As I mentioned last week, a group of volunteers from Italy came with various games, activities, skits, and songs to keep the children plenty occupied most of their waking hours. With this, Iulia and I decided to postpone our weekly activities until after they left. It would be far to confusing for the children to be shuffled from group to group, as well as extremely tiring. But for real on Monday we will begin the program with the children. Our first activity: the parachute! This will be a great tool for teaching listening skills, teamwork, and coordination. However, this first time will be more of an exploratory process for them because of all the excitement that will be attached to trying it out. I have split the children into four groups according to their age. Two groups will come each day, with all four groups coming on Friday (split into two large groups). As the summer progresses I hope to integrate the ages so the children can also practice their learned skills with younger and older peers. Let the games begin!
Another snafu in the week came about an hour before our scheduled meeting with the caregivers/sisters when Iulia discovered two of the caregivers were on vacation that day (even though we told them weeks ahead of time). We already knew the sisters would not be in attendance because of their brief sabbatical to spend time in prayer [Side note: Iulia recommended that I also add a section with encouragement for the sisters on things they do well with the children. I do this weekly with the caregivers, but it's definitely important for the sisters to hear these things as well. Love this idea!]. So instead of holding a meeting with only three people, we rescheduled the meeting for Tuesday afternoon. This means there will be two meetings next week. It seems this might be the case throughout July because this is the month that many of them will take their week-long vacations. Scheduling has definitely been a difficult task since my arrival, and I hope we can find a sufficient solution to this barrier. As of now I will probably make a brief outline of the main points we discuss (longer than the "take-home points" I give to the sisters) to prevent them from getting too far behind. During the ice breaker each week I also try to weave in some review of the previous principles, so hopefully this will keep them in the know.
However, I do have some wonderfully exciting news about some of my observations this week! One of the days the volunteers scheduled time for the children to go swimming. As the youngest ones were getting into their bathing suits, one of the caregivers asked them all to stand in line before going outside. While I do not know the specifics of what she said, after calmly giving instructions (meaning she waited until they were quiet), she asked the children to repeat what she said. Only one of the children began to repeat the instructions, and she cued the others to join in as well! Whether she did this to appease me as I looked on, or whether she has been employing the new methods routinely doesn't matter much at this point. The fact that she was willing to give it a try and see that it worked was a HUGE step. I was jumping for joy on the inside. Then, when the children were wrapping up their pool time, she told them "5 more minutes" to help them prepare for the transition. Another important principle discussed briefly in the meeting! I've also observed other caregivers giving more praise and encouragement to the children, which is much needed. It's so great to see small steps towards changing their tactics and attitudes. As the summer rolls along and Iulia and I interact with the caregivers more often I hope to see even more examples of the strategies we discuss being employed. God is good, and he is faithful!
Oh, I cannot neglect to mention that I was approached by one of the sisters during breakfast early this week regarding the video camera. She apparently was none too happy about me placing the camera around Casa Sperantei at various times across several days. With my limited Romanian, I told her that we asked permission at the meeting two weeks ago-- the one where two of the sisters were present, including her. Her retort was that we never asked because she didn't hear, and that Sister Marisa was not informed about this either. However, Iulia also cleared this with Sister Marisa. It wasn't worth me arguing with her, especially because I don't want the gap in my relationship with the sisters to get any bigger. So I no longer will use the video camera; with the possible exception of some outdoor activities where only the caregivers will be present. Unfortunately this confrontation/apprehension speaks volumes about her interactions with the children.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
No More Waiting (for now)
The packages finally arrived this morning after over a month in-transit! To truly appreciate what this means, here is the process Iulia and I had to endure.
1.) Receive a letter outlining all of the steps of receiving a package outside the European Union, and subsequently call the Romanian FedEx rep. to understand what this meant exactly.
2.) Fill-out a detailed form about the organization to submit electronically to the Romanian customs authorities. This in itself took several days and multiple attempts because the form could not be accessed on the first four computers we tried. When it finally opened we had to dig up paperwork to obtain sundry numbers.
3.) Mail a hardcopy of the form and the paperwork of the organization. Again, quite a process because the "print" button in the program which contained the form would not allow us to do this. Nor would it allow copying and pasting the form, print screen, or changing printers. Finally Iulia discovered F4 was the magic key. (And why do they need a hardcopy if they automatically receive the computerized form?)
4.) Wait for the EORI number.
5.) Translate the packing list that individually listed the items. Seems like this should be their job...
6.) Call and email the Romanian FedEx rep. with the EORI number and other required documents.
7.) Wait for the packages to be delivered from Bucharest.
1.) Receive a letter outlining all of the steps of receiving a package outside the European Union, and subsequently call the Romanian FedEx rep. to understand what this meant exactly.
2.) Fill-out a detailed form about the organization to submit electronically to the Romanian customs authorities. This in itself took several days and multiple attempts because the form could not be accessed on the first four computers we tried. When it finally opened we had to dig up paperwork to obtain sundry numbers.
