Monday February 26th

Woke up had toast with jam for breakfast.
Went into Frue Plads to catch a bus with PCD people. We went into a school for blind children 1.5 hours away in NW Zealand. There were two other groups that went different places.
Ginny, Laura, Elizabeth and I talked a bit on the way there. Cool windmills by the side of the road. I felt a bit motion sick because I was sitting backwards on the bus.
We got to the school. A woman from the residential life staff talked with us. She spoke great english. The students must have a certain level of poor eye sight to be admitted. Many also have social or physical problems as well. She explained about the school and what life is like for the students who live at he school. All the students help with cooking. There are things to touch all over the walls so the students know where they are. On the sidewalks at intersections there are bumpy rocks so the students know that there is a choice to make about where to go. Very few of the students seemed to use canes. Most were able to move around on their own. There was a really cool room with disco lights and a warm massage bean bag type bed that students can lie in. The idea is to stimulate senses and help the students relax. After being in teh room they are better able to talk and feel more comfortable. Many are in braces so it is nice for them to get out of those and lie free. The light stimulates their sight. Once a month they do a special cookign day where they get to go around and taste many different foods. There is an OT and PT right on the campus. Students come from all over Denmark. One of the things that I thought was most controversial was that the children live there and are somewhat isolated from thier families. Their peers and the people working at the school become like a family. Some of the students are only 7 months. The oldest is 24 years but that is jsut because they cannot find a good place to have him go.
There are statues of people in in the yard and apparently there was a kid who went up and held the statues hand.
They have lots of computers and technology. One machine makes braille writing. There is a machine to enlarge pictures. There are special keyboards that the students use (although none with braille on the keys.
One class had bunny rabbits to take care of. It helps to have something to care for and to love.
We had a nice lunch of various open faced sandwiches on rye bread. I had one with ham and a creamy sauce and asparagus.
We took the bus back to DIS. Ashley Elizabeth and I played cards. When we got back the three of us went to a bakery and I got a pastry with chocolate and vanilla icing on top.
We went to the theory PCD class. Jan the professor was wearing black leather pants, a pink shirt and red suspenders. We learned about the autistic spectrum. Basically there are three traits of children that entail a diagnosis. Trouble with social integration, impaired communication, trouble reading body language, poverty of expression, and importance of routine are characteristics. Children can be aloof, passive or exhibit strange behavior when they have autism. We watched a clip of a Norwegian movie about a child with autism. The child had a one on one aide to help him rephrase things correctly adn interact with others. The mother "bought" friends by having yummy foods and video games for them to play when they came to play with her son.
At the end we were given general feedback about our last paper. People were getting so worked up and being very rude and disrespectful. Jan was not being very clear about his expectations either, but still. My goodness people get dumb when grades are involved.
Took the bus home. It was very crowded. There is quite a bit of diversity on the bus that I noticed. People of African descent and people who look of middle eastern descent. Not many asians that I have seen though. It took forever I guess because it was rush hour. Jens was meeting with a collegue who is changing jobs so he was home a bit late. I watched the news with Ida. The Oscars were on it. Chimney sweepers are striking. There was a story abotu a woman with some fatal disease and they wanted to talk with her to have the record.
We had rice, beef, and veggies for dinner. Karen was tired from her first day back at school in a while after being sick.