The Experience Concluded with a sharp pain

My last experience at King's Harvest was one to remember. I was once again going to be working in the kitchen area. However, because I was there before the time they would open I was able to cook and prepare the food before the visitors came and ate. Unfortunately, the utensils they used were old an dull, as I was peeling apples the knife cut my hand. So I quick dabbed it with a towel, and a girl came to help me. Her and I think began to talk with each other about a plethora of different things. Then I began to start to serve the food to the visitors, trying to carefully observing new things and concepts to apply. 

To avoid redundancy I will avoid speaking about the visitors this time, as most of my observations were similar to pervious trips. I think it is also important to also look at the other volunteers we meet while at our places of volunteer. While at King's Harvest I met a few new people, however, there were just a couple more memorable than others; Jan, who criticized my volunteering, in the nicest way possible. In conjunction to Jan I met Amy, who helped me with my finger. Although I don't see these relationships really going anywhere, this meeting of new people went through basic stages of Knapp's relational development model. However, I would say the both were on the initiating stage. Even though the relationships were on the same stage, I think they were on different levels of intensity. While in the initiating stage with Jan, she was very direct yet respectful; I could tell she had a barrier of respect up holding that held back everything she wanted to say. While on the other Amy and I had more of a lax initiating phase with little barriers noticeable as we spoke. I had no problem with either intensities of the initiating stage, but it was interesting to see the difference. 

Throughout my time at King's Harvest I have observed many concepts that we have learned about in the textbook Interplay. I have been able to serve my community and notice the applicability of these concepts, and why it is important to know more about the process in which we communicate. It was interesting seeing how people’s perception of your socioeconomic status can effect their communication with you. There is just too much to put down that I learned about the communication process of learning. The times I had at King's Harvest will be ones I remember and can look back on to improve my communication now and the future. 

Today at King's Harvest I as I arrived at King's Harvest I was informed I would be working in a different place, the food line. I would be serving the visitors food. Which wasn't too difficult, because for the green beans I was serving, I only gave each person 1 scoop if they desired. While serving the food I was able to talk casually to the people in line and ask them about their day. Many were reluctant to share with me; however, some did share, which was very nice. I was disappointed that many of them acted like I was from I different planet. It seems that the people their act as if everyone serving them were rich, which stinks because I can relate in a way to what they are feeling. As a child my mother never had a good job, although I could have lived with my father and he would have provided, I always stayed with my mom; she needed me more. Never the less my father did pay child support but that went to paying the bills. Which in turn made us rely on food stamps, and I can remember as a child waiting to see if my mom’s card went through, or when they changed to ebt cards that it was approved.  

While at King's Harvest today I feel like I did experience some stereotyping, just due to the fact that I was the one helping out, not the one getting help. People assumed that since I was wearing nicer clothes and things of that nature. Also I was talking with another volunteers that I had met named Jan, she was asking why I was there and things of that nature about me. Unfortunately, after telling her I had to do this for a grade she grew upset. She said to me, "Not to upset you but that isn't volunteering if you are doing it for a grade, that is voluentold. It defeats the whole purpose of volunteering, you know?" To tell the truth I agreed with her; although a little disheartening it's true. According to dictionary.com a volunteer is, "A person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task". Although this is a service project, it stinks to have the lingering reward of a grade on your mind while serving. However, on another concept I observed today was mindless listening and mindful listening. As I spoke to many of the visitors, many of them dismissed my greeting with mindless listening. I don’t take this to offense though, I assume that many of them think that no one truly does care about how they are; however, I was genuinely concerned. On the other hand some people did use mindful listening when I spoke to them. As I spoke they greeted me with smiles and were happy to talk, hoping that I truly did care; which made the whole day for me; just knowing that someone knows that I do care about them.

            Today was a little bit more difficult than most after hearing someone criticize my volunteering. Instead of using mindless listening on Jan I personally used mindful listening and her opinion struck home with me and I definitely saw the truth in it. Another important thing I learned today was that just because a person wears nice clothes it doesn’t mean that are rich, or vice versa for that matter. Although it didn’t feel to great being stereotyped, it is true that I am better off then them. For future reverence I will take that into consideration, and not to judge people by their clothing choices or outside appearance as much. Only one blog to go, if the next blog proves to be anything like this it will end at the climax, and keep me hungry.

Don't bite the hand that feeds you

Today at King's Harvest I as I arrived at King's Harvest I was informed I would be working in a different place, the food line. I would be serving the visitors food. Which wasn't too difficult, because for the green beans I was serving, I only gave each person 1 scoop if they desired. While serving the food I was able to talk casually to the people in line and ask them about their day. Many were reluctant to share with me; however, some did share, which was very nice. I was disappointed that many of them acted like I was from I different planet. It seems that the people their act as if everyone serving them were rich, which stinks because I can relate in a way to what they are feeling. As a child my mother never had a good job, although I could have lived with my father and he would have provided, I always stayed with my mom; she needed me more. Never the less my father did pay child support but that went to paying the bills. Which in turn made us rely on food stamps, and I can remember as a child waiting to see if my mom’s card went through, or when they changed to ebt cards that it was approved.  

While at King's Harvest today I feel like I did experience some stereotyping, just due to the fact that I was the one helping out, not the one getting help. People assumed that since I was wearing nicer clothes and things of that nature. Also I was talking with another volunteers that I had met named Jan, she was asking why I was there and things of that nature about me. Unfortunately, after telling her I had to do this for a grade she grew upset. She said to me, "Not to upset you but that isn't volunteering if you are doing it for a grade, that is voluentold. It defeats the whole purpose of volunteering, you know?" To tell the truth I agreed with her; although a little disheartening it's true. According to dictionary.com a volunteer is, "A person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task". Although this is a service project, it stinks to have the lingering reward of a grade on your mind while serving. However, on another concept I observed today was mindless listening and mindful listening. As I spoke to many of the visitors, many of them dismissed my greeting with mindless listening. I don’t take this to offense though, I assume that many of them think that no one truly does care about how they are; however, I was genuinely concerned. On the other hand some people did use mindful listening when I spoke to them. As I spoke they greeted me with smiles and were happy to talk, hoping that I truly did care; which made the whole day for me; just knowing that someone knows that I do care about them.

            Today was a little bit more difficult than most after hearing someone criticize my volunteering. Instead of using mindless listening on Jan I personally used mindful listening and her opinion struck home with me and I definitely saw the truth in it. Another important thing I learned today was that just because a person wears nice clothes it doesn’t mean that are rich, or vice versa for that matter. Although it didn’t feel to great being stereotyped, it is true that I am better off then them. For future reverence I will take that into consideration, and not to judge people by their clothing choices or outside appearance as much. Only one blog to go, if the next blog proves to be anything like this it will end at the climax, and keep me hungry.