Brad's visit

Brad is planning to come visit me this weekend. The flights are pretty full so it doesn't look too good for a standby passenger to make it. Please pray he'll get a seat and we'll be able to share some good time together this weekend. It would be extremely encouraging to see him and I'm afraid quite disappointing if he doesn't make it. Thanks! I'll let you know what happens.

Weekend fun!

We were provided rental cars this past weekend! Freedom! :) Friday we went grocery shopping (at Target instead of Wal-mart!) and out to Chipotle for dinner. Saturday was deaf awareness day at Lagoon....an amusement park about 1/5 of the size of Carowinds. We had fun riding roller coasters and I enjoyed floating on the lazy river for about an hour.

Yesterday after church my roommate and I drove through the mountains of Emigration Canyon where Mormon pioneers made their way to Salt Lake. We topped off our drive with a visit to Park City, UT, home of the 2002 Winter Olympics. I didn't get a picture of the ski slopes, but you could distinctly still see them! We had a nice dinner at a quaint Italian restaurant, rode a trolley through the streets, and got some chocolate for the road at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory! Yum! (And yes, I did work out today to make up for all the eating!)

I posted some pictures of the weekend in my Utah album. Just scroll to the bottom to see the most recent ones.

blocks to interpreting

So I'm beginning to realize I have some things that block effective interpreting. I'm not positive about exactly what those things are, but now that I know they are there, I hope I can figure it out so it can be corrected. I struggle to understand fingerspelling or rapid signing, especially if I have to interpret simultaneously. (That means I start talking as soon as I receive a complete thought and the signer continues to sign while I'm talking.) I tend to zone out at a certain point and even though I'm still looking at the signer, I'm not comprehending their signs. I think it's partially a processing thing and that my mind is concentrating on so many different aspects that it just can't take in any more signs. So, I need to exercise my brain and train it to be able to do more. Thankfully the mentors here have suggested some good exercises to help with that. I will forever remember my last semester when Anna related it to driving a stick shift car.....you know how awkward it is at first and how there's so much to remember and concentrate on that it's really difficult to do. After a while though it becomes natural and you don't have to think about it as much.

Another issue I think that blocks effective interpreting is my own intrapersonal thoughts and feelings. Sometimes it's as simple as a concern over doing well or knowing that something I struggle with is going to show up. I do feel pressure to become certified in the next two years although my attitude with the test in September is to use it as a learning experience. If I pass, good! If I don't, then I'll know more about it next time. But there is also this part of me that thinks I should pass after all the time here in Utah and that the program developers are expecting me to. If I don't, then I'm messing up their statistics. Now that's all my thoughts. No one has said that. I am a perfectionist. I think I should be able to do certain things and then even though I don't consciously think about it, I think it still bothers me and then effects my interpreting. I'm not quite sure how to get over that since it's not conscious! So the conscious stuff, I can deal with but the unconscious stuff is going to take some thought! (hee hee!)

So all that to explain some of my struggles here and to ask you to pray that I would be able to not pressure myself and to find strategies and work them to help overcome some of my physical challenges with interpreting.

Stamina

Today was actually a much longer day than I expected. I'm just crawling into bed at 1:22 am after finishing my work for tomorrow (and getting an extension on one thing). I have to get up in 5 1/2 hours for a 14 hour day! Please pray for strength, alertness, and stamina. It's late and I'm exhausted but learning good skills that will continue to improving my interpreting even after I'm home.

Week 5

Wow! I can't believe it's week 5! I'm finally beginning to feel like some things are becoming more natural! :) I've had some really good interpreting experiences last night and today. It's been very busy still....class, homework and internship yesterday for a grand total of  ~10 hours. Then today was a 12 hour day of internship, homework, mentor meetings.

I am gaining so much insight from my mentors! I have a new interpreting mentor for this two week module. Her name is Marilyn Mitchell. She was on a task force relating to the NIC (National Interpreter Certification test)! My teacher for this module, Debbie Peterson, was also on that task force. So I'm definitely getting exposure to people who are extremely knowledgeable. It's amazing to me that they are here as resources for me and I get to spend time with them one-on-one!

