How are you getting on?

My coworkers typically ask me this question with curiousity as to how I am settling into the job and more importantly whether or not I like my job.

Its a tough question to answer.

At this point, It is hard to know if I "like" my job or not.

Nobody in my office really seems to like their job, but they do it any way. It's sad in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, my coworkers do seem to like the good that comes from safeguarding children and young people. But, the tremendous amount of paperwork that goes along with it, the parents that verbally abuse you, the horrific sights and stories, and the feeling that you can never get caught up is overwhelming.

As I read through my case files, I saw social worker after social worker listed in the files of my young people that have been involved with social services for awhile. Let's face it, the job is HARD, and it seems that most people move on to the next job as soon as possible.

I have this internal dilemma as I continue to meet and invest in the young people that make up my caseload. From the beginning, I've known that I want to work on the Asylum team, and I am waiting for any opportunity possible to switch teams. However, I do not want to be just another social worker assigned to these young people's lives for a few months then move on to the next job.

I also think about some guidance that a good friend told me he was given regarding choosing a country to move abroad and work in. He was told to go to the country that no one else wanted to go to. The country where the work would most likely be the most challenging. Well, I am definitely in a job that in the scale of social work jobs is considered one of the most challenging---and at some level think that this job needs more "people like me". I know for the time being - I am placed here for a purpose.

On a more upbeat note:

There was one day last week that I really liked my job!

I was in a school meeting regarding a 10 year 'cheeky' little boy - the meeting is a statutory requirement. He had me internally laughing my butt off the whole meeting -- but I tried so hard not to laugh out loud because he was intentionally trying to make myself, the school professional, and his foster carer (grandma) crack. My favorite quote from him ... "oh homework....well... you see....I'm just RUBBISH at it!" (said with the straightest, most adorable British face). He then cracked a big smile and said... "no, I'm just kidding!"

Later I met with another young person and her foster carer, and she was so excited that she had finally been allocated a social worker. Her foster care placement was going really well, and she has gained so many social and life skills over past few months. Success stories... I just LOVE them!

It was this day that I realized, I am currently really lucky when it comes to my cases.

You see, I only have cases that are considered LAC (Looked After Children ie. children in foster care) and CHIN (Child In Need). I currently do not have a CP (child protection cases) because I am still considered newly qualified (PTL!!!).

My LAC kids fall under two categories: one is that their parents voluntarily have allowed the child to enter foster care for a time being and have joint parental responsibility for the young person along with social services. Or two, social services has gone through court proceedings in which the parent(s) were deemed unable to properly parent the child, so social services has a court order in which grants us parental responsibility for the child.

My CHIN cases are families that need extra support so that they do not enter into CP. Families have to agree to be considered CHIN, so at some level the family tends to work well with social services --- if they do not they will most likely become CP.

As of now, I get to work with young people, families, and foster carers that tend to engage well with social services. For the most part, my children are safe and are not in conditions in which their quality of life is being extremely negatively impacted at the time being.

I like this part of the job ..... but I tend to get really nervous when I think about taking on CP cases in the future.

"You Alright?"

This is the question I am asked about 15-20 times each day.

I would like to say that I have gotten used to it, but I still cock my head a little sideways in confusion when my supervisor or another coworker asks me this.

You see.... "you alright?" is the British version of "how are you?" You know the random phrase people insert after they say hello to you. In the States most people say "good" or "fine" to answer the question, but it doesn't really matter because the person asking probably doesn't even care, we are just accustomed to saying "how are you?" after "hello."

The only problem with the British version is that every time someone says "you alright?" I get confused and think they think something is wrong with me. I mean, the only time I ask someone if they are alright is when they have a certain look that makes me think they are not.

culture difference #450980539258409 and counting.

Ping Me!!!

I fell into temptation and followed a large portion of the world and bought an IPHONE!!!

Please feel free to judge me, because I have been judging myself too. (Yes, I know that I am the one that agreed the Iphone might be the mark of the beast....but I really hope not).

The really sad part is that I may already be addicted....because I LOVE IT.

UGH..........

But, besides being able to check my email, facebook, and twitter (gross!) on my phone daily, other apps have really been helpful lately like the train schedule app, and the London tube app, and google maps app....so I can help my one driving roommate decipher her satnav directions.

I am really ashamed of myself.

I could justify it and say I got a really good deal on the phone and it is relatively super cheap monthly, but I still know I have fallen into peer pressure.


ANYWAYS.....for my American friends with Iphones:

Download an app called PING (it cost 99cents) and we can text message internationally for free. It is really great. I have been able to text with Kerby and Rachael M quite frequently the past few days.

My Ping name is hannah-daugherty.

When did water aerobics become a spectators sport?

One of my roommates and I decided to take the water aerobics class at our new gym tonight. We thought it would be an easy class with a bunch of older women kicking around in the water.... we were wrong!!!

We forgot to take into account that we go to the new 'posh' gym in town.

The class was taught by the same instructor that teaches kickboxing....and there were no old ladies!!! (just one person significantly older than us).

PLUS there are two hot tubs in the same room as the pool ---attached to one side. So while we were working out in the water, loads of people were sitting in the hot tub being entertained by our moves.

If you would like a good laugh then just imagine yourself relaxing in a hot tub watching me look like an idiot jumping up and down with foam noodles in the swimming pool! :)

It was really fun! :)

I have discovered that the English are not okay with tears

Wednesday was a LONG day at work.

I had been out of the office in trainings Friday, Monday, and Tuesday. Needless to say, I had an email list a mile long. One of the main email topics was the fact that one of my children absconded on Friday (yep, thats me using my new vocabulary!). My inbox was filled with multiple emails asking what I was going to do about helping this child and that people were disappointed that things were not being accomplished. In response, I sent a kind email reminding people that I am still in the induction phase and am not in the office all the time and am not officially working all of my cases on my own yet.

