This week while walking to El Centro I was not so nervous, but instead I was looking forward to coming back.  I had a good time last week so this week I was looking forward to it with excitement.  I got there and waited for the kids to come in and eat there snacks.  I sat down and talked with some of the kids and many were excited to tell about all the homework that had for today.  After they were done, and some take longer than others because after snack they have to do their homework, we went upstairs.  Once we had settled down at a table the homework began.  First it was math in which there were a 100 problems to be done and I had to keep the time.  I always find it so interesting how easily distracted a child can get from the work at hand, but despite that the math work was completed and then we moved on to the next homework assignment.  This one was much easier because it included coloring.  It is homework like coloring that makes me want to go back to elementary school.  After the coloring was completed we moved on to social studies homework.  It included a reading of a poster with follow up questions.  We both struggled with this because some of the questions were strange yet we managed to figure them out and to work through it.  Finally, all the work was complete and after we were done we played hangman with another girl’s spelling list in order for to prepare for her test on Friday.  Once we had finished up with the game it was 4:30 and we head outside to play.  I watched as all the kids took part in their favorite activity whether it was jump rope, basketball, or simply tag.  At 5:00 I said goodbye and now I am looking forward, once again to go back next week.

Friday September 24^th 2004

            Yesterday was the second time that I volunteered at the homeless shelter.  This week I taught the life skills class about money management.  Tori and I worked out all the details of the lesson the night before and I was feeling really comfortable with the material we would be teaching.  The day I was teaching the class was more nerve racking but I tried to push my nerves aside because people can tell when you are nervous.  I was unsure whether these people would respond with a positive attitude to what we were teaching them because money is a very touchy subject.  The night, however, started off really well, and continued that way.  They were paying attention and engaging in a lot of conversations about money related issues.  The only problem we had was that the room was sooo hot, but we fixed that quickly by deciding to take the class outside.  It was so much nicer outside and we got much more response than what we were already getting.  I really enjoyed teaching the class and was glad that all the people there were excited to be learning and discussing about this topic.  The main idea that most of the people got across was that they spent their money on their kids because they did not want them to feel out of place.  Other people relayed the thought that once they have the money they will spend it, so we talked about ways that they could store their money and not be allowed to touch it.  This experience was very rewarding and I can not wait until I teach again.  

            I was excited and a bit apprehensive when I went for my first volunteer lunch at the soup kitchen. What I envisioned in my head was almost antithetical to the actual setting of the soup kitchen in Gettysburg. I know it seems silly when one thinks of the small population of the town, but I anticipated some large convention style room with tile floors with a large a mess-hall style serving station where volunteers I would ladle out soup with a hairnet on. I guess I’ve lived around Baltimore and D.C. too long and am used to that kind of picture on the news. I did actually get to use a ladle though, so that was fun. I was looking forward to using a ladle; I think they are pretty neat.   

            It was raining very hard so I decided to drive to the soup kitchen and I found myself being thankful that I could drive there, especially afterwards when the streets were flooded and it was still pouring. After the lunch was over, I wondered how the people I just served were getting around. I only saw one man with an umbrella. He said he spent twenty dollars on it, but that it was a very good investment for the upcoming hurricanes. This man was very interesting, and I can’t wait to go back and learn his name again. I think it was Joe. He said he owned I think eighteen guitars. He said “the only things I’m interested in are cars, guitars, and movie stars.” He was really funny and very personable. I overheard a conversation he had with another client about politics. They had gotten Kerry/Edwards pins somewhere in town. He started talking about President Bush and the lady chimed in saying that “if he walked through this door right now I wouldn’t know any different, I’ve never seen him, he’s never on TV.” I kept thinking that I heard that incorrectly, but it seemed very odd. That was an example of the diversity in that soup kitchen on Friday. Joe came in talking about the latest hurricanes and weather forecast, infinitely more informed than I, and talked to a woman who claimed to not know what the President looks like.

            There were other people that were not as friendly that motioned to me with fingers and were not very polite in what they asked for, but that’s what I expected so it wasn’t a shock at all. There were clients that looked very poor and unkempt and then there were “well dressed” people who even when they spoke gave no indication of why they would need to receive free food. Overall, it sparked my interest to answer many questions. I want to know how regularly those clients are at the soup kitchen, and I’d really like to learn more about them and just observe more. I would like to try to go on Thursdays as well as Fridays if I can get out of Psychology relatively on time.

