Heading Uphill

The new commute is working out okay. It's easier when I ride everyday because then I'm sustaining the built up muscle. I always feel weak Monday morning when I get back on after a weekend of driving. Although yesterday I borrowed my friend's fiat (another story) and today felt like riding was the hardest thing in the world. I nearly missed my bus (I really should really leave earlier.) Anyway, later I figured out I was in the 3rd and 8th gears (not 2nd and 8th.) Significant difference! I thought maybe it was my tighter pants. Or my exhaustion at the end of the week. Or the fact that I'm suffering a bit of joint pain (knees, elbows, wrists, digits- I'm clearly getting old!) 

I was thinking as I rode along the water this afternoon that learning about the conditions of OT has really made me a lot more sympathetic and a lot less judgmental. I find myself more curious and interested in the ways people cope/deal with their hang-ups in life and less convinced that I know a better way. As a teacher I always found myself wanting to share the knowledge I learned in my early childhood classes (and from my experience) but because OT is across the lifespan and I will less often dealing be with a parent but with an individual directly, so it's important to meet them where they're at and to acknowledge their ways of compensation. I mean, I guess I did that as a teacher too. I just love how it all ties together. 

So quick fiat story: last night I got to go see Kate Hudson speak which was pretty cool- she's super cute and weird, which is so relatable!! Anyway, I went from home to school to work back to school then back home. 75 miles total. Well, a fiat offers 80 so we assumed I'd be fine. There's a super steep hill I have to go up to get home and when I got off the freeway I was down to 5% battery with a 3 mile range. My friend said to go for it and we'd call triple A if needed. I'm not confident but I think this hill is about a mile long and I'm only running on electric. From the freeway to the bottom of the hill I used 2% battery and I quickly watched the battery go down from 3 - 2 - 1 % and I was only half way up. I was ready to pull over when it said 0% but I was still accelerating uphill, so I literally rolled with it! ;) Anyway, JUST before the last leg of the hill there was no more power to be had- though I was still somehow moving forward (UPhill) and managed to get JUST to the stop sign where I coasted safely through (don't tell the cops!) and coasted slightly downhill the two blocks home. It was totally nerve-wracking!! It felt like a crazy defeat though and I was happy to land safely in the driveway and walk inside. Ha. Angels probably. 

So anyway, this week and last were our first set of midterms which went well, considering how unprepared I actually felt. Two of my teachers have teaching styles I can't quite grasp onto - in one class I just listen (taking the occasional notes, participating when relevant) but mostly absorbing as much as I can subconsciously and hoping it attaches to my previously filed psychological facts and understandings. Testing is its own category of regurgitating comprehension but I manage..

Speaking of testing! I'm utilizing the student disability services to accommodate my ADD tendencies (so I can take tests in a testing center and get extensions on papers when I just CANNOT focus.) The head of the program seems to be mysteriously no longer working for the school and no one knows anything (except HR- who seem to be coming down hard with all kinds of rules and regulations that feel less accommodating and certainly not sensitive to students' needs with more severe situations than mine: like generalized anxiety for one.) I wanted to jump up and do something but my psychosocial teacher (who also majored in law) suggested I keep my focus on school work and unless an opportunity came up open to the students to fill them in, not to get distracted. Good advice and yet, I still feel compelled to yell at someone in charge and make them see how unfair they're being! I guess that's never been too effective though. 

At this point my focus is on group projects- then we have spring break (yay!) then presentations and midterms again!! Group projects are always tricky because trying to coordinate 3-4 peoples crazy busy schedule is its own chore! Looks like we're gonna skype over the weekend for this one because we couldn't seem to all make it when we tried to meet during this week. I'm sure it will be okay- just frustrating :/

Oh oh! Today at our first break during morning lecture I discovered a dog-toy-Frisbee on the school grounds and we tossed it around a bit before going back in! It was an awesome endorphin pumper and made for a way better second half of class. Then, before our next class started, the WHOLE cohort came out and played on the grass in front of the buildings. Some people just watched but most joined in, even when (some of us) weren't great it was still fun! One girl wants to start a club, which I would definitely join! I miss playing organized sports. Being active is definitely a wonderful way to make these tough days pass with a little more joy.

