I started a new placement today working in the community. While in a way I am going to miss the freedom of research weeks, I do welcome a more structured schedule.
Today was a day of introductions and discussion on what it is I will be doing. This took up a great portion of the morning (well all of it actually).
The afternoon was spent getting prepping for a program that was running tonight. The program pairs local chefs together with teens giving this group exposure to cooking (among other things). I attended the actually cooking portion of the evening and had a chance to see how things ran. The evening wrapped up around 8:30 pm thereby concluding my first day (nothing like a solid first day at work)!
Working downtown shall definitely be an interesting experience...now if only I could find a cheap place to park...!
Cheers,
T.
Showing posts with label Internship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Internship. Show all posts
Monday, September 14, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Back Home in London...
I made it safe and sound back from Ottawa and am now (somewhat) settled back into my place here in London. I started my new placement on Monday and I can definitely say it is a completely different experience than my last one. The week has flown by and I honestly cannot believe that it is already Saturday afternoon. I've got so much to do before Monday and I'm not quite sure how it will all get done!
My trip home was rather uneventful. I stopped in the Toronto area to have a late lunch with two good friends and was back in London last Sunday for dinnertime.
Perhaps when things slow down a bit, I'll have a chance to catch up on some Ottawa topics that I didn't have a chance to write about while I was there.
Happy Saturday!
Cheers,
T.
My trip home was rather uneventful. I stopped in the Toronto area to have a late lunch with two good friends and was back in London last Sunday for dinnertime.
Perhaps when things slow down a bit, I'll have a chance to catch up on some Ottawa topics that I didn't have a chance to write about while I was there.
Happy Saturday!
Cheers,
T.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Canadian Forces Day - Run/Walk
I'm going to break with tradition and post out of sequence. I've officially finished my placement and I can't think of better way to cap off my four weeks then to participate in the annual walk/run for Canadian Forces Day. The walk took place downtown along the Rideau Canal and the weather couldn't have been more perfect.
All employees and their families were encouraged to participate in the event and as you can see, there were tons of people there!
It was a great day.
I'm off to take my two roomies out to a thank-you dinner. This weekend is Doors Open in Ottawa and so J and I will taking part tomorrow.
Happy Friday!
Cheers,
T.
All employees and their families were encouraged to participate in the event and as you can see, there were tons of people there!
Me with some of my co-workers!
The view looking ahead.
The view looking behind...look at all those people!!!!
It was a great day.
I'm off to take my two roomies out to a thank-you dinner. This weekend is Doors Open in Ottawa and so J and I will taking part tomorrow.
Happy Friday!
Cheers,
T.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Last day!
Well I've made it through my first rotation - yeah! Will post more on the week's events shortly.
Tomorrow is Friday - don't forget to wear your red.
Cheers,
T.
PS: A photo of parliament taken while I was waiting in the line for the tour.
Tomorrow is Friday - don't forget to wear your red.
Cheers,
T.
PS: A photo of parliament taken while I was waiting in the line for the tour.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Internship Update
I really cannot believe that I'm already three weeks into my first placement. That means that I've only got one week left here!
Things have been going well. Last Monday I finally got security clearance and my pass so I've been able to come and go without having to inconvenience my preceptor with having to sign me in and out.
The module I've been working on has now become two. In presenting what I'd completed on Tuesday, both my preceptor and I could see that there was just too much material for it to work in one presentation. We decided that the best thing would be to divide the topics (emotional eating and then eating out and alcohol) into two separate presentations. I'm glad we decided to go this route.
This week is going to be action packed. In addition to trying to tie up loose ends with the presentations, we have planned a trip to Kingston to watch another presentation and get a bit of a tour of the base. Friday is CF Day and a run/walk is taking place. Much of our office is taking part and I'll be there too!
Cheers,
T.
PS: As you can see I'm almost up to date on my posting. I just got back from an amazing weekend of fun with an old friend. I will post on this shortly.
Things have been going well. Last Monday I finally got security clearance and my pass so I've been able to come and go without having to inconvenience my preceptor with having to sign me in and out.
