I'm done with my paperwork for the fiscal year, I did my Russian studies presentation, I finished my Social Psych paper, and I recertified as a Safe Management Instructor. It's been a whirlwind of a few days. Now I've just got a paper next week, and a test the week after and I'm done with the semester.
Last Sunday I had a full day of direct support work, then I had to get my paperwork into the Extend-a-Family dropbox because it was due by Monday. I couldn't bring it in earlier, because I needed two signatures from the people I worked with on Sunday. So I finish work at 9:00 PM and need to bus over to the office. Usually I just need one bus to get home, but it takes two to get to the office, and two to get home from there. So my one bus turns to four, and it's Sunday, so they only come every 45 minutes.
I get home at 11:30 and still need to finish my powerpoint so I can present by 1:00 the next day. I stay up all night and the next day I feel like my brain is bleeding.
I'm last in the day to present, so I have the whole class to compare my presentation to my peers and convince myself I don't stack up. Nerves are mounting. I didn't even get the chance to do a trial run beforehand and make sure my time is sufficient.
My subject is the psychological impact of being a doctor in Russia during the transition of Slavophlism (traditional Russian medical practices) to Westernism (adopting other European techniques) and comparing two characters from pieces of literature by Ivan Turgenev that we'd studied in class, one of them being a Slavophile and the other a Westernist.
We were supposed to present the topic that we will write our essay on. We'd already written an abstract for the essay, so I didn't have a choice on what to present.
My abstract had been done quickly. It had been due the same day I had to do that abstract art presentation and my field trip report. So I'd been exhausted that day as well. I leafed through the course content, pieced a few related bits together, and had written my abstract on that.
Despite continually encouraging us to use content covered within the course, all the presenters before me had found unique sources, so I was feeling fairly unoriginal. The instructor was giving feedback too, some more positive than others, so I felt like if I didn't really sell my topic, I'd get exposed.
Somehow, I managed to swing it. I was told I had a "very interesting interpretation" of the topic and she "looks forward to reading my essay" without any constructive feedback.
I went back home, decided I would finish my essay right away after I took a nap. Woke up at 4:00 AM the next day.
So now it's Tuesday and my SMG recert is on Wednesday. My cofacilitator is driving me to the office in Oakville where the training is being done. She lives in Guelph so we've arranged to leave from there, so I need to be in Guelph Wednesday morning, which means I have to travel on Tuesday. My essay is due Tuesday at midnight (submitted online), so I'm writing my essay as I travel.
Manage to get the essay done. Wake up at 6 the next day and leave at 7:15 AM.
If you'll remember, I've been to Oakville before, when they sent me there when I was supposed to be in London Ontario. It was the correct location this time. Felt weirdly nostalgic even though I'd only been there one night and one morning.
I was pretty nervous. Each trainer was randomly selected a segment of the course and we had to present it to the other recertifying trainers, as well as a Safe Management official in charge of evaluating us. I got "Limits and Interpersonal Boundaries". Basically talking about written and unritten rules, the importance of consistency in a staff team, and deciding what is and is not appropriate to share about our personal lives and the people we serve. I did fine. I "took it from a number of interesting angles and engaged the audience well". It was honestly kind of a love fest though. I don't think anyone got any real constructive feedback, we just spoke to each others strengths.
Then we had a written test, which was more difficult for some but I got through fine. Then we each had to instruct three or four physical techniques. I lucked out hardcore. I got Safety Position Basics, Safety Position A, Safety Position B, and The Worm.The Safety Positions are the first part of the physical component and basically shows in what way you should be standing depending on the level of aggression that you're dealing with. Basics as just a general rule, Position A for a lightly escalating situation, and Position B for a more imminent one. Simple stuff, and all pretty similar.
The Worm is a bit more intricate. That's the technique for assisting someone in escaping from a hair pull.
I got through it. In my initial training, I stumbled over one of the techniques but this time I was successful on each on the first try. I also did better on the written component this time around. The presentation too, come to think of it. I guess you do get better the more you do it.
