Mon
Mar
17
LAST DAY! Mixed emotions just like before I start. I feel so happy, sad and excited at the same time. I am happy because we did it. Sad because this is our last day and I’m going to miss them all. Excited because I’m going back to college again and I’m going to see all my classmates after 3 long weeks of not seeing them. I know that we have lots of things that we’ll talk about. We play bingo today. We set up the things we need to use while the residents are one by one coming. This time I didn’t get bored with the bingo because for the first time the old woman who always don’t want to do any activity play bingo and she’s smiling at me. I am very happy. Royda and I take some pictures. The game went on and Helen won a necklace and a jewellery box while Lelia won a dog (figurine) and a magnifier. It’s been a great and nice start for all of us this day. Royda and I go to Hammersmith station to meet my boyfriend and friends including Krixia and we had our lunch there. Krixia ask me if it’s ok if she comes with me to the Nazareth. I think that’s ok so she came over. When we arrived Royda is already there and more than 20 residents were there and doing some exercise with a guy instructor. The instructor was very lively and entertaining he even sang for all of us after the exercise. Krixia enjoyed her one hour stay in Nazareth. But while all of us were having a nice time playing around Michael just slipped down to his wheelchair. Raquel needs to call for help so I stayed with Michael who’s lying on the floor. But because he can’t straight and put his head on the floor I just put his head on my lap and tell him that’s everything will be all right, just relax and the help is coming soon. Because that’s happened we finish early and bring them to lift. I talked to Raquel and say my sincerest thanks for all the help, encouragement and support she gave to us. I told her that when I got some free time I’m going to visit them once in a while. I’m going to miss them all. I just realize that I have the patience and the heart to work with older people. I learn so much about life. I thought I’ve done and experienced lots of things already in my life but I just realize that I haven’t. When I’m talking with them I feel their sincerity. The way they perceive things and life make me realize so much about life. I appreciate life, my family and my self more. I learned how to communicate and bring them in my own world. I realize that this is my passion and I would like to be a carer or nurse someday because I know that I can do it. It’s not all about work, high salary or benefits that I will get. It’s about how I can help change people lives better. Doing things even simple that I know would make them happy. Talking to them and letting them feel that their not alone. Being there and supporting them would be enough for them. And the smile and the happiness that I’ll see on their face would be enough for me to go on.
What a nice day for me… I am very relax and happy today! Royda and I met at the bus stop. We came to Nazareth at almost same time. When we enter the Nazareth we saw the receptionist and she told us that our tutor is coming today. And that was Mary. While we are doing some activities in the OT room Sister Celine came with Mary. And Sister Celine told Raquel that Mary wants to talk to us and to her as well. So while we’re doing the activities Mary talk to Royda first and after Royda she talks to me. She asks me some questions. I didn’t find the questions difficult but I really don’t know what to answer. (Just at first.) Anyway, I missed her, I ask her how is she and she also told me what’s happening to my other classmates. When she finished talking to me it’s time for her to talk to Raquel but because it’s time for the residents to come up for their lunch Raquel ask Mary to ask for few minutes. I helped Raquel to bring them upstairs and when I get back I wash the dishes and they talk. Well, Mary said that Raquel gives nice things about us. When I finished what I’m doing I sat with them and we just had some chat. I’m very silent I don’t want to talk. I don’t know why. I just smile and listen to them. Mary, Royda and I went out together. Mary go to Hammersmith while Royda go home and I met my boyfriend. When we return to Nazareth there’s only one resident in the OT room so Royda and I used the time to interview Raquel about her work there. We go home early today.
This time I’m 10 minutes early. Just an ordinary day… The residents came and we do some activities with them. We gave them tea and cookies while they are playing. It’s boring day today because they are not cooperating that much as before. Raquel helps us and we keep on helping the residents to understand and do what they have to do. After an hour and a half we take them upstairs for their lunch. When I was on the lift one sister came and we talk about how I’m doing with the work experience. When I reach the ground floor I go straight away to OT room and clean it up. I wash the cups and plates again and before I knew it, its lunch time so Royda and I both went out to have our lunch. We both go to the college. When we get back to the Nazareth house residents starts coming and we do the same thing that we did in the morning. They did that for one and a half hour again, after doing all of the activities we take them to the lift and while Raquel is bringing them upstairs Royda and I clean the OT room. When Raquel got back we leave. Ordinary day but also had fun.
