This week I finished the first semester of classes. With only 7 more to go it is easy to lose sight of the end goal which is eventually being an occupational therapist. Friday I walked a few blocks to spend the morning with some of the OTs at a therapy care unit. The original idea was to strengthen my application to get into an OT program. The added benefit was to be reminded of the joys and challenges therapists face on a daily basis.
It was a packed three hours and the therapists graciously explained a lot of what they were doing and why. Robin told me that if you take an extra two minutes to do little things for the patients they will worker harder for you. One of the women she was working with was just about ready to go home after back surgery. Robin's role that day was to make sure she could handle taking a shower by herself. The little extra was putting lotion on her back and legs. Another woman, a stroke-victim, hadn't been a good patient from the beginning. She had made things tough on all the staff and refused to work with the therapists at first. Now she is willing to work with Robin. I think that is because Robin reminded her of her options: lay in bed for the rest of your days, or get up and get dressed and work so you can handle a motorized wheelchair and go outside by spring. It's not surprising that this woman in her 50s decided it would be better to work. And having a therapist who would get her to sit forward in her chair and scratch her back for a few minutes while she worked those core muscles helped the process along as well. The time I spent with her was doing some testing to make sure she had the necessary strength and reaction time to try out a motorized wheelchair next week.
I watched another therapist work with a young man who had brain damage due to carbon monoxide poisoning. The sounds and activity in the therapy room overwhelmed him so he was wheeled down the hall to a sitting area where he could see outside. There it was easier for him to focus and the task was just to get him to follow an object with his eyes and turn his head. One side was a whole lot easier than the other. She also worked with one of his arms trying to get the tense muscles to relax. Afterward, the therapist explained some of the family dynamics I had observed during that half hour. Some family members stay completely in the background and others get involved - and getting involved isn't usually helpful. I would have liked to have seen this young man without the "help" of his family to see the difference.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
shoveling
I know, I wrote about winter weather last week. I should have waited a week as yesterday we had our first blizzard of the season. (In case you don't know, that means snow + wind which results in drifts in front of anything that stops the snow.) While we didn't have terrible winds here, close to 12 inches of snow fell and in some places it shifted around into at least 24 inch drifts. Last night about 5 it stopped snowing so I went out to to get a start on the shoveling. I sunk up to my knees in most places but for some reason the drift next to the garage left a 3-shovel wide area with hardly any snow. Then I walked around the corner and realized all the snow that should have been there had been deposited in front of the garage doors. Last night I cleared a path to the garage and in front of one garage door. If need be we could get out.
This morning the sun shone bright and it was down around zero. My church was canceled since it would take most people all day to dig out so I walked to a church nearby that was still having services. The man who gave the welcome said, "Welcome to both of you." (There were more than 2 of us there.) The sidewalks across the bridge had been cleared but other than that it was safer to walk on the streets. I saw a few cars that were going to take some major work to get dug out. One side was packed in by the snow from the snowplow and the other side was packed in by the snow from the sidewalk snow blower.
I spent the afternoon finishing the shoveling. The alley was plowed last night leaving a foot high mound that I needed to get away from the garage. The other problem was where to put the stuff. There just isn't a lot of space. I was about ready to peter out and offer my car to my roommate for work tomorrow when a neighbor came over to help me with what was left in front of the garage. I met several of the neighbors today. And despite the close to zero temps, I was far from cold. In fact I was sweating. My core definitely got a work-out.
Some may ask why we don't have a snow blower. Actually Kathryn does - it's just over at her brother's and he's on another continent right now. However the friend staying there said he'd gladly come over and help once he got his car dug out which he figured would take all day. He'll stop by tomorrow. In the meantime we can get our cars out and the mailman can get to the mailbox (which is by the front door) and people can walk down the sidewalk.
Tomorrow I have my first of two finals. Since it's online I can take it when I'm ready which will probably be sometime in the afternoon. Wednesday I have my Math final and then I'm done for the semester. I have quite a list of things that I want to catch up on over the break.
This morning the sun shone bright and it was down around zero. My church was canceled since it would take most people all day to dig out so I walked to a church nearby that was still having services. The man who gave the welcome said, "Welcome to both of you." (There were more than 2 of us there.) The sidewalks across the bridge had been cleared but other than that it was safer to walk on the streets. I saw a few cars that were going to take some major work to get dug out. One side was packed in by the snow from the snowplow and the other side was packed in by the snow from the sidewalk snow blower.
