Reflection

Words will never be able to do justice for the life lessons I have learned from the elderly residents of Aegis Assisted Living. These wise, funny folks have taught me a lot about myself, life, and the general direction I want to pursue in nursing. Completing hours was a tedious, yet rewarding process. There were a lot of setbacks, but there were also plenty of good that came from volunteering with the elderly. Even if it wasn't the physical project I had imagined for myself, I grew as a person and I was able to use critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity within my physical project.

Critical thinking and creativity tied in together when it came to leading activities. Working with elderly residents who suffered from Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease gave me a push to think of ways to get their brains thinking. When I first started volunteering, my mentor had told me that the activities he does helps stimulate the cells in the brain. When I would lead activities with the AL residents, I had to adjust myself to their needs. For instance, if we were playing a trivia game or a word game and they couldn't guess the answer, I would have to think of ways to make it easier for them without giving answers away. At times when I would have conversations with residents, I had to think of the topics we would talk about because their stories would end quickly or they would constantly repeat their story over and over again without realizing it. (That's the Dementia challenge I had to face.) The biggest challenge I had to face when it came to critical thinking and creativity was reality and time. It wasn't easy to make talk with the residents sometimes. I couldn't talk about many recent things in the news or life in general because the residents already loss a sense of time. When we would play games or have conversations, I would use what I learned at school in history and government to make a connection with the residents. I had to use previous knowledge I had from a myriad of topics to make connections with them. It was definitely an obstacle difficult to overcome, but in the end I impressed them from what I knew!

Communication was a very big part of my project because without talking to the residents, I would not have been doing anything for those 25 hours. Every time I visited, I would ask random residents how their day was going or how they felt in general. It was a small way for me to show that I cared about how comfortable they were. They would express many answers ranging from physical pain to a funny story that happened in their day. I also tended to their needs in the case that they needed help getting up, getting a glass of water, or even just having a companion to walk around with them. Communication was particularly difficult when it came to meeting up with my mentor. At times, it would be impossible to contact him, so instead of waiting on him, I'd just drive down there to be with the residents. If I was lucky, he'd be there, but he was just too busy to answer the phone beforehand. Once or twice I had to wait on him coming back from an outing, but it wasn't a big deal. I would do my own activities with the residents and I'd still have a good time with them.

For my physical project, I had to collaborate most with my mentor and the other activities directors at Aegis. From what I've observed, creating the activity planner for the month can be very stressful. Although I didn't take much part in that process, I still had to confirm with my mentor which activities I would lead and shadow. In ways, the residents and I collaborated as well. Without their opinions, I would have never been able to come up with topics to talk about. If the residents didn't participate in activities, I would not have been doing anything for 25 hours. They played just as huge of a role in the collaboration aspect of my phsyical project.

As I mentioned before, completing hours was a long, yet rewarding process. I faced difficult challenges that made me dread the project at times, and I experienced wonderful memories that will be unforgettable. Capstone project helped me realize my career aspirations. I owe it all to the residents; they taught me more about myself and the nurse I want to be and am determined to be. Personally, the most important thing the residents helped me realize is that I do not want to pursue Geriatrics Nursing. Although I had an enjoyable time with the residents, I couldn't help but feel sad for them at times. I mentioned before that I really hoped there was a cure for them. I do mean that. I just know that I can't be surrounded by the lurking feeling of sadness. I shared with the residents that I love excitement and being constantly busy. That's just how I am. I shared with them that I might go into the direction of Surgical nursing or becoming and ER nurse. The best part about realizing this is that when I shared this with the residents, they believed in my success. I will always be thankful for the lesson they taught me. Socially, I learned throughout the process of completing my hours that I love to help people. I knew that before, but I didn't know the extent to which I would help people. Looking back at my blogs, I would say that I wanted to bring the residents happiness and joy. Even if it is a small deed, it's helping someone get through their day. I know that the skills I learned with the residents will be skills I can apply when I am a nurse helping people with all kinds of illnesses. Intellectually, I learned more about the factors that are put into account when taking care of another human being. Since I worked with elderly people, I had to be sensitive to their needs. It's a huge responsibility to take care of someone. One resident shared some advice with me and told me that as I pursure my nursing career, I must always be willing to learn and be educated. Her advice not only applied to my education and career, but it also applied to the project. I will never forget the life lessons I learned from working with my mentor and the Aegis residents. They truly made the Capstone project enjoyable.

