Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Inadvertent Connection
I stopped by Culver's on the way home from Spanish table tonight. I had a hankering for some custard, and decided to indulge. I pulled up to the drive through window and the guy working handed me my ice cream cone, made eye contact and I couldn't tell if he was trying to be friendly or if he was though something about me was funny. I glanced at his nametag: Jorge. Then, as I was pulling out of the drive-thru, I realized I was jamming to merengue in the car and he was probably amused by my music selection.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Small Sounds and Distractions
Last night I relished in the novelty of going to the movie theater alone. It sounds like a hopelessly lonely activity, but it allowed me to jump more fully into the world of the film that I was watching. I had no company at my side to reel me back in if I happened to take my eyes from the screen. I went to the only theater in Des Moines that plays exclusively independent and foreign films. The movie was about a murder investigation in 1970s Argentina. The images of a colonial society run-down by the sub-tropical climate were amplified by the characteristic rattle of the old film projector I could hear above my head.
It has been a rainy fourth of July holiday. I woke up to rain, and it has scarcely cleared since. Lucky for me, I didn't have any thrilling plans for celebrating our nation's independence today, aside from getting a complete draft of my biocomm paper sent off (finally) to my adviser in Morris. Instead, I sit at the kitchen table, prompted by the soft patter of rain to do my work and not get distracted by other tasks, activities or opportunities.
...and here I sit with a computer at my fingertips, and a whole world of distractions contained within. Sometimes I feel I would be better off (more productive and less distracted, at least) with a typewriter. Typewriters don't have email to check or news to read or blogs to write in...
Back to work!
It has been a rainy fourth of July holiday. I woke up to rain, and it has scarcely cleared since. Lucky for me, I didn't have any thrilling plans for celebrating our nation's independence today, aside from getting a complete draft of my biocomm paper sent off (finally) to my adviser in Morris. Instead, I sit at the kitchen table, prompted by the soft patter of rain to do my work and not get distracted by other tasks, activities or opportunities.
...and here I sit with a computer at my fingertips, and a whole world of distractions contained within. Sometimes I feel I would be better off (more productive and less distracted, at least) with a typewriter. Typewriters don't have email to check or news to read or blogs to write in...
Back to work!
Friday, June 25, 2010
Job Description
If I were to describe my job on a resume, I would say something like this
When people I meet down here ask what I'm doing in Des Moines, I usually tell them I'm working on a research project at DMU and that I sit in a clinic waiting room all day and ask people to fill out a survey. Most nod their heads smugly and are secretly glad that they don't have to do that kind of work. Sitting in a clinic waiting room all day sounds boring, and asking strangers to take a survey just sounds uncomfortable.
Though the job sounds one-dimensional at first glance, there are many things I've learned and many skills I have garnered that will be valuable lessons in organization, collaboration, communication and extroversion which are hard to summarize in a succinct resume format.
Doing this work last year, I often felt like a predator preying on unsuspecting patients with the selfish motive of being one participant closer to the final goal of 300 and having a vast library of intimate facts about people. I cannot say why, but this year, I have felt much more comfortable pitching my spiel to people and not feeling guilty about it. I suppose that, after reading the manuscript that resulted from our work last year, I have more confidence in the potential benefits and fruits of our work.
Another aspect of the job that was significantly more difficult last summer was communicating effectively with Spanish-speakers. A combination of cultural knowledge and language skills that I have picked up in the last year have made all the difference in the world in getting the message across to Latinos and also answering questions and quelling concerns associated with sharing sensitive information. At this point last year, I had been exposed to Spanish primarily through classes - readings and lectures. A lot of one-way communication: it's either going in or coming out. The interchange of conversation was severely limited.
Since then, my exposure to Spanish has drastically changed. I spent three months in Costa Rica where both my listening and speaking saw noticeable improvements. I have made Spanish-speaking friends at home and at school. I have been more intentional about seeking out opportunities to speak and listen - namely in conversation tables. All this exposure over the course of the last ten months in addition to my continued classwork in Spanish has made me a much more effective communicator in participant recruitment this summer. It's encouraging to observe this noticeable change.
