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We made it....hopefully!!!

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How I felt about life and my experience on the community block...

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The community block….a road trip I am glad to have experienced but not one that I want to go on again for a long time!

This community block has been a long and windy road which ended with a BANG…literally. Being involved in a car accident the day before my group presentation was not ideal to say the least. After my accident I began to interpret the metaphorical meaning of a vehicle in relation to the journey that was the Community block. As crazy as it sounds and in case you are wondering…no I didn’t hit my head and I’m in a fully conscious state but when I thought about it my experiences in the community and this module mirrored that of a vehicle on a road trip…

Sometimes I had to stop suddenly and change directions due to obstacles in my way

At times I found myself lost and asking for directions just to survive the day

Frustration started to emerge when I felt like others were holding me back

And the waiting for things to move forward seemed endless and sometimes threw me off track

I often felt as though I was on ‘auto-mode’, forgetting how I arrived at various destinations

There were days when I was running on empty and was in desperate need of re-fuelling to deal with different situations

There was always the tendency to look in the rear-view mirror toward the past but I had to remind myself to look forward in the direction in which I was headed.

Accidents happened and sometimes things happened that were not in my control but weren’t easily comprehended

There was that urgency to get to the desired location…the end of the block

But it was important to look at and enjoy the scenery along the way and to get back after the knock

So…I wasn’t stolen nor did I have any of my possessions stolen and most importantly… I didn’t become a Whoonga addict! What a miracle? I will be honest, these were a few of the thoughts that ran through my mind upon finding out that I was placed in the X community. Prior to entering into the community block, I read and familiarised myself with books and articles about community practice (see reference list). As much as this insight and knowledge was helpful, it was only once I started the block that the information began falling into place. Still, not all the information found in research rang true to the experiences I had. I must admit, as much I told myself to approach the block and the X community (known for high crime rates and drug abuse) with an open mind, there were still prejudice’s and biases that I had about this community. Plus having my mum constantly remind me to ‘be careful’  and the  university bus driver constantly warning us to be careful of the ‘ Whoonga Boys’ didn’t do my mind-set any justice. There were times when I even started to question whether I was being a racist or just a realist?  However, I am pleased to report that that this was not the case, in fact it was quite the contrary, and now I feel like a fool for the preconceived ideas and biases that I had but let’s be honest, in South Africa…a little vigilance doesn’t hurt. The majority of my experiences in the X community have been so insightful, pleasant and eye-opening. I felt as though I was able to experience the true nature of a community, in the true sense of the word. (Sarason (1974) defines community as a ‘readily available, mutually supportive network of relationships on which one could depend.’). Most of the people within the community were friendly and welcoming.  From the people on the street that I walked past to the gentleman selling fruits and chips (despite the fact that he did want to rip me off) and to the cement brick makers (refer to my 3rd Blog) who were more than willingly to allow me to observe and participate in their daily occupation. These people and these experiences made the scenery along the journey really pleasant.

There were a few minor bumps, or in our South African context potholes, in the road. There were times when I felt isolated and as if I was being gawked at or made fun of. The only thing that I could pin it down to was my attempts at speaking isiZulu... which personally I don’t think is that bad, surely? One particular experience stands out. When approaching the vendors outside the clinic ,in an attempt to create awareness and spread the word about OT services, quite a few of these individuals were not interested in listening to what I had to say and with a flick of their wrists I was shooed away  as if I were an annoying fly. I really couldn’t wrap my head around their response, I felt as though they were being ‘ungrateful’ as I was only there to create awareness in an attempt to assist people in the community needing OT intervention. When I tried to rationalise their response, I put myself in their position. It was only then that I realised that I was being a bit hypocritical. If someone, younger than me, had to approach me and couldn’t speak fluent English, I would probably respond in a similar manner in addition, these individuals were there to make a living and I was interrupting this process.

But then again which road in our country is bump/pothole free???

In my four years of studying OT, I don’t think I have worked as hard and as consistently as I have for my community block. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not afraid of hard work…but EISH! The amount of work that was required this block was intense. 

There was always something that needed to be done or somewhere we needed to go. My theme song for the block was ‘Work’ by Rihanna because all I felt like I was doing was ‘work, work, work, work, work’.  There were days when I just wanted to curl up in the foetal position and hide from all the responsibilities. But being the OCD person that I am, I wasn’t going to let bumps /potholes in the road get in the way of reaching our final destination. Having multiple  different assessment components (blogs, essays, tuts, presentations etc.) really forced me to think…think about the broader picture…think about and interpret things from a multi-dimensional perspective…which I guess working in a community is all about because I had to look at the client’s that I was treating holistically. The comprehensive and very intense feedback (I’m referring to my presentation…in case that wasn’t clear) and discussions were at times strenuous on the mind but I believe that I have gained so much knowledge and insight which I can apply throughout my OT career.  

Looking back, the first week was a disaster probably because the ‘vehicle’ was still new, however when we became more familiar with how to ‘drive it’ our feet were glued to the accelerator. It also didn’t help that the previous group didn’t give us as many directions as we needed, consequently, we got lost at first and had to ‘reroute’ multiple times. Therefore, from this experience, my group have made sure that the next block of students have a detailed map and access to ‘GPS’ services (in the form of a what Sapp group) to get assistance. In addition, 90% of the work was group work…which is always fun (note the sarcasm). Perhaps I buried my head in the sand, but I didn’t sense any tension amongst my fellow group members, and in the beginning we were working well as a team but I guess like any long road trip, ‘cabin-fever’ is likely to have an effect. The continuous close proximity resulted in tension and friction amongst members along the way which eventually culminated in feuds when everyone’s stress levels were through the roof. I have and still am attempting to restore peace and hopefully harmony will prevail… fingers crossed.

I guess that the biggest lesson I have learned from this block and as cliché as it sounds, is that it’s important not to fall apart when things don’t go according to plan. Being OCD (I know keep saying this-but I haven’t been formally diagnosed, yet…) this has always been difficult for me to come to terms with. Somehow I have always managed to control the events in my life however over the community block, there were numerous instances throughout the block when meetings were cancelled, plans or aims were not met or could not be followed through and new plans had to be formulated. Being involved in an accident and not being able to be with my team when presenting our hard work was another example of something that was really out of my control. From these experiences, I have learned that life, like driving, requires constant adjustment…whether it is turning a bit to the right or a bit to the left, it’s never a straight and bump free journey…

  (P.s I’m thrilled that I will finally be able to have more than 5 hours of sleep again!)