Last Visit

I closed in on my 25 hours yesterday. I must say, it was hectic when I first arrived. My mentor had just come back from shopping with the residents and some keys were missing! We had to search the area for car keys. Once things got settled, I finally got to walk around and talk to residents in both LN and AL.

I first visited resident's in Life's Neighborhood. Again, these residents have more severe stages of Alzheimer's disease. I was speaking to a man and a woman and they were telling me how their jewelry was getting stolen. The hard part was if I should believe them or not. A lot of the residents in LN mix up events that have happened in their past and they believe those events are what is reality as of right now. The only thing I can really do when they tell me stories is to listen.

After visiting LN, I played a good game of Password with Iileen, Sue, and Mary. (Three of my favorite residents) They always give their opinion and they speak the most which is what I like. Password is a guessing game. I gave hints and they guessed the words. We would always have a side story to tell after every word. After our game was finished, I played some piano for them before I left. I really didn't want to say goodbye, so I didn't. I still have to pick up my mentor evaluation, so I will bid my goodbyes then. I'm not sure how it will feel since I've grown an attachment to these wonderful people. Once I say goodbye, I will post my overall reflection of the Capstone project.

B-I-Nursing-G-O!

Today I spent 2 hours with the residents of Aegis.

It was a fun day for me! For the 45 minutes, I lead a conversation on the importance of nurses. I shared my nursing goals with six ladies. It was wonderful hearing their feed back and how they believed in me to become a nurse. We agreed that nurses must have a passion for helping people and they must love what they do. (It can apply to any occupation.) To me, it doesn't matter who you are, I will help you. The residents knew that. We also discussed the importance of willing to learn and be educated. As a nurse, you can never stop learning. I shared with them that my experience being with them has taught me so much. When I told them that tomorrow would be my last day, they gave me so much advice and luck for the future. It was so so so sweet of the ladies. Nursing was a fun topic to lead. I had them participating the entire time and I felt so comfortable with them.

The next hour involved bingo. I sat next to a woman named Mary and watched her play. I told her I would be her lucky charm and during the first round of bingo, she won! :) It's adorable because she remembers her bingo cards by heart. Mary said, "I've used my bingo cards so many times, I already know when a number is mine!" I can tell you, elderly folks take their bingo very seriously!

For the last 15 minutes, I went to visit LN (Life's Neighborhood). Ann Marie was doing some musical therapy. She played the piano and residents were singing along to the music. Again, LN isn't as lively as AL since the residents have more severe stages of Alzheimer's Disease. All in all, things were going well and it seemed as though the residents were doing just fine today.

Tomorrow is the day. 25 hours complete. They've taught me so much. Joe, my mentor, has taught me so much and he's been a great role model. I'm not sure what to think at this point right now. Am I happy or am I sad? I guess I'll find out tomorrow.

5/3/13

Today I spent 2 hours with the Assisted Living residents and my mentor.

Most of our time was consumed by our scenic drive. 7 residents, my mentor, and I all drove down to see the large houses by St. Francis Woods in San Francisco. We all had a good time as we browsed houses, sang songs, and joked around about which house we would buy. The residents looked so happy just by being able to get out and sight see.

When we came back, I helped unload all the residents and I started calling people to go down to the lobby for happy hour. Every Friday from 3:30-4:30, residents are allowed to drink (alcohol) and watch live entertainment in the lobby. We had a lovely performance of live music by a trio. During happy hour I talked to residents, served appetizers, and danced with the residents.

I had a fun visit with them today. My hours are coming to a close. 4 more hours and that's all I'll ever be seeing of them again. I hoping for more good memories for my last visit.

We're All Teachers

For the last 45 minutes, I held a short discussion on the qualities that make a teacher great. (I also had a personal talk with a good friend of #3 which I will discuss later on)

During the teacher discussion, I related the qualities back to the stories we all shared. It's really interesting to see how our experiences teach life lessons to each other. I also linked three traits back into my experiences from volunteering at Aegis and how I've become a teacher to the residents.

1. Teachers can say everything without saying anything.
My presence as a young individual changes their entire day. I don't need to talk, I can simply smile or pull up a chair next to them and I've already changed their mood completely. I have tried to show through my actions that no matter how old or young, there are people willing to change lives for the better.

