1st Day at Damar

Damar was interesting to say the least. It was an overall fun day! When I arrived, Molly met me for a picture for the news letter and my "official" Damar intern badge. After that I followed her to the nurses station because I had to get a TB test done. It wasn't bad, but I was a bit nervous. My arm did bubble up, but it went down soon after. I guess you have to get that test if you're going to be working with Kids.
After that I went to my the unit of boys 15-18. My unit is locked down and it's called right field. There are 9 boys in the unit and at first I was very intimidated by the ones that were there, but it got better throughout the day. Then Richard ("My Boss") had me file paper work for most of the morning. 9:30-11:30 ish. It was not very fun, but I learned how much behind the scence work is done. Seriously, who knew how much paper work there can be on one person? The binders I was dealing with were pretty much a summary of the boys lives.
Then I finally got to interact with the boys a little bit. I ate lunch with them. I brought my own, but since they were all eating the same thing I had to have what they were having. It didn't really appeal to me...(it looked like bb-que mush) so I didn't have much. And the boys were already done eating by the time I got done with paper stuff so I didn't have a chance to talk much.
Then I got to sit in on a class with them and boy was it CRRAZY! Most of the boys were wondering around the room and being disruptive. It will be interesting when we do V.B.S. with them. Then the ones that had their work done got to come outside on the playground. I went with them. One boy was listening to Janet Jackson and dancing like crazy! It was great. He was so into it...and it was definitely Michael JAckson style. He said, "I'm pretending I'm at the Grammy awards." It was so funny! You just have to be there to understand. Some of the things they say/do are priceless. Then I went back to my unit of boys and they seriously just sat there for about an hour. Then a couple of them asked if I wanted to play monopoly. I said yeah, but didn't really know what I was in for. Apparently, monopoly takes a LOOONG time.(I didn't play much as a child...or ever for that matter.) I had a really good time. I ended up winning, but apparently they "let me win". And I said, "well, I let you let me win!" hah
I ended up staying later than I was suppose to to finish the game. I know every day will be different at Damar, but I'm looking forward to it!
It's hard to see them lose so many privilages, but that's what Damar is for, to help them earn them back. I already have a heart for the kids and I know I will be sad to leave.