Third Stop: First Day of School and Teacher Appreciation

      I already had so much respect for teachers and all that they do, but after being here at the school and seeing all the extra time to get their room ready, (lesson plans ready, tables, supplies, ect, ect.)  it has grown ten-fold.  It is unreal everything that they do.  So, please, hug a teacher and say thank you!  Even if you are not a student ....  because you had teacher too who may not have felt appreciated.

     All in all today was a great first day.  I learned a lot more about my student and that my expectations for this year are not unrealistic.  I am very excited for everything that we will accomplish.  Our teacher is amazing and being in class will be an added adventure.     When I accepted this job, I knew that with it being a combo-class, and a small village, and community, that people wore several different hats with several different responsibilities.  Today just confirmed my suspicions that I would be no different.  I welcomed the challenge.  I am not JUST the interpreter... I am a teacher, a tutor, an aid, a nurse, and someone to make a joke when the day seems impossible.     During school,  I learned that this multi-task hat wearer is not appropriate and does not fall in our job description, but seriously: what interpreter has been able to JUST be the interpreter... there is always so many more dynamics to our job.  We are constantly having to switch hats between message conveyer, cultural mediator, and advocate.     Today, though, was different ...and, so far , I love all the hats I have to wear.  More hats, I am sure, will be added, but that is the benefit to living in the school... I have shoes to go with everything and I quickly change. :)Thank you again to family and friends who are teachers...you ladies and gentlemen are superheroes in my eyes!

Hope everyone is still along on this ride with their seat belts fastened!

Second Stop: Alaska

Hello World! 

     The last week has been a whirl wind.  Time has gone by so fast.  

     I was able to have 2 full days of family and friends as we celebrated this new chapter and adventure I was getting ready to embark on.  Without all these people, I would not be where I am today.  So I thank each of you!  Thank you for being my support, my encouragers, my strength, and my family.  This entire process of getting ready solidified once again how lucky I am.  

     Thursday at 5:15 a.m., my parents and my brother dropped me off at the airport and we said our "see you laters" and then went on our separate ways with heavy hearts.  This was extremely challenging.  It was one of the first times I realized how much I am going to miss out on and that feeling... was really hard to swallow.  

     My flight to Seattle, Anchorage, and Kenai were all great.  I slept like a baby through all of them.  Each flight meant the plane size gradually got smaller plane.  

     Once in Kenai, I finally got to meet the Deaf and Hard of Hearing teacher, Ms. E, who was able to show me the ropes on how things are done here in Alaska. They are a little different than what I am used to, but I am discovering that it is a good change. 

     We made a stop at Walmart (yes, they have a Walmart here in Alaska)  and loaded up on the little things that I did not purchase for my room, and of course I needed food.  This kid likes to eat- make no mistake!   Once all the shopping was completed, She showed me how to pack to get my things over to the Village.  (It is not done with suit cases because they are to hard to stack and move around into small spaces.). So, we broke my stuff down into plastic storage containers-not the hard plastic ones though because they freeze and break (the little things I have to start thinking about).  So I of course got 3 hot pink ones!  

      Getting everything to fit is like a crazy game of Tetris...Having limited space and getting it all to fit to win the game.  When we got to Homer Air, they have to weigh everything.  Never have I been so self concious before as I was as that moment, and I wasn't even stepping on the scale.  All my stuff came in at a whopping 243 pounds... crazy that I need that much.  Once my ticket and cargo was paid for, we jumped in a 5-seater little bush plane and we took off.  The view over the Homer Spit was unbelievable.  You could see sea otters playing in the water,  the snow and ice that is still in the mountains, and all the beautiful green landscape.  The hills were covered in trees that look toothpicks with branches and beautiful purple flowers.   Breath taking!   

     Once we landed here in the village, I felt at home (good thing because I will be here for 9 months). Any worries I had melted away.  Right off the bat I was able to meet some of the staff at the school including the Principal who is truly amazing.  Then came the moment I had been waiting for..... I met my student! She is super cute and was a little shy.  With time, she warmed up to me and her and her younger sister became my shadow.  She showed me around the school and introduced me to some of the staff that we came in contact with.  I have a great feeling about this year! 

