A Day in the Life Of Jackie at the IRC...

There have been at least two days so far this summer that I have gotten in my car after a stressful day of work and had a combination of feelings: anger, misunderstanding, fulfillment, frustration, sadness, contentment, etc that are almost unbearable. The rest of the days, the same feelings arise but I can cope. Teresa suggested that I write out a "Day In the Life Of..." in order to get some of those feelings out. I think that is a wonderful idea. Do keep in mind that at the current moment I have had a long weekend and many of these feelings have subsided.

8:30 am: Leave to pick up Mother and Daughter for Eye Appt scheduled at 10am (It took me at least six calls to the doctors office to make this appt bc of insurance and not-being-the client-confusion, three calls to the client via Language Link, and two visits to the clients apartment to arrange this appt).

8:45 am: Receive a call from Ashley (my case manager) saying her car is dead and I will need to pick up our new clients by 10am. After working through how to be in two places at once, we decided I could drop the Eye appt clients off, pick up the new clients, and then go back to drive the appt clients home while making the other ones wait on me.

9:15 am: Driving with deaf mother trying to explain that I would not be staying for the appt. While this is getting frustrating, I am completely lost on the John Hopkins Campus. I have only been here once before and it is a web of side roads with few signs. I have now missed at least three calls from Ashley and two other client calls.

9:35 am: Arrive and park at doctors office.

9:45 am: Go to check-in for the appt. Mother still confused about what I am saying. Told that I am at the wrong location. This is increasingly frustrating because I have had soooo many problems scheduling appts with this office and am constantly lost in a phone tree, yelled at for not having the right information (even though I am not the patient, as explained, and I am the one that speaks English), and not told directions as to where to go. I ask them to call the other office. The JH receptionist is put on hold!!! She asks me to call, even though at this point I am running late to pick up our new clients that should be waiting eagerly for me. I am trying to call Ashley, reschedule the appt and now have to get an interpreter to explain why we will not be seeing a doctor today to the clients I have with me. The mother is deaf so I can not do this over the phone by interpreter. We head to the car.

9:55 am: Connected to receptionist at JH Downtown Campus while driving. Find a spot to pull over bc I will need the client information to reschedule.

10:00 am: Drop off confused clients. Head to new clients apartment.

10:05 am: Knock on new clients door. Knock again. And again. And again. No answer. No movement. Call Ashley. What to do?

10:20 am: After several different attempts at getting clients attention (knocking on windows, pounding on the door, screaming names), it is decided that they are asleep after two days of travel. I am told to wait and then to head to the Management office to get a key.

10:30 am: Get a Key. Pick up various things for other IRC employees.

10:40 am: Let myself into new client apartment. No one is there. Call Ashley. Decide to pick up another client early for appointment.

10:50 am: Call other client via Language Link. No answer. Call myself. Answer but no understanding. Call again via Language Link. Still no understanding of why I would come so early to pick him up. Eventually explain that I am outside.

11:00 am: Client meets me at car. Ashley calls. Need to wait to exchange car seat for later appt.

11:15 am: Arrive at doctors office. Client still confused and frustrated that I came early. When we walk in we are met by a gathering of nurses chatting. Their power went out and we would need to come back!!!

11:30 am: Back at clients apartment, via Language Link, I explain the situation and reschedule. He is upset because he does not sleep much because he works nights and now lost a day of sleep.

11:40 am: Arrive at another clients house to discuss bills.

11:50 am: Via Language Link begin two hour conversation about how the family is doing LITERALLY everything right and everything they are expected to do above and beyond and are still not making ends meet. I had to insist they find some way to pay their bills. Went over budget. Discussed fathers military involvement.

2:00 pm: Left feeling broken down and angry. Took mother to enroll son in Disability program bc he is paralyzed waist down.

2:45 pm: Head back to office.

3:00 pm: Arrive at office with a world of emotions to several clients waiting to be seen. I am unsure of how to answer their questions and am having a hard time getting a hold of Language Link. Tell them to come back. Remember: Transportation is expensive and time consuming. It is a HUGE burden for clients.

4:00 pm: Work on expense sheets in order to calm down. Ashley informs me her father is sick and in the hospital.

4:35 pm: Tell everyone goodbye for the day!

