It's already been a week and I'm still sick. I can't remember the last time I was this ill! To the point where I even had to stay home from work for 4 days! I tried going in on Monday but was sent straight home. So now it's day 7 and I finally got my voice back after having lost it for 3 and a half days. Far from recovered, but I guess at least there's some progress. I just want it to go away before the workshop and concert this weekend cos I've got a lot to do in terms of running this thing. I wish it'd just go away...
Strange things do happen eh? Right when I'm about to start on another path, ready to change careers, all these requests come in asking for consulting and design work. I really don't mind it being volunteer work and all cos for one it gives me exposure, but how odd that EVERYTHING suddenly comes up all at once! I haven't had any time to rest in the past 2-3 weeks, which hasn't given me time to finally start my pre-req courses for SLP. My phone has been ringing non-stop to the point where it's literally attached to me so I don't have to go running for it when it rings. Even now as I'm sick at home, I'm on the computer cos my colleague doesn't know how to do something and I'm trying to get the changes done for the client by 3pm. I don't know whether to be happy or bothered, but I just think it's quite funny!!
Practiced "hits" during animation class on Sunday which included popping practice for 16 minutes. Needless to say, I'm sure I have biceps and I'm sure I was using my bicep and forearm muscles as opposed to my triceps during the forearm practice cos THEY HURT BAD!!! And it's been 2 days already... just hurts more and more *sigh* I've realized I don't pop like everyone though cos my forearm muscle always flexes when I pop as opposed to my tricep muscles like everyone else. So I'm kinda going to have to work my way backwards cos apparently everyone pops the other way, only using their tricep muscle and should be using the forearm muscle too. How's THAT going to work?? O_o
But some good news (I think...) Got my eyes checked yesterday and bought some nice glasses for cheaper than I usually do ^_^ and found out my prescription went down again yay! Out of the -4 ranges now!! That's when it got a little... unnerving. The optometrist looked at my charts for quite a while in silence and then said my prescription has been going down (yeah, like .25 every year!) Then he told me it wasn't normal. Uh, what do you mean it's not normal?! What does that mean?! But luckily he said it's a good thing, just not normal! Maybe I'm getting super vision powers haha!
So another friend is off to pursue something new in her life. She left at 4am today. Last time we talked she was planning on moving in November, so I was fairly shocked when she called me on Monday and told me she was moving away today. She just returned from her previous trip a few days ago too! I was so exhausted yesterday that I couldn't go see her one more time before she left. I really wish I went to go see her, but I could barely open my eyes while driving my mom home from the restaurant and it just wasn't safe. I hope that I will get to see her soon though and like all my other friends who've gone to the next level in their lives and are living their dream, I'm happy for you, but I'm sure gonna miss you!! Have a safe trip Thali and I hope all goes well for you! Keep in touch!!!!
Oh yeah, 中秋節快樂!! 추석 잘 지 내 새요!! Happy Lunar Mid-Autumn!! Hope everything eats lots of mooncake, but not so much that you get sick!! ^_^
Kari's cold went to her chest so she stayed home sick today. But she explained everything to me in terms of set-up since today was in another room. The camera was facing the wall today (thank gosh!) so I didn't have to look at myself in the little window at the bottom of the screen! But at the same time this system put the self-window into a little sleep mode and shut off after a while. Wish the other room had that feature cos some of the powerpoints were cut off.
The first presenter today was Carolyn and she talked about phonology. I haven't done anything about phonology since university and it's something that I really find interesting! Carolyn's presentation really helped me to even understand why it's so hard for foreigners to speak fluently. I can even understand where my mom is coming from now and why she can't say Olive Garden properly! She went through a lot of activities for sessions that can work for teaching any child and had lots of examples. Really cool to see! Carolyn's such a dynamic and funny presenter! We even sang songs (one activity used in sessions)! I liked her theory about how if you're not prepared to make a fool of yourself when you enter a session, then you're not ready for the session. Haha! Her #1 rule: When you're in therapy mode, you're NOT very smart!
Had to have lunch by myself today. Decided to go to the cafe just outside. I mean, it was delish, but quite pricey! And the large was more of a small... I'm afraid to ask how big a small is...
After lunch Raelynn did a presentation on literacy-based intervention. I thought it would be like the theme-based intervention presentation, but Raelynn's also a dynamic person like Carolyn! She went fairly quickly through the slides, but she had things like games where she rewarded people with chocolate (wish I was actually at the conference haha!) and she did actual examples with volunteers. It was so much fun and so interesting to see her present! We got to watch a video of the book walking technique and then the presentation was pretty much over. She went so quickly that we finished about 45 minutes early, but it wasn't so fast that I had troubles following. It was actually a really good pace!
So now I'm set and I've definitely decided that I'm going to take on this task of SLP. I'm so excited and I just can't wait to start!!!
So today was day 1 of the conference (which I just found out a few days ago is for SLP ASSISTANTS... but they pretty much do the same things for the most part ^_^). I arrived a little early and no idea where I was supposed to meet Kari cos the 7th floor of Canada Place is pretty big... but she came out at 8am and brought me to the room where everything was set up. I've never done a video-conference before so it was pretty cool to see! I was the only in the room with a TV on one side, and a camera pointed straight at me (in case I had questions). Unfortunately there were about 36 video-conference sites logging on, plus audio conferences and the actual conference itself, which was held in Medicine Hat and had about 100 or so participants in person, so us video-conferencers weren't able to ask questions. We have to email the questions in.
My materials for the conference
Brad preparing to present
The first topic was on theme-based intervention. It was a little dry, but interesting nonetheless. Basically Cindy just talked about using themes during sessions and how to use themes successfully.
After the 3.5 hour long presentation (yes you read correctly, 3.5 hour presentation... although we did have a 15 minutes break in between) I went for lunch at the cafeteria with Kari. We had curry chicken which was absolutely delish and we talked a little before heading back upstairs. Kari's one busy girl! She had to set up another video-conference at 12:50pm and there were 4 conferences today. Not only that, she's the tech person that everyone calls is something is wrong O_O. Kudos to her!
After lunch Brad made did a presentation on autism interventions. This is one of the most interesting presentations I've ever seen! It really sealed the deal for me and made me that much more interested in becoming an SLP! I think I'd like to work with autistic children as well. I think it'd be challenging but also very motivational and inspiring working with them.
I think it's so neat that you can apply these even to everyday teaching of children! There were so many tips and facts that the presenters gave! The impression I got today was that SLPs are pretty much just teachers. A lot of them work in schools, although I think it could be assistants that mainly work in schools while registered SLPs have more diversity in patients they work with and do a little more as in terms of planning the whole intervention process.
I'm so glad I was given this opportunity! Like Kari said, it'll give me a feel of what SLP's about and I'll be a step ahead when it comes to actually taking the course.
Can't wait for tomorrow!!
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