[nagdu] attending The Seeing Eye

Fri Apr 13 14:20:56 UTC 2012

When you got to the airport, how did you identify the staff from Seeing Eye?
What was the mode of transportation you used to and from TSE? I greatly
appreciate your assistance!

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Robert Hooper
Sent: Friday, April 13, 2012 8:39 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] attending The Seeing Eye

Hello again Reinhard:

I had to wait on a few additional people, but as I recall, that didn't take
too long--the time passed more quickly as I was able to chat with the other
class members whilst waiting. No, the dogs don't all get the same food. As I
recall, most of the shepherds were on eukanuba, whereas most of the other
dogs were on some sort of Iams or ProPlan.  I was satisfied with the
grooming equipment--the pin brush is great and the comb just as sturdily
metal as you could hope.
I don't know anything about dry cleaning services, as I didn't bring any
clothing that needed dry cleaned. Because TSE seemed very accommodating, I
would ask your instructor--they may be able to work out something--however,
I can't guarantee that they will pay for it (although they paid for most of
my drinks at Starbucks).
So, there you go--as usual, feel free to yell at me for clarifications or
omissions.
Cordially,
Robert Hooper
Hooper.90 at buckeyemail.osu.edu
The Ohio State University
0653 Buckeye-Cuyahoga CT
653 Cuyahoga Court
Columbus, Ohio 43210
(740) 856-8195

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Reinhard Stebner
Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2012 10:51 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] attending The Seeing Eye

When you got to the airport, did you need to wait for other class mates
before you went to TSI? Did they provide laundry bags or a dry cleaning
service (where you paid for the service)? How much food were you given and
did all class mates receive the same dog food? Do they still provide dog
boles for home? Finally, what did you think of the grooming tools?

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Robert Hooper
Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2012 3:27 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] attending The Seeing Eye

Hello Reinhard:

I envy you your trip to The Seeing Eye. It's hard to say what your
experience will be like, as you will likely be working with different staff
members than I did. So, the best I can do is give you my thoughts from my
perspective.
Training

The Seeing Eye should have sent you some electronic documents regarding a
general outline of what training will be like, including a sample schedule.
You will have it relatively easy for the first two days (your pre-dog days).
You will be able to sleep later and the only things you will do
training-wise are Juno walks and familiarizing with the Seeing eye's campus
and training center. The food is very good, all homemade and professionally
served. They don't frown upon those who request extra helpings, so be
careful!
After you receive your dog, you will be getting up at 5:30 every morning.
They will pipe music into your room via an intercom located above your bed.
You can adjust the volume of this intercom, but I suggest you don't, as
announcements are also given via this medium. As soon as the music blasted
its way into my consciousness, I rolled out of bed, said good morning to my
pup, and yanked on some pants, socks, and shoes. I then waited at the door
for the instructors to come around with the doggy breakfast. After giving me
a food bowl, I closed the door and fed and watered the dog. After that, I
traipsed down to park (relieving area). Afterward, I returned to my room,
took the food bowl to the common lounge (as requested), and took a shower.
Breakfast usually wasn't until 7:30, so after the shower I would go to sleep
(or go to the lounge, depending on what struck my fancy). At breakfast, our
instructors would brief us on the day's events (who's going where and when,
and the things on which we would be working). After consuming The Seeing
Eye's delicious coffee, I would return to the lounge or my room and wait for
my shuttle to be called.
An instructor (or apprentice) would drive us and our dogs into town, where
we would wait to walk with our instructors and usually another person. The
instruction was superb, and as I said in a prior post, comfortably
repetitive. Toward the end of the morning, we would start leaving for base,
where we occasionally attended a lecture, parked the dogs, and ate lunch. We
then repeated the morning routine in the afternoon, and returned for evening
park and doggy/human dinner. Most of the lectures took place in the evening,
and were the length of some standard college lectures. They were
semi-formal, interactive, and serious.
You will be given a thumb drive with mp3 versions of the lectures on them,
and you will be encouraged to listen to them before the lecture in question.
I enjoyed the lectures, being the academic person that I am. Topics range
from traffic to dog massage.

Dorm life

It's hard to analyze each aspect of existence at TSE, as they are so blended
together. You will be hanging out in the same place that lectures are given.
I made amazing friends at TSE, and remember several loud, laugh-filled
evenings and afternoons in the common lounge. You will have a very
comfortable life at TSE. You have a full-size bed, your own bath/shower, XM
radio, soap, and miscellaneous other things in your room, including heat/AC.
However, I would be wary of leaving any valuables around your room, as the
bedroom doors do not have locks. However, you have two closets in your room,
one of which has a lock.
Weekends can be a bit boring, as you will only have one trip (although I
seem to remember something saying that this is going to change). Since we
are not allowed to take our dogs off campus, there is little to do save walk
the leisure path, talk to friends, read, study lecture material, sleep, and
recuperate from the week's activities. It does get a bit slow, so be
prepared to be a bit restless on the weekends. If you have people who will
visit you, that can make things more enjoyable.

Computing

TSE has a tech center (which has actual airline seats to practice). I had my
own laptop, so I did not make use of the technology center. However, I did
make use of their wireless network for both my phone and computer. The tech
center is downstairs with the laundry, grooming room, and rec center.
Staff
In my experience, all the staff were positive, encouraging, and a joy to
have around. I, being the humor-loving, controversy-driven, and
conversation-having person that I am, loved conversing with everyone from
the housekeeping staff to the instructors and servers. I'm sure I did not
cover everything, but feel free to write me some follow-up questions to
address any discrepancies or anything on which you wish me to elaborate.
Sincerely,
Robert Hooper
Hooper.90 at buckeyemail.osu.edu
The Ohio State University
0653 Buckeye-Cuyahoga CT
653 Cuyahoga Court
Columbus, Ohio 43210
(740) 856-8195

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Reinhard Stebner
Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2012 2:47 PM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: [nagdu] attending The Seeing Eye

Good afternoon,

I will be attending The Seeing Eye on Monday 4/16/2012. Could you please let
me know from a user's prospective, what to expect? I am referring to:

1)      Training

2)      Lectures.

3)      Dorm life.

4)      Computing.

5)      Staff in terms of warm / friendly or not. 

Thank you.

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