Thursday, March 31, 2011
Register 4 fall classes? REALLY!
Wow, what happened to spring? It is supposed to snow this weekend. I saw that we can begin to register for fall classes & my first thought was, what, wait, I am not ready yet! Time is going by so fast I cannot keep up. Major life desicions are here knocking on my door demanding my attention. We have 5 weeks of this program to go. It seems impossible. As much as I will miss everyone, I will not miss the pressure. This program is demanding. There has been a great side benefit, you learn a lot about yourself & how you perform under pressure. This morning we had one of April's killer tests. But, we learned in Pittsburgh that those tests are going to be of great benefit to us. Not only do me know the material we have developed study strategies. Everything that we have learned in the past two years will benefit us all in many facets of life. For example if someone holds a gun to my head I know not to panic & that I need to think. Hey, standing in front of the class like a deer in headlights may save your life. As someone said to me do something, anything even if it is wrong. It has been great to stop coughing & start feeling better & not have the brain fog & fatigue. It would have been better if I had not stood on the scales & realized I gained 10+ pounds. Everything goes better & your attitude is better when you feel healthy. We found out today that one of us got accepted to a program in Italy! Congrats! It will be fun to see who goes where & who does what. I expect great things because we are a room full of motivated, intelligent & or course pretty individuals. What is it Aprils telephone says? Hello gorgeous? What you do or take away from any program is up to you. No matter what the outcome, you will use these skills in your professional & personal life. I know that my skills need work but I am really proud that I made it through this program. Your grades are not handed to you, you work really hard for them. There is no way to really cheat, your performance is out there for everyone to see. As these weeks count down take a good look @ the people you have spent 5 days a week with for 2 years & 2 crazy workshops, 5 women in one room hello! Take a good look @ Ruby & April. When you walk out that door on May 13 it may be the last time you actually see some of these people. You will occasionally chat on Facebook or run into each other at a workshop, but the common goal is gone & we will move on w our lives. It has been a pleasure to be in class & get to know each on of you. You are a special group of people. I would not trade this experience, but there have been days........ K
Friday, March 25, 2011
Say what?
The clock is ticking. We start practicum & then we are on our way to? It doesn't seem possible. I still have not processed all that was yesterday, last week or last month. I think the month of
February is lost forever.
This is a crazy world, I am not sure where I fit. I realize that I am doing the same thing w sign language that I did when I started painting. I am taking it way too seriously. In the sense that you have learned the basics, start trusting yourself & taking some risks, have fun with it. A painting you can always change, you can paint over it. I think if you are with the right group of people that you can do the same w sign language. You have to find the right environment, where you can have fun & if you make a mistake you can, either do it again, forget about it or have a happy accident. Sometimes mistakes lead to great learning experiences or they were actually not a mistake at all.
In the class room you are so nervous. I feel like my schnauzer when I teach him a new trick. He wants that treat so bad his nose is sweating, he will do anything to get it. He will do all of his old tricks, but hesitate when he tries the new one... Maybe Ruby & April should incorporate some kind of special treat into their teaching routine. The cool thing is that you get nervous because you have instructors that motivate you. You want to try, to get it right, its a good thing. It is about learning to trust yourself & I am not sure when that happens.
Life is fast & furious. I am going to make it to practicum (I hope), then graduate @ the age of 45. Get a divorce, put my son on a plane to Iraq, go visit my brother in Singapore to see if he is doing his drinking w an IV & pole, come home move to a new apt, start my last year of school.....
T0 B CONTINUED..............
February is lost forever.
This is a crazy world, I am not sure where I fit. I realize that I am doing the same thing w sign language that I did when I started painting. I am taking it way too seriously. In the sense that you have learned the basics, start trusting yourself & taking some risks, have fun with it. A painting you can always change, you can paint over it. I think if you are with the right group of people that you can do the same w sign language. You have to find the right environment, where you can have fun & if you make a mistake you can, either do it again, forget about it or have a happy accident. Sometimes mistakes lead to great learning experiences or they were actually not a mistake at all.
