Halfway Through

As of this weekend, my clinical is halfway through, and I'm sad and excited.  Excited because Laura is coming to visit this weekend and then only 2 more weeks till we are no longer separated long-term, and sad as my clinical will soon be over. So far, things continue to go very well.  I am training A LOT and am being pushed outside of my comfort zone daily, both in my clinical and knowledge skills related to physical therapy as well as in my physical fitness and skills as a runner and triathlete.  I can confidently say I am more in tune with my form, my movement and my intentions with training now more than ever...which is a good thing.

When not in the clinic I've been trying to stay ahead of the sleep game (increased training zaps my energy) and the reading game. Chris (my clinical instructor) has kept me very busy reading books, articles, publications, and the like, allowing me and helping me to build a robust library from which to draw on once I am in the clinic.  Ultimately though, "people do not care how much you know until they know how much you care," a lesson I am ahead of the game on coming from the Midwest. 

A little over a week ago I received a package with sour-patch kids (a favorite candy) and a few other items.  However, what particularly stood out was the envelope - see below. Did I mention that Laura is coming to NYC this weekend?  Yeah, I'm excited!  (For those who have lived in NYC or have visited, please feel free to let us know what we need to see and/or experience while she is here.  I have limited my exploring to my neighborhood or Brooklyn in order to experience the city together)

As another week starts I look forward to continued new experiences and challenges.  As well, no matter how long I am in the city I cannot seem to get used to the styles and varieties of people - to say New York/Manhattan/Brooklyn is a melting pot is an understatement.  And even though all the variety leaves me a little awestruck, I find I still prefer the smaller town environment found in the Midwest.  Until next time...

Week 12: Experiencing the "Nutty"

It is amazing how quickly you start to learn the streets and general layout of an area/city when you are daily running and biking through the streets, dodging taxis, switching subway trains, and walking most everywhere.  This is not to say that I have Manhattan or Brooklyn even close to figured out; however, I am having to rely on my GPS and iPhone far less.  As well, the city, though still incredibly overwhelming and daunting at times, is enjoyable when you can see past the fog of confusion which initially surrounded me.

Beyond merely getting from A to B there is a lot of other aspects to the city, mainly that you see/hear/experience every type of style, design, language, personality, opinion, etc.  Eclectic melting pot is putting it mildly.  As I stated before, coming from the midwest puts a totally different spin on this experience, and one that I can say I'm proud of...my nickname with some of the people I have met is simply "Nebraska" due to my red "N" hat.  I don't mind it... :)

The clinic continues to be a highlight of my time here.  Chris Johnson is my clinical instructor and challenges me daily with a barrage of questions and reading assignments, for which I am quite thankful.  Over the years he has trained with some of the leaders in orthopedic and sports medicine, and when I approached him over a year ago to see if he would work with me he graciously said yes, allowing me to experience and grow through a rigorous affiliation.  In addition, he is an amateur elite triathlete and coach, working with and training some of New York's top triathletes (and yes, I'm getting my butt kicked by him).

As mentioned above, besides learning in the clinic, I'm working out with Chris on a daily basis.  Highlights of the week include multiple two-a-day workouts of biking/running/swimming and an initiation ride across the GW (George Washington) bridge to NJ, through a part of Ironman New York's course and out to Nyack, NY (total mileage that day ~75 miles = 4+ hrs. in the saddle) before heading home. I am learning Chris walks, runs or rides as much as he can, allowing him to maintain a high level of fitness without having to devote extra time out of his day to training.  As well, aside from the clinic and training Chris has been showing me a few different views of New York and Brooklyn.  The pictures below are from the top of the Brooklyner, the tallest point in Brooklyn, looking northwest towards Manhattan.

Stay tuned for more updates, as well as for several posts I've been working on, both personally and with Chris, for his website.  As well, spring has arrived in NYC, with blossoms budding and allergies afflicting...wishing you a happy beginning to your spring adventures!

Welcome to New York

Day two is in the books. My head is still spinning as I try to make my way through New York (Manhattan and Brooklyn) whether in the subway or through some of the streets. Though I have managed to figure out my route to the clinic and "home" again any deviation creates confusion, followed by a quick reference to the map on my iPhone...and what a blessing that has been. In addition, my experience in the clinic has been good, allowing me several "firsts," from a 5.5 mile run from downtown Manhattan to Brooklyn with a pack on my back (harder than it sounds) to my first swim session with an ITCA (international triathlon coaching assoc) certified coach.