I spent the afternoon finishing the shoveling. The alley was plowed last night leaving a foot high mound that I needed to get away from the garage. The other problem was where to put the stuff. There just isn't a lot of space. I was about ready to peter out and offer my car to my roommate for work tomorrow when a neighbor came over to help me with what was left in front of the garage. I met several of the neighbors today. And despite the close to zero temps, I was far from cold. In fact I was sweating. My core definitely got a work-out.
Some may ask why we don't have a snow blower. Actually Kathryn does - it's just over at her brother's and he's on another continent right now. However the friend staying there said he'd gladly come over and help once he got his car dug out which he figured would take all day. He'll stop by tomorrow. In the meantime we can get our cars out and the mailman can get to the mailbox (which is by the front door) and people can walk down the sidewalk.
Tomorrow I have my first of two finals. Since it's online I can take it when I'm ready which will probably be sometime in the afternoon. Wednesday I have my Math final and then I'm done for the semester. I have quite a list of things that I want to catch up on over the break.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Winter
For the past 18 years winters have been mild for me. Since I grew up in Iowa I know what "real winter" is all about but in France it was gray and rainy with temperatures in the 30s. While living there I learned that "cold" is a relative term. Most French people I met think it is really cold when it gets down to 0°C (freezing). I'd show up with a fall jacket on and they couldn't imagine that I could possibly be warm. I'd smile and tell them it was -40° in Iowa and they couldn't fathom being able to function at such extreme temperatures.
Snow was another area of misunderstanding. I tried to explain the concept of dry snow that couldn't be packed into snowballs but it was beyond their comprehension. I'd invite them to come visit and they'd shake their heads in horror and add, "Not in the winter!" It was quite humorous watching the French drive in snow. But I can cut them some slack since they usually have only one opportunity to practice each year and quite a few cars end up in the ditch here following the first snow each year.
Now I'm getting to experience a full Minnesota winter while carrying on with my business despite the elements. I must confess that when the first snow came on a Saturday, it felt very much like a snow day, even though it was only about 6 inches of very wet heavy stuff. (Dry snow is MUCH easier to shovel.) After that I was able to ride my bike a few more times to school but now it's just too cold and the streets are too messy. I still see brave souls pedaling away but personally, I'm grateful for my student bus pass. I have to leave earlier and it's not quite so easy to stop by the post office or the library on the way home but at least I get to school without watery eyes and a frozen face.
At this point I still like "real" winter. (Ask me in February or March if that is still the case.) I went out for a walk this afternoon and the new layer of snow that fell on Friday and Saturday made the city seem very clean and picturesque (if I didn't look at the streets.) The beauty of God's creation is seen in the desert and the cold north. So let it snow - and I need to buy a pair of boots!
Snow was another area of misunderstanding. I tried to explain the concept of dry snow that couldn't be packed into snowballs but it was beyond their comprehension. I'd invite them to come visit and they'd shake their heads in horror and add, "Not in the winter!" It was quite humorous watching the French drive in snow. But I can cut them some slack since they usually have only one opportunity to practice each year and quite a few cars end up in the ditch here following the first snow each year.
Now I'm getting to experience a full Minnesota winter while carrying on with my business despite the elements. I must confess that when the first snow came on a Saturday, it felt very much like a snow day, even though it was only about 6 inches of very wet heavy stuff. (Dry snow is MUCH easier to shovel.) After that I was able to ride my bike a few more times to school but now it's just too cold and the streets are too messy. I still see brave souls pedaling away but personally, I'm grateful for my student bus pass. I have to leave earlier and it's not quite so easy to stop by the post office or the library on the way home but at least I get to school without watery eyes and a frozen face.
At this point I still like "real" winter. (Ask me in February or March if that is still the case.) I went out for a walk this afternoon and the new layer of snow that fell on Friday and Saturday made the city seem very clean and picturesque (if I didn't look at the streets.) The beauty of God's creation is seen in the desert and the cold north. So let it snow - and I need to buy a pair of boots!
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Hawkeye-Gopher game from the concourse
Saturday I had the opportunity to work security at the Iowa-Minnesota game. What Iowa fan wouldn't want to get paid to see them play especially when Minnesota is doing the paying? I went through a few hours of training a few weeks ago but didn't really know what to expect. I reported at 11am for the 2:30 kickoff. It took a few minutes to get my uniform, a bright yellow jacket to go over "however many layers you need to stay warm." (I had 5.) Then I found a chair until it was time to head up to the student section where we got our assignments. When one of the supervisors added me to his group he told me it would be one of the warmer jobs. As we walked around the concourse to our location the constantly running water fountains were my first clue that there wasn't anywhere on the concourse that would qualify as warm. It was 21 degrees on the field and it was several degrees cooler when surrounded by concrete.