In the class room you are so nervous. I feel like my schnauzer when I teach him a new trick. He wants that treat so bad his nose is sweating, he will do anything to get it. He will do all of his old tricks, but hesitate when he tries the new one... Maybe Ruby & April should incorporate some kind of special treat into their teaching routine. The cool thing is that you get nervous because you have instructors that motivate you. You want to try, to get it right, its a good thing. It is about learning to trust yourself & I am not sure when that happens.
Life is fast & furious. I am going to make it to practicum (I hope), then graduate @ the age of 45. Get a divorce, put my son on a plane to Iraq, go visit my brother in Singapore to see if he is doing his drinking w an IV & pole, come home move to a new apt, start my last year of school.....
T0 B CONTINUED..............
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Interpreters human beings or alien life form?
Wow. I just took my dog for a long walk. Big deal I hear you say, it is, this is the first time in 2 months. The October before I came here I finished a half marathon. Hey, look at this, this fat ole woman says she finished a 13 mile race. I did. I was lastest, I knew the ambulance driver by name & I held up the award ceremony, but I did it. I had one really bad mile.
That is where I have been folks, February was my 1 really bad mile.
My dad used to drink hard. No matter how he felt he never missed a shifts work unless there was a funeral or we were in the hospital. In fact my dad never missed an opportunity to "double back" which means he worked 2 shifts back to back. He told me why he did that, so his kids could have it better than he did. I share his work ethic. I have had surgery and went back to work the next day. I did not know my ass from my elbow and I worked in health care with patients, I did not miss work under any circumstances.
The woman I work with now made the comment to me that I needed to get it together because she needed a "warm body with a pulse" to be there in the evenings. That is insulting. I have 9 years experience, had my own business and my first year out of massage school I took 60 hours of CEUs. We were required to have 24. I have been all over the east coast and to Thailand to take classes.
I do not want to be the interpreter who is a "warm body with a pulse." I gave this program 100% effort. Where my skills are right now is all the ability that I have. Last year not only did I not miss one class I was never late and I paid a tutor. I slept with the Gallaudet Dictionary. I do not feel any guilt, I have great teachers. All I can give is what I have.
But, I learned a hard lesson. Health comes first. For the first time in my 45 years on this earth I could not stand up. Feb. 13 I spent the night in my floor, because I could not get up. I made it to the doctor somehow and they gave me a shot in the butt that was supposed to make me better. I woke up and it was like a mule kicked me. I laid there and could not get up. You do not want me to paint you a picture. When I did get up I took my blankets and sheets and threw them away I did not wash them. When I missed class that week I was not shopping on QVC, I thought I was going to DIE.
I know that we are a Deaf persons only mode of communication and that it is very important. But, would you want me to interpret for your mom if I was coughing so hard that pee was running down my leg? If you have the flu and you go to a kindergarten class or an assisted living home with elderly people are you really doing your job? When you go back and you find out that Fred is dead because he got the flu? Did you give it to him? Maybe you did, maybe you didn't, but ethically should you have been there?
I missed a class yesterday because I was in pain. Do I care that I missed 25 points. No, I do not. I made a decison about my health. If I get run down again, I may miss my practicum, which is more important? I miss one class so I can get some much needed rest or I go and risk, laying in my own poop again? Its a no brainer.
They keep telling us that intrepeters are people. After this weekend I am not so sure. Most professionals do not eat their young.
I went to both workshops and gave all I had. What more can I do? We are people we have kids, husbands (did I pay enough attention to my husband last year, I guess not.) We are stressed to the max, giving it all. There comes a point when you have to say you know what. STOP.
I made it through this bad mile, but I will tell you this. I will NEVER under any circumstances, F**** my health up for anyone or anything.
