lists

Things I will miss about London 

1. Obviously, my friends.
1.5 The Old school Yard 

2. Mueller Corners

3. Sainsbury's Hummus

4. How Long the days are here

5. Thai Food...such amazing Thai

6. Being able to go to France for a weekend...or Dublin...or anywhere else in Europe

7. My job.  

8. Tower Bridge...I see it every single day.

9. The most amazing public transportation system in the world

10. Trains

11. Walking on the South Bank at night

12. Spitalfields Market

13. Country Crisp cereal

14. Seeing a man in a full suit, tie, etc lay down in the middle of park on his lunch break

15. Accents....

16. The fact that I can tell someone I am Canadian and GET AWAY WITH IT

17. Amazing Sunsets...4 or 5 days out of every week

18. Chipotle!!! I honestly think it is better than it's American counterpart

19. Friends...and how it is on for at least 2 hours every nights

20. Brits

21. Tea.  Who would have thought?

Things I will NOT miss

1. ASH AND VOLCANOES!

2. Being bombarded by cigarette smoke every time I walk down the street

3. The exchange rate

4. 2p coins

5. coins in general

6. having to call the bathroom the loo. haha. sorry guys. 

7. The windy days...where you have to wear sunglasses to prevent bits of London from getting in your eye

8. Pigeons.  Oh, how I hate pigeons.

9. The fact that no one really makes eye contact as you watch down the street

10. Tourists

11. BBC nightly news.  Without a doubt the most boring thing I have ever seen.

12. The 7 hour time change, though it has been pretty good to me

13. My damn shower.  The worst shower in existence.

14. Having to call a vacuum a 'hoover'

15. My dinosaur of an English mobile phone

16. How far away whole foods is from where I live

17. Britmex

British-American Dictionary

English colloquialisms/phrases/words on the left...the American equivalent on the right

Aubergine: Eggplant

Bint: a whore

Bits and bobs: bits and pieces, random stuff, everything 

Biscuit: a thick, dry, crumbly cookie. But also a cracker of sorts? Cookies don't exist really. See digestive.

Bloke: a dude, chap, guy, etc

Can't be bothered: I don't care enough to do this

Cheeky: Smart ass [me]

Cheeky Monkey: term of endearment for a sarcastic/smart ass [I've been called this by 3 diff colleagues]

Chips: Thick french fries

Cinema: Movie Theater

Courgette: Zucchini!

Crisps: Potato Chips

Digestive: like a thinner cookie meant for dipping in tea?

Dodgy: janky, unsafe, sketchy

Fancy: like, as in "I fancy your face"

Film: a movie

Get it sorted: get your shit together

Git: idiot, fool

Hanging: really hungover

Have a wee: go pee
Hoover: Vacuum cleaner

Jumper: sweater

Kit: all of your sport clothes/stuff

Knickers: underwear

Knackered: tired

Mate: amigo, friend, brah

Mosher: Emo kid

Muppet: idiot, jackass

Nutter: crazy fool

Pants: under-roos!

Pikey: a skanky gypsy-like person...may or may not rob you
Pipe down: shut up your face.

Plaster: band-aid

Pratting around: messing around, tooling around

Power cut: Power Outage

Pupil: student

Queue: a line for something

Quid: slang term for a pound, much like 'buck' is to 'dollar'

Revising: studying/preparing for an exam

Rubbish: Trash, "I am rubbish" = "I suck" 

Slag: Slut

Sod it: F it, Screw it

Taking the piss: make fun of someone

Taking the mick: see above

Tidy up: cleaning up

Tracksuit: sweats

Trainers: running shoes/tennis shoes/sneakers

Trouser: pants! But be careful, British pants are American undergarments.  Confusing, yes.  

Vest: a tank top...see waistcoat for further confusion

Waistcoat: an American vest...something worn by hipsters, or as a part of a suit

You alright?: Normal greeting that replaces the American "how are you?" when you see someone

Time is contagious, Everybody's getting old

Yo Chaz,

I haven't written a legit post to you in a while, and I apologize for that.  So here is an update on the various facets of my life...

• The training for the teachers was postponed from 3 weeks ago to next week.  Ash. 
• I have been working hard with the SSP to hammer out the SPECIFIC details for the programme... Mission Statement, etc.  It takes more energy than running a damn marathon.
• For some reason, I volunteered to participate in a 24-hour Spin-a-thon.  24 hours on a spinning bike...to raise money to send kids to the Singapore youth Olympics.  My experience can be summarized as follows: 8 hours on the saddle, 3 energy drinks, 6 movies, 1 episode of grey's, and 6 episodes of Friends watched, 8 nalgene's of water, 18 pieces of gum, 2 aleve, 4 dirty t-shirts, 90 minutes spent icing my leg, 5 hours sleep, and 103 GBP's raised by yours truly. 
• oh yeah, 3 days of recovery.
• The weather in London has been total shit
• I am officially moving to Boston in August
• I went to Aix en Provence, France.  For a weekend.
• It was epic!!
• Going to Dublin this weekend, the 15th
• Probably going to Scotland the weekend after
• Sarah comes the next weekend after that!
• Chipotle opened in London- we went on opening day and it. was. AWESOME. 
• So far I have been accepted into CSU, SLU, BU, and Tufts.  Interview with Ohio State.  I'm going to Tufts for sure, but it's nice to be wanted. haha. 
• Happy graduation to Mike, Libby, Sarah, Abby, KayDe, Lara, Tim, KP, andddd anyone else? I wish I could be there! Even though all of yours are basically at the same time.
• I have one month and 2 days left in London
• I miss your furry face.  Too much to be socially acceptable. 

Loveth,

Becca

I just spent 12 hours spinning.

Good to know Chaz is just as active.

You'll be at 11 pounds in no time, buddy!

my summer

approximate/tentative summer schedule. ish. 

June 15: Return Stateside

June 17-21: St Louis, MO.