I have learned several things about New York, whether right or wrong: 1) there is always noise, 2) there is every type of fashion (good and bad) imaginable, 3) it's expensive, from the food to groceries to transportation, 4) New Yorkers are nicer than their common stereotype (though this could change with time). Keep in mind these perceptions are skewed from a Midwesterner's perspective. And though New York is fairly amazing I am still a smaller town boy at heart. Check back to see if my perspective changes during the 5 more weeks I'm here. ;)

View of the financial district of Manhattan with the Brooklyn bridge to the right

Over the next few weeks I welcome any advice/suggestions/comments about things to do, see, explore, experience, etc in the greater New York metro. As always, I'll continue to keep you updated, as well as I can, on my adventures and thoughts. I ask that you continue to keep Laura and me in your thoughts and prayers as we continue to experience, learn and grow over the next few weeks.

Week 3: A taste of winter and snowshoeing

After spending the last part of our 2nd week and into the weekend battling colds, Laura and I were determined to get out and explore at the end of week 3.  However, our chances looked bleak as Lynden and the surrounding area got hit with a mid-west style snowstorm this last week.  Amazingly, the Korthuis' kids (we are staying with their parents) got the ENTIRE WEEK off from school (as such, the kids, along with Robin, were home much of the week, and Laura was able to hang out with them, while also getting to know the family better...change of pace for Laura who has spent much of her time catching up on "me" time and reading).  We (Laura and me) dreamed of such a scenario when we were their age.  But they got lucky - Washington handles winter weather a bit differently.  Normally, only the mountains get much snow, so in Lynden they are panicked when they get more than about 5 days of snow, with a total accumulation of about 6-7 inches.  During this storm they got wind chills in the single digits (unheard of around here), 8-10 inches of snow over 2 days, which then drifted with 20-35 mph winds (they call it a "noreaster"), followed by freezing rain.  Most everything, with exception of the clinic and few other businesses, closed!  Fortunately for Laura and me the weather pattern moved out, allowing us a near perfect day of snowshoeing on Mnt. Baker.

I think Laura may have had a little too much time on her hands this week, as I returned from the clinic on Friday night to find the following in our bathroom.  Have you heard of "Pinterest?"  Laura has gotten some awesome recipes, ideas for a future home, and random other items as showcased by this pic...

A quick overview of the clinic - I am continuing to learn on a daily basis from Steve, as well as the other staff and therapists.  Steve has formed a very well respected practice in Lynden, and as such, has a wealth of knowledge on business, customer relations and value vs. quality.  I am extremely grateful to be learning from him, as well as getting a first hand look at how he is implementing his words into actions on a daily basis.  The other really neat aspect, which I have mentioned to Laura repeatedly, is that every day I get to discuss my faith or how faith intertwines into every aspect of our lives.  Lynden, as mentioned in previous posts, is a small, Dutch community, with a "reformed" heritage.  As such, even though Lynden is located in Washington state, which is said to be one of the least "churched" states in the country, most everyone in town is very open about their faith.  I am constantly hearing stories from my patients on how God is working in their lives, or how they are amazed at the intricacies of the human body and creation, or.....  This is rare in healthcare, and a nice change for me to be experiencing.
(Side note: it is encouraged at LFPT to be a "shining light" as a staff member. The idea is to be "shining His light," and, if another staff member wants to recognize an exceptional effort on behalf of another staff member then they are awarded a "shining light."  In other words, faith in action as God does not need our good works but our neighbor does!)

After our "taste of winter" during the week we decided this weekend would be a great opportunity to play in the fresh powder on Mnt. Baker.  (Mnt. Baker got 78 inches of fresh powder from this last week's storm, adding to their already impressive base...they currently have one of the deepest snow bases in North America!)  After renting snowshoes from REI, which I might add is dangerous having a really nice REI so close with such awesome outdoor items, we headed for the mountain.  Surprisingly, the base of Baker is only about 3500 ft. with the summit reaching just over 10,000 ft.  However, they get an immense amount of snow per season.  This makes for great winter recreation.  Laura and I got the scoop on trails for snowshoeing and spent 3+ hrs. hiking around the mountain.  Unfortunately, falling snow and thick cloud cover kept us from getting some good views of the summit; however, this is merely an excuse to return on a sunnier day :)  Below are some pics...