The module I've been working on has now become two. In presenting what I'd completed on Tuesday, both my preceptor and I could see that there was just too much material for it to work in one presentation. We decided that the best thing would be to divide the topics (emotional eating and then eating out and alcohol) into two separate presentations. I'm glad we decided to go this route.
This week is going to be action packed. In addition to trying to tie up loose ends with the presentations, we have planned a trip to Kingston to watch another presentation and get a bit of a tour of the base. Friday is CF Day and a run/walk is taking place. Much of our office is taking part and I'll be there too!
Cheers,
T.
PS: As you can see I'm almost up to date on my posting. I just got back from an amazing weekend of fun with an old friend. I will post on this shortly.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
And just like that, everything changes!
I came into work this morning ready to really start to tackle the project I've been assigned. This project is a social marketing campaign on increasing vegetable and fruit consumption. For the past two days I've been trying to wrap my head around the population I'm going to be targeting.
The organization is very keen to incorporate the five pillars of health promotion from the Ottawa Charter [creating supportive environments, develop personal skills, strengthen community action, reorient health services and build healthy public policy] in all their programming. It's actually refreshing to see something I've used in classes actually being put into play in the real world! Anyhow, I had been thinking about what areas I wanted to focus with the campaign and had actually started to put some ideas to paper when my preceptor came to talk to me.
The project that she's been working is on a rather tight deadline and she approached me to see if I would be willing to step away from my assigned project and instead help her with hers. Her project is a program on weight loss/management offered over an eight week period. I told her no problem, I'd be more than happy to switch and so, just like that I'm no longer working on the vegetable and fruit campaign!
My focus now will be to develop a module (one of the weekly sessions) on three areas: eating out, alcohol (and all the calories associated with it) and how mood and environment can affect eating habits. I'm actually quite excited about this and can't wait to get started on researching these areas!
I am also a bit relieved. While I was excited to work on the social marketing campaign, as I started to read more into the population and speak with individuals more familiar with the organization, I couldn't help but feel that the project was larger than I could handle in just a four week time frame. I could have come up with some nice handouts and perhaps an informational poster or two, but I don't really think that would do the program justice nor would it be a good use of resources.
Tomorrow I'm going to watch a session from the current program so that I can get a better idea idea on how sessions run and to perhaps have a chance to pick the brain of the facilitator on her views of the program and any suggestions that she may have on the module I'm working on.
Alright, enough shop talk for now. I'm currently watching the playoffs (it's 5-1 for Boston) - gotta love Don Cherry's jacket!
Getting excited for the weekend so that I can start to explore the city!!!
Cheers,
T
The organization is very keen to incorporate the five pillars of health promotion from the Ottawa Charter [creating supportive environments, develop personal skills, strengthen community action, reorient health services and build healthy public policy] in all their programming. It's actually refreshing to see something I've used in classes actually being put into play in the real world! Anyhow, I had been thinking about what areas I wanted to focus with the campaign and had actually started to put some ideas to paper when my preceptor came to talk to me.
The project that she's been working is on a rather tight deadline and she approached me to see if I would be willing to step away from my assigned project and instead help her with hers. Her project is a program on weight loss/management offered over an eight week period. I told her no problem, I'd be more than happy to switch and so, just like that I'm no longer working on the vegetable and fruit campaign!
My focus now will be to develop a module (one of the weekly sessions) on three areas: eating out, alcohol (and all the calories associated with it) and how mood and environment can affect eating habits. I'm actually quite excited about this and can't wait to get started on researching these areas!
I am also a bit relieved. While I was excited to work on the social marketing campaign, as I started to read more into the population and speak with individuals more familiar with the organization, I couldn't help but feel that the project was larger than I could handle in just a four week time frame. I could have come up with some nice handouts and perhaps an informational poster or two, but I don't really think that would do the program justice nor would it be a good use of resources.
Tomorrow I'm going to watch a session from the current program so that I can get a better idea idea on how sessions run and to perhaps have a chance to pick the brain of the facilitator on her views of the program and any suggestions that she may have on the module I'm working on.
Alright, enough shop talk for now. I'm currently watching the playoffs (it's 5-1 for Boston) - gotta love Don Cherry's jacket!