June 21-26: 'rado Summer Life.

June 27-30: Boston, MA. Apartment Quest.

July 1-7: 'rado. Frisbee.

July 4: Setting things on fire, grilling corn on the cob, and other American past times.

July 8-12: Lake Powell, UT. 6 people, 3 dogs, 1 houseboat.

July 13-30: 'rado- sifting through my large quantities of stuff to decide what should be taken to Boston

July 26: Contemplating: The Vegas?

July 30-31: Unspecified location in c'rado.

Aug 3/4-9: road trip entire life to Boston. 

Aug 10-15: Soaking in final moments of the Colorado summer. 

Aug 14-15: Mile High Music Festival. BOOM

Aug 16: CO-MA: only this time, I wont come back.

Aug 20: Orientation

Aug 23: First day of class at Tufts!

stop. stare. enjoy.

I live this life!!

 Dear Chaz with the squinty eye, 

Pack up your catnip, WE ARE GOING TO BOSTON!!

When I woke up this morning, I had to figure out if yesterday was a dream... Since I really did get into Tufts and I really do live in London, the only logical conclusion is that I am LIVING MY DREAM. Officially.  As if the fact that I have an amazing parents/family/cat/friends, [who have always supported me no matter what path I chose] wasn't enough, I got into my number one choice for grad school.  Wow!  Tufts is the only program that I applied to that targeted both my interests in biomedical sciences AND public health.  Being in London has made me realize that I have to pursue both... I need the knowledge and learning of science and the 'making a difference' bit of public health.  I can't really just go one way or the other.

Program details:

Overall: based in the heart of downtown Boston,  just down the street from the Boston Commons in Chinatown. 70-ish spots. The top 10% of the program automatically get an interview w/ Tufts medical school.  Not sure if that really applies to be, but it is still cool. On the whole, the program is designed to prepare students for future careers in medicine, dentistry, vet med, public health, or biomedical research.  It is a realllllly good foundation to have. It is really similar to what Meg did before Vet school.  I am pretty sure I am going to get my ass kicked. haha.  But I have been doing some research and a lot of students who have taken it said that the teachers really want you to succeed and are really supportive and always want to help.

Year One: Biomedical Sciences! follows the first year medical student curriculum exactly- down the test schedule.  The differences: the masters program has smaller classes, more academic support in terms of tutors, and baller advising/academic counseling resources.

MBS curriculum includes: Biochemistry, Anatomy/Dissection, Physiology, Immunology, Cell, Organ, and Tissue biology, Pathology, and intro to Clinical Medicine [you actually get patient contact!!! that does not exist any where else].  There is also an MCAT workshop...  and electives for public health. It is taught by the SAME faculty that teach the med students in the same facilities.  The med students get their lectures in the morning, we get ours in the afternoon. Hello, legitimacy.


Year Two: Masters of Public Health!  Concentration: Health Services Management & Policy

How kick ass? soooo kick ass.

-This program is the only one I have seen that you can get a Masters in Public Health in 1 year.... Usually is 1.5-2 yr, but they have integrated the two programs enough that you can apply to the MPH after your first semester of MBS.  aka 2 years = 2 degrees.  Think of all the letters I will have following my name...

MPH Curriculum: Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Health Care Politics, Policies, and Progs, PH Theory, PH Economics, PH Program Evaluation, Health behavior and communication, Law in Public Health, and Health Care Organization.  I think I started salivating just TYPING that.  So cool so cool SO COOL.

Not sure what I will do when I am done, but I have 2 years to decide and this program will definitely help me figure it out.  The cool thing is that the MPH is a stand alone degree- so I can start a career in public health when I am done if I want to.  I will also be full prepared to pursue med school, a phd, or a career after this.  I have to decide and reply to them by May 12th.  I am 90% sure I am going to accept, but I just want to ponder a little bit.  Classes start the last week of August.  

Who wants to road trip with Chaz and I to Boston at the end of August?

Love, etc

Becca

  

This volcano is cramping my style

Chaz-o-lantern!!

To summarize my complete and utter success of a birthday: 

Expensive and memorable trip to whole foods, discovery of English apple sauce and cup cake pans, dried cherries, sorbet, trip home carrying 2 super heavy bags to Waterloo, bag nearly relax, make and eat carrot cake cup cakes [cccc's] like you have never seen, must convert recipe to silly English measurements, M-Zuck saved the day with baking supplies, eat cupcakes for bfast, bring CCCC to work, coworkers asked for recipe, great, good margs, great friends, epic lemon cake, baller brownies, gifts- yes!, Wahaca =  proof good Mex in London, v-necks a plenty, brainstorming, happy hour!, patron silver, bday cards that are now on my fridge [thank you!], new pics, almost naming the Project, and home by 10:30pm.  10:40pm- Checked email and I have an interview with SLU! BOOM.

Basically, all of the days last week leading up to my birthday were some of the best I have had in London.  Nice weather and flip flops helped.  Everything was just so good.  I am very fortunate to have some kick ass friends here in London who definitely made my mini celebration one of the best ones in recent memory!! Really, thanks guys!!  I am also really fortunate to have so many people who still cared about my bday even though I am 4000 miles away. Double Bonus!

Then a volcano in Iceland started going off, airports shut down in Europe, any incoming packages are stranded in the states, if the big volcano goes off I am screwed, and I wish it had a name that I could pronounce.  I'm watching the situation like a hawk...

So much work to do this week.  I worked for 7 straight hours after I got home this afternoon.  I am putting my heart and soul into this project...and I am pretty sure this is the first time I have worked so hard for something completely unrelated to school.  When I have more than 20 minutes, I will actually write a more detailed letter to you, chazm. 

All you need to know is that I am 23, I [+MZuck] make a mean cccc, I actually have a future [grad school], I am a busy badger, a volcano erupted, shit got crazy in Europe but not in Iceland, tons of people lives became very stressful, but my life still kicks ass.

