Its a Different World!

Hello! I have found a small nook of time to blog a little before we leave for our bikeride along the Dutch countryside! I have one hour so I will blog as much as I can and then pick up where I left off!

It gets dark here at like....10:30. That is so wild. At 9 pm, I swear it looks like the American version of 2 or 3 pm. So weird. It really isn't helping my body get used to adjusting to jet lag! Jet lag is funny because no matter how much sleep I get I'm still tired, I keep waking up at 3 am feeling awake, and my stomach is constantly hungry!! (which is not good, because food is not exactly plentiful!) Well, it IS plentiful, but my wallet is not!

Anyway, no more complaints.

Our hotel is lovely! It is on the wee outskirts of Amsterdam in a residential neighborhood, about a 15 minute walk to the tram station and then about 30 minutes on the tram. As I'm writing this I can hear neighborhood kids playing outside- running around playing baseball and kickball (they probably call it something different).

I have the bestest, most sweetest roommates in the world! For Amsterdam at least, we are probably going to have to switch next city to meet other people.

I am 90% sure that my group is the only 30 people in the hotel that speak fluent english- everyone else is Dutch. Which I KEEP FORGETTING, because other than that--you would think this is an "american" hotel. So I get on the elevator and I say "Good morning" and they don't respond. Or I mutter off something quickly that any fluent english person would understand but not someone that does not know it well. Or, days like today, I said "Good morning" in Dutch! Woot! and must have pulled it off well because then they continued a conversation with me in Dutch and I had to sheepishly say and shrug, "Sorry, English."  Conversation over.

And its weird being out in public-- Like I can't say "I'm sorry" to a stranger if I bump into them, or whatever. Or I can't say little things to keep up a conversation with a stranger.

The funny thing is, I guess because its a huge city, is its a lot like New York City in that its a big melting pot of languages. There is mostly Dutch, but also a lot of spanish, german and a wee bit of French. Most signs are first written in Dutch and then in English, which is nice of them. America doesn't exactly pride itself in having signs with Dutch translation at the bottom. Also, when looking at a Dutch phrase, with a little common sense it is easy to figure out quickly. I have already figured out the common words for "the, your, you, I, we, would, no smoking, open, again, etc." Also if you try and pronounce the Dutch phrase, sometimes it even sounds like the English way except a little different.  Languages are so much fun to play with!

Also, all of their music here is the same as ours, and all in English. A lot of their signs and coffeeshops and clothing stores, are all written in English and only English. And when my friends and I were lost, every Dutch person we stopped to ask directions was able to communicate enough in English. Kudos to them! I think America needs to step up their game in terms of learning more languages. I know its in our school systems, but its not enough. Most of us are not fluent in Spanish, and that is our "second language". We need to step it up and be more universally acceptable.

Anyway, Yesterday was fun! We started on a sightseeing tour which was funny because typical me is listening with one ear but taking pictures like crazy. But this is necessary, you see, because when the tour group stops to teach us something, I have to take pictures because taking pictures while walking has proven to be difficult.

After the sightseeing tour, we ended up at Anne Frank's House. This was really emotional and very saddening. Unfortunately cameras were strictly not allowed, so I don't have any. The entire tour going through was very quiet. It was startling to see the living conditions they were forced in to, and how it turned out anyway. It was very sad and hard to see, but also very eye-opening and interesting. For instance, I did not know that Anne wanted to be a writer. She wanted to publish her own book called the "Secret Annex". Besides her famous diary, she kept many other books with random favorite quotes, and creative writing scenes, novels and poetry which reminds me a lot of myself, which I really liked.

After that emotional toll, we all went to their supermarket here and grabbed some lunch ( I got a smoothie and an apple for 2.80 Euro! woot

After my mini-alone excursion (one I will never forget!) We went on a relaxing boat tour through the canal, which was relaxing. Did I mention it was relaxing? We all so needed it. We took lots of pictures together and I took lots of pictures of....everything else.  After our cruise we had some free time til dinner, and this is where the bonding came in. About 6 of us decided to just walk around and explore. We came across a really cool flea market and I got some sweet pictures. We did some shopping, talking, and getting to know each other. By the end of the 2 hours, we all felt like best friends. It was unforgettable, and amazing, having that instant connection with five other people after just meeting them.

We then went to dinner, and it took us about halfway into our entree to figure out what nationality we chose. We thought we were in a Thai or Indian type food place, but turns it was totally Greek. very, very Greek. And I tried new things! And didn't die! Didnt even get nauseous! :D Although I honestly could not tell you WHAT I tried.

After dinner we went to this park where the famous " I amsterdam" sign is, and we all took pictures in while climbing in letters together. It was so much fun!