References:

Tareen, E. & Omar, M. (1997) Community entry: An essential component of participation. Health Manpower Management, 23(3), 97 – 99.

McColl M. (1997). What do we need to know to practice occupational therapy in the community? The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 52(1), 11 -18.

Meyers, S. K. (2010). Community practice in occupational therapy: A guide to serving the community. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

Muñoz, J. (2007). Culturally responsive caring in occupational therapy. Occupational Therapy International, 14(4), 256-280.

Vermeulen, N. (2015). Students’ fieldwork experiences of using community entry skills within community development. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 45(2), 51-55.

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OT's... "Jacks of all trades"

Me: “I’m an Occupational Therapy student”

Response 1: “So is this building safe for our health?”

Response 2: “Oh…”

Response 3: “What jobs am I legible for?”

I could go on about the varied responses and questions I get asked when I say that I am an Occupational Therapy student. Initially every sinew of my body used to pulsate with blind rage and I couldn’t comprehend the lack of awareness of people for the OT profession…an essential and amazing profession (in my biased opinion).However, I’m starting to get used to the bemused faces and strange responses. I must admit, having to explain what OT is all about is sometimes confusing and difficult for me, even after 4 years of studying the profession, purely because our roles and duties are so diverse. Before I respond, I often have to ask how much time the person has available to listen to the numerable roles of an OT because we are essentially a ‘jack of all trades’.  However, the role of an OT is sometimes impacted on by various contextual factors making it difficult for us to actively and truly fulfil such roles.

“Health promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health. To reach a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, an individual or group must be able to identify and to realize aspirations, to satisfy needs, and to change or cope with the environment” ("WHO | The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion", 2017).  The core foundation of OT is on enabling clients to maximize their functional capacity to participate in daily life activities that are important and meaningful to them thereby enabling them to reach a state of well-being which in turn promotes overall health and wellness. Since our health (good or bad) is a product of what we do or don't do every day, by enabling an individual to engage in these daily meaningful activities, health promotion is achieved.  Health promotion is thus embedded in the overall aim/goal of OT meaning that OT’s have and always will play a major role in health promotion.

However, health promotion also goes beyond health care, but so does the scope of Occupational Therapy. In Occupational Therapy we are constantly taught to look at the health of an individual holistically and to utilise holistic and client-centred support and services to address occupational performance issues, activity limitations and participation restrictions. Therefore we don’t just ‘stitch up the wound’, but we make sure that the ‘wound’ doesn’t re-open or become infected and in order to do so, we take steps to ensure that the bio-psycho-social factors of the individual are identified and issues within are addressed. The health promotion that OT’s are involved in can also be more direct or more indirect and this often is reliant on the setting, in terms of a hospital based and community based setting. This ultimately affects the extent of health promotion that is achievable. Since working in the X Community, I have become more aware of and passionate about the role of OT in health promotion. In community settings, you get to see the direct impact of client’s bio-psycho-social factors on the client’s well-being. For example, some client’s that my colleagues and I have seen have not been able to access health care facilities due to lack of access to transport owing to poverty or even environmental constraints. Consequently, through our conduction of home visits, we have been able to directly promote the health and well-being of these individuals by either providing them with intervention or organising transport for them and making environmental adjustments for them to function optimally within their home context, in hospital based settings however, this level of health promotion is not always possible.

Seeing as OT’s have a role in health promotion and advocating for individual’s and community’s well-being and hence empowerment, I believe that OT’s have role in using media as a platform to ‘spread the word’ about health related issues AND about the profession (then hopefully more people will start to understand what OT is all about?). With the rise in the number of media platforms available and used, the use of media will ultimately have far-reaching effects.  However, in my opinion, our role in the use of social media is not necessarily directly for the benefit/empowerment of communities that we are exposed to seeing as most of these communities are low socio-economic communities thus many members won’t necessarily have access to social media. I believe that, our role in the use of social media is more for our exposure to new methods, techniques, activities and opinions or views of fellow OT’s around the world and through this  our clients are indirectly benefited as we have greater knowledge and exposure to skills that may be beneficial.

The ultimate goal for primary health care, when it was introduced by the Alma Ata Declaration in 1978, was health care for all. Let’s be serious…this is defiantly not the case in South Africa.  Despite some progress over the past two decades, South Africa remains far from realising Alma Ata’s aspirations of ‘Health for All’. An amalgamation of factors inequalities in resources, inaccessibility to resources and shortages in the number of health workers (this is one factor that I’m still trying to wrap my head around …seeing as most of the posts for health professionals in the government sector have been frozen?!) continue to limit the achievement of PHC in South Africa today. Although we, Occupational Therapists, have a role in providing health care for all, our ability to fulfil this role is sometime impeded for the above mentioned reasons.

However, there are some principles of primary health care that we as OT’s are able to implement via our various roles. The principles of the primary health care include equity in health service delivery, access to affordable and appropriate services, empowerment of people, and sustainability of service provision.

In terms of access to affordable and appropriate services, the placement of OT graduates (community service OT’s)  and fourth year OT students in community based settings has ultimately contributed to ensuring that individuals in need of our services have access to them thus reducing exclusion and social disparities in health but this doesn’t been that it has eliminated such disparities. For example, when OT students are in community settings, we conduct home visits which reflects the fulfillment of our role in ensuring accessibility to health care. However, not all people in need of our services are seen to (owing to the large ratio of client’s to students) reflecting in equitability in health service delivery. Also, when we, OT students, leave the community during holiday or exam periods, there is ineffective carry over and continuity of care for these individuals thus making the services provided relatively unsustainable.

OT’s, being the innovative people that we are, are able to create something out of nothing. Don’t believe me? Where have you ever seen or thought of using a toilet paper roll or pool noodle as a splint? The adaptability and innovative nature of our profession ensures that the services that we provide are appropriate and affordable for our clients. In this way we are able to implement and fulfil this principle of PHC.

So OT’s have a role in PHC, the extent to which the role is and can be fulfilled, in the South African context is still questionable. For further information refer to: http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?pid=S2071-29362016000100023&script=sci_arttext&tlng=en

http://bmcfampract.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2296-13-67

Occupational therapists have the skills and knowledge in health promotion, chronic disease management, lifestyle interventions, and adaptive equipment to benefit clients accessing primary care (Leclair et al., 2010).However, the context in which our services are provided has an impact on our ability to fulfil all our roles adequately.  So whilst we have diverse roles… we are still somewhat shackled to the context in which we perform our roles.