Snafu City

So the best laid plans always get screwed up... or something like that. I was getting all settled into an organized new semester when my car died. I wasn't nearly as upset as I could have been. The strongest feeling I have about it is that I'm sad my car is no longer part of my life. I loved that car. Who knew I could love a car? It was mostly reliable, definitely enduring, and fun to drive. I've never cared so much about a car before (this is my third.) It was just all-around convenient and comfortable (well, except on long road trips but then, I don't like sitting in ANY car for too long.) Anyway, it's gone now. And I decided I want to try to get by without one. I tried that when I first moved to CA and it was do-able, though difficult. There were the days when I got out of class at 9:30pm and it was a bike-bus-bart sort of commute, ending in a 40 min ride uphill to my house, getting me home around 11pm. It was good exercise and I got really good sleep in those days! But it was tough. So, I got a car. 

Fortunately, right now I have support within reach should I need a car for a quick trip or heavy-load-day or days when I have to dress like "a professional" for assessments or fieldwork. However, today was my first day trial commuting and I just got on a bus that arrived a half hour late - I should've known this was going to happen and just planned to be an hour early to school. It doesn't matter now. I'm late and instead of studying am writing this blog. I guess in a way it's the beginning of a new chapter, and noteworthy. The trickiest part of this commute is all my darn textbooks. They're heavy! I recently bought some saddle bags but they're not easy to carry once I reach my destination. My school really needs to have lockers. I started a petition last semester but had less of a need for them once I started driving. The need has resurfaced and it doesn't seem like an impossible request. I'll see if I can work in the time to fit that petition back into my schedule.

Awe :) The bus driver just let this 12/13 y.o. boy get a free ride today, "for showing good bus riding etiquette by letting two elderly women get on first," then he said, "gotta reward that respectful behavior young," to no one in particular. 

I just had my first skills checkout yesterday and it went relatively well. I felt mostly prepared (though I always feel I can prepare more) and comfortable with the material. I don't generally get nervous with those sorts of things and I felt calm and collected as I greeted (greeted? :/ had greet? gret? tehee) the patient and addressed her needs. I'm pretty sure I did everything correctly, except that I initially forgot to sanitize my hands and did it part-way through. The main thing that helped me prepare was visualizing the entire process in my head over and over again. It really helped that the patient-actor was so kind as a person, as well as tuned into her role. I actually think I would like to do that someday ~ be the patient-actor person. 

Tomorrow I have to give an assessment at a locked-facility (L-facility) to a real patient. I'm glad we had this test run for a different class on Monday just to get me comfortable with being an OT. (That feels good to say.) I practiced the assessment last night on my mentee who is struggling with time management skills mostly, and the desire to be healthier but unsure how. She's only 12 so it's normal for her to be confused about how to be independent as well as responsible. Her parents are really tuned in, and so is she, which makes it such an engaging situation that I find myself very committed to. I can just see her becoming such a wonderfully attentive, caring and responsible individual, bringing a lot of good to the world. I feel special to be a part of her life at this crucial period of development.

I'm going to try and get off the bus now and bike the rest of the way once we are over the bridge, so I need to wrap this up. I'm glad I took the time to write! My surrogate-upstairs-family and I celebrated Chinese new year last night (with take out) and we were talking about how every time you recall and retell a memory, it changes slightly. So for me, this documentation is about remembering the process of becoming an OT, acknowledging the struggles and successes, and being able to reflect on a way to make it easier for others. :)

[I knew if I didn't post this when I finished typing it then it would get lost in the mayhem. I wrote this on Tuesday I believe. Well, now it's Friday and I'm still adjusting to my bike commute. It's been good on my body, as well as exhausting! I did find a gorgeous Bay trail to make my bike ride to the bus a little nicer. Trying to keep my face to sunshine!]