2. Teachers don't accept failure.
I hate seeing residents have bad days and I most especially hate seeing them fall back from independence. If there's one thing I could wish more for for them, it is a cure. I wish there was some sort of cure to stop these wonderful people from deteriorating. I wish there were a way where they didn't have to lose their personality, their memories, and themselves. Cure or no cure, I will not let that stop me from making a difference in their lives.

3. Teachers are adaptable.
I have come to accept that as time has gone by, residents I have come to know are not the same. These residents suffer from different forms of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The best that I can do for them is to make them have a better, brighter day.

I know that #3 enjoyed my company today and I too enjoyed his stories. As the discussion came to a close, I greeted the residents goodbye and was able to quickly get in a good talk with #3's friend. What she had told me impacted my inner "nurse" (if I can even call it that). It truly impacted my feelings and sympathy for these residents.

#3's friend told me that #3 was actually a resident living in the home care. She informed me that he is only 60 years of age. That is very young for someone to have a form of dementia. He is nearly 20 to 30 years younger than some residents and it really does hurt me to know how young he is. Doctors found plaque in the arteries of his brain that could have potentially been the cause for his memory loss. On a positive note, his friend did say that he has been getting better in the past few months since he's been at Aegis. The new medication he is taking controls the memory loss, but it does not stop it. His friend visits him almost everyday. She is not obligated to, but as a good friend of his (also having worked closely with him since she was Chief of the SFPD), she spends 8 hour days accompanying him. Her selflessness is what I seek for as a nurse and she's an inspiration to me.

Today was not what I expected it to be and I am so glad I came to visit. I'm happy that instead of hosting a game, I spent some quality time getting to know more residents. These great people deserve their stories to be heard.

Life Stories

Today I spent 2 hours and 45 minutes with the Assisted Living residents. I will break my blogs up by each activity.

Initially, I was nervous ,yet again, to be thrown out into the wild with the residents by myself. After a few minutes, we were all able to warm up to each other and it really wasn't bad after all. I truly enjoyed the time I had getting to know 3 residents personally, especially #3.

For the first 2 hours, I had a personal discussion with 3 of the residents. Nancy, Vera, a resident who would like to be kept unknown (i'll address him as #3 in this blog), and I discussed about careers and my future career goal in nursing. Nancy was a librarian, Vera had studied psychology in college, and #3 was a police officer for SFPD for over 30 years. The main difference between the three is that Nancy and Vera are quite old and #3 is rather young to be living in Aegis. I gave him the benefit of the doubt and assumed he was only there to visit. 

For a large chunk of the 2 hours, #3 narrated his life stories and experiences as a police officer for LAPD & SFPD. His stories were so vivid and clear that I had to assume he wasn't a resident. He shared close-to-death experiences, one that even involved a criminal firing towards his head 4 times at a crime scene. As #3 shared his interesting stories, he would say how he come back to the point that he was just doing his job to protect fellow officers and to protect the public. I related those words back to my own passion for helping others and my future goals as a nurse. I shared with the three residents some of my deepest career desires. I shared that I am determined to study hard in order to become accepted into the nursing program at CSULB; I am determined to save lives; and I am determined to fulfill, and surpass, the expectations required of a nurse. #3 expressed how he admired me and believed in my success. I took that to heart, especially coming since it was coming from a person who has seen so much injustice, and so much good in this world. 

After our 2 hour session of life stories, I connected our talks to a short lesson of the fifteen unique traits of a great teacher. 

4/23/13

Yesterday I spent 1 hour with the Assisted Living residents.

When I first arrived, I read to some of my favorite residents. The bond I've created with some residents is really great. I honestly don't know if they remember me or not, but either way if they did or didn't, I still like talking to them.