Perhaps the most valuable lesson from this work has been in the art of not making assumptions. The selection criteria have been young people (ages 15 to 30) and people who self-identify as either White or Latino. I have approached people who have been 50, but could be mistaken for late-20s, and I have approached people who have been 13, but could be mistaken for late teens. The racial determinations are also quite tricky. Turns out that Southeast Asians can easily be mistaken for Latinos. Lesson learned: don't trust your perception of someone's appearance. Better to ask than assume, and so long as you don't make assumptions, there's no reason to feel ashamed at making the wrong call.
Served as a research assistant to collaborate on public health research investigating race disparities in factors associated with HPV vaccination behaviors. Recruited participants and administered questionnaires in English and Spanish.
When people I meet down here ask what I'm doing in Des Moines, I usually tell them I'm working on a research project at DMU and that I sit in a clinic waiting room all day and ask people to fill out a survey. Most nod their heads smugly and are secretly glad that they don't have to do that kind of work. Sitting in a clinic waiting room all day sounds boring, and asking strangers to take a survey just sounds uncomfortable.
Though the job sounds one-dimensional at first glance, there are many things I've learned and many skills I have garnered that will be valuable lessons in organization, collaboration, communication and extroversion which are hard to summarize in a succinct resume format.
Doing this work last year, I often felt like a predator preying on unsuspecting patients with the selfish motive of being one participant closer to the final goal of 300 and having a vast library of intimate facts about people. I cannot say why, but this year, I have felt much more comfortable pitching my spiel to people and not feeling guilty about it. I suppose that, after reading the manuscript that resulted from our work last year, I have more confidence in the potential benefits and fruits of our work.
Another aspect of the job that was significantly more difficult last summer was communicating effectively with Spanish-speakers. A combination of cultural knowledge and language skills that I have picked up in the last year have made all the difference in the world in getting the message across to Latinos and also answering questions and quelling concerns associated with sharing sensitive information. At this point last year, I had been exposed to Spanish primarily through classes - readings and lectures. A lot of one-way communication: it's either going in or coming out. The interchange of conversation was severely limited.
Since then, my exposure to Spanish has drastically changed. I spent three months in Costa Rica where both my listening and speaking saw noticeable improvements. I have made Spanish-speaking friends at home and at school. I have been more intentional about seeking out opportunities to speak and listen - namely in conversation tables. All this exposure over the course of the last ten months in addition to my continued classwork in Spanish has made me a much more effective communicator in participant recruitment this summer. It's encouraging to observe this noticeable change.
Perhaps the most valuable lesson from this work has been in the art of not making assumptions. The selection criteria have been young people (ages 15 to 30) and people who self-identify as either White or Latino. I have approached people who have been 50, but could be mistaken for late-20s, and I have approached people who have been 13, but could be mistaken for late teens. The racial determinations are also quite tricky. Turns out that Southeast Asians can easily be mistaken for Latinos. Lesson learned: don't trust your perception of someone's appearance. Better to ask than assume, and so long as you don't make assumptions, there's no reason to feel ashamed at making the wrong call.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Reality Check
God bless my new friend, a veterinarian from Barcelona who recently moved to Minneapolis and has traveled twice to Des Moines in the last month for work. Three weeks ago, he was in town with two colleagues working at Des Moines' World Pork Expo. They were looking for people who spoke both Spanish and English to help translate for them while they were at the fair, and they solicited our Spanish conversation group for volunteers. I was unable to help them at the fair, but we arranged to go out for food and drink later that week. I had a great time and got a lot of practice! My friend had an early meeting in Ames and called to see if I could go out for a drink. We have spoken mostly in Spanish, which is more for my sake than anything. But I do not garner praise for my superior Spanish-speaking abilities from this new friend (nor did I do so with his colleagues when they were here three weeks ago). The reality is I have reached a new level in my abilities. I can keep up with a conversation more often than not, and I can express myself in words in an increasing array of circumstances. However, I am far from possessing a seamless ability to communicate effectively in Spanish. I still have an accent that he says sounds very bad. He can understand what I'm trying to say, but he can very clearly tell that I'm not a native speaker. This is good for me. As I become more confident as I progress, it's important to be aware of where I really stand on the spectrum of abilities. I am much better than I was a year ago, but there is still plenty of room for improvement.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Nostalgia
The past few days, I've been hit by a wave of nostalgia for Costa Rica. Images and memories keep popping into my head...
