Thursday, March 6

Today was our fifth day here in the the land of the rising sun.  The OT's and PT's started early and ate breakfast at McDonald's.  It was very easy to order there (thanks to a numbered mat and a cashier who understood us) and also, the food was much better than the food in the US.  We then met Professor Nasami and we got on the bus to the train.  We boarded the train about 8 a.m. and experienced Japanese rush hour first hand.  It was definitely like what you saw on tv.  We were told "at all costs, get off".  Fortunately, we all made it out.  We then went to the visiting nurse's station and met their OT and PT.  Laura and I went with their OT to see two of his clients-one in a private nursing home and one in a house.  The nursing home was very similar to ours except the rooms were a bit narrow.  The OT saw his client for a half hour, using a technique called AKA therapy, which implemented small muscle movements to both extremities to encourage range of motion.  We then met with a nurse in the nursing home, who showed us the bathroom that they used, including their bath tub.  Because Japanese bathtubs are much higher than ours, they use electronic lifts to transfer the patients in and out of the bathtub.  We then went to his other patient's home, who was very friendly, who not only discussed her injury with us, but also wanted us to take part in therapy.  After leaving her house, we went back to the office, where we discussed with Professor Nasami and the OT what we saw during the home visits and the similarities and differences between American and Japanese OT home health visits.

After we left the office, we went to lunch at a sushi restaurant. Two pieces of sushi were on small plates and put on a conveyer belt that moved around the restaurant. We all ate different types of sushi, including sea urchin and fish eggs. After that, we went shopping at different shops including a sword shop where we got to hold samurai swords, a five story 100 yen store where we got most of our souvenirs, and a department store where Laura and I got to try on kimonos. After shopping we went back to campus to a party thrown by the OT, PT, and RT students. We all ate together and then the six of us and Dr. Truluck made each made a speech expressing our gratitude for everything they have done for us the past week. Can't wait to go sight seeing tomorrow!

Wednesday! 3/5/08

Wow!! This is the first time I have had 5 minutes to myself all week! Of course that is not a bad thing because we are having such a great time and learning so many things about Japan :) I apologize for blogging late, but I just returned from a very informative day... and soon our hosts are having a reception for us... so lets begin!

PT and OT students went to Kitasato University Hospital, and Kitasato University Hospital East today. We were introduced to the rehab team at both hospitals and learned about cardiac rehab, the use of oragami as a treatment for OT, and how patients with a CVA transfer from floor to a chair and then to standing. Some Japanese people spend time sitting on the floor in their homes for meals and leisure time. The OT students were excited to see a kitchen set-up that moved electronically higher and lower for patients in wheelchairs.

We met so many smart, bright, and talented clinicians at all the facilities who were kind enough to tell us about their profession and the patients they treat. We learned about the invention of a speech device for patients who are nonverbal secondary to ALS. There is a higher percentage of patients with ALS compared to the United States.

The other highlights of our day include: seeing patterns for ambulation painted on the hospital floor for those with parkinson`s disease, visiting a Japanese Nursing Home, and going out to lunch and dinner with our host students.

To recap, this has been an amazing experience... I wish I had more time to reflect, however I do not want to be late for the next scheduled event. Especially since it is our going away party! Tomorrow we spend the day sightseeing in Yokohama. Look forward to hearing about Thursday`s adventures visiting patients homes and the RT students trip to Chiba.