I miss you like Europe misses its airspace,

The 23 year old version of Becca

Fact: Colorado > Your State

fanCHAZstic!

Spring has sprung in the UK. Today, I wore flip flops.  As a double bonus, my feet weren't cold. It felt so right.  like home. like summer. While my feet were happy, the rest of my body wasn't.  I'm sick.  I get sick so often, in fact, I feel like a Native American infant about the time the English [or other Europeans]  spread all their diseases when they discovered North America.  The poor Indians never stood a chance against those white people and their nasty diseases. In a vaguely similar situation, my immune system has forgotten its own existence.  Perhaps it is at heathrow customs...   All I know is that if I get small pox,  I will be extraordinary furious ...until I remember that I was vaccinated for that 20 years ago.

Speaking of unsavory conditions, I cut the crap out of my hand when I was cutting a bagel in half.  Not only was my bagel not cut evenly, but I bled on it. It's a pretty gnarly cut too.  I think my motor function is declining because every three days I kick the side of my couch and annihilate my pinky toe.  I don't know whats worse, toe stub without warning or feeling like an idiot for making the same painful mistake an absurd number of times. Either way, it's a low point.

Continuing on with unsavory conditions, Gordon Brown announced Britain's election would be on May 6.  Why is this unsavory? I have no idea. I don't know what the f is going to happen but I do know that there are like 4 different big political parties and that I cannot be bothered to try and remember their policies in a form government that might as well be anarchy to me.  It is common knowledge that BBC news is painfully boring.  The only thing more boring than BBC news is BBC political news  I would rather read every NHS evidence based document than watch that. I seriously doubt that conditions will become unsavory, but I do know that all politics = unsavory, therefore election season  = playing dirty for power. Maybe I'll see a riot. 

Speaking of things that are not here, I am going to go with chazman crothers as the most obvious.  It's almost torture when I talk to my parents on skype cause I see chaz roaming around and being cute.  But then it's cool because Molly and Maggie (my sister's dog) are really confused by the sound of my voice.  Molly goes bipolar and gets real aggressive and Maggie just looks to see if I was crouching behind the computer.  I started thinking last night about grad school.  The odds of me staying in rado are slim.  Which sucks, because CO has the best tasting water and coincidentally, is also the best state.  Just sayin'.  All of my top choices are in the east...which, from my experience is really f'ing cold.  One that goes straight to the bones.  Truth, I am from CO [cold and snowy winter] but there are some notable differences: humidity and intensity.  Snow in the CO has never been dubbed a 'snowicane' or 'snowpacalypse'.  I mean, we have had 4 snow days in a row, but snowpacalypse?  Naming a storm after an event that is synonymous total devastation and the end of the world? I'll take my unpredictable rado weather. Thanks for playing. 

On to things that actually matter: yesterday, another different member of the SSP set up a meeting with me for today.  He told me that he was "only bringing a pad of paper and a pen, and wanted to hear about every idea I have and all the research I have" been doing.  It was a welcomed change of pace and went really well! My hope is now that my input will be more heavily considered. Not that that is really even an issue, but I wanted to make sure to use this mini opp to reiterate the fact that I know my shit.  Mission accomplished. 

In a throwback that defined my previous life, I have homework for this weekend.  I need to think about what a 'health literate' child is like; characteristics, behaviours, outlooks, etc. So this weekend I am going to reluctantly dive back into the murky, vague, non-existent world of child health literacy.  On the plus side, we  came up with a really catchy phrase that summarizes the programme (and health literacy) perfectly. Educate, Engage, and Empower. Phase 1 is about a new curriculum and thus, health education.  Phase 2 is about re-engaging kids with poor eating/exercise habits.  Phase 3 is about empowering the kiddies and their parents so they can make healthy choices for the rest of their happy healthy lives...  aka our  'working definition' of health literacy. BOOM. Even better? You get a long-term sustainable programme. BOOM.  

In other news, my day of birth falls on this coming Thursday, which means that in an unrelated event, all you fools better have your taxes sorted!  This weekend, I am going go on a quest for cup cake pans this... because nothing makes you feel more like a 23 year old college graduate than taking cup cakes to work.  With sprinkles.

Keep this between you and me...but you have start calling me collect, chazman.  My phone bill was a little ridiculous last month.  Pretty sure if my bill returned to the realm of normal, my dad would be more willing to forgive your recent ahem, indiscretions.  Yes, I am talking about the furniture.  It's that or you can pull a Tiger Woods and go to rehab.

Stay Classy, 

the one who named you chaz
[after 12 nameless days]

wisdom for your life

Dear Chazmasterflex,

WOWEEWOWWOW. It's been awhile, eh? Oops. Not too much has changed on this side of the pond.  I am still doing tons of research. How much research? The articles/guidance/reviews  now take up 2 x 1" Notebooks [in addition to my other notebook with the program outlines in it].  I have trying to find articles that  support our rationale for the programme's design.  Really though, I have just done a lot of reading in the past two weeks. Probably more than I did my last semester at CSU...which isn't really saying much.  How about I have done this much reading since I took the MCAT? There's just...so...much...


THURSDAY, I finally saw Alice in Wonderland...in 3D. I was in the mood to act like a jackass that day.  When the previews started [and I refused to put my 3D glasses on] I said loudly "I can't see a  damn thing, why is it so blurry?!" I am NOT a big fan of movies in 3D. It's like they are trying to turn every theater into a baby Universal Studios.  Guess what? This is not the era of 'Honey I Shrunk The Kids.'  You give me 3D glasses and I am gonna keep 'em, damnit.  So I did.  We left and headed to Mandy's bf's [Alex!] gig.  His band is called 'Telegrams' and they were at a place in Islington...no clue what the name of the bar was, but I DO know it was directly next door to a pub called 'The Famous Cock'.  I am proud to say that I took a photo.  Telegrams [Alex, even thought this is right its weird for me to not have a 'the' in it. haha] are a great band- there's def some excellent music there. I mean, knowing someone in the band helps, but you can't deny the sound...it's very unique but it doesn't take a long time to adjust to it.  I think that's why I like it.


