Speak English to Me

The employment agency must have felt benevolent because I have a new job...and a rather long-term one at that; it could not be more different from my old position at SCVO. The agency had a lead for a position at a construction company, but that fell through, giving me three days to wander around and enjoy the city before starting work at The Viewpoint Housing Association (“housing association” = “nursing home”).

Viewpoint is broken up into several care facilities, and I work in St. Raphael’s, a former Catholic hospital turned elderly care facility. My office is right inside the doors, so I get a great number of visitors throughout the day: nurses, staff, visitors, and residents. It never gets boring (or should I say quiet?); however, most of the staff at St. Raphael’s are new, leaving them the task of figuring out their own job and not having the time or knowledge to tell the poor temp what she is to do. I feel useless waiting for a task to be divvied my way, but I am rarely content simply passing time. It could be much worse…

The patients keep me entertained. Anna gets to tell Kate and me stories about the kids she watches at the nurseries (like the child who was blown over in the wind), and now I get to join in with similar tales. After being introduced to Mrs. Heyes, she was quick to tell me that she went to school for a bit in the States. In school in Scotland, she and the other students had to sit with their hands behind their backs and their eyes no where but on the teacher; things were much more relaxed in America, she assured me. When the tea trolley came ‘round, she was given a plate with three biscuits (cookies). She did not shy at telling the staff that she wants “VARIETY WITH [HER] BISCUITS!” When no one responded to her repeated cry, she stole a biscuit off another resident’s plate and promptly got her hand slapped and the biscuit snatched back by her hungry neighbor. Finally, a care attendant gave her a slight variety to appease her cravings. Peggy, another very active resident, gets very restless and does not like to sit. She does, however like to hold someone’s hand at all times, especially when strolling around the house. If no one is paying her any attention, she will stand in the foyer and cry, “Help! Will no one help me? I need help!” I have been warnedn and she is indeed the resident who cries wolf. When her help cries prove ineffective, she alternates between cawing like a crow and squealing like a siren. By then, one of the care workers will usually come hold her hand. On Friday, the biscuit avenger told her rather bluntly, “Will you shut up? You make so much noise!” Thelma is perhaps the most persistent resident. She is bed-ridden today with the shingles, but she normally comes by several times every hour. While she does wear hearing aids, I am convinced that they do nothing. I have to put my mouth to her ear and practically yell. While this technique works with a Scottish brogue, she constantly has to remind me to “speak English” while talking to her. (Post note: Thelma's husband came to visit today with hearing aid batteries in tow; they had no batteries...)

We did have a resident pass away Friday only a few hours after I left. When I came in Friday morning, Ronnie, the head nurse, was getting Doreen’s files ready so that he could fill in the family. He told them she was not doing well, and the family said just to call the mortuary and not to phone if she passed during the night. It was a harsh dose of reality to know that a family did not visit and did not want to be notified in the night. I’m beginning to pick up that this job may turn into a character-building experience. (Isn’t that what you are supposed to call not-so-pleasant but very real experiences?)

This weekend was a very good one! Anna and I met Kate and Erin and three BUNAC Canadians at The Tass for burgers after work on Friday, and that turned into a night of fun people and long conversations. On Saturday the flatmates and I had lunch at Glenhas (our favorite deli/café) before heading to Our Dynamic Earth, which I always want to call the natural history museum…because that’s what it is. That museum was a well-spent £9.50. It’s very interactive and incredibly cheesy, but so much fun! (A birthday party of screaming 6-year-olds did not prevent me from enjoying myself.) You start your journey in a time machine (naturally) and learn about the creation of our solar system. From there, you travel through the volcanic age, to the ice age, to the dinosaurs, through the Antarctic and a rain forest, and finally to the future to see how our decisions will affect our water source 100 years from now. When you finally return to present-day Edinburgh, you are graciously dropped off at the over-priced souvenir shop. It may be dangerous that we realized Saturday night is crime scene prime time on the tellie. Our Saturday night consisted of spinach and ricotta ravioli, NCIS, CSI Las Vegas, and Law and Order Criminal Intent. On Sunday, for the sake of seeing new things, we visited St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on the corner of Princes Street and Lothian Road for the choral matins service. That evening we met Keith to visit a new movie theater (where we get student prices with our YoungScots card!) for Body of Lies. Good movie! Good weekend!

Thanksgiving is in three days. Since the UK is not prone to celebrate America’s independence (too big of a blow to their ego?), my flat is hosting a regular Thanksgiving feast on Saturday for any and all who want to come. This will be my first attempt at preparing a Thanksgiving turkey without my mom’s guidance… Wish us luck.