Monday, June 23, 2008

1st week of Tacoma

Well, I've worked my first week at this private outpatient P.T. clinic. The clinic is 14 miles from where I'm staying and it takes me about 20 minutes, very easy to get to. There's another CHT working there, 3.5 days a week and she's been very helpful in orienting me and helping me out. It was a very quick orientation, about 1.5 hours before I started seeing patients. Trying to get acquainted with the patients by reading the charts was very interesting. For those of you who've worked with me know how I am about being detailed enough for others who follow know what you've done. Well, I think some of the therapists may need refreshers on documentation to ensure continuity of care from all those concerned. I feel a little discombobulated when I have to ask the patients what they've been doing in therapy because I can't read nor get enough information from the chart.

The hand therapy room is small and not the best designed nor with a lot of equipment. I'll never say that we didn't have enough at Centinela because what's available at this clinic pales in comparison. I'll just have to be a little more creative in the exercises/activities I plan for patients. Ten hours seems long, especially when you don't have a full schedule. We do our own charges on the computer which gets sent to the billing department, the daily documentation is by flow sheet (handwritten) but the evaluation, progress reports and discharges are on computer (and they're abridged versions of the handwritten ones which seems a little redundant). Patients are seen for 40 minutes, whether it's treatment or evaluation, and 1:1 with no overlapping scheduled. Since it's a private clinic and not part of the hospital, there's certain patients that I can't see because of the insurance. I need my own provider # (I was under the hospital one at Centinela).

There is a Bally's gym closeby so I'm glad to be able to go there for classes. I live by the shore of Dash Point, close to a state park. From the deck of the house that I'm staying at (renting a room from someone) you can see Puget Sound. I could see Seattle if there wasn't this island in the way. I have a nice size room with a queen bed, furniture and a huge closet. I have access to the full house, of where there is a nice size kitchen but only one fridge, yikes! The owner lives here and is very nice, friendly and helpful. There's a student intern from North Carolina here as well and she's cool, has a lot of youthful energy. She wants to be able to see and do things in the area so that'll be nice to have someone to go around with.

I'm glad that I live here because the house and people who live/stay here are great. Although it's a few miles to the stores, I think I lucked out. I'm not sure where my company would have found a place for me but I don't think it could be better than this. Sure, it's probably a little farther than what they would have found for me but I'd take the location and environment over that any day.

The student intern, Dasha, and I went for a hike near Snoqualmie Pass, east of Seattle, this past Saturday. We didn't realize that there'd be snow but there was plenty of it, some places a couple of feet deep and plenty of runoff/creeks going down the mountain as the snow was melting. There was so much snow that it also covered most of the trail that we were trying to hike. We were going along with another group of hikers and there were a few times that we had to decide which way to go. We didn't get to where we wanted because we ran out of time. We had things to do, places to go. There was a strawberry farm about 20 minutes away where we were able to pick out our own strawberries. They weren't as big as the ones in the store but there's something about picking your own that makes them that much sweeter. We bought rhubarb as well as I made a strawberry-rhubarb pie last night that was very delicious, if I don't say so myself! We also spent a few hours and a few dollars at an outlet mall nearby. All in all, it was a very busy and full day. We're looking to see where we're going to go next.

Since I've returned from Canada, the weather here has actually been very good. Temperature's only in the mid-high 70s but it's been sunny with a little cloud but no rain during the day. Maybe it's the turnaround we've been waiting for!

I also was able to get a library card. I'm very excited about that as I love to read! So between the magazines I'm trying to catch up on and the books/music/movies I can borrow from the library and all the excursions I'm planning, it'll be a busy summer. No rest for the wicked!!! hehe. I was also able to find the Korean food mart which was truly exciting for me!!!

North of the Border, eh!





After unloading my stuff in Tacoma, off I went to the Great White North. I spent a busy but wonderful time with my family in the Vancouver area. My parents had flown in from Toronto, my aunt and uncle from Korea and I have 2 aunts who live in the area. We spent a few days in Victoria on Vancouver Island and then in Whistler, where a lot of the 2010 Winter Olympics will be held. There was no snow at the resort area but there was enough for people to go snowboarding in the higher elevations for a few hours each day. There was also road construction along the way, I guess, to get ready for the expected traffic in a little less than 2 years from now. It was a fun time had by all.

