Workaholic

Hoh!
I worked 7 days in a row this week, 50.5 hrs up to Friday night, and I will end up working 60hrs by Saturday night (3.29).

Last night was the crazy time I ever had in my work history at shelter. My work partner had to take 1 client to hospital, and they left about 6pm, didn't return until midnight. Thus, I had to take care of 10 clients, 2 volunteers from 4-6pm, and one part time came to help me at 6pm.
These 10 clients are very active and hyper, with one of them needs to get special attention, and this doesn't include answering incoming calls from parents who need helps. Next, I had family visited a kid in shelter and needed to check their IDs, monitored kids who played in the living room from office. I kept putting parents on hold because I had to confront kids of what they were doing in the living room, and I was sure that they could hear my voice from the phone.

1 out of 2 volunteers left close before 8pm, so that left me w/ 10 clients, 1 brand-new volunteer, and 1 part time. In between that time, I organized meds, printed the forms,talked w/ parents for placing their kids at shelter, talked w/ my client, dispensed bedtime meds, and called my on-call supervisor for some issues. By 8:35pm, I had my part-time to take all clients for evening snack, explained what kind of snacks they could have, told her clients who were eligible for special snack, and was still stuck w/ phone calls. 8:50pm- I told all kids to go upstairs, got ready for bedtime, told them to be quiet because I had works to do.
9pm-I called 1 parent, told her what my supervisor said, then she decided to place her kid at shelter. She said that she would be in shelter in 15 minutes. My part time then left shelter in a rush including the brand-new volunteer, so I had to take care all clients by myself. The house alarm was already on, but I couldn't do 1st bedcheck until 9:15pm.
9:30pm- New intake came, my work-partner called from hospital, told me that she was still stuck in the hospital, and I ended up telling her that I couldn't talk to her. She then called bunch of PRNs to see if one of them could come to shelter to help me. By 10pm, I took new client to his room, taught him how to make his bed, and another part-time came to help me.

Around 10pm, another phone call from parent who had issues w/ his daughter, so he wanted to place her daughter back to shelter. I tempted to say "We are full now," but I dropped my evil thought. I told him that I still had 1 bed open, but she had to share a room w/ someone else, asked if that's okay. He agreed, so by 10:45pm another intake arrived. I did quick paperwork and had a part-time to take her to bedroom.

After that, I started to finish little things that couldn't be done during evening time. Night Manager arrived at 11 pm, and I updated him, asked him to repeat what he wrote on his notes because my brain was full. I kept working w/ all forms, continued logging, and updated him for info that I forgot to tell him. I then apologized to my co-workers because my sentences were kind of messed up. I was really overwhelmed, lots of things needed to be done, so I talked fast, and I carried accent w/ me, so they needed to customize their listening skills during that time. They laughed when they heard my comments. Anyway, I left shelter at 1 AM, my work-partner arrived around midnight, she updated parent, finished important parts for her report,complained to me that she had a rough night, too.

I feel that I should get paid more than what engineers receive each month. In between my work stress, I admitted that this society is in a wreck condition. Lack of parenting skills, lack of commitment, and one thing that bothered me so much was watching kids with mental disorders. I am really sad to see that reality, don't know what else I can do. I keep asking myself, how are we going to cure or improve our society? Should I cure them? How am I going to fix them? Will I see these patterns in my home country?

Easter is coming!

Hi!

Not much to say, other than I am quite excited for my weekend! At the same time, I am counting my days to Pittsburgh. I will be sad because my close friends will not be there, so I don't know what I will do when I feel bored or lonely.
I've just sent two e-mails to my close professors, to let them know my plan for Fall. It is my fortunate to know them in person. :)

Last weekend, I happened to think what my parent will react, if I tell them that I'm not going back this summer. I'll just stay in the United States until at the end of this year, then reapply my student visa on December or January 2009. I know it's risky to do that, but the situation that happens at home right now is not good. I don't know, but I probably will go home and deal w/ the situation.

What else?? Today's weather is nice, and I cross my fingers that no more snow.

Thank you for stopping by! Take care!

Not again!

Last night, I did an intake for new client (parent placement) and was put in a situation where Mom and Dad weren't on the same page. I wanted to be a neutral person, so I tried my best to respond Dad's complaint, and at the same time, I wanted to respect Mom's decision, too. I finally could end the conversation w/ Dad, and I had to update my co-worker while I finished logging within short amount of time. My roommate was in the parking lot, waited for me, and I didn't want her to wait long. After that, I told myself that I needed to consult w/ my supervisor when she is in the office.

I thought I could go to bed right away, but I didn't because my Mom called me. Well, She texted me, asked if I was available, and I knew that something not right happened, so I led her to call me. We then talked for about 25 minutes, and she ended the phone because my aunt called her. It wasn't a good conversation. I felt overwhelmed throughout the conversation, didn't want to listen, but I had to. She texted me again after she finished talking w/ her sister, and I replied her SMS. She didn't respond after all, and she probably wasn't satisfied w/ my response. Well, I'll see what she is going to say when she calls me this weekend.

Despite all issues I faced both from my own family and client's family, I got pretty good news from one of the graduate schools I applied last time. I submitted my application for COlumbia University School of SOcial WOrk, but I didn't want to submit my latest TOEFL score, so I thought they would drop my application. Last night, I checked my e-mail and saw an e-mail from Columbia. I expected to see "We regret to inform you..." instead, I read "Congratulations, you've been accepted at..."
That was unbelieveable because they finally evaluated my essay, even though I didn't turn in my TOEFL score. I understand that Columbia is a prestigious university, but I am not going to Columbia because they don't offer any scholarships for Master degree student, and the living cost plus tuition is VERY expensive. I can't afford it,and I can't imagine that I am staying in New York. Thus, I will just let that good news sit nicely. I am still happy though! I learn that I have good qualities. this letter will motivate me to keep moving forward, to not give up. I will tell my professors once I heard news from Univ of Chicago. I don't tell my mom because I don't think she is interested in hearing that I am accepted at Columbia University.

Marchhh....

Hello again!

I am quite happy with the weather,,,, 54F for 2 days in a row. :)
However, I am getting nervous as March will end in 2 weeks because I am not ready to move to Pittsburgh. I don't know how my days look like in Pittsburgh. No best friends, and everything is new! I've been decided that I am going to Pittsburgh for graduate school, even though Washington Univ in St. Louis accepted me, too. Not sure w/ the Univ. of Chicago, but let's forget about that.

In regard to my current job, I have been spending less time in shelter lately. I didn't work full 12 hrs on Saturday last week, and I would continue to do it until next week. I'll take 4 days off next month because I'm going back to Pittsburgh for 7days, so you can tell that I am gone for a while.. I'll turn in my resignation in mid April, and this is going to be the tough one because I love my workplace, but I am stuck w/ my working permit and moving stuff.

Well, that's all I have at this point. My brain has been filled w/ moving-related-topics like, searching for apartment, closing/opening bank account, booking for an airplane ticket, waiting for new I-20, applying for new student visa, and worrying about home.