     Of course it is not all fun and games.  I sat down and reviewed all the important things for a few hours to help me get ready for this year.  I want to make sure that I can do everything in my professional role as the interpreter to make her successful.  I never thought I would be so excited for school to start.  

     Overall, Alaska (the parts I have seen) is unbelievably beautiful and everyone here is so nice.  I am so glad I decided to take this adventure.  If I hadn't, I would be missing out on this life changing adventure.   Until next time.....

Hope you are all still buckled in on this crazy ride of life. 

Pictures will come soon. Promise.

First Stop: Washington D.C.

Hello!

     Staying true to my blog name I have been traveling all over. Took a little pit stop over to Washington D.C. for a week and am now back in California where I have been driving all over the state for the last few weeks. 

     Three years ago I was blessed with the opportunity to work with a group called Deaf Blind Young Adults in Action (DBYAA).  This group provided leadership training to Deaf Blind individuals on effective advocacy skills, and training on gathering information on key legislation issues that are related to deaf-blind people.  Once the education part is accomplished, the participants will talk to their legislators about the issue(s) they have selected.  Some examples of legislation issues that were discussed at the training include:  education for Deaf-Blind children,  Helen Keller National Center,  Gallaudet University, technology, and support service providers.

     This year I was able to join this group again in a different capacity.  Once the leadership training of DBYAA is over, the students then become members of Deaf Blind Citizens in Action (DBCA).  This group meets with different parts of the Government such as the Department of Justice,  the Department of Transportation, the Federal Communications Commission,  the Office of Special Education, along with different legislators as well.  With each of these Governmental agencies, the members are able to tell their stories and how it relates to the specific organization.  The participants are then able to educate and express their needs so they, along with other Deaf Blind individuals,  can have equal access to everyday life.

      This group has a very special place in my heart and I have been so honored to be one of the interpreters that gets to partake in their very busy week.  Working with them, I have been able to meet so many amazing interpreters and participants who make me want to become a better person and therefore make a difference somehow, some way. 

 George and Vale in front of the Russell Building. 

 George, Vale, Jamie, Piper, and I at the Hellen Keller statue in the Visitors Center. I am giving a verbal description as they are feeling the statue and reading the braille. 

 Standing in front of the Hellen Keller Statue. On the Left is me, George, Vale, Jamie, Piper, and Christie. 

 Picture of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Seal outside the building. 

 Picture of the team sitting at the table reviewing what will be happening in the days meetings. Jaime is to the left of the picture. My arm is around her chair and I am to the right. Amy is to my right at the head of the table. George is to Amy's Right. Eddie is to George's right. Suzanne is in the background. 

     If you would like more information on these wonderful organizations I have provided the links:

DBYAA. -http://www.aadb.org/advocacy/2009/db_young_adult_in_action.html

DBCA-   https://www.facebook.com/dbcitizens?fref=nf

Deaf Blind - http://www.aadb.org

Detour:

     This last Saturday , 8/2, I drove down my street to see that my house was officially up for sale... felt like I got ninja-kicked to my gut.  That was a very bitter sweet moment.  As of Saturday, I am officially out of Fresno and will be a visitor from here from on out.  All my stuff is now here in San Diego.  It is rather depressing that all my things for the last 9 years fits in a 10 by 10 storage unit... 

On to packing and trying to get organized.... T -minus 7 days!   

   Hope you all are still buckled in and continuing on  this wonderful ride of life!

Wild Ride Begins...

Hello Blog World....

     Welcome to my Blog.  My name is Ryan, for those of you who don't know me.  I am a recently-turned-26-year-old-female that is about to start an adventure of a lifetime.  

     I currently have been living and working in the wonderful Central Valley of California, specifically Fresno.  I moved up here in 2006 as a recent high school graduate from the San Diego area ready to start what would be the best years of my life...so I was told by so many.  And I would agree that going to Fresno State would start this amazing journey of life on the right foot.  