3.) Mail a hardcopy of the form and the paperwork of the organization. Again, quite a process because the "print" button in the program which contained the form would not allow us to do this. Nor would it allow copying and pasting the form, print screen, or changing printers. Finally Iulia discovered F4 was the magic key. (And why do they need a hardcopy if they automatically receive the computerized form?)
4.) Wait for the EORI number.
5.) Translate the packing list that individually listed the items. Seems like this should be their job...
6.) Call and email the Romanian FedEx rep. with the EORI number and other required documents.
7.) Wait for the packages to be delivered from Bucharest.
Now that we have the magical EORI number, receiving subsequent packages will be much easier. I told Iulia I should have everyone I know send packages to make this process worth it-- especially because of the time she invested and headaches it gave her!
Nevertheless, here are the fun donations that arrived for the children from the McHenry First United Methodist congregation:
· 8 educational computer games
· 6 educational board games
· 8 educational card games
· 9 puzzles (of several varieties)
· 4 sets of Legos/Tinker Toys
· 5 containers of sidewalk chalk
· 8 jump ropes
· 18 containers of Play-doh/Model magic
· 4 containers of bubbles
· 8 balls (of several varieties)
· 3 packages of pencil grippers
· 2 packages of whistles
· 1 therapy ball
· 1 weighted therapy ball
The parachute also arrived this week, and was purchased from generous donations of friends, family, and church members. It will be so exciting to see their reaction to such a foreign game!
Another major update: I have chosen to suspend learning Romanian and pursue learning Italian. More people around here speak Italian, it is MUCH easier to learn, and I can pick-up on it more quickly because of its similarity to Spanish. It's definitely been an adjustment, but I know in the long-run I'll be better off. The large group of Italian volunteers here for the week had so many great songs, games, and skits for the children and I know my assistance and participation could have been augmented if I knew more of their language. Instead of just waiting and wishing, I decided to act.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
And So It Continues...
Friday marked the third meeting with the caregivers, and disappointingly none of the sisters showed up. We first discussed the "challenge" from the past week of giving more praise and encouragement for specific things the children do. Most of them agreed it was easy to integrate this concept but they sometimes just forget. They also commented on the positive reactions from the children when they receive this feedback. So, we're off to a good start, but as always, there is room for growth. I encouraged them to continue with this strategy, and to remember to be specific when admiring their behaviors.
This week's lesson entailed strategies to improve instruction-giving. Many of the strategies seem very unnatural and require controlling impulses and reactions to situations-- this I know through implementing them with children I babysit. However, they definitely work when done correctly and consistently. Some of the strategies that were a review for the caregivers were politely telling, not asking, a child to do something otherwise it seems more like a choice; telling the children what to do, not what not to do; and praising a child when he/she complies. While these ideas had been presented to them before, a reminder never hurts! A couple of new concepts I presented that are critical to instruction-giving include only saying the instructions once (REALLY challenging!), having the child(ren) repeat the instructions, and calmly asking questions when a child does not comply (e.g. What did I tell you to do?, Do you understand the instructions?). The phrase, "first ____, then _____" was also introduced as an easy way to keep instructions simple and positive. I composed a few role plays and case scenarios based on various situations I observed, and the caregivers seemed to really enjoy talking through these. Hopefully I'll see some of the strategies implemented throughout this next week!
Because the sisters did not attend the meeting I wanted to somehow convey the information to them. Each week I create 5 "take-home points" based on the lesson and write them on a dry-erase board in the room. So I decided to type these and print them out for each of the sisters. This morning I distributed them to three of the sisters; two seemed happy to receive the information while one seemed rather apathetic. Maybe as the weeks go along they will want to join the meetings to gain more information about what is written on the paper. Or maybe I'll come up with a more creative way to increase their attendance, and subsequently their willingness to attempt to change.
As mentioned in the previous post, the policial environment here definitely caught me off-guard. There is a clear hierarchy among the caregivers and sisters, and even a hierarchy amongst the sisters. Unfortunately the sisters sit higher up than the caregivers and employ worse strategies. This means little confrontation can occur when the caregivers see the sisters using a poor strategy; although the caregivers frequently do this amongst themselves (and would like to do be able to do it with the sisters). It also means little confrontation can occur within the ranks of the sisters, even though Sister Marisa has tried on multiple occasions. Knowing that I can do little to breakdown this hierarchy, I am struggling to find a way to work with it. Anybody with any sage advice or bright ideas please feel free to share!
Next week we will begin our program with the children. For this I am very excited-- I have much more patience with children and much more confidence in their ability to change their behaviors. Undoubtedly it will still be a challenging endeavor and very trying at times. Our plan is to divide the children into groups (probably 4-5) and do an activity with a group in the morning and a group in the afternoon. This will put them on a sort of rotating schedule that will allow both us and them some breathing room. I created a calendar of activities (obviously fairly flexible) with a theme for each month: June is "listening", July is "teamwork", August is "helping", and September is "respect". A short lesson and fun catch-phrases will remind them of these important concepts as we utilize the therapeutic play activities. On Friday I ordered a parachute for the children-- something unfamiliar to them that is both extremely fun and extremely beneficial for teaching listening and teamwork skills.
