This is the sixth week of school @ USC. As part of our MSW program at school of social work, we all students are supposed to get custom made internship on based of what we have done and what we want to do. I sent my internship papers two weeks after I got acceptance letter (I was way to excited and wanted to do things in a fast and perfect manner)and I have been waiting for my internship up until today.
Wait, let me correct, I was waiting up until today.
Today I woke up to an email stating my internship is finalized. I felt so relieved and excited that I forgot to read the whole email in my excitement for few minutes. When I read the email, I noticed that my internship was at the same place where I worked for two years...seriously where I worked for two long years. I worked as a child care worker, which was not a fun job actually. As an intern I am supposed to be clinical case worker....aggrrhh!
Hello, I did the same job under different title at the same agency with the same people...I dunno others but I am not ready to be back to those people, their politics and their issues...Man! I don't want to work there and defiantly not going to work as my first MSW internship...someone save me please!!!
I want to gain new experience, want to work with new population and for sure want to try my skills on an another level. I am pissed, frustrated, annoyed and irritated (wait, all are same kind of adjectives
I am sure it does sound like as if all is about me, but yes it is all about me. I didn't come to USC to do my MSW JUST to go back to the same agency where I know inside out...aggrrhhh...
Frustrated moi has sent an email to head of field instructor and my professor who is supposed to watch over my internship/field work. I am hoping I get a chance to change my internship to some other agency with a new kind of population...Help me lord!
Trojan
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Tuesdays...ah!
Too tired to write today but guess will write something. Tuesdays is my FULL day at school. It is a long day and I get drained after my all day’s activities at school but I LOVE IT, I LOVE IT AND WILL CONTINUE TO LOVE IT! Today I woke up with the awesome news from my friend in India that he and his wife are blessed with a baby boy.
On Tuesdays, I usually wake up at 5.30am - 5.45am, get ready, pack my lunch bag and take a tram to go to school by 7.30. I can’t afford to miss this tram because then either I get late to my class or I have to walk to school. My first class of Policy starts at 8am. My teacher wakes us up with new questions and a lot of interactions in class, and I enjoy it a lot! I have no complaints from her because she is attentive, prepared and take care of my needs as student. Who would have thought I will start liking politics and policies in depth. Policy class is over by 11 am.
Sometimes after this class my classmate and I go to the USC farmers market (I know, how fun is that now lol!!!) After that, we go to School of Social Work. There is often one or the other caucus meeting is going on so we participate or enjoy it from far while eating our lunch, and if we still have time, we just hit the library to catch up on our studies/readings. At 1pm my classmate goes back to her class and I go around the campus or stay at library doing BS/reading until 4pm.
At 4pm starts the class which takes my energy, mind, body and everything away from my normal self. It is a Human Behavior class. I love every theory we study but these are damn theories, so much of info in one 3 hour class, so much that I feel fried. And by the time this class is over, it usually is 7pm and by this time I am already feeling drenched; emotionally and physically.
But...I have still needed to go to my favorite religious time, which I have chosen. I go attend my inter-faith council meeting so I can keep myself in touch with my culture, my religion and I am able to respect others religions as well...after all my faith is not just the religion I was born with, but also I have picked up variety of belief systems on my way to mid thirties. I will write about it soon too…
By the time, I get back home, I am in no mood to read or or even think of studies. Often I go out to get something to drink with a friend or classmate or I take a nap…
Today, I met with my 'man' after my classes and had a relaxing evening but at this moment, I am so tired that I dunno how I am still typing…lol.
BTW, today we had International Social Work Caucus meeting and I made some new friends who went to India to work in social work scenario…how awesome!
Okay, its 1.30 am and I should be off to bed, adios.
Trojan
On Tuesdays, I usually wake up at 5.30am - 5.45am, get ready, pack my lunch bag and take a tram to go to school by 7.30. I can’t afford to miss this tram because then either I get late to my class or I have to walk to school. My first class of Policy starts at 8am. My teacher wakes us up with new questions and a lot of interactions in class, and I enjoy it a lot! I have no complaints from her because she is attentive, prepared and take care of my needs as student. Who would have thought I will start liking politics and policies in depth. Policy class is over by 11 am.
Sometimes after this class my classmate and I go to the USC farmers market (I know, how fun is that now lol!!!) After that, we go to School of Social Work. There is often one or the other caucus meeting is going on so we participate or enjoy it from far while eating our lunch, and if we still have time, we just hit the library to catch up on our studies/readings. At 1pm my classmate goes back to her class and I go around the campus or stay at library doing BS/reading until 4pm.
