Hi everyone,
No pictures today. Just news.
Sick people are starting to come into the shelters/transitional housing facilities. I'm glad I got my flu shot and I'm washing compulsively. We even had a few cases of Scabies (kind of like lice for the skin) in people coming into the shelters a few nights ago. It really makes you want to go shower. It also makes me want to observe cases as they come in, but sometimes there is not time. My shift tonight was good, but I think something was going down at the main shelter while I was on my way out. I saw two ambulances on the bridge as I left, and when I got back to the other end of the bay I thought I saw another crossing the bridge toward the shelter. I hope the first two were just a precaution and the third was a figment of my imagination.
People are starting to recognize me and say hello in the clinic at night. It makes me feel a lot more comfortable. depending on who it is. There are some individuals with whom I wouldn't mind being anonymous. Luckily, no one creepy knows me by name so far =).
On the medical school front, I was invited for an interview by the University of Colorado yesterday. That brings the total up to 4 schools at this point. Creighton, Rocky Vista, Colorado and A.T. Still are on the list. I have yet to hear from Oregon, Boston University and Chicago. I hope to hear from all of them, but I'm not looking forward to buying the airline tickets. I need to do a little more preparation, but the first interview isn't for another week so I have some time.
Colorado is getting their first snow and I think Boston will get their first this weekend. I'll let you know what I think of it when it comes. Everyone keeps telling me how cold it will be, but they say it's "wicked cold" even when it's 60. When it is freezing I'll be ready =).
I think that's all from here. Wish me luck at my interviews please!
Lynne
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
A 3 Day and a 2 Day Weekend
Hi all,
It's been a while since my last post. I've been slacking.
Work has been good. I still have to be ready for anything, but I'm starting to get the hang of things at both Transitions and Anchor Inn. I am more efficient at vitals, TB records, even using the computer systems is much faster. I've done several health education groups in the past two weeks that have gone pretty well. One was about hepatitis and HIV, and the other was about diet and exercise. The patients were a little more animated in the Hepatitis/HIV one since there are so many myths about those two diseases, but I think both were effective. This week I'm focusing on tobacco cessation (helping them to quit smoking). I went to a two day training put on by the public health commission, and I learned a lot about the options available to smokers. Hopefully it helps me put together a really effective group this week.
I've been having fun too. Several friends from work who have finally settled into their apartments have been having housewarming parties. I am not totally comfortable walking into a group of strangers and making conversation yet, but I'm getting better every time. I've met some really interesting people at these gatherings. There are a lot of well educated people in Massachusetts, so far as I can tell.
I've also been able to wander around the city. I've discovered that as something I really like to do. Since I have audiobooks on my Ipod, I can do all these things and "read" at the same time. War and Peace is super long but I'm really enjoying it so far. Last weekend was Columbus Day, so I got a lot in. I was able to go to Commonwealth Ave, a street with a park along the median where people can walk. I have a photo. You might be able to see the cloud of gnats over that statue's head. I took the picture because it looked like he was having a brilliant thought (you know, the light bulb lighting up over his head).
I also got to go out to Beacon Hill, a really ritzy neighborhood between Boston Common and Mass General. It is classic Boston, with red brick buildings and cobblestone walks. I read my book there at a bakery and was really grateful for the awesome weather. The next day I spent a lot of time in Davis Square (near Tufts university), went on a run with my friend Caroline and went to Downtown Boston. There were a ton of people out, just because it was such a nice weekend.
The next day, Vitor and I decided to go to the North End, where they have really good Italian food. We met Caroline at the famous Mike's Pastry for cannolis. Vitor and I split an amaretto one and a strawberry one so we could try both. I think the amaretto was my favorite, since the almonds on it helped temper the sweetness. Both were really tasty though. Caroline didn't have anything since our Americorps budgets are so limited, but it was fun to sit and talk.
It's been a while since my last post. I've been slacking.