Another variable I wanted to consider were the children travelling to Italy for 1-2 weeks at various points in the summer. This exciting change in environment has the potential to be both beneficial and unbeneficial for the children. Beneficial to receive reprieve from a stressful environment, as well as more individual attention and solitary time. Unbeneficial to get a glimpse of life in a family situation and then return back to the orphanage. In order to attempt some semblance of consistency with the principles we will be teaching the children I decided to create a handout for the Italian families. With a short explanation of the behavioral changes we are targeting and simple strategies the families should consider, I hope the transition back to Casa Sperantei will not set the children back as much. Only time will tell.
This week's lesson entailed strategies to improve instruction-giving. Many of the strategies seem very unnatural and require controlling impulses and reactions to situations-- this I know through implementing them with children I babysit. However, they definitely work when done correctly and consistently. Some of the strategies that were a review for the caregivers were politely telling, not asking, a child to do something otherwise it seems more like a choice; telling the children what to do, not what not to do; and praising a child when he/she complies. While these ideas had been presented to them before, a reminder never hurts! A couple of new concepts I presented that are critical to instruction-giving include only saying the instructions once (REALLY challenging!), having the child(ren) repeat the instructions, and calmly asking questions when a child does not comply (e.g. What did I tell you to do?, Do you understand the instructions?). The phrase, "first ____, then _____" was also introduced as an easy way to keep instructions simple and positive. I composed a few role plays and case scenarios based on various situations I observed, and the caregivers seemed to really enjoy talking through these. Hopefully I'll see some of the strategies implemented throughout this next week!
Because the sisters did not attend the meeting I wanted to somehow convey the information to them. Each week I create 5 "take-home points" based on the lesson and write them on a dry-erase board in the room. So I decided to type these and print them out for each of the sisters. This morning I distributed them to three of the sisters; two seemed happy to receive the information while one seemed rather apathetic. Maybe as the weeks go along they will want to join the meetings to gain more information about what is written on the paper. Or maybe I'll come up with a more creative way to increase their attendance, and subsequently their willingness to attempt to change.
As mentioned in the previous post, the policial environment here definitely caught me off-guard. There is a clear hierarchy among the caregivers and sisters, and even a hierarchy amongst the sisters. Unfortunately the sisters sit higher up than the caregivers and employ worse strategies. This means little confrontation can occur when the caregivers see the sisters using a poor strategy; although the caregivers frequently do this amongst themselves (and would like to do be able to do it with the sisters). It also means little confrontation can occur within the ranks of the sisters, even though Sister Marisa has tried on multiple occasions. Knowing that I can do little to breakdown this hierarchy, I am struggling to find a way to work with it. Anybody with any sage advice or bright ideas please feel free to share!
Next week we will begin our program with the children. For this I am very excited-- I have much more patience with children and much more confidence in their ability to change their behaviors. Undoubtedly it will still be a challenging endeavor and very trying at times. Our plan is to divide the children into groups (probably 4-5) and do an activity with a group in the morning and a group in the afternoon. This will put them on a sort of rotating schedule that will allow both us and them some breathing room. I created a calendar of activities (obviously fairly flexible) with a theme for each month: June is "listening", July is "teamwork", August is "helping", and September is "respect". A short lesson and fun catch-phrases will remind them of these important concepts as we utilize the therapeutic play activities. On Friday I ordered a parachute for the children-- something unfamiliar to them that is both extremely fun and extremely beneficial for teaching listening and teamwork skills.
Another variable I wanted to consider were the children travelling to Italy for 1-2 weeks at various points in the summer. This exciting change in environment has the potential to be both beneficial and unbeneficial for the children. Beneficial to receive reprieve from a stressful environment, as well as more individual attention and solitary time. Unbeneficial to get a glimpse of life in a family situation and then return back to the orphanage. In order to attempt some semblance of consistency with the principles we will be teaching the children I decided to create a handout for the Italian families. With a short explanation of the behavioral changes we are targeting and simple strategies the families should consider, I hope the transition back to Casa Sperantei will not set the children back as much. Only time will tell.
Ups and Downs
By far this undulating week has been the most difficult since my arrival. But let's start with the positives.
After passing a gas station everytime I go into Campina, I finally did the conversion from lei/liter to dollars/gallon: just be thankful you're not paying the equivalent of $7.20!
Last Sunday I participated in my first orienteering experience-- definitely a great time. For those unfamiliar with this sport, it involves a map, a compass, and a forest. Participants must reach various checkpoints marked on the map through combining cognitive, psychological, and physical endurance. If you don't like feeling lost this sport is not for you! In true Romanian fashion (apparently) the event started an hour later than originally scheduled. (I can't neglect to mention that the event was actually supposed to take place on Saturday; we found this out the hard way after driving in circles for about a half an hour wondering where everybody was.) Iulia, Madalin, and I were able to participate after graciously being allowed to register that morning. While we brought up the rear (2 hrs. 5 min.), we still successfully completed the challenging course with no injuries and still maintaining our friendship.