After that we went to the "Red Light District"....for those of you that do not know, prostitution is very legal in Amsterdam. The RLD is a place where prostitutes can openly sell their services to people seeking. It was the wildest thing I have ever seen, and certainly something I will never see in America! Women in bikini's wait in their house doorways behind a glass window, and tap at you as you walk by if they are interested in you. If you are interested in them first, you can go to them and discuss pricing for their services. Then you make a deal and...well, you know. So it was sad to see that women were relying on this for their income and being treated so lowly and this is what their life has come too...but at the same time I am glad it is legal because the country has so many practices in place to keep these women safe, STD free and free of lifelong detriments such as AIDS. Also, they are making a LOT of money.


Anyway, thats the majority of my day! Thanks for sticking around for a long blog! Hope I made it interesting! Today is a bike ride along the Dutch countryside, and I leave in ten minutes! We won't be done until later tonight. Tomorrow is an 8 hour bus ride to Munich!

~A Writer in a Nurses Body < 3

Choo Chooing Quietly...

So I babysat the kiddies today (babysat 8-3 and then worked 3-11....ouch. Long. Day.)  and as always, the things they say throw me for a serious loop.

Within the same 15 minutes of my arrival and the mother's departure this morning, I had such a blast. The 4 year old boy is still not potty trained and has this gigantic fear of the pooping in the potty for some ungodly known reason. And the parents have tried everything, and I mean everything. So, to my utmost joy and total convenience (not) the mother tells me on her way out, "By the way-- they don't get to watch ANY T.V. until he poops in the potty."  So I'm like, oh- Fabulous. I rely on the tv a lot when I'm making them meals or in the potty myself (lol o god I just said potty when referring to myself....). So I knew right off the bat this was going to be a very interesting day.

Meanwhile, I have the delight of dealing with a screaming two year old that wanted nothing whatso ever to do with me or anything that represented me or anything that came from me or said by me. So, I'm in her bedroom with her *attempting* to help her get dressed for the day, because in her midst of screaming I made out a mere "IWANTTOGETDRESSED". So be it. So I started helping her take off her Jammies which only made her scream more when she screams "IWANTTOKEEPMYJAMMIESON". So we went back and forth like this for quite some time until I hear out of the corner of my ear  from the 4 year old, "JULIEEE! I HAVE TO POOOOOOOP!"  

This is the golden moment where I think my head turned to the side like a curious dog that just heard something that he is not sure about. I had to think about it for a second. He has to poop? ANd he wants to go in the potty? And he is telling me? OH MY GOD.  So in my midst of proper prioritization, I turn back to the screaming 2 year old and tell her that its totally up to her to pick out an outfit for the day and dress herself and that I was not going to help her if she was going to scream. So I went in (well, ran in) with mr. 4 year old and "gave him his privacy" aka stood outside the door, when 5 seconds later (literally) he tells me, "JULIEEEEE, I POOOOPED!"   Well, that was not long enough, I think, he just sat down! So through the door I insisted, sit longer and push some more out, get all the poop out! (lol). And I get back a "I CANT!"   So that was that. And, sure enough I went in to help him be done thinking there would be nothing but........there was like a friggen monster. I'm telling you. Frightful.  And he looks up at me, and says, "Can I watch t.v. now please?"  lol. yes. go for it little man.

needless to say in his delight of pooping on the duck potty, and in all the rush, he totally peed  all.over.the.floor. WHICH I did NOT know until my feet were wet and he felt obligated to tell me that although he totally pooped in the potty, he peed on the floor, and that it was gross. Yes, thank you. So I spent the next half hour with a lot of clorox (gross). But I actually didnt even mind because I was so happy he pooped! (Oh my god I sound like an overexcited mom.....oh my. )

Back to the 2 year old...she comes out of her room and besides the fact that her pants are on backwards, I am totally impressed. She picked out a gorgegous little tank top I didnt even know she had, and (somewhat) matching pants, and even put her hair in a bow. And no more screaming. Just went and sat down and watched t.v.   Morning success.


Before I leave you for the night, I shall leave you with a couple conversation babysitting funnies: the 4 year old shall be Boo and the 2 year old will be squirt (girl).

Squirt is holding her baby doll, rocking it to sleep, telling everyone, "Shhh!".
Boo starts to sing a little lullaby, mixed with a little soft humming. I thought this was nice.
Squirt: "Boo, be quiet baby is trying to sleep!"
Boo: I know I'm singing a lullaby!"
Squirt: But you have to be quiet, the baby is trying to SLEEP."
Boo: I know but i'm singing a LULLABY for it!"
Squirt: but the baby is trying to sleep!

this conversation went on just like this for a healthy thirty seconds until I had to intervene, with:

"Squirt, sometimes people sing lullabies to help little babies fall asleep."

Squirt: *paused*.... "Oh."   starts singing/ humming a lullaby to her baby.
Boo: I AM SINGING THIS LULLABY TO YOUR BABY SQUIRT!!!!!!!!!!

*facepalm*.



Later on in day, on another occurence when squirt was shhhhing everyone for her baby, Boo was playing with his trains, Choo Chooing.

Squirt: Shh!
Boo: Squirt, I canNOT Choo choo quietly!