References:

Alberta. (2016). Alberta's primary health care strategy.

Leclair, L. L. (2010). Re-examining concepts of occupation and occupation-based models: Occupational therapy and community development. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 77(1), 15-21.

Naidoo, D., Van Wyk, J., & Joubert, R. W. E. (2016). Exploring the occupational therapist’s role in primary health care: Listening to voices of stakeholders. African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine, 8(1), 1139. http://doi.org/10.4102/phcfm.v8i1.1139

WHO | The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. (2017). Who.int. Retrieved 25 May 2017, from http://www.who.int/healthpromotion/conferences/previous/ottawa/en/index1.html

‘Declaration of Alma Ata’, Report on the international conference on primary health care, World Health Organisation, September 1978, http://www.who.int.

Singh, S., & Dookie, S. (July 02, 2012). Primary health services at district level in South Africa: a critique of the primary health care approach. Bmc Family Practice, 13, 1, 1-4.

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Let’s talk politics… No strings attached!

(Background: This blog was inspired by my curiosity for what 'political practice of Occupational Therapy' meant...upon researching this topic, a flame was sparked within me to share how my engagement in the community (which is effected by the political instability of our country) has inspired by desire to advocate for my client's needs. It is only since I began working in this community that my awareness of and appreciation for this role has flourished...and there's no turning back now!). 

The political landscape of South Africa has and will continue to influence various aspects within society owing to its far reaching effects. Cultural, social, economic, health and environmental aspects are all strongly influenced by politics and the decisions made at higher levels either directly or indirectly. Politics exist on multiple levels, the highest level and most common is at a government level however politics also exist within communities. Politics at a government level, in my opinion, have more far reaching effects on the well-being of members within a community. Consequently these individuals have become vulnerable to and are experiencing injustices that are restricting their engagement in and performance of meaningful occupations and this is the crux of Occupational Therapy… without the ‘Occupational’ element we would just be ‘Therapy students’. “A Political Practice of Occupational Therapy is about maximizing the potential impact of occupational therapists' engagements and ensuring the profession is working towards the construction of a civic society.”(Pollard & Kronenberg, 2008). But this is increasingly more difficult and frustrating when we are forced to work against and even fight the ‘system’ to merely do our jobs and provide health care.

It has become very easy to blame the government for everything that is wrong with our society, but in all honesty, the injustices that exist within the community I am working in make it difficult for me to see any good that policies and decisions made at higher levels have done for my fellow South Africans. In the community that I am currently in, numerous examples of occupational injustice are evident. “Occupational injustice occurs when people are barred, dis-empowered, segregated or restricted from participating in occupations to meet their basic needs, find satisfaction or experience well-being.” (Kronenberg & Pollard, 2008). In most cases these injustices stem from the political instability of our country.

In South Africa like most other countries, the provision of health care and social care is influenced and sometimes determined by government policy’s either directly or indirectly and this just makes our role as health care professionals that much harder. An example of the direct impact of government policy on service delivery in the community in which I am working, is the fact that there are no Occupational Therapists in any of the pre-schools within this community. Having OT’s in primary schools will ensure that children with learning difficulties are identified and receive the necessary intervention. However, due to the lack of awareness of the role and importance of Occupational Therapists in school settings, no actions (that I know of), until now, have been taken to enlighten those making the decisions about this need. Realistically however, I don’t think, actually I know… the decision isn’t solely related to a lack of knowledge but more to the government’s favourite excuse of ‘not having enough funds available’. Then how do they explain the ‘unused funds’ that were returned by the Minister of Education, Angie Motshegka? www.pressreader.com/south-africa/business-day/20170314/281530815828252

Indirectly the actions of the present government has resulted in the deterioration of the South African economy to ‘Junk status’ and as a result of this the socio-economic status of all faces decline. Although the effects status change has not yet been ‘felt’, it will and then what do people who area already living below the poverty line do? http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/how-junk-status-affects-you-20170409-2

There are days when I feel as though Occupational Therapists, like many other professionals who provide services, are merely marionettes whose actions and movements are controlled by the marionette masters, the implementers of policies…the ‘big bosses’. The other day my practical group was asked to draft and submit a letter to the Department of education to raise awareness of the importance of OT’s for school children in an attempt to encourage the creation of permanent OT posts in primary schools to ensure that children with difficulties are identified and receive the necessary intervention. I will not deny that when I first heard this, I rolled my eyes! I could probably go on forever about how the government’s actions and decisions are failing our people…my people. But to what end? If everyone had this attitude…there would definitely be no change! This is when I realised the importance of my role as a future health professional in advocating for our needs, our client’s needs to ensure that my clients are truly treated ‘holistically’.  

It is fair to say that I was a pessimist regarding the possibility of change but the injustices faced by community members cannot continue forever. I won’t sit back and allow it to happen. I believe more so than ever that it is our duty to our client’s that we cutt those marionette strings, raise our voices, advocate like crazy and hope that someone is listening. We need to create enough noise so that the ‘big bosses’ swimming in their fire pools hear us!

So instead of sitting back and complaining about the government and its policies, we need to keep fighting the fight to develop political awareness in order to aid community development. This all sounds very valiant, I know, but since working in the community and experiencing the effects of political instability, I have realised that if we all ‘eye-rolled’ our way through the possibility of change…no change would occur.   

References:

Pollard, N., & Kronenberg, F. (2008). A political practice of occupational therapy. Elsevier Health Sciences.

Pollard, Nicholas and Sakellariou, Dikaios (2014). The occupational therapist as a political being. Cadernos de Terapia Ocupacional da UFSCar, 22 (3), 643-652.

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Cementing their future...

Over the past few weeks in the community, we have driven past community members engaged in occupations, both positive and negative, that I don’t see in my own community. However, my interest peaked when we drove by a cement brick making business. My dad is a builder consequently, I have a VERY brief understanding about building and the materials required. However, the only information and insight into cement bricks I had prior to visiting the community brick makers was that my house was made up of cement bricks. Plus, I assumed that these types of bricks were solely manufactured in factories by big companies who had all the fancy equipment necessary. Driving by the community cement brick makers and their ‘work space’ for the first time, really made me question the legitimacy of this business… the area was surrounded by tall unkempt reeds sprouting out of a river and was quite frankly not very ‘business-like’.  There was just a single hand painted business sign nailed to a tree serving as advertisement. It was only once saw that the wet cement bricks, that were lined up outside in the sparse area, did I realise and believe that this is a fully fledged business.

