When I got to Cranbrook, I was totally freaking out! The plane was landing in the boonies! Literally! All I could see were trees and mountains! On the way to my place, the driver decided to take the back road because all I could see was trees, a few houses, and a gravel road full of pot holes! Boy was I scared that that point. I was thinking that I would be staying in a cabin/hut for three months! Thankfully I arrived at a HOUSE! I had a good laugh in the end when I found out civilization was five mins away a.k.a. Walmart, Superstore, Home Hardware, La Senza…..

The weather here has been soooooo nice! Sunny since I got here except one rainy day when Nancy arrived for her site visit. I swear she brought the rain with her! Sooo happy that I missed the rainy Vancouver spring weather!

The staff at the hospital is so great! They have changed the schedule to allow me more time to scan. All the sonographers are so friendly and helpful too! So knowledgeable and extremely patient with me! It’s really a great learning environment! They have also invited me to social activities so I wouldn’t be so lonely here! Our break room is shared with all the other imaging modalities so it’s interesting to talk to other people. It’s nice having all the different imaging departments all together. It made it easier for me to coordinate visits.

I have got to scan….ok push buttons….for mammography and ct! For xray I got to observe. Wow the techs were so great! They know that I’m not training to pursue their profession but they still took the time to explain everything! Sonographers often use images from other modalities to piece together patient history so visiting other departments was an extremely helpful experience!

I have to admit that cardiac sonography is my weakness. It’s not my strongest subject. When a radiologist offered to go through his reporting with me, I jumped and took the opportunity! He has been so patient explaining things for me! He is really an awesome teacher! He talks to me like I’m a student….I really needed things dumbed down for me :)

I was sooooo lucky and excited to find other students here! They were xray students from BCIT! Wow! That made going out here less lonely! It made me feel less homesick because they understood where I was coming from. They started in January so they offered words of encouragement. I have gone out to wings and Fort Steele with them! I def wouldn’t have done that on my own!

Now that I’m in the middle of my placement, I realize how much I love my placement! I’m extremely glad to get this placement. Sure I’m away from friends and family but I would have been sent another time anyways. At least the site is as good as it gets! This placement has allowed me to learn and grow as a sonographer.

Thanks East Kootney Regional Hospital!!!!!

We’ve been enjoying some much needed R&R following a crazy April and the conclusion of my studies at BCIT.

Yesterday we rented scooters and spent the day exploring Oahu on two wheels. It was awesome. I saw a lot of women out riding too, which is always exciting. Motorcycling is an amazing hobby and it’s the best when done with the people you love.

Openfile just published an article on female motorcyclists and the breakdown of sexist barriers to the sport. It features BCITs very own Marcie Ladubec who teaches motorcycle mechanics. It’s a great piece, check it out here

If any of you ladies are looking to take up biking I highly recommend it. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made.

R.

The office is in a unique, warehouse style building in Gastown. Our desks are actually made out of scaffolding, and have these awesome little ledges for your pens and highlighters. There’s been talk about adding another level to the desks, with some pillows for brainstorming and relaxing.

My favourite area is the lounge. It’s not only inspiring, but has some nice open windows that bring in lots of natural light. This is a great place for after work, and for catching up with the team.

Next up, we have an office dragon, yes that’s right. He was let into the office by our Director of Campaign Integration. Above him is the smak gong. If something exciting happens with one of our projects, everyone will be startled with the loud clang of the gong.

Needless to say, interning at smak has been very exciting, fun, and inspiring. I think the work place is a great motivator and really has a lot of character. No boring cubicles here!

Last Monday was the end of the co-op semester for a lot of people here. Obviously to say, I will miss them a lot as they go on vacation for the summer or back to school for another semester. Some of them have one or two more classes to go before they graduate, others still have another year or two before that happens.

This Monday is the arrival of all the new co-ops and interns. This batch of people look smaller than my group. I can’t believe that 4 months have gone by already and I only have 4 months to go before school starts up again.