Friday, March 30, 2018
Friday, March 23, 2018
End of Semester Rush
Beh... In under two weeks, I have my last Social Psych test, a Russian Studies Presentation, a research paper for Russian Studies, and one for Social Psych as well. On top of this, it's the end of the fiscal year, so I have to have all my paperwork figured out by Monday, and on Wednesday I have to attend Safe Management recertification training. Plus I still have all my contract work, and I have to attend some research participation thing for Social Psych.
Little nervous to attend research participation. In Social Psychology, they like to make tests that state a purpose, but which have a secret purpose that determines that you are racist/sexist/homophobic or a potential murderer based on your unconscious submissiveness. I would like to not know these things about myself, but I get 2% for attending and an additional 2% bonus grade for additional participation.
Just did my final Russian Studies test last Wednesday. First one that I didn't get 100% on, I got one question wrong. It was a true/false question stating that Russian folk music could make a strong impression without strong emphasis on lyrics. Sounded true but it was false. Of course the one question I'd get wrong in the semester had to do with music. I am not a musically minded person.
I'm getting a raise in the new fiscal year for my Direct Support Work. I don't know if I mentioned it the last time it happened, but this is my second wage increase since I started. Of course, my initial wage was under what is now minimum wage, so it's natural that they would have to increase it. It's a little awkward now, though, because I also do some work independent from the agency that is linked with most of the people I support. When I work independently, I charge a bit more than I would if I went through the agency, because the agency takes a bit off what I make, and also because I've been doing this for so much longer than most people and I deserve it, darn it. But now, with the April wage increase, what I receive hourly from the agency will be more than what I charge for my independent work. So when I work independently, I'll be like a discount social worker. That's not a good look.
So I'm going to have to give myself a raise. I've never done that, and I feel like that could develop into some awkward conversation.
I don't know if I've mentioned it, but the Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge area has been developing a Light Rail Transit system. It's been under construction since I moved to Kitchener about four-five years ago. It's been a really controversial subject, because the tri-city has put massive amounts of funding into it and the construction has caused a lot of inconvenience. There have been times where I've had to check the bus schedule daily because there were so many detours.
Well, they're finally sending trains over their rails, although only doing tests at the moment. I've seen them in motion, and they look sleeeeeek. They've caused me a lot of inconvenience up until now, but I have to admit, they look good. The stations also look marvelous.
They're getting rid of the bus stop that I've used to get almost everywhere since I moved into my current place. It's not a popular bus stop or anything, but out of coincidence, it goes by people that I've worked with, it goes by my old grouphome job, and it goes to the university. At first I was bummed out, but then someone pointed out that a station is going to be right by where I live, and it's a direct line to the University.
Since I've only ever known the LRT as the source of inconveniencing construction, I have only anticipated it finishing so that it can stop inconveniencing me, I've never really considered that it might be beneficial. Right now it takes me an hour and a half to get to the University, but this Light Rail could make that into a fragment of the time.
My life feels like it's... developing patterns. When I was in my early twenties, I did Ways2Work, Katimavik and Canada World Youth, living in five different communities, and had different job placements in each. I worked in eleven factories during my time in Guelph. When I moved to Kitchener, I lived in the Residence for a year, then student housing for two, then I subletted at a place after graduating before moving to where I am now. When I was in college, my part-time job changed twice. I lived with twenty different roommates throughout college, eight people in Katimavik, three different Project leaders, two host families in Canada World Youth and my counterpart. Even after graduating high school, I changed roommates three times.
I've been living at the place I'm currently at for two years and three months now, which is three months longer than anywhere else that I've lived since turning twenty, and it doesn't look like I'll be moving anytime soon. In one month, I will have lived with my current roommate longer than any other. I've been working as a Direct Support Worker for four years, three of which I've been with since I started. If I go back to the Summer Program for a fourth year, I will have worked sporadically with that program for five years.
I guess it's normal to become more consistent with age, and it looks good on a resume to show that you're able to maintain a position, but I won't lie... I'm feeling like a bit less of a... dynamic character. Feeling a little static in my lifestyle.
Little nervous to attend research participation. In Social Psychology, they like to make tests that state a purpose, but which have a secret purpose that determines that you are racist/sexist/homophobic or a potential murderer based on your unconscious submissiveness. I would like to not know these things about myself, but I get 2% for attending and an additional 2% bonus grade for additional participation.
