OTepp's Final Bow

For several years now, the Occupational Therapy examination and practice preparation (OTepp) project has assisted a multitude of internationally educated occupational therapists (IEOTs) seeking to enter the healthcare system in Canada.  OTepp has guided IEOTs to achieve the level of competency needed to enter occupational therapy practice here.  In fact, the program serves not only as a government funded program intended to develop IEOTs to the populace's liking but it also serves as a modern-day agora where OTs from all around the world can gather and illuminate each others' mind with cultural diversity.  Sadly, this wonderful program is in its last year.  

A farewell party was held at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel in Burrard last July 16.  Most of the current students and even some former ones along with the McMaster University staff were present. It was nice to see and actually meet the people behind the voices during the online classes - Shami, Sue, Colleen and even Nancy to whom I was in contact with since I was an intern. (sorry if I missed some names) And even though I was only able to enroll for the 3rd and 4th module - which is the using evidence in practice and the clinical reasoning respectively - I was welcomed with much warmth.  

Here are some of the pictures from the party:  (courtesy of Miss Pinky Valerio)

Printed invitation for the farewell party

Sue Baptiste giving the opening speech

Group picture number 1!

Group picture number 2!

OTepp has made me realize a lot of things about the passion I pursue - that is occupational therapy.  Primarily, I realized that there is a huge difference of OT practice here and my home country, the Philippines.  Here in Canada, where the local communities play a big part in the overall country's development, an OT needs to know of the resources he/she can access in the community.  If you know your community well, you can better integrate the client into that community.  Like for example, what is the difference of a residential home versus an assisted living home?  And how would you utilize that resource in practice?  Subsequently, an OT does not only present literature as evidence of the management but he/she must also learn how to sift those articles to fineness.  With the lack of access to the large database during medical school, I am surprised how I even learned evidence-based practice.  I definitely learned a lot more about research in OTepp (inspite of the fact that we were best thesis in our year).   Lastly, I have realized that occupational therapy practice in the Philippines will remain stunted unless the government shifts its educational system to cater the Filipino mass.  I am quite inclined on the political situations happening in my home country since I entered College.  (Click this on my post about poverty and another Tagalog post about a 16 year old who committed suicide because of her tuition fee)  And it is easy to see how the social sciences have not grown that well for the past few decades.  What the Philippines needs is to have real identity through the social sciences.  Identity in which we can define the occupations every Filipino engages in.  This in turn will develop an occupational therapy of our own.  But yeah, maybe it's just me being too over reflective again.  Anyway, I think it's a nice brain candy.  

Perhaps we should trace back our roots for OT to thrive

Coming from a third world country myself, where the North American healthcare system seems more like fiction than reality, I feel relieved to know that there is an organization that can help you understand the complex framework of the health care.  And truthfully, with unintentionally jumping the first two modules due to complications with my documents, I have yet to completely understand how the health care system works.  I did a lot of self reads in order to properly engage myself in the online discussions; promptly following Shami's advise to improve my self-directed learning (aka assertive learning).  Still, when I reflect on the past year, I can't imagine starting from nowhere!  OTepp was my "start" sign on the game board of my career (and probably for most IEOTs as well).    

With OTepp's last curtain call, I bid the staff good luck with the program.  I pray you find alternative funding for this wonderful program.  And to those IEOTs I keep in touch with, may we meet in the health care world proudly carrying OTepp's legacy with us.

A Letter to My Wendy's Family

Dear My Wendy's Family,

It has been a long ten months since I have been welcomed in your home.  Although it seems to me that, I came as quickly as I had to leave.  I am writing this to all of you- crew members, shift supervisors and managers alike - to express my eternal gratitude for accepting me at Wendy's.  Since I landed in Canada last June 2012, I have been aggressively pursuing a job to fund my transition for occupational therapy practice here in Canada.  I felt hopeless and frustrated with the seemingly unlucky things that happened last year.  My diploma and other credentials were on hold because of my surname, two of my much anticipated volunteer works were pushed back and I literally had no money to invest in things that could start up my career as an occupational therapist here in Canada.  I felt utterly useless at home.  Looking even at the people who were carrying out their daily occupations made me miss my work as an occupational therapist. So when I was called in for an interview along with my little sister, Aiko, I was enthusiastic!  "This is it!", I thought.  I can earn money. Miraculously though, I wasn't just given a job; I was embraced wholly as part of a family.   The My Wendy's family.

And to my dear kin, I want to share the little achievements I have accomplished for the past year.  These are  the things that I proudly got from the opportunity you have given me.  First and foremost, I was able to reserve my spot for the National Occupational Therapy Certification Examination (NOTCE).  I had all my credentials assessed and I took an academic english test (TOEFL) in preparation for that.  Subsequently, I invested in books! Here are some of the books I have longed to own when I was still in med school.  Yep!  I have them now.

Latest editions of OT books I needed

Upper extremity rehab books that I wanted since internship

I was also able to buy myself a cellular phone to connect with my friends from far away.  But, needless to say, I am most proud of my decision to sponsor children from World Vision with my bi-weekly salary.  Much like Dave Thomas's Foundation for Adoption, I advocate for children as well.  My hard earned money is giving children in my parents's hometown a chance to have basic education.  They are given the privilege to have new bags, notepads and pencils that they normally can't afford every academic year.  Their washed away books can be replaced by new ones.  They can play in the fields and be kids as they should.  When Wendy's gave me this job, two kids are given back their childhood.  For that, I am evermore grateful.

Meet little Clarence

My Wendy's Family, I write this to you with heartfelt ardor. You have fostered in me qualities that every parent would be proud of. Each and everyone of you showed me the real light to seemingly jaded words like working hard, kindness and humility.  These are words that are used so casually today that it loses its essence.  You guys made me realize that we don't get paid just for every hour we stay there, we get paid for the value we bring to that hour.  And that surely, if you did your best and strive to improve, you will be rewarded. 

The fruit of hard labor! Yey!

I have learnt the true meaning of Dalai Lama's words, "Be kind whenever possible. It really is possible."  Customers love the service we give because of the kindness that flows in our smiles.  That simple hello with a bright smile is not just for show.  We are nice because we want to be nice.  And oh!  The things we do for even the most unreasonable requests by customers!  But that is real humility there.  Thinking less of how you could avoid getting responsibilities and focusing on giving the guests a positive experience. Everytime I work, I feel my name growing brighter by the second. (reference to 明美 - akemi)

With all that said, I close this letter with another thank you.  For having me, nurturing me to best that I can be and also for letting me go. I am sure that my ephemeral experience at Wendy's will permanently leave a mark on my life.  It will always be there - immutable, unshaken but magnificently resounding.  My time with you guys will be one of the many things that will shape my career; that I firmly believe.  I will be always proud to say that I have started out here in Wendy's Guildford.  Like this guy with a nice smile!

That serene smile catches everything I just wrote hahaha

Love,

Akemi