Thursday and Friday (depending on the school) marked the end of the school year for the children. As imagined the children buzzed with excitement. Each school celebrated with a "graduation"; some of which included the presentation of certificates, while others prepared songs and dances for the families. I went with Iulia and three of the children to their festivities. All the children did a great job memorizing various poems, songs, and skits related to the alphabet, numbers, and the seasons-- especially considering the high expectations of the teacher. After an hour and a half of entertainment I couldn't help but wonder if they had spent the entire school year getting ready for this evening! (Later I found out that the past month had been devoted to preparation of the event.)
Yesterday I went with Iulia and Madalin to a saltwater pool in Campina. The nearly perfect weather since my arrival here did not fail us: 80 degrees with a sun-filled blue sky. Surrounded by the beauty of the mountains, I found this much-needed escape incredibly relaxing and very refreshing. We later hiked to nearby natural saltwater lakes maintained from rain water flowing down hillsides that contain large salt deposits. A sight to behold, and another reminder of the work of our loving Creator.
Frustrations this week primarily stemmed from the behaviors and attitudes of the sisters (as expressed in the poem I wrote). Rarely do they speak to the children without yelling and/or a tone of condescension. Mentally exhausting for me to overhear daily, I cannot imagine what the children feel as they endure the derision. It seems that their perceived role is to "keep the children in line". These principles work directly against the concepts and strategies I present at the meetings, as well as the caregivers' efforts to implement what they have learned. It is clear the sisters do not put forth the same efforts (although I do recognize that change is slow and difficult). One thing that exacerbates the situation is the fact that I do not understand them: their perspectives, their beliefs, and their experiences. But if they don't even show up to the meetings I cannot learn this information from them. I don't want to fight against them or culture personal feelings of bitterness; I equally don't want to cease trying to elicit change in their tactics.
A second factor is the unexpectedly large political environment within Casa Sperantei. This leaves the sisters with the power to generally do as they please without confrontation from the other staff or caregivers. Even within the group of sisters tension exists--Sister Marisa (the director of the orphanage who supports our approach and recognizes the need for change) can do little to relieve the mired situation. Oh, and did I mention Sister Marisa must go to Italy for a month to tend to duties related to the sisterhood? This effectively removes our biggest cheerleader and essentially gives the other sisters even more freedom to utilize their power.
As mentioned before, groups of Italian volunteers and visitors constantly come and go on a weekly basis. More and more seem to come as the summer rolls along. Most of the children love having new friends to interact with and teach them new games. And many of the songs and organized activities they teach the children seem to align with the principles we want to teach. My encounters with them make me questions whether I should have learned Italian instead of Romanian. At mealtimes I am merely a presence due to the language barrier; but I suppose it's better than eating alone. Nevertheless, I definitely feel like an outsider despite having been here longer than most of them.
Ugh...I am ready to hit the reset button for this upcoming week!
After passing a gas station everytime I go into Campina, I finally did the conversion from lei/liter to dollars/gallon: just be thankful you're not paying the equivalent of $7.20!
Last Sunday I participated in my first orienteering experience-- definitely a great time. For those unfamiliar with this sport, it involves a map, a compass, and a forest. Participants must reach various checkpoints marked on the map through combining cognitive, psychological, and physical endurance. If you don't like feeling lost this sport is not for you! In true Romanian fashion (apparently) the event started an hour later than originally scheduled. (I can't neglect to mention that the event was actually supposed to take place on Saturday; we found this out the hard way after driving in circles for about a half an hour wondering where everybody was.) Iulia, Madalin, and I were able to participate after graciously being allowed to register that morning. While we brought up the rear (2 hrs. 5 min.), we still successfully completed the challenging course with no injuries and still maintaining our friendship.
Thursday and Friday (depending on the school) marked the end of the school year for the children. As imagined the children buzzed with excitement. Each school celebrated with a "graduation"; some of which included the presentation of certificates, while others prepared songs and dances for the families. I went with Iulia and three of the children to their festivities. All the children did a great job memorizing various poems, songs, and skits related to the alphabet, numbers, and the seasons-- especially considering the high expectations of the teacher. After an hour and a half of entertainment I couldn't help but wonder if they had spent the entire school year getting ready for this evening! (Later I found out that the past month had been devoted to preparation of the event.)
Yesterday I went with Iulia and Madalin to a saltwater pool in Campina. The nearly perfect weather since my arrival here did not fail us: 80 degrees with a sun-filled blue sky. Surrounded by the beauty of the mountains, I found this much-needed escape incredibly relaxing and very refreshing. We later hiked to nearby natural saltwater lakes maintained from rain water flowing down hillsides that contain large salt deposits. A sight to behold, and another reminder of the work of our loving Creator.