Later on in day....t.v. is off, they are just playing with their imaginations in their room. I love to watch this.....
Boo: C'mon Squirt we have to go feed all the parrots in the zoo with all the seeds!!!!
Squirt: AHHHHHHHHH!!! *Runs around in circles* (she really was).
Boo: "don't roll your eyes at me."


I also taught the two year old how and when to say "Bon Appetit!", because she made a kitchen setup for her dolls and was telling them to enjoy their food and was looking to me to uh...say a couple words? So I said, "Bon appetit!" and of course got crazy looks. So I explained what it meant and when people say it. Needless to say, I am so looking forward to the parents faces when day ( I wish I could see this) when they all get some dinner and squirt says, "Bon Appetit!". Priceless.


~WNB




  

The English Language In 24 Accents

I thought I was good--But THIS guy is AMAZING! Seriously very good. I hope I can nail as many as he can one day lol

Socializing Aches

Do you know what I hate? When you're with a new group of people, or with a new group but know one good friend and your friend knows all the other people, or you're with old friends you havent seen in ten years, and you're all making conversation and then someone awkwardly says, "Julie, why are you so quiet?" Or someone will rudely say, "Julie, talk much??" or "Speak up, Julie, I haven't heard a peep out of you." Or someone will pull me into another room and try to be all nice and all like "Are you OK? Whats wrong? Why are you so quiet?"

When REALLY, what is there to say??! Don't people get it that some people, like me, like to just listen to everyone talking? I observe people. I listen to people. I watch them, study their interactions with eachother. I giggle at what others say, sometimes, I'll throw in a peep of conversation. But half the time, I'm with people I've never met and they are all talking about inside jokes or stuff they always talk about, and therefore, what am I supposed to say? Talk about the weather? I'm not a talker. I don't mean to be rude. I just like to listen. Also, I think so much about what I'm going to say that its too late to say it by the time I try. Or half the time there is no opening to say it, because everyone is talking so fast and you have to practically raise your hand to get a spot of words thrown in there. And then you get socially deducted when after all that time of trying to say something, you havent said anything and therefore are "too quiet".


0_0.

Of course, throw me with some good, close friends, and Usually I can't shut up. Or put me 1:1 with someone I'm extremely compatible with, and we could literally talk for hours. :-) I love those times.

I'm a person thats OK with silence. Just sitting, with someone, in silence. In a car ride, or waiting for something...or whatever. I hate *trying* to make small talk. I can do it, to be polite, but it Irks me. I am perfectly content just being with each other and not talking. If we have something to talk about, excellent, I would love to talk. But small talk? The weather? Eh. I'm big on nonverbal communication. I like to listen to people that way, even if they don't realize they are communicating that way. I also am very good at communicating non-verbally. Eyes, facial expressions, body language...gestures.


I've always wanted to learn sign language. It would be so much easier.


~ A Writer in a Nurse's Body.

Learning a New Language

This was my last week working with the Pediatric Clinicals. I'm actually sad. OK, maybe I'm happy to not have to drive to St. Peters weekly anymore, but I am actually sad to not have any more pediatric patients until my future job…I was finally getting used to the aspect of taking care of kids instead of adults. Med/Surg this spring is really going to through me for another loop. I actually had a rather metaphoric dream last night after clinical that I was walking down a hospital hallway and was headed towards the pediatric playroom. When my fellow classmates and I got there, we found many adult "typical" med/ surge patients there in this colorful and playful playroom. I was frantically looking for the kids, I missed them. But I knew I had to take care of these adults too. But enough with the dreams…

I wanted to take time this week to discuss my recent metaphoric epiphany I realized this week when I was in the PICU. We are learning a language, the language of nursing. In a metaphorical sense, I'll break it down. When you learn a new language, most adults learn in three stages. First, you can understand the basics. You know the general idea of the language. You can maybe say a couple choppy words you just learned but people can tell immediately you aren't fluent. Well, that's how I felt last spring after interventions. I felt so overwhelmed with the realm of nursing, I knew the basics but that's about it. But, importantly, I was ready to learn more. The second step in learning a language is being able to read it and listen to it and understand it. Well, that's how I felt this week after the PICU. I was instructed to read a child's chart (a long history) and then follow the pediatrician around as well as the nurse. Not only did I understand what I could make out from the handwriting in the chart, but I could understand 90% if what the doctors and nurses were saying about the patients. That was rewarding. The third step is being able to speak the language fluently. Well, I'm certainly not at all fluent yet. I feel right now I can squeak out sentences, but I don't sound confident behind them. At least I certainly dot feel confident. I'm hoping for that last stage to fully develop this spring or next year. That way by the time I enter the workforce, I am ready to talk in "their" language (as if you were moving to France- It'd be beneficial to pass all these stages before you moved in). Granted, just because I am fluent in the language does not mean I am a great nurse. Knowing French doesn't make you a great citizen right away. You have to learn the culture, the customs, how things are done, the dialects, the slang, the people, etc. Well, in my future job it will take at least 5 years to learn all the nursing ways, the nursing instincts, etc. But once you can speak the language, that will all fall in a lot faster.