Just did my final Russian Studies test last Wednesday. First one that I didn't get 100% on, I got one question wrong. It was a true/false question stating that Russian folk music could make a strong impression without strong emphasis on lyrics. Sounded true but it was false. Of course the one question I'd get wrong in the semester had to do with music. I am not a musically minded person.
I'm getting a raise in the new fiscal year for my Direct Support Work. I don't know if I mentioned it the last time it happened, but this is my second wage increase since I started. Of course, my initial wage was under what is now minimum wage, so it's natural that they would have to increase it. It's a little awkward now, though, because I also do some work independent from the agency that is linked with most of the people I support. When I work independently, I charge a bit more than I would if I went through the agency, because the agency takes a bit off what I make, and also because I've been doing this for so much longer than most people and I deserve it, darn it. But now, with the April wage increase, what I receive hourly from the agency will be more than what I charge for my independent work. So when I work independently, I'll be like a discount social worker. That's not a good look.
So I'm going to have to give myself a raise. I've never done that, and I feel like that could develop into some awkward conversation.
I don't know if I've mentioned it, but the Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge area has been developing a Light Rail Transit system. It's been under construction since I moved to Kitchener about four-five years ago. It's been a really controversial subject, because the tri-city has put massive amounts of funding into it and the construction has caused a lot of inconvenience. There have been times where I've had to check the bus schedule daily because there were so many detours.
Well, they're finally sending trains over their rails, although only doing tests at the moment. I've seen them in motion, and they look sleeeeeek. They've caused me a lot of inconvenience up until now, but I have to admit, they look good. The stations also look marvelous.
They're getting rid of the bus stop that I've used to get almost everywhere since I moved into my current place. It's not a popular bus stop or anything, but out of coincidence, it goes by people that I've worked with, it goes by my old grouphome job, and it goes to the university. At first I was bummed out, but then someone pointed out that a station is going to be right by where I live, and it's a direct line to the University.
Since I've only ever known the LRT as the source of inconveniencing construction, I have only anticipated it finishing so that it can stop inconveniencing me, I've never really considered that it might be beneficial. Right now it takes me an hour and a half to get to the University, but this Light Rail could make that into a fragment of the time.
My life feels like it's... developing patterns. When I was in my early twenties, I did Ways2Work, Katimavik and Canada World Youth, living in five different communities, and had different job placements in each. I worked in eleven factories during my time in Guelph. When I moved to Kitchener, I lived in the Residence for a year, then student housing for two, then I subletted at a place after graduating before moving to where I am now. When I was in college, my part-time job changed twice. I lived with twenty different roommates throughout college, eight people in Katimavik, three different Project leaders, two host families in Canada World Youth and my counterpart. Even after graduating high school, I changed roommates three times.
I've been living at the place I'm currently at for two years and three months now, which is three months longer than anywhere else that I've lived since turning twenty, and it doesn't look like I'll be moving anytime soon. In one month, I will have lived with my current roommate longer than any other. I've been working as a Direct Support Worker for four years, three of which I've been with since I started. If I go back to the Summer Program for a fourth year, I will have worked sporadically with that program for five years.
I guess it's normal to become more consistent with age, and it looks good on a resume to show that you're able to maintain a position, but I won't lie... I'm feeling like a bit less of a... dynamic character. Feeling a little static in my lifestyle.
Tuesday, March 6, 2018
Social Psych Test, Old Night Shift Job
Did a Social Psychology test today. Last one was particularly difficult and I had no confidence in it, but I still passed. This time around, I thought I did pretty well on the multiple choice but thought I may have been off-base on the short answer. Oh well, last time I wasn't confident in either section and I did alright. This time I had confidence in one section, so we'll see how I did.
On the bus to school, someone got on at the stop passing the grouphome where I used to work. He was nearly screaming on his cell phone, "They won't take me off nights, apparently no one wants to do it so they never let night shift change shift! I want to work with the kids! Everyone blames night shift for everything! They pay peanuts!"
After he finished his call, I asked him if he worked where I thought he did, and I was right. It was really gratifying to hear so many of the complaints that I had about the position echoed by someone else.