My assignment was shared with two other people. One of us stood next to the entrance to Goldy's (the U of Minn clothing store which did a great deal of business - though it could have just been a great place to go to warm up). Another checked tickets at the door leading to the premium seating elevators. The third stood in by the elevators. That's where the warmth was. We rotated every 15 minutes so after a half hour of cold we took a turn getting warm. None of the jobs were difficult and gave me ample opportunity to people-watch. However I didn't have a view of the field. Fortunately there was a TV monitor in both locations so I could follow what was happening. It wouldn't have helped to follow the roar of the crowd since both the Minnesota and Iowa fans put out about the same volume.
During the training we had been told that the student section yells, "We hate Iowa" even when they aren't playing Iowa. I'm not sure that is true (though I was far from the student section) and from my vantage point it was a good-natured rivalry among the fans. In fact there were several couples or groups made up of both Minnesota and Iowa fans. Everyone was cold (except those who were dressed for snowmobiling or hunting) and both sides had things to cheer about until the last Minnesota drive which won the game for them. The goal posts came down and a group of fans thoroughly enjoyed leaving the stadium cheering, "Who beat Iowa? We beat Iowa!" After waiting for the stadium to clear and checking a few sections for lost-&-found items, I was glad for a brisk walk and an all out sprint for the last block to catch a nice warm bus home. I was also glad to have some left-over soup to warm up for supper.
My assignment was shared with two other people. One of us stood next to the entrance to Goldy's (the U of Minn clothing store which did a great deal of business - though it could have just been a great place to go to warm up). Another checked tickets at the door leading to the premium seating elevators. The third stood in by the elevators. That's where the warmth was. We rotated every 15 minutes so after a half hour of cold we took a turn getting warm. None of the jobs were difficult and gave me ample opportunity to people-watch. However I didn't have a view of the field. Fortunately there was a TV monitor in both locations so I could follow what was happening. It wouldn't have helped to follow the roar of the crowd since both the Minnesota and Iowa fans put out about the same volume.
During the training we had been told that the student section yells, "We hate Iowa" even when they aren't playing Iowa. I'm not sure that is true (though I was far from the student section) and from my vantage point it was a good-natured rivalry among the fans. In fact there were several couples or groups made up of both Minnesota and Iowa fans. Everyone was cold (except those who were dressed for snowmobiling or hunting) and both sides had things to cheer about until the last Minnesota drive which won the game for them. The goal posts came down and a group of fans thoroughly enjoyed leaving the stadium cheering, "Who beat Iowa? We beat Iowa!" After waiting for the stadium to clear and checking a few sections for lost-&-found items, I was glad for a brisk walk and an all out sprint for the last block to catch a nice warm bus home. I was also glad to have some left-over soup to warm up for supper.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Giving Thanks
It's the time of year when we remember all the things we have to be thankful for. While there are always reasons to give thanks, it is good to have a day set aside to thank God for a bountiful harvest and getting us through another year. This might be more obvious to those of us with some connection to agriculture. Most of the time a good farmer will make a better living than a poor one. But one storm can wipe out a year's income no matter how good of a farmer one is. Maybe it's that realization that their livelihood is dependent on the weather that makes it easier for farmers to be thankful and enjoy a day of feasting to celebrate another year's harvest in the bins.
During this transition I've been purposefully reminding myself of the many reasons I have to be thankful. It helps me put things into perspective when I'm missing friends and a sense of belonging. So here's a partial list of what I'm thankful for right here, today.
During this transition I've been purposefully reminding myself of the many reasons I have to be thankful. It helps me put things into perspective when I'm missing friends and a sense of belonging. So here's a partial list of what I'm thankful for right here, today.
- A great living situation: 12 minutes from school by bike with a roommate who understands cross-cultural transitions
- Numerous opportunities to speak French
- Twin Cities Church: a family of families where I am starting to have a sense of belonging.
- I'm only 3 1/2 hours away from my family
- Extended family in the area that include me in gatherings
- Classes that I am enjoying
- How nice people are when I ask for help or information. "Minnesota nice" is a cultural thing that still takes me by surprise. I guess I was used to getting a sense that my request is a bother even when responding to that request is that person's job.
- I'm not having to spend as much time studying as I did at the beginning of the semester.
