The results of the last post: Part 1 - Volunteering

So, the post-everything update:

On Monday, I went with Sandy to Behman Psychiatric Hospital, which I later found out is the biggest hospital of it’s kind in the Middle East. There, I met a few different people, including the doctor in charge of the pediatric unit, another doctor who does art therapy, and a lady who helps in the psychological unit. It seems I will have some good opportunities there…though in my mind, things are should be considered probable until they actually happen.

I will be working with 2 developmentally delayed adults, teaching them math and other daily-type skills (telling time, money, etc.). I will get to sit on some of their regular meetings - where they discuss patients, and where they discuss academic and research issues. This should be really interesting. And lastly I can sit in/help with? some group therapy sessions. Most of the “with patient” work will be in Arabic, I expect, and the meetings will be in English. So it’ll be an experience on lots of different levels.

Then, we went to the school for students with learning disabilities where Sandy also works. Here, I sat in on a meeting, both administrative, and with some discussion of students. Then, we met with the director, and it looks like I can tutor one girl in grade 10 science (in English, of course), and maybe help out with some other things like social skills. Again, until I actually start, it’s all just “hopefully.”

So, that should fill up my schedule pretty well, also considering both places will require 40-60 commute on the train, plus to/from the train stations. What that means is for now, my formal study of Arabic plans are on hold, since there would be a conflict. But oh well, I’ll figure something out. Indeed (as I will describe) I have lots of offers to learn Arabic privately.