Getting excited for the weekend so that I can start to explore the city!!!
Cheers,
T
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
The Great Internship Adventure Begins...
And just like that almost one year passes! Eight months ago I was unsure of what to expect with the year ahead. Now officially completed the classroom education of my Masters, the real learning begins! For the next year I'll be trading my backpack for a briefcase and heading out as an intern...working like a real grown-up save one small detail - I do it for free.
I'm okay with this. After all I knew what I was getting into heading into the program so really there's no use complaining as I am a willing participant!
This past Saturday I made the trek from London to Ottawa for my first placement. The drive itself was uneventful. On Sunday Jo and did a dry run of my drive to where I'm working. This was no problem thanks to Jo's expert knowledge of Ottawa (and perhaps a little help from the GPS). That afternoon Jo, her sister Julie, and I headed to Wakefield, QC for dinner with some of their family. It was good times and good food and all in all a nice way to spend the Sunday before my big day.
On Monday I had to be in for 9 am. Not knowing how Ottawa traffic is (good, bad, ugly) I left an hour early (to travel about 15 km) just in case. About 30 minutes later I arrived at my destination and had some fun trying to find a parking spot (I had been warned about this)!
I was a bit nervous about actually meeting my preceptor but it turns out I had nothing to worry about! I think the fact that she had forgotten her keys that morning so she was locked out of her office (and hence my office) helped to break a bit of the tension and we had a good chuckle about it.
Much of Monday was spent acquainting myself with the orgainization I'm working with and the project I've been assigned.
I did a LOT of listening (and learning). I forgot how tiring this can be. I got home around 5:15 pm, had dinner and was asleep for the night before 8:00 pm!!! If asked how I felt after day one: overwhelmed (with knowledge) and excited (to delve into my project).
Today I had a chance to meet with some of the other people involved in our area at work. It was nice to hear a little bit about what others are doing and how they came to be where they are. We have people from all over Canada and there are a number of new employees (there are at least 5 people who have been there for less than 4 months) and so I'm not the only one who is getting to know the ropes.
Today I worked more on becoming acquainted with the organization and my project. Four weeks is such a short period of time to get things done and so I've really got to make sure I stick to the deadlines I've made for myself!
Cheers,
T.
I'm okay with this. After all I knew what I was getting into heading into the program so really there's no use complaining as I am a willing participant!
This past Saturday I made the trek from London to Ottawa for my first placement. The drive itself was uneventful. On Sunday Jo and did a dry run of my drive to where I'm working. This was no problem thanks to Jo's expert knowledge of Ottawa (and perhaps a little help from the GPS). That afternoon Jo, her sister Julie, and I headed to Wakefield, QC for dinner with some of their family. It was good times and good food and all in all a nice way to spend the Sunday before my big day.
On Monday I had to be in for 9 am. Not knowing how Ottawa traffic is (good, bad, ugly) I left an hour early (to travel about 15 km) just in case. About 30 minutes later I arrived at my destination and had some fun trying to find a parking spot (I had been warned about this)!
I was a bit nervous about actually meeting my preceptor but it turns out I had nothing to worry about! I think the fact that she had forgotten her keys that morning so she was locked out of her office (and hence my office) helped to break a bit of the tension and we had a good chuckle about it.
Much of Monday was spent acquainting myself with the orgainization I'm working with and the project I've been assigned.
I did a LOT of listening (and learning). I forgot how tiring this can be. I got home around 5:15 pm, had dinner and was asleep for the night before 8:00 pm!!! If asked how I felt after day one: overwhelmed (with knowledge) and excited (to delve into my project).
Today I had a chance to meet with some of the other people involved in our area at work. It was nice to hear a little bit about what others are doing and how they came to be where they are. We have people from all over Canada and there are a number of new employees (there are at least 5 people who have been there for less than 4 months) and so I'm not the only one who is getting to know the ropes.
Today I worked more on becoming acquainted with the organization and my project. Four weeks is such a short period of time to get things done and so I've really got to make sure I stick to the deadlines I've made for myself!
Cheers,
T.
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