After some time passed, I decided to switch to some trivia. A woman I don't usually speak to, who's name is Ilene, was playing trivia with me. From what I've observed about her over the past few months is that she's pretty normal compared to the other elderly folks. I have not see any signs of dementia and I used to wonder why she was even at Aegis. As I got her brain going on the trivia questions, I learned a lot about her too. She recalled where she lived, places she visited, and even the schools she attended. But that's not what really caught my attention. As I was speaking to Ilene, I noticed that she was constantly repeating herself. At first I thought it might have been due to old age. But then I was starting to see a pattern and I linked it back to dementia. Our conversation was very similar to this:

Ilene: "I lived in San Francisco. I was right next to Twin Peaks. The weather was great."
Me: "I'm glad you liked it. Especially since you lived next to a nice view."
Ilene: "Oh yes, I lived in San Francisco. Right next to Twin Peaks."
Me: "Would you go up to see the view?"
Ilene: "Yes, my siblings and I would. I was 1 of 8 children. We lived right next to Twin Peaks."
Me: "Wow 1 of 8, that's a lot!"
Ilene: "Yes, my mother had 8 kids... and I was 1 of 8 children. My mother believed in the boys having college educations. I went to school for book keeping."
Me: "Did you like book keeping?"
Ilene: "Yes, I loved it. I was a book keeper for 30 years. I had a great pension from it"
Me: "30 years, a very long time."
Ilene: "Yes, 30 years. I was a book keeper for 30 years and I loved it. I had a great pension from it."
Me: "Would you have wanted to do anything else?"
Ilene: "No, I wouldn't. I loved book keeping. I was actually a book keeper for 30 years and I loved it."

I'm sure you can grasp the idea. If you are wondering if I found this conversation annoying, the answer is no. I didn't. Days like these really make me wish that there is cure for Alzheimer's Disease.

Yesterday I spent an hour and a half with my mentor and the AL residents. We were only able to squeeze in a game of balloon volleyball and food healing talks with them in that short hour and a half since the residents were going out to eat at Nick's that afternoon.

The first 45 minutes consisted of beach volleyball. The AL residents were all circled up and I stood in the middle continuously serving back the balloon to them. It was funny how the women would crack up every time they hit the balloon very hard. Including so, Joe Warren was there with me playing balloon volleyball with them. It still surprises me how a simple activity like this can pump them up.

After balloon volleyball, I shadowed my mentor in food healing talks. We had an insightful conversation about fruits that heal the soul and body. The residents were so funny during this conversation. I could tell they were digging memories up from the past each time we mentioned a different fruit. Some would say, "That fruit is sweet!" or "I LOVE that fruit. I used to eat it all the time!" Cherries, tangerines, avocados, tomatoes, peaches... you name it! A woman named Mary recalled having an apple tree in her backyard. She began a sentence with, "I hope those... those..." and then blanked out. I figured she wanted to say that she hoped squirrels wouldn't eat her apples. Mary then said, "Those things with the furry tails." I wasn't completely sure if she blanked out because of old age or because of her dementia.

Following food healing, I helped some residents get to the dining room for lunch, and some onto the bus for their afternoon outing.

I'm hoping that for my next visit, I can have another great conversation with the AL residents.

Realizations

Last Friday, April 12th, I visited the residents of AL during Happy Hour. Previously, my last visit at Aegis was a downer, but I am happy to report back that this visit restored my hope in pursuing to help these people.

For Happy Hour, residents were entertained by two talented men who sang and performed music for them. I have never seen the residents in such a good mood. They were drinking (which is a little hilarious), dancing, and enjoying themselves. At first, I was a little uncomfortable throwing myself out there to interact with the residents. I watched my mentor Joe dance with a few residents before I finally decided to dance.

I danced with a very adorable man named Clarrence. He was so happy to be up on his feet and moving. I also danced with a wonderful woman, Helen. Even at 97, she can still groove to "Spanish Eyes". (Her eyes were also blue, if I may add). A feeling definitely struck across as I danced with these residents. I felt so much joy in seeing them happy because on regular days, they aren't as upbeat.

I learned an important lesson that day, my purpose. I'm there to bring them happiness... something that is confusing to find with Alzheimer's/Dementia. My participation really makes a difference in their day. But, I'm also beginning to realize that even if I bring them joy and happiness, it's not what I'm searching for.

I had a very insightful conversation with my mentor. It is comforting to know that even though I'm leaning towards a different direction in nursing, I have not disappointed anyone (or myself). Rather more, I'm viewing this in a positive light. I found out that Geriatrics is not for me.

As I complete my mentor hours, I will continue to strive to bring company and happiness to those residents. Even though I don't want to go into geriatrics nursing, it doesn't mean I will stop making a difference in their lives because they sure did make a difference in mine.