Speaking of school, it seems like working here have put my brain on hold. Since I don’t do any programming at my job, that part of my brain have shut down or stuck at the dormant stage – which is a big uh oh! sign for me.

At the same time, I received my PICK YOUR OPTIONS email from school. I still haven’t decided which one I want go to for in the upcoming September:

• Client/Server
• Digital Processing
• Data Communications and Internetworking
• Information Systems

We are given these four choices and will have to order them from first choice to last choice. I think I can eliminate Digital Processing from that list, so I will have to pick my top choice from the three that are left. I have until June to decide but right now my top choice is a toss up between Data Comm (though I might just faint from all the work) or Client/Server.

If anyone have any tips or suggestions, please (please) toss it my way. I am so bad at deciding these things.

*

In work news, other than new people arriving and old people going, there isn’t much to update on. Other than me trying out Frappuccino for the first time with Starbucks’ Happy Hour deal and enjoying the sun through a window for away from me, the next big exciting thing is MOVING DESKS. Apparently they do this quite often. Since all these desks all look the same, departments will shift around during a big move since they grow or shrink over the year. Right now my department is scattered across one area of the third floor, so hopefully with this move, we are all back together. I am the lone wolf sitting by myself right now.

Also there are two more BCIT additions to SAP – Kevin, who is also in my department (and who sat near me for two weeks and joined us in April) and Joseph, who is on the Technical Writing team. Yay, BCIT!

Oh! My team had its first FUN DAY ever. We headed to Bowen Island for a hike last Monday. It was pouring rain and we looked everywhere to find lunch since restaurants like to close on Mondays. Finally after the lunch, the rain stopped and the sun peeked out for a bit. The hike was pretty muddy and I got to see a lot of earthworms crawling across the path (There should be a ‘why did the earthworm cross the road’ joke here).

Probably the happiest part of the trip was that I got ice cream after the hike.

My co-workers took much nicer pictures than I did but sadly the share drive is down right now.

My fellow colleagues

At the dock

PS: I hope to watch The Avengers tomorrow (finally) and finally got to watch The Hunger Games which meant that I can finally start reading the books. I finished the first one but no one has copies of the second and the third one. Or they’re all hiding them from me.

My fears:

1. The first impression
RELAX! Everybody is worried about it! Just be yourself! You are all in the same boat. I remember chatting with a few people on our first day of school. Yes , I was a bit scared but who isn’t? I happened to zone in on the only guy in the class and started talk ing to him. Now, he remembers me as his first friend in the class :-)

2. What to wear
Ok I’m a girl….so excuse me for this. Anywhoo I wore a cute short romper for my first day of school. Not going to lie, I looked pretty good….until we entered NE1. For some crazy reason the AC was on full blast! My oh so cute outfit was covered within mins. Don’t forget to dress warmly guys! It was cold throughout Sept with the AC!

3. Where are my classes
NE1 is pretty easy to navigate. The first number corresponds to which level the room is on…I assume you guys figured that out for the interview :-D The best thing about our schedule is we basically have all the same lecs together with the exception of human behavior and labs. I have such a poor sense of direction and can never remember what room we go to next. Thus I use the “follow-the-leader method a.k.a. whoever knows where they are going. Be careful though! Sometimes we assume the leader knows where to go but a few times they didn’t!

4. Where are the computer labs?
I would suggest that you explore school on the first day since it’s not a full day. I walked around NE1 to find out where all the washrooms/caf/lockers/study areas/computer labs were. It is also a good idea to check out all the cool events planned! Booths were set up on the first day with lots of draws, information and free stuff.

5. Note taking
Everybody has their own style of note taking. Some bring their laptop and some print out notes. The notes given to us are on D2L. We have to write text, point to certain spots, label, write extra notes…etc. If you are not really skilled at using a computer or do not have a good program to edit the files, I would highly suggest that you just print out your notes. I considered bringing my laptop but it would be heavy and too annoying to click so much just to do one action. If you are printing your notes, you might want to invest in an ink jet printer vs a bubble printer. You will print out toooooons of notes in black and white (saves more $$ than colour).

