Deadlines

I have tried to organise my life in such a way that I am able to accommodate part time work and my social work studies. The operative word in the last sentence being "tried". At times everything seems to cascade into a week of deadlines and events. Something along the lines of a final teaching day, present a workshop to 50 parents, submit a 40 page assignment to the university and a youngster that calls me dad has a matric dance. All has to be done, no postponements allowed and no extensions granted. The light at the end of the tunnel is the increase in the bank balance, work completed as required with my credentials intact and a teenage couple being ferried to and from their final school year social committments (although I don't think this is the last time I will be driving around in the small hours of the morning!).

You can imagine what this is doing to my sleep patterns - it is certainly not early to bed early to rise. Much closer to bed early in the morning and get up a few hours later. It is not all doom and gloom as most of it is now behind me and I can still claim to be pretty sane and not only enjoyed what had to be done, but also had the priviledge of meeting people who are alive and vital in their approach to life despite the hardships that they face.

This weekend will be filled with text books, reading and writing and I have politely informed friends and family that I will resurface next week once the postal service is in possession of the assignment.

Who can teach empathy?

Empathy - a definition: "a fearless exploration of another's inner world, a sensing of meanings unknown....wholly accepting of that world." - Janet Tolan, pg 18, Skills in person-centred counselling and psychotherapy.

A sub-title for this blog could have been, "how do we learn empathy?" Certainly not an inborn trait and if it is we have to learn/re-learn it in our training as social workers.

Every now and then I babysit my niece and nephew - a pigeon pair according to my mother - that is a brother and sister who are 18 months apart in age. Little boy is just starting to string words together but little girl does come up with some gems. How can you not react empathically when after supper and some telly and a bedtime story and the final goodnight and the lights off and the door closed just so, out pops, "I love my mommy, I really miss her." And that look comes into her eyes that tells me that the tears are going to flow. All I am able to come out with is "Your mom is really special." Tears no longer but a smile and satisfied look in her face that tells me she knows somebody else shares her opinion about the special place her mom has in her heart.

There is nothing like a 4 year old to express her feelings in such a way to let you actually feel what it must be like to miss your mom while she is out and one of her uncles is seeing to bedtime routines.

Children as teachers - indeed!

Full speed ahead...

My one exam for this semester is over and results are still out on this one. A massive 60 page document/assignment is on its way to the university (hopes and prayers for a safe delivery through the erratic postal service for this). Planning for the assignments that now follow for the year subjects is taking place and I have to find the time to read, read and read some more. Interestingly this year we have been "prescribed" two DVD's to watch and then answer questions with regard to the human interaction that takes place. I think that a lot of pause, rewind and play buttons are going to get worn out in the process.

Although I am studying through a distance learning university my thoughts are turning to funding for my studies for the next year. I have to negotiate the corridors of corporates, government departments and NGO's in search of funding for a social work bursary/scholarship. University education in general is pretty expensive and there is a great deal of need for financial assistance in order to pay for tertiary education. Even though distance learning is less expensive than residential universities, if you take a full year of subjects/courses, it is inevitable that a student would not be able to take up employment with such a workload. If you are like me (an older student in career change mode), these are the years where I would otherwise have full-time employment and independent. Social work studies demand a lot of attention, self reflection, volunteer work as well as reading and writing. So for full time distance learning funding is also important.

Thus far the indications are good from both government and NGO's - it seems corporate interests are not moved to fund social science students. 

Exam Stress Reduction

In the run up to my exam with time pressures to fit in all the work as well as everyday practical matters, it was a good reminder to practice stress reduction techniques. There are loads of techniques and programmes and methods out there that claim to help during stressful times, but how does one find one that works. To go on the recomendation of a friend is a common way but then so is the top results in the Google search engine, which is often paid for by an organisation.

I had the pleasure of hearing about Jon Kabat-Zinn and the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction programme (MBSR for short) held in Cape Town. Initially the programme seemed to cause me more stress than reducing it as I had to fit in a new daily practice of meditation and yoga as well as a weekly class. But soon the benefits became apparent. The meditation practice encourages one to pay attention to and focus on breathing, acknowledging the thoughts that prompt one to action or to judgment and to let them pass - like sitting on the bank of a river and watching the thoughts rush by - all the while being aware of the breath continuing to flow. The 8 weeks passed quickly, way too quickly in building up this new practice of living in the moment and new activity everyday of checking in on myself and my body.


It was to this practice of watching my breathing and being aware moment by moment, without judgment and having to spring into action, that I turned when I was preparing for and writing exams. I was able to remain focused and fairly calm - despite at times feeling pretty edgy and anxious. I suppose the success of this way of life will be borne out by the results of the exam. I will have to wait and see....

Exam Stress Reduction

Exam Stress Reduction.

"I need to see my social worker..."

As part of my recovery from my appendectomy it was necessary to take myself out to have a meal and watch a game of rugby on television that was being played at the stadium across the road from where I live. 


Due to the large number of cars carrying fans into the suburb, there is money to be made by "guarding" cars while the drivers are in the stadium. This is often done by homeless or unemployed people who have managed to get hold of a reflective bib and look like "official" security guards and for a small fee you car should be untouched by the time you return from the game. I had been in the restaurant for about 30 minutes and was making my way through a glass of good red wine and a beef baguette when two guards, reflective bibs and bags in tow, decided it was time for a "tea break". The tea consisted of 2 local beers each and before they went back into the cold autumn evening I overheard something along these lines....

"I have to go and see my social worker this week. She is nice! I know that she can help me!"


So despite the fact that social workers may have a bad reputation in some quarters, there are still clients and service users who have faith in the assistance that they may be able to access through a social worker.