At this point, I learned that most of my clients have known my name for four months. So, they have been waiting for me to come and have begun seeking me for months worth of needs. Whereas, I learned their names 2.5 weeks ago, and have slowly been reading case files, attending days worth of training, and still trying to wrap my head around what I am actually doing and cultural differences like how a child in 'college' can still be on my children and families caseload (ie learning the British schooling system).

So the day was overwhelming....

Plus my supervisor is on 'holiday' this week, so I have had to fend for myself in saying that I am not allowed to do certain tasks yet. The other supervisor is less...hmm...less empathetic compared to my supervisor, so since she is really busy all the time I feel like I am breaking her arm every time I ask her a question.

The first tears came when I asked the supervisor a question, and I was given a short, harsh, abrasive answer (...oh the English) because she was busy. After I completed my task, I excused myself to the 'toilet' (restroom) to let out the tears. Of course as I was wiping my face and washing my hands to leave, the supervisor comes through the door to go...not who I wanted to see.

As the rest of the day pattered on, a secretary that has been in charge of all the unallocated cases (ie mine and the other new American's) reminded 100 things I needed to do about my cases. Half of which I did not know how to do and my supervisor had told me not to do the tasks yet so she said she would just do them in an indirectly frustrated way.

So after a LONG LONG LONG day.....

As I was packing my things up to leave, the secretary leaned over to tell me that she just wanted to warn me that when she talked to the foster carers of one of my clients today, she mentioned that the teenager was really disappointed that I had not even called the teen to say hello yet. This was the last hole in the well for me. Tears came streaming down my face as I told her I felt like I was doing a terrible job since I didn't know what I was supposed to be doing in the midst of a million things that need to be completed.

Of course, this started an office commotion....the new girl....the American....crying IN the the office!!!! My officemates all swarmed in to fix my tears. I let them all know (multiple times) that I am crier and when I get overwhelmed, I just need to let it out. But, that was still not okay with them. They needed to all tell me a thousand times that it was okay, and explain that everyone understands that I am new, and justify me not knowing what to do...and blah blah blah. They gave me loads of kleenex and I even got a ride home instead of having to take the train. At the end of it all, the secretary asked me to please not tell my supervisor that she made me cry next week when she returns from holiday. what?!?!? (I am not sure if they really realize that I was telling the truth when I said I was a crier, because this will happen again).

I'm still here

I have a lot more to write about and update, but I haven't found time to actually do it (and by that I mean, I haven't made any time).

Here are some quick updates:

I have been in England one month.

We have HEAT!!! It is very nice, and warms me well at night!

I visited another church yesterday....it was okay. The funny thing is that it is called The City Church Canterbury. For those of you that don't know, my college pastor, Ben (Hi Ben!), just planted a church in Fort Worth called The City Church.

One of my roommates got her car on Thursday, so we have had some transportation.

I might be getting a "real" phone tomorrow---if all works out well....it has taken me a MONTH to do this.

I saw an Austin friend, Bryan, in London on Saturday. He is working in London for two weeks. We had some great Turkish food, walked around the Tate Art Gallery, and walked around London. He also has some fantastic subway navigating skills.

I signed up for a gym today. It is a REALLY NICE gym. It opened two months ago and it is in walking distance from my house. It has a swimming pool, a hot tube, and a bunch of classes. Also, the girl, Sam, that enrolled me really wants to move to America to work. She also wanted to know if Samantha or Sam was an American name too. I told her yes.

A man asked me if I was Canadian on Saturday. Nope.

Oh I asked a the cashier at Asda for "some small bills with my cash back," and he laughed and said, "you Americans are always changing our words around!" hahaha! He would have said notes instead of bills.

The sun was out EVERYDAY this week!!


Okay question: do any of y'all have any church connections in South East England (or in England in general). I hear (via second had information at the Verge Conference) there is a big house church movement in England right now. Does anyone have any contacts that would know more about this....or anything related to Jesus? Send them my way!

BYYYYYEEEEEEEEE (said in true English song-y fashion)

I think that American thing might work for you....

I met a teenage girl today, and the first thing she said after I introduced myself was, "are you an American" --- complete with the cocky teenage head turn, eye roll, and glare that could laser a hole right through you. I said "yes," and her face lit up followed by, "I've never met an American before!"

Later, when she showed me around her house, she asked if I had ever met any famous people. I told her about my slight (okay less than slight) connection to Kelly Clarkson --- but that was it.

Her family also had a lot of questions about what Texas is like.... you know the stereotypes.... cowboys, horses, guns, etc.

I think they might like me! :)

When I left, a social work supervisor said to me in the car, "you know, I think that American thing might work for you...." I thought 'well, I sure hope it will since I am an American'. My only other option would be to pull a Ross Gellar on Friends and pretend to talk in an accent while I'm at work all day everyday. (Come on Kerb and Alex, you know that's funny---you friends fanatics!) I mean, I getting pretty good at my British accent. HA!

nobody's fooling this kid

Today, I co-supervised a contact between 5 brothers and sisters that are placed in separate foster homes. The eldest boy (9) said multiple times throughout the visit that I spoke a different language. I continued to tell him that I spoke the same language, but with a different accent. At the end of our time together, a worker at the facility began "hoovering" the carpet with the "hoover" while we waited for the child's taxi. I told the boy that I would say the man is "vacuuming the carpet with a vacuum." The little boy said, "see I told you you speak a different language!" What do you say to that?

First load of laundry

3 pair of pants
2 shirts
underwear

European washing machines are so small! And, this fancy machine that takes about 85 minutes to do a simple wash job. My 3 weeks of laundry could take a few days at this rate.