Your personal GDB first day is going to be highly dependent on your travel situation. I am lucky enough that my family was able to drive me to the campus. This is highly recommended, if you can swing it. You can pack more, experience less stress, and the return home is so much better.
Regarding packing, remember that this isn’t going to be like a normal vacation. You need clothing that you will be comfortable walking and working in. You will want layers (especially in the Pacific Northwest). You will want good, broken-in shoes meant for walking. Think about creature comforts, technology, etc. This is a two-week experience, so plan accordingly. And remember, you are coming home with extra equipment. You’ll somehow need to get all this new stuff home.
And Soon Enough, You’re Here
When I started with GDB in 1994, students shared rooms. Classes had anywhere from twelve to twenty-four members. Arrival day was chaotic, busy, and a bit confusing for the newcomer.
Now things seem remarkably quiet. The dining hall, meant to feed up-to three dozen, had six students. The place feels big and more solitary. In particular, the individual bedrooms mean that one has plenty of personal space (which was at a bit of a premium previously).
Remember your well-packed personal effects? The now single-person rooms have an almost insane amount of space. What formerly worked for two is now all yours. Go nuts, but remember that you’ll be packing it all back up after two weeks.
In my case, check-in started at about 2:00 PM. Our first lecture (mostly introductory material and equipment handout) was at 4:30. If you are arriving on via your own travel arrangements, plan to be at the campus by 3:30 so you can acclimate to the dormitory. If you normally need extra time to relax in a new place, arrive earlier. Families are, of course, welcome into the dorm for drop-off. Just try to be respectful of your fellow students who might be homesick already and/or are trying to deal with an abrupt and possibly dramatic change.
Of course, if GDB arranges your travel, all this will be taken care of. Relax, they have everything planned out. Be aware that you may need to pay for any luggage check fees. In my class, these costs were reimbursed.
Unpack, Unwind?
After dinner the group finished off the lecture with a brief dormitory tour. You are going to live here for the next two weeks. Pay attention to the tour, and ask questions or for more detail. Especially those that are receiving a first dog may feel overwhelmed with information. Rely on the resident assistant and the nursing staff. These people are there to help make your time successful.
With all lectures done I…returned to the room to work for a couple of hours. This combination of GDB and employer focus is going to be my personal cross for the next couple of weeks. The new class sizes and structure will help this significantly, as I will have far fewer distractions. Others, on the other hand, might feel more comfortable unpacking, getting to know other students, or reviewing the lecture material for the next day.
Previous experience says that class life can be categorized into three buckets. Hurry-up, wait, and eat. I’m interested to see if the same applies in this new class philosophy.
Tomorrow is a very important day. Getting a guide dog is not an easy commitment. Coming back for a successor dog allows you to settle in more quickly, but you are probably still coping with the transition away from your previous partner. I know I am. In fact, the habits and assumptions made with one dog probably won't work with another. The class instruction helps to restore your technique and understanding, while giving you time to accept that this new person is in your life.
And that all starts....tomorrow.
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