The last post - well, for a little while as a new blog needs writing...

Hi Everybody,

As an Occupational Therapist of knocking on almost 15 years - I've picked up some useful habits and maybe a few not so useful ones. Being reminded to reflect, analyse, question and consider the use of language carefully have all been things my professional experience has helped me to develop. However, sometimes searching for understanding in a situation isn't really necessary. I do think a little reflection might be a good way to bring this blog to temporary end right now.

My career to date has taken me quite literally around the world and brought me a truly global set of friends, colleagues and inspirations. New Zealand continues to be the latest chapter of this journey, and oh it's been an amazing 4 years here so far. My top memories from an adventurous point of view have to be:

1) The Tongariro Crossing - best day walk ever!

Tongariro Crossing crew

Tongariro views..

2) Exploring the Wonders of Wellington - summer concerts & salsa

Bays of Wellington

Kapiti Coast - Wellington

Wellington Bays

3) Snowy mountains in both the North & South Islands.

Mount Doom - North Island

 

Queenstown - South Island

4) Sailing in a cowboy suit with my OT Supervisee!

Random NZ Moments

Aye aye Captain Paula

5) OT National Conferences & Presenting on 'Tall Poppy' Syndrome (@ WFOT, Japan)

My Fave presentation team - OT Conference 2013

Wellington MH OT's..

Taking Tall Poppy NZ to Japan

I could go on, however the point I'd like to make is about keeping an open mind for the opportunities life might throw your way - as you just never know what's around the corner. New Zealand doesn't hold the same level of craziness of other places I've lived like Romania & Vietnam, but it does have it's own special lure of randomness and beauty.

From a professional perspective, the journey has been no less lively and interesting with 3 years in Community mental health, further cross-cultural learnings and then a move to the private sector and the realisation that our knowledge as health professionals is highly valued outside of the health sector. There's so much we can bring to so many settings and offering a fresh and different perspective to private business - it's quite refreshing. We needn't be afraid of what we don't know. Let's feel good about shouting from the rooftops (in a pleasant, down to earth, melody) - as we 'know stuff' - 'real stuff' as a friend of mine recently commented to me. 

My desire for cross-cultural learnings continue too. The best, funniest and most memorable moments of my career to date have come when I've been at odds with other people and then had to try and see the other person's perspective to understand the difference in opinion. So to all those that have joined this journey through email, in person, in NZ or elsewhere in the world - keep at it. 

The next adventure is perhaps the biggest one I've faced - and one I really know the least about - parenting a baby! I'll be writing about this on www.otdantheparent.blogspot.com

Come follow the ultimate adventure with an OT twist. We'll hopefully get back to a more comical view of the new world! Always happy to take emails about anything NZ related too.

For the final time (for a while)

Regards from New Zealand.

Dan

2016 - Life as an OT - "but not as we know it"

Hello Everybody,

It's been a few months since writing the last post, mainly due to there having been quite a few significant life changes recently, and this has meant it's been hard to find a minute to stop and take a breath!

One thing that does remain constant though, is the beautiful wonder of these Islands and the constant reminders of how the lifestyle in New Zealand is so closely connected with the physical land. Recreation time in NZ is spent walking, swimming, cycling, tramping, caving, diving, and th elist goes on and on. Even for the less adventurous person, with almost all of the major towns / cities being located by the coast or a short(ish) drive from a snow covered mountain, there is no escaping the visual and physical effect of nature.

The photos below show how even just getting around can be an adventure:

Whilst out walking with my 15-yr old step-son and trying to encourage him to enjoy the 'free' & healthy lifestyle on offer in NZ, we headed to the Red Rocks walk (Wellington's South Coast).  Whilst usually full of seals during a few months of the year, on this day we were treated to a free dolphin show. A pod of Dolphins arrived along the coast line and played around for 15 minutes much to our surprise and enjoyment.

Wellington also has a number of events throughout the year that have fireworks linked with them. This latest one (Chinese New Year) coincided with us having access to a friend's car. Making the most of some the hillside we headed up Mount Victoria to enjoy the spectacular views over the city. It was my wife's and step-son's first 'proper' firework display here and what a lovey reminder of the beauty of their new home.

The added beauty on the same night, was a late summer sunset as seen from Mount Victoria. The colours generated due to the hillside setting were further reminders of the free star and 'light shows' on offer here, all through the year. Sights like this just make you stop, look and admire your surroundings. As with many things in life, seeing things through the eyes of others (whether it's the first time or not) has always been a powerful experience for me, and a wonderful one when it's a sight like this.

O.T. BUT NOT AS WE KNOW IT!

For anyone's who's followed my adventures or career to date, you'd probably be a little surprised to hear that I have move into the private sector - and now work for an INSURANCE company of all things! 

I've never been one to dismiss an opportunity to consider doing something a little different. Having worked around the world and usually in face to face settings with people in a variety of health settings, a move to INSURANCE has been different to say the least. The skills required to work more remotely (not in face to face contact with clients), analyze medical information truly objectively, and apply that analysis to any given condition and policy definition, are complex. Working alongside non-health trained colleagues who can hold a very different set of work values and ethics - has been a great challenge too. My outlook has been forcibly widened, and not in a negative sense. Initially I wondered how much REFLECTIVE PRACTICE would occur, and how would I feel about any conflicting professional (OT) ethics verses workplace expectations.

The over-riding sense of working to help people return to employment and assess their functional abilities has been positive and full of learning for me so far. It has also been a really good reminder that Health Workers do not have a monopoly on understanding the perspectives of people in health-related difficult and emotionally challenging situations. Some of my colleagues, who don't have a 'Health Care' background have inspired me with some of their insight and understandings of different client's issues.  

So this experience of working within the Insurance Industry in New Zealand, is a far cry from my experiences in Vietnam & Romania: but my learnings have been similar. People are made of stern stuff. People can surprise, inspire and grow no matter what their history, job title and beliefs. People anywhere and everywhere have the potential for personal growth and make positive contributions to others. 

'NOWHERE BEATS WELLINGTON ON A GOOD DAY' - This is a phrase that many Kiwi's know. It's a polite way of saying the weather can be really crap a lot of the time. This summer however, well actually since I returned in October, the weather has been pretty amazing! These next pictures have been 4 years in the making and I finally had a camera with me when spotting sting-wrays in the lagoon!

IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA - TRY IT! - Kiwi's are not afraid to create and try new things especially adventurous ideas! It doesn't take long of living here to see this spirit in people and it's no surprise to learn that bungy jumping originated here. It my short time (well 4 years now) I have seen and played a few interesting sports with Turbo - Touch, Frisbee-Golf to mention just a couple). The latest new 'sport'' we decided to give a go was Football-Golf! 

Basically, instead of hitting a golf ball with a club, you kick a football in the least number of attempts possible from the 'tee' to the hole! (Obviously the hole for the football is bigger than for the golf ball). The 'course' is a golf course, so you do need to watch out for golf balls flying by, and the general looks of horror from the golfers!

FRANK & FRAN AT THE READY!

FOOTBALL GOLF CREW

FOOTBALL GOLF

PLAYING THROUGH

ALL IN ALL..... Life is changing quickly with a wife, teenage step-son and changing job role. With a number of other things going on life is certainly busy. Therefore as time is flying by, the ability to stall time a couple times of day it would be most helpful. As I've not quite developed that skill yet I need to learn to just 'pause & reflect' 2-3 times a day to ensure I'm not getting pulled away from those things that are most important to me...

Regards from New Zealand

Dan