So today I was able to go get a massage. I can't remember when my muscles were this relaxed! I feel great! When I got out of the appointment, I had a text from Mark asking me to call him when I was done. When I talked to him, he said he sent me a care package and wondered if I could go pick it up on my way back to the apartment. After I said I could, he informed me it was at the airport. I thought that was a little strange but did know it was a possibility......then it hit me! I asked, "Are YOU my care package? Are YOU at the airport?" BINGO! He was! :)
We've had a fun evening....hung out at my apartment for a while and then went out for sushi with one of my roommates. It was half price night, so we got to try several things. Then I dropped him off at my SLC pastor's house to get some sleep. Mark will join me for breakfast and then I'll go take the EIPA pre-hire screening. Then I'm free the rest of the day until 5:30. He will probably be headed back to Charlotte by then but we'll get to spend almost the entire day together! I'm beginning to like the fact that it's a light week! :)
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Internship hours & testing
So apparently internship hours are in short supply this week. I am only scheduled for 8 this week and none of them give me an opportunity to interpret anything. They are all observation hours or mentor meetings. But the up side is that I will have plenty of time to practice on my own. I forget if I mentioned it or not, but we only have class on Fridays now. Before we had it on Mondays & Fridays. So today I had four of my 8 hours. Tomorrow I have two and then one Wednesday and one Thursday. I hopefully will have both my deaf language mentor meetings Wednesday as well but otherwise, my days are wide open. Oh, well....I forgot one minor detail......and yes, I really did forget!
We are taking the EIPA pre-hire screening assessment. I'm scheduled for Wednesday morning for an hour. (9:30 my time, 11:30 CLT time) It's similar to the full EIPA (Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment) but is shorter. It doesn't give a score like the full EIPA but rather gives basic information to a potential employer to show whether or not the testee is able to interpret in a classroom situation. I took the full EIPA in May 2009 and scored higher than necessary to legally interpret in NC schools. My skills have greatly increased since that time and this is more of a data collection for the program than for my benefit, so I'm really not concerned about it. I do think it will be a good opportunity to be in a testing situation before the NIC though. We will get our results back within 72 hours! Yep, that's waaayyy different than the full EIPA which took four months to get my results! I'm hopeful my results will be very positive and that will help build my confidence for the NIC.....if they come back less favorable, let's hope it doesn't do the opposite for my confidence!
Then on Sept. 13 we also have an assessment we will be taking that was created by the Professional Development staff here at Sorenson. It also is to help collect data to gauge the program's progress and success. So again, I'm not stressing about it. Some people don't like testing and are really stressing over these as well as the NIC but it doesn't bother me.
So this week, please pray that I will use my time wisely and be able to practice and improve my skills, that I can enjoy some less hectic days, and that I'll do well on the EIPA screening. Please remember Mark and Clay as they are home alone dealing with issues with Clay's car and trying to find an inexpensive yet dependable car for me for my return.
We are taking the EIPA pre-hire screening assessment. I'm scheduled for Wednesday morning for an hour. (9:30 my time, 11:30 CLT time) It's similar to the full EIPA (Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment) but is shorter. It doesn't give a score like the full EIPA but rather gives basic information to a potential employer to show whether or not the testee is able to interpret in a classroom situation. I took the full EIPA in May 2009 and scored higher than necessary to legally interpret in NC schools. My skills have greatly increased since that time and this is more of a data collection for the program than for my benefit, so I'm really not concerned about it. I do think it will be a good opportunity to be in a testing situation before the NIC though. We will get our results back within 72 hours! Yep, that's waaayyy different than the full EIPA which took four months to get my results! I'm hopeful my results will be very positive and that will help build my confidence for the NIC.....if they come back less favorable, let's hope it doesn't do the opposite for my confidence!
Then on Sept. 13 we also have an assessment we will be taking that was created by the Professional Development staff here at Sorenson. It also is to help collect data to gauge the program's progress and success. So again, I'm not stressing about it. Some people don't like testing and are really stressing over these as well as the NIC but it doesn't bother me.
So this week, please pray that I will use my time wisely and be able to practice and improve my skills, that I can enjoy some less hectic days, and that I'll do well on the EIPA screening. Please remember Mark and Clay as they are home alone dealing with issues with Clay's car and trying to find an inexpensive yet dependable car for me for my return.