I haven't had the chance to update my blog in a while. Since my last post, I've spent another 2 hours towards senior project. Again, I will break my blogs up.

On March 27th, I spent one hour with the residents of Aegis. It was a very quick visit since the residents of AL were taking a scenic drive to Pacifica to see the new tunnel and visit a farm. I helped my mentor load seniors onto the bus. Their excitement was very adorable. They were talking about the animals they wanted to see and it was almost as if I was loading on a bus of elementary school children. (Not to sound disrespectful in any way.) After loading them onto the bus, I spent some time with LN residents. They were very quiet that day and it was a rather more gloomy day to be around them. Many of them were either napping or watching a video on ice-skating. Their quiet days are my bad days. It's the day I dread being there, it's the day I wish there was something more I could do to get them by, it's the day where I question if I even want to pursue Geriatrics Nursing. With those thoughts, I left.

3/26/13

I visited Aegis for 1 hour and 15 minutes today.

It was a very quiet day for the residents in Assisted Living. I spent some time having a good conversation with the residents. We mainly talked about school and the new tunnel that opened up by the devil's slide in Pacifica. The residents were keeping to themselves today, so I decided to leave them be and I visited Life's Neighborhood, the other side of Aegis.

Life's neighborhood was surprisingly very active today. Usually, they are the residents who are quiet and keep to themselves. Today, I was observing them while they played a memory game involving months and numbers. I'm happy to say that they still know what year they are living in. One thing that caught my attention was when Liol, one of the residents, was asked the date of Christmas and he replied with, "October 25th."  I also saw the same woman from my last visit who had been constantly crying for her mother. It shocks me that I find her in the same condition, continuously crying and rambling. Moments like that really sadden me. It reminds me of how debilitating Alzheimer's disease is. Just like the family members of these residents, I'm wishing for a cure for this disease. Hopefully by tomorrow when I visit, the residents will be having a better day.

3/5/13 (pt 2)

After spending some time with the first resident, I decided to spend time with a woman named Delia. She was very confused by her surroundings. I was able to sit her down and I asked her to color with me. We were coloring in some leaf clovers for St. Patrick's Day. She kept saying, "I don' understand what to do." I would then show her how to color and she would copy me. After a few minutes, she would tell me that she didn't know what to do again. This is a perfect example of short-term loss. When I asked her to write a name, she was having difficulty remembering how to write. I would constantly have to show her how to write the letters.

We took a break and decided to play catch. The residents love catch. It was amazing how one minute, Delia claimed that she didn't know how to play, and then the next minute, she was throwing and catching the ball. Following our game of catch, we served tea, coffee, and sandwiches for their daily afternoon snack. I was a little sad when Delia asked me how to get home while I was serving her some snacks. (When residents ask questions like that, we are advised to stay away from the subject.) I replied by telling her to relax and eat.

It was a busy afternoon for the LN residents and a very insightful one for me. It's interesting being exposed to all the different stages/episodes of Alzheimer's, but as always, it is sad. I will try to upload the picture that Delia and I colored.

3/5/13

I visited Aegis for 2 hours today. I will break up my hours by blog.

I spent my time in Life's Neighborhood today instead of Assisted Living. For those who don't remember, Life's Neighborhood is for the more challenged residents with deeper stages of Alzheimer's. The best way to describe these residents is that they are in an elementary school behavior level. They have their good and bad days and need assistance the most.

I was very enticed by one resident. I decided to stick with her for the first hour. She caught my attention because of her behavior. Once I walked in, I spotted a woman sitting in a wheelchair crying. The staff said that she has been doing this every single day for the past two months. She was constantly crying for her mommy, literally. Rambling on and on, she'd either ask for her mother or change the subject. At times, I'd be able to catch a conversation with her for a few seconds and then I'd lose her again to the crying. At one point I heard her say that she was getting married, and then a few seconds later, she said she was tired, very tired. I can't express how heartbreaking it is to see her cry for no reason. However, that is one of the many side effects of the disease. 

Hang Man

Instead of hosting an activity, I observed my mentor and the techniques he used to host a 2 hour game of Hangman. Yes, it was very tedious at times, but altogether fun. My mentor had the residents choose topics and it was pretty hilarious watching the residents get active and participate. Whenever a new word was put on the board, Joe would ask for vowels and the residents would be shouting, "I...E...A...Y!" (Funny how they considered "Y" as a vowel.) The residents guessed words from numerous topics ranging from government, all the way to topics like traveling. At times they would give up, but in the end they always guessed the word.