This business is run by 2 men in their early 30s. They have been engaged in this occupation for the past 7 years. Whilst chatting to them, it was clear that although they find the work quite strenuous (physically), this business was their ‘bread and butter’. I was unusually excited to get my hands dirty... literally! I jumped straight into the process, the men showed me how to mix the cement, pour it into the moulds and taught me numerous logistical elements of brick making as we went along. They then allowed me to make a set of cement blocks and patiently observed (and gave a few sniggers) whilst I clumsily performed the various steps…let’s just say my bricks/blocks were not square… they were ‘squircles’! I could go on and on about the happenings in the day purely because it was an amazing experience.*

However, being an OT student, we have been taught to look at things ‘holistically’ and multi-dimensionally. So whilst I had a blast engaging in this occupation for a few hours, based on my analysis and discussion with the men, I started to think about how I would feel performing this occupation on a daily basis, in terms of my dreams and aspirations, and all the elements that needed to be considered when doing so (in particular contextual elements).

It is suggested that engaging in positive occupations, like that of cement brick making, “forms the fabric of everyday lives.” (Wilcock, 1998, p.341.). This is evident in how important this this occupation is to these two men who rely on it for an income in order to support their families. This occupation has also shaped who they are and who they have become. Prior to running this business one of the men, Mr Y, couldn’t find a job for around 5 years and subsequently turned to alcoholism. Since establishing the business, Mr Y is alcohol free and is the bread winner of his family (they used to rely on child support grant just to get by.) It is also believed that occupational engagement enables humans to acquire, utilize and maintain knowledge and skills, through participation. (Hocking, 2009). The two men had a basic understanding of this occupation when they started their business 7 years ago and over the years their skill and knowledge about this occupation has certainly flourished, “In the beginning we was just trying it out, we didn’t know very much about it. But since we starting we learn more and more and find new tools to help us.” (Mr X, personal communication, May 4, 2017).

When circumstances/situations occur that result in an individual’s inability to perform some or all of the activities they are used to, this has serious implications for humans.  Whilst speaking to the men and holistically analysing their business, the context and certain personal factors may have an influence their ability to make cement bricks.

According to Wilcock 1998, occupation enables the adaptation of the environment that surrounds us, the potential to develop and maintain social relationships with others, and the potential to grow as an individual. I disagree with this statement to a certain extent. In order to interrogate the reason behind the men starting the business, I asked the men what job they would prefer if they could choose any job. I wasn’t particularly shocked by their responses. Humans are ingrained with survival instincts and thus ‘survival of the fittest’ would ultimately apply in situations in which poverty is rife. I would also do anything possible to earn money, for myself and family, if I found myself in such circumstances.  In reality, in various contexts, certain individual’s perform certain occupations solely for an income and some are left performing mundane, ritualistic tasks which realistically, after a certain point, don’t allow for growth. For example, although Mr X is good at performing his duties (moulding the cement), his dream is to become a teacher however, given his socio-economic circumstances and poor education, he is ‘forced’ to continue engaging in this occupation (because it is enabling him to support his family) and consequently he is unable fulfil his dream and ‘grow’ as an individual. Consequently, Mr X is experiencing Occupational Apartheid because his socio-economic status and poor education is precluding him for opportunities to engage in meaningful occupations due to factors beyond his control (Kronenberg and Pollard, 2005). Mr Y also stated that brick making is not his passion and that he would prefer panel beating “but the money isn’t very good there”. (Mr Y, personal communication, May 4, 2017).

Both men therefore experience Occupational Disruption. Their context has impacted on their ability to freely participate in occupations of their own choice. Occupational disruption has the potential to threaten the well-being of an individual. Such situations normally become threatening to the individual’s wellness. (Joubert, 2007). Wilcock (2001) refers to this disharmony between a person’s life and their nature or environment as Occupational alienation. This however isn’t to say that the men have stagnated in life. Their current occupation can serve as a stepping stone to attaining aspirations.

The type of occupation, which has both physical and psychological components, also places the men at risk of occupational dysfunction. Given that it is ‘hands-on’ occupation and requires two or more people at any given time (one to mix the cement and one to make the bricks using the mould), if one or both of the men were to suffer from a physical and or mental illness that results in temporary or permanent impairment, it will be very difficult or impossible for them to continue performing this occupation, given the physical elements involved (shovelling cement, carrying the bricks, fetching water from the river, walking up steep slopes)  and they would thus have to assume a different role (i.e. a supervisor) however, this would affect the dynamics of the business as the profit would have to be re-distributed for example.

Numerous factors also affect an individual’s ability to successfully engage in and perform various occupations. There are certain occupational barriers that I have identified whilst chatting with the men and analysing the environment and facilities available. These barriers are to a large extent out of the men’s control but impeded their ability to engage in this occupation on a daily basis. For example, the Mr Y stated that weather often affects the running of the business... it is however a ‘frenemy’.  When it is raining, the men cannot work, given that the ‘work space’ is uncovered. In addition, the cement is uncovered and thus will not dry appropriately. *The men also rely on a river, located next to the open ‘work-space’, to get water in order to mix their cement. This means that if there is no rain for prolonged periods of time, the river may have an insufficient amount of water to supply the production demand.

Although I have identified numerous barriers to this occupation/ circumstance’s and factors that impeded/possibly impeded the men’s ability to engage in this occupation (given the nature of the business), there are numerous positive factors that cannot be ignored. The business is obviously successful, they have been operating for the past 7 years. They have also been able to expand their clientele to include a small building company in New Germany, in addition to community members, despite the economic situation of the country the low socio economic status of the community. If I was given this business plan, on paper, it seems impossible and quite frankly insane. However, it works and as much as there are occupational barriers and factors/potential factors that could/do impede their engagement in the occupation, I believe the saying ‘if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it’ is quite fitting in this instance.

On a side note- there isn’t a day in the community when I am not blown away by the hospitality of most of the community members, seriously… no business in my community would accept students participating in or observing them working without prior meetings, phone calls and tedious paper work. When I arrived at the cement brick makers business, the men were more than willing to demonstrate their skills and the tasks that they perform on a daily basis. Yet, prior to entering this community, I had wrongly prejudiced the members of this community as being violent and involved in thievery….shame on me!  

 References:

Joubert,RWE.(2007) Indigenous fruits from exotic roots? Revisiting the South African Occupational Therapy Curriculum. Doctoral thesis, Faculty of Education, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.

