The Joys Of Having A Public Library

"There is not such a cradle of democracy upon the Earth as the FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY...where neither rank, office, nor wealth receive the slightest consideration."

- Andrew Carnegie

Reading, as much as writing, has been a major part of my life.  I am in honesty, very much in love with reading.  I don't know when it started but for as long as I can remember, I've been hogging books at my nightstand.  Assiduously exploring the different worlds offered by each books - every new word expanding the territories of my imaginative mind.  However, in the twenty years of my life, I never knew of the bliss of visiting a public library.  A free, totally updated, no padlocked encyclopedias, public library. Well, that is, until now.

I grew up in the Philippines, a third world country where more often than not books get washed away by yearly floods.  Coming from a middle class family, I was one of those lucky kids whose books don't get washed away and even if they did, my family has the money to buy them back.  The earliest books I remembered having were those Disney colored books - the ones with the golden spines.  I had them at the age of 3 and re-read them a lot.  Who doesn't fancy those happy ending stories eh?  I'm proud to say that a decade later, they've been in good condition as both my little sisters were able to use them as well.  At the start of pre-school, my mom provided me a lot of reading comprehension books and math worksheet books.  Quite the "Kumon" training really, as my elementary days were full of those books.  I enjoyed them so much that my mom decided that I was ready to read novels.  Really mom?  Buying "Moby Dick" and "The Swiss Family Robinson" for a seven year old?  I tried reading it for a bit but I didn't last a page!  Five years after, I would find out that Moby Dick was one of the hardest read novels in history.  Fancy that!

What I was most fascinated with most though, among the ton of books mom bought for us was the Britannica Encyclopedia set.  Ah...those golden edges and the crispy smell of that special paper they printed it on. It was just amazing beyond words!  I woke up to the Nara bookshelf filled with large black books and with all three layers of the two-meter long furniture, occupied.  Mind you, they seemed endless for a kid like me!  You know how Belle reacted when Beast showed her his magnificent library?  That's how it felt.

Wow!  Much amaze!  Such Books!  Wow!

Looks very much like the City Centre Library at Surrey Central (well, to me that is ^-^)

Naturally, having grown in a house where I can open all the books I want, I was excited with our school's library.  Since I was the lucky first born, I was enrolled in private schools.  They have libraries! Public schools as I reckon, rarely have one or even if they did, the books aren't updated as much as private ones; even for some, they constantly rebuild their libraries everytime the books get soaked with mud after great floods.  So, I was really lucky.  The libraries at school not only had textbooks for gradeschool, they had encyclopedia sets as well.  Much like the ones at home.  It saddened me though, that the school keeps them out of reach.  They have the encyclopedia sets and other "expensive" prints padlocked.  The school staff have it displayed on lacquered furniture and they dust it off regularly but, they wouldn't let us touch it so freely.  The only way to have them opened is to ask permission from the principal!  In a formal letter with parent's signature. Seriously? Why would I do that?  It was a really troublesome feat for a youngster like me back then (and maybe to some of my classmates but I never really asked.) I wouldn't want my mom to constantly tell me that it was too much of a hassle to borrow the books I like.  It was already hard convincing them to buy me books that were unrelated to school. 

All I wanted to do was to read the encyclopedia.  I'm tired of the kiddie books and textbooks similar to what I use in school.  My mom already bought extra ones I read after school.  All I wanted to do is to compare them - to find out if they had a picture of the Great Wall of China like the ones we have at home. If they have cool DIY experiments I could do as well.  If the Hittites really were the first ones to temper iron. Or if they have a different story about Pocahontas's life - like the Disney one. (Yeah, I was kind of disappointed when I knew of the real story of Pocahontas) My school library treated the books like they were cursed jewels - never to be touched.   If you don't read them, what use will those words be?  Treasure was to be found there but they let the years pass as the information becomes stale.

Friends, let me tell you, a book unopened is as good as a blank paper.   