Frustrations this week primarily stemmed from the behaviors and attitudes of the sisters (as expressed in the poem I wrote). Rarely do they speak to the children without yelling and/or a tone of condescension. Mentally exhausting for me to overhear daily, I cannot imagine what the children feel as they endure the derision. It seems that their perceived role is to "keep the children in line". These principles work directly against the concepts and strategies I present at the meetings, as well as the caregivers' efforts to implement what they have learned. It is clear the sisters do not put forth the same efforts (although I do recognize that change is slow and difficult). One thing that exacerbates the situation is the fact that I do not understand them: their perspectives, their beliefs, and their experiences. But if they don't even show up to the meetings I cannot learn this information from them. I don't want to fight against them or culture personal feelings of bitterness; I equally don't want to cease trying to elicit change in their tactics.
A second factor is the unexpectedly large political environment within Casa Sperantei. This leaves the sisters with the power to generally do as they please without confrontation from the other staff or caregivers. Even within the group of sisters tension exists--Sister Marisa (the director of the orphanage who supports our approach and recognizes the need for change) can do little to relieve the mired situation. Oh, and did I mention Sister Marisa must go to Italy for a month to tend to duties related to the sisterhood? This effectively removes our biggest cheerleader and essentially gives the other sisters even more freedom to utilize their power.
As mentioned before, groups of Italian volunteers and visitors constantly come and go on a weekly basis. More and more seem to come as the summer rolls along. Most of the children love having new friends to interact with and teach them new games. And many of the songs and organized activities they teach the children seem to align with the principles we want to teach. My encounters with them make me questions whether I should have learned Italian instead of Romanian. At mealtimes I am merely a presence due to the language barrier; but I suppose it's better than eating alone. Nevertheless, I definitely feel like an outsider despite having been here longer than most of them.
Ugh...I am ready to hit the reset button for this upcoming week!
Friday, June 17, 2011
Impatience meets Incompetence
Unexpected tears land
upon toiled pages.
Doubts flood my mind,
overcome by frustration.
Helplessness. Uncertainty.
Surrendering control to
One who turns impossible
into possible.
Overshadowed by your
pride; blindness demands
Revelation.
How can I defeat
such ugly impediments to
elicit transformation?
No matter how small
the change.
Each night I fall asleep
to the sound of
My failures
This heart cries out
but nobody around hears.
Or cares to listen.
When will we speak the
same language?
Friday, June 10, 2011
Optimism Remains
Progress definitely came this week; slowly but surely. As hoped for a monthly schedule for the caregivers has been completed, marking each Friday as the day for our meetings together. This also meant that today marked our second meeting together. Attendance from the caregivers was excellent, but was subpar for the sisters (although frankly more than expected). Hopefully as time goes on the presence of the sisters will increase. After having them complete a caregiver knowledge survey I developed, I opened the session with a funny YouTube video to remind them why we all love children. Moving on to the lesson, I really pounded home the need for positive feedback and encouragement; especially specific, immediate praise for good behaviors. I had them write lists of positive/negative aspects about the children, as well as practice giving positive feedback to each other. The importance of not bringing up past poor behaviors or combining positive/negative feedback was also discussed. When children constantly hear reminders about negative behaviors these behaviors remain on their mind; when children constantly hear praise about positive behaviors the same holds true. I encouraged them to continue with the good work of designating chores for the children and getting all the children involved in participating.
The staff asked many good questions and scenarios regarding the material, demonstrating that they were both paying attention and seeking more knowledge. Several of their questions related to the material I prepared for next week (establishing rules and instruction-giving). A few admitted to not realizing when they yell or criticize because they are so used to acting in this manner. In my mind this reflection already marks a victory-- now we need to find a solution. Videotaping their interactions with the children will commence this week, as I obtained their consent to do so. This will definitely serve as a powerful teaching tool, as well as an evaluative component of the train-the-trainer program. I also posted several quotes regarding change to serve as reminders for the staff (and children) to continue working towards changing. Iulia and I are still learning how effectually execute the oral translation process, but we will undoubtedly have much practice. For me specifically, being more conscious of my terminology and phrasing will help Iulia immensly in this process. In this way she will not be translating from English-Romanian and then from complex Romanian-simple Romanian.
On Monday Iulia, Madalin, Catalin (the "OT"), and I met again to discuss the design of a potential program for parents and their children. Parents with children between the ages of 12-16 years old who experience behavioral problems comprise the target populations. Delivered one weekend a month, the program will provide instructional material and interactive activities for both the parent group and the adolescent group, with a combined activity at the conclusion of each session. Interviews with the parents and children will be conducted the first week to ensure client-centeredness. As of now evaluative components include a parent knowledge survey, an adolescent behavior self-report, and an observation session. The location, still to be determined, will optimally be a quiet, spacious cabin area in the mountains with easy access for the families. Clearly many more details and considerations must be resolved, but we established a fairly firm foundation. Weekly or bi-weekly meetings will continue to occur until the program is off the ground. If things go as planned the first session (or two?) will be implemented before I leave.