Work has been good. I still have to be ready for anything, but I'm starting to get the hang of things at both Transitions and Anchor Inn. I am more efficient at vitals, TB records, even using the computer systems is much faster. I've done several health education groups in the past two weeks that have gone pretty well. One was about hepatitis and HIV, and the other was about diet and exercise. The patients were a little more animated in the Hepatitis/HIV one since there are so many myths about those two diseases, but I think both were effective. This week I'm focusing on tobacco cessation (helping them to quit smoking). I went to a two day training put on by the public health commission, and I learned a lot about the options available to smokers. Hopefully it helps me put together a really effective group this week.
I've been having fun too. Several friends from work who have finally settled into their apartments have been having housewarming parties. I am not totally comfortable walking into a group of strangers and making conversation yet, but I'm getting better every time. I've met some really interesting people at these gatherings. There are a lot of well educated people in Massachusetts, so far as I can tell.
I've also been able to wander around the city. I've discovered that as something I really like to do. Since I have audiobooks on my Ipod, I can do all these things and "read" at the same time. War and Peace is super long but I'm really enjoying it so far. Last weekend was Columbus Day, so I got a lot in. I was able to go to Commonwealth Ave, a street with a park along the median where people can walk. I have a photo. You might be able to see the cloud of gnats over that statue's head. I took the picture because it looked like he was having a brilliant thought (you know, the light bulb lighting up over his head).
I also got to go out to Beacon Hill, a really ritzy neighborhood between Boston Common and Mass General. It is classic Boston, with red brick buildings and cobblestone walks. I read my book there at a bakery and was really grateful for the awesome weather. The next day I spent a lot of time in Davis Square (near Tufts university), went on a run with my friend Caroline and went to Downtown Boston. There were a ton of people out, just because it was such a nice weekend.
The next day, Vitor and I decided to go to the North End, where they have really good Italian food. We met Caroline at the famous Mike's Pastry for cannolis. Vitor and I split an amaretto one and a strawberry one so we could try both. I think the amaretto was my favorite, since the almonds on it helped temper the sweetness. Both were really tasty though. Caroline didn't have anything since our Americorps budgets are so limited, but it was fun to sit and talk.
Afterward we all walked around that neighborhood and ended up at the Aquarium and then Quincy Market. Caroline was really excited about the Sea Lions, which we could look at for free when standing outside the Aquarium. We were there just in time for feeding and watched them doing tricks for the people giving them fish. Then we went to find Caroline some ice cream that was within budget. We found a McDonalds in Government Center for her to get a little ice cream, and just as she went in the Occupy Boston Protesters walked by.
They were pretty orderly at the time, but later that night a few of them were arrested for going into the one place officers told them not to. I really admire the protesters for standing up for what they believe in, but I wish they had been more respectful of the officers' wishes. As far as I could tell, the police had been really cooperative, giving them an escort through the city as they protested and stopping traffic as they went by. The only reason they didn't want protesters camping in that particular park was because the city had just resodded and all the new grass would have been destroyed. That seems legit enough to me.
Caroline went home after her ice cream, and Vitor and I wandered in Boston Common for a while before our movie that evening. It was a really beautiful afternoon and I tried to get a few pictures to illustrate it. Everyone was out in the park enjoying the weather and it was nice to just sit and people watch.
The movie was actually pretty funny, and afterward we parted ways. I wanted to go to Somerville for trivia with my coworkers and Vitor wanted to stay behind and watch another movie. I headed up on the Redline and made it just in time. Our trivia team got killed by a bunch of middle aged teams from Tufts and Harvard but we had a great time anyway. How am I supposed to know what David Lee Roth looked like back in the day, anyway? =).
The movie was actually pretty funny, and afterward we parted ways. I wanted to go to Somerville for trivia with my coworkers and Vitor wanted to stay behind and watch another movie. I headed up on the Redline and made it just in time. Our trivia team got killed by a bunch of middle aged teams from Tufts and Harvard but we had a great time anyway. How am I supposed to know what David Lee Roth looked like back in the day, anyway? =).