At 4pm starts the class which takes my energy, mind, body and everything away from my normal self. It is a Human Behavior class. I love every theory we study but these are damn theories, so much of info in one 3 hour class, so much that I feel fried. And by the time this class is over, it usually is 7pm and by this time I am already feeling drenched; emotionally and physically.
But...I have still needed to go to my favorite religious time, which I have chosen. I go attend my inter-faith council meeting so I can keep myself in touch with my culture, my religion and I am able to respect others religions as well...after all my faith is not just the religion I was born with, but also I have picked up variety of belief systems on my way to mid thirties. I will write about it soon too…
By the time, I get back home, I am in no mood to read or or even think of studies. Often I go out to get something to drink with a friend or classmate or I take a nap…
Today, I met with my 'man' after my classes and had a relaxing evening but at this moment, I am so tired that I dunno how I am still typing…lol.
BTW, today we had International Social Work Caucus meeting and I made some new friends who went to India to work in social work scenario…how awesome!
Okay, its 1.30 am and I should be off to bed, adios.
Trojan
Monday, September 27, 2010
Visiting DPSS...
DPSS - Department of Social Services. As part of my assignment in my Policy class, I visited DPSS. DPSS provide general relief financial funds to underprivileged citizens of United States of America.
It is a county run organization under the government of the US, and it opens at 8am. I was there at 7.35am and there was already a mile long line outside the office, much before it opened, and it was already 90 degrees F. before it strike 8am. I was okay, I didn't get burnt down, and neither did I lose my patience. It was just a new experience to see life of under poverty line citizens in developed country “America”
While standing in the line, many people stared at me especially guys. I felt as if I was back in Delhi where eve teasing is a 'normal' thing. There were different kinds of people – different age groups, different colors, all standing in one line. Sadly there were mostly two races, Black and Hispanic. I didn't see any Asian, White, Indian or even Middle Eastern person in the line...which I know do exist in America and many ARE living under poverty line. May be they weren’t there today or maybe they were just too ashamed to be there…
I got inside the office by 8.30am and explained my 'situation' to apply for general relief fund to the receptionist. He looked at me weird, and asked me bunch of questions. I replied all based on my story line (thank god for acting career from past) I guess he looked at me weird because I didn’t ‘look’ pitiable or broke.
The system of DPSS is a great way to support those people who are unable to make their money. I am so glad that many people get the chance to meet their minimum basic needs through the tax rich or affluent people pay. I also pay tax, higher than I can or more than I make but it is good to know that there is some return when and if I am in need, though I hope I never reach to that place. I am sure it is a very black and white system and the Grey shades hardly exist but it is better than many other systems which we just hear about but never get to reach to.
Taxes also help in social security, which older adults get when they can’t work and make money on their own, or is given to those who are disable and can’t work. It is such an awesome system, to save your money with government and get it as pension when one gets old. I wish India had similar systems. I know the pension system is there in India as well, and my father is a recipient of it because he was a government employee but my mom is not, though she paid taxes as a wife and as a mother. What makes American system interesting is that every single person who pay taxes get some sort of help back when they are in need, and they don’t have to be a government employee to receive this social security income/pension.
Well, back to my DPSS visit, I was kind of sad while standing in the line, acting as if I am a disadvantaged girl, who is pregnant with a casual boyfriend’s baby, and who needs help but I was still bearable in my own eyes. My friend, who was with me, felt the heat and poverty of people more than I did…I am glad she didn’t bitched or complained about it. Probably she has a history of her own too which I am not aware of…
I didn’t feel more than the physical discomfort, may be just because I have seen worse of everything in India, or maybe I have lived a life when I had no money, had no job and had no support in this country and when I wasn’t aware of these kinds of systems. Actually, not to put anyone down but I am glad I didn’t know these systems because I rather make less money than getting dependent of government to pay for my shit. Truthfully, the separation, the loneliness, the broken heart, and the emotional recovery, nothing…nothing killed me and that is what has made me stronger. Once again, to each its own and everyone carry their own cross. There are many who have come out stronger than I have, and there are many who lost the battle half way. Any which way, the best part of this whole system is to provide you assistance when you need it. May be it’s not enough, or maybe it is not perfect but it is good enough to feed yourself and the little baby, to give yourself and your family a shelter and cloths to cover your body. It is better than nothing, better than being a homeless. It is still much better than what Indian government provides, to its growing population, to its citizens, who live way under poverty line, and to those who live their whole life on street, waiting for the prayers to get answered by the unknown God or known government…
Today, after I visited DPSS, I read few articles about Social Security System and the privileges it comes with, and they made me sad. Articles talked truth, books talked data and my heart had only blood running through its veins, and data seemed to be part of paper, not part of my heart, my emotions. I will elaborate on it some other time…now it’s time to go to bed.
