The Buddy System

First off, I would like to extend my sincerest welcome to any and all friends, family, or complete strangers who have chosen to read my blog. I very much look forward to including you in my South African adventures this summer! I will be volunteering with the African Conservation Experience on the Shimongwe Veterinary Experience, where I'll be working with wildlife veterinarians to help heal South Africa's wildlife.

A little bit about myself: I am a rising senior at Harvard University preparing to apply to veterinary school in the fall. Even though I originally planed on becoming an opera singer, now I am majoring in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology with a minor in Dramatic Arts. That's Or-GAN-ismic, which means "of organisms." Even though it would be profound for Harvard to have a major studying the evolution of orgasms, I regret to inform you that those studies happen primarily in Final Clubs rather than the hallowed halls of Harvard classrooms.

I realize that it's quite early for my first post, especially since I am not leaving for Africa until June 25th. However: 1) I am really friggin bored; 2) I don't want to study for the GRE; 3) Something cool happened.

I had just finished a day of work at Bayside Animal Medical Center and I was absolutely starving. In my bright pink scrubs with my hair askew from wrestling a belligerent dog as we attempted to trim it's nails, I eagerly headed to Atlanta Bread Company to consume a sandwich containing as much avocado as humanly possible. Avocado, that heavenly, fleshy green vegetable, is a salve to my soul. For some reason, Panera Bread thinks its ok to put two little squares of avocado on a sandwich after charging me an extra dollar for the request. They think I'm too docile to complain? Challenge accepted. I complain every single time. And every single time, the manager tells me that they can't keep giving me extra avocado, because clearly, company policy prevents them from valuing customer service. Thus, after my day at the vet, I approached Atlanta Bread with a warm fondness and sense of relief.

Anyway, the real reason for the previous rant is that while in line for my avocado-slathered sandwich, I ran into my old high school friend Tyler Wilkinson. I had heard through the grapevine* that Tyler would be going to South Africa this summer as well. While we were standing in line together, we found out that we were leaving for Africa the same day. Wow, what a coincidence--two Severna Park High graduates going to the same foreign country on the same day for two different programs. I wasn't too shocked though. I bet it happens all the time. It was only when I checked later that I realized Tyler and I have the SAME FLIGHTS. Everyone, it's finally happened--we finally have proof of divine existence! The fact that my friend and I independently booked the same exact flights has to be some sort of intervention by the anti-boredom gods above. I can just see it now--Tyler and I will wile away the hours by pwning crosswords, making starburst bracelets, and drinking Baileys from a shoe.** Thank goodness; it looks like I'll have a buddy on my 21-hour excursion to South Africa.

Cheerios,
Aria

* My mom knows all gossip.
** I'm Old Gregggggggg.