FRIDAY afternoon I made the trek down to Chichester to stay with VW's family for Easter. The train ride down = beautiful.  The sun was shining and I was rocking my ray-bans ON the train.  I am so glad I went because they basically adopted me and it was so much more enjoyable than solo London would have been.  Chichester is a smallish town/city in Southern England about 2 hours away from London by train.  Recently, it was the location of grand theft auto...committed by a 4 year old [FOUR. YEARS. OLD.] Apparently he  hijacked [by hijacked I mean stood on the drivers seat] his parents car and drove it like 8 miles down the interstate AND through a round about or two. Mind = Blown.  That 4 year old is ballin out of control [literally].  Once I arrived, I was greeted by her FOUR [yes, FOUR] brothers. Since I only have one brother and he tends to be the total opposite of me [quiet and reserved], I found them extremely entertaining.  To say the least. haha. In addition, they had a black lab and 2 cats. I was SO SO thrilled to see live animals that I could pet somewhere other than doing their business in the park by my house. I literally spent half my time petting their cat.  Truthfully, because I miss you, Chaz... oh so much!  In fact, I spent so much time with Flora that I wouldn't be surprised if her family thought I was a nutter.


SATURDAY, we went to Arundel castle.  Fun for the whole family, except one bro, who claimed that it was my fault he wasn't going [no room in the car with me], but in reality, he just didn't want to go. Silly, lazy boy. Haha. The castle was cool...I love the fact that in England you can just drive a couple of minutes and BAM!! there is a sick castle. After the castle, we went back into Chichester and got 'pasties'.  Which, for all intents and purposes, is a hand held chicken pot pie...[and other fillings]. It was quite tasty. When we roaming we stumbled upon a sweet shop.  I got some candy that where each piece was shaped like a flying saucer.  Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure that's what they were called. The outside tasted like foamy nothing-ness and there was a pixi-stix-like powder on the inside [they call it sherbert..isn't that a form of ice cream?]. Initially, I was so confused by the foamy bit that I had to ask VW if the outside was edible. She tells me it was...


SUNDAY = Easter tom foolery! To summarize: roast beast, Yorkshire pudding, copious amounts of chocolate, Easter bunny, food coma, peas, carrots, crosswords, chocolate, meat, gravy, parsnips, wine, petting the cat, family fun, holiday comparison between Brits and 'mericans, friendly banter, and homemade Easter baskets. 

 Here's what I learned as an American experiencing Easter in an English household:

• Easter is a big deal here...Obviously, they don't celebrate Thanksgiving so it is another one of those family gatherings with lots of food with some form of gravy.
• The fam made their Easter baskets  from thick, colored, card paper... Folded into a box- like the ones you see at Christmas...a gift box.
• Apparently, I am completely inept when it comes to making a 'basket' from scratch. I definitely tried, but after 40 minutes I just had a piece of card paper with like 27 random creases in it. To sum up, Vicki's mom had to make mine for me.
• The Easter Bunny comes around at night and puts goodies in your basket that is placed outside your bed room door.  Very similar to the whole Christmas stocking situation.  I am beginning to think that this is what Santa does in the off season.
• Each kid gets a GIGANTIC chocolate egg...like bigger than my palm. In my case, I got one from her parents, grandma, and boyfriend. THREE MASSIVE CHOCOLATE EGGS! In addition to the goodies in my Easter basket...I didn't think I was going to be able to get it all back on the train so I ate a bunch. Problem solved.
• The parsnip is a root vegetable that looks like a white carrot and tastes like a sweeter version of a weird vegetable. The moral of the story is that now I can say I have had a parsnip.  Don't need to do that again.  It wasn't too bad, but the word on the street is that  parsnips are related to radishes...and I hate radishes.  Probably about as much as I hate coffee sick. sick. sick. I think that may be my most hated food. That and beets.  Where's the fire?
• Yorkshire Pudding ≠ actual pudding [if you didn't know, that is a 'not equal to' sign]. It isn't even liquid. It is made out of [English] pancake batter and baked in a miniature, hollow, cup cake shape...and its savory. You pour gravy on it?
• What would Easter be without an  Easter tree?  It is a Christmas trees only 1/6 the size. Twas a skinny little tree [think Charlie Browns tree] with decorative eggs hanging from it.  
• I am beginning to recognize many similarities between Easter and Christmas.  I suppose Jesus' birthday and subsequent resurrection have one major thing in common: I'm gonna go with...Jesus?
• Cadbury mini eggs in the states are not the same ones as the ones in England. Apparently, in the US, the eggs are commissioned by Cadbury but made by Hershey...I definitely noticed the difference in taste. I think I may like the American ones better....shhh

TODAY we had Wii Fit's set up in the lobby...I was there with my colleague to promote healthy snack.  Here's a fun fact: If you drink 2 sodas and 1 bar of chocolate a day, every day for a month, you will gain 4.5 pounds [2 kilos]. Thursday and Friday I will be working at the next set of NHS Health Checks.  Similar to last time, I will be offering guidance to individuals who want guidance/advice/tips, etc..  

Graduate School Update... 

I should hear from CSU, Tufts, and SLU by the first week of June and Penn State any time now. Not sure when the other schools will be making their decisions, but the Creighton deadline is on my birthday, so I should get that decision about the same time. My apps to Ohio State, Creighton, BU, and Mizzou are all in, I just have no idea when I will hear from them.I have decided to rank the schools...because my mom asked me to. Dear JC, please let me get in to at least ONE school. 

