March 2016 / Week 11 School Work and Pupil Counseling

March was maybe marked by very exciting moments, planing trips and time, checking/changing the plans and schedules, staying too late up at night, getting really tired in the morning, and having a lot of discussion and considering about that with two friends of mine. This is how it was week by week in general:

Week 11 Turengin yhteiskoulu

It's was busy a school for me. On Tuesday and Thursday we presented EVS, shared our voluntary experience, and gave EVS info brochures to 9-grade students. The pupil counseling caused me a bit of a headache. I felt low, less energetic. I know it's often so because I always put a lot of attention to listen; I try to read the others, so that often takes my energy. Also because I'm concerned if other people evacuate me and what I'm saying. It's about making good impression and influencing the students to think about becoming a volunteer. All in all, there are only only advantages to do it. 

On the other hand to be back at that school was mostly "watch and learn", which worked fine for me. I took notes about teaching process and the way the teachers handle older students. Once again I'm nicely surprised by independent work in class and I'll follow that example, so I know what kind of teacher I would be like.

In March I didn't feel ok here. I just don't feel welcome somehow. After pupil counseling in school I received some "shitty" feedback about voluntary work in general. People still cannot understand giving your all time, any possible skills and knowledge for nothing material or financial in reverse. It's very sad, it's worse to hear it from the people I basically "work" for, teenagers.

I must be absolutely indifferent person so I don't take any offense or not feel hurt but I'm not. I'm unfortunately very sensitive and took that very personally. How now I can be welcome? How what Im doing means anything or makes any difference? It's hard enough for me that I take care for my family from abroad and work for no pay to gain professional experience which on its way would get me a better job in the future. Nevertheless, I like my volunteering enourmosly no matter how hard it is I'll try to finish my project. 

I finaly watched an ice-hockey game, finaly! The atmosphere is great, great, amazing and the music was good (almost everywhere rock is on it's a good place).

P.S. I moved to a new apartment. I have a the room that fits me and my needs the most. I arranged one small spot next to the wardrobe as my "art studio", where I keep al my crap drawing, random workouts, students' blackout poems, books and stationary. It's super great! i like it very very much!