After the discussion (and throughout the week) I headed to the literature to see what evidence-based elements exist for similar programs. Luckily I found that our design is headed in the right direction. Some key components that primarily influence outcomes for parental-based programs include: active participation, practicing interactions with their own child, emotional communication skills, consistent responding techniques, and strategies for positive interactions. Similarly, child-based programs demonstrate positive results when integrating the following: positive reinforcement of good behaviors, coached role-play, regular social "dates" with friends, handling confrontation with adults, anger management/avoiding fights, and meeting friends/praising others. Barriers I anticipate consist of transportation, other siblings, gender differences, influence from the child's peer group, and other stressors at home, to name a few. While all of these will not be resolved we can work to diminish several of them.
Definitely excited for what the coming week brings!
The staff asked many good questions and scenarios regarding the material, demonstrating that they were both paying attention and seeking more knowledge. Several of their questions related to the material I prepared for next week (establishing rules and instruction-giving). A few admitted to not realizing when they yell or criticize because they are so used to acting in this manner. In my mind this reflection already marks a victory-- now we need to find a solution. Videotaping their interactions with the children will commence this week, as I obtained their consent to do so. This will definitely serve as a powerful teaching tool, as well as an evaluative component of the train-the-trainer program. I also posted several quotes regarding change to serve as reminders for the staff (and children) to continue working towards changing. Iulia and I are still learning how effectually execute the oral translation process, but we will undoubtedly have much practice. For me specifically, being more conscious of my terminology and phrasing will help Iulia immensly in this process. In this way she will not be translating from English-Romanian and then from complex Romanian-simple Romanian.
On Monday Iulia, Madalin, Catalin (the "OT"), and I met again to discuss the design of a potential program for parents and their children. Parents with children between the ages of 12-16 years old who experience behavioral problems comprise the target populations. Delivered one weekend a month, the program will provide instructional material and interactive activities for both the parent group and the adolescent group, with a combined activity at the conclusion of each session. Interviews with the parents and children will be conducted the first week to ensure client-centeredness. As of now evaluative components include a parent knowledge survey, an adolescent behavior self-report, and an observation session. The location, still to be determined, will optimally be a quiet, spacious cabin area in the mountains with easy access for the families. Clearly many more details and considerations must be resolved, but we established a fairly firm foundation. Weekly or bi-weekly meetings will continue to occur until the program is off the ground. If things go as planned the first session (or two?) will be implemented before I leave.
After the discussion (and throughout the week) I headed to the literature to see what evidence-based elements exist for similar programs. Luckily I found that our design is headed in the right direction. Some key components that primarily influence outcomes for parental-based programs include: active participation, practicing interactions with their own child, emotional communication skills, consistent responding techniques, and strategies for positive interactions. Similarly, child-based programs demonstrate positive results when integrating the following: positive reinforcement of good behaviors, coached role-play, regular social "dates" with friends, handling confrontation with adults, anger management/avoiding fights, and meeting friends/praising others. Barriers I anticipate consist of transportation, other siblings, gender differences, influence from the child's peer group, and other stressors at home, to name a few. While all of these will not be resolved we can work to diminish several of them.
Definitely excited for what the coming week brings!
Things I have Learned about Romania...
1. Non-smoking signs are optional in the sight of many. Ex: The bus driver on the way to Ploiesti.
2. Shaking 4-5 dogs off my leg while running is expected.
3. My name is difficult to pronounce. (Jenie, Janie, Jahmie...)
4. As a rule Romanians are terrible drivers.
5. Beer can be purchased almost anywhere...McDonald's is no exception.
6. Rainstorms only last 2-3 hours, and are preceded and succeeded by sunny skies.
7. Fresh fruits and vegetables are ubiquitous; whole grains are not.
8. The process of receiving packages is more difficult than ever imagined.
9. Beekeeping is a fairly common occupation, and the honey extraction process is very interesting (see photos below from Casa Sperantei's hives).
2. Shaking 4-5 dogs off my leg while running is expected.
3. My name is difficult to pronounce. (Jenie, Janie, Jahmie...)
4. As a rule Romanians are terrible drivers.
5. Beer can be purchased almost anywhere...McDonald's is no exception.
6. Rainstorms only last 2-3 hours, and are preceded and succeeded by sunny skies.
7. Fresh fruits and vegetables are ubiquitous; whole grains are not.
8. The process of receiving packages is more difficult than ever imagined.
9. Beekeeping is a fairly common occupation, and the honey extraction process is very interesting (see photos below from Casa Sperantei's hives).
 |
| 1. Waxy layer removed |
 |
| 2. Honeycomb centrifuged |
 |
| 3. Honey ("miere") drains into vat |
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Change is Coming
Observation has been a powerful tool since my arrival here; this past week I learned much through watching the interactions between the staff and children, as well as their daily routines. In this, it is no wonder the children display poor behaviors with little respect for each other and their things. Children learn from and adapt to the circumstances and people that surround them. When constant criticism, yelling, restrictions, and urgency inundates their little world this too is how they learn to respond. Monkey see, monkey do. Praise, encouragement, respect, patience, and empathy seem to be distant words from inside the walls of Casa Sperantei. Caring for 42 children is an undoubtedly challenging task, and I understand the inherent difficulties the staff faces with its limited numbers. But if the attitudes and actions of the staff and children do not change the problems will be exacerbated as the children move into adolescence. This is the mountain I stand before.
