The Countdown Is On!

I've been waiting and waiting for "The Call" from Guiding Eyes for the Blind (heretofore known as GEB) for the secret code and handshake, no actually for my pre-arrival instructions  and flight info. Turns out, all that stuff gets emailed to you. Silly me, I've been walking around with the smartphone attached to me like a security blanket.

I read through the entire document and I have to say that I might not be going to guide school... it sounds more like a resort or camp or maybe a rehab facility! You'll understand as I summarize the info.

There will be someone waiting for you at the airport in New York who will collect everyone and put you on a van to GEB. They are sending me 4 luggage tags, 2 to go on the outside and 2 to go inside your luggage. Sounds like camp, right?

You have your own private room with a full size bed, en suite bathroom, TV with DVD, wifi, and a mini fridge. Tea, coffee, fruit, healthy snacks available all the time. For meals, you will have several selections from which to choose.
Can you say RESORT?

Then there's restrictions on visiting hours. Fanily may only visit on weekends. The first weekend, only Sunday afternoon and no leaving the campus. Second weekend, hours both Saturday and Sunday afternoons and no leaving campus. Third weekend is graduation on Saturday and EVERYONE is welcome to come to that! You can even go out to eat off campus, with permission from your instructor, and take the dog with you. However, you must be back in time for your dog's scheduled feeding and/or elimination. This is soooo like a rehab set of restrictions.

There is some levity in the instructions (maybe not intentionally but I laughed!)
1) Every room has an emergency call system. Not exactly like the Life Alert gizmos. This goes directly to your instructor's room or pager if it's during the day. So what exactly is an emergency at night "Hello Jeff? This is Gail. I can't find the TV remote." Yeah, probably not. But if my doggie starts hacking up something, you better believe my instructor will hear about it!

2) The airlines are required by law to provide an escort to the disabled. Here's my favorite line in that paragraph: "If you are waiting for assistance [from the escort] and no one appears promptly, ask OUT LOUD for help." Okay, it's not bad enough I'm standing around with the white cane waiting for someone I don't know, now I have to call out "Hey, anybody around that can help me???"  Watch people scatter!

3) They don't want you to overpack so they suggest you bring one week of clothes and then use their washers and dryers. Can you image the scene when 12-15 visually impaired and totally blind people and maybe a few who also have hearing loss, all trying to use washers at the same time? Or figure out which dryer belongs to their clothes? I guess if I find jockey shorts in my dryer, I'll use that technique of asking aloud; Hey, anyone missing some jockies?

Now while you're packing just that one week of clothes, remember, you need to be prepared for 'unusually cold or unusally warm weather'. And inclement weather, which could be rain or SNOW in Oct/Nov in New York so don't forget a raincoat, sweaters, boots, and maybe capris.... but don't overpack!

They also suggest bringing an empty gym-style bag to carry home the "extras" you'll get: dog meds, an 8 lb bag of dry dog food (seriously? You want me carrying that on the plane?), any GEB items you choose to buy and 'souvenirs.' What constitues a souvenir from guide school??? Don't. Even. Go. To. The. P word.

 About 10 days from now, I will get a phone call, telling me my room number (in case anyone wants to send mail) and my personal phone number (but you can only receive calls after 8 PM and cell phone use is forbidden during training sessions and lectures).  Mail will be distributed Mon-Fri. by your instructor. Back to the camp and rehab centers!

Stay tuned... oh, and by the way, the countdown is 21 days!!!

The Journey Begins

       I've started this blog  to chronicle my path to guide school and the training with my new companion. And beyond. 

I wrote a long post detailing the ups, the downs, the choices made, and the fortitude to arrive at this point.  I previewed it, but when I hit the back button to the actual post, THE PAGE WAS BLANK!!! When I picked my jaw up off the ground and mumbled a few choice words, I couldn't bear the thought of writing the whole thing again. It was a good post, but my motivation at 10:00 PM is not so good.

So, you're getting the abridged version and I hope it makes sense.

2013- decide between cane and canine. Had to overcome fear of dogs. Am a determined woman (some say stubborn, others bull-headed-semantics) and cleared that hurdle. 
2014- Research, choose guide school, apply, time-consuming not hard. Hard, was waiting to hear if accepted. Started countdown to training at about 180 days, now just 41 left (although if this post doesn't go live, it will certainly be 40 days left by the time I finish the 3rd draft!)

Are you still with me? 

       So, some time between the 20th and 30th of September, I'll receive a call from Guiding Eyes for the Blind. My instructor will introduce him/herself and detail what I need to bring and what I need to do in preparation for coming home with a guide dog. The admissions director will arrange my flights and give me that info.

       I will be in Boston celebrating the Jewish High Holidays with my family until Oct. 6th. Twenty days later, I'll be in Yorktown Heights, New York for three weeks of training, 7 days a week, 8 hours a day. These folks are serious! Having never had a dog, I hope 3 weeks is enough! Just kidding. Sort of. Not really. 
I've got three-ish pages of questions I need answers (not on the first day), and probably  a bunch more before I go.

       I hope you'll come along on this 'magical mystery tour' of mine. If I can figure out this #@!^%# page, I'll add a place to subscribe to posts and to sign on to be a follower. And of course, post doggie pictures.

       Posts may be sporatic prior to leaving for school, however they will be daily- if they don't wear me slap out- once I'm there. Please feel free to add your comments and questions.

       In the meantime, my mantra is: trust the dog. Trust the dog. Trust the dog.
Gail