I'll be seeing my mentor again next week and we discussed that I will host activities then.

Tea Time

Today, I visited Aegis for 2 hours. I had a good time playing trivia, conversating, and serving tea and cookies.

My mentor was sidetracked and busy with residents and their doctor's appointments, so I worked with another activities director, Christina. I observed her communication styles and compared it to Joe, my mentor. Both of them incorporate compare and contrast examples into the activities to get residents thinking. After some time, I was able to lead the afternoon activity. I played trivia with the ladies. I was actually very shocked at how much they could remember. The trivia ranged from all sorts of subjects. We got into a very interesting conversation once we were on the topic of Government. Some of the ladies could remember off the top of their heads who they first voted for during their first presidential election. Again, it is amazing how far back their mind can take them even with the disease.

After trivia, I served tea and cookies to residents in the Assisted Living side. The ladies who I had been playing trivia with were so sweet and patient. They even complimented me on my serving skills.  (I had to throw it out there that I currently work at In N Out Burger haha). Surprisingly enough, they knew what restaurant I was talking about. After helping everyone, I noticed that one of the women I had been playing trivia with was getting a little restless. She was complaining about not being catered to and she opened her tea bag and spilled all the herbs all over herself. The consierge then informed me that she was a new resident who had just moved in yesterday. She really isn't aware of what she's doing. It's very sad, but the only thing one can do is help them out.

It was an interesting visit today. I enjoyed it a lot and I think it had to do with the fact that I hosted the activity this time. Watching the residents is one thing, but actually communicating and having an open coversation with them is another. Hopefully I will be seeing them more often next week.

Second Visit at Aegis

Yesterday I visited Aegis and met with my mentor for 2 hours.

My mentor hosted the activity for the day which was on the evolution of penguins. I know it sounds silly, but it is a great way to stimulate the residents memories. As Joe talked about the penguins, he would constantly compare penguins to all sorts of things. One thing he connected the penguins to was humans and the fat in our body. It was interesting to see the residents get very into the topic. One woman even asked what types of predators penguins have to watch out for. It's amazing what things the residents can actually remember. I also noticed that the residents were very good at making jokes. Despite deteriorating memory, it was nice to see them engaged in the activity. Seeing them laugh and having a good time was really heart warming.

For the last hour I helped serve dinner in Assited Living. One highlight of serving dinner was when a resident was singing, "America the Beautiful," very loudly as he waited for his food. Their tendency to act like small children can really make my day sometimes! All in all, it was a good day with the residents. No outbreaks or weird phases yesterday. Can't wait to visit again.

First Day at Aegis

Yesterday was my first day meeting with my mentor at Aegis Living. For those of you who don't know, Aegis is an assisted living facility for elderly people with Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia. As of right now, the facility is almost booked. It is divided into two sections: Assisted Living and Life's Neighborhood. Residents are placed in each section based on the severity of the disease. 

For the first hour, my mentor and I discussed about the disease itself. I learned a lot about Alzheimer's and the following information caught my attention: it is genetic, it is a suffocation and loss of brain cells, it is fatal because the brain shuts down, and patients are a danger to themselves. After our discussion, my mentor and I led the afternoon activity for the day for the residents on the Assisted Living side. The activity was on the history of fashion hats. It may sound boring, but it is really important for residents to have these types of activities in order to stimulate brain cells that they still have. My mentor, Joe, repeatedly connected the different styles of hats back to certain time periods and eras for the residents. He explained to me later that it is one of his strategies to really get the residents thinking. One thing that had caught my attention was that before the activity, I had introduced myself to a resident named Vera. About 10 minutes later, Joe introduced me to her again and she greeted me as if she had never seen me before. 

After the afternoon activity, I went to Life's Neighborhood to serve dinner. The residents on this side are less active than those in Assisted Living. After serving the residents their food, one resident got up and started walking for the door. She said, "Where's my credit card? I have to pay for the food." We told her that the food had been paid for and she quietly walked back to her meal. It was definitely sad for me to see that. Almost every worker at Aegis said, "Its the disease that causes them to act like that."

I would say my first day went well. I'm looking forward to my next visit.