the office

So on a weekend in June, I was wasting time at Joey's place checking my email when I got an email from CSHP (Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists) to work as their (replacement) summer intern in Ottawa. This was a huge surprise to me, as they had rejected my application after a pleasant phone interview earlier in the year, and I had literally just started a three-month employment period at Shoppers Drug Mart. A few things came to mind - I have another job, and I don't have anywhere to live. But this was a fantastic opportunity for me to learn about the advocacy and educational side of hospital pharmacy, and it took me all of two minutes to know that I would do it. However, I realize that I'll be missing out on a lot of activities with my friends back in the Lower Mainland - I miss you very much, and hopefully you're enjoying your summers and we'll have stories to tell!

I gave my employer my two-week notice and I found (after some detailed research and bumps along the way) a room in Brooks residence at the university of Ottawa to sublet (at $400 a month!!). It's a fantastic place to live because it is right next to downtown, it's spacious with air conditioning and has a kitchen and two bathrooms. I also had to organize my flights, phone plan, and packing, as well as doing all the other stuff in June (see previous entry).

Living-wise, it has been pretty straightforward so far in Ottawa. Apart from the fact that I landed in the middle of a heat wave in Ottawa with significant humidity. Groceries and other supplies are very close-by, the girl I was subletting from was very helpful, and while the bus system was initially confusing, it is rather reliable (only one bus so far that didn't come when it was supposed to). I've been somewhat money-conscious (as I basically spent my June earnings on my flight over to Ottawa) so my supplies that I've purchased in Ottawa are somewhat limited. For example, I don't have sugar, saran wrap, snack food, or (most importantly) a rice cooker, so I've been eating pasta the last week. I want to try cooking brown rice (in a pot) soon, if I can find it (it'll be easier to carry groceries when the temperature isn't so ridiculous).

My reference to "the office," apart from the obvious, is also because unfortunately, the show is on OMNI at 7:30pm, which works out to be close to my eating time. I've always had a healthy dislike for this show, primarily because I find Steve Carrell so stagnant and irritating, and I don't think that he is funny on his own. Compare "40 year old virgin" versus some of the Steve Carrell solo attempts. But for some reason, I've been watching this show, even if the only real reason is Jenna Fischer.

So, what is working at the CSHP National office like? It's an office of 10 (females only!) and very close-knit. There are a lot of things that CSHP does, from awards, advocacy, coordination of member networks, publications, conferences, and internal stuff. As the intern, I get to sit in on all those meetings - CSHP deals with a huge number of external organizations! So far I haven't heard much in the way of hospital pharmacy-related discussion (so far, it has been bylaws revision, post-audit comments, and one Council meeting, all by teleconference) but in Halifax at the Summer Educational Sessions (SES), I am sure there will be more substantive debate and issues for me to learn about.

I also get to learn about CSHP's official publications, because that's a project I'm working on, and I'm also helping out with membership renewal, which is very time-consuming and somewhat boring and repetitive. I've also been learning about some interesting things that I'll be able to discuss more thoroughly later, I would imagine (things like CSHP's strategic business plan), and I hope to contribute some student perspective (using my experience in that role in Pharmacy) at improving CSHP's offerings to their student members.

My coworkers have been very supportive, helping me learn the bus schedule and telling me about all sorts of things to do and see in Ottawa. Actually, my coworker who works right next to me, Rosemary Pantalone, used to coordinate Awards at UBC (for 20 years!) and although we've never met, she was at UBC for my first year. We recognized each other's names too.

I know this post has been rather brief in regards to detail, so hopefully I can do these topics better justice later. I hope to blog once or twice weekly during my time in Ottawa. Until then, the weekend awaits and the bed beckons!