Last Post
I didn't comment on my last post partially because I was tired and partially because I wanted it to stand on it's own. My sermon yesterday was from Ephesians 3. Since I had just finished reading a book and needed to start a new one, I decided on Ephesians. So I just came across these verses in my normal reading. I loved how The Message reminds us that Christ is where we find ourselves and our purpose.
The prayer Paul prayed also struck a chord with me..."to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do..." As I enter week 11, this is definitely something I need to pray for myself. It would be easy to feel burned out and lose focus. With the pressure of testing looming, I don't want to become preoccupied working on skills and lose sight of the fact that God has placed me here. I don't think the result of that is necessarily a guarantee of physical energy and strength but rather strength of character and emotional energy and renewal to keep on doing what He has called me to do. If the physical is granted, that would be a bonus! :)
The prayer Paul prayed also struck a chord with me..."to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do..." As I enter week 11, this is definitely something I need to pray for myself. It would be easy to feel burned out and lose focus. With the pressure of testing looming, I don't want to become preoccupied working on skills and lose sight of the fact that God has placed me here. I don't think the result of that is necessarily a guarantee of physical energy and strength but rather strength of character and emotional energy and renewal to keep on doing what He has called me to do. If the physical is granted, that would be a bonus! :)
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Endless energy, boundless strength!
11-12It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.
13-14It's in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what's coming, a reminder that we'll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.
15-19That's why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn't stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength! (Ephesians 1:11-19, The Message)
13-14It's in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what's coming, a reminder that we'll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life.
15-19That's why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn't stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength! (Ephesians 1:11-19, The Message)
Thursday, August 26, 2010
This week....
This has been another busy week. I know, surprise, surprise! Right? I've been trying to find time amidst all the busyness to practice some techniques given to me by Cindy Farnham. She has pushed me in healthy ways and even if I don't totally get it while I'm here, I will be able to continue these exercises at home and continue to improve. For my ASL friends who might be interested, I'm working on a sentence level, breaking it down to pick out the nouns (who/what) and then the verbs (action) and trying to map it out to train my brain to see the parts, how they interact, and then how to set it up in space. As you all know, visualization is a struggle for me and I've never understood the point to mapping until now. So believe it or not, I'm willingly doing in depth mind maps!
I'm also doing some other things to try to improve my skills such as spending at least 10 minutes every day pulling up an ASL video online and interpreting it into English. I'm also trying to use ASL as much as possible to communicate instead of English. Some days end up being too draining for me to do that or it's just hard when roommates/other interns are talking. But I'm trying my best to use ASL and hoping that maybe it will encourage some of the others to do the same. I'm hopeful that by using ASL for my everyday conversations I will start to think ASL which would tremendously help my interpreting!
The rest of my week is a little lighter thankfully! I got 11.5 internship hours in on Tuesday and almost 8 yesterday that was spread throughout the day. So this morning is homework and practice time, meetings with mentors this afternoon, short job tonight and another mentor meeting late evening. Class tomorrow and then the weekend is here! :)
This is the end of week 10! So I have four more to go......I want to learn as much as possible in the next four weeks so I definitely don't want to wish it away. On the flip side though, I see my body responding to stress that honestly I'm not really even aware is there. I perform well under stress. I've been eating well and working out when possible, getting as much sleep as I can, and in general trying to take care of myself. So I don't necessarily feel stressed. But my hair is falling out, my nails are brittle, I wake up throughout the night (never have done that even when first arrived here), I notice little things getting on my nerves, and have some aches and pains in my lower back. I mention these things not to complain because nothing in and of itself is that bad. But I want to give a picture of what's going on. So if you would, please pray about my stress level and my physical reactions to that as well as my brain's ability to continue stretching and learning new behaviors. BTW.......I do have an appointment for a one hour massage this coming Tuesday! :)
I'm also doing some other things to try to improve my skills such as spending at least 10 minutes every day pulling up an ASL video online and interpreting it into English. I'm also trying to use ASL as much as possible to communicate instead of English. Some days end up being too draining for me to do that or it's just hard when roommates/other interns are talking. But I'm trying my best to use ASL and hoping that maybe it will encourage some of the others to do the same. I'm hopeful that by using ASL for my everyday conversations I will start to think ASL which would tremendously help my interpreting!
