky terrain, coursing rivers, frozen seas, and picturesque mountains. Experiencing this scenery was such a drastic change from the familiar rolling hills, plowed fields, and red sands of PEI.

And then we walked into the Nain Fire Hall—quite a drastic change from the AVC Teaching Hospital. Now, it was up to us to adapt, unpack, and set up a functional veterinary clinic. A hanging blue tarp separated the reception area from the surgical ‘suite,’ and the fire truck garage was transformed into the patient holding and recovery area. We quickly became quite comfortable in our new ‘home.'

But after a few short days, it was time for another round of changes and adaptations as we packed up and moved on to establish a clinic in Sheshatshiu—this time in a hockey arena. As we pulled into the parking lot of the Joseph Riche Memorial Arena in Sheshatshiu, I noticed a large sign hanging from the building: Things are always changing. You have to adapt. Right there, printed in black and white, were words that struck a chord. As with each passing day and with each dog that walked through the doors, there were new changes and adaptations—all of which challenged us and provided opportunities for learning and growth. Because of my experiences with the Chinook Project, I am ready to adapt to any situation 4th year and my future career in veterinary medicine throws at me.

Alison Reindel, AVC 2017, traveled to Nain & Sheshatshiu in 2016 as one of the student participants on the Chinook Project. As part of the experience, the students craft various pieces of reflective writing. This is one of Alison's pieces