Just last month, I remember my big brother posting in his Facebook status, a commentary made by Ambeth Ocampo - a historian and great writer.  It went like this:

"FILIPINOS ARE NOT A READING PEOPLE, and despite the compulsory course on the life and works of Rizal today, from the elementary to the university levels, it is accepted that the 'Noli me Tangere' and 'El Filibusterismo' are highly regarded but seldom read (if not totally ignored). Therefore one asks, how can unread novels exert any influence?”

I agree wholeheartedly with him. It's true that Filipinos are not a reading race. The source of it can be traced out to a lot of political plays and simultaneously ingrained with historical roots. Although, I never considered myself a non-reader, I have to admit that I did not constantly read books.  Partly because, I never really saw my elders do it, but mostly because I was not exposed to different types of books.  You might find it weird but I only really read our Britannica set before I was exposed to other books in my teenage years. (exempting all of the school related books) Totally weird right?  I never read Dr. Seuss's work until I got here in Canada.  I never even touched a newspaper unless I needed it for a crafts project.   I started reading mysteries and classics in highschool and Filipino literature in early college.  The compulsory reading of "Ibong Adarna", "Florante at Laura", "Noli Me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo" during highschool were tad boring for me.  Mainly because the teachers weren't as excited in the literature as they were supposed to.  They were only excited to grade us in questions of identification of characters and their dialogues; to see if who memorized the book and characters.  But they have failed to ask relevant questions on reflection and how those masterpieces relate to our present culture.  How then can we appreciate reading them?  And what more for those who didn't even touch the books?

If you think about it, I am only a part of a small percentage of the Filipinos who do read and keeps themselves informed.  Do you know why?  It's because I'm part of the middle class who can afford books.  I had an early access to them at home that is why I have grown to be this way - grown up to be an informed reader.  The poor don't have this kind of privilege.  They must rely on public libraries, which are few and most probably are protecting the books from the people it must serve.  A paradox of the inherited title - public but not really public. 

Therefore, I am grateful of Canada's public libraries.  Thank you for existing!  I would never have known the joy of visiting the libraries if it weren't for you.  Books are free from being encased in fragile glasses and people are not kept out by iron bars.  You always display the books at the entrance to make me and the other readers feel welcomed.  Thank you for trusting me. I could never bring home the maximum of 50 books at a time but I would like to try that sometime. Hope that I won't lose one of them though, if I bring them home.   Thank you also for always keeping the bookshelves organized and up-to-date.  New books come in everytime to fill the community with new ideas.  Thank you for buying my suggested books!  I was surprised when you called me up and told me that I had a "held" book; it was the "Pathological Altruism" book that I suggested 3 months before. Wow!  I thought the suggested items were never really taken seriously.  Thank you also for encouraging me to suggest more books.  I am happy to know that my "wants" are important to the wonderful collection you keep.  I felt honored - that I actually have the power to shape the community with the books I choose to suggest.  Thank you for not banning books!  The library is a haven for our aspired ideal of faultless democracy - all ideas are welcomed.  And most importantly, all kinds of people are welcomed.  Whether you're rich, poor, newly landed, unstable part-timer or overly worked employee, you are duly welcomed.  Services are the same for everyone. They won't ask for your name or judge you for what books you decide to take. It might as well be paradise.  So, what I suggest everyone do is to go to your public libraries today and thank your librarian!

LONG LIVE LIBRARIES!!!

The Centre City Library in Surrey. Look at that!!!  I could stay in it and never go home

Reflections On Red Cross's SmartStart Program

" True connection with people transcends the vast network of vocabulary you have. It forms amorphously between beings yet, when it is born, it has the most well-defined shape you'll ever see."

At the start of the cold winter season, Red Cross has been busy warming up vulnerable communities with information on basic first aid skills and disaster preparedness with the SmartStart Program.  A diverse team of multilingual volunteers have been empowering immigrants for more than a decade now, by equipping them with skills that will prepare them for emergencies and undaunted disasters as they live out their lives here in Canada.


