Right now I am enjoying my brand new electric blanket that I bought on sale for a mere $42. That's less than 40 cdn, and a small price to pay for warm toes at nighttime, let me tell you.
Right now I am wondering what possesses me to stay up until 1am when I was nearly falling asleep at 8:30pm..The dread I maintain of sleeping usually stems from the dread of another day looming ahead, and considering that tomorrow is Monday I suppose the dread on this particular evening is valid. I have promised myself to not ever, no matter how far behind I am or may possibly get, do any school work on Sundays..so I am always a little bit sad to see them go.
Right now I am grateful for where I live. I never thought I'd find another place that I'd feel as blessed to call home as Ucluelet. That was an awkward sentence, but it's true. As I drove out on the peninsula today, with a car load of friends and chocolate, I couldn't help but be in awe of the beauty of this place. A gentle autumn breeze pushed us along as we climbed rocks, explored the beaches and tunnels (left over from WWII, there's tons of them!), and basked in the sunshine. It was simply a gorgeous day, and this place I'm learning to call home is simply an incredibly beautiful place to be. How amazing is God?? That out of the entire westernized world, I end up at school in such a lovely place..Does He know my heart that well? Does He really know how the ocean refreshes me, how the trees and the sandy beaches inspire me, how all the funny birds and sheep make me laugh, and how the clouds on the horizon lift my spirit every day? Oh..how thankful I am.
Right now I am missing my family..I could just imagine how the apple pies my mom and little sister were baking filled the house with warm cinnamony smell this afternoon, and how the house filled with bustle and chaos as siblings and relatives arrived this evening.
Oh I miss long evenings of tea and scrabble with my parents. And I miss leisurely saturday morning breakfasts with my Whitworth family..warm little pancakes piled with blueberries, followed by walks with the kids and dogs in the sunshine..does it get much better?
But right now I am tired. And I will go to sleep praying for the ones I love far away, and giving thanks for the incredible blessings the Lord has given me right here. Such sweet community, such sweet conversation, such sweet afternoon sunshine, and such sweet sales on electric blankets <3
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Take your cue from the sheep.
IT'S COLD HERE!!!!!
If you're from Dunedin and reading this, you're probably rolling your eyes with that "I told you so" expression and pulling your woolies more tightly around you, as another gust of wind blows a draft through the crack under the door.
I was pretty sure it wouldn't phase me. I mean, I'm from Canada!! Land of the cold! Or at least land of the wet are miserable. I've grown up where it's normal to walk to work in the pouring rain and gusting south-easterlies, normal not to see the sun shine more than 4 hours between December and April, normal to need gumboots and a touque. I was so used to the rain that I didn't even own an umbrella at home! Oh, what, it's raining? So what? Throw on a hoodie and walk to the Co op anyway!
I was naive to think I was prepared. I was naive to think that with my cotton hoodies and bright red boots that I wouldn't even notice winter. Ppfft...bring it on I thought, I'm from Canada!
Hahaha.
I'm from Canada, and I'm FREEZING.
The temperatures have been plummeting over the last couple of weeks. It was quite a sudden turn, really. And to be honest they haven't even gotten that low...I think today we were looking at a high of 12 and low of 7.
There is something about New Zealand cold that I have never felt before. You know the difference between Calgary-cold and Vancouver-cold? How it can be -10 in Calgary and feel more comfortable than the +5 of Vancouver at times? It's because of the dampness of the coast, I think.
Well, it's like that, but worse. It's like there is the damp-cold of Vancouver, and then there is the DAMPER damp COLDER cold of Dunedin.
How long will you pay attention if I just keep ranting about the weather? It's really quite something. I've been sleeping with a hoody and socks on, and today I went shopping for WOOLIES.
The sheep really have it figured out. So do the people here, actually. I have never seen 100% Merino wool clothing (even if it is second hand) for so incredibly cheap!! 4 cardigans, 3 long sleeve shirts, 2 skirts, 1 pair of boots and $75nzd later, and I think I'm set (for a couple of months, anyway!).