The rest of my week is a little lighter thankfully! I got 11.5 internship hours in on Tuesday and almost 8 yesterday that was spread throughout the day. So this morning is homework and practice time, meetings with mentors this afternoon, short job tonight and another mentor meeting late evening. Class tomorrow and then the weekend is here! :)
This is the end of week 10! So I have four more to go......I want to learn as much as possible in the next four weeks so I definitely don't want to wish it away. On the flip side though, I see my body responding to stress that honestly I'm not really even aware is there. I perform well under stress. I've been eating well and working out when possible, getting as much sleep as I can, and in general trying to take care of myself. So I don't necessarily feel stressed. But my hair is falling out, my nails are brittle, I wake up throughout the night (never have done that even when first arrived here), I notice little things getting on my nerves, and have some aches and pains in my lower back. I mention these things not to complain because nothing in and of itself is that bad. But I want to give a picture of what's going on. So if you would, please pray about my stress level and my physical reactions to that as well as my brain's ability to continue stretching and learning new behaviors. BTW.......I do have an appointment for a one hour massage this coming Tuesday! :)
Friday, August 20, 2010
Testing.....
I have a testing date!!! I will be taking the National Interpreter Certification exam on Thursday, Sept. 23, at 5:30pm. I didn't get the memo to sign up as soon as everyone else did, so I'm actually the last one taking it. We are testing Sunday-Thursday. I would prefer to get it out of the way but maybe I'll continue to develop my skill over the extra four days. It will take anywhere from two weeks to six months to get the results but I hear it's averaging around a month currently.
This week hasn't been as busy as last but nonetheless my days have been full. It has still been a week of ups and downs but more ups! :) I had another mentor meeting on Wednesday with a class mentor who was very encouraging about my work. He pointed out some good things to work on but overall felt I was incorporating appropriate ASL features and was creating an equivalent message. I had good appointments with my deaf language mentors too.
Yesterday I had an assignment from 8-5. I wasn't looking forward to it as the topic sounded rather boring and I was scheduled with the same mentor I had two weeks ago that didn't turn out so well. I went into it with a good attitude and with my "reptile skin" on. Turns out I didn't even need my thick skin, much less the reptilian one! :) The day went relatively quickly -- I think partly because there were different presenters all day. It was very challenging, complex material yet we (another intern worked with me) interpreted well! There were times we had to interpret ASL to English too as our mentor (who is deaf) had questions. That tends to be more difficult as it happens less frequently than English to ASL, so it was great experience. Surprisingly it didn't bother me to speak up in the middle of a presentation. I think it's because I was representing someone who had something to say or ask and it wasn't me. She gave us some great feedback on things to consider, sign production, and sign choice and she said that overall we did a good job. She commented that she saw a drastic improvement in our work over what she saw two weeks ago. So that's GREAT news! :)
Brad got settled in yesterday and Amanda heads back tomorrow. So Mark & Clay will be on their own for the next five weeks. Thanks for remembering to pray for my family! As hard as some of the days are out here with all the work, constructive criticism, etc, nothing is as difficult as knowing my family is managing without me. I'm looking forward to being back home with them soon! Only five weeks left.....I'm 2/3 through! Not that I'm wishing it away.....I could stay in this learning environment for a long time!....just missing home and all that entails.
There's not too much homework for this weekend, so I'm hoping that I have time to practice extra things, get some rest and maybe sightsee. Hope you have a great weekend!
This week hasn't been as busy as last but nonetheless my days have been full. It has still been a week of ups and downs but more ups! :) I had another mentor meeting on Wednesday with a class mentor who was very encouraging about my work. He pointed out some good things to work on but overall felt I was incorporating appropriate ASL features and was creating an equivalent message. I had good appointments with my deaf language mentors too.
