OT: What do you do for fun? (not related to academics)

[Backwoods Boy]

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Hey everyone. I was just wondering what all of you do for fun when you have time? I enjoy playing baseball and paintball (playing tomorrow as a matter of fact). I also enjoy horseback riding although it's been a while since I did so.

 

[Smashley224]

My main activity for fun is martial arts. I also love to read for fun and watch movies.

 

[rileyroo]

i love reading and hate that i don't get to do it as much during the school semester. i also like going to state parks & historical places, and watching documentaries.

 

[BurntFlower]

Like the poster above me, also I love to do martial arts, read and watch movies. I also like to play soccer, draw, mountain climbing, and writing stories.

 

[thereservoirdog]

Camping, fishing, birding, and rock climbing are my main hobbies at the moment. I used to play rugby and go jogging a lot, but that got cut short when a 250+ lb son of a ___ tackled the crap out of me and I messed up my knee. And he was on MY team!

 

[ckgilabert]

hanging out at home with my dogs! i'll walk them, hug them, give them raspberries on their bellies....that sort of stuff.

i also love watching tv and movies. i have tivo...so that makes it possible to watch the stuff i like. and i like reading childrens books. lol. i'll read like 15 minutes every night right before bed.

 

[nyanko]

Mostly this.

 

[jpeterman13]

I enjoy watching 30 minutes sitcoms in my free time (Seinfeld, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Arrested Development, etc....anything that makes me laugh). I also play a lot of ultimate frisbee and play acoustic guitar. To be honest, I also read a lot of old textbooks because I am a nerd 👍.

 

[Caninerepro]

Mostly this.

Nyanko you are my kids of girl, even if you don't have the best taste in teams! 😀

I also like to mountain bike, but I have yet to see so much as a respectable hill since moving to Minnesota.

 

[Trilt]

I really enjoy cooking- my SO and myself have the arrangement that he buys, I cook, and we both enjoy. ;P I also read a lot, (paper books in addition to electronic blogs/sites/etc.) and of course enjoy my video games. DDR keeps me fit.

When I'm at my family home I love on my dog and cat, but sadly I don't keep them around while at school so I spend a nice chunk of time fawning over the two toed sloth I volunteer with. Needless to say, he doesn't reciprocate much. ):

 

[Gordo]

Barrel racing when I have the time. Most of the time now though I spend just riding for fun and not competing.

 

[DickVetPlease]

Camping/hiking/mountain climbing, travelling, rock climbing, soccer, learning foreign languages, and reading the occasional book (but this is usually limited to Harry Potter)

 

[ckgilabert]

Camping/hiking/mountain climbing, travelling, rock climbing, soccer, learning foreign languages, and reading the occasional book (but this is usually limited to Harry Potter)

i love harry potter!!!! you should try artemis fowl or charlie bone. i also read the Demonata series...it was pretty good.

 

[philomycus]

Xbox 360... Call of Duty.

Does collecting insects count???...it's kind of nerdy...

 

[KittyRex]

This sounds like an interview question! (seriously, they asked me this at every single interview!)

Ok... tons of reading (lots of sci fi/fantasy, non-fiction, medical ethics, cooking/culinary stuff, historical fiction, japanese lit, vampire/zombie fiction, vet med autobiographies, really I devour anything and everything!), running/working out... hmmm, I also love cooking and making a huge mess in the kitchen, going to see live music, movies or dinner with friends, xbox 360 (RPGs mostly. I'm a nerd!), horseback riding (hope to get back into this at the Davis Equestrian Center!)... and SDN 😉

and once school starts, I'm pretty sure this list will be limited to one activity: sleep.

 

[Minnerbelle]

This sounds like an interview question! (seriously, they asked me this at every single interview!)

I'm so terrified of this question! I feel like such a boring and lazy person... What do I do when I have spare time? I watch TV... and that's about it. I do hang out with friends and stuff, but I don't have anything that I would really call a hobby... But the thing is I never really allow myself to have free time either.

I guess my hobby IS working, whether it's spending all weekend in the lab or working for the animal rescue org that I'm helping run. If I have any extra time in my schedule, I tend to start perusing the web for something to get involved in.

Because see, if I do have free time, I do stupid **** like watch Richard Simmons or the Rotisserie machine guy on QVC... So when I have time to do stuff like that, I feel bad that I'm being such a loser, and I start looking for an extra job or an extra volunteer opportunity. I've tried to find a hobby, but nothing ever interests me enough for me to keep doing it. I like having purpose and drive when I do things, and when I don't have a purpose, I tend to decide that maybe watching tv would be more fun. I mean come on... it takes too much effort to go hiking and such... plus Gordon Ramsey is sooo much more amusing to me than heaving and hoe-ing up a mountain.

Damn, I feel like such a loser! Am I like totally screwed if I get interviews??? I mean I swear I'm well adjusted and I'm not like some neurotic freak who doesn't know how to destress or anything... sigh...

This not having an "acceptable stress relief" hobby thing is stressing me out so much!