Kronenberg F & Pollard N. Overcoming occupational apartheid – A preliminary exploration of the political nature of occupational therapy. In: Kronenberg, F. Algado, S. & Pollard, N. (Editors) (2005).

Wilcock, A. (2001). Occupational utopias: Back to the future. Journal of Occupational Science. Volume 1(1): 5-12.

Wilcock, A.A. (1998). Occupation for health. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 61 (8), 340-345.

Hocking, C. (2000). Occupational science: A stock take of accumulated insights. Journal of Occupational Science, 7(2), 58-67. DOI: 10.1080/14427591.2000.9686466.

Personal communication- Mr X (4/05/2017)

Personal communication Mr Y (4/05/2017)

Photo credit: Aamina Hoosain

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Comm(unity)?

I had barely jumped out of the taxi when the door slammed shut. In this moment a ‘fight-or-flight’ response kicked in and I desperately wanted to flee…far, far away! This was the ‘dodgy-est’ place I had ever been to and I was all alone. But there was no turning back now!

I began walking wearily down a steep, rubbish filled path to my client’s home. The dank smell of sewage engulfed my nostrils. I pulled my bag closer to my side and clutched it tighter every time someone was approaching…young, old, big or small, I would cringe a little more inside…’ please don’t steal anything, please don’t steal anything’ I would chant in my head. I made sure my cell phone was out of plain sight but still within reach…who knew if I needed to use it to call for help? My limited isiZulu vocab came into immediate effect, “Sawubona” I greeted with as pleasant a smile as I could muster-hoping this would help ‘break the ice’ and stop them from gawking at me at that moment, Michael Jackson’s song popped into my head.  (“…I always feel like somebody’s watching me…”). Have they never seen an Indian person before? Is it because I am a young female? Were they looking at me with curiosity, confusion (why was an Indian girl traversing their community) or was it just disgust? I finally reached my client’s home. I began knocking on the tin door, I wasn’t sure what to expect! The lyrics of a song by Sting began to play in my head “I’m an alien, I’m a legal alien” but now I was an “Indian girl in their town”, I felt deeply uncomfortable. But when the door opened, a wave of relief washed over me when I was greeted with a kind smile. Without hesitation the young lady invited me into her home…no introduction necessary.  Her hospitality was overwhelming. This family that was barely making ends meet was offering me tea and biscuits. Only upon introduction, had I been made aware that the young lady was just a neighbour who was looking after my elderly client whilst her daughter was at work. This would never happen in my community!

This stark contrast between my ‘urban’ community and this rural community completely thwarted the misconceptions and prejudices I had. I was taking offence to their ogling and strange looks but did they notice that I was clutching mercilessly onto my belongings? Surely this was insulting to them! Just as I had my misconceptions and prejudices about this community and its members, I’m sure they have these same prejudices and misconceptions about me and my community.  I don’t believe these prejudices will ‘disappear’ anytime soon but this doesn’t mean that it has to be as deeply rooted as it still is. This ‘awakening’ as I like to call it, has made realize that I need to “be the change you want to see in the world”- Mahatma Gandhi, in order to ensure that I don’t let prejudice’s and biases impact my perceptions of people and the world at large- and this is especially important for me, as an Occupational Therapy student who will be encountering people from many walks of life.

I also couldn’t believe how ignorant I was! I was freaking out about being in this supposedly poverty stricken and crime ridden place but I would never have let someone into my home without knowing who they were. And if someone ‘strange’/ ‘out of place’ had to walk into my community, it would be breaking news on my community’s Whatsapp group! Another thing that I had noticed was that roughly 95% (in my opinion) of the homes that I had visited had no locks on their front gates (yup, I could just unhook/slide the gate open!)….so much for the crime?! In comparison, my community (located in an ‘urban’ area) is riddled with crime. It is unlikely to pass a home that isn’t fully kitted with all the available high-tech security gadgets. In terms of the poverty, yes, I agree poverty in this community is rife… but not everyone appears to be ‘suffering’. This may be a controversial statement but in my opinion, in rural communities wealth is expressed via interconnectedness and unity whereas wealth in urban areas is associated more with monetary worth.

This then made me question… does Ubuntu exist in all communities or is it just a beautiful word that we all allude to when it suits us.  

When I think about the term Ubuntu, I automatically picture an ‘ideal’ world in which all people of all ages, ethnicity’s, genders and socio-economic backgrounds are united and live and work together harmoniously. I think about interdependence, being created and connected by community.  My experiences within the community (for example the hospitality, camaraderie) and the unity that is apparent matches this ‘ideal’ picture. So, does Ubuntu exists within my urban community?

Although my community doesn’t display camaraderie as overtly as it is displayed in more rural communities, we still function well as a community and when issues arise within the community, the unity becomes more apparent. For example, when an elderly man went missing, community members’ united in search for the man who was later found safe and well. (Facebook Post https://www.facebook.com/LaLuciaCommunity/) It’s still sad that only once an issue arises, the unity within my community is seen. In my opinion, although Ubuntu is evident in all communities, it is also contextual factors (cultural, social, economic etc.) that influence the extent to which Ubuntu is truly practiced.

Over the past few weeks, whilst being in the community, I have personally experienced Ubuntu in action. For example, within my practical group, although the 3 other members and I didn’t really associate with each other prior to being ‘forced’ into a group on this practical block, we have all established and are continuing to establish a bond. Every day I learn something new about myself and others because of my interactions with them which have and will continue to shape who I am as an OT and as a person.

“…The ability to give to others To reach out to those in need And to respect those around To understand that in order to move on We must do so together, and in doing so Realise that we are who have become to be Because of those surrounding us…”

– Ubuntu

Everyday my opinions and views about the community, and a ‘rural’ community in general, are being challenged. Through this experience, I have learnt and am learning so much about myself as a person and the ‘world’ outside the ‘cushy bubble’ in which I was born and raised and I can’t wait to see where this comm(unity) journey takes me…

References/links:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/reverend-william-e-flippin-jr/ubuntu-applying-african-p_b_1243904.html

(n.d.). DailyGood: News That Inspires.

Gandhi's 10 Rules for Changing the World, by Henrik Edberg.

Retrieved April 26, 2017, from

http://www.dailygood.org/story/466/gandhi-s-10-rules-for-changing-the-world-henrik-edberg/

(n.d.). Scribbled Verse | Raw & Unedited Scribbles by Afzal Moolla.