We continue to enjoy our time in the northwest, in case you cannot tell.  There is still much left "undone" on our list, and we look forward to sharing it with you in the weeks to come.  Hopefully, our weather will begin to cooperate in order to allow us to complete a better portion of our "northwest bucket list."  We continue to pray for God's blessings for all of our families and friends - just as our lives have changed much over the last weeks and months we also know the new year has brought new challenges and changes to many of you.  Thanks for your encouragement and your prayers.

More to come... :)

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.  O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever!  Psalm 118:24, 29

Week 2 Recap: Clinic overview and Bellingham Explorations

Week 1 in the clinic is in the books, and I'm happy to say things are going well.  Some of you may know that my last clinical rotation was busy (and that may be an understatement); however, my current clinical has a much different feel and focus, one which I happily accept.  I continue to be challenged in providing holistic care, while building relationships with my patients.  I'm finding transitions to be hard, as I am at my best with patients when I know who they are and what matters to them.  This is much harder to do when starting at a new clinic, but I'm up for the challenge.  It also never ceases to amaze me that even though the anatomy and foundation of PT never changes, the exercises, exams and evals, perspectives and treatment approaches differ widely from clinic to clinic.  Confusing to say the least, but also nice to have a different perspective on treatment and care approaches.  The other "bonus" about this affiliation is the opportunity to learn more about private practice and the "in's" and "out's" of running a business.  My CI, Steve, has indicated he is willing to provide further mentorship to me on that front, and I am looking forward to learning more on the business side of the aisle.

Since coming to the NW I've had it in my mind that I am not going to take for granted the time Laura and I have while here.  To that end, Laura and I sat down this last week and made our "to do" list while here.  We're excited!!  (No, I cannot tell you what was on the list...that would ruin the point of coming back to the blog if you knew what our next "normal" was to be) This weekend was devoted to exploring our own "backyard" - Bellingham, WA is located about 12 miles to our south, and is the main city in Whatcom county.  It was incorporated in 1904, and has an awesome downtown just off of Bellingham Bay.  Here's your history lesson - "English Captain George Vancouver first explored the area in 1792 and named Bellingham Bay for Sir William Bellingham, Vancouver's British Navy provisioner" - you see A LOT of B.C. (British Columbia) license plates in and around Lynden/Bellingham.  The Canadian border is only 20 min. from Bellingham, and it turns out they love US retail and shopping, most notably, Trader Joe's and Costco.

First exploration was to Larrabee State Park and Whatcom Falls Park - both were AWESOME!  Trails abound everywhere around here, but both parks have an abundance of scenic and nature-esque trails.  Our hike at Larrabee took us over 5000+ ft of elevation gain in a little over 5 miles.  We weren't expecting to be hiking quite as much as we did, but could not pass up a view of Bellingham Bay and Fragrance Lake, a secluded lake a top Larrabee that can only be reached on foot.  It seemed as if we were in our own private rain forest as the day consisted of gray, misting fog.  However, the green growth and mossy trees "popped" so much more against a dull backdrop.  Pictures of both explorations follow:


Throughout the day Laura and I continue to notice two very distinct characteristics about the Washington state's population.  But...you'll have to read her post for more details...

Lastly, even though Whatcom county has the most churches per capita (Steve believes they actually may have the US record) only 2 LCMS churches are anywhere close to where we are, and 1 is a deaf ministries congregation.  That narrowed our choices.  (Note: most of the churches around Lynden and Bellingham are 'reformed,' and as such there are 5-6 varieties of the same church...i.e. "First Christian Reformed Church," "Christian Reformed Church" and the "Reformed Church of Christ" - too confusing for me)  We attended Trinity Lutheran in Bellingham, and, through a connection at LFPT (Lynden Family PT), already have felt welcomed by the ministry staff.  It's a smaller church with an "A" frame design.  Why that is important is because nearly half of the churches Laura and I have seen in and around Lynden have an "A" frame design.  I have no idea if it is an architectural fad or something else, but it definitely is a popular design.

Stay tuned in the coming days for an update from Laura, as well as more pics and stories.  Also, if you have a question or comment feel free to drop us a line at the bottom of the blog.  We'd love to hear from you!