Apparently there was a mass firing, and most of my old coworkers and my former boss lost their jobs. I don't know anything about it, but I assume they all have criminal records now. Kind of glad I wasn't around for it. Not because I ever did anything to warrant a firing or criminal record, but just because.... you don't want to be too close to that.
I told him that I worked there for six months, and it had been about eight months since having left the position. Weird to think that my time away from the organization has been longer than my time in it. Feels like yesterday I was going in to work there.
I'm still in touch with one of the morning shifters, and apparently no one has lasted as a night shifter since I left.
They recently upgraded the buses around here as a response to that series of near-strikes the bus drivers threatened awhile back. So far, this includes a new system where bus transfers are issued from within a mechanism after you have paid cash. These new transfers include a bar code which can be scanned by bus patrons on entering their connecting ride. This eliminates the responsibility of the bus driver to check each transfer to make sure they are boarding within the allowable time of the transfer, as the transfer deactivates as soon as the allotted time ends. It also means that, if a bus patron attempts to under-pay, the system will not produce a transfer. This takes away some of the accountability that bus drivers have in deciding whether or not to let people who underpay board.
It doesn't eliminate all awkwardness though. I've still seen people beg to be allowed to board, and have seen bus drivers concede so as to avoid a fight. The only difference is that the driver no longer has the option to count the rider as a passenger in their system. The new transfer system is also much slower than the old system of ripping off a bit of paper and handing it to a rider, so it has put all the bus schedules back a bit. I've seen a few buses have plexiglass shields for their drivers as well.
Have you guys heard of the Universal Law of Urination? This is the concept that all mammals, regardless of size, urinate for approximately 21 seconds! So an elephant, a house cat, and a human would all need approximately 21 seconds to urinate. At first, I thought there was no way that I last that long (ha), but decided I would put it to the test. And to my surprise, I was exactly 21 seconds! Next time you go to the bathroom, make sure to count, and see if you match up to the Universal Law of Urination!
On the bus to school, someone got on at the stop passing the grouphome where I used to work. He was nearly screaming on his cell phone, "They won't take me off nights, apparently no one wants to do it so they never let night shift change shift! I want to work with the kids! Everyone blames night shift for everything! They pay peanuts!"
After he finished his call, I asked him if he worked where I thought he did, and I was right. It was really gratifying to hear so many of the complaints that I had about the position echoed by someone else.
Apparently there was a mass firing, and most of my old coworkers and my former boss lost their jobs. I don't know anything about it, but I assume they all have criminal records now. Kind of glad I wasn't around for it. Not because I ever did anything to warrant a firing or criminal record, but just because.... you don't want to be too close to that.
I told him that I worked there for six months, and it had been about eight months since having left the position. Weird to think that my time away from the organization has been longer than my time in it. Feels like yesterday I was going in to work there.
I'm still in touch with one of the morning shifters, and apparently no one has lasted as a night shifter since I left.
They recently upgraded the buses around here as a response to that series of near-strikes the bus drivers threatened awhile back. So far, this includes a new system where bus transfers are issued from within a mechanism after you have paid cash. These new transfers include a bar code which can be scanned by bus patrons on entering their connecting ride. This eliminates the responsibility of the bus driver to check each transfer to make sure they are boarding within the allowable time of the transfer, as the transfer deactivates as soon as the allotted time ends. It also means that, if a bus patron attempts to under-pay, the system will not produce a transfer. This takes away some of the accountability that bus drivers have in deciding whether or not to let people who underpay board.
It doesn't eliminate all awkwardness though. I've still seen people beg to be allowed to board, and have seen bus drivers concede so as to avoid a fight. The only difference is that the driver no longer has the option to count the rider as a passenger in their system. The new transfer system is also much slower than the old system of ripping off a bit of paper and handing it to a rider, so it has put all the bus schedules back a bit. I've seen a few buses have plexiglass shields for their drivers as well.
Have you guys heard of the Universal Law of Urination? This is the concept that all mammals, regardless of size, urinate for approximately 21 seconds! So an elephant, a house cat, and a human would all need approximately 21 seconds to urinate. At first, I thought there was no way that I last that long (ha), but decided I would put it to the test. And to my surprise, I was exactly 21 seconds! Next time you go to the bathroom, make sure to count, and see if you match up to the Universal Law of Urination!
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