               Today was my first day at the shelter and I was very nervous about leading, along with Allison, the “Life Skills” class.  Allison and I went over our presentation several times to try to help us not be nervous or stressed. The ironic thing was that this weeks topic was stress management and I was feeling stressed trying to prepare myself for teaching it.  I was unsure on how the people at the shelter would perceive me and also how they would treat me. I thought they would just say that I was just some snobby girl from a rich school and not accept me or what I was saying to them.  Upon walking in the door, a lot of my nervousness went away because of the smile we received from the lady in the office.  After sitting in the waiting room for awhile, some of the people that live in the shelter began to come up to us and talk to us. I was really relieved that they came and talked to us, even though they didn’t have to.  I was still a little nervous and stressed, but as soon as I stood up in front of the shelter inhabitants, I felt less and less nervous.  They were all ready to listen to what Allison and I had to say and this made me happy that I had chosen to participate in the “life skills” classes. 

As the lesson went on, I became very relaxed and happy that I had the chance to meet these people and hear their stories.  Before if I would of seen one of the inhabitants of the shelter on the street, I would of just put my head down and walked faster.  They perceived me much better and every single person listened to what I had to say and did not act hurtful like I had expected.  After our class was over, I had the chance to talk to this one girl, who looked not much older than me, and hear her story.  I was truly interested in what she had to say.  Every person’s reason for being at the homeless shelter is different and I was happy to hear hers.  She did not plan to go to the shelter, like many don’t, but wound up there after she received some not promising news that related to her future in the National Guard.  After a physical for the National Guard, she was told by them that she could not join because she was pregnant. She had planned to join the Guard and also take classes, but because of her pregnancy, she was not accepted into it.  At the time she did not know she was pregnant, so had no other option that to go to the shelter. I hope that in later weeks I have the chance to hear more about her and what she plans to do with the rest of her life. The funny thing is that on the tour of the shelter I noticed her, and thought that she was not happy of us being there, from the lack of her smile.  Seeing here that day made me be nervous about how the people at the shelter were going to perceive me.  Its funny how sometimes you make judgments and most of the time those judgments are incorrect. I am now much more excited to go to Washington D.C., to hear the stories of the people there and to help them in anyway I can. 

After the class several people mentioned to me that they really did have a lot of stress and that they hope to take it out of their lives as much as they can. Upon leaving, I was very surprised, that everyone said “thank you” to Allison and I.  They were not forced to say that, so it made it that much more rewarding. I, in return, said “thank you” to them because I really did learn a lot about them and about how some of my perceptions about the homeless were wrong.  I am now excited about going back to the shelter next week and seeing most of those people again.  I am no longer stressed, thanks in part to our lesson and also thanks to all the people at the shelter that welcomed me with kindness.

Before going to teach at the shelter, I was very nervous about it. I wasn’t sure exactly how the people would take to us teaching them. I also didn’t know if they would like the subject or the activities we were doing. When we got there, I did feel a little out of place because I didn’t know these people and I felt like I was interrupting their lives by coming to teach this class. When Mary Jo and I first started, the people were just sitting there and didn’t really know what to do, but soon as the first question was asked, the one man answered the question. Soon after, the rest of the people started to talk and I began to loosen up. The people were very receptive of our lesson and talked a lot about the topics of interest. They interacted very well as a group and spoke to us as equals. I was a little worried that they would not want to listen to us but they were involved with the whole lesson. I think they especially liked the relaxation activity that we did. The people at the shelter seem very stressed with having to watch their kids and look for jobs and homes. Sometimes, everyone needs to be able to relieve their stress and I’m glad that I got to do that for them.

The people at the shelter were so nice, I cannot wait to go back and see them again. They warmed up to us a lot and made it not as stressful to teach the class about stress! They really like to joke around with each other and make us feel at home there. The group really seemed like their own support system, always there for another when needed and wanting to help out whenever they could. It will be an adventure to watch their kids next week!