Retrieved April 24, 2017, from

http://afzalmoolla.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/ubuntu1.jpg

(n.d.). News, sport and opinion from the Guardian's US edition | The Guardian.

The question: What does ubuntu really mean? | Global | The Guardian.

Retrieved April 25, 2017, from

http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2006/sep/29/features11.g2

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My feelings, experiences, interactions and professional views during my first week in the community.

‘What IS the role of an Occupational Therapist in a community setting?’, ‘Is there even a difference in roles of OT’s in hospital based and community based settings/practice?’ ‘Why is the department of OT even making us do a community based fieldwork block?’  These were just a few of the thoughts running through my mind prior to commencing my fourth year Community block. Basically, I didn’t understand what was the ‘big deal’ or the necessity of OT students being exposed to and working in a community setting. Then why are we expected to do it? In order to try answer some of these questions, I decided to research the scope of OT in the community setting. I stumbled upon a book by Susan K. Meyers entitled ‘Community Practice in Occupational Therapy-A guide to serving the community’. I recommend that future OT students get a hold of this book as it truly assisted in orientating me, a ‘first- timer’, to OT in community practice. Although the book doesn’t talk about communities in the South African context in particular it’s a really insightful source that assisted in preparing me in approaching this block and understanding the importance of OT’s in communities. (See link for an online copy of the book- http://samples.jbpub.com/9780763762490/62490_FMxx_FINAL.pdf) I was finally getting somewhere! I also managed to get my hands on Nicola Vermeulen’s research article ‘Exploring students’ fieldwork experiences of using community entry skills within community development’. http://www.sajot.co.za/index.php/sajot/article/view/188. I was interested in this article as I was really uncertain about how to approach this block. I also had no idea that there was something called ‘community entry skills’. The findings of this study highlighted that the process of community entry is a subjective experience that requires mindfulness and awareness in becoming a part of the community. This allows professionals to interact with the community and its members and it gives rise to the understanding that one receives when working in a community. Don’t get me wrong, this book doesn’t have all the answers! And whilst reading many other related articles and books, it was apparent that although there is a common understanding of what communities are about, for example, each and every community is different as each has its own hidden or overt complexities. I also feel as though literature exacerbates misconceptions about what a community is or should be.  As a result, I took a lot of the information I read with a metaphorical ‘pinch of salt’. Having a foundation of knowledge was helpful to a certain extent. However, although I was theoretically more prepared to approach the block, I was still uncertain about my ability to put this theory into practice. The days prior to the commencement of my community block, left me feeling a mounting uneasiness and tension that I have never experienced before. Perhaps it was fear of the unknown as this was the first time that I would be working in a community setting. However, I also made the mistake of talking to fourth year OT students who were at the same community for their first block. It soon became apparent that they didn’t have a very good experience when on this block and this didn’t do my mindset and anxiety levels any justice. As a result my feelings and thoughts became clouded by negativity and pessimism that emerged from their experiences and views. Consequently, I was already expecting and preparing for the worst. When on Pinterest, I came across a quote by Marcus Aurelius, “everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.” I then realized that it would be futile entering the block with this negative or weary mind. I began to recite these words like a mantra each time I began to think about what they had to say about the block. The first day in the community was a disaster! We had 3 hours to ‘orientate ourselves’ to the community and all the people with whom we would be interacting. This may seem like a long enough time but when you have to drive to the different venues/areas in the community without knowing where you are actually going, 3 hours means nothing! At the end of the day I felt defeated. I felt lost and confused as I truly didn’t know where to start or what I was meant to be doing.  I just kept thinking ‘what if every day was going to be as miserable as today?!’ But, it truly was not…if my first interaction with a client in the community is anything to go by. This first interaction with a client was such an eye opening experience.  I spent roughly 2 hours trying to locate the home of my assigned client! Whilst walking down the steep slope towards the client’s front door, I really wasn’t sure how this was going to work! Could I just knock on the door and ask for the client? Surely that was not possible! By the time I was done debating these questions in my head, I was shocked to find that the front door was already opening. She told me that her neighbor called to tell her that someone was coming to visit… how amazing is that? Coming from a community in which neighbor’s wouldn’t even know the contact numbers of fellow neighbors, I couldn’t believe how fast word had travelled and this, for me, emphasized how different each community is. Before I could even introduce myself, she had opened the gate and welcomed me into her home. This again would have never happened in my community due to the lack of interrelatedness and unity. I am glad that my initial fears and concerns about entering into the community block have been allayed. Seeing as the first week has progressed relatively well, despite my initial insecurities, I look forward to establishing my role as an OT within this community and delving deeper into the community dynamic.   Book details: COMMUNITY PRACTICE IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY: A GUIDE TO SERVING THE COMMUNITY ISBN Number: 9780763762490 Author: MEYERS S Publisher: JONES & BARTLETT Edition:1ST - 2009  

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OMG! It's the final blog for 2016!!!