Please pray that I will be able to keep up with this pace without getting worn out or sick....I'm quite tired at the moment but it is almost midnight. :P

Yay for the weekend! :)

Thursday was an extremely busy day with lots of internship hours and homework. Friday wasn't much slower....we had class, went grocery shopping, I had my mentor meeting, and then to a deaf event where we played kickball. I sat out the first game because I was so rushed I had to eat on the way to the game. After the food settled, I played the second game on the condition that someone run for me! :) The week (and the heat -- 103 yesterday) had just zapped my energy. It was fun. My runners and I scored 3 of the 12 points and we won! :) The kids (yes, 20 somethings but still kids to me) were great to play with and very understanding of my limits. Sometimes I feel as if they treat me like they would their mom. (I could be mom to most of them!) I posted some more pictures of the game, mall, mountains, etc.

By the time we got back, I got a shower and unwound, it was 1 before I hit the hay. Surprisingly, I slept until 11 this morning!! I couldn't believe it! But I have nothing scheduled over the weekend and my homework load is reasonable. I have also enjoyed the day so far....just goofing off, touching base with a few people, and a little bit of laundry and kitchen clean up. I'm going to try to get some good work done now and then maybe later after it's a little cooler I'll enjoy some time by the pool. I'm looking forward to church tomorrow too.

Monday starts a new module, so I'm not sure what to expect but I think we have classes three days a week and internship two as a general rule. Off to be productive now!

More Rested

So it's been two days but I'm feeling much better. Yesterday was a little bit better and today even more so. I had six hours of internship yesterday and a mentor meeting with one of my two deaf mentors. In reviewing my work, she did have improvements for me to implement but she also had good things to say and overall she felt like it was effective. So that helped a lot. Plus I got to video chat with my family at the beach! It helps to able to see them and hear them!

Then today I met with Cindy Farnham, Master Mentor. She has been interpreting for 20+ years, took special mentor training and opened her own mentoring business. She also helps interpreters prepare for testing, specifically the EIPA. Normally she charges by the hour the same fee she would to freelance but I get her an hour a week all to myself for nothing! :) She has already been a huge encouragement, helping me to see that my skills are where they should be one year out of a program and encouraging me to not put pressure on myself. She will help me figure out WHY I have the ineffective patterns in my work that I do. That's really the only way I can correct them, so I'm excited about that. Our first task is to work on my ASL to English. I've realized that I understand most of what is being signed but for some reason when I'm actually interpreting it, I miss lots of detail. I'm feeling pretty confident that I'll do well on the NIC in September after all of this! But even if I don't pass it now, I still have some time and it will be helpful to take it.

I also got to get out today! All I had was my one hour meeting with Cindy. So I used my bus/light rail pass and found my way downtown to the mall. I enjoyed sushi for lunch, did some shopping, and had frozen yogurt later in the afternoon. It's really HOT here! It's an outdoor mall, so I definitely needed a cool down!

Well, I'm off to a deaf event -- a movie tonight. I think in ASL. So that will be interesting. Thanks for following and for your prayers! I really need them!

Spent

It's not even 9:30pm and I'm ready for bed! That's not like me unless I have really early mornings, which I haven't. I think I'm just working so hard thinking and concentrating that it's wearing me out. Still would like to share more depth on some things but just don't have the time or the energy.

My highlight for the weekend was that I got to go to church again and met a few more people this week, including the pastor. (Who told me he had played golf with Jim Kallam about 6 weeks ago!) It's nice when it's a small world.

