Hello to all of my friends in Canada and the U.S. I thought I would sign on and give you a quick update even though not much has happened since my last update.I was only on shift for 2 days this time, but I go in tomorrow and wont be home until Friday night again. This one is going to be a long shift. We try not to work more than 4 days in a row as you get to a point where you're just so tired after 4 days that you're numb.
My most recent shift was pretty good. I was alone with the kids most of the time b/c my partner (Harris) was used to take kids to the airport, pick them up or do med runs (take kids to the dr or dentist).
Today as I was driving along on the Interstate - I actually forgot that I was in the States. I felt like I was just on some side highway in Canada. It's weird but it doesn't feel like I've been away for a month already.
Keep the cards and letters coming! I love getting mail!
A bunch of us went out on Thursday night to see one of the counsellor's (Turner) play at a local bar. He was really good! It was awesome... there were about 20 of us. It was a good time. I have some phone calls to make tonight and then I think I'll just head to bed. I'm beat!
I don't have much else for now, so I'll sign off for now and I'll write again on my next off shift.
Talk to you all soon! K xo
posted by Kirsti Pihl 6:06 PM (KAP time)
Monday, February 19, 2001
Hello y'all. Sorry it's taken me so long to update this, but between working and finding a computer that actually lets me update I haven't had alot of chance to update. I got off yesterday (Sunday) and I go back tomorrow Tuesday until Thursday. My schedule is a mess - 2 days on here, 2 days off there. It's hard for me to keep track of where I'm supposed to be, let alone all of you keeping track of my schedule. Mo- if you're reading this... I need to figure out how I can post my schedule on the web - can I post a month at a time? Send me an email and let me know.As for everything else down here - the weather has been ok. It's been anywhere between 30 degrees to 70 degress faranheit. It rained 4 days last week, and a tornado touched down in Huntsville. I was at work so it missed us.... THANK GOD!
I'm getting better at dealing with the lack of sleep, the constant change in weather from one minute to the next, the emotional stress of dealing with these kids, the fact that they're so self centered and rich that it makes my head spin. On Saturday we had "Parents Support" which is held one day a month for all of the parents and families to fly/drive in and see their kids. Meeting some of the parents made me realize why the kids are as messed up as they are! Most of the parents were happy to meet me and made me feel welcome. One set of parents didn't even acknowledge my presence which made me feel kind of shitty but then I guess they're snobs and I'm just hired help to fix their kid (?) - who knows.... Their kid is the biggest whiner I've ever met anyway. He held his Mom's hand the whole day - like wouldn't let go of it...
I'm having some issues with banking (which kind of makes me think about MO and Brazil).... I never received a PIN number for my bank card but I got the card, so I went to the bank and asked them if I could choose a PIN number. Nope. Unfortunately, you have to order (?) one and it takes 2 weeks before you get it. So the only way that I can get money out of my account is to go to the teller... which is fine except I got off shift yesterday at noon (banks arn't open on Sunday) and today the bank is closed b/c it's Presidents day. This just means that I'll have to go to the teller tomorrow morning before I go into work.
I'm making friends here which is a bit of a relief. I'll give you their names so that you can recognize them in future writings: Zack "Turner", Harmeet "Wallia", Erin "Bradford", Roxane "Begadon", Brent "Taplay", Jenn "Vipond", John "Nance", John "Bartol", Robert "Szollosy", Bruce "Harris", Jodi "Burton". Everyone's last names are in quotations b/c we all go by our last names. Our first names don't exist b/c we get called Ms. or Mr. whatever all day by the kids. Down here I'm just known as PIHL. It's weird to hear my first name come out of someone's mouth.
Lastnight we went to a bar called the "Koffee Klatsch". It's this little seedy joint in the middle of nowhere, there's about 20 tables and a stage. That's it. It was like out of a movie. Totally redneck central! Half the people in there didn't even have teeth. If you got in a fight they'd have to gum you to death. I still wouldn't want to mess with any of them b/c a) they were all drunk and b) they probably all had a gun in their boot. Honestly, if you guys could have seen me you just would have died. Thank God I was there with about 10 people. One of the guys (Turner) plays guitar and Sunday nights is open mike night so you just go in, sign your name on a piece of paper and you go on stage and play whetever you want. Depending on whether you're any good determines the amount of time they let you stay on stage. Turner was up there for awhile. Turner's girlfriend Linda (who's a local girl) got up and sang some blues and man - I almost fell out of my chair. There was so much soul coming out of her, I forgot where I was!
I really miss Toronto. There is not a signal place to get Tai food down here. Even getting chinese food can be a chore. I'm settling in though. It will never be home, but it will do for now!
Works going ok. Yesterday I was so tired when I got off. I just get drained emotionally and physically working here. I walk at the very least 2 miles a day. I'm losing weight but not intentionally - it's just all of the exercise! I'm going to learn to rock climb! In my off shifts of course. Bartol is an avid rock climber and he's willing to teach me so on Thursday or Friday this week we're going out to start with the basics. I have to get over my fear of heights some how.
I know that I should have alot more to say, but in all honesty I think I just need to update this more often so I'll remember the stories I have to tell. Barenaked Ladies are coming to play in Huntsville on March 16th. Unfortunately I'm working. As it stands right now I'm working on my birthday as well. I'm trying to get the day off, but I'm not sure I'll be able to swing it. It kind of sucks but what are you going to do?
I miss you all and hope everyone is doing well. I got alot of emails (40) when I checked and I'm still in the process of responding so hang in there and I'll get to you!
I'm going to sign off now, but I will sign back on on Thursday when I get off work and try to keep this site consistently updated!