[1] Penn State

[2] Tufts Univ

[3] Boston Univ/Mizzou

[4] St Louis Univ/Creighton

[5] CSU

[6] Ohio State

IN other news, SJ's mom sent me a card with a bunch of pictures in it!!  I now have 10 pictures of Molly and Ginny from January. As it turns out, I'm actually getting about one legitimate piece of mail/week, which is more than I have gotten for the past 22 years living in the US. As if this week wasn't great enough, I got a package from my mom this morning!!  Brownies, cookies, orbit gum (my specific flavor), and bday cards/presents. Best way to start the day: brownies for breakfast.  

FYI: I love London, I love my job, and I love my life.  As of my birthday, I will be halfway through my internship.  When did that happen?  

COUNTDOWNS: 8 days until I am 23. 12 days 'til the sunset is officially after 8pm. 23 days until I go to France. 53 days until Sarah visits. 68 days left in London.  50-53-ish days until your bday, Chazm!  My B. I keep changing my mind about what day should be your official day or birth...sometime between May 25-31. I think. 129 days 'til Mile High Music Festival 2k10.

As always, I miss you like an addict misses whatever they were addicted to. Take care of yourself, palbert.  

Love, etc

Bec 

PS: Do not pee on any more of my parents furniture. For serious.  I can't be held responsible for what happens to you when I am on a different continent.

the main problem with communication is the assumption that it occurred.

Dear Sir Chaz,

BUSY. I have been working on the background research for the write up on the HWB Programme, research on which measurements to take, and research on every other little thing we would ever need to know. I went to the Southwark PCT Health Library and it was like Christmas morning (back when I still believed in Santa Claus). You know when you have to sift through tons of useless info until you find something actually worth reading? Well, imagine taking that out of the equation. It was a HEALTH library. That no one was in. The [awesome] librarians had no one else to help but me. It was like an academics dream come true. Infinite knowledge at your fingertips. So good, SO good!

TODAY, I started reading everything... my head hurts thinking about it. There isn't much out there on health literacy in general [when I say 'isn't much' I really mean absolutely nothing], particularly child health literacy. This makes my life harder. But also, more entertaining. Never in college did I have the chance to just GO. To just think of an idea and then actually test it to see if it works. I have a funny feeling that that's what professionals do...ie, people with more letters after their name than 'B.S.' [which are my extra letters that I have that do not look legit anyway]. I have recently come to terms with the fact that science is trial and error, and the likelihood of you doing it right the first time is about as likely as Obama passing his health care legislation. Oh wait, he just did...so maybe I can do the seemingly unimaginable too. I really hope so because I have a lot to do in the next 3 months.

I HAVE arranged to give a massive presentation on this project before I leave. It's on Wednesday, June 2nd at 11 am. I will be presenting to 24 of my superiors: the entire public health team [including the DIRECTOR of public health], members from the Southwark council, and members of the school sports partnership. It is just going to be an hour long reflection of what I was involved in/what we have done the last few months. I know its far off, but I am still excited. Holy epic life, batman.

LONDON has been good to me. I feel like I am finally coming into my own. I feel like I have it together. I wake up every morning with a feeling of excitement and go to sleep every night feeling content. My swagger is nearly perfected, and is becoming much more than that of college kid [thank you TI]. I'm not trying to boast, I'm just trying to relay how genuinely happy I am. How awesome this experience is. How great it feels to walk by tower bridge every day. How I no longer cower and make jokes about being an wide-eyed, bushy-tailed, intern. This may come as a surprise, but I am actually contributing. I don't just observe, I interact. I don't just listen, but I suggest. I no longer assume that I am in over my head. I think. I figure it out. I ask questions. I even answer questions [from time to time]. I can't describe the feeling you get when you make an impact. The only thing that I can compare it to coaching volleyball. When you see one of your players succeed, it is like an out of body experience... 'Proud' doesn't even begin to cover it. It's just pure, unadulterated joy. It gives me an adrenaline boost and provides the motivation to continue. I have finally found this feeling outside the realm of volleyball. My goal in life is to help everyone reach their potential, and I have had no idea how to transform that into a career until now. It feels good. Damn good.

THE materials I take back and forth to work have grown faster than our national debt.  What used to be one folder has turned into folder + one notebook, then folder + notebook + laptop, and now it is folder + notebook + laptop + another notebook.

HONESTLY, I can't say enough about my colleagues at the PCT. They have been so welcoming and helpful since day numero uno. I even went to lunch with a coworker the other day for the first time! Definitely SO much better than making a sandwich at my flat. Even though I am a basically a baby (22 going on 23) I have never been treated like that. I am very fortunate to have an AMAZING supervisor who seems to always have an answer.

IN other news, my umbrella is even more broken that it used to be. How can it get worse than a crippled prehistoric beast? Well, imagine an origami swan. Made of tissue paper. Step on it, blow your nose in it, give it to a homeless man by putting it in his change cup, steal it back from said homeless man at 3 am, get caught up in a hurricane on your walk home, and then try and use it the next morning on the drizzling streets of London. My hair is more efficient for keeping water off my head than an annihilated dino-swan posing as an umbrella.

I HAVE officially been here a month and 7 days! Panic in the streets! I never thought I would be able to make it this long without you, my sweet, sweet Chaz. I am sending you a postcard, so you have 2 weeks to learn how to read. 'No Child Left Behind' should help you out with that.

AWESOME things: Word on the street is that the Wellbeing Programme has already been nominated for some award. It could very well be equivalent to a 5th place ribbon for field day in elementary school, but none the less it is still an award. If we get a high-five from it I will be STOKED. Also, when I went to the library, the librarians knew I was. After I said my name, they were like, 'Ohhh so you the new intern at Southwark'. I tried to dig up some details, but to no avail. All I know is that people at Lambeth PCT (the borough next to Southwark) had heard about me from people at the Southwark PCT. I just hope it's not pertaining to the gum incident on my first day.