Mon
Mar
10
Rainy and windy day!!! I had a very nice sleep last night. So, I feel so energize to do all the things I have to do today. I left home at 9:30am to go to Nazareth but because it’s only near to our house I’m 10 minutes early. But when I called Royda she’s still in the Hammersmith station and she ask me to go there. I’m having a second thought when I’m on my way there because I know we’ll be late. But I still go there. So, like what I thought we came late but there are still no residents and Raquel is just starting up to set the activities that the resident’s will do. (Lucky us!) While Royda and I is preparing the things that we need Raquel go and get the residents from upstairs. They played domino, connect four and mix and match quiz. I think they didn’t enjoy it and me as well. It’s so boring especially if the residents were not cooperating with us. We finish and we just did like that nothing new for me. I go to college to have my lunch and I came late again (late for 15 minutes) because my umbrella was broken and the rain is pouring and the wind is blowing so hard and there’s thunder as well. When I get there they have already started so I just follow what they are doing. Because there are only four residents Royda and I take over two residents each. Raquel left us there and she goes back just to say she’s leaving early and she left us there. We are the one who continue the activity, bring the residents upstairs, cleaned the activity room and file the dishes in the cup board. We did the entire job. We left Nazareth at 3 o’clock and we both went home. Bad weather and boring day…
Fri
Mar
7
I over slept again but luckily I made it on time. Royda and I met at the bus stop again. Because we are a little bit early today we decided to take a walk until we reach the Broadway. We went back to the house but the annoying bus driver didn’t pull over at the bus stop we should get off so in short we came 5 or 10 minutes late. When we came the hall is already set up, there’s bingo cards there and prizes. I thought it’s going to be fun but I just get bored of it. Like the past few days we gave them a cup of tea and cookies so while we’re playing their having their snack as well. Anne won the straight line bingo and she chooses the necklace as her prize while sister choose a little figurine with an image of something. When Jane won at last she doesn’t want to get her prize so we carry on. It’s been a boring time for me but I just look forward to the exercise and party that will happen after lunch time. The time the residents leave the hall Royda and I help Raquel to organize and prepare the table for the party. When we finish doing it Raquel let us go to have our lunch. I had my lunch in the college with my boyfriend then I go back to the house. But Royda let me go there first because she’s not yet finish with her lunch. When I came to the house the exercise activity has already began so I just sat there and do (follow) what they are doing. After 10 minutes Royda came. We do some exercise, one guy is instructing all of us and we’re all following him. It’s so much fun! My boredom is gone now. After the exercise activity we started the party for Brian’s birthday. His family including his wife, son and his grand daughter came over to celebrate it with us. Lot’s of residents who are new to me came over so I met them today. They had some tea, crisp, sandwich, cookies and of course the cake. We sang happy birthday for Brian and the party went on. Raquel saw me when I get off from the lift. She asks me to stay with one resident who I don’t know has an appointment with the psychiatrist. Raquel asks me to stay there to accompany the resident and wait for the carer to come down there to take the resident. But it feels like ages and the resident saw one carer and the carer instruct me to take the resident to the other building but at first I refuse because Raquel ask me to wait there for the carer who’s coming from the 3rd floor but she just say it’s fine just take her there, so I did. When I came back to the hall I talk to Raquel and tell her what happened and she told me that the carer that came from the 3rd floor came down and was looking for us. So I just told her what the other carer told me. She said “its ok but next time do what I said.” So now, I learned my lesson. Be responsible and do what they ask you to do and don’t listen to other who don’t supervise you. (risky,!) When the party finished the residents start to go back to their room which is upstairs. So we help the carer to take them to the lift. Royda and I cleaned up the hall the time we finished it we went home.
Thu
Mar
6
I over slept… But don’t worry guys because I didn’t come late to work. :’) This time Royda and I just met at the bus stop near the house (Nazareth) but I was really annoyed because the bus stop near the Nazareth isn’t working because their doing some work on the road so I get off on the next bus stop so I run and walk because Royda is waiting for me and I don’t want to be late. When we get inside Raquel is not there so while we are waiting we had a chat. When Raquel came I ask her what activity are we going to do with the residents and she showed us some “toys” that we are going to use…pins and ball (bowling), garter with a handle (to exercise their body), sticking ball (to use their energy), ropes that they have to shoot on a board with points (for their eyesight and mind). After that we set up the table. We start early today. The first resident who came was Brian and Jane we dance while we are waiting for the other residents. I even sang with Brian. When all of them were ready we gave them first a cup of tea and cookies. When all of them have it we started playing. All of them were really cooperative today except from Kristine who just slept for the whole activity. I met new residents today and their really nice. I enjoyed the day playing and laughing with them. Royda and I do the activity with them and Raquel watch us how we are doing it. Michael who is one of the residents has lots of funny moments today. All of us were laughing at him. (Positive way…) Jane’s daughter came so she left early to spend the time with her daughter. We started bringing the residents to the lift and Raquel ask me to go with Brian and Anne upstairs, so I did. When I came back to the hall I cleaned it up while Royda is helping Raquel with the residents. I put the table back on where it should be and after that I wash the dishes and Royda and Raquel came. When I finished washing the dishes Raquel told us that we could go. We thank her for the day and we leave the house. I went back to college and met Krixia. Royda and I didn’t go back to the house after the lunch break because we ask Raquel if we could just take half day because I need to send money to my sister because my niece is sick and they need money for the hospital bill. Royda have an appointment with her GP that’s why she couldn’t go back as well. Raquel is very sympathetic so she let us get a half day. Getting better everyday…looking forward for tomorrow because according to Raquel Friday is the best day. Hope so… :’)
Tue
Mar
4
Today we came at the house (Nazareth) at 10am we prepare the stuffs we’re going to use for the residents while Raquel is taking the residents to the activity room. We do some puzzle game, shopping and connect 4 game. Some of them had a great time and one of them is really talkative so we talked so much. They had a cup of tea and cookies while we are playing. After the activity we helped Raquel to take the residents to the lift. While she’s taking them upstairs Royda and I cleaned up the activity room and I wash the dishes. After that I had a very nice lunch with Krixia in the college. I went back to the house and met Royda again in the bus stop. We we’re late for about 10 minutes but luckily Raquel didn’t get mad at us. The residents didn’t go to the activity room so we just help Raquel to sort out the cupboard. Because we don’t have anything to do Raquel decided to take us on a walk to the different floors of the house. There we saw the rooms and the entertainment room of the residents there. I also ask Raquel about the Nazareth house and I found out that it’s founded by a nun and it’s a convent and a school before and now it’s a nursing home. She let us go early so I just decided to go back to college and write my diary. So far so good…getting better and I’m starting to enjoy it now.
