#4

#4 May 14, 2012

The real reason we are here.

Today we were introduced to our sites that we will be working at. I will be at the National Learning Network (NLN). Initially I was pretty bummed out because I was under the impression that I was going to strictly work with the pediatric population. At my first visit, Susan and I were introduced to my head supervisor, Sharon. She informed me that NLN is the training and education division of Rehab Group and offer courses that are 1:1 with a holistic philosophy to provide services that are tailored to each student. The overall goal of the program is to support counseling, confidence building, interpersonal skills and personal goals. I have a feeling that I am going to need to find out more information when I actually start working at this site.

Before we visited each of our sites we visited the Cregg House. This was an AMAZING experience for us all! We went on a tour of the facility and spoke to some of the staff on site. Sligo has the biggest Down’s Syndrome population in all of Europe. Due to the large practicing Catholic population in Sligo abortion and amniocentesis screens are not legal or allowed in contrast to the 90% of American women that choose to abort when screened for a Down’s Syndrome fetus. There is much research going on in Sligo because of the large population of these ‘service users’ or better known as ‘clients’ or patients in America. We were astounded that through their research they have found that 96% of Down’s patients develop Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The AD unit is full of Down’s service users who have become family to the staff because most have been there their entire lives.

The biggest difference in services provided by therapists in Ireland and America is that the therapists’ goal in Ireland is to maximize independence in the areas of leisure, work, and social interaction. In America, the OT scope of practice is to maximize independence in activities of daily living (ADLs) to encourage more functional independence in other areas of life. Both therapists treat using a holistic approach that takes the whole client or ‘service user’ into consideration. An Irish OT will do only what the service user is comfortable with and will not step beyond those boundaries. The Irish therapists (including all staff and nurses) are incredibly passionate about their jobs and absolutely LOVE what they do each day. Some of the service users are considered family and may house with them on occasion. Maybe their love what they do so much because they get two breaks a day for coffee/tea breaks and Irish shortbread cookies AND a lunch break. These are my kind of people!

On a lighter note, today was also our first day of excursions. Martin is our bus driver and he owns the Furey Bus Tours. Everyone, literally everyone in every town knows Martin. He is an older gentleman who drives like a bat out of hell. If the speed limit is 45 km/h expect that Martin is booking it at about 75 km/h. Did I mention that our bus is a Mercedes Benz? What a stud.

Our first stop was the Tobernault Holy Well. This is a place of serenity and reflection. Tobernault is a natural spring that has been dedicated to the national Saint-St. Patrick, who visited this well, blessed it and used the waters, to baptize converts to Christianity. Before Catholicism was accepted in this area people would come here to find a calm place to meditate.

Our next stop was Parke’s Castle. This was my first visit to a castle, how gorgeous it was! The castle sits on Lough Gill, a freshwater lake between the mountains near Sligo. The castle was built in the 1600s by Captain Robert Parke on the site that the former Sir Brian O’Rourke originally established the area. This is an extremely picturesque area and pictures do not do justice for its beauty!!! When I come back to Europe I will be bringing much less luggage and a better camera.

The weather today was absolutely gorgeous  and sunny with spurts of showers in between. And it hailed three times. Not Nebraska golf to baseball size hail, but big enough to decipher between rain and hail. Through trial and error we have calculated that you have 5 to 10 seconds to get your umbrella out or you are as good as drenched. The wind has officially annihilated my umbrella for good…it’s the third day. 

We ended our day excursion with a stop in Dromahair where the whole group gathered at a pub for a beer (Smithwick’s). Jolly good time, let me tell ya!

Apparently Sunday is the day to go out and hear the live music and we missed that memo. Monday is the carryover of Sunday and we are not missing it! Let the pub-crawl begin!

Cheers!

Our newest friends: Dane, Edel, Dave and Michelle. Our first pub for the week is Furey. Yes, the same name last name as our bus driver, Martin. I told you he was famous. Turns out my roommates are also a hoot. Lots of quotes for our quote book. Really loving this whole Irish accent thing…

“I think I am catching on you know? Calm your jets I’m just making crack.” (I think I am catching on to this, don’t you think? Cool it, I’m just making fun)