 

[KittyRex]

Minnerbelle - Don't worry! I'm sure all of us on this forum can relate to being a bit of a workaholic now and then 😉
In fact, after I graduated last year and decided to take a year off from school to work full time and apply, it took me a few months to even remember what I liked to do in my free time (no having had much of it, previously). Similarly, it took a while for most of my friends to realize that calling me to hang out was no longer a lost cause .

Regarding interview questions on this matter, it's really not a big deal. They just want to know that you understand how important balance is and that you've figured out some ways de-stress and avoid burnout. You really don't have to pull out some long list of hobbies to impress them. Trust me, although I would have loved to launch into a discussion of my Oblivion character or the new adobo recipe I tried last week, all I said when asked was pretty much: workout/run and hang out with my family & dog... and basically that I find balance by trying to continue at least some of the things that I love, even when life is most chaotic.😀

 

[david594]

This sounds like an interview question! (seriously, they asked me this at every single interview!)

Same here for my (n=1). 🙄

And the answer I gave them.... I like my vintage vehicles. I have a 1968 vw bus that I spend a good deal of time working on and occasionally driving. And I have a 1979 vespa scooter that I spend more time driving and occasional time working on.

The rest of the time is spent looking for the next project, or parts for the first too.

 

[karmapple]

Minnerbelle, I went to three interviews and was never asked that question, so maybe you won't have to worry about it. I usually had a jam-packed schedule as well, so maybe that is why? Although honestly, what pre-vet doesn't? That question would have been easier to answer than many of the ones they threw at me. Explaining my C's in Organic Chemistry made me sweat a bit. Not a great way to start an interview!

 

[buckeye4runner]

Hmm well back when I was in the midst of applying I would say none other than stressing and stalking SDN... but now...

Horseback riding (dressage), taking the dog to the dog park/swimming, line dancing (don't judge!), reading, DVR'ing mindless TV shows, cooking, and hanging with friends at the pool/dive bar/someone's apartment.

 

[CaitL1014]

I also feel like a workaholic, but in my spare time I like to tan by the pool, and go to concerts. Music is a big part of my life.
During the week, I spend most nights watching tv and movies with my cats and dogs. My mom and I watch waay too much reality tv! I also spend a lot of time online chatting with friends.

 

[katryn]

Reading, craft projects(I LOVE quilting), crime tv shows(SCI, NCIS, etc), and I'm learning how to make things grow in my flowerbeds instead of killing everything with my black thumb. Also, I wouldn't call it a hobby, cuz it's not really my favorite thing to do, but running/walking with the hubby and dog is taking up time too...we find it rediculous that chubby hub is in better shape than not so chubby me.

 

[lyndaelyzoo]

Stalking SDN and stressing!!! Horseback riding (haven't done much lately, though), running, painting, dreaming, reading, and working on lesson plans.

 

[sumstorm]

hiking, camping, SCUBA, biking (newest hobby), crafts (scrapbooking, upholstering, painting, remodeling, decorating), writing, gardening, animal training, travel, attending events/seminars, trying new things.

I think I have that 'novelty gene' I love trying anything new or different, and I can't stand to do 'nothing' for more than a couple hours a month. Right now, besides vet school, I want to become a SCUBA instructor, do some international volunteer work, and check out the city hubby is considering a job in (in CA, argh!)

 

[beaglehound]

For me it's taking the dog to the dog park, doing crafty projects (currently working on crocheting a baby blanket for a friend), singing classical music either in choirs or for weddings etc., reading, and spending waaaay too much time on the computer! 🙂

 

[drforwhiskers]

I am in the marching band at my school, as well as a music service fraternity. I also love to read 🙂

 

[aspiringDVM]

Reading alot. Walking -- NOT running -- outside with my dogs. Playing a bit of piano. Drinking tea. Cleaning. Sleeping. Laughing.
Definitely understand the working-for-fun sentiment. Pretty much my favorite thing to do in the world is to go to the equine rehab place where I used to work and medicate and bandage horses for an afternoon 🙄 (this is actually my reward to myself after I finish a particularly grisly round of exams or have a bad week).

 

[rileyroo]

Definitely understand the working-for-fun sentiment. Pretty much my favorite thing to do in the world is to go to the equine rehab place where I used to work and medicate and bandage horses for an afternoon 🙄 (this is actually my reward to myself after I finish a particularly grisly round of exams or have a bad week).

this is probably a testament to the notion that as veterinarians we will be doing what we love 🙂

 

[kakurubird]

Riding, running, reading (fiction and nonfiction), baking (but only when there's some reason to where I know others will be eating whatever I bake), taking photos (I shoot 35mm film still). At the barn where I used to ride, my favorite thing to do was to the morning feed and then go ride on trail. Made a long week so much better fitting that in a few times. I really miss it now that I can't anymore.

 

[zpsid91]

I like to ride horses (I sold my two, but I lease a youngin that is learning to jump!), read mysteries (esp. Rita Mae Brown, since I foxhunt), listen to music, hang out with the kitties and ferret and watch movies!

