Wait, why are you in England, again?

It's been far too long since I've done a descriptive post about what exactly I'm doing here. When I say far too long, what I really mean is: I'm sorry that since I started this blog I haven't described, in the detail you'd like, what exactly I'm doing here. 'Far too long' just seemed easier.

If you've never asked me what I'm doing in England, or if I failed to tell you (most likely the latter), here's the gist of it (sorry if this bores you, I tried to put in jokes but then I realized I'm really not that funny..at least not to anyone but myself):

So, I'm working here in Sidcup, Kent (which is really a borough of London, but it's not exactly in London either, don't even ask me about this because I will never understand it). Anyways, I'm working in Sidcup as a full time volunteer for Carer's Support Bexley. What does this mean? Well, basically what our job is, as a volunteer, is to give the carer of someone with special needs a little bit of a break. Whether that means being an extra set of hands to the carer (who is generally a relative) or to take care of that someone while the carer goes out.  Each of the volunteers are given clients, different families with different needs. So far I've been given somewhere between 6-9 different clients. Being a volunteer that's staying for just 6 months, I kind of hit the ground running.

Although I haven't met all of my clients yet, I've learned a little bit about each of them through their respective client profiles. It's really interesting to see the different families' situations. I've got a couple elderly people and quite a few children, each with varied special needs.  These needs range from Cerebral Palsy to advancing dementia. This results in completely different experiences every time I head out for work, which is fantastic for someone who falls into a zombie-like state when forced into a monotonous routine. Mom, if you're reading this, I know you just laughed, rolled your eyes, and asked your computer "When have you ever been in a routine?" Good question, Mom. Fine, let's just say I get bored easily, routine or no routine... just in general. This is the reason why I change my hair color more often than Carrie Bradshaw* changes her clothes.

So, now that everybody's up to speed, I can write up some good stories and you'll know what's goin' on.

*Carrie Bradshaw - If you don't know who this is, don't even tell me because I will scold you. To avoid this, just Google it

Do You Need Some Asssshisshtance?: First Aid Training

Hypothetical question:

 If you were walking down a busy street, and the woman in front of you collapses, holding the left side of her chest, how would you respond? ...I feel like there are 3 different types of people. The people who run, the people who act, and the people who watch. Which one are you?

Annnnd on that note, we had our First Aid Training session yesterday. As the instructor threw out each serious scenario, it really got me thinking; what would I really do? It's easy to say you'd play hero and act fast, but it's so hard to say how we would react if the situation actually occurred.


P.S. I know these last couple posts have just been random thoughts but there hasn't been much to report, I start my actual carer support work this Saturday, so expect a better, more thorough post soon!






greta

Things I've Learned in the Past Few Days....

• Never take the buses at any time between 3 and 4 o'clock. Unless, of course, you'd like to relive grade school transportation
• There are an alarming number of McDonald's and KFC's here
• Asking for directions is actually a good thing
• I can manage public transportation more efficiently after a night of drinking than when I'm stone cold sober
• Feeling underdressed throws me off completely 
• 85% of English small talk really does revolve around the weather
• Creepy, old, drunk men tend to pace in front of train stations
• The Sidcup High Street pubs get overwhelmingly filled with hopeful 13-17 year olds on Saturday nights
• To check under my pillow when I think I've lost my phone

Are you there, Internet? It's me, Greta

After ten days of being in the English countryside I think I can safely say, and this is horrifying... I've almost forgotten how to type. Now that I'm here and settled I'll do my best to rack my brain for details of the past week and a half.
 
After a not-as-long-as-I-thought-it'd-be flight from Minneapolis to Reykjavik to London, (I had to type that into the Google toolbar to make sure I spelled it right, don't judge me) I met up with a big group of other volunteers. Volunteers from all over the place; Uganda, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Columbia, Honduras... With all these Latin Americans around, my Spanish has come back swingin'.

Anyway, we all packed onto a bus that took us to Hockley, a small town somewhere in Southern England...that's pretty much the extent of my knowledge of Hockley.  We stayed at a scout centre, which means no internet, shared bathrooms, and close quarters. All was well though, we managed to keep ourselves busy by playing an absurd amount of games of Jungle Speed*, playing football** with the guys, and going to the local***.  I felt like such a cheater being one of the two English speakers of the group, so I made myself somewhat useful by cleaning in the kitchen and sitting in on some of the classes. You read that right, Mom, I was voluntarily cleaning everyday. So most of the week was a blur of Latin American meals, tea, football, Jungle Speed, socialising, and drinking copious amounts of cider. All in all it was a great time and I'm really, really excited for these upcoming months.


Oh, and just as I got settled into my flat and got comfortable on the couch the power went out for the first time in almost a year, according to my Taiwanese housemate, Crystal. Naturally, I would bring in the bad luck and it would happen the second I get here. She and I were searching in the dark for a half an hour for the fuse board. Minor setback, but it's settled. I'll have to remember to look above the front door and under a nearly invisible hatch next time. Ohhh England


Much love, I'll keep you posted



*Jungle Speed - A dangerous card and totem game that should only be played after clipping your nails and taking off rings and watches, I have battle wounds to prove this

 

**Football - I changed it from soccer to football in fear that the British Empire might actually kill me

 

***Local - The pub nearest you! In our case it was The White Hart...and The Spa, that was an interesting one