Sincerely, Kyle

Presentation Day

Our seconｄ　ｄａｙ　ｉｎ　Ｊａｐａｎ　ｓｔａｒｔｅｄ　ｏｆｆ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｃｏｆｆｅｅ，　ｔｅａ　ａｎｄ　ｄａｎｉｓｈｅｓ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ＯＴ　ｒｏｏｍ．　　Ｏｕｒ　ｇｅｎｅｒｏｕｓ　ｈｏｓｔｓ　ｍａｄｅ　ｓｕｒｅ　ｔｈａｔ　ｗｅ　ａｌｌ　ｈａｄ　ｅｎｏｕｇｈ　ｔｏ　ｅａｔ　ａｎｄ　ｗｅ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｏｆｆ　ｔｏ　ａｎ　ＯＴ　ｃｌａｓｓ．　　Ｓｉｎｃｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｔｕｄｅｎｔｓ　ａｒｅ　ｏｎ　ｔｈｅｉｒ　”ｓｐｒｉｎｇ　ｂｒｅａｋ”　ａｌｓｏ，　ｔｈｅｙ　ａｒｅ　ｃｏｍｉｎｇ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　Ｕｎｉｖｅｒｓｉｔｙ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｔｏ　ｍｅｅｔ　ｕｓ．　　Ｔｈｅ　ｐｒｏｆｅｓｓｏｒｓ　ｈａｖｅ　ｓｐｅｃｉａｌｌｙ　ｐｒｅｐａｒｅｄ　ｃｌａｓｓｅｓ　ａｎｄ　ｖｉｄｅｏｓ　ｉｎ　Ｅｎｇｌｉｓｈ　ｓｏ　ｔｈａｔ　ｗｅ　ｕｎｄｅｒｓｔａｎｄ　ｔｈｅｍ．　　Ｔｈｅ　ＯＴ　ｃｌａｓｓ　ｃｏｎｓｉｓｔｅｄ　ｏｆ　ａ　ｇｒｅａｔ　ａｓｓｅssment　ｔｏｏｌ　ｂｙ　ｕｓｉｎｇ　ｏｒａｇａｍｉ．　　Ｉｔ　ｉｓ　ｉｎｔｅｒｅｓｔｉｎｇ　ｔｏ　ｓｅｅ　ｈｏｗ　ｔｈｅ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｃｕｌｔｕｒｅ　ｉｓ　ｉｎｔｅｇｒａｔｅｄ　ｉｎｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ａｓｓｅｓｓｍｅｎｔｓ　ｂｙ　ｍａｋｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｃｒａｎｅ．　　Ｍｏｓｔ　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ｉｎ　Ｊａｐａｎ　ｈａｖｅ　ｍａｄｅ　ｔｈｅｓｅ　ｃｒａｎｅｓ　ａｎｄ　ｉｔ　ｉｓ　ａ　ｇｒｅａｔ　ｑｕｉｃｋ　ｓｃｒｅｅｎ　ｔｏ　ａｓｓｅｓｓ　ｆｏｒ　ｃｏｇｎｉｔｉｖｅ　ｆｕｎｃｔｉｏｎ　ａｎｄ　ｍｏｔｏｒ　ｃｏｎｔｒｏｌ．　　Ｎｅｘｔ，　ｗｅ　ａｔｔｅｎｄｅｄ　ａ　ＰＴ　ｃｌａｓｓ　ａｂｏｕｔ　ｃｈｅｓｔ　ｐｈｙｓｉｏｔｈｅｒａｐｙ　ｉｎ　Ｊａｐａｎ．　　Ｔｈｅｙ　ｔａｕｇｈｔ　ｕｓ　ｈｏｗ　ｔｏ　ｃｏｎｔｒｏｌ　ｂｒｅａｔｈｉｎｇ　ｂｙ　”ｓｑｕｅｅｚｉｎｇ　ａｎｄ　ｓｐｒｉｎｇｉｎｇ”．　　Ａｌｌ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｔｕｄｅｎｔｓ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｖｅｒｙ　ｈｅｌｐｆｕｌ．　　Ｔｈｅ　ＲＴ　ｓｔｕｄｅｎｔｓ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｓｅｐｅｒａｔｅｄ　ｆｒｏｍ　ｕｓ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｍｏｒｎｉｎｇ　ａｎｄ　ｅｘｐｌｏｒｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｏｗｎ　ｆｉｅｌｄ　ｉｎｖｉｄｉｖｉｄｕａｌｌｙ．

Ｄｕｒｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　ａｆｔｅｒｎｏｏｎ，　ｗｅ　ｐａｒｔｉｃｉｐａｔｅｄ　ｉｎ　ａ　ｌｕｎｃｈｅｏｎ　ｓｅｍｉｎａｒ　ｗｈｉｌｅ　ｔｈｅ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｓｔｕｄｅｎｔｓ　ｐｒｅｓｅｎｔｅｄ　ｔｈｅｉｒ　ｒｅｐｅｃｔｉｖｅ　professions．　　Ｗｅ　ａｌｓｏ　ｇａｖｅ　ｏｕｒ　ｐｒｅｓｅｎｔａｔｉｏｎ　ａｂｏｕｔ　ｖａｒｉｏｕｓ　ｔｏｐｉｃｓ　ｉｎｃｌｕｄｉｎｇ　ＯＴ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　Ｕｎｉｔｅｄ　Ｓｔａｔｅｓ，　ｃｉｔｙ　ｌｉｆｅ　ｉｎ　Ｐｈｉｌａｄｅｌｐｈｉａ，　ａｎｄ　ＰＥＴ－ＣＴ　ｓｃａｎ：　１０　ｙｅａｒｓ　ｌａｔｅｒ．　　Ｅｖｅｒｙｏｎｅ　ｓｅｅｍｅｄ　ｔｏ　ａｐｐｒｅｃｉａｔｅ　ｏｕｒ　ｐｒｅｓｅｎｔａｔｉｏｎｓ　ａｎｄ　ｗｅ　ｈｏｐｅｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｌａｎｇｕａｇｅ　ｂａｒｒｉｅｒ　ｗａｓ　ｎｏｔ　ｍｕｃｈ　ｏｆ　ａｎ　ｉｓｓｕｅ．