Eating sweet bread with cream cheese and jam for breakfast at Las Cruces with the tangiest, freshest orange juice I've ever had and fresh pineapple... every morning. Scrambled eggs or bacon were a rare treat. We would eat outside on the deck overlooking the wilderness of the field station, serenaded by toucans and spotting them flying tree to tree if we looked closely enough. We so consistently found ourselves living in such paradaisacal surroundings that it was hard not to take it for granted after a month or so because it became so normal.
I also remember fondly riding into San Vito (or to a finca or La Casona or misa on Sundays) from the station in the back of the 4x4. Especially in the mornings, the bumpy ride on the nauseatingly curvy mountain roads was so beautiful. The landscape was something I was never able to fully capture photographically, but man did I appreciate it in person.
Experiencing the nation's enthusiasm for soccer. Seeing 'S Lugar in San Vito packed to the gills for Costa Rica's last chance at World Cup qualification and sitting at a table with Jorge and Hector and learning all sorts of new swear words in Spanish from Jorge's rambunctious cheering. Walking with a tray full of food through the food court at Mall San Pedro when all of the sudden, the entire place erupted in cheers. (The U20 nationals scored a goal in the U20 World Cup.) Eating breakfast at a soda and watching the U20's lose the third place game in a shoot out. Had they been from the U.S. and choked like that in a shoot out, they would have been harshly criticized if anyone had even cared in the first place, but days later, upon the team's return home, the team bus was greeted in the Centro with thousands of loyal and cheering fans proud of how the young team represented the country in Egypt. Not to mention just being able to jump in on pick up games. Pura vida :)
Not being surprised nor frightened when large insects showed up around the house... in the bedroom... in the shower...
There are plenty of things that I love and appreciate about the midwest (and it will always be home), but it's nice to look back and remember the things that make other, very different places beautiful too.
Eating sweet bread with cream cheese and jam for breakfast at Las Cruces with the tangiest, freshest orange juice I've ever had and fresh pineapple... every morning. Scrambled eggs or bacon were a rare treat. We would eat outside on the deck overlooking the wilderness of the field station, serenaded by toucans and spotting them flying tree to tree if we looked closely enough. We so consistently found ourselves living in such paradaisacal surroundings that it was hard not to take it for granted after a month or so because it became so normal.
I also remember fondly riding into San Vito (or to a finca or La Casona or misa on Sundays) from the station in the back of the 4x4. Especially in the mornings, the bumpy ride on the nauseatingly curvy mountain roads was so beautiful. The landscape was something I was never able to fully capture photographically, but man did I appreciate it in person.
Experiencing the nation's enthusiasm for soccer. Seeing 'S Lugar in San Vito packed to the gills for Costa Rica's last chance at World Cup qualification and sitting at a table with Jorge and Hector and learning all sorts of new swear words in Spanish from Jorge's rambunctious cheering. Walking with a tray full of food through the food court at Mall San Pedro when all of the sudden, the entire place erupted in cheers. (The U20 nationals scored a goal in the U20 World Cup.) Eating breakfast at a soda and watching the U20's lose the third place game in a shoot out. Had they been from the U.S. and choked like that in a shoot out, they would have been harshly criticized if anyone had even cared in the first place, but days later, upon the team's return home, the team bus was greeted in the Centro with thousands of loyal and cheering fans proud of how the young team represented the country in Egypt. Not to mention just being able to jump in on pick up games. Pura vida :)
Not being surprised nor frightened when large insects showed up around the house... in the bedroom... in the shower...