Today I finished up something I spent all weekend doing. (For my terp pals, it was a gloss of what I signed including all the NMMs and a gloss of what my ideal interpretation would be. It was just like what I did in school with the chart with the six features on the left. TONS of work but really helpful.) Then I met with a Deaf mentor to review my work. I left that meeting feeling like I didn't know much about interpreting or ASL. But I also left reminding myself that I need things pointed out so I can improve. It's expanding my understanding of the language and how various signs and features are used. So I've been teetering on that fence the rest of the day. It's such a struggle to have weaknesses and errors pointed out regularly regardless of how helpful it is. So the title of my blog today is pretty accurate -- I'm spent. Yet I have to leave at 6:40am tomorrow for an internship appointment and keep going all day.

Sorry this is so glum.....it's just what I'm feeling today. Maybe some sleep will help with a fresh perspective. We'll see and I'll come back tomorrow to let you know!

Busy, Busy!

Well, I had hoped to write a little tonight but now it's time to go to bed. I got to chat on Gmail video with Amanda instead, so it was definitely worth it! :)

I've been quite busy the past couple of days and tomorrow looks to be no different. It's been a bit of a roller coaster today......top grade on something then nicely "torn to pieces" by Deaf mentor on something that I thought I had done well. I'm appreciative for the honest feedback and really not discouraged by it yet maybe a little since I thought it was good work. Had an info session on interpreting for Mormons today and boy, did that wreak havoc with my emotions! I had no idea it would hit me so hard. So today has been an emotional day.

I'll try to write more tomorrow to expand a little and share my heart. Thanks for your concern and prayers!

A new day, a new perspective

So Monday was extremely hard, Tuesday was still hard. Wednesday has been much better! :) Things seem to be settling at home some plus they all get to spend next week at the beach! I thought it would be a difficult week for me but I think I'll be glad to know they're having fun.

The internship portion of my residency started! It's been a great experience so far. This morning I was in a familiar setting and so I interpreted about 2/3 of the assignment and felt like it was very successful. Tonight I had another assignment where I did about 1/3 of it. It was overwhelming and really pushed my limits. After it was finished when I met with the certified interpreter who was there as my teammate, she said I was "spot on!" YAY! :) I was really surprised because it was difficult and I didn't feel that great about it myself. She teaches ASL and has been interpreting for years, so I know I can trust her feedback. There were minor things we discussed that could be improved but nothing major. Equivalence was achieved!

So my confidence is boosted some. Sad to say it takes a lot some days. You'd think that just getting into this program would be enough for me to realize I am capable. (We learned there were 120 applicants -- I'm amazed to know I made it to the top 15!) Some days I really wonder if I will be able to pass my certification test when I'm done. So days like today are very welcome!

It's been an extremely busy day though! I left the apt at 7:30 for the first assignment. Came home late morning to finish an analysis, had lunch, went to another assignment, finally finished my analysis, researched my assignment for tonight, had a quick supper then went to another assignment until 9:30! Thankfully I only have one assignment at noon tomorrow and grocery shopping tomorrow afternoon because I have to do a recording and then analyze it before Friday morning.

Friday will be another big day. Class from 8-1. Assignment 1-4. Mentor meeting that evening! Saturday assignment 10-2 and deaf event 5:30-9:30. Whew! I should probably be sleeping instead of writing right now! ;P

Melt down

So I've been here 17 days and had my first meltdown. It was a rough day at home for my family. There have been some rough times but today it just seems overwhelming. Since I've always focused my life on taking care of my family, it's EXTREMELY difficult to be here knowing that if I was there the days wouldn't be as rough. I'm glad I'm missed and necessary, but I hate the impact that's having on those that I love. Please pray for them to make the necessary adjustments more smoothly. Some of it relates to procedural things and some to relationships. And please pray for me to be able to know what's going on at home without feeling guilty for not being there. I know I'm supposed to be here but that doesn't make it easy.

weekend

So this weekend the thought of a holiday has been pretty non-existent. It's odd being in a different place with different people and a different life! But it's been a good weekend. I got a lot accomplished and feel good to start my week tomorrow. I made four videos and wrote a paper. The paper isn't due until Wednesday, so now I can let it sit a day and come back to it to be sure it's how I want it to be.