The Vancouver area is a lot like Seattle, cloudy and rainy. On Vancouver Island and at Whistler, it was blue sky, sunshine and a little cooler. A wonderful change from Hawaii. My aunt goes hiking several times during the week. A group of us went for a short and not too challenging of a hike in the hills behind my aunt's house. She lives in the hills leading up to the Rockies so there's plenty of trails to venture on. Traffic there during rush hour is just like any other major city but people are nicer about it...being Canadian and all! ;)

I was sad to see my parents and aunt and uncle off at the airport before returning to Tacoma.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

final words about Hawaii

Well, it's been awhile..so long, in fact, that I've actually flown back to the mainland, packed up my things and unloaded them in my Tacoma home. What's been going on since the last blog...well, my friends let me tell you!

My traveller friends (plus a couple of non-locals) have gotten together every weekend for dinner. Well, the last Saturday before I finished work was my turn, and actually, they were doing me a favor. I had so much food left over that I could have fed an army. So we had a smorgasbord at my apt. of Asian influenced foods, my now famous bulgogi (Korean bbq beef) that everyone loved and I even made my rice rolls. I sent a lot of leftovers with them and still had food left over!

Everyone loved my apt, particularly the view of the ocean, which was quite impressive since it was on the 41st floor. We ate on the lanai, all squeezed together at a table suited for 4 (there were 8 of us) only with candlelight to light our way. Everyone left with a full belly and food for the next day.

That Sunday, I went to see a friend finish up a sprint triathalon at a local beach park. I was running late, as usual, and by the time I had gotten down there, I thought I had missed her. It turns out that I actually missed seeing her run by as she had not finished as early as I had thought. I met up with her later as well with other friends a local hotspot on the beach. I think I'm getting old, as I left around 9pm (got there around 630pm) because I was done.

Finished my last week of work without any fuss. I was a little disappointed that some of the OT staff did not lunch with myself and another OT who would be leaving in a couple of weeks after ordering in. I guess we got an idea of their feelings toward us. No sweat off my back.

The big excursion that I went on was on the Saturday of Memorial weekend, after I had finished working. Some friends and I flew to Molokai, an island off of Maui, for a mule ride down a mountain to an old leper colony. Kalaupapa was an isolated part of the island that people with leprosy were shipped to (kind of like how TB patients were sent to sanitariums long ago) in the 30s and 40s. The only way to get them there was by boat and cargo ships only came in 1-2 times a year. People were separated from their families, no matter what their age was. Eventually, they were allowed to leave (I think it was during the 70s) but most stayed as it was all that they knew and some were very deformed. However, even those not so deformed had stayed. There were only about 2 dozen people left. We were allowed to take pictures of anything except the people...however, I didn't see any people. It was very sad what they had to endure.

The one thing that amazed me was their ability to adapt. Being an OT, I can appreciate this. In this one small museum, there were items displayed that the people had adapted to be able to use. One of the effects of leprosy (aka Hansen's disease) was the resorption of bone which makes their fingers very short and stubby so holding small items was next to impossible. What these people were able to create were adapted utensils where the long handle of a fork or spoon was shaped into a loop and soddered. In essence, they created their own universal cuff-like adaptation for their utensils. Truly amazing!!!!!

The mule ride, was exciting but one of the scariest things I've ever done. Imagine trusting your life to this mule, going down the side of a steep mountain with 26 switchbacks on a trail about 3-4 feet wide. It was so steep that I had to constantly lean back in the saddle and because my arms were too short to hold onto the pommel with both hands, I had to hold it with one and the back of the saddle with the other. These mules would take the switchback turns very wide so that it would seem like they're heading for the edge of the trail. Most of the trail had not fences or barriers of any kind and the only thing between you and the bottom were a few bushes and small tree branches. The trail itself was made of dirt, rocks and a few trail steps, some of which were so high that it felt like I was "dropping" down to the next one with such a jolt. Fortunately, none of the mules slipped. The ride going up was much smoother and easier.

We had a few hours after the mule ride so we drove around. There was a 'Phallic rock', that we strolled to, expecting something other than what we saw. Yes, that is the true name. The only shape that we saw was the head of the penis, not the shaft. Needless to say, we were all disappointed. It was a lot smaller than the story would imply!

The next couple of days were spent cleaning the apt, getting rid of all my food and packing up the last of my things. I had started packing days earlier, anticipating my return to CA. I guess I was ready to leave.

Hawaii was great, but for me, it's a great place to visit but not to live. The weather wasn't suitable for me, being so humid, and the activities weren't my cup of tea. Not really being a water baby, there wasn't the usual bevy of activities for me to participate in. There were no sports leagues and the weather wasn't too conducive for a lot of outdoor action activities. It's definitely a place to visit, I think, particularly the other islands. Having been to almost all of the islands, Oahu is ok in comparison to the others as far as unusual things to do and the scenery. If you have the chance, definitely go visit.

I'll post some pictures once I get them uploaded from my camera. With the move, I'm not organized.