The first class that I taught to was in my native language - Filipino.  It was for the Multicultural Helping Housing Society (MHHS), a non-profit organization devoted to help newcomers in Canada.  The class consisted of quite a large number of  people - around 20 individuals or so.  Thankfully, the room was really large! Large enough to even accommodate a crowd twice the size. It was held in one of the much isolated tri-cities, Port Coquitlam.  Maria Luisa, a long time Red Cross volunteer, has helped me pull through the whole session.

From left to right:  Roy Recarse and Gigi Recarse from MHHS; Maria Luisa and Me

First SmartStart Multilingual Injury Prevention Class

In all honesty, I was relieved that my first class was in my own language.  It's like a preparatory class for my ESL classes.  The first class allowed me to reflect on my knowledge and skills.  To temper the dynamics of teaching and gauge my ability to make connections with my students and make connections between themselves as well.  I tried to make it as engaging as possible to make them feel that in that class, I share my knowledge but they are free to share their ideas as well.  Overall, I didn't have much problems with explaining complicated things with my them.  Whenever there is something they cannot understand, I find Filipino words that can fill in the definition. That is one of the perks of speaking with people with your own mother tongue.

The next class that I taught was in ESL.  It was held in the Burnaby English Language Centre at Sussex Avenue.  Kenny - our coordinator for the SmartStart Program - and Kevin, an ESL teacher at the centre, were there to support me in teaching.  I was really nervous as it was my first ESL class.  The people in the class were at level 3; though I did read up some stuff on how a student learns at that level, I found it really hard when I was already on the floor.  Looking back to it, I think I wasn't my best at that time.  It was hard for me to make a genuine rapport and connection.  I felt like I was sharing and yet the connection was amiss at times.  Watching Kevin do comprehensive questions as the class was ongoing made me admire ESL teachers a lot.  I felt that they were really "in sync" with each other. I want to feel that "real" connection Kevin has shown, where you feel that you and your students are on the same ground.

Honestly, after this first ESL class I felt crappy as a person.  Lonely even.  I pondered on people and making connections.  I remember people telling me that my English is great and that I was rather smart but when it comes down to truly making a bond (well, new bonds at the most), I felt that those really aren't what I need.  I remember reading off a blog about Fitzgerald on smart people and it went like this:

"Being an intellectual is a curse and a blessing at the same time. I’m not like most people and as such I have little in common with “normal” people who are able to more successfully navigate the world we all inhabit. I often ponder what it would be like to be of a more average intellect, mind you I wouldn’t classify myself as super-smart but I’m quite above the average. But I’m not really willing to give it up either. So I soldier on and work at being more normal and less of a savant. It’s a struggle and it requires lots of mental and psychological gymnastics to meet people were they are and on their terms, something that’s not required of more normal people for the most part."

I kind of understood what he said regarding his struggles on connection. I use so many flowery words (that yes, poets might appreciate) but I can't seem to cater the right words for them to understand.  I don't even know how I should level most of the phrases and words I use, to my dismay.  Words like minor or integrate. - they are the average for me.  Then, as I try to pull out a word from memory to define the complicated words, I find that I just told them yet another complicated word.  My mind was clouded with word retrieval that day as I struggled to chop my words down more.  I realized how disorganized my word bank was!  (Hahaha)

It's good to know though that after much reflection, I have come up with good conclusions of my own.  First, that is in teaching, your connection with your students will help not only you in sharing your knowledge but it will also help them to remember your words as well.  Second, that one needs not form a "superficial" connection but rather strive for a "true" connection. True connection with people transcends the vast network of vocabulary you have. It forms amorphously between beings yet, when it is born, it has the most well-defined shape you'll ever see. Lastly, that no matter what kind of person you are, if you strive to make a connection then surely, you'll be answered back.  You will have a hard time understanding them sometimes due to language barrier but so will they. So, don't worry much on awkwardness. (Just try not to look awkward, I guess)  As long as both parties wish to understand and be understood, no large lexicon is needed.  

Overall, it was a magnificent experience and I think I'll grow more from the following ones.  I look forward to my future students!  Let us learn together.

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

Unofficial Guide to CAOT Application for IEOTs

Since I got here in Canada, a lot of my friends have been asking about how to apply to for the National Occupational Therapy Certification Exam and so I decided to make a detailed post about it.  Just a reminder to you guys that this procedure is for World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) accredited schools; however, you are very free to read it if you would like.