This weekend was a little more relaxing. I was out late at another housewarming party on Friday, slept in Saturday, and just read and did chores Saturday. On Sunday I went to a Pilates class, then went into downtown to get a library book. I want to pick up knitting/crocheting again and needed instructions. I absolutely love the library. There was an exhibit on the Civil War there that I walked through and I spend a little while in the courtyard enjoying the weather too. I got a pantsuit for my upcoming med school interviews while I was down there too. The pants need to be hemmed a little, but otherwise it fit perfectly. It was pretty exciting. I keep telling myself that Creighton isn't for another couple of weeks and RVU is almost a month, but I still want to feel prepared. I've been reading a book about health care reform and a bunch of different opinions people have so I can make cogent arguments about that topic at least. Ethics are a little easier, since I know how I feel about many medical ethics issues.
This post is way too long, so I'm going to call it there. This week should be really good, though busy. I want to prepare for those interviews really thoroughly, and much of my free time will probably be devoted to that. I hope everyone has a fabulous week and I'll try to keep the blog a little shorter next time!
Lynne
Monday, October 3, 2011
Symphony, HonkFest, Oktoberfest
This weekend was another fun one. The Longwood Symphony Orchestra had a benefit concert for the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, so the other Americorps members and I got free tickets. We all got dressed up and had potluck dinner beforehand. I was really impressed with the show. I haven't been to the symphony since I was a kid and it didn't disappoint. The orchestra is made up of many medical professionals and students, and their concerts benefit many medically-related charities for the underserved in Boston. They didn't sound like amateurs to me.
After the show we went out to a little restaurant that served sweet potato fries and pumpkin beer. I didn't have any of the pumpkin beer, but I finally tried the fabled Harpoon ale that everyone talks about. I thought it was pretty good, though I'm no beer connoisseur. Zoe, the girl I was going to stay with in Somerville, got tired early so Gul, Sam, Zoe and I headed back to her place and watched some TV and ate popcorn.
The next day we all went our separate ways (Zoe went back to sleep, Sam and Gul had other things to do) so I took the red line to Harvard Square and wandered around Harvard and the surrounding area. No matter how many times I go to Cambridge I still feel like I'm surrounded by smart people. I took a few pictures and got to listen in on a tour given in Spanish. My favorite is the one where the tourists are rubbing the feet of John Harvard. I've heard that Harvard students (and Harvard student wannabes) rub his feet for good luck before exams. I've also heard that drunk MIT students urinate on those shoes for that very reason. I wanted to warn the tourists, but I also didn't want to make a scene. I hope they washed their hands before lunch...
After I wandered for a while, I ended up back in the square just in time for something called HonkFest. Apparently it is a festival where activist street bands get together for a parade. These bands were out for all sorts of causes. There were kids with typical marching band instruments, people on stills or custom made bikes, there were puppeteers and gymnasts. The Free Masons and some veteran's groups even showed up. There were people everywhere, food tents lined the streets and people were passing out pamphlets all over the place. I also got a picture of the parade that I'll post. Oktoberfest was also happening at the same time, but I wasn't sure where HonkFest ended and Oktoberfest began. Around 130 some of the other Americorps members showed up and I got to spend sometime wandering the booths with them. Christina and Alex were also there and I walked with them for about half an hour before they headed home. Yesterday was their first anniversary - It's hard to believe that their wedding was a year ago but it's very exciting. After wandering a little longer with my coworkers I headed back to Quincy for the night.
I have been preparing for the work week and spending time with the roommates too. Someone slid into Vitor during a rainy soccer game on Saturday and his knee is sore and swollen. I hope they give him a break, since his coach sometimes asks him to play injured. Nahit is nice and he likes to watch movies, but not necessarily the kind of movies I like. So far we've watched a lot of cop films, mobster films, and Dracula. I am usually pretty open to any kind of movie, but I'm starting to tire of the violence I think. Next time I'll ask if he and Vitor want to play Wii Sports instead.
