I grew up during the Dan Gable wrestling era at Iowa. From my perspective as a kid, the only names in wrestling were Iowa, Iowa State, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. In fact, from 1968 until 2000 only one other school won the national championship. In the last 12 years, Minnesota and Iowa have both won three national championships which can only add some spice to the animated rivalry between the two schools. Though I have never seen any wrestling in person, I'm enough of an Iowa fan to want to go see them, especially when I can use my University of Minnesota student ID to get in free.
I arrived at the end of the introductions and found a place to sit next to some Iowa fans. Shortly afterwards some Minnesota fans sat on the other side of me. Even though wrestling is a pretty straight forward sport (get your opponent on the mat and if possible on their back), I still felt like a novice and learned some from listening the comments of those on either side of me. The two teams were evenly matched with Minnesota ranked 4th and Iowa 5th. Both wrestlers were ranked in 8 of the 10 bouts. That meant there wasn't much action at times since neither wrestler could find a good opening. There was little chance of seeing a pin. These wrestlers were just too good. Sometimes the fans were so quiet that I could hear the instructions the Iowa coaches were giving. The quietness may have had something to do with Iowa winning 4 of the first 5 bouts. The crowd was much more animated when Minnesota turned the tables and won the last four bouts resulting in a 15 to 15 tie. That felt very unsatisfying to me. Neither team should have to settle for a tie after all the work that they put in. When I got home I discovered that Iowa won 16 to 15 since they outscored the Gophers 41 to 33. That gave them the extra point and the win. In the past three years I've seen the Gophers beat the Hawkeyes two times in football. It was nice to see Iowa come in and get a win.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Cadaver lab
Anatomy class gives us the option between cadaver lab and Anatomay TV, an online virtual experience. I chose the cadaver lab for several reasons. I spend enough time staring at my computer screen that I'm glad to have the excuse to be studying with no screen in sight. I also like the hands on learning experience. Being able to touch and feel helps me remember things. My housemate, Jan, has learned not to ask any questions when I get home from lab since she thinks I give too much information. I'll try not to give too much information here.
We are working with 8 different cadavers that have already been dissected by med students. Our lab instructor shows us the structures we are to be looking for and then our job is to find them all on each of the cadavers. That isn't always possible but it does give us a good idea of how each of us are different. We know that people come in all sizes which means bones and muscles are different widths and lengths. In addition blood vessels and nerves branch off in a little bit different places. We spent quite a bit of time trying to sort out the brachial plexus, the area between the neck and the arm pit where several nerves branch off, join and branch off again. The major artery that supplies the arm runs in the same area. I was surprised that the nerves and blood vessels are about the same size. Somehow I always thought that nerves were quite small. The lab exam isn't until close to the end of the semester but our first test in class is on Thursday. My anatomy flash cards are never far away.
We are working with 8 different cadavers that have already been dissected by med students. Our lab instructor shows us the structures we are to be looking for and then our job is to find them all on each of the cadavers. That isn't always possible but it does give us a good idea of how each of us are different. We know that people come in all sizes which means bones and muscles are different widths and lengths. In addition blood vessels and nerves branch off in a little bit different places. We spent quite a bit of time trying to sort out the brachial plexus, the area between the neck and the arm pit where several nerves branch off, join and branch off again. The major artery that supplies the arm runs in the same area. I was surprised that the nerves and blood vessels are about the same size. Somehow I always thought that nerves were quite small. The lab exam isn't until close to the end of the semester but our first test in class is on Thursday. My anatomy flash cards are never far away.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Home
One of my classes this semester is on occupational therapy and family. At first glance family doesn't seem to have anything to do with OT but many times, people receiving OT greatly benefit from the help of family members.
Last week our professor led us through a short visualization exercise of the kitchen in our home when we were 5. Some of the things she asked us to remember were easy to recall while others were more difficult. The L-shaped kitchen of 1972 was later remodeled into a square so there are sometimes two competing images in my mind. I do remember the cupboards, the window above the sink, and the placement of the stove and the refrigerator. At the same time, I have no memory of what was in the refrigerator. I know there was a telephone somewhere in the room but I don't really remember where. However, I do remember the location of the 1970's-green Kitchen Aid on the counter. That could be because Mom was patient enough to let me help with the baking and we all came running when the mixer was at work because we wanted to lick the bowl and beater. I think the floor was yellow (though I'm not sure that was when I was 5). I do remember playing hockey with Andrew using 2 yardsticks and a lego as we waited for breakfast to be ready. I remember the table sitting in the nook with windows on the east and south sides. Considering how we all have assigned seats now, I'm sure we did then too and I think mine was in the SE corner. I also remember the old grinder that would attach to the cutting board and used to grind up meat for sandwiches. Did we not have sliced deli meat back then?
This whole exercise was part of a section on what home means to different people. My parents moved to town from that house about 6 years ago. I was in Iowa and helped with the move and I don't remember it being difficult. My sense of home seemed to be more attached to Mom and Dad than to the place. However, I was surprised by how emotional this little journey back in time was. Originally, John was going to move to the farm and even though he never did, he was the one farming the land. That all changes this year. The machine shed and barn are empty and the house will become home to a young couple getting their start in farming. Dad still owns it all, but in a way it's not really ours anymore. Though it is not what we had planned, I know it is a good thing for this couple. Yet I am left with a sense of loss. Maybe it is also related to not really having my roots down yet. I feel more at home here in Minneapolis than I did a year ago but I don't know where I will end up once I am done with my schooling. I am thankful I grew up on a farm with a mom who didn't work outside the home. That allowed all of us to work alongside both my parents which is the best way to learn. After all, values and character are far more likely to be caught than taught.