BASIC WEBSITES
First and foremost, let's go over the basic websites to access the information you need in your endeavor.  I have to say, it took quite some self assertion to tie up the loose strings in this puzzle. Listed below are the websites with a simple description and the basic knowledge you can get from them:

1.  Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

The first thing you'll see when you click the link above

The prime of them all!  Everything and anything you need to know about applying starts from here.  The steps you must take in applying is detailed there.  You can find both the application process for the WFOT accredited and the Non-WFOT in this website.  However, you can easily get lost in this website as there are a lot it covers and it is in your discretion to filter what you need to read from what you don't.  I spent hours trying to filter those stuff but don't worry, I have a smart advice about browsing the site.  So, upon entering "CAOT Central".  That blue rectangle up there in the main picture, the site will open up with this:

CAOT Central page

So, what I want you to do is ignore all other tabs aside from the one that has a red arrow pointing to it.  Once you have clicked that, the page should look something like this:

The IEOT page in the CAOT website

Okay, this time you must take your time to read and understand just what an IEOT is.  From my point of view, the explanation is as plain as day so there is really no need to divulge on its meaning.  In the next websites that you will check, the term IEOT will be a standard.  At this point however, you must note whether you come from a WFOT accredited school or not because the path you take for application is totally different as IEOTs.  So, from there you have two choices to follow.  One is to just click the eligibility requirements page I have provided here for both WFOT accredited and Non-WFOT accredited schools or you follow the other path I will provide. For the second path, you must click the National Occupational Therapy Certification Examination (NOTCE) link found on at the bottom of the first division of the site. You will be redirected to this:

The NOTCE page from the "Students" tab

From here, you must click the link that the red arrow is pointing.  This page frequently changes so this might not be the one you'll see if you're going to visit the site again in November.  However, I believe that the link to the "eligibility requirements" is always there.  After clicking the link, you will be redirected to the "International Graduates" page that is also located on the first division of the page.  From there, you'll you can easily follow the steps in applying.

2. Internationally Educated Occupational Therapist Portal

This website is specially made for IEOTs like us.  It is a great site that simplifies the things you need to go over for your overall transition of practice here in Canada.  See that encircled icons below?  Those are the things you need to go through and if you get lost during browsing (because the pages will redirect you to other websites), you just need to go back here and click on what you have yet to cover.

IEOT Portal main page

The greatest thing I love about this website is the "Success Stories" page.  I really recommend that you take time to watch their videos there.  They really give you a glimpse of what to expect in applying and in practicing occupational therapy here in Canada. And of course, they give out really handy tips.

3. Citizenship and Immigration Canada

As you may have read already from the learned from the second website I have listed, it is compulsory to emigrate to Canada. As far as I know, you need to have a permanent resident status or you have papers in process for getting into Canada to apply for the exam. In this website, you'll find it easier to navigate.  My tip is to know what type of application you want and then search the tabs located at the upper side of the main page.

See how friendly the site is?  You'll know more when you navigate through it

Let's put a little depth on what to search so that you won't get lost in the site.   If you have at least two (2) years of experience in the occupational therapy field, you can apply for the "Skilled Workers and Professionals".  The downside of this is I think you have to have an arranged employment contract.  Another important matter that may limit this choice is that the government of Canada is cutting down on getting skilled workers and professionals to migrate.  I do not really know why but that is the last I have heard.  You might want to go check the website time and again to get updates. My family and I went through the "Provincial Nominee" process.  You might want to check that out as well.

Other  Important Websites 

Aside from those three basic websites, you will need to decide on what PROVINCE to practice in.  Deciding on where to practice at this early stage is essential because there are some differences in "registering" for practice per province.  Let's say in the Western parts of Canada like The College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia, the language requirement is English.  However, in the Eastern parts like in College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario, the better choice of language is French.  I believe that there are also provinces that do not allow temporary practice without a license and there are those many who allow it if you are already eligible for the exam.  Check out this page to know see the list of provincial regulators.