FYI it is freaking 93 degree F. in my house and I am pissed at heat, still Thank You God for the shelter, cloths and food you provide me on regular basis…Please be there for many developing countries and its citizens, the way you have been there for developed countries…
Damn, I do forget policies are black and white…often!!!
It is a county run organization under the government of the US, and it opens at 8am. I was there at 7.35am and there was already a mile long line outside the office, much before it opened, and it was already 90 degrees F. before it strike 8am. I was okay, I didn't get burnt down, and neither did I lose my patience. It was just a new experience to see life of under poverty line citizens in developed country “America”
While standing in the line, many people stared at me especially guys. I felt as if I was back in Delhi where eve teasing is a 'normal' thing. There were different kinds of people – different age groups, different colors, all standing in one line. Sadly there were mostly two races, Black and Hispanic. I didn't see any Asian, White, Indian or even Middle Eastern person in the line...which I know do exist in America and many ARE living under poverty line. May be they weren’t there today or maybe they were just too ashamed to be there…
I got inside the office by 8.30am and explained my 'situation' to apply for general relief fund to the receptionist. He looked at me weird, and asked me bunch of questions. I replied all based on my story line (thank god for acting career from past) I guess he looked at me weird because I didn’t ‘look’ pitiable or broke.
The system of DPSS is a great way to support those people who are unable to make their money. I am so glad that many people get the chance to meet their minimum basic needs through the tax rich or affluent people pay. I also pay tax, higher than I can or more than I make but it is good to know that there is some return when and if I am in need, though I hope I never reach to that place. I am sure it is a very black and white system and the Grey shades hardly exist but it is better than many other systems which we just hear about but never get to reach to.
Taxes also help in social security, which older adults get when they can’t work and make money on their own, or is given to those who are disable and can’t work. It is such an awesome system, to save your money with government and get it as pension when one gets old. I wish India had similar systems. I know the pension system is there in India as well, and my father is a recipient of it because he was a government employee but my mom is not, though she paid taxes as a wife and as a mother. What makes American system interesting is that every single person who pay taxes get some sort of help back when they are in need, and they don’t have to be a government employee to receive this social security income/pension.
Well, back to my DPSS visit, I was kind of sad while standing in the line, acting as if I am a disadvantaged girl, who is pregnant with a casual boyfriend’s baby, and who needs help but I was still bearable in my own eyes. My friend, who was with me, felt the heat and poverty of people more than I did…I am glad she didn’t bitched or complained about it. Probably she has a history of her own too which I am not aware of…
I didn’t feel more than the physical discomfort, may be just because I have seen worse of everything in India, or maybe I have lived a life when I had no money, had no job and had no support in this country and when I wasn’t aware of these kinds of systems. Actually, not to put anyone down but I am glad I didn’t know these systems because I rather make less money than getting dependent of government to pay for my shit. Truthfully, the separation, the loneliness, the broken heart, and the emotional recovery, nothing…nothing killed me and that is what has made me stronger. Once again, to each its own and everyone carry their own cross. There are many who have come out stronger than I have, and there are many who lost the battle half way. Any which way, the best part of this whole system is to provide you assistance when you need it. May be it’s not enough, or maybe it is not perfect but it is good enough to feed yourself and the little baby, to give yourself and your family a shelter and cloths to cover your body. It is better than nothing, better than being a homeless. It is still much better than what Indian government provides, to its growing population, to its citizens, who live way under poverty line, and to those who live their whole life on street, waiting for the prayers to get answered by the unknown God or known government…
Today, after I visited DPSS, I read few articles about Social Security System and the privileges it comes with, and they made me sad. Articles talked truth, books talked data and my heart had only blood running through its veins, and data seemed to be part of paper, not part of my heart, my emotions. I will elaborate on it some other time…now it’s time to go to bed.
FYI it is freaking 93 degree F. in my house and I am pissed at heat, still Thank You God for the shelter, cloths and food you provide me on regular basis…Please be there for many developing countries and its citizens, the way you have been there for developed countries…
Damn, I do forget policies are black and white…often!!!
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