So far, I like Steinbach more than I thought I might.
Maybe it's just Katimavik that makes people want to be so nice. Our neighbour, for instance, has already brought us pigs in a blanket (which Mike made some tonight and I'm sure they're delicious but I can't eat them because I've decided to go veggie!) , chocolate chip cookies on the night he gave us firewood for a fire in the backyard and really scrumptious shortbread cookies with icing. (Oh my, so good.)
It reminds me of my neighbour Liz back home. Or when we used to borrow eggs from the neighbours to bake some muffins that we'd share later. To me, there's nothing like living with your neighbours. I can't wait to come home and make some bread, not just for us, but for the neighbours I've missed so much!
So my job at the MPRC, I love. If I were to look for somewhere to volunteer and came across this one in 100 jobs, I'd choose it.
Sometimes I feel like I'm not doing much, but at the end of the day I look back and think: well, if I didn't make their day, they sure did make my day.
I'm sure I've mentioned it, but I'm working with people who are mentally disabled. When I work at the MPRC Mon, Tues, Thurs, I work with some of the lower functioning people, many of which don't communicate much with language. Wed and Fri I work with people at the retirement centre that are higher functioning and they're just so much fun!
They're all just so personable. At first I thought it'd be really hard to work with people who don't always understand you and can not respond to you with words, some barely even responding at all. But in fact, I've never done anything I felt I could learn so much from.
You know what they all say- everyone is different, so we should treat each other how we like to be treated, but interactions are different from person-to-person. They're different for each individual, of course. Based on how the person feels, how they react and who they are in relation to you. Naturally we do this, of course. But you will never truly learn to individualize your interactions quite like you might working with people who are mentally disabled. You learn so much from them so quickly. It's so rewarding, it really is.
So on Friday, we went bowling! Julie wore the incredible white snowsuit (you can see a picture below) with 349087429578634956702359 katimavik pins on it! I got to try her on, of course!
This Monday, we went to the Fire Station and got an amazing tour! You'll see how it went from the pictures...
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| About to on on up- I was unbelievably excited! |
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| Going Up! |
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| Jean (our PL) and I in the bin of the ladder. Haha, love her expression here. Typical Jean, always making me laugh. |
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| The incredible snowsuit.... |
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| katima-hero- all I need is a green cape! maybe a green tuque too. And I should be holding home-made bread. that'd be super Katimavik-y |
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| Doesnt it look like an album cover for some sort of band? This is in the fire truck |
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| This is a cute reminder that this is the first lever to pull. The shoe also reminds them that the child they could be saving is as important as their own. |
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| Pardon how terrible I look here, but Im putting out a fire! |
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| The new ladder! I was at the top there! |
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| Im getting blindfolded by the duct taped mask! This is to show what they would typically go through when theres a house full of smoke. |
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| And he took me into the roof after spinning me! |