CONTACTING THE RIGHT PEOPLE

Now that you know the basic information, it is time to contact people.  At this point, there are two important people you must contact - the Exam Services Administrator in CAOT and one staff from the provincial registry (the registrar I think).  You can also e-mail them in their general mailing address that is exam@caot.ca for CAOT and again, your preferred provincial regulator.  For those interested in British Columbia, mail this address info@cotbc.org.  They will reply to you in one business day. Yes, that fast.

So, after knowing who to contact, you must learn on how to contact them.  Although you are going to contact them, you must do it with finesse.  Be sure to address them properly and as how they would like it.  For example, when Mr. Ryan Govern, the Exam Services Administrator of CAOT, replies to you and said that you can address him as Ryan, you do so.  Otherwise, you will be culturally inappropriate.  However, if he does not permit you so, you will remain calling him as Mr. Ryan.  Subsequently, you must construct the body of the letter in an organized manner.   Ideas and questions expressed clearly will get an answer with the same transparency or at least I believe so.  Of course don't forget to introduce yourself before you actually ask a question.  Lastly, sign with your whole name and your title.  If you need help in articulating yourself in writing, you better start learning now because having that skill gives you an edge.  Mr. Ryan McGovern will ask you to construct a cover letter to accompany your application form.  And you will also need to construct cover letters when you apply for jobs.  Actually, you write cover letters here for almost everything!

Also another option is to call CAOT and the provincial regulator to ask your questions but I think e-mailing is as good.  Better perhaps!  Because you can browse through it again.


DOCUMENTS NEEDED

For the documents you need, I am pretty sure it is almost everything I got from my school.  I ordered a lot of documents!  And honestly, I can't remember their descriptions but I'll try hard to list them down.  Here is the list:

1. Diploma
2. Transcript of Records
3. Certificate of Internship
4. Course Syllabus (with description)
5. Certification that the school is WFOT accredited
6. Certification of Graduation
7. Certification of Completion (?)  - hmmm...I'm not sure about this
8. Other certificates (e.g. academic scholar certificate, dean's lister certificate, etc.) although I don't think this matters much

Okay, so after contacting Mr. Ryan on applying and you have sent the application, you will need to have the documents above reviewed.  A year before, you need to pass it to BCIT but now they made it easier.  They recruited the World Education Services (WES) to assess the documents.  You can also find the WES link in CAOT.  The required assessment is the basic document by document credential report.  Other documents I have missed in the list may be listed there when you browse through the application.


THE COST

Costs will be tearjerking, I tell you.  Once your application is approved, it will cost you an immediate 500 CDN . 200 CDN for your language assessment and 120+ CDN for the credential assessment.  Add to that the money you need to get all of the documents you need in your school. One thing you need is a credit card to make payment handy but a cheque would do nicely as well.  You just need to make sure it gets to Canada safely.  If you intend to use a cheque, please do not, DO NOT send it through ordinary mail.  Send it via couriers (if they allow it).


There are a lot of information to digest, I know.  And perhaps with all of the meticulous process you need to go through, you will be discouraged.  However, I assure you that Canada is a great country to go to.  The people are willing to help you as long as you don't give up on them.   I suggest giving it a try before letting the idea go.  After all, you will only go as far as you think you'll go.

OTepp First Week

As I am currently in line for the November 2013 National Occupational Therapy Certification Examination here in Canada, I have decided to enroll in a program funded by CAOT called OTepp.   It is a program ran by the McMaster University in Ontario that assists internationally educated and returning occupational therapists integrate into the Canadian practice.  It consists of five (5) modules that started this January 2013 up until June, just before the July examination. I was a little late to register because of the status of my papers so I joined in the third module.