(..ps on the thrift shopping thing.. KIM FURNELL, I was thinking about you the whole time <3. I was actually picking up piecing of clothing thinking hmmmm...Grey cardigan, $3, thrifted..Yes, Kim would be proud.)
Besides complaining and being cold, I am actually doing a lot these days. I've done 8 out of my 19 hospital shifts, and can do a lot more than put on sterile gloves, let me tell you! The normal stuff is taking blood pressures, temps, pulses, etc, giving oral medications, hooking up fetal heart monitors, palpating abdomens, bathing babies, and helping a LOT with getting breastfeeding established. I'm pretty sure I've seen and learned more about breastfeeding in the last few weeks than the rest of my life combined. Do you know how many different methods, tricks, and alternative feeding techniques are used in order to ensure babies get the breast milk they need?? It's amazing!!!
The best part is visiting with the new parents in the hospital...I've met lovely people from all over the world! A couple from France, a few from Germany, from North America, Asia, and of course from all over New Zealand. The diversity is exciting and fun, you never know who the next couple will be or what their story is.
Speaking of stories, there is no end of them at Queen Mary Maternity. Whether its watching them unfold yourself, or listening to the midwives chatting at reception, or the interns in the hallways, or the families themselves, there are ALWAYS stories being told. I have learned true things and untrue things, heard of extreme cases of incredible beauty and incredible pain. Highs and lows, joys and heartbreaks..The intimate moments of life such as birth and death bring people together and talking like nothing else I've ever seen. They build bonds and bridges between worlds and lifestyles..It doesn't matter what else is going on in the world, outside of that hospital ward, when a new baby is being born or the team is working on saving a life. Incredible, and often overwhelming. I leave shifts feeling like I can't believe that I'll be paid for this one day.
There are the stories that make you rethink your path though. The calloused stories from experienced midwives who warn against getting too involved..Who have given everything they have and more to a profession that has sucked them dry. These kinds of depressing stories or warnings I am careful to tuck away into the recesses of my mind. They are the kinds of things that will help shape me into the midwife I want to be. As someone wise said to me a few days ago, "Never underestimate how much you can learn from others experiences."
Outside of the hospital I have a full load of coursework, textbooks to read, essays to write, group projects to work on. I am currently getting started on research for a presentation on the lay midwives of the 1920s. Another project I'm working on in a group is on the Le Leche League of NZ, their history and how/what support they offer women.
Beyond school I have a lot happening as well. I am involved in several groups and projects at my church, including recently being asked to be a part of the leadership team for the Young Adults ministry. I'm on the roster for holding babies during the services on sundays, and am on a team with a few other women putting together an after-school program for elementary school kids in a low socio-economic-status district of the city.
...I was planning on writing more but have become distracted with editing and organizing my essay due in the morning, and about a million other things that are staring at me. SO, my apologies for how informative and unexciting this post has been. I will try to make the next one more fun!...and maybe even include a few photos, although I haven't been taking many of those lately either..(man, if only full time school wasn't ACTUALLY full time..:p )
Love and hugs and all of those happy things to you from me. xo!
If you're from Dunedin and reading this, you're probably rolling your eyes with that "I told you so" expression and pulling your woolies more tightly around you, as another gust of wind blows a draft through the crack under the door.
I was pretty sure it wouldn't phase me. I mean, I'm from Canada!! Land of the cold! Or at least land of the wet are miserable. I've grown up where it's normal to walk to work in the pouring rain and gusting south-easterlies, normal not to see the sun shine more than 4 hours between December and April, normal to need gumboots and a touque. I was so used to the rain that I didn't even own an umbrella at home! Oh, what, it's raining? So what? Throw on a hoodie and walk to the Co op anyway!
I was naive to think I was prepared. I was naive to think that with my cotton hoodies and bright red boots that I wouldn't even notice winter. Ppfft...bring it on I thought, I'm from Canada!
Hahaha.
I'm from Canada, and I'm FREEZING.