Yesterday I had an assignment from 8-5. I wasn't looking forward to it as the topic sounded rather boring and I was scheduled with the same mentor I had two weeks ago that didn't turn out so well. I went into it with a good attitude and with my "reptile skin" on. Turns out I didn't even need my thick skin, much less the reptilian one! :) The day went relatively quickly -- I think partly because there were different presenters all day. It was very challenging, complex material yet we (another intern worked with me) interpreted well! There were times we had to interpret ASL to English too as our mentor (who is deaf) had questions. That tends to be more difficult as it happens less frequently than English to ASL, so it was great experience. Surprisingly it didn't bother me to speak up in the middle of a presentation. I think it's because I was representing someone who had something to say or ask and it wasn't me. She gave us some great feedback on things to consider, sign production, and sign choice and she said that overall we did a good job. She commented that she saw a drastic improvement in our work over what she saw two weeks ago. So that's GREAT news! :)
Brad got settled in yesterday and Amanda heads back tomorrow. So Mark & Clay will be on their own for the next five weeks. Thanks for remembering to pray for my family! As hard as some of the days are out here with all the work, constructive criticism, etc, nothing is as difficult as knowing my family is managing without me. I'm looking forward to being back home with them soon! Only five weeks left.....I'm 2/3 through! Not that I'm wishing it away.....I could stay in this learning environment for a long time!....just missing home and all that entails.
There's not too much homework for this weekend, so I'm hoping that I have time to practice extra things, get some rest and maybe sightsee. Hope you have a great weekend!
Monday, August 16, 2010
Busy, Busy!
Well obviously I've been a little busy.....last week I worked hard to get as much done as possible before Friday afternoon when Mark arrived. Then I was just slightly preoccupied spending time with my sweetie! :) We had a wonderful weekend together! He got to see my surroundings, got to meet most of the other interns, attended a deaf event with us, and got to go to my church out here.
He left my apt last night for the airport but unfortunately the flight filled and he didn't get a seat. So he spent the night on a bench in the airport. First thing this morning he didn't think he was going to make a flight but then got a seat in first class! :) He had a layover in Phoenix and was home in Charlotte by 3:30. Pray for him to catch up on his rest. It's been a hard 24 hours.
I'm back to the grind today. We had class and I got a lot of work done today. I met with an interpreter mentor this afternoon and learned that I tend to have a "disconnect" during interpreting. Basically, I need to change my way of processing during interpreting if I'm going to become really skilled at this. This is not a skill I was really taught so she has given me some practice exercises to begin honing this skill. On one hand I'm frustrated because it's going to take so much effort to consciously change this and because I feel like I have so far to go to become proficient. On the other, I'm encouraged that someone has helped pinpoint a hindrance to my interpreting and is offering exercises to improve it. She did say she can see the potential in me and that if I do as she suggests, I will get there. So that's what I'm holding onto!
This week is a little lighter than last. Several interns have been sick so they decided to reduce the number of internship hours for this week in order to help people recover or prevent becoming sick. Thankfully I haven't had any health problems. So I'm hoping that I will have time to practice and begin improving specific skills, especially my processing.
Clay started classes at CPCC this week. It's his senior year of high school but he's trying to get some college classes out of the way. Brad goes back to Chapel Hill this Thursday. Pray he can finish some car repairs and get everything packed on top of still working Tuesday & Wednesday. I haven't heard when Amanda is headed back to Appalachian but I'm sure it will be soon as well.
He left my apt last night for the airport but unfortunately the flight filled and he didn't get a seat. So he spent the night on a bench in the airport. First thing this morning he didn't think he was going to make a flight but then got a seat in first class! :) He had a layover in Phoenix and was home in Charlotte by 3:30. Pray for him to catch up on his rest. It's been a hard 24 hours.
I'm back to the grind today. We had class and I got a lot of work done today. I met with an interpreter mentor this afternoon and learned that I tend to have a "disconnect" during interpreting. Basically, I need to change my way of processing during interpreting if I'm going to become really skilled at this. This is not a skill I was really taught so she has given me some practice exercises to begin honing this skill. On one hand I'm frustrated because it's going to take so much effort to consciously change this and because I feel like I have so far to go to become proficient. On the other, I'm encouraged that someone has helped pinpoint a hindrance to my interpreting and is offering exercises to improve it. She did say she can see the potential in me and that if I do as she suggests, I will get there. So that's what I'm holding onto!