I miss you all - please know that I think of you all often and my memories of the good times sometimes are what helps me get through the day. Talk to ya soon, Kirsti
posted by Kirsti Pihl 6:10 PM (KAP time)
Friday, February 02, 2001
OK - SO I CAN FINALLY UPDATE MY WEB SITE!So I've just finished a shift that I started on Sunday. I've been at work since Sunday 10 am and I got off today (Friday) at about noon.
This week has been very exhausting as my group (Danawa - meaning "peaceful warriers")has been on Dining Hall duty this week, which means we get up at 4:30am and make all of the meals throughout the day for all of the boys groups. I haven't managed to get to bed this week before midnight as I needed some winding down time, and the kids haven't been going to bed until around 10:30p. I've been working with only one of my two co-counsellor's this week as the other one went to Florida for the week for $98.00 (for flight). Not sure if you remember Mr. Szollozy (he is the same guy I stayed over night with when I came to visit in December). We stay up most nights and talk and smoke out by the fire. You remember how I was going to try and quit smoking or at least cut down? Yeah, well that's not happening. And I'm learning to smoke American cigarettes as if there was no other brands in the world. I've turned into a Marlboro girl.Right now there are 68 boys on the campus I work on. There are 75 girls on the girls side. It is amazing how different each of the campuses is run. They each have different rules and ways of doing things. I guess b/c girls and boys are so different.
I'm finally enjoying my stay here in Alabama. I have to say though that it's not Toronto. The bar scene seems to be limited... there is a bar called One in Huntsville that is a dance club and is supposed to be a meat market! No thanks! There is not one single alternative bar in Huntsville... I'll have to take a trip to Birmingham when I get my $$ together and see what I can find down there.
I am off shift until Monday, at which time I will go back on (Mon noon and work until Fri at noon again). Then I'll finally get into a schedule where I'll have 3,4 or 5 days on and a couple of days off during the week.
I haven't checked my email yet as I wanted to see if I could update this... I finally got a number from work so that I can make long distance calls. I just dial the number and then I enter in my 4 digit code and the company bills me directly. Cool! I'll start using it to call people during the week next week.
I am dying to know how everyone is doing! Call me, write me, email me - give me something!
I feel like I'm finally getting the hang of my job. I've really had to be hard on the kids to begin with as I find them manipulating me and trying to Ma and Pa Mr. Szollosy and I (play us against eachother). Thank God we stay up everynight talking b/c it's given me an indication of who he actually is and what his beliefs are. This makes it's easier to not believe the kids when they try to pull a fast one on me.... manipulative little shits.
It amazes me how young they are at times, and yet there are moments when they're older than me based on some of their experiences! Scary... and I must admit I feel sorry for alot of them. My group is good though and I'm beginning to feel like I belong.
I'm really missing everyone! ALOT! I went into Hallmark to buy one card and I ended up spending $20.00 on cards for alot of people - don't be upset if you don't get a card next week - they might take me awhile to write!
I've made some friends. The gossip mill at the ranch is highly active and something I'm not interested in being a part of so I'm choosing the people I confide in carefully. Already I'm dating three of the male counsellors (according to the kids). They are so desperate for gossip and something to talk about that they just start making things up.
In all honesty I haven't really met anyone I'd be interested in dating... No one really appeals to me - which is fine b/c right now I have no energy to give to another person.
I'm going to sign off now as I should try to start making my way home and getting some dinner into me. I think I'll probably be in bed early tonight.
I miss you all alot.... can some of you please write to me.... like on paper? Oh, Claire - I got your first tape! I haven't had time to listen to it yet but I received it on Monday so your second tape shouldn't be far behind. For those of you whom I didn't tell, I bought a mini cassette recorder from Walmart with some answering machine tapes for my girlfriend Claire for X-mas. She's not a big writer so this way she just talks and then she mails me the tapes. If any of you get the urge to jump on the band wagon feel free.
Also - please note that getting mail here is VERY SLOW! It might take me two weeks to receive anything from Canada and it might take you a couple of weeks to receive anything.
By the way - and this is totally a change of subject - but has Felicity started yet? I have not watched tv consistently since I've been here so if someone is interested in just sending me updates every week that would be great! It's the only show I'm dying to see and I can't find it in any tv guide down here! Is it still on?
OK - so I'm signing off for now - but if all goes well I'll be back tomorrow to write more!
With all my love - Kirsti
posted by Kirsti Pihl 6:14 PM (KAP time)
Hello all,You'll never guess where I am... sitting in a mall in Huntsville where they just have computers set up for free internet access. They don't charge you a dime... you just sit down and start typing. It's cool! I hope that this works as I haven't been able to update my web-site since getting here. I'm going to try posting to see if it works, and then if it does... I'll sit here all night!
posted by Kirsti Pihl 5:43 PM (KAP time)
Hello all,You'll never guess where I am... sitting in a mall in Huntsville where they just have computers set up for free internet access. They don't charge you a dime... you just sit down and start typing. It's cool! I hope that this works as I haven't been able to update my web-site since getting here. I'm going to try posting to see if it works, and then if it does... I'll sit here all night!
posted by Kirsti Pihl 5:43 PM (KAP time)
Hello all,You'll never guess where I am... sitting in a mall in Huntsville where they just have computers set up for free internet access. They don't charge you a dime... you just sit down and start typing. It's cool! I hope that this works as I haven't been able to update my web-site since getting here. I'm going to try posting to see if it works, and then if it does... I'll sit here all night!
posted by Kirsti Pihl 5:43 PM (KAP time)
Hello all,You'll never guess where I am... sitting in a mall in Huntsville where they just have computers set up for free internet access. They don't charge you a dime... you just sit down and start typing. It's cool! I hope that this works as I haven't been able to update my web-site since getting here. I'm going to try posting to see if it works, and then if it does... I'll sit here all night!
posted by Kirsti Pihl 5:43 PM (KAP time)