6. Buying books
As always you want to get this before the first day of school. Buying at the bookstore is a bit expensive than buying online. Unfortunately I didn’t know this at that time…but some students were able to find all the textbooks on amazon for cheaper with no shipping costs. If you are buying books at school, it is worth it to be the early worm so you are not waiting in line ups. Also certain books may not be found online…ex. notes/course ware so you want to buy it asap. The bookstore actually doesn’t print out the correct number of copies. They print out less so they are not left with extras. Get on it people!

7. Getting lost
I usually stick to a buddy system as I go around campus. I find this method works very well! If you are lost by yourself, everybody is so helpful around campus so just ask! I took a tour before I came to school.

http://www.bcit.ca/tours/

It’s a good idea to get a hang of where the important buildings are! Lolz I really needed the tour…I got lost GETTTING to the tour! :D Luckily the tour guide had my number so he figured out where I was!

8. Getting the U-Pass
This is basically combined with 9 below. You need your student card before you get the U-Pass. Once you get your card, there is a little nook near the entrance of the lib inside the building. You can’t miss it! You swipe your card and your U-Pass will pop out. Be sure to remember to get it every month. They usually are avaliable late in the previous month (last week).

9. Getting a student card
You get this at the front desk of the library. Try to get this before your first day of school. It will make it easier for you. I got my student card when I was on campus buying books…you could also get it when you go on your tour. Don’t forge to bring ID!

10. Personalities of the teachers
Honestly, you have NOTHING to worry about! They are awesome! You can really tell that they love their job and are dedicated to teaching. They are all down to earth and friendly. If you want entertaining stories of Sonography…they are the people to turn to ;)

11. Making friends
Yikes it’s kind of like starting high school again! You see these people from M-F so it would be better if you could make friends with your classmates. It’s not like uni where you switch seats everytime you go to lecture and are surrounded by hundreds of other students. I know it was difficult. For the first week there was so much silence! We didn’t have much homework so for lunch, we sat all together. Imagine a group of students sitting in the caf all silent and one their phones. My phone was kinda ghetto so I didn’t have internet! I just pretended to be on my phone like everybody else. Lolz! If you are ever lonely just look for me :) I assume you guys aren’t scared of me by now. After reading these posts you must have a good idea of how I’m like. Don’t worry, I’m person I’m still the same :)

12. Making a fool of myself
Lets face it…it’s going to happen. Everybody makes mistakes. At least you will be remembered :D You have 27 months to regain your reputation so no big deal.

13. Falling behind
This is a real and scary fear. The program is quite intensive and requires you to keep up. I extremely advise you not to work during this time. Some people may be able to pull it off but they must have tons of self control and time management skills. Once you fall behind, it’s hard to keep up since material keeps building and building on past material. I would strongly suggest that you turn to resources such as your peers, textbook, and teachers for help! Teachers are suuuuuuper suuuuuuuuuper helpful!

14. No money
Hopefully you have saved up. Unfortunately this cannot be avoided because well you are in school and will not be able to work. There are ways to save while in school. One big thing is to bring your lunch! It sure adds up!

15. Checking out guys without appearing to be stalkerish
You know you do it….NE1 is FULL of trades guys! Woot woot! If you are ever caught….they will prob take it as a compliment anyways ;)

16. Eating
Like I said, it is best to bring your lunch. There are tons of microwaves in NE1 and throughout the school to heat your lunch. Awesomeness! There is also free water from The Stand. This is extremely awesome if you want to bring instant oatmeal/noodles/tea to school.

17. Getting shoved in lockers
Pssh what are you in highschool or something?

18. Keeping fit
I admit…I totally slacked off on this! Everyday we started class at 8:30am. I am the type of person to work out early in the morning so I didn’t work out at all during the academic semesters. Too early! There is a gym at school but I already have a gym membership. People who are able to workout in the afternoon find our breaks useful. This year I am more determined to work out early in the morning before school starts. Wish me luck! I’m in Cranbrook right now and I am still paying for my membership in Van. I decided to keep fit by doing the Insanity workout. Yes, it is really insane! It’s important to keep fit to be healthy, relieve stress, and prevent injuries!