This week is a little lighter than last. Several interns have been sick so they decided to reduce the number of internship hours for this week in order to help people recover or prevent becoming sick. Thankfully I haven't had any health problems. So I'm hoping that I will have time to practice and begin improving specific skills, especially my processing.
Clay started classes at CPCC this week. It's his senior year of high school but he's trying to get some college classes out of the way. Brad goes back to Chapel Hill this Thursday. Pray he can finish some car repairs and get everything packed on top of still working Tuesday & Wednesday. I haven't heard when Amanda is headed back to Appalachian but I'm sure it will be soon as well.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Prayer request
Please be in prayer tomorrow (Wednesday) for a family from our church who will be burying their 19 year old son who took his own life last Friday. Rob & Laura are the parents and two younger sisters, Noelle & Victoria.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Good news....Bad news...
Hmm....good news first or bad? Well, since I can't hear you, I'll say bad so we end on a good note! :)
Bad news is both my mentors were laid off. :(
Good news is I have two new mentors so I will still be able to participate in my favorite part of the program!
Good news is my schedule lightened up a little and Thursday won't start for me until NOON! :) I will have two hours, a four hour break, and then three hours in the evening.
BEST NEWS........Mark is coming to visit this weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
Bad news is both my mentors were laid off. :(
Good news is I have two new mentors so I will still be able to participate in my favorite part of the program!
Good news is my schedule lightened up a little and Thursday won't start for me until NOON! :) I will have two hours, a four hour break, and then three hours in the evening.
BEST NEWS........Mark is coming to visit this weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
Sunday, August 8, 2010
This week....
I've had a really good weekend. We had a training session Saturday morning and then I walked from there almost a mile to a beauty school. I got a 90 minute pedicure while sitting in a massage chair and listening to my music. Then I got a hair cut and only had to pay $20 plus tip! :) After that I was starving and headed toward a healthy lunch when I got side tracked by my nose......the aroma of grilled burgers lured me to a very unhealthy but extremely satisfying lunch complete with onion rings and a chocolate shake!
I got a lot of work done last night and the rest of everything done today after church. Now I'm practicing exercises to improve my skills and pigging out on blender fudge pie I made! It looks like I'm going to need all the calories I've eaten and rest I've gotten to make it through this week! I have class for 17 hours and internship for 30 hours this coming week on top of homework and hopefully deaf mentor meetings! Some days I don't even have time to come home between assignments. Tuesday I'll be on the run from 8am to 8pm, Wednesday 9am to 7pm and Thursday 8am to 10pm! So please be in prayer for my stamina this week!
I got a lot of work done last night and the rest of everything done today after church. Now I'm practicing exercises to improve my skills and pigging out on blender fudge pie I made! It looks like I'm going to need all the calories I've eaten and rest I've gotten to make it through this week! I have class for 17 hours and internship for 30 hours this coming week on top of homework and hopefully deaf mentor meetings! Some days I don't even have time to come home between assignments. Tuesday I'll be on the run from 8am to 8pm, Wednesday 9am to 7pm and Thursday 8am to 10pm! So please be in prayer for my stamina this week!
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Halfway....
Wow! I've just finished week 7 and have 7 to go! Thank you for all the encouragement you've sent my way this week! I've had phone calls, emails, blog posts & FB posts. It's refreshing to hear from you and it's reassuring to know you're praying for me.
There have been some HUGE changes at Sorenson this week. If you aren't involved in the Deaf community, you probably don't know what Sorenson does. So let me explain briefly. They are a company that uses video phones (where callers can see each other and thus use sign language) to allow deaf and hearing callers to communicate through an interpreter. The service is called VRS - Video Relay Service. VRS providers are compensated from a fund that the FCC oversees. Over the past few months the FCC has proposed to lower the rate they reimburse VRS providers. They decided last month to lower it more than $1/minute. Sorenson fought the change but lost last week. So this week they have been laying off workers and closing some call centers. They have thousands of employees and hundreds have been laid off. Since being here, I have come to know at least four of those who were laid off this week. The one that impacts me the most is one of my deaf language mentors. I have been meeting with her an hour a week to review and improve my work. She has been awesome! It's my favorite part of the program! So I'm really sad to see her go. I have two deaf mentors -- I haven't heard from the second one so I don't know if she still has her job or not. We were told the language mentor program will continue. I hope so as it is extremely beneficial. Please say a prayer for all these people who have lost their jobs. It is effective immediately.