To say that this psychosocial fieldwork block was a roller coaster ride would be an understatement! I’m afraid of heights so embarking on this journey was truly like going on a roller coaster ride. I was super tense and nervous to start prac and up until midterms I felt like ‘ ‘ bambi on ice’. Along the ride there were lows…I mean real lows but there were also highs. But that’s life I guess! After reading this quote it all started to make sense: “Life’s a rollercoaster. You can either scream every time you hit a bump or you can throw your hands up in the air and enjoy it.” –Unknown. I will start with the lows so I end on a high…see what I did there! The lows included the strike action at varsity which was no joke and nor was it as ‘fun’/’funny’ as it used to be in first and second year…when we didn’t have a million things to do. The prac block was so disrupted as a result. I felt like a dog on a leash… just as I was getting into the groove of things and starting to enjoy the experience, I was yanked back abruptly and thus prevented from continuing my ‘exploration’. This inconsistently and hence lack of a routine made it difficult for me to find myself and this continued up until midterms. I started to doubt my ability to be an OT and I got into a really dark place as a result. I started to question my career path and wonder if I was always going to be as miserable as I was everyday. My friends and family also noticed the change in my general attitude and that’s when I realized I had to stop ‘wallowing in self-pity’ and suck it up or continue to suck at it! I really resented the fact that we had to prepare for midterms in our mid semester holiday but on reflection, having this time to work on prac related work only was a blessing in disguise…so now I had begun my incline. By the time I reached finals…the amount of time I spent preparing for finals was way less than I did in midterms and this was all due to working so hard for midterms that it made finals a breeze. Let me put this into perspective for you…for midterms, it took me 7 days to complete my case study and 3 days to complete my power point presentation! However, for finals I spent 2 days on my case study and 1 day on my presentation. It was also because I had learnt my lesson from midterms in that I started to put together all my information from day one. Its times like that when I realizes how lucky we are to have midterms (so that we essentially make all our mistakes then and are able to iron out all the creases for finals). Still on the incline… Upon entering finals, I began to feel like I knew what I was doing, I knew where I was going and what I had to do to get there. I believe it was my inner drive that booted me into ‘beast mode’ as I knew finals was here and this was essentially the last opportunity I had to prove my worth. Taking my supervisors invaluable advice into consideration about what I could do to better myself both professionally and personally, I began believing in myself once again. I could do this! I started to feel more confident in my ability to treat and that’s when the ascent on my roller coaster ride began to speed up. After each prac day I could feel myself growing professionally and personally…I know it sounds cliché but that’s seriously how I felt. Finals however creeped up quicker than expected but I felt prepared to take on this battle. I was super excited about all my prac components as knew that I gave it all that I had and that’s ultimately what mattered to me! Even if I performed poorly, I would have still been proud knowing that I had learned and improved upon myself and ability throughout the practical time. I have also established new bonds with people in my prac group that I wouldn’t typically have associated with had I not been forced to. I believe that having this tight bond contributed to making this prac experience more tolerable at times. We were truly thrilled about our project & video as we really were able to show off our unity as a group. And so the ride has come to an end. I feel a bit bitter sweet about it though. A part of me is so glad its over but a part of me wants to embark on this ride once again…well perhaps another ride with fewer downs. I know that I will regret these words next year when life is “barely manageable”-The OT 4s. But I shall wait and see…

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My Jar Of Life...

The contents of my metaphorical jar include my family (my mum, dad, brother and sister), my friends and last but definitely not least, my 2 dogs (Lucky and Pesto…they’re practically human!). These individuals make up the ‘golf balls’ in my life. At present, the ‘pebbles’ of my life would be my education (studying OT). My studies are super important to me, I strive for perfection in all that I do and this is the major contributing factor to the sand in my ‘jar’. The sand of my jar is made up of the (on reflection) small stressors in my life…work/OT related stress.

The golf balls in my ‘jar’ have provided me with stability and consistency throughout my life…something I desperately need seeing as I have anxiety issues and tend to be really affected by different situations, more so than the average person PLUS my university life is so unpredictable and stressful. Small acts of love and care like a squishy bear hug from my dad or gentle kisses on the check from my mum, the wagging tails of my dogs as I walk through the door and even the Whatsapp voice notes from my friends asking how my day has been/is going, are just a few of the things that my ‘golf balls’ do that help keep me sane when things are just INSANE at university. The angry ,short tempered nature that envelops my being and that grows out of the frustration of work/OT related stress can sometimes act like a golf club that ‘backswings’(BACKSWING-The backward part of the swing starting from the ground and going back over the top of the golfer’s head) my golf balls away from me. Sometimes I snap at my family for the silliest things (like asking me how my day was!), distant myself from my friends and hence obliterate my social life or don’t reciprocate the TLC my dogs give me just because I’m too tired, too stressed and just OVER IT. But, to what end though? What would I be without my collection of golf balls?...(Not a ‘player’ in life I can tell you that much!)

My pebbles, at this stage in my life, are made up of my education/studies (yes my house and car is important to me but I suppose it’s not as important as if I had worked to purchase it… gosh,I sound like a spoiled brat) . But because I am working to attain my degree and the satisfaction that I know I will receive from doing so, my education is another important area in MY life. My studies are the main focus point in my life as I have been raised with the mindset that my education is my ‘stepping stone’ to the future(excuse the pun) and at the end of the day “Knowledge is power” I have been called a ‘nerd’, ‘loner’, ‘overachiever’ etc. but in all honestly I could give two hoots! I think I secretly enjoy the challenge that my studies bring as ‘back breaking’ as it seems at the time, I know (even if it is subliminally) that there is a method to this madness that is OT. However, in my jar, my pebbles and my sand seem to be related. The sand in my jar includes the daily hassles and stressors that I face and most of which are OT related. If I had to eliminate all the stress that I experience from OT, there would hardly be any sand in my jar. But then again…I can’t have one without the other. And, ultimately, the stress is what keeps me going and keeps me growing both personally and professionally. For example, if were told in grade 12, that I would be doing half the stuff/work that I have done and am doing now, at university, I probably would have laughed! But the stress of OT is no joking matter. I know that other university students have the same amount and sometimes more demands placed on them, but seeing as I have never studied any other degree ,I don’t know any better and thus for me OT is like the most stressful thing in the world!

Then we get to the beer. I prefer wine…white wine that is. I would love to make ‘Wine Wednesday'part of my routine (but this is not ethical!) but I do top my jar up with some wine when the time is right and appropriate. Look, I don’t condone alcoholism and I am not an alcoholic but sometimes alcohol is the best way to drown my sorrows (after having a tumultuous day at prac or receiving an obscene test mark). Wine just helps makes life seem a little more ‘do-able’ at times. Perhaps you should just check in with me in 4th year to ensure that this pleasurable activity hasn’t become a habit!

By concretizing my ‘priorities’ through the use of this metaphor, I have been made aware of just how important it is to maintain the balance within my ‘jar’. Failure to fill the jar evenly and with just the right amount of contents (Golf balls, pebbles, stones and beer-although I prefer wine) will result in deficiency in another area in my life and this is not what life is about and because life is so short, it’s not what life should be about. Writing this blog and thus reflecting on what’s important in life has really put things into perspective for me. I feel as though I need to evaluate my ‘jar of life’ at least every year to ensure that balance and harmony prevails and that I essentially practice what I preach to clients about living a holistic, balanced life!

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Articles related to my professional experience thus far...