- People around the globe that care about me and keep in touch
Monday, November 15, 2010
Odds and Ends
I was laying in bed last night and remembered I hadn't written anything here this weekend. I was too snug under my blankets and quilt to want to get out of bed and I didn't really have any good ideas of what to write about so I stayed put. I had talked to Mom on Sat evening and she did most of the talking. In any case, here's some odds and ends just so I don't break my streak (even though I am a day late.)
Last week, despite the 60 degree temps, we got ready for winter by getting the upstairs windows covered with plastic. (That "we" doesn't include me as I had no part in the actual work.) I am living in a house that is over 100 years old and the window's aren't very tight so this will be a big help as temperatures fall. Saturday I woke up to snow and it kept snowing until mid-afternoon. It felt very much like a snow-day to me and I was wishing I had some hot chocolate in the house. I did do the shoveling and walked to the library through. It wasn't that much snow but it was heavy!
I've been more serious about the part-time job-hunt over the past week. Part of my daily routine is checking the part-time job section on Craig's list and responding to anything that someone might think I was actually qualified for by looking at my resume. So far, I haven't had any calls. The disadvantage is that the vast majority don't have any company name so I can't actually follow up on them. I'll keep trying.
Now it's time to study for my psychology test tomorrow on personality and motivation. It's not too difficult but I do need to get the right dead men (and one woman) connected with the right concepts.
Last week, despite the 60 degree temps, we got ready for winter by getting the upstairs windows covered with plastic. (That "we" doesn't include me as I had no part in the actual work.) I am living in a house that is over 100 years old and the window's aren't very tight so this will be a big help as temperatures fall. Saturday I woke up to snow and it kept snowing until mid-afternoon. It felt very much like a snow-day to me and I was wishing I had some hot chocolate in the house. I did do the shoveling and walked to the library through. It wasn't that much snow but it was heavy!
I've been more serious about the part-time job-hunt over the past week. Part of my daily routine is checking the part-time job section on Craig's list and responding to anything that someone might think I was actually qualified for by looking at my resume. So far, I haven't had any calls. The disadvantage is that the vast majority don't have any company name so I can't actually follow up on them. I'll keep trying.
Now it's time to study for my psychology test tomorrow on personality and motivation. It's not too difficult but I do need to get the right dead men (and one woman) connected with the right concepts.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Cider and s'mores
About a month ago I decided which church to become a part of. There are numerous good churches in the Twin Cities and several are within walking distance of where I live. In the end I settled on Twin Cities Church which has a service in West St Paul in the morning and another in Uptown in the afternoon which isn't far from where I live. TCC is a church plant so it is quite a bit smaller than most churches. People will definitely notice if I'm not there. What drew me was the friendliness of the people as well as the emphasis on what they call "house church" during the week. I joined a group that meets on Wednesday evening at someone's home. We eat together, have communion, study the Bible and pray. I have appreciated the discussions and how the group doesn't move on until everyone has completed their homework. And it's not enough to just get through the material; it needs to be internalized.
Yesterday afternoon my house church got together with a house church from St Paul on a small horse farm east of St. Paul. The weather couldn't have been more perfect. The horses and ponies got a good workout giving everyone rides. We made apple cider which I had never done before. It's a pretty easy process as long as you have some ready muscles in the group. Throw some clean apples into the contraption and have someone turn the crank to grind them up. When the bucket underneath is full a top is screwed down forcing the juice out where it drains into a pitcher. That's about it. The big question of the day was, "What's the difference between apple cider and apple juice?" As the sun went down the HOT unpasturized and unstrained apple cider was a big hit. Supper was bratwursts, sauerkraut, baked beans and numerous other side dishes. Two of the people there spoke French so we had our own conversation going on for awhile. We ended the evening sitting around the fire eating s'mores. I enjoyed being out in the country where it was quiet and I could see the stars.
Yesterday afternoon my house church got together with a house church from St Paul on a small horse farm east of St. Paul. The weather couldn't have been more perfect. The horses and ponies got a good workout giving everyone rides. We made apple cider which I had never done before. It's a pretty easy process as long as you have some ready muscles in the group. Throw some clean apples into the contraption and have someone turn the crank to grind them up. When the bucket underneath is full a top is screwed down forcing the juice out where it drains into a pitcher. That's about it. The big question of the day was, "What's the difference between apple cider and apple juice?" As the sun went down the HOT unpasturized and unstrained apple cider was a big hit. Supper was bratwursts, sauerkraut, baked beans and numerous other side dishes. Two of the people there spoke French so we had our own conversation going on for awhile. We ended the evening sitting around the fire eating s'mores. I enjoyed being out in the country where it was quiet and I could see the stars.
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