There are plenty of things that I love and appreciate about the midwest (and it will always be home), but it's nice to look back and remember the things that make other, very different places beautiful too.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Magic Hour
magic hour n. a term used by a photographer i know when the sun begins to set. objects are simultaneously illuminated and cast in shadow, and just about everything becomes beautiful. even the seedy side of des moines.
i was driving home from a Bible study of sorts at Trinity Methodist this evening and was impressed by how the light hit many ordinary objects in a part of town that would not be considered beautiful. numerous houses in disrepair and an old school bus that may or may not have had an engine inside become more than just that during magic hour. they take on character and depth when the light illuminates and casts shadows on these objects at the same time. maybe because the juxtaposition of light and dark gives us a sense that we're seeing a more truthful depiction of the object as a whole. with unappealing as well as redeeming qualities.
discussion at the Bible study centered around the story of creation. we listened to some commentary of biblical scholars on contradictions between the two tellings of the creation story in Genesis and how these stories are interpreted by different parts of the church. we talked about creation stories from different societies and cultures and how they are a reflection of the value system of each society. the discussion was very open and comfortable. i did not feel that i had to restrain my true thoughts for fear of being labeled lost and heretical, which has been a common feeling in past discussions in a religious setting. we talked about what the story implies for our stewardship of the earth, and that although we have hope that our ultimate destiny is beyond this earth, that does not curtail the importance of doing good work with the time we have in this life.
in other news, Mexico beat France in the World Cup today and looked very impressive! they're next game against Uruguay should be the most challenging of all.
i was driving home from a Bible study of sorts at Trinity Methodist this evening and was impressed by how the light hit many ordinary objects in a part of town that would not be considered beautiful. numerous houses in disrepair and an old school bus that may or may not have had an engine inside become more than just that during magic hour. they take on character and depth when the light illuminates and casts shadows on these objects at the same time. maybe because the juxtaposition of light and dark gives us a sense that we're seeing a more truthful depiction of the object as a whole. with unappealing as well as redeeming qualities.
discussion at the Bible study centered around the story of creation. we listened to some commentary of biblical scholars on contradictions between the two tellings of the creation story in Genesis and how these stories are interpreted by different parts of the church. we talked about creation stories from different societies and cultures and how they are a reflection of the value system of each society. the discussion was very open and comfortable. i did not feel that i had to restrain my true thoughts for fear of being labeled lost and heretical, which has been a common feeling in past discussions in a religious setting. we talked about what the story implies for our stewardship of the earth, and that although we have hope that our ultimate destiny is beyond this earth, that does not curtail the importance of doing good work with the time we have in this life.
in other news, Mexico beat France in the World Cup today and looked very impressive! they're next game against Uruguay should be the most challenging of all.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
World Cup 2010
The FIFA World Cup is in full swing, and I am lucky enough to have a summer job that allows me watch the daytime games once in a while. I have been disappointed with a large number of ties so far in the group play, but I have faith that the dominant teams will emerge as we set into the second round of group games.
Though you can easily find team groupings on FIFA.com and I am not an expert on who's who in international soccer, here is who I anticipate (hope) to emerge from group play for the second stage based on the first round of games:
Group A
South Africa
*Mexico
*Uruguay
France
Group B
*Argentina
Nigeria
*Korea Republic
Greece
Group C
*England
*USA
Algeria
Slovenia
Group D
*Germany
Australia
Serbia
*Ghana
Group E
*Netherlands
Denmark
*Japan
Cameroon
Group F
*Italy
*Paraguay
New Zealand
Slovakia
Group G
*Brazil
Korea DPR
*Cote d'Ivoire
Portugal
Group H - I think this group will be the most interesting to watch.
*Spain
Switzerland
Honduras
*Chile
Though you can easily find team groupings on FIFA.com and I am not an expert on who's who in international soccer, here is who I anticipate (hope) to emerge from group play for the second stage based on the first round of games:
Group A
South Africa
*Mexico
*Uruguay
France
Group B
*Argentina
Nigeria
*Korea Republic
Greece
Group C
*England
*USA
Algeria
Slovenia
Group D
*Germany
Australia
Serbia
*Ghana
Group E
*Netherlands
Denmark
*Japan
Cameroon
Group F
*Italy
*Paraguay
New Zealand
Slovakia
Group G
*Brazil
Korea DPR
*Cote d'Ivoire
Portugal
Group H - I think this group will be the most interesting to watch.
*Spain
Switzerland
Honduras
*Chile
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