     My college years were interesting. I attended Fresno State majoring in Kinesiology 

(B.S.) and Communicative Disorders and Deaf Studies with an Emphasis in Interpreting (B.A.).  For the first few years, I attended Fresno State part-time focusing only on my major classes while I attended Fresno City College full-time and focused specifically on all the boring "general ed" requirements.   

     While at City, I was able to continue my love of the game and made the softball team.  The 2 years I spent on the field were some of the best.  This is where I was able to meet some amazing people who I have been able to stay in touch with and are now some of my best friends.  

     Due to my double major, I finished one sooner than the other.. so I was able to get hired January of 2011 as a staff sign language interpreter.  (Yay! ...get to put one of those degrees to work.. not just a piece a paper.) This first job would be at the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Service Center (DHHSC).  Starting out I was an innocent newbie with no experience other than internship... and now was working as a part-timer.  I felt like a pretty accomplished individual at the young age of about 22.  Little did I know that I would get experiences of a life time that challenged me personally and professionally-helping me become the professional I am today.  

     Fresno for me was always a temporary situation.  It served a purpose that I will forever be thankful for and I will never forget where I got my start.  But my heart (family) is in San Diego/Orange County.  So I started to apply from San Diego to OC , and even as far as LA.  I was not having much luck and not being certified didn't help much either.  Obtaining anything full-time or even guaranteed part-time hours was looking impossible.  Everything was sub work and as needed.  Let's be honest... I cannot live off that in SD area... and I am not a teenager any more, And I have "big girl responsibilities" and would not / could not depend on my parents again because they have done so much for me already.  (Love you mama and dad!) 

     One day about two and  half months ago I got a call from Soliant Health in regards to an application in the OC area and they were impressed.   I was so relieved.. thought I finally was getting a break. They would be able to offer me sub work. (internal frustration meter raises).  I said thank you and will keep it in mind, but looking for something with more of a guarantee.   

Then the woman says to me: "Well.. you seem like a lady who likes to travel and  may be down for a great adventure." (Thinking to myself.. well, duh, life is to short. I am interested) 

I responded: "Yeah.. I like to think that I am."

Lady:  "Well we have position out of state that is a 9-month school job for one Deaf student."

Me:  "Okay.. education is not my life goal, but where is it located?"

Lady:  "Alaska"

Me:  "Oh.. yeah.............No thank you."

Lady:  "Well call me back if you change your mind."

     Of course my wheels start turning.. I can't go to Alaska...that is crazy!  So......I sit on it for a week and ask some people what they would do.  I put it on Facebook (what would we do without social media!) and everyone said pretty close to the same thing.  "Do it. Why wouldn't you? What a great opportunity." Some even went into detail saying you have no attachments, you are single (true.. thanks for rubbing it in wink), no kids, etc.   So I of course call and get more information.  As the lady goes on about the job I know right then and there... I am going to Alaska!  Yes, I am going to Alaska!  

I take some time to "think about it" basically means break the news to my parents and start to figure out how this is going to work. 

     My Parents,  at first, thought I was joking.. until they realized I wasn't.  Knowing them all to well, I had all their questions answered before they could even ask them.  They slowly started to get comfortable with the idea, but knew I was crazy enough to do it either way.

     I called Soliant Health back and told them, "I would like to formally accept the job in Alaska."  Sure enough everything else has fell into place.  I submitted my application formally to Alaska, had an over-the-phone interview with the school district...that I think went very well.  That very day they called my references".   I got the call the next day that I was officially hired to the Kenai School District as a sign language interpreter for the Village (NOT a town.. don't upgrade "my" village) of Nanwalek.

     This where this blog will get fun. I will keep everyone posted on my amazing adventure that is about to take place.  We are wheels-up-to-Alaska on August 14th at 6:30 am from SD.   So, I hope I haven't bored you and you will stay tuned for this crazy up coming year.  We will have some fun adventures starting before we go to Alaska.  More to come later.

Hope you are ready to sit down, buckle up and see where this journey on life takes me. You guys get a front row view!