I have enjoyed cooking for just myself....Amanda showed me a great website that does all the planning and figuring for you. I was able to put in some personal info to be sure I'm eating the proper number of calories, fat, carbs, etc. It's pretty easy to fix for just one. I'm really excited because my eating has been very healthy for the past three days since I've been following this plan. The foods are plenty, varied and very flavorful, so I don't feel like I'm dieting but I really am! :) So along with my goal of passing my certification test, I've added a goal to come home at least 10 lbs lighter.

I got to go to church today! :) It was very similar to the Video Cafe (my worship venue at our church in Charlotte), so it was like a little taste of home! I've missed two Sundays, so it was really nice to be able to worship in song and hear a thought-provoking , soul-searching message. There wasn't much interaction with church members which was slightly disappointing. The pastor stressed the importance of community in his sermon so I'm sure the fellowship will come. My two friends and I  plan to go back regularly.

This week we start our internships. While I won't be able to share details with you due to confidentiality concerns, I can talk about how I felt or if it's stressful, etc. So far I have about 11 hours scheduled this week, starting mid-week. I will be sent all over the place and to any kind of situation you can imagine. This week will be mostly observation but it will move quickly to interpretation. Please pray for clear thoughts to be able to effectively facilitate communication as well as for insightful feedback from the interpreters I'll be working with so I can learn and continue to improve my skills.

I did get to see some in the distance! :)

July 4th

So it's a holiday weekend.....doesn't feel like it here. If I were home, I'd be looking forward to spending family time at my mom's church's picnic and watching the fireworks. Hmmm.....absolutely love her homemade ice cream and baked beans! Great traditional food!

Here I've been recording videos and re-recording videos trying to get it just right! There are features of ASL that I'm learning new ways to incorporate into my signing, so it can be challenging to think of everything and make it look like it should. I'm not discouraged about it though.....I signed up for this to improve and I know that's what's happening. Most of the others are out seeing movies and hiking. I chose not to go because I will feel better if my work is done first.

I am a little disappointed about missing a holiday with my family. I'm not even sure if I'll get to see fireworks, which I absolutely love! We are dependent on public transportation, which normally isn't a big deal. However no routes run as late as what is needed to get home from fireworks. I'm hoping we'll be able to see them from the apartment complex but I'm trying not to get my hopes up and really just treat it as a normal weekend. I am able to go to church tomorrow, and three other interns are going with me. So I'm looking forward to that.

If you think of it, please pray that this weekend won't be difficult and cause me to be homesick. Similarly, pray for my family in my absence too. They have had to make some big adjustments, and really are still trying to figure out what parts of life look like now that I'm out of the picture. So pray for their adjustment too.

Hope whatever everyone is doing that it is a good time and the holiday is a safe one!

Busy week

Wow! This has been a busy week! Tuesday and Wednesday were almost completely full with classes, events, or homework. I was really frustrated with some homework Tuesday evening. My roommates noticed my disposition and suggested we all work on it together. So that's exactly what we did. It still took quite a bit of time but we helped each other figure it out and in the process laughed so hard we cried! I'm really thankful for supportive, encouraging roommates! :)

I still was up until 1:30 Tuesday night! Wednesday morning came very early.....which is partially why it seemed like a long day. I had hoped to get a nap but did homework instead. I did get to bed at a decent hour though and had a better day today.

This paragraph is for my Deaf/interpreting friends....others will be lost.....It's amazing the people I've been exposed to since I've been here! Last week Marty Taylor and Carol Patrie observed some of our classes and our application videos. I'm not sure why but they were doing some kind of research.....maybe to see the skills of ITP grads. This week one of our classes was taught by Trenton Marsh, CDI. He's apparently one of the best in the nation. Today I had the opportunity to sit and watch my work with him and get his feedback. What an awesome opportunity!

My eyes have been much better the last two days. Thanks for praying about that! My receptive skills (watching ASL) have improved too and I'm not struggling as much to catch what's being said. Still have to really pay attention due to the speed but getting much more of it now! :) I've teased that since I'm a Southerner everyone just signs too fast for me! ;P