Interested in the program?  Click the link

We are currently studying evidence -based practice in which we are taught how to critically appraise articles to be used in practice.  In a virtual classroom!  I am so fascinated by this new experience that I can hardly contain my smile every start of the session. (Not that they could see my ridiculous smile though)  It really surprised me as well just how many Filipinos were engaged in the program.  And yes, it is perhaps one of the main reasons why I am happy with the classes.  Hearing a familiar accent calms me down and it reassures me (somehow) that we are one in the same.  We are seeking help to re-enter the world of occupational therapy.  Striving hard to re-ignite the flames of passion for the profession in a highly unfamiliar setting.

 Truly, support groups like this for internationally educated health care professionals like us is truly a blessing!      Can't imagine starting from nowhere.  Next week, I'll be posting about the process I underwent to apply for eligiblity to CAOT.  

Just be you...

You learn something new everyday.

If there was one statement that could greatly describe how I perceive this new life I'm trekking, that will be the quote right above.   Somehow, with all the foreign things surrounding me, I can't help but feel like a kid.  Getting out of your comfort zone has never been this extreme!  Believe me. There are what we call basic "awkward~" situations where you get a little uncomfortable. But with simple and basic socially awkward situations at least more or less you are self-aware of the comfort endagering situation.  You have at least a marker on this one.  You know, like crossing the imaginative line of personal space or going out of your house gate when you were still a child.  Think about leaving that marker and venturing out into an unknown place, where people speak different languages and everything just seems so...NEW!  Right now, after all the nerve-wracking (and not to mention painstakingly humiliating) awkwardness I have been secretly carrying on my back, I have reformed to being a child.  So socially awkward sometimes that I have no care if I have acted rather ridiculously - like a child telling a green joke by accident.

The thing is immigrants like us are welcomed here in Canada and being awkward is fine.  Hey nobody is perfect!  You can't be all good at mingling with people right away.  But you can try.  Just try and try and eventually you'll get better.  Like a baby learning how to walk.  You have to risk falling before you actually learn.  And I bet that didn't just happen overnight.  You had to learn how to turn over first, sit unguarded, stand with the help of furnitures and practice letting go.  You can't just skip it all.  Take risk and be awkward.  Be you.  Afterall, you're building relationships so as much as possible honesty must be present.  They may find you weird at first or ...well, I can't think of anything except for weird so we'll just go with that. That's just how it is!  I tried to talk "casually" as soon as I got here and woah...you wouldn't believe how excruciatingly awkward I was to those people I have talked to.  I stuttered, mumbled, went out of topic and in the end I was talking in one word descriptors.  Talk about desperate communication right?   Nevertheless, I tried because I know that that is the only way to go.  I'm glad I did strike up those childish conversations though.  I can say that I have gained confidence in speaking and the stuttering is almost gone. My flightiness is a little hard to deal with but I think I can manage that through PGH style modification.

Hooray for Sir Jerry and Ma'am Ai~!!!  Thanks for straightening me out when I was still in Ward 7.   It's a great help now.

So view everything like a child - without prejudice and malice. I bet you'll find the world a better place.  Let me tell you it is easy if you try.  Just let His wisdom guide you (or you could just go with the weather topic.  Yes, it always works.)

Leaving Philippines

Emilio Aguinaldo College Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy Batch 2011-2012

I'm leaving for Canada this June 10 with my sister.  This time it's going to be long.  For a year or so and I really don't know how to react (or at least I think I don't) to this new situation.  My friend said that "parang hindi ako malungkot" but I am sad.  It's just that I have my family over there too so I have my feelings all mixed up.  I am sad to leave the country that I grew up in, but I am happy to meet the family I left there - my mom, dad and little sister. Leaving is such a hard thing, that I know well. I don't want to think of it as somewhere not here on Earth.  I remember when my bestfriend died during highschoool, mom told me to think that "nangibang bansa lang siya", just to ease the pain of being left.  And I think I have for a while now.  I think I have thought of her as someone who travelled to an unreachable place.  But my situation is different.  I mean, come on, with all the technological advances in the last decade in order to provide opportunities to communicate, why make it such a big deal.  I'd rather think of it that way because truthfully, if I didn't...I'll cry.  And that is something I don't want my friends to see when I leave - I'd want them to remember me as "being me".  The weird, quiet and not so sociable me with a smiling face. I hope and pray that things turn out well this year for us.   