Now，　ｏｎｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｎｉｇｈｔ！　Ｔａｋｉｎｇ　ｂｕｓｓｅｓ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｕｂｗａｙ　ｓｙｓｔｅｍ，ｗｅ　ｍａｄｅ ｏｕｒ　ｗａｙ　ｉｎｔｏ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｎｉｇｈｔｌｉｆｅ．　　Ｖａｎｅｓｓａ　ａｎｄ　Ｉ　ｓｔａｒｔｅｄ　ｗｉｔｈ　ａ　ｄｉｎｎｅｒ　ａｔ　Ｆｒｉｄａｙｓ．　　Ｔｈｅ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｓｔｕｄｅｎｔｓ　ｓｅｅｍｅｄ　ｅｘｃｉｔｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｓｈｏｗ　ｕｓ　ｓｏｍｅ　Ａｍｅｒｉｃａｎ　ｆｏｏｄ．　　Ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｗａｓ　ｌｏｔｓ　ｏｆ　ｌａｕｇｈｔｅｒ　ａｎｄ　ｅｘｐｌａｎａｔｉｏｎｓ　ｏｎ　ｈｏｗ　ｔｏ　ｅａｔ　ｒｉｂｓ　ａｎｄ　ａｐｐｌｅ　ｐｉｅ．　　Ｔｈｅｙ　ｔｏｐｐｅｄ　ｏｕｒ　ｄｉｎｎｅｒ　ｏｆｆ　ｗｉｔｈ　ａｎ　ｉｃｅ　ｃｒｅａｍ　ｃｅｌｅｂｒａｔｉｏｎ　ｃｏｍｐｌｅｔｅ　ｗｉｔｈ　ａ　ｓｐａｒｋｌｅｒ　ａｓ　ａ　ｃａｎｄｌｅ． 　Ｔｈｅ　ｂｏｙｓ　ｓｅｅｍｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｈａｖｅ　ａ　ｇｒｅａｔ　ｔｉｍｅ　ｔｏｏ．　　Ｂｏｔｈ　ｔｈｅ　ＲＴ　ｂｏｙｓ　ａｎｄ　ＰＴ　ｂｏｙｓ　ａｔｅ　ｔｒａｄｉｔｉｏｎａｌ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｆｏｏｄ．　　Ａｆｔｅｒ　ｏｕｒ　ｄｅｌｉｃｉｏｕｓ　ｄｉｎｎｅｒｓ，　ｗｅ　ｍｅｔ　ｕｐ　ｆｏｒ　ｓｏｍｅ　ｂｏｗｌｉｎｇ　ａｎｄ　ａｎｄ　ａｒｃａｄｅ　ｇａｍｅｓ．　　Ｎｅｅｄｌｅｓｓ　ｔｏ　ｓａｙ，　ｏｕｒ　ｎｅｗ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｆｒｉｅｎｄｓ　ｌｅｆｔ　ｕｓ　ｅｘｈａｕｓｔｅｄ，　ｂｕｔ　ｅｘｃｉｔｅｄ　ｆｏｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｒｅｓｔ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｗｅｅｋ．　

Introductions...

Throughout our full first day in Japan, there were many new concepts and people to be introduced to.  First on the agenda was an introduction to the Dean of the School of Allied Health Sciences.  At this meeting we were also introduced to respective leaders of each department in the field of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Radiological Technology.  It is worthy of note that each educational process has many similarities to our own education.  With respect to PT, classes are quite similar, but the amount of school required is quite shorter.  At Kitasato University, students are rewarded a Bachelors degree, where at TJU we are rewarded a Doctoral degree, this is probably why time required is shorter.

Shortly after this meeting we then were introduced to the students we had been speaking with over the internet.  It was great to finally meet these students, they were as excited to meet us as we were to meet them.  We then went to lunch with the students who assisted us in choosing food that we would enjoy.  During this meal we learned how well the students can speak the english language.

A tour of the University followed shortly there after.  We visited each department, where we were given an explanation of different laboratory equipment.  After the tour to each department, the Dean then hosted a dinner with us and the rest of the faculty and staff of each department.  The dean toasted to us, with a "Kan Pai", then dinner was served.  Choices included traditional Japanese cuisine with sushi, sticky rice, and other delicious treats and desert to follow.

Today was a packed day, tomorrow promises to be just as packed and full of opportunities as today.  Rumor is the students may take us to go bowling tomorrow evening, and I can't wait.  

Welcome to Japan

Kombanwa and welcome to the JCHP in Japan 2008 blog.  Today we arrived in Tokyo around 3pm.  For those of you already counting on your fingers and trying to convert the time difference here's a quick trick. Subtract 2 hours from your current time (assuming you're on the East Coast.)  Now identify whether it's am or pm after your 2-hour difference, and then just identify it as the opposite.  So for example I'm blogging this draft at 10pm, subtract 2 hours and you get 8pm.  Now simply change pm to am and you have your time of 8am.

Upon arrival we were greeted by our hosts and brought to Kitasato University.  On our travel here, we were amazed by the shear size of Tokyo as we drove through the heart of this city and got our first visual glimpse of its magnitude up close.  There were some familiar landmarks we saw on our travel that reminded of us home such as McDonalds, 7-Eleven, Disney World, and Subway, yet nothing made us feel more welcomed then the warm response and hospitality of the Kitasato University faculty themselves.

We ended the evening by having dinner and exchanging polite conversation with our host at a local restaurant within walking distance from our campus dorms.  After departing and exchanging salutations, we were all ready to call it an evening and catch up on some very needed sleep.

So as I end and close our first blog from Japan, I invite you to check back daily and read our posts.  Tomorrow we will officially begin our schedule here and attend meetings and tours with our respective departments at Kitasato University.  Stay tuned…

The Journey Begins!