19. Transportation
It is best to take the bus. Transit may have troubles adjusting to a new semester so plan to leave early! Those who want to park, there is a parking lot right near NE1. You enter through Canada Way. Unless you are there before 7:45am, I wouldn’t count on getting a spot. You will have to drive to Beta Ave and park further :( I just take the bus because it is easier…plus you all have to pay for it anyways.

20. Mean 2nd yrs
Hahaha yes we are suuuuuuuper mean! ;) Don’t be afraid! We are glad to help if you have any questions. Don’t be afraid to talk to us and be our friends. We are all in the same program and will see each other out in the real world! Just a note: when you sign up to scan with one of us, make sure you write it down and show up. We sign up for certain times to practice on the machine. If you could remember your times, it would make getting along with us a lot easier :D

Can’t wait to see you all!!!!!!! :D

This weekend I got to be a bit of a tourist and show a friend of a friend, who’s from Germany, around Vancouver. It was a nice break; I always forget how many cool things there are to see and do in Vancouver.

We explored Gastown, Coal Harbour, Yaletown, Stanley Park, the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain in two days… not bad!

Now I’m going to spend the rest of my weekend getting ahead with some work. I’m determined to not procrastinate for my last couple of weeks at BCIT. On the agenda today:

1. Finish my personal website for web design class

2. Come up with an idea for my internship project (basically making something creative, that sums up the internship in 20 pages or less, although it doesn’t have to be report style).

And that’s it!

Probably one of the lightest weekends yet. But, it won’t stay this way for long, exams are just around the corner.

April, or as my niece calls it ‘Easter’, is always my favorite month. It’s my birthday month! This April was no different and we celebrated with a motorcycle cake. Yum!

April also marked then end of my studies at BCIT. What a ride. It was truly a special learning experience. It wasn’t without it challenges as I learned new skills, wrecked materials, and broke tools. It was also a time of excitement as I completed numerous projects, an apprenticeship exam, and a practicum. What a blast!

I also took a trip to Comox where we replaced and painted the bumper on my girlfriends car. This included a trip to Goose Spit. It’s spectacular if you ever get the chance.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly I found a full time job in my field. Finding employment in Vancouver is never easy and this was no exception. I sent out easily 100+ resumes and attended 30+ interviews. As a result I was well placed to find the right opportunity and when it presented itself I took it. I’m very excited to start in May.

Overall April was hectic but marked the completion of much hard work. I’m excited for the rest of 2012 and what will be a very prosperous year.

R.

Wow I can’t believe that it’s week 5 of the practicum already! I’m 1/3 of the way there! I have been getting many questions about practicum recently so I decided to make a mini guide of it.

Clinical coordinator:
Nancy Chouinard (your go-to person)

First month of school:
-We were given a form to fill out for our top three preferences of where we will be sent for out of town placements
-At least one clinical placement will be outside of the lower mainland
- the lower mainland stretches from N Van to White Rock and Point Atkinson to Chiliwack
- Consideration was given to those who had free housing outside of the lower mainland

Two months before practicum:
- After Xmas break we were told our placements
- Most placements were in town

One month before practicum:
- We did our fit test (found our size for face masks)
- We met our clinical liaisons when they came to BCIT for their training

Before practicum started:
- Found housing and transportation (we are responsible for this)

Length of practicums:
4 terms (11-12wks long)
Terms are split into two separate rotations 8 rotations (incl. 2 5-6 week cardiac rotations)

Preparing for practicum:
- Clinical prep class during level 2 taught by Nancy
- We were told what to expect, how to act professionally, how to fill out forms, what was expected of us….etc. – Level 2 labs concentrated on time efficiency and fine tuning skills
- Level 2 intro us to pathology and scanning babies
- Nursing class in level two taught us how to move patients, safety, what to do in emergencies, how to care for patients….etc.
- Clinical manual and binder given to bring to the placement