I was really not in the mood to write a blog this week let alone one where I was required to read 2 articles. I barely had ‘down time’ this week to restore my sanity after having tests for the past 2 weeks and now I had to spend time sifting through UKZN library articles (again… might I add and after all the articles I have already perused through for my research). Plus, it had to be an article related to our professional experience and all I could think of was that I was experiencing and insurmountable amount of stress owing to the ‘profession’ as finals week was just around the corner. However, after all the negotiating that was happening inside my head, the over achieving, studious part of me pushed through and funny enough, I managed to find 3 really interesting articles related to topics that I really wanted to explore more and that were relevant to my professional experience thus far. Ok in all honesty, the first article I saw that really peaked my interest was titled: “The journey through an undergraduate occupational therapy course: Does it change students’ attitudes, perceptions and career plans?” I felt as though this article connected with me on a spiritual level. It was so refreshing reading some of the responses the interviewees/respondents gave to this research topic… It made me seem a little more ‘normal’. I know that I’m already in my 3rd year of my OT degree but there are just days where I wonder whether I will always be as stressed and pessimistic (not necessarily about the psychosocial block but about life and the work load) as I am feeling now in psychosocial. However findings suggested that many students (at an undergrad level) feel the same way…phew!!! The long and short of it all was that in general “students indicated a reluctance to pursue work in psychosocial, research and academic fields.” (McKenna, K., Scholtes, A.-A., Fleming, J., & Gilbert, J., 2001). I totally understand why one would be reluctant to do so. Psychosocial OT is both physically and emotionally challenging as it forces you to think outside the proverbial box but this is also why I love it! Apologies to the physical OT’s but psych is way more fun and interesting and who wouldn’t want to be challenged on a daily basis. “Clinical placements and particular clinicians were identified as having the greatest impact on students’ career plans.” (McKenna, K., Scholtes, A.-A., Fleming, J., & Gilbert, J., 2001) These findings also related to. I am really enjoying my time at my current prac venue and my clinical supervisor has been so helpful in ensuring that I remain on the right path. She has also pushed me to extreme’s (something I wasn’t too thrilled with at the time but on reflection, it has made be a better student and will ultimately improve my future ability and practice in the profession.) The next professionally ‘relevant’ article was titled: “why do adults with intellectual disabilities work in sheltered workshops?” This was a question that I had continued to ask myself whilst working with individuals, at my current prac venue (a sheltered employment facility), who were diagnosed with Intellectual disability (ID) (of which 87% were). I understand why those with moderate to profound ID may function better within the confines of the facility and the structure and routine that it provides however, a few of the individuals at the facility (i.e. those with mild ID, and chronic schizophrenia etc.) are comparatively higher functioning and could possibly work in the open labor market even if it meant performing similar tasks so why weren’t they? I then stumbled across another article: “Ethnicity and self-reported experiences of stigma in adults with intellectual disability in Cape Town, South Africa.” I then did my own background research and investigations (very inspector clouseau!). It then became apparent that societal stigma plays a profound role in determining the employment options available for these individuals. As we all know that stigma related to those with mental health issues is rife in society however, I really didn’t expect it to be so profound in cultures and community’s in which family and ‘community’ are at the forefront (particularly in the South African Indian and Black communities). Based on the information I obtained and the findings of the article there appeared to be an “interaction effect between ethnicity and ID: the Black African group with mild ID were more likely to report higher levels of stigma, compared with those with moderate ID. Age was found to be associated with stigma, with younger participants reporting higher levels of stigma than older participants. There was also a trend towards stigma being related to lower socio-economic status and having an additional disability.” (Ali, A., Kock, E., Molteno, C., Mfiki, N., King, M., & Strydom, A, 2015.) It is disappointing to know that stigma still affects ones opportunities in life, including employment opportunities, it thus perpetuates the ongoing need for us as students and future Health care professionals to spread the word about mental health in an attempt to de-stigmatize mental health.

On reflection...i'm really glad that i was 'forced'to read these articles. It has benefitted me in some way both personally and professionally as i am aware of certain 'target areas'that i will strive toward achieveing now as a student and throughout my future career.

References: Ali, A., Kock, E., Molteno, C., Mfiki, N., King, M., & Strydom, A. (January 01, 2015). Ethnicity and self-reported experiences of stigma in adults with intellectual disability in Cape Town, South Africa. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research : Jidr, 59, 6, 530-40. McKenna, K., Scholtes, A.-A., Fleming, J., & Gilbert, J. (December 01, 2001). The journey through an undergraduate occupational therapy course: Does it change students’ attitudes, perceptions and career plans?. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 48, 4, 157-169. Migliore, A., Grossi, T., Mank, D., & Rogan, P. (January 01, 2008). Why do adults with intellectual disabilities work in sheltered workshops?. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 28, 1, 29-40.

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Research day was research in itself!

I was thrilled to find out that 3rd years were invited to attend the 4th year research day. Typically, I would have moaned and groaned about having to attend an event like this but I was looking forward to the day, not just for the free food, but because it meant that I would be learning more about how to go about researching, compiling and presenting various aspects of research in preparation for my research day next year (something that is slowly approaching). However, in addition to this information I was also reminded of the multidimensional nature of the OT profession.

I have just started on my Research Journey with my research group (having only submitted a concept paper and literature review) but seeing what the ‘end product’ of our research will be/will look like has really put the entire process of researching into perspective. It has given me in depth insight into the level that we as a group need to strive toward reaching an even surpassing. It has also opened my eyes into the amount of time and effort that needs to be invested in this entire process as an entire group. I have heard from many previous OT students about how “hardcore” or “hectic” research is and initially I thought they were just exaggerating…as they did about anatomy in first year! But based on the quality of work and the blood, sweat and tears that evidently went into producing such comprehensive and insightful research…I’m starting to think that the road ahead is going to be quite a tough one. This being said, I was also made aware of the fact that it is possible…if they (the 4th years) could do it, what is stopping us??? The way in which the different groups presented their findings and research was really informative. ‘Ooh we could do that’, ‘That looks really nice’, ‘that was a clever way to summarize everything’ these were a few thoughts that were racing through my mind, after each group presented, about how my research group could present certain aspects of our research in terms of methods of data collection, recommendations etc. I eventually took out a pen and notepad to jot down all these amazing and applicable ideas.

Although each group’s research topics were so diverse, this ‘diversity’ became unified by one thing…OT. All these topics were so applicable to the OT profession that I was once again made aware of how amazing our profession really is. My first thought when I read the brochure with the various group’s topics printed out was what on earth do domestic workers have to do with OT? And we all know that there is a ‘techno-revolution’ happening but, so what? How does this relate to anything? But boy was I in for a surprise. The manner in which the groups presented their findings and how they managed to relate it to OT and the fact that these topics managed to apply to the profession was astonishing. So the next time someone asks the usual... “What is OT?” I will be sure to retort with “what isn’t OT!”

I cannot wait to get stuck into my research in order to experience the catharsis of achieving /accomplishing what the 4th years have.

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