FAST FACTS: I wear skinny jeans to work. I have a pad of NHS sticky notes that say, "breastfeeding. What could be more natural?" I highlighted this phrase an put it on my supervisor's computer screen...because, really, what could be more natural? Also I am going to southern France at the end of April and Dublin in May. I may or may not be able to get back into the UK.

YESTER, when I was talking to a friend, I read this headline out loud "Google pulls out of China"  Without a second thought, I added "and now, China only has a 20% chance of getting pregnant!" I need to learn how to control my wit.

I shall end with an inspiration quote from Mum Theresa herself:

"You can do what I cannot do. I can do what you cannot do. Together, we can do great things."

 
Love Your Life,
brector

US yogurt v. UK yoghurt

The Chaz, 

PONDER THIS:

...life after college.  Also known as the future. I believe it may also be referred to as the ‘real world' in some cultures. It all means the same thing...getting old. I was thinking, how does that happen? How do you get from me to my parents? It may not be a conscious transition, but I have an ingenious way to measure ‘adult-ness.’ Ready?  The snooze button! How many times do you hit snooze before you actually get out of bed? Are you a college kid who hits it 20 times and doesn't bother to go to class?  Or are you one of those mature types...who has 'it' together and hops out of bed the first time the alarm goes off and immediately goes on a 12 mile run?  It comes down to how you perceive your life.  Do you  take your responsibilities seriously? Do you actually care about missing your geology class? [probably not because geology lectures could be used instead of anesthesia  to knock patients out before surgery...It is the study of rocks and yes, it is that mundane].


IN the world of post-grad, when your alarm goes off you have to get your ass out of bed.  Which is what I did today! Tomorrow, I have to get up even earlier. Who would have thought that the snooze button usage is proportional to maturity level?

I HAD a fantastic day today. I have dropped my primary care project all together so I have more time for the FWB Program. As an exchange for that project, I am also going to be working at the NHS Health Checks that the PCT has going on in the community. Basically, we have a van/tables/etc set up (in conjunction with the Blood Pressure Association) and measure blood pressure, cholesterol, HDL ratio, BMI, Lifestyle factors and calculate their risk for chronic diseases- CVD, Diabetes, etc. I did the exact the same thing when I volunteered at the Heart Disease Prevention Program at CSU. It's kind of like the 9 news health fair, but it’s smaller in set up at various community centres in Southwark. I just went to the first one today. It was great! We were hoping for a better turnout, but since it is a pilot program, I suppose some is better than none. I am really glad that I got to lend an extra hand. Everyone who set it up worked really hard to get it organized and promote the event.  

THE community centre (and yes, I know I’m spelling it wrong in America but I have English spell check) that we were in today was in Rotherhithe, a part of London very rich in history. It was part of the docklands so it was full of everything that you could possibly associate with old maritime merriment. Pubs, brothels, murders, you know, the usual. I guess a lot of people back then (particularly women) got tattoos. That way, if you get pulled out of the river you can be identified. The building used to be a place where they would perform old school autopsies on bodies they pulled out of the Thames. We got a tour from the director and she told us all the good stuff. I guess there have been a couple of ghost sightings and people have heard music playing in the part of the building where a band used to play? It was so COOL!!

That’s all for now, my lovely chazman. I vow to write to you more often!!

Love,
Bec

note to self: socks

Gentleman Chaz,

I NEVER would have thought…that my parents were right. I mean, don't me wrong, my parents are wise like Dumbledore. All through my life they gave me advice, insight, guidance…on every little thing that happened, regardless of whether I wanted it or not. Over the years, these random bits of parental wisdom have turned into cliches that you hear everywhere.  All the time.  What the hell am I talking about? Simply put: Dress for Success. We have heard countless times in different ways, but the message is the same: don't dress like an idiot when you are going to important things. Duh. It's obvious. 

AS the same with all parental advice, you put it in the back of your mind with 'yeah, yeah' and pretend like you took it to heart but secretly roll your eyes when they aren't looking. That's the great thing about kids. We pretend to listen to your [parental] insight, but never really understand [or try to understand] the logic behind it/actually pay attention to what you are trying to say. Parents try their damnedest to save their kids from making the same mistakes they did [or mistakes in general], but kids never listen. Cue cliche II: The greatest teacher is experience itself. 

Well today my friends, I learned the lesson of 'Dress for Success'

MY parents are probably reading this going "wtf mate, I never talked to you about what to wear" but they DID teach me about propriety, respect, and politeness [which is why I still address every parent as 'Mr or Mrs' and am totally incapable of using their first names even if I have been told repeatedly to do so].  


TODAY I had a big meeting with a lovely bloke from the School Sports Partnership for Southwark in London. AKA- the guy who planned the massive school wide obesity/activity intervention for all of the schools in Southwark that I keep referring to. I have been looking forward to this meeting for 2 weeks and read every bit of material I could so I would be prepared. Mentally, I was ready. Physically, not so much.  The decision came on what to wear. The visual first impression. Not gonna lie, today I looked good. I presented myself as someone who is on top of everything.  That minute confidence boost translated to my mannerisms and how I spoke. As you may have seen on facebook, I have recently acquired some SICK shoes. In addition to my highlighter kicks, I now have a pair of old school-retro-classic saddle shoes…light brown/cream. I know they don't sound like it, but they are BALLER. Those + the trench coat my mom gave me for Christmas sealed the deal. I seriously looked legit…err, professional. The complete opposite of a 22-yo American intern who has little to no experience in the field of public health. Looking the part is half the battle.

SO, first some info about the SSP and the Southwark PCT (aka where I work) [FYI: In no way am I an expert on the UK school system, etc. All I know is what has been explained to me as information I need to know. Literally, it's what I understand about the current situation in central London. (not anywhere else/how things were in the past). There, you have been warned.]

• The SSP idea started about 7 years ago. It is a government designed and funded organization that is designed to ensure that students in England are getting 'high quality' physical education and activity

• There TWO SSP's in Southwark- this is rare- 1 is the usual.

