I sat by a med student on the plane ride home.  Ironically, he is at the same point in his career as me and was flying home from a residency interview.  I just had an interview yesterday too.  Like me, he has been doing two-week externships for three months too. We've both been checking out residency programs (and being subjected to more-or-less two-week-long interviews too).  He was a joy to talk to and made me appreciate my human medical colleagues more.  He had a very positive outlook on life and mentioned that our population is growing, so maybe it's not so bad to have growing medical class sizes.  He also said that med students take many certification tests, including some that include their bed-side manner.  We talked about how family practitioners vary in their knowledge and skill and how residents work long hours for not a lot of money.  I'm that sure he found me interesting as well.  I gave him an overview on food animal medicine, pet insurance, and vet med in general.  It is rather interesting that some of our patients are part of our families and some are what we eat for dinner and veterinarians must learn how to treat them all.  The med student was keen enough to question me about species differences, which encompass a large part of our veterinary education.  He gave me a slightly renewed enthusiasm for clinics to which I will return on Monday.  I started reading my bible (I'm on to Deuteronomy now), and the med student was inquisitive about it.  I told him that I like it.  It's the story about the beginning of my religion and makes me think about all different aspects of it. 

Speaking about thinking about my religion, I had a long conversation with Danny, one of the guys living in the hostel about religion the other night.  He is an atheist and a very smart, intellectual man that really made me question my faith.  Alas, I continue to believe because there are just too many signs that point towards God's existence.  Danny is a beautiful, loving person and it makes me sad to realize that he is missing out on the one that loves him more than anyone else--God.  I'm sure that God misses him too. 

I'm home and this is my last blog entry.  It has been an adventure and I have loved every day of my travels.  I have met many wonderful people and seen many beautiful places.  I return to Iowa with a better sense of what is out there in our big world, as well as where I come from and how I fit into the world.  God has a plan for each of us and if we follow His will, we will leave the world a better place than that into which we were born.  

It is a beautiful morning out and I will be on an airplane soon;  finally headed home.  I will miss the people at the hostel.  After a few handshakes and one awkward hug, we will likely never meet again but I greatly enjoyed their company during my two weeks here.  I also enjoyed the diversity, as I met people from all over the world during my stay.

 Beautiful Fall!  

 John stopped in Columbus to spend the weekend with me before heading to a conference in Pittsburgh.   We went on a tour of a local winery and did some wine tasting.  We also went to another gorgeous Columbus church to a Tridentine Mass.  It was unique and I enjoyed it.  

OSU has a fantastic combined residency and PhD program...and this lovely painting of a Percheron stallion.  

 Snowflakes!!  Presents from Hurricane Sandy.  

This lily in the snow echos the sharp change in weather we've had here.  

I went to Mass at one of the most beautiful churches that I've seen in the US.  The homily was outstanding because the majority of it consisted of reading a speech given by the pope upon the opening of this "Year of Faith" in the Church.  It was phenomenal!  He talked about the history of the Church, the secularism that dominates most people's lives today, and how to cultivate our own and others' faith.  It was truly inspirational.  That man knows what he's doing!  I talked to the priest after Mass and he said, "Yes, wasn't that beautiful.  I'm going to put it in the bulletin next week for everyone to have."  

Here is a link to it:

<http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/porta-fidei>

 Our Lady of Guadalupe.  

 Sacred Heart of Jesus.  

 A morning glory.  

 The one-speed bike that I use to get around.  The chain invariably comes off every time I use it.  

 The Stations of the Cross are depicted in ornate mosaics.  

 Fall!!

My last morning in Baltimore.  I will miss the residents and the Italian woman, Vittoria, who kissed me goodbye in traditional Mediterranean fashion.  

 The trees have turned to beautiful hues of red, gold, and brown during the two weeks that I was in Baltimore.  The view of the land and trees from the air was quite beautiful.  

Now, I have left the east coast and traveled back to land with many farm fields (Columbus, Ohio).  I'm staying in a hostel and have made instant friends here.  The guy sitting next to me was just showing me the view of the tallest mountains in the world from his parents' house in India.  He is from a gorgeous area that grows tea and has some of the oldest Christian missionary schools.  

I went to the aquarium on Wednesday and got a behind-the-scenes tour of their veterinary facilities.  

 Checking a bearded dragon for snake mites.  

 A black-headed boa.  

 Jeremy, the other path extern.  

 An Australian frogmouth.  

 Fish and turtles.  

 Crocodiles.  

 Camo.  

 Paranas.  

 A submarine.  

Last night, I went to trivia night at a local bar.  The last question is worth however many points you wager and I insisted on a certain answer and was right!!  And we won $50.  Unfortunately, I'll be gone next week when they spend the $50, but I was still happy.  And the secretary just walked into our office and said that I'm going to have an interview here next month.  Yeah!