[nagdu] attending The Seeing Eye

Fri Apr 13 14:36:01 UTC 2012

Well, I had an assistant from the airport help me off the plane to the luggage retrieval. From there, either a staff member from TSE or a limo driver will meet you--they know your flight, so they know which planes and such to monitor for passengers. If you use (or have) a white cane, I would just have it out while walking with the airport assistant so the TSE faculty member can more quickly identify you. I anticipated all kinds of trouble, but in reality it could not have gone more smoothly. I told my flight attendant that I would need assistance after landing, assistance was provided, and the TSE person found me on the way to collect luggage.
Now that I think about it, they had my picture--the trainer who did my home interview took my picture before he left, so I imagine they already have a good idea of what you look like.

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: Friday, April 13, 2012 10:21 AM
To: 'NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users'
Subject: Re: [nagdu] attending The Seeing Eye

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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