• I am working w/ the Northern SSP which is located at Bacon's College, east of Tower Bridge at Canada Water.

• I think Bacon's College is the silliest name ever for a school. ever.

• Bacon? I'm gonna start a new school and name it after the other breakfast meat: Sausage. We will be cross town rival's. Heard of Oxford vs. Cambridge? Yeah, that will be nothing compared to Bacon's vs. Sausage.
• It’s a primary school…NOT a college, university, or even a secondary school. The kids here are age 5-11. aka NOT in college.

• In London, they don't have school sports like we do in the states.You know how I played volleyball for Arapahoe HS?And we competed against the teams from all of the other area HS's? Yeah, they don't have that here.They don't have teams representing each school.Apparently, they were phased out and then none of the kids were getting enough exercise, so they founded the SSP to change that.SO WEIRD how you can't join your schools basketball, track, or football team.The only reason I was in shape in high school is because I was on a team.I can't imagine what would happen to the fitness of our youth if those teams didn't exist.Yikes.The SSP is starting to coordinate club sports/community teams to replace the non school sport teams deal

• Southwark has the highest rate of childhood obesity in ENGLAND! There is currently no overarching intervention or program for Southwark- ie there isn't a massive plan that would reach/involve every single student at every school in the entire borough.

• The PCT has random programs here an there, but we are officially out of funding…so whatever is currently going on is about to end.

• So, my good friend at the SSP has designed an all encompassing-overarching intervention/program. It has 3 phases and it funded. The pilot programme hasn't started yet- Phase one is set to begin in 11 schools (of 49 we are responsible for- the other SSP has 45 schools) after Easter. AKA: April 5th-ish? The Program is called the Health and Wellbeing Prog - which I will abbrev to HWB or HWBP or HWB Prog.

• If you take away anything from this whole thing, it should be what this program wants to do in general. The main goal is to: Improve Health Literacy across the borough. Throwing information at people does not help them mean they are actually informed. H-Lit is basically the knowledge/cognitive skills one needs to navigate the Health Care (HC) system, understand info, follow treatment, make decisions etc. It is influenced greatly by socio-economic status, education, reading level, etc. Improving someone's health literacy means so much more than giving them a flyer.

IN order for this to be considered legitimate/accepted by gov bodies and higher-ups etc, the program needs to be documented and written almost like a scientific research paper. Basically, it needs to reach certain standards of clarity, repeatability, validity, etc. AKA- we need to make everything methodological (is that a word?). The measurements we take need to be done in a standardized way with valid/reliable equipment, and recorded by someone who actually knows what they are doing. That isn't too difficult, it just requires someone who is familiar with all of that. Homeboy from the SSP is not really familiar with all of that. To be frank, it is the boring stuff. He is more of a hands on guy with the ideas and passion. This is where I come in- I know how to do all of that/have the resources to do it. Basically, I can turn his awesome idea into a bitchin' report that reaches all the standards of an evidence based/scientific research report. My logic/knowledge + his ideas/plan = perfect match. Literally. What I need is structure/guidance/someone in charge who knows what they want to do and needs help doing it. From the beginning, I told my boss that I need to be working with someone and not coming up with someone all by myself. This is 1. way more fun and 2. not nearly as confusing/daunting as a solo project.


THERE is another big issue we need to tackle for the HWBP to actually work…It is my responsible to determine how to turn qualitative information into quantitative data. IE: how do I turn a survey in results to show progress/success. Or how do I turn an interview (me interviewing the 11 year old pupils) into a measurement of health literacy? There isn't really a concrete way to measure H-Lit. And when I say there isn't a concrete way I mean there is absolutely nothing out there. It's AWESOME because it's something no one has done before but it also sucks because there is no template. This is what I am going to do. I need to figure out how we can measure H-Lit in a standardized/repeatable/VALID way. My boss gave me an idea- through motivational interviewing (MI) I can try and figure out what stage of behavioural change the pupil is in- before and after the program. The cycle of change has multiple phases- pre-contemplation, contemplation, and a few more…I came across is last semest in Sports Psych. Basically, if a kid is in pre-cont before the prog and in the contemplation stage after wards, we have actually done something. And Maybe, just maybe, we can find away to tie that result into that individuals health literacy. Is there gray area? Yes. Is there more than one way to do it? Yes. Have I ever done anything like this before? Hell no. But, I have already set up a training sesh w/ someone on the PH team so I can learn how to do motivational interviewing. How freaking cool is this?

IN ADDITION, to that I am going to help the SSP fellas re-write the outline and methodology for the whole thing. Basically, I can get as involved with this as I want. In my eyes, this is a way to actually do something. I came here because I am passionate about health/healthy weight. I consider this opportunity as an 'outlet' for my passion. I say outlet for lack of a better term…literally, I am filled with so much zeal/excitement/enthusiasm when it comes to helping people live up to their potential. I get my kicks from helping someone be the best they can be- in any aspect of life. <-- This + My academic background in health leads me to some form of healing/health promotion/public health/medicine. We know this.