There have been some HUGE changes at Sorenson this week. If you aren't involved in the Deaf community, you probably don't know what Sorenson does. So let me explain briefly. They are a company that uses video phones (where callers can see each other and thus use sign language) to allow deaf and hearing callers to communicate through an interpreter. The service is called VRS - Video Relay Service. VRS providers are compensated from a fund that the FCC oversees. Over the past few months the FCC has proposed to lower the rate they reimburse VRS providers. They decided last month to lower it more than $1/minute. Sorenson fought the change but lost last week. So this week they have been laying off workers and closing some call centers. They have thousands of employees and hundreds have been laid off. Since being here, I have come to know at least four of those who were laid off this week. The one that impacts me the most is one of my deaf language mentors. I have been meeting with her an hour a week to review and improve my work. She has been awesome! It's my favorite part of the program! So I'm really sad to see her go. I have two deaf mentors -- I haven't heard from the second one so I don't know if she still has her job or not. We were told the language mentor program will continue. I hope so as it is extremely beneficial. Please say a prayer for all these people who have lost their jobs. It is effective immediately.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Encouragement
Last night after I wrote my blog, I read my Bible. Interestingly, I Corinthians 7:17 spoke to my feelings yesterday. I know it's written in the context of marriage, but I don't think it's incorrect to see it as a reminder for me here in Utah. In The Message it says,
"And don't be wishing you were someplace else or with someone else. Where you are right now is God's place for you. Live and obey and love and believe right there. God, not your marital status, defines your life."
"And don't be wishing you were someplace else or with someone else. Where you are right now is God's place for you. Live and obey and love and believe right there. God, not your marital status, defines your life."
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Poodle Puppies!
We had class today, which went relatively well. We're going to be focusing on specific features of ASL in our interpretations now. Today we discussed fingerpspelling and taped a video. Friday when we have class again, we'll analyze it and meet with a mentor about it. We have another class that will start Friday too.
This evening I had an assignment. I knew that I was at times putting things out a little more English than ASL but felt like I was clear and the message was coming across. Seemed to get good feedback from my deaf mentor. But when we debriefed afterwards, I felt really inadequate. She was very nice and really was just pointing out things like anyone else has ever done but for some reason it hit me differently tonight. I normally have thick skin and don't take anything personally. Normally when someone asks what feedback I want, I just tell them to BRING IT! For some reason, that wasn't a good idea tonight. I wonder if it's because I felt like effective communication was happening but then got quite the opposite story from my mentor. Whatever it was, I don't like it! :(
So after the assignment, I was walking around outside and sat in a gazebo in the grassy area outside my apt for a while. As I sat and thought about things, I realized I talked with my fellow intern on the way home, talked on the phone with Mark after I got back, but hadn't really talked to God about it. So I did. I really was starting to feel lonely and homesick too. Maybe I'm just tired -- everything always seems worse when I'm tired. Anyway, I was really struggling and told God I needed some encouragement. A few minutes later I looked to my left and saw the adorable little white poodle puppies I had seen a few weeks ago! I walked over and talked to their owner who let me hold one again! I got all kinds of love and kisses from that sweet puppy! And I had a nice conversation with their owner. We exchanged names this time and learned more about each other. She lives in my building, so hopefully we'll run into each other more often! :)
I still feel a little down but somewhat encouraged too. I have a long, uninteresting assignment tomorrow that I'm not looking forward to. I'm going to bed soon so hopefully a good night's rest will help with a fresh perspective in the morning. Thanks for reading and praying!