This is an example of a short day. There really is no way to explain a day in the life of a case manager. Even the smallest things in our daily lives become a burden in a refugees life. Every minute is precious. I wish everyone could shadow this type of work for one day. I think people would be surprised at the level of talent and patience a job of this sort takes.

I can't wait to be a social worker. I feel satisfied knowing there are people that want to give their lives to this kind of work and I am proud to be one of them. I am frustrated that there will never be enough of us, therefore leaving much of societies needs unmet and worsening. I am only one person but hope to make a world of change someday.

The start of many beautiful things!

My first two weeks at the IRC are complete. I am settled into my new home. This means it is time to job search, prepare for Kenya, and navigate numerous grad school websites for more information.
I am home sick today with food poisoning (I think?!) so I am taking the time to get a head start on my "To-Do" list. I registered my trip to Kakamega with the US Embassy. A few clicks of a button and I already feel like my trip is more secure :)I sent my visa application on Friday to Washington DC. I checked my FedEx tracking this morning and it has already arrived. Now I just have to wait for my passport to come back with my visa enclosed. I am excited.
That is the update for now. Off to write emails to my list of grad schools.

Oregonian Article

About a two months ago I received an email about a writer from the Oregonian that was interested in covering a piece on 2009 graduates that have had a hard time finding jobs. Immediately I knew I had to be a part of his story. I emailed him with a bit of information about myself. Soon after he scheduled an interview with me. He asked me all about the past year including how I felt about my current situation. I told him exactly how the year went down and how disappointed I was with it. He comforted me by saying that he had heard many stories just like mine which was his inspiration for writing the story. However, he seemed to be really impressed by my story in particular. He asked if he could send a photographer to my work to get a couple of shots for the article. I agreed. After a rough day last day of work with a man taking pictures of me the entire time (just about my least favorite thing in the world!), the article is finally out. Take a look: http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2010/06/oregon_college_graduates_strug.html

Settling

I made it across the country into Baltimore. I have spent the last few days getting to know the city. On Friday I had my orientation at the IRC. It was good to finally know a bit more about what I will be spending my summer doing. I am excited to jump right in on Monday morning. My Case Manager is 22 years old and did the exact same internship last summer. I think working with people from all different cultures will be good practice for Kenya, on top of being completely awesome! I will give you updates on the crazy things that happen throughout the summer because I am sure there will be many. It is definitely a classic nonprofit: disorganized, overworked, underpaid, making a beautiful change in many peoples lives :)

Exciting Change in Plans

I am moving to Baltimore for the summer to pursue an internship with the International Rescue Committee. It is a great step in the right direction towards getting a job in the international nonprofit field. I am so excited. This will make leaving for Kenya a bit easier I think. It will not be so sudden and I will be used to unfamiliar surroundings. I can't wait! One week until I leave. I will have to do all my planning for Kenya in Baltimore. I hope I don't forget anything that I will need.

The more I think...

...The more nervous I am about flying out to Kenya in just a few short months. I have so much more preparing to do. However, for many things it is just too early. I need to go shopping for travel essentials (mini-everything). I need practical things like new shoes that I can wear to walk long distances and are comfortable in high temperatures. I need to wait a while to submit my visa information so that it will cover the few months that I will be over there. I have to crack open my Swahili text and start re-learning some key phrases. I have a lot to do. I am excited. I am anxious. I am ready to take it on!

Finally

I have been searching for flights for weeks now. The other night I had Orbitz pulled up on my computer and just before I got into bed I updated the search results for my flight from PDX to Kisumu. The price was the lowest I have seen. I did not want to pass the offer up, so I took it. I have my tickets booked for September 9 to November 14! Here is my itinerary:

(SEPT. 9) PDX~1:30pm to AMS~8:30am
AMS~8:40pm to NBO~6:15am
NBO~8:00am to KIS~8:45am (SEPT.11)

(NOV.14) KIS~6:20pm to NBO~7:05pm
NBO~10:50pm to AMS~5:30am
AMS~10:30am to PDX 12:00pm (NOV.15)

Tyson recommended that I take a tour of Amsterdam on my 12 hours layover. I was thinking about it. I'll keep you filled in on those plans.

I am off to work on my visa paperwork now. More updates to come...