Last week our professor led us through a short visualization exercise of the kitchen in our home when we were 5. Some of the things she asked us to remember were easy to recall while others were more difficult. The L-shaped kitchen of 1972 was later remodeled into a square so there are sometimes two competing images in my mind. I do remember the cupboards, the window above the sink, and the placement of the stove and the refrigerator. At the same time, I have no memory of what was in the refrigerator. I know there was a telephone somewhere in the room but I don't really remember where. However, I do remember the location of the 1970's-green Kitchen Aid on the counter. That could be because Mom was patient enough to let me help with the baking and we all came running when the mixer was at work because we wanted to lick the bowl and beater. I think the floor was yellow (though I'm not sure that was when I was 5). I do remember playing hockey with Andrew using 2 yardsticks and a lego as we waited for breakfast to be ready. I remember the table sitting in the nook with windows on the east and south sides. Considering how we all have assigned seats now, I'm sure we did then too and I think mine was in the SE corner. I also remember the old grinder that would attach to the cutting board and used to grind up meat for sandwiches. Did we not have sliced deli meat back then?
This whole exercise was part of a section on what home means to different people. My parents moved to town from that house about 6 years ago. I was in Iowa and helped with the move and I don't remember it being difficult. My sense of home seemed to be more attached to Mom and Dad than to the place. However, I was surprised by how emotional this little journey back in time was. Originally, John was going to move to the farm and even though he never did, he was the one farming the land. That all changes this year. The machine shed and barn are empty and the house will become home to a young couple getting their start in farming. Dad still owns it all, but in a way it's not really ours anymore. Though it is not what we had planned, I know it is a good thing for this couple. Yet I am left with a sense of loss. Maybe it is also related to not really having my roots down yet. I feel more at home here in Minneapolis than I did a year ago but I don't know where I will end up once I am done with my schooling. I am thankful I grew up on a farm with a mom who didn't work outside the home. That allowed all of us to work alongside both my parents which is the best way to learn. After all, values and character are far more likely to be caught than taught.
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Let the semester begin
After a few weeks of not thinking about school work beyond ordering my books, we officially started back in on Thursday. I feel for any of my classmates who didn't begin at least on Wednesday as I did. The first few weeks are always rather overwhelming and this has been no exception. It didn't help that our online platform was down all day yesterday and most of today.
I began by downloading each syllabus and noting key assignments and dates on my calendar. Last semester we didn't have any exams. This semester our first exam is in three weeks - in Anatomy. I sure hope everything I learned during the fall of 2011 comes back quickly or it will be overwhelming. Functional Anatomy & Kinesiology is one of the classes that will require the most study. As occupational therapists, we focus mainly on the upper body so that is where we begin. Tomorrow I need to plug away on the bones, muscles, nerves and blood supply in the shoulder and arm.
Another class that will require a lot of time is a 5 credit class called Occupation Through Compensation. This is where our studies get very practical since we will regularly be using what we learn in our practice. I really need to learn this material for more than the test. It looks at ways people can compensate for weakness or the loss of ability to do something. It might be temporary such as the man who had a hip replacement and can't bend at the waist past a 90˚ angle for six weeks but still wants to be able to put on his pants, shoes and socks. Others face permanent changes such as the woman who becomes paralyzed and finds she must learn new ways to do many daily activities from her wheelchair. This class includes 24 hours of practical experience which will be my first taste of actually doing occupational therapy as opposed to simply observing.
One big change this semester is that we will be on campus in class every other week for two full days. In addition I have a cadaver lab every other Monday for a couple of hours. However, since this is the first week, we begin tomorrow with the lab and have class on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. It will be great to have more interaction with professors and classmates but the extra time in class as well as all the professors expect us to do before class time add to the pressure of these first two weeks. It will get better and come April 10, everything will be done!
I began by downloading each syllabus and noting key assignments and dates on my calendar. Last semester we didn't have any exams. This semester our first exam is in three weeks - in Anatomy. I sure hope everything I learned during the fall of 2011 comes back quickly or it will be overwhelming. Functional Anatomy & Kinesiology is one of the classes that will require the most study. As occupational therapists, we focus mainly on the upper body so that is where we begin. Tomorrow I need to plug away on the bones, muscles, nerves and blood supply in the shoulder and arm.
Another class that will require a lot of time is a 5 credit class called Occupation Through Compensation. This is where our studies get very practical since we will regularly be using what we learn in our practice. I really need to learn this material for more than the test. It looks at ways people can compensate for weakness or the loss of ability to do something. It might be temporary such as the man who had a hip replacement and can't bend at the waist past a 90˚ angle for six weeks but still wants to be able to put on his pants, shoes and socks. Others face permanent changes such as the woman who becomes paralyzed and finds she must learn new ways to do many daily activities from her wheelchair. This class includes 24 hours of practical experience which will be my first taste of actually doing occupational therapy as opposed to simply observing.
One big change this semester is that we will be on campus in class every other week for two full days. In addition I have a cadaver lab every other Monday for a couple of hours. However, since this is the first week, we begin tomorrow with the lab and have class on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. It will be great to have more interaction with professors and classmates but the extra time in class as well as all the professors expect us to do before class time add to the pressure of these first two weeks. It will get better and come April 10, everything will be done!
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