I've been working on my health ed topics for the next week. I think I'm going to focus on Hepatitis C and HIV since the folks at Transitions have a lot of questions about that. There is a case manager who specializes in HIV and Hepatitis C though and I think he might be in this week. I'll ask the nurse before I get to far into this project. I'd hate to make them sit through the same group twice in a week. If I don't do those illnesses, I'll probably do diet and exercise instead. Those were the areas where they had the most questions last week. I really like how engaged they are. I sometimes struggle to redirect them when they get to talking, but the more practice I get the easier it will be. I'm learning a lot in the clinic and I think I'm finally settling in to my job. I try to help the nurses as much as I can but I've discovered there are limits to what I can do without them. I can't wait until we get a fax machine. There is a lot of paperwork and I have to walk over to the Long Island Shelter every time I want to send a fax. The girls over there are really nice, but I bet they're sick of my wandering in five times a day to use their equipment.
Hope everyone has a really great week!
Lynne
After the show we went out to a little restaurant that served sweet potato fries and pumpkin beer. I didn't have any of the pumpkin beer, but I finally tried the fabled Harpoon ale that everyone talks about. I thought it was pretty good, though I'm no beer connoisseur. Zoe, the girl I was going to stay with in Somerville, got tired early so Gul, Sam, Zoe and I headed back to her place and watched some TV and ate popcorn.
The next day we all went our separate ways (Zoe went back to sleep, Sam and Gul had other things to do) so I took the red line to Harvard Square and wandered around Harvard and the surrounding area. No matter how many times I go to Cambridge I still feel like I'm surrounded by smart people. I took a few pictures and got to listen in on a tour given in Spanish. My favorite is the one where the tourists are rubbing the feet of John Harvard. I've heard that Harvard students (and Harvard student wannabes) rub his feet for good luck before exams. I've also heard that drunk MIT students urinate on those shoes for that very reason. I wanted to warn the tourists, but I also didn't want to make a scene. I hope they washed their hands before lunch...
After I wandered for a while, I ended up back in the square just in time for something called HonkFest. Apparently it is a festival where activist street bands get together for a parade. These bands were out for all sorts of causes. There were kids with typical marching band instruments, people on stills or custom made bikes, there were puppeteers and gymnasts. The Free Masons and some veteran's groups even showed up. There were people everywhere, food tents lined the streets and people were passing out pamphlets all over the place. I also got a picture of the parade that I'll post. Oktoberfest was also happening at the same time, but I wasn't sure where HonkFest ended and Oktoberfest began. Around 130 some of the other Americorps members showed up and I got to spend sometime wandering the booths with them. Christina and Alex were also there and I walked with them for about half an hour before they headed home. Yesterday was their first anniversary - It's hard to believe that their wedding was a year ago but it's very exciting. After wandering a little longer with my coworkers I headed back to Quincy for the night.
I have been preparing for the work week and spending time with the roommates too. Someone slid into Vitor during a rainy soccer game on Saturday and his knee is sore and swollen. I hope they give him a break, since his coach sometimes asks him to play injured. Nahit is nice and he likes to watch movies, but not necessarily the kind of movies I like. So far we've watched a lot of cop films, mobster films, and Dracula. I am usually pretty open to any kind of movie, but I'm starting to tire of the violence I think. Next time I'll ask if he and Vitor want to play Wii Sports instead.
I've been working on my health ed topics for the next week. I think I'm going to focus on Hepatitis C and HIV since the folks at Transitions have a lot of questions about that. There is a case manager who specializes in HIV and Hepatitis C though and I think he might be in this week. I'll ask the nurse before I get to far into this project. I'd hate to make them sit through the same group twice in a week. If I don't do those illnesses, I'll probably do diet and exercise instead. Those were the areas where they had the most questions last week. I really like how engaged they are. I sometimes struggle to redirect them when they get to talking, but the more practice I get the easier it will be. I'm learning a lot in the clinic and I think I'm finally settling in to my job. I try to help the nurses as much as I can but I've discovered there are limits to what I can do without them. I can't wait until we get a fax machine. There is a lot of paperwork and I have to walk over to the Long Island Shelter every time I want to send a fax. The girls over there are really nice, but I bet they're sick of my wandering in five times a day to use their equipment.
Hope everyone has a really great week!
Lynne
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)