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September, 2011

  1. Know Your Value

    September 24, 2011 by Barb

    auteuil market chicken Know Your Value

    Clearly, she knows which to choose based on value

    Whenever I meet people, they ask me where I’m interning, as though it is some kind of assumption that because I am a senior at NYU that I must be working somewhere. Granted, since we are in a city that many only dream to live in, it is not unusual to find a student here juggling between classes, work, and sometimes extracurricular activities. I’m never quite sure whether or not I want to give a full explanation or to politely reply that “no, I’ve chosen not to work this semester.” But I figured that I might as well here.

    Firstly, I made this decision in the spring when I was accepted into my double honours program, since I wanted time to myself to concentrate on those two daunting academic projects. When it rolled by that I was no longer a part of French honours, I still maintained my stance that I would not be working in my senior year since I held the premise that I would be reserving the year for finding a full-time job for post-graduation and not want to overwhelm myself.

    That is not to say that my profile hasn’t been active/online. I’ve left myself open to offers and possibilities so as to see if there is anyone with an offer sumptuous enough to woo me away from my current plans. With that said, it leads me to my second point.

    Secondly, no one matched or acknowledged my worth as a hire. The preceding sentence leaves me sound a bit arrogant, but I cannot find any better way to articulate it. Of the offers I received (they found me – I did not apply for any fall internships), there were no interesting proposals or projects to be had, or interest in me as a person, but rather as a generic body to fill in a particular role. And perhaps I’ve been spoiled at Parenting.com in which they matched my skills to actual projects, but is that so wrong? It’s not even a discussion of whether or not they were paid positions, but rather one about me developing skills and making full use of my repertoire.

    To best illustrate it, I may as well give you some examples; I’ve received seemingly personalized offers (only for the company to have forgotten they sent me a message previously, and send me a very similar message a month later), had generic interviews in which the interviewer clearly had done no research on me, been offered interviews with those that have extremely vague/general job postings or a “triple no” (i.e. bring your own computer, for credit only, and no compensation).

    And lastly, I wanted to connect with my school. I’ve been more affiliated with on-campus activities than I have ever been in these past couple of years, especially since I have spent two years in Paris. It is by no means any last ditch effort to make myself sound appealing to graduate/professional schools; I simply want to have a rapport that I never had with what is meant to be my actual campus, which means being on committees and connecting with students and staff. The experience you have anywhere, including college, can only be what you invest into it (and I’m not just talking about our tuition).

    That brings me to the point of this entry – know your value. There isn’t much of a point being somewhere where no one appreciates your work or you as a person. It’s easy to say that any experience is “good,” but it’s better to ask yourself if it is worthwhile. Is your investment bringing some kind of return for you?

  2. Importing Culture

    September 23, 2011 by Barb

    laduree nyc Importing Culture

    The queue along the store front in early September

    When anyone brings up the concept of multiculturalism and diversity in New York, I am always quick to contend that while there is indeed a richness in the availability of culture in the city, it is seemingly more of a sampling than anything else, especially in Manhattan. I make this assertion to argue against the idea that the city is a brewing “melting pot,” which I have found to be description that many use. In order for the city to be a “melting pot,” it essentially necessitates complete and full integration and mixing of cultures. However, that does not exist in any entirety – niches are developed and persons choose to intermingle with the familiar as opposed to openly sharing and blending their culture.

    Our exposure comes from the moments that we take as “foreigners” to impede on this created niche. It is because of the accessibility in terms of travel that many have confused the idea of the melting pot with availability. And this brings me to the idea of importing culture.

    There are certain tastes that we simply have to acquire abroad either because of reputation or lack of availability. The macaron (not to be confused with the coconut macaroon) has up until now become one of these in the city. Granted, there are patisseries that make them, the consistency or the taste never delivers the same quality with which we associate a trip to Paris.

    Earlier this month, however, it doesn’t seem as though our craving for the almond flour-based treat is confined to France anymore; Ladurée made its way to the Upper East Side in a small boutique space along Madison Avenue. By bringing the famed patisserie, we are satisfying this hunger for a culture that would otherwise be inaccessible. And the reception can well be ascertained from the forty minute lines that await entry through the doors.

    So what can be said about this? Without extending this entry into something of the likes of an essay, I can say that this example on its own presents an interesting note of importing, as opposed to integrating. The object, in this case Ladurée, stands alone and apart – it signifies a richness and a foreign allure, as opposed to signifying a part of New York culture. With that said, I wonder if it ever will, or are these “objects” meant to retain the meaning of “exoticism.”

  3. Changes and a Sense of Closure

    September 17, 2011 by Barb

    student health center nyu Changes and a Sense of Closure I mentioned in my last post that there would be/have been several changes implemented in accordance to suggestions made in reviewing my treatment with the Cat Lady. In my meeting with the Head Honcho, Quality Management, and the Psychiatrist, we discussed what changes would be made to the counseling and behavioural health department at the NYU student health center:

    1. Ethnicity:
      With the note of me being Korean rather prevalent in Cat Lady’s notes, it was explained to me that it was an assumption made without my verification. Usually, the ethnicity is noted by whatever the student states in his or her intake form upon their first visit to counseling and behavioural health office. The inference as to what my actual ethnicity was not completely out of line (though the “Koreans smile when they’re angry” was deemed as an inappropriate comment by everyone in the room), going forward, clinicians will only use what is stated on the intake form, as opposed to making their own periodical guesses.

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    2. Facilitating Referrals:
      As I outlined in some of my entries, I never sought a referral to a different nurse practitioner or psychiatrist during my treatment with Cat Lady. Highlighting that I would expect a minimum wait time of four weeks before seeing another clinician, I opted to take my chances in hopes that the situation would level itself; that and I wasn’t in completely the right state of mind. Students who feel the need for a referral to a new clinician may now take their case directly to the Head Honcho via email, which means complete confidentiality and efficient transition.

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    3. Consultation:
      It’s a two-way street – no one is in it alone. Clinicians facing a difficult time are now more openly encouraged to consult with other team members who may have more experience, or even experience with the student on-hand. In effect, no one has to “go it alone” on the treatment of an individual.

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    4. Interns:
      Being an intern is a funny thing, especially when you are given similar cases/work to your employed peers – you’re never quite sure where exactly you stand, especially when it comes to voicing a concern. If the student is seeing two clinicians – one therapist and one psychiatrist/nurse practitioner – there is an overlap in record review. And while there is the implicit trust that all facts are documented as correct, we noted (in our meeting) that there should be more encouragement to notify staff if there is an inconsistency or known factual error made. In other words, it’s adding slightly more to an already quite integral learning experience, and giving interns the authority to challenge mistakes when necessary.

     
    With all of it said and done, I received my apology from the Head Honcho. By no means was it possible for the Cat Lady to apologize without her reaching out to me; my request would have only garnered a forced one at best, which in the end, as I’ve come to realize, isn’t something that would’ve left me satisfied. From everyone in that meeting, though, the apology and recognition for these troubles were at least genuine.

    And in many ways, all of this brings some closure for me – a certain confirmation that my suffering was indeed real and was neither exaggerated nor imagined (which does explain why I write so tersely about all of this, so as to be clear in documentation). While I would love to say that I forgive the Cat Lady for everything that has happened, I can’t quite bring myself to fully commit to this idea as of yet. To be frank, I waver. The hovering of daily anguish is long gone, but there are now the days in which I find myself infuriated, and the other days in which I find myself calm and moving on. It’ll take a little more time, but at least I know it’s forward that I’m moving.

    Image courtesy of nyu.edu/shc

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