Will I be a good interpreter? If I put the work into it and get as passionate as I was about massage yes, I will be. Will it happen over night no.
I am really not sure how I feel about interpreting. Its the bi-polar roller coaster. I will send you guys a post card when I get where I am going or meant to be.
Lets get-r-dun. That is for Jeanne Marie who will probably be the only one who reads this rant and I know it will irritate her.
Love you guys. I am a changed woman. I will take care of me.
My mother is a writer, bear with me I can write 10 page papers in five minutes, you just can't shut me up.
See, still going......
:-)
That is where I have been folks, February was my 1 really bad mile.
My dad used to drink hard. No matter how he felt he never missed a shifts work unless there was a funeral or we were in the hospital. In fact my dad never missed an opportunity to "double back" which means he worked 2 shifts back to back. He told me why he did that, so his kids could have it better than he did. I share his work ethic. I have had surgery and went back to work the next day. I did not know my ass from my elbow and I worked in health care with patients, I did not miss work under any circumstances.
The woman I work with now made the comment to me that I needed to get it together because she needed a "warm body with a pulse" to be there in the evenings. That is insulting. I have 9 years experience, had my own business and my first year out of massage school I took 60 hours of CEUs. We were required to have 24. I have been all over the east coast and to Thailand to take classes.
I do not want to be the interpreter who is a "warm body with a pulse." I gave this program 100% effort. Where my skills are right now is all the ability that I have. Last year not only did I not miss one class I was never late and I paid a tutor. I slept with the Gallaudet Dictionary. I do not feel any guilt, I have great teachers. All I can give is what I have.
But, I learned a hard lesson. Health comes first. For the first time in my 45 years on this earth I could not stand up. Feb. 13 I spent the night in my floor, because I could not get up. I made it to the doctor somehow and they gave me a shot in the butt that was supposed to make me better. I woke up and it was like a mule kicked me. I laid there and could not get up. You do not want me to paint you a picture. When I did get up I took my blankets and sheets and threw them away I did not wash them. When I missed class that week I was not shopping on QVC, I thought I was going to DIE.
I know that we are a Deaf persons only mode of communication and that it is very important. But, would you want me to interpret for your mom if I was coughing so hard that pee was running down my leg? If you have the flu and you go to a kindergarten class or an assisted living home with elderly people are you really doing your job? When you go back and you find out that Fred is dead because he got the flu? Did you give it to him? Maybe you did, maybe you didn't, but ethically should you have been there?
I missed a class yesterday because I was in pain. Do I care that I missed 25 points. No, I do not. I made a decison about my health. If I get run down again, I may miss my practicum, which is more important? I miss one class so I can get some much needed rest or I go and risk, laying in my own poop again? Its a no brainer.
They keep telling us that intrepeters are people. After this weekend I am not so sure. Most professionals do not eat their young.
I went to both workshops and gave all I had. What more can I do? We are people we have kids, husbands (did I pay enough attention to my husband last year, I guess not.) We are stressed to the max, giving it all. There comes a point when you have to say you know what. STOP.
I made it through this bad mile, but I will tell you this. I will NEVER under any circumstances, F**** my health up for anyone or anything.
Will I be a good interpreter? If I put the work into it and get as passionate as I was about massage yes, I will be. Will it happen over night no.
I am really not sure how I feel about interpreting. Its the bi-polar roller coaster. I will send you guys a post card when I get where I am going or meant to be.
Lets get-r-dun. That is for Jeanne Marie who will probably be the only one who reads this rant and I know it will irritate her.
Love you guys. I am a changed woman. I will take care of me.
My mother is a writer, bear with me I can write 10 page papers in five minutes, you just can't shut me up.
See, still going......
:-)
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
I do not know if we are supposed to blog on spring break, if thats actually what you call this. Went to Pittsburgh last weekend to a workshop to learn about the certification process. Came home slept & now we are going to the Terp Expo to have 3 more intense days of learning. Can it get any better? More later, gotta pack! K
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Who is in control up there?