I start my day with a smile on my face looking forward in the work experience. As I wrote before I’m a little bit nervous about it but when the day came my nervous gone out maybe because my excitement conquers it. Royda and I met in McDonalds in Hammersmith bus station at around 8o’clock am. We took the bus and because it’s just one stop from the bus station we came early but we had a problem when we came there, we couldn’t find the main entrance of the house (Nazareth) so we decided to look around for it and because we’re running out of time I decided to press the button in the gate for the employees who is working there. Royda talk to someone and give us the instructions how we can get inside. The receptionist asked us for our names and asked us if who is the person we need to talk with. She let us sit in a room it’s like a waiting room area for visitors like us. We didn’t wait for a long time there. She told us to go to Sister Celine’s office on the other building. Because that’s the first time we’ve been there she gave us instruction on how to get there. We came in a room but a guy and not a sister is there. Then, Sister Celine came… we introduce ourselves and we had a little chat and she took us on the activity room where we are going to work and explained to us what we should do if the fire alarm is activated. While we are waiting for the lady who we are going to work with, Sister Celine introduce us to another Sister but unfortunately I forgot her name. All the staffs were very nice and grateful to see us. After that we met Raquel she’s the one who is doing the activities with the patients. We went to a room that they call activity room. It’s a big room with along table and a sofa. It has a mini kitchen that we’re using to prepare some snack for the patients like tea and cookies. We waited there for about one and a half hour, I don’t really mind because my mind is not still set. But while we’re waiting we set the table in a big room which is like a hall because one of the residents will have his birthday party after lunch. One lady asks us to open the window so we did. But we don’t know that there’s a right way on opening the window. The lady shouted at us and says we’re done it the wrong way. I was really surprised because she didn’t tell us or instruct us on how we should do it then there she is shouting at us. But I just think on positive way because I don’t want to be pessimistic about the whole thing especially it’s my first day there. I just consider it as if I learned a new lesson. At 10:30am the patients start coming from their rooms (maybe). At first I don’t know if I’m going to greet them or not. I’m having second thought about it because they could just ignore me. But as the time went on I found myself getting on how I will communicate with them. Raquel asks for our help to prepare an activity for the patients while she’s setting up the patients. She asks Royda to put some paint on a cup with different colors while I’m drawing some designs that they will use as a pattern to do some painting. Some of them we’re not interested but some we’re very cooperative and doing really well. Like Helen, one of the patients who is from Mexico she use the heart pattern and she painted it really well. Then, when I ask her where she came from she answered “it came from my heart, because my heart is sad because my sister died and I didn’t saw her.” Wrong answer but I was touched on what she told me. Sometimes I feel sorry for them because some of them their family just visit them twice a year which is really sad. We had our lunch at 12 o’clock pm until 1:30pm. We go to college to meet our friends and I had my lunch there. Royda and I just met at the bus stop near the house and Oksana was also there and we had a little chat. We came there but the party for one of the patients (Brian) already started so we just sat there and Raquel and Cora who is also a Filipina let us talk to the patients. I had a conversation with the patients there but at the party they just realised that Brian’s birthday is on 7th of March not in the 3rd of March but we still continue the celebration and I dance with the patients even though I don’t really dance. I just want them to be happy so I just see myself dancing as well. After the dancing Cora ask us to serve them the cake and sandwich. When it’s nearly 3 o’clock they started to take the residents go back upstairs and we do some cleaning. While we are sweeping the floor the music is still playing so Royda and I dance with the music while we are sweeping the floor (crazy girls). Raquel told us we can go the time we finish all the things we have to do. It’s been a lovely day for me.
Fri
Feb
29
I’m excited and a bit nervous on doing this work experience. Excited because I know I will learn lots of things that has to do with the career that I would like to do in the future. A bit nervous because I will meet new people again and will go to a new environment. I think that I will enjoy this work experience because this is I really wanted to do. I’m happy as well because I’m not going to do this alone because I’m with Royda. I’m looking forward of learning how to use some machines and learning some stuffs. It will also be an opportunity for me to see and experience how’s it like to work in a hospital.
I’ll tell you everything that I’m going to learn and experience there. Look forward for it!
