Diary as a Volunteer-- Day #2

I wondered what was it, as I walked by... 

Curiosity ignited. 

Tentatively...
I approached,  

The place,

Where flowers stank like garbage. 

Day#2: 28 February 2013- Wellness Center
     Okay, day 2. Remember my last post about me going to the second hospital to apply for volunteer work?   Well that day my dad parked his car in a parking lot quite far away from the main building and the HR office ( we didn't know where was the HR office earlier then). So, we had to walk quite a distance (obviously). Well, when we walked past a small single-story building, I smelt something bad. Something rotten. Just like something you will smell when there's a heap of rotting rubbish nearby. Yucks. There was a big tree beside the building and a pile of yellow flowers scattered below it. So the first time I went past, I thought, was it the flowers? The second time I walked by, it still stank. I was really curious. I asked my dad what place was it and we walked up to the front door. Just beside the glass door, there was a big board saying "Wellness Center". Okay. Wellness Center? What do they do there? Hmm...

     By now, I'm sure you know what I was writing about earlier. The few sentences I wrote before the extremely cute cat pic above. Yes, you guessed right. "The place" I mentioned is actually the Wellness Center. Of course, the flowers don't actually stink. Then what was it? I don't know. Shrug.

     So, why am I focusing on this "Wellness Center"? Because that's where I was sent to on my second day as a volunteer! =) Imagine that! I was wondering about it two days ago and now I'm going there! WOW! Hahaha!~

     Actually I arrived at the hospital that morning feeling really nervous. I thought I was going to the pharmacy again. When it turns out not... haha, I was over the moon! =) New place, new people... Yea, it was just great getting to explore new things again!

     It turned out that there were actually two wellness centers. One with doctors, and one not, which was where I went. The people who worked there wore blouses with thin orange and white stripes and black skirts. (All were females there, except for one whom I met the day after, more about this in the next post! ) I found out that the place was actually some sort of health education center where they teach health facts and so on to people. They also help people to lose their weight the correct way besides giving talks and classes about health. There were counselling sessions too!

     When I first walked in, one lady asked me to have a sit and she disappeared into the back room (or so I thought then). Then, many others seem to appear out from nowhere and I greeted them all with a "good morning" and a smile. It's always better to leave good first impressions, and that was what I tried to do. I looked around and studied the brochures on the table in front of me. It was all about nutrition. Ok. Another lady walked out and I stood up, wondering what will she ask me to do... and I sat back down again. Ended up getting embarrassed. This lady looked similar to the previous one: tall, young, long haired... She just went on with her business and that was when I knew it wasn't the first lady I met before. Oops. Well, you can't blame me. I just saw the first lady for a few seconds only. Shrug.

     Anyway, it turned out that I was to help with the packing of goody bags. After giving the instructions and giving me a demo, the person went away into back room... and reappeared with more recycle bags and more goodies for me to pack. Oh. Okay. This was actually a good change. At least, at least I won't break anything and feel guilty for the rest of the day. Hmm >~<

     After finishing my first task there, guess what's coming up next! Another lady asked me to help her label baby dolls! Aw... The dolls were newly bought for demo in their classes and needed to be labeled in case the cute dolls got lost. Too bad I had to be the bad guy using black marker writing words on them. T-T They were so beautiful and the words ruined them (in my opinion). It hurts to do that. Once, I accidentally pressed a doll and it can actually talk! Wow. The people working there were all very obsessed with the dolls too. They were really excited about it and cuddled them. Wow again. The people in the pharmacy were all really serious and hardly laughed. However, it was really a contrasting sight here! I was really surprised, and it was really pleasant all the same. The mood and atmosphere here was way better and I liked it here. =)

     The next thing I had to do was labeling towels and handkerchiefs. Labeling, again. Haha. I was also asked to stamp envelopes. Besides that, I also helped the lady to prepare containers with cotton wool and alcohol pads. Those were easy jobs, especially when compared to the tasks given to me on my first day. I managed to complete them and they actually complimented me! Wow. =)

     I went out for lunch earlier than the day before. It was around 12.45 p.m. when they said I could go for lunch. Once again, I need not queue up. Yahoo!~

     When I went back to the Wellness Center, I was stunned.

     What? Closed?! The lights were off and they were all out for lunch. For one whole hour. Uhoh... What should I do? There was a security guard sitting just in front of the door. His had his back on me. (I was wearing a volunteer vest, remember?) I took a look and him, pushed the glass door open... and slipped in. Hah! I went back to the desk to find lots of goodies and recycle bags on it. A nurse who dropped by earlier had told me what to do. And so I started packing another set of goody bags... again.That was the third set. Haha. Goody bag day!

     I had finished packing them but there was still half an hour to go before lunch time was over. Geez. I tidied the bags and arranged them neatly. Ok, done. What's next? I asked another lady to see whether I could help with anything. She stood up, looked around, thought hard... and told me "nothing". Oh. She told me that I could read books in the waiting room outside. Read books? Never mind, home I go then! Haha. This day, I left early. It was only 1.44 p.m.

     I did not lose my way out. Thank goodness. After a few minutes of waiting, the bus rumbled up and I hopped in. On my way home, I actually met a foreigner at a bus stop when I was changing buses. She was looking at the signboard and asked for my help. She was actually trying to catch the same bus to the same destination! Wow. That was how we ended up travelling together. >-<

     The foreigner had dark, brownish hair and seemed to be in her fifties. She wasn't so high and had quite tanned skin. She struck up a conversation with me as we were waiting for the bus to arrive. She told me that she came from Korea... but honestly, I don't think she looked like one. Probably someone who immigrated there. I also found out that she was travelling alone and was really interested to visit my hometown. I ended up being a tourist guide. Geez. #>.<#

   
     Day #2.... finished. Whew. This is one really long one too. Gosh. Should I have controlled myself better? Shrug. Thanks to you if you finished reading this post all the way through! =)