This evening I had an assignment. I knew that I was at times putting things out a little more English than ASL but felt like I was clear and the message was coming across. Seemed to get good feedback from my deaf mentor. But when we debriefed afterwards, I felt really inadequate. She was very nice and really was just pointing out things like anyone else has ever done but for some reason it hit me differently tonight. I normally have thick skin and don't take anything personally. Normally when someone asks what feedback I want, I just tell them to BRING IT! For some reason, that wasn't a good idea tonight. I wonder if it's because I felt like effective communication was happening but then got quite the opposite story from my mentor. Whatever it was, I don't like it! :(
So after the assignment, I was walking around outside and sat in a gazebo in the grassy area outside my apt for a while. As I sat and thought about things, I realized I talked with my fellow intern on the way home, talked on the phone with Mark after I got back, but hadn't really talked to God about it. So I did. I really was starting to feel lonely and homesick too. Maybe I'm just tired -- everything always seems worse when I'm tired. Anyway, I was really struggling and told God I needed some encouragement. A few minutes later I looked to my left and saw the adorable little white poodle puppies I had seen a few weeks ago! I walked over and talked to their owner who let me hold one again! I got all kinds of love and kisses from that sweet puppy! And I had a nice conversation with their owner. We exchanged names this time and learned more about each other. She lives in my building, so hopefully we'll run into each other more often! :)
I still feel a little down but somewhat encouraged too. I have a long, uninteresting assignment tomorrow that I'm not looking forward to. I'm going to bed soon so hopefully a good night's rest will help with a fresh perspective in the morning. Thanks for reading and praying!
Monday, August 2, 2010
A Special Treat!
Brad made it! :) It wasn't looking so good for a little bit, but he made it. Albeit, he had to go from Charlotte to Detroit to Phoenix to Salt Lake City! There is a more direct route but there weren't any seats on it. We had 25 hours together.....by the time he gets home, the poor guy will have traveled almost as long as he got to be here! Sure makes his momma feel loved! It really didn't look like he'd make it back home.....there were 40 standbys and 9 seats! His next connection was tight but he made that too. He's mid-air as I type -- somewhere between Phoenix & Boston. He shouldn't have any trouble getting home from Boston. :) I think the fact that he made flights that looked impossible both coming and going shows that it's a God thing he made it! Thank you, God!!!
We had a lot of fun hanging out, playing games, eating out, showing him around, showing him off, going to church and playing putt-putt. Things worked out great too.....We travel by taxi for our assignments, events, etc. Just this week we were informed that we can use the cabs for personal errands a limited number of times each week. So I didn't have to rent a car in order for us to get around. The pastor of the church I'm attending out here graciously offered a place for Brad to stay so we didn't have to worry about a hotel either.
It was just so great to spend time with him! It was really hard to put him in a cab and send him back to the airport. I wanted to just focus on the time we had together and not be sad he was leaving but no matter what I did, I couldn't stop the tears when he left. After some time and a good conversation with Amanda and then Mark, I felt much better. Mark jokingly said that maybe he shouldn't come visit me because he wouldn't want me to be upset when he left. When I told him I thought about that, he quickly said he was just teasing! I wasn't but I decided it's better to have them here and enjoy them and be sad for a little when they leave than to not get to enjoy them until I go home.
I took some pictures today. Brad took some too so if you're on Facebook, you'll have to look at his. Here's the link to mine. Scroll to the bottom to see them.
I get to sleep in tomorrow morning! Yay! :) New classes start this week.....not sure what's in store but I'll come back and let you know!
We had a lot of fun hanging out, playing games, eating out, showing him around, showing him off, going to church and playing putt-putt. Things worked out great too.....We travel by taxi for our assignments, events, etc. Just this week we were informed that we can use the cabs for personal errands a limited number of times each week. So I didn't have to rent a car in order for us to get around. The pastor of the church I'm attending out here graciously offered a place for Brad to stay so we didn't have to worry about a hotel either.
It was just so great to spend time with him! It was really hard to put him in a cab and send him back to the airport. I wanted to just focus on the time we had together and not be sad he was leaving but no matter what I did, I couldn't stop the tears when he left. After some time and a good conversation with Amanda and then Mark, I felt much better. Mark jokingly said that maybe he shouldn't come visit me because he wouldn't want me to be upset when he left. When I told him I thought about that, he quickly said he was just teasing! I wasn't but I decided it's better to have them here and enjoy them and be sad for a little when they leave than to not get to enjoy them until I go home.
I took some pictures today. Brad took some too so if you're on Facebook, you'll have to look at his. Here's the link to mine. Scroll to the bottom to see them.
I get to sleep in tomorrow morning! Yay! :) New classes start this week.....not sure what's in store but I'll come back and let you know!
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