Due to the busy week and lack of schedule coordination I was unable to meet with the staff. From now on we will schedule our weekly meetings at the beginning of each month to ensure attendance. Next week I will be discussing the idea of empathy, how it develops, and minor techniques to increase empathy. Slowly, slowly begins the process-- I don't want them to become too overwhelmed with new information and ideas. Small successes will be key to building the confidence of the staff. But these changes must first become internalized in the staff (especially the sisters, as they tend to deride the children more than the caregivers with little desire to change their strategies). "We must be the change we want to see...", no matter how difficult that change might be (Ghandi).
Changes with the staff must work in tandem with changes made by the children. With only a week and a half left of school, Iulia and I will soon begin to work daily with the children to develop skills such as respect, responsibility, listening to instructions, teamwork, sharing, empathy, and social interest. Currently I am brainstorming myriad activities and games that promote these skills, as well as brief lesson plans to accompany the practical application. (Ideas and suggestions are welcomed if you have any!) Again, this will prove to be quite a feat and the changes we observe will be slow. The majority, if not all, of the childrens' days are spent in groups with little isolated time. As I'm sure you can affirm we all need our personal quiet time to unwind, relax, and escape. Not to mention some children perform homework better when the room is devoid of distraction. Strategizing how to address this issue is another primary need of the children. I have faith that the combined efforts of both the children and staff will produce positive results. Iulia has assured me that each time somebody visits Casa Sperantei to improve the situation at least one thing has improved: "We cannot change everything, but I know that we definitely won't make things worse and something will change for the better." Failure is inevitable; but my grandpa wisely remarked that the only person who never failed is the person who never tried.
When walking around Campina I have made some observations about the physical environment for people with disabilities. On the positive side the majority of the sidewalks have curb cuts, crosswalks with easy access for persons with wheelchairs/walkers/strollers are clearly marked with signage, and accessible parking spaces are available. Unfortunately stairs precede many of the entrances to the stores and the aisles tend to be narrow. I took a public taxi-van to a nearby town that clearly was not accessible. However, I have yet to take a public bus, so I cannot comment on their accessibility. Through my brief strolls through town I have not encountered anybody with a visible disability or using an assistive device.
Within the past several years children with disabilities have just began integration into schools with non-disabled children. This process includes the parent making a request for integration (based on medical diagnosis), retrieving paperwork that states an aid/therapist will be able to assist the child, and then presenting the paperwork for the teacher for approval. Unlike the (usual) daily assistance in the US, the aids/therapists might visit the child on a weekly or monthly basis (sometimes never at all). Travelling from town to town within a province limits the time able to be spent with each child. Not to mention the shortage of aids/therapists working within this system. As a recurring theme, change is slow and stepwise. But it must come otherwise progress will never occur and life will cease to exist. "If nothing ever changed there would be no butterflies" (Anonymous).
Due to the busy week and lack of schedule coordination I was unable to meet with the staff. From now on we will schedule our weekly meetings at the beginning of each month to ensure attendance. Next week I will be discussing the idea of empathy, how it develops, and minor techniques to increase empathy. Slowly, slowly begins the process-- I don't want them to become too overwhelmed with new information and ideas. Small successes will be key to building the confidence of the staff. But these changes must first become internalized in the staff (especially the sisters, as they tend to deride the children more than the caregivers with little desire to change their strategies). "We must be the change we want to see...", no matter how difficult that change might be (Ghandi).
Changes with the staff must work in tandem with changes made by the children. With only a week and a half left of school, Iulia and I will soon begin to work daily with the children to develop skills such as respect, responsibility, listening to instructions, teamwork, sharing, empathy, and social interest. Currently I am brainstorming myriad activities and games that promote these skills, as well as brief lesson plans to accompany the practical application. (Ideas and suggestions are welcomed if you have any!) Again, this will prove to be quite a feat and the changes we observe will be slow. The majority, if not all, of the childrens' days are spent in groups with little isolated time. As I'm sure you can affirm we all need our personal quiet time to unwind, relax, and escape. Not to mention some children perform homework better when the room is devoid of distraction. Strategizing how to address this issue is another primary need of the children. I have faith that the combined efforts of both the children and staff will produce positive results. Iulia has assured me that each time somebody visits Casa Sperantei to improve the situation at least one thing has improved: "We cannot change everything, but I know that we definitely won't make things worse and something will change for the better." Failure is inevitable; but my grandpa wisely remarked that the only person who never failed is the person who never tried.
When walking around Campina I have made some observations about the physical environment for people with disabilities. On the positive side the majority of the sidewalks have curb cuts, crosswalks with easy access for persons with wheelchairs/walkers/strollers are clearly marked with signage, and accessible parking spaces are available. Unfortunately stairs precede many of the entrances to the stores and the aisles tend to be narrow. I took a public taxi-van to a nearby town that clearly was not accessible. However, I have yet to take a public bus, so I cannot comment on their accessibility. Through my brief strolls through town I have not encountered anybody with a visible disability or using an assistive device.