Bow or Shake?

"Oops! Wrong greeting..."

I've been in Canada for 2 months now and I've noticed the big difference in how people interact with each other. Here, the people greet you even if you don't know them. I was fairly surprised by an Indian lady living in our apartment when she greeted me and asked me if I was going to my job today. I cautiously pointed myself (parang tanga lang haha) and said in a whisper, "Me?". She smiled then I smiled as well and told her that I was not going to work and that I was going back to my home country, the Philippines. I asked my father if she knew a woman like that or if he talked about me in particular but apparently he doesn't. My father doesn't even know anyone here in the building except for the new Filipino family in Suite 112 and the other Filipino family above us. Anyway, people here are definitely more "casual" than the Filipino or rather, the Asian casualty we practice back home. We practice a lot of mannerisms or etiquette as some would prefer to call it.

In the Philippines, for example, it is common knowledge to address people with older stature using some of the following words:

OLDER MAN

1.) Tito - equivalent to uncle

2.) Kuya - older brother or can be used to a stranger older than you by a couple of years

3.) Manong - now considered equivalent to "old man" but back in the days it was considered to be equivalent to "sir or mister"

OLDER WOMAN

1.) Tita or aunty - equivalent to aunt

2.) Ate - older sister or can be used to a stranger older than you by a couple of years

3.) Manang - now considered equivalent to "old Lady" but back in the days it was considered to be equivalent to "miss"

It is also important to remember to use "polite language" such as po and opo. But that's just one level of politeness for you. Imagine having different levels of polite language like the Japanese or Koreans. They have like three levels of politeness - the informal level, polite, formal and an additional super formal as I'd like to call it. People who have experienced and lived with this kind of culture will probably perceive the Canadian way of greeting rather rude. This also accounts even if one knows it - like me.

Anyway, it's very different here compared to the experiences I've had back home but I find experiencing other cultures a wonderful thing. I'll probably experience more awkward situations but hey, that's life - live it while you can, the way you want it.

Snowboarding: A Cultural Activity for Canadians

"Cypress Mountain - November 26, 2011"

Today, we went to Cypress Mountain to learn how to skateboard. I was pretty excited to go there that I've dreamt about it last night. Although, I really can't remember my dream at all. Anyway, despite the wet weather, we still pursued our very first snowboarding expedition. I can tell you, it was hard for me - a female with a sedentary lifestyle - to even slide my snow board while practising walking with the board strapped to one leg. And here I thought that we were going to join those people already sliding down the beginner slope immediately after arriving. I WAS WRONG! My goodness! DEAD WRONG! I couldn't even manage to glide on the surface perpendicular to my snow board. I wondered how could those Canadians do it so gracefully. Then I thought, " Oh...maybe it's like a cultural thing. I bet they practise it all the time." And this cannot be ignored by an aspiring occupational therapist such as myself, especially if I plan to practice here in Canada.

Culture - something integrated in society that is practised and maintained by the people in the country. Hey, they have mountains with confectionery snow for months. So, snowboarding must be an activity preferably done in winter by a wide variety of people. Well, supposedly I have a client who wants to learn snowboarding. As the client's occupational therapist, I must know how to snowboard at least. Not that I'm saying that there will be such but it's better to know than be ignorant. As we all know, this profession transcends all human - meaning even multicultural activities as such is possible. I really am glad I took this day to learn how to snowboard. Hope that in the near future, I will come to use it in my profession. (And I hope to be better in the snow boarding aspect too)

SNOW!!!

Today, I saw snow for the first time. It was like someone opening the freezer and scraping the shaved ice from the sides. I thought, "Hey, how high does the snow fall from?". When I checked to look, snow got into my eye. The kids from the apartment next to us played after 7:30 pm. Geez, how late are they allowed to play? But I guess, every Filipino or rather, every kid would be too excited to think about the time when they see snow piling up on their porches.

I think I'm inspired to make a poem about it. I'll post it if ever with another picture.

P.S. Yes~! finally my dream to see snow came true!!! But still, it would be different if I were in the Philippines.