I do not know who is in control up there, they have a weird sense of humor. We can't seem to catch a break. This virus that keeps on giving will not go away we are now cough syrup addicts. I do not remember the month of February. But, my grades aren't that bad for having no memory of doing the assigments. I am so disoriented, I was walking my dog this week when I realized its spring, damn when did that happen? Then someone said hey its mid terms! What? You are kidding me right? Then someone said its spring break, hot damn I had no idea. In the past month I have had pneumonia, lost my keys & locked myself out of the apt. twice. I had to sit on the steps in the snow & cough. I have backed my car into my apt. bldg. Its a 5 bldg complex, sort of hard to miss. I have fallen on the ice & rolled under my car, busting up both knees & my L hand. I have missed 3 weeks of work and have taken more drugs than Ozzy Osborne. Okay now thats out of the way. ( I did get to see Snoop Dogg!)
I love the stuff we are doing in class. I wish that we had done it all last semester. Getting the feedback immediately, getting corrected on the spot, using that language. I just wish I had felt better so I could have performed better. I realize that making mistakes is how you learn, better to make them in the classroom than in front of a Deaf client or friend.
Going to Robin is a god send. She is great for fine tuning. I think we plan to continue through the summer, I plan to sit in on Rubys & Aprils classes next year.
My problem & my worst enemy is ME. I do not know why I get so damn nervous. Rubys tests last year almost put me in the hospital. They terrified me, I would really rather be shot at, its over faster & you don't feel upset or guilty, just relief. I do not know why I get so nervous in class. I know that if I would just relax & have fun with it that I can do it. I have it in my head, I really do. But it won't go to my hands because it is blocked by the nerves. The day we did the voicing piece & then I had to go take the chapter 8 makup test from hell, I actually had to go home & go to bed. My knees shook during the voicing & the thing is I like voicing. I really do.
It is the pressure & expectations that you have of yourself, which is a good thing, but can become your downfall. I am glad that I had this experience & I love the fact that I can have a conversation with my friend who is Deaf & other Deaf people. It adds good people to my life. But I have to say this has been on of the most challengeing, frustrating, rewarding, aggravating, inspirational things I have ever attempted in my life. I did research before I came here, I really thought that I knew what the role of an interpreter was. I did not have a clue. What a rude awakening! I guess we better get ready, the real world is coming.
I love the stuff we are doing in class. I wish that we had done it all last semester. Getting the feedback immediately, getting corrected on the spot, using that language. I just wish I had felt better so I could have performed better. I realize that making mistakes is how you learn, better to make them in the classroom than in front of a Deaf client or friend.
Going to Robin is a god send. She is great for fine tuning. I think we plan to continue through the summer, I plan to sit in on Rubys & Aprils classes next year.
My problem & my worst enemy is ME. I do not know why I get so damn nervous. Rubys tests last year almost put me in the hospital. They terrified me, I would really rather be shot at, its over faster & you don't feel upset or guilty, just relief. I do not know why I get so nervous in class. I know that if I would just relax & have fun with it that I can do it. I have it in my head, I really do. But it won't go to my hands because it is blocked by the nerves. The day we did the voicing piece & then I had to go take the chapter 8 makup test from hell, I actually had to go home & go to bed. My knees shook during the voicing & the thing is I like voicing. I really do.
It is the pressure & expectations that you have of yourself, which is a good thing, but can become your downfall. I am glad that I had this experience & I love the fact that I can have a conversation with my friend who is Deaf & other Deaf people. It adds good people to my life. But I have to say this has been on of the most challengeing, frustrating, rewarding, aggravating, inspirational things I have ever attempted in my life. I did research before I came here, I really thought that I knew what the role of an interpreter was. I did not have a clue. What a rude awakening! I guess we better get ready, the real world is coming.
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