This kind of opportunity is what I have been waiting for. I don't know if I am properly conveying why this is so great. So here we go:

1. Flexibility: I can decide what I want to do/how much I want to do, etc. I have 3.5 months and a virtually open schedule.
2. The SSP needs some serious help. In addition to his job, he has another massive project AND this one. He is really the only one trying to coordinate this MASSIVE program.
3. As a part of the Primary Care Trust, I am officially a member of the field of Public Health. Connecting PH to anything is great, but uniting public health with the SSP means we have the information AND the resources to put it to use.I, Becca, have lots of time to put towards this project. I also have the nerdy/science/standardized knowledge to complement his plan of action. Together, we can actually do this.This can actually work. This could be a program that EVERY OTHER borough looks to as a guide/inspiration for their own program. We could be the program that starts it all...
4. This is real. This is funded. Planned. It really does something. Phase 1 is a CHANGE to the curriculum!! The teachers, schools, etc have agreed to add in 2 hours of week of nutrition/health education to each week for 6 weeks. Does anyone know how hard it is so change a curriculum? I know SJH does... To actually have a change approved/agreed upon/and implemented is SO HUGE!!!! There aren't enough capital letters and exclamation points in the world to convey how difficult/impressive this is.
5. I can be apart of something great. If we plan it properly, this program can be long-term, sustainable, and hell, it could really help reverse the trend of OW/OB. The program is designed in such a way that it can adopted into the day to day life in the community. Much like cotton, it can become the fabric of our lives (our=kiddies in London). You guys, there is real potential here.. Potential to make a significant impact on society. And I am here and a part of it. Not only a part, but in addition to man-friend from SSP, I will be designing/implementing/whatever- I will be a huge part of this program. I am living the opportunity that everyone can only dream of.
6. GAHHH!!!! SO SO SO SOOO COOL!!!

ALRIGHT, I think that hits it home. This is huge. My next step is to research. Everything. I need to find the gold standard for everything measurement, intervention, method, and apply it to our program. SSPman has developed the program and determined the main goals and I need to find the most efficient/repeatable way to reach those goals. I have a big action plan of my own…there is no shortage of things I can do to for the HWBProg. I will be working outside my office for 2-3 days a week- at Bacons College with the SSP or different schools talking to teachers, etc. Working in different arenas = WAY more engaging than sitting in front of a desk 5 days a week. Again, I am a lucky fool.

YOWZA. Anyone else's head spinning from reading this? Pretty sure writing this took more out of me than a 3 day volleyball tourney. My brain wants some gatorade- which, incidentally doesn't exist here. It's all powerade…fail point 5. Also, the English are obsessed with: Friends, Scrubs, Two and a half men (Charlie Sheen…enough said), and Judge Judy? These are the 4 most common shows that are on. Also, is there any song that is currently out that Lil' Wayne isn't in? He's like 2pac- only instead releasing new music from the grave, Lil' Wayne is releasing new stuff from jail/lockdown (that I guess he STILL isn't in yet). There is a 3' x 5' Colorado flag on my wall in my apartment...represent, my friends, represent. The other day I wore sandals to work. I froze my ass off and changed shoes at lunch. At least I tried to stick to my roots (flip flops in snow storms).

SIDE NOTE: Can someone actually comment on one of these? Pwease? I really want to know what happens when you do. I would also like to feel like less of a fool. I know you have to 'register' with the site or whatever to comment, but suck it up...I am WRITING a blog. haha. If I can go out on a limb, you guys can too! So please, write me a note to make me feel less like a tool for posting letters to my cat online.

THAT'S all, folks! I miss you Chaz!! You are my source of homesickness!!! (sorry mom, dad, meg, mike, sarah, and all of my lovely friends and fam- but chaz wins! haha)


With Large Quantities of Love,
K Rebecca Rec

every day is one day closer to summer

Dear Chazzy, 

I had another meeting with the higher ups on Monday to sort out what I am going to do.  Apparently my work will consist of:

  WORKING with the School Sports Partnership to help coordinate the first attempt of the really ambitious nutrition/activity program for all of the schools in Southwark. Unlike any programs from Southwark PCT, this one already has funding. This minor details makes this whole thing a lot more sustainable than previous interventions. Quite exciting, really. There is only one guy trying to do this all by himself, so it's likely that I would get to do a lot of stuff. It looks like I will based somewhere else for 2 days a week. The change of scenery will be welcome. All I have to do now is wait for him to contact me...  DOING an audit of GP/Primary Care responses/treatment of Obesity. Basically, I have to have a solid knowledge of a whole bunch of long ass documents and do a mini literature search. Then, the idea is that i will develop a set of questions that i can ask each of the GP's in an interview. Then, Ill figure out a list of practices to target, and start calling the docs. This kind of ties into the promotion of the map of medicine (primary care treatment pathways) to the clinical field. It's difficult to explain, but if we can manage to convince at least a few doctors to use this thing (aka mention someones extra weight BEFORE they present with diabetes, etc) we may be able to reverse the curve. This is a bit difficult, honestly.  LET'S HAVE A THINK: I am a 22-year old American girl fresh out of school, trying to change primary care in a health care setting that I didn't grow up in. It's difficult because there is a culture disconnect, but in addition, I am on my own. In the UK, it is much more self motivated and independent than it is in the US. I have to figure out the primary care audit on my own. I have to read and understand to the point where I can defend myself/policies to adults much older than me...who practice medicine. It seems a bit daunting, doesn't it? There's no teacher to tell me if I am doing the wrong thing or going the wrong direction. There's no one to tell me what to do or how to do it. Somewhere in all of that broad, vague, public health policy, are actual people. With actual lives. Not just statistics and predicted responses...but real, breathing, humans. I have studied human science for 4 years, yet I don't actually know what to do with humans. I understand basic principles of physiology, probably even not-so-basic principles...Yet, I feel like there is so much I don't understand. The more I learn, the less I know. Irony at its finest. 

IN other news, there has been TWO STRAIGHT DAYS OF SUNSHINE!! I may not know what I am doing, but at least the sun is out. I have even worn my sunglasses!! Absolutely brilliant. Also, it is officially March. Which means we are that much closer to summer...Summer in London = frisbee in Hyde Park and millions of tourists.  

 I'll be the first to admit, I do miss you. The other day I was opening a soy milk carton and I pulled out the little plastic thing and just put it in the trash. Usually, I give it to you cause you would also be on the counter and then you would run off with it in your mouth, bat at it for about 2 minutes, and then hide it somewhere...most likely somewhere in my room or bed.  Then about 3 weeks later, I will find it and just laugh. 


But now, they just go in the trash. How dull is that?

Love like you love stealing my strawberries from my cereal in the morning,

Beccapants