So, I’m just writing here to let you all know how happy I am. Since I got here to the University of the Philippines Los Banos, I was always afraid that I might not adjust here as easily as I had my other colleges. After all, I was a foreign student, who didn’t know the native language and was there just to learn about veterinary medicine. I knew that I needed the practicality that was taught at the University of the Philippines, especially regarding surgery (which is what I’m most interested in doing) and here it seems I got what I asked for. I’m getting acclimated to the climate here, as well as the people (most of them have been very cordial with me) and I’m glad that they have warmed up to me.

As for school work and class work in general, I’ve been doing alright. Anatomy-wise, I haven’t been doing as great as I had hoped, but I’ve progressively become better when I took my veterinary embryology test and my veterinary physiology test. Today, I found out the results of my veterinary physiology test and my professor, Dr. Estacio, told everyone who was the top notcher when she was done with her lecture on total body weight of water and other substances. She said “The top score on the test in the entire class was Jonathan…” and automatically I froze. I thought to myself, “Did she just say my name?!” And then it was all confirmed when the rest of the class shouted in unison, “Ooooooooohhhhhhhh!!!” That was it. I turned red on the spot. I didn’t know what I was feeling. Was I feeling embarrassment? Was I feeling astonishment? Maybe it was a combination of the two–but I can tell you one thing. I was definitely feeling REALLY GOOD at the moment. It was crazy!! My friend James (who is also another foreign student in the class) was happy for me and gave me a good pat on the back while everyone was just shouting and staring in awe. I remember studying all of the material that she had given us after my previous professor in veterinary physiology had a stroke after the first 2 weeks of classes (Dr. Landicho, I hope you get better soon… enjoy your sabbatical) , and I used some special mnemonic techniques that I had just learned from some online web-sites on how to really recall material that will be on tests. I spent a lot of time going over the material, even with the new mnemonic techniques, but it seemed to pay off. I totally ACED the exam and I was totally happy with it! After lecture, Dr. Estacio flashed me a smile and I was happy. Happy that I had accomplished something that seemed to be almost unattainable to me. Out of a class of 60+ students, I managed to score the top grade. That doesn’t happen to me very often, especially in this new environment, but I’m so happy that I did it. So happy that everything I’ve been working for, paid off in the end. I’m glad that I put my entire self into studying and that I’m off to a great start in veterinary graduate school. I know that if I apply myself, I’ll be doing well and continuing the trend for the rest of the year.

Woo Hoo! I’m just so ecstatic right now. I just came back from a night of a great dinner (Red Pork Curry at a really good Thai restaurant, courtesy of James for my great performance–Thank you James!), some great banana splits, and some pool and drinks. James, my friend Kirt (another foreign student, but a 2nd year) and I had a good few rounds of pool and a couple of drinks. Since this is the end of our first round of exams, James and I were happy to be done and to have done relatively well on all the exams thus far in embryology, anatomy and physiology. I’m so happy that we’ve been able to pull off these scores and that our hard work has finally paid off.

I’m totally ready for more relaxing, especially now that we’re off for a three day weekend (James and I don’t have class Mondays). James and I were supposed to finish up our SCUBA dive certification lessons this weekend, but unfortunately it looks like the weather will be extremely rainy so our instructor decided to cancel. Maybe next week or the next week after that we’ll be able to finish our certification courses as Open-Water SCUBA divers. That would we awesome.

But instead, I’ll be heading to Paranaque in Manila to James’ cousin’s house, where we’ll just be watching the Dark Knight, and having fun shopping and eating at the air-conditioned malls. It’ll be an awesome time I’m sure, especially since James and I really need this well-deserved vacation.

Well that’s it for now. I’m really happy that I did well this week. Words can’t really describe how I feel right now. The best way to describe how I feel right now is, “Woot! Woot! Boo ya kasha!! WOO HOOOOOOO!!”

Okay that is all. Hope you have all been doing well. Take care and have a great weekend!

Hey guys,

Sorry I haven’t updated in a couple of months. I’m sure some of you are going to kill me, but I’m going to have to take an extended hiatus from the comic. If you haven’t already figured out from my previous posts, I’ve moved to the Philippines to take up graduate school in veterinary medicine.

I decided that while I’m here, I’m going to fully devote my time to my studies. The comic here was only meant to be done as a hobby for me, for which I do not have the time right now to complete. I would draw comics from time to time and edit them and post them up, but unfortunately I did not bring my scanner because I did not intend to continue this comic for awhile. I still have my sketches and occasionally I do draw from time to time, but with my hectic class schedule right now, I haven’t had much time for that.

If for any reason though, I do end up acquiring a means to upload some of my work I will do so. But most likely they’ll be just sketches that do not have any relation to the story that has been developed so far. When I finally get back to the States, I may have time to upload some more comics that I have finished (I do have quite a few right now that just need touching up). But for now, please forgive me, as I need to put my career first.

I will still put up blogs from time to time, but I do understand if you guys don’t want to wait around anymore and continue checking up on the site for the comics. This is after all my decision and my web-site, so I don’t expect you all to wait around for the comic to continue. If you guys do leave, I just want to thank you for sticking with me through the months since this project started. I really appreciate it.

Now I gotta do what I gotta do. I don’t know when the comic will start up again for real, but I can assure you all that it will at some point in the future. But for now, I really want to just focus on my studies. I’m sorry that I can’t give you a more definite answer than that.

For now, take care of yourselves, and hopefully in the future, I’ll see some of you around. It’s been a great run… thanks to all of you who have been reading.