Paperwork:
- Weekly performance forms filled out by sonographers
- Log of every case we scanned
- Mid and end of rotation forms
- Site evaluation

Schooling during practicum:
- there is none! Yay!
- Studying to keep material fresh in our minds
- Studying for end of term exam :-(

During practicum:
- Working with the clinical liasons and other staff
- Learning as much as we can :-)
- Learning to work the computer, fill forms, scan (of course), answer the clinical question, how to work with patients/staff/sonograhers…etc.
- Sucking up….hahaha well ok more like making a good impression
- 2 visits from a member of the faculty to see how far along we are progressing in relation to our targets

After practicum:
RELAX!!!!!!!! We get July and Aug off! :-)

* please note that the timing and information above may change. This is just a guideline.

We won!! Open house went off without a hitch, and the SRMT program walked away with the most coveted prize of the affair, a second place ribbon for team spirit. I’m more proud of this award than I ought to be, but I am also strangely reminded of the ‘participant’ ribbons I would invariably earn at elementary school track meets. It’s nice to receive a bit of recognition, as the first and second year classes really did put a lot of energy into the event.  The most enjoyable part of the weekend was getting out and seeing some of the other displays around campus.

Had I been aware that the Environmental Health program gets to make freeze dried ice cream, I may have ended up on a very different academic path.  This stuff was delicious, and probably my highlight for the weekend.  Anything which allows me to consume sugar while pretending I’m an astronaut is a winner in my books.

Hey look, some highly infectious bacteria.  This is quite cool but I’d have been a little more comfortable if I had known this was in the room before I ate a copious amount of ice cream.

I lost about 15 minutes of my day when I was inadvertently hypnotized by this wacky wave machine.  Yes, it was interesting, just not interesting enough for me to go to the room and find out what the heck it was.

I am very disappointed that I didn’t get to see anything fired from this trebuchet.  If there is anything I enjoy more than pretending I’m an astronaut, it’s pretending I’m a knight.

So now that the glamour of open house is behind us the SRMT crew is back to the regular grind, both in the classroom and the woods.  This photo was taken last Friday on our geohazards field trip in North Van.  It’s certainly becoming harder to focus on school as the weather gets nice and the program comes to a close.  I am pleased to report that this final semester seems to have some the most interesting courses yet. There has been one recent development on campus, however, which has displeased me greatly.

The awesome xlerator hand-dryer in the new SW1 restroom has been replaced with this flashy piece of junk.  Where I could previously have the water blasted of my hands in a mere two seconds I’m now left thrusting my arms back and forth like a stooge into the dyson airblade. Not impressed, BCIT.  Not impressed.

This begs the question: If we’re graduating in five weeks, where does life go after that?

From meeting so many unique people in my program I’ve realized we all will be moving on with our lives by taking very different, but fitting paths – all according to our backgrounds, experiences and future goals. There really isn’t a “right” path to take or a specific mold that we will all come out of upon graduation.

A lot of students already have bachelor degrees or years of work experience. For them, BCIT was a way to jump start their careers. So, upon graduation their goal is to find an amazing job to begin their careers. Often this can stem from the internships they are in right now.

Others may have completed a couple of years of university prior to BCIT and still want to complete their degree. Some will go right into the BBA (Bachelor of Administration) here at BCIT or may transfer to another school to complete their degree in another field.

Then there are other options. Travelling, volunteering, studying abroad are all great things to do, especially if you are unsure of where to go next. One thing is for certain, you never know where the skills you have learned from this program will pop up!

That’s what I love about my program and marketing. There is such a variety of options for occupations and ways to use what you have learned in everyday life.

So yes, remembering that #000000 is black in Photoshop or how to do a correlation analysis in marketing research may be useful for down the road, no matter what direction life takes you.