 

[TrocarKarin]

I do schutzhund with my dobies every week, I read constantly (during a light semester, I'll go through 3-4 paperbacks per week), I listen to metal, and I play bass guitar, upright bass, harp and cello. I also work on my '67 cadillac hearse, but that usually starts out fun, and ends up with me swearing and frustrated.

 

[DVMorBust]

riding, reading, hiking/backpacking/canoe/kayak/anything that gets me outside, geocaching, writing, fencing, ultimate frisbee, getting into weightlifting a bit.

 

[aspiringDVM]

riding, reading, hiking/backpacking/canoe/kayak/anything that gets me outside, geocaching, writing, fencing, ultimate frisbee, getting into weightlifting a bit.

I interviewed a guy who did geocaching for my school's scholarship program. I had never heard of it before, and when he said "geocaching," I heard it as "geode smashing," and was quite perplexed at the notion that this highly intelligent person spent his free time splitting rocks open in hopes that there would be crystals inside

 

[twelvetigers]

You guys are all so active! I'm lazy, it seems... I play the French Horn when I can, but it terrorizes the cats and I try not to do it when the husband is home... I like to read... I spend a lot of time on the internet... I love technology, so when I finally get my paws on an iPhone (a month!) you won't be able to pry it out of my hands.

I need cooler hobbies!

I also need to get out of the house more. Lol.

 

[Pomona2006]

For me...I keep pretty active but I do have my lazy days/moments.

• Skiing, Swimming, other exercise. I was a competitive swimmer and skiier for years but now just do those for pleasure. I used to rock climb, but had to let that hobby go due to financial constraints. 🙁
• Cooking. My family never cooked (except for holidays) but its one of my favorite things to do.
• Traveling. Wherever, whenever, I'll go - I particularly love Latin America.
• Gardening. I have fun plans, decorative plants, and useful plants: herbs and veggies that I use for cooking.
• Photography - (duh...I'm surprised I thought of that this far down on the list 🙄)
• Training my cats - Everything from sit, down, & roll over to toilet training
• Wii - my first video game system ever (just got it this year). I don't play obsessively, but it's fun.
• Listen to music or watch movies - usually at the same time as cooking or cleaning.
• I'm also a bit of an adrenaline junkie...so everything from roller coasters to white water rafting to cliff jumping gets me going 🙂

Things I want to do more of in the future:

• Camping
• Rock Climbing
• Biking

 

[thaowey]

For me...I keep pretty active but I do have my lazy days/moments.

• Photography - (duh...I'm surprised I thought of that this far down on the list 🙄)

darn! you beat me to it! lol. i <3 photography. i recently just bought a vintage film Canon AE-1 35mm SLR camera and am just shooting pics around campus for fun!

my favorite thing to do is EAT! i love eating...

and TRAVELING! always good...

for fun i like to try and do new things. recently learned how to wakeboard this summer.

and who doesn't love SHOPPING?! best stress reliever ever! despite this ****ty economy lol

and i enjoy watching European football. and GATOR football. Tim Tebow makes me happy.

oh and whenever i need to study or do hw and don't want to, i bust out my guitar and start playing. lol.

wow. that's long. ok i'm done! :]

 

[TrocarKarin]

I interviewed a guy who did geocaching for my school's scholarship program. I had never heard of it before, and when he said "geocaching," I heard it as "geode smashing," and was quite perplexed at the notion that this highly intelligent person spent his free time splitting rocks open in hopes that there would be crystals inside

As a geology geek, geode smashing sounds fun.

 

[OHlivia]

I love to crochet! My mom taught me when I was little, and the vet I work for told me that it'll help me out in vet school for suturing, which is convenient! I'm working on a GIGANTIC afghan right now. I made one for my boyfriend for Christmas, and I got jealous of it so I'm making one for myself.

Other than that, I like to run, cook, and sit in front of the TV and be completely useless. 😛

My roommate is a nursing major so she's really busy too, but when our favorite TV shows get put online, we both totally put our academic lives on hold to watch. Good for the GPA? Probably not, but it makes me happy 🙂

It almost seems like an adcom would like an "I waste away in front of the TV" answer for a question like that. I mean, at least its honest, and with how much we all do, there's nothing wrong with a little vegetation once in a while!

 

[HandD42]

Well the teeny tiny bit of free time I have is almost 100% spent with my horse. We pretend to ride dressage so most of my time is spent perfecting a 20m circles (hahaha dressage joke), we do go on the occasional trail ride and compete some weekends.

Besides that I am an avid fiction reader and I knit in the winters. Too depressing to knit in the summer because it just reminds me of the horror waiting for me come, say, november.

I also inherited my grandma's cockatiel about 3 weeks ago so now I am spending lots of time researching birds and trying to make him a happier guy...its a work in progress.

 

[chyactnate]

• Ride horses almost everyday
• Go shooting at the range (not animals)
• Go to the driving range (good stress reliever)
• Read books
• Watch movies ( I usually watch a movie every night)

I always try to find time everyday to do something during the school year, I love studying but I need a break and find something to do. Even if it is just going out back and doing a stall. 🙂