I am Emma and I am currently taking part in the veterinary project in Aruba as well as working one day at the donkey sanctuary. I wanted to do this project as it offered experience I would not get elsewhere. The vets help me take part in all situations including surgery. The activities involved are day to day care for the animals which includes giving medicine and cleaning wounds. I spend most of my time in surgery as an assistant which includes opening sterile equipment for the surgeons, controlling the anaesthetic, checking heart rates, cauterising wounds, preparing animals for surgery, waking animals up after surgery. At the donkey sanctuary I help feed the donkeys, treat wounds and help in the shop.

The cultural shock I have had is the language, I have sometimes struggled at the vets with the language barrier but I am starting to now understand certain words and phrases which is making it easier.

I have learnt a lot so far, I have learnt a lot about the different surgeries. I have castrated cats myself and can do injections too and I have more responsibility now. I have also learnt to be more independent in every day life.

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Vocational Educational Training (VET) project part of ‘Discovering More’, co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union.

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