The temperatures have been plummeting over the last couple of weeks. It was quite a sudden turn, really. And to be honest they haven't even gotten that low...I think today we were looking at a high of 12 and low of 7.
There is something about New Zealand cold that I have never felt before. You know the difference between Calgary-cold and Vancouver-cold? How it can be -10 in Calgary and feel more comfortable than the +5 of Vancouver at times? It's because of the dampness of the coast, I think.
Well, it's like that, but worse. It's like there is the damp-cold of Vancouver, and then there is the DAMPER damp COLDER cold of Dunedin.
How long will you pay attention if I just keep ranting about the weather? It's really quite something. I've been sleeping with a hoody and socks on, and today I went shopping for WOOLIES.
The sheep really have it figured out. So do the people here, actually. I have never seen 100% Merino wool clothing (even if it is second hand) for so incredibly cheap!! 4 cardigans, 3 long sleeve shirts, 2 skirts, 1 pair of boots and $75nzd later, and I think I'm set (for a couple of months, anyway!).
(..ps on the thrift shopping thing.. KIM FURNELL, I was thinking about you the whole time <3. I was actually picking up piecing of clothing thinking hmmmm...Grey cardigan, $3, thrifted..Yes, Kim would be proud.)
Besides complaining and being cold, I am actually doing a lot these days. I've done 8 out of my 19 hospital shifts, and can do a lot more than put on sterile gloves, let me tell you! The normal stuff is taking blood pressures, temps, pulses, etc, giving oral medications, hooking up fetal heart monitors, palpating abdomens, bathing babies, and helping a LOT with getting breastfeeding established. I'm pretty sure I've seen and learned more about breastfeeding in the last few weeks than the rest of my life combined. Do you know how many different methods, tricks, and alternative feeding techniques are used in order to ensure babies get the breast milk they need?? It's amazing!!!
The best part is visiting with the new parents in the hospital...I've met lovely people from all over the world! A couple from France, a few from Germany, from North America, Asia, and of course from all over New Zealand. The diversity is exciting and fun, you never know who the next couple will be or what their story is.
Speaking of stories, there is no end of them at Queen Mary Maternity. Whether its watching them unfold yourself, or listening to the midwives chatting at reception, or the interns in the hallways, or the families themselves, there are ALWAYS stories being told. I have learned true things and untrue things, heard of extreme cases of incredible beauty and incredible pain. Highs and lows, joys and heartbreaks..The intimate moments of life such as birth and death bring people together and talking like nothing else I've ever seen. They build bonds and bridges between worlds and lifestyles..It doesn't matter what else is going on in the world, outside of that hospital ward, when a new baby is being born or the team is working on saving a life. Incredible, and often overwhelming. I leave shifts feeling like I can't believe that I'll be paid for this one day.
There are the stories that make you rethink your path though. The calloused stories from experienced midwives who warn against getting too involved..Who have given everything they have and more to a profession that has sucked them dry. These kinds of depressing stories or warnings I am careful to tuck away into the recesses of my mind. They are the kinds of things that will help shape me into the midwife I want to be. As someone wise said to me a few days ago, "Never underestimate how much you can learn from others experiences."
Outside of the hospital I have a full load of coursework, textbooks to read, essays to write, group projects to work on. I am currently getting started on research for a presentation on the lay midwives of the 1920s. Another project I'm working on in a group is on the Le Leche League of NZ, their history and how/what support they offer women.
Beyond school I have a lot happening as well. I am involved in several groups and projects at my church, including recently being asked to be a part of the leadership team for the Young Adults ministry. I'm on the roster for holding babies during the services on sundays, and am on a team with a few other women putting together an after-school program for elementary school kids in a low socio-economic-status district of the city.
...I was planning on writing more but have become distracted with editing and organizing my essay due in the morning, and about a million other things that are staring at me. SO, my apologies for how informative and unexciting this post has been. I will try to make the next one more fun!...and maybe even include a few photos, although I haven't been taking many of those lately either..(man, if only full time school wasn't ACTUALLY full time..:p )
Love and hugs and all of those happy things to you from me. xo!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)