Within the past several years children with disabilities have just began integration into schools with non-disabled children. This process includes the parent making a request for integration (based on medical diagnosis), retrieving paperwork that states an aid/therapist will be able to assist the child, and then presenting the paperwork for the teacher for approval. Unlike the (usual) daily assistance in the US, the aids/therapists might visit the child on a weekly or monthly basis (sometimes never at all). Travelling from town to town within a province limits the time able to be spent with each child. Not to mention the shortage of aids/therapists working within this system. As a recurring theme, change is slow and stepwise. But it must come otherwise progress will never occur and life will cease to exist. "If nothing ever changed there would be no butterflies" (Anonymous).
Slowly Adjusting
Here are some of the highlights from the past week:
Last Saturday I, along with Iulia, Madalin, and a few of the older girls from Casa Sperantei, attended a festival in the small town next to Campina called Banesti. The girls were excited to escape the orphanage surroundings and meet-up with friends from school. Most of the time we spent listening to various Romanian musicians (singing Romanian songs); this gave me the opportunity to become a bit more emersed in the culture and language.
The following day I befriended the daughter of the maintenance man at Casa Sperantei-- a teenager eager to practice her English skills. Together Danisa and I attended a pick-up soccer (fotbal) game that involved several Italian volunteers and the orphanage Judo instructor. Pizza at a recently opened restaurant (Bella Italiano) followed and proved to be a humorous endeavor. The dinner party consisted of: five Italians, four Romanians, and one American. Ironically English was the common denominator, although we still stumbled through the conversation both with speaking and understanding. Luckily my studious friend knew all three languages fairly well and served as the translator for the night. One thing we all agreed on was the fact that the pizza was rather subpar and would not be returning to that particular restaurant. After pizza we were invited to the nearby home of the Romanian couple. Their quaint, welcoming apartment and wonderful hospitality was a great ending to the evening. I hope to continue meeting with Danisa to develop our friendship further and serve as a mentor for her (her mom lives in Italy).
Through all my daily interactions and my intensive studying at night I am finally getting a grasp on the language. One of the highlights of my week came when one of the children affirmed, "You understand Romanian!", after I had responded correctly to his question. While I still have a long way to go I am now able to communicate minimally with the children and staff. [Iulia had to help me figure out the system for doing laundry-- I now know it takes more than one day for them to complete the entire process.] However, it is true that English is the universal language, as I daily meet people who know at least some English. Usually they learned it in school but don't frequently use their skills-- I'm just grateful for their efforts.
Wednesday, June 1 marked Romania's annual Children's day (Ziua Copilulor) and the children enjoyed the fun festivities offered at school. At Casa Sperantei we celebrated this occasion today with various performances from the children (see video 'Ziua Copilului') and a delicious lunch with many traditional dishes. As imaginable the children were thrilled throughout the entire day; it was refreshing to see so many smiles and hear so much laughter.
Last Saturday I, along with Iulia, Madalin, and a few of the older girls from Casa Sperantei, attended a festival in the small town next to Campina called Banesti. The girls were excited to escape the orphanage surroundings and meet-up with friends from school. Most of the time we spent listening to various Romanian musicians (singing Romanian songs); this gave me the opportunity to become a bit more emersed in the culture and language.
The following day I befriended the daughter of the maintenance man at Casa Sperantei-- a teenager eager to practice her English skills. Together Danisa and I attended a pick-up soccer (fotbal) game that involved several Italian volunteers and the orphanage Judo instructor. Pizza at a recently opened restaurant (Bella Italiano) followed and proved to be a humorous endeavor. The dinner party consisted of: five Italians, four Romanians, and one American. Ironically English was the common denominator, although we still stumbled through the conversation both with speaking and understanding. Luckily my studious friend knew all three languages fairly well and served as the translator for the night. One thing we all agreed on was the fact that the pizza was rather subpar and would not be returning to that particular restaurant. After pizza we were invited to the nearby home of the Romanian couple. Their quaint, welcoming apartment and wonderful hospitality was a great ending to the evening. I hope to continue meeting with Danisa to develop our friendship further and serve as a mentor for her (her mom lives in Italy).
Through all my daily interactions and my intensive studying at night I am finally getting a grasp on the language. One of the highlights of my week came when one of the children affirmed, "You understand Romanian!", after I had responded correctly to his question. While I still have a long way to go I am now able to communicate minimally with the children and staff. [Iulia had to help me figure out the system for doing laundry-- I now know it takes more than one day for them to complete the entire process.] However, it is true that English is the universal language, as I daily meet people who know at least some English. Usually they learned it in school but don't frequently use their skills-- I'm just grateful for their efforts.
Wednesday, June 1 marked Romania's annual Children's day (Ziua Copilulor) and the children enjoyed the fun festivities offered at school. At Casa Sperantei we celebrated this occasion today with various performances from the children (see video 'Ziua Copilului') and a delicious lunch with many traditional dishes. As imaginable the children were thrilled throughout the entire day; it was refreshing to see so many smiles and hear so much laughter.
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