Day 1
I got to the airport early, as usual, just in case. I got through security with no issues. I got to my gate, read my booky, and waited for boarding. Boarding happened on time. We got to Atlanta early. I casually walked to my connecting gate, which also boarded on time. We got to Nashville on time. My bag showed up on the carousel before most of the others on my flight. The rental car was ready and waiting, as was my hotel room in Bowling Green. I got here in the daylight with enough time to look around and prepare for tomorrow. I went grocery shopping, ate, and was in bed before the double digits turned on the clock. I’m not sure what to do when everything goes like I planned. Literally nothing else happened today. Weird.
Day 2
VD: Big Red, the mascot of Western Kentucky University. One could only describe it as a big, red blob with arms and legs.
I’m in Bowling Green to visit Jenna, who is starting college next week at Western Kentucky, home of the Hilltoppers. She requested and received permission for an early move-in date to her dorm so she could spend these few days before the start of classes getting used to the routes between her classes, the dining hall, her dorm, etc.
Jenna has been visually impaired for most of her life, so she’s no stranger to orientation and mobility (O&M). She is a stranger to this campus, which is why I’m here. Jenna’s mom and stepdad did all the heavy lifting yesterday, moving her into the dorm, and Mom was nice enough to print a copy of the campus map and her class schedule. My row had already been hoed, or a large part of it.
We spent some time this morning making sure Jenna was familiar enough with her dorm to get around independently, then went outside to go find class #1. It’s literally the surface of the sun out here today, and much like deep East Texas, where I live, it’s ridiculously humid as well. The “feels-like” temperature is over a hundred degrees. It doesn’t help that I misread my map and we missed the building we were looking for, so we’re both about to melt by the time we discover our mistake and find it. Air conditioning has got to be one of the best things, like, ever.
During the World Cup, tons of Europeans filmed themselves telling the world about all the things they loved about America. Ranch dressing was close to #1, right up there with air conditioning. I didn’t realize that the world didn’t have ranch or air conditioning, but TSA had to publish warnings about how much ranch people could legally pack. If you were an enterprising person, you’d start an HVAC company overseas. From what I’ve studied, you’d make a killing.
After we cooled off, we stepped right back into it and found the student union building, where the food court and main dining hall are located. It’s also the location of the disability services office, where Jenna can go for assistance in getting the right accommodations for her classwork. She’s already known on a first-name basis there, which is a good thing.
After stopping in there, we went to the dining hall, which is set up buffet-style, with several different options. This is nice, except buffet-style is like a nightmare to someone who can’t see. Jenna will need help in here, but she’s not afraid to ask. I helped out today, but we talked to the lady who took our money, and she told us that someone would be available every time Jenna darkened the door.
VD: Jenna walks with her cane across campus. Big Red is displayed on the upper façade of the football stadium in the background.
Day 3
I don’t think the sun went down. I think it stayed up all night and baked the earth. I walked out of the hotel this morning and it was already a thousand degrees. It’s gonna be a hot one again today.
You know, most of the time, being a mobility specialist is the best job on the planet. I get to be outside most of the time, I get to meet the most interesting people, and see some real interesting things. Being outside today is not gonna be fun.
Jenna is motivated to learn her routes, but she’s not excited about the weather either. You know who else isn’t excited about the weather? All those parents busy unloading trucks and SUVs with their kids’ belongings. They should start school in October, or something like that. The school could serve hot apple cider and fresh doughnuts while people leisurely carried boxes back and forth. But they don’t start in October, and it’s not crisp outside. Anything crisp wilted a long time ago.
Jenna and I reworked her route to the building we found yesterday, then began working on building number two. We worked the routes to and from the dorm for each building, as well as between the buildings and the student center. Repetition works. Doing this every day for several days in a row gives us the opportunity to repeat until it sinks in. Then we can do it again.
Jenna is a quick learner, but college campuses are some of the most complex travel environments you can find. There are so many intersecting sidewalks, it can be very confusing. Jenna’s done a great job so far of weeding out all the extra information and just focusing on the straightest path. When she gets more comfortable, she’ll learn the shortcuts, like most students, but for now, we’ll stick to the main path.
We got back into the dining hall, and we discussed what she’s gonna do for dinner tonight. She’s considering some simple options in her room, and I encouraged her to come back over here, be social, and eat something besides microwave mac and cheese. I think she can get here just fine, and it’d be good for her to be able to ask for assistance when I’m not around.
When I left for the day, I encouraged her once again, but honestly didn’t expect her to venture out again. I got a text from her later tonight that she’d been to the dining hall, got help, had a meal, and made it back, all on her own. I felt so proud. For her. I knew she could do it, but I wasn’t sure she would. And now SHE knows she can, which will encourage her to do it again. So proud.
Day 4
VD: Wearing a blue shirt and jeans, Jenna walks across campus while using her long cane.
I’ve been in Bowling Green for three days now, and the sun hasn’t gone down yet. It’s just boiling outside. I may stop griping about it one day, but not today. I’m an old Texas boy, grew up in the sun, but here in Kentucky, on top of the hills, I’m pretty sure we’re closer to the sun and, therefore, hotter.
Jenna and I have been starting early and working until we’re done so we don’t have to be outside any longer than usual. Jenna’s a trooper, but it’s dadgummed hot.
We reviewed all of her routes, multiple times, and she really knocked it out of the park. You can tell that Jenna’s no longer just going on memory. It feels more natural to her. Did I mention that it’s hot out here?
Day 5
Last day. Mom is coming to pick up Jenna today to take her home for a couple of days before the semester gets rolling. She’s got freshman orientation soon, and she’ll be here for the long haul after that.
In other news, the sun hasn’t gone down since I landed in Nashville. The earth is lava. It’s not even funny anymore. I can’t think of any more fun ways to talk about it.
Jenna’s mom, stepdad, and grandmother were there when I got there this morning. It’s always so nice to meet the family. Of course, they are all very proud of Jenna, as they should be.
I felt a little like P.T. Barnum, trotting out my newest act: “Jenna, show them what you can do!” (Trumpet fanfare in the background.)
Seriously, though, I did want the family to see how Jenna is gonna be just fine on campus on her own. She went to all the places we’d been practicing this week and performed admirably. She had a little difficulty with the trickiest part of the trickiest route, but this is what’s gonna happen on a regular day, especially when there are other kids around and the sidewalks are crowded.
She’s going to get off track, and she’s gonna have to figure it out on her own. I have no doubts that she will be able to do so.
Written by Barry Stafford, certified orientation and mobility (O&M) field representative.