Defying Expectations, Tuesday, Per 3

[glacial_queen]

An email had gone out to the class the night before informing everyone to dress nicely and to wear something warm as they'd be meeting by the Causeway today.

"Depending on your destiny, odds are good that you're going to be personally responsible for the well-being of others. Some of those people will be easy for you to remember: the vocal, the well-off and powerful, those who serve directly beneath you that you see and interact with frequently. But those aren't the only people who depend on you and sometimes it's very easy for people to slip between the cracks, to go unnoticed and become forgettable. Those people are, of course, usually the ones who need your support and concern the most. It's a sad truth that the people who need help most are usually the ones in the least position to ask for or receive it."

She began passing out maps of Baltimore with several buildings marked off. "Today, however, we're going to be remembering those people and doing our best to assist them. Your next hour is going to be spent volunteering--though I'm sure you can feel free to stay a little longer if you don't have class immediately after this. As a reminder though, today isn't about you and and how good you feel about yourself afterwards. These people aren't learning experiences or character building exercises. You're there to see how you can help make their day better. It's a very different mindset to go in with, which you can feel free to think about for next week's class."

Comments

Sign In (11/25)

[glacial_queen]

Like it's November out there!

Re: Sign In (11/25)

[iceolatedqueen.livejournal.com]

Elsa of Arendelle

Re: Sign In (11/25)

[beautifulsenshi.livejournal.com]

Minako Aino

Re: Sign In (11/25)

[giveherahand]

Mara Jade

Re: Sign In (11/25)

[pulseof_life]

Paddra Nsu-Yeul

Listen to the Lecture

[glacial_queen]

What there is of it! Feel free to share questions, comments, concerns?

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[pulseof_life]

Yeul listened, of course, and she examined her map when it was given to her with the same mild calm that she did nearly everything with. But when the time came to make a choice about who to help...

Well, this was not another end of civilization scenario, but Yeul had won that by not doing anything to help.

She looked rather vague and faintly lost at being asked, now, to make a choice and actually go out and do something to help others.

Could Yeul fail this assignment? Yeul had probably already failed it.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[glacial_queen]

Yeah, Karla was not surprised to see that Yeul needed a little bit of help for this one. Decisiveness was not one of her particular strengths, it seemed.

Not that Karla could really blame her, mind.

So as the class walked across the Causeway, Karla held back to fall into step with Yeul. "Need some help with the options?" she asked quietly.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[pulseof_life]

Yeul had spent lifetimes upon lifetimes training the urge to help others and make decisions that would impact others out of her nature.

She was thoroughly unequiped to handle this decision and, more, she did not particularly want to handle it in any meaningfully way.

Just as it was not in her nature to make choices, it was also not in her nature to argue or complain, so when Karla fell into step beside her, Yeul went with her conversational opening.

"I suppose that I do," she said. "I would not know where to begin."

Which was true enough.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[glacial_queen]

One day, Karla really should have Yeul and Uncle Saetan sit down and talk to one another. It would be an interesting experience for both of them.

"I guess the first question is whether you'd rather interact with people or not," Karla mused, thinking over the options she'd provided. "Do you like entertaining children? Or having conversations with strangers? Or would you prefer something with less interaction?"

Volunteer!

[glacial_queen]

There are several taxi vans waiting on the other side of the Causeway to ferry students back and forth from the island to your destination. Karla's hired them for several hours, just in case people did want to stay.

The possible volunteering places are marked on your maps, so you can choose how you'd like to spend your volunteering hour.

Soup Kitchen

[glacial_queen]

Volunteer at Manna House, a soup kitchen and outreach center. You won't actually be cooking breakfast, but you're duties will include serving, bussing tables, and doing dishes.

Re: Soup Kitchen

[giveherahand]

Mara was using her volunteering time as a way to do some quick reconnaissance to see how to dress on this planet in order to be completely overlooked.

She made sure to make eye contact with each person herself, though, and could tell you all of their names by the end of their time together.

Children's Hospital

[glacial_queen]

At Mount Washington Pediatric Hospital, you can spend an hour visiting with patients, delivering refreshments, greeting visitors, or otherwise entertaining patients and their families.

Sadly, no magical healing allowed, so only take this if you're a people person.

Re: Children's Hospital

[iceolatedqueen.livejournal.com]

Working at the soup kitchen would involve taking her gloves off, Elsa had no idea what the first thing about modern winter clothing was, and she didn't know enough about modern history or modern office settings to be of any help at the VA.

Which meant that she was off to the children's hospital. She managed to keep a look of utter nervousness off of her face when she walked in, because really, the children hardly needed a volunteer who looked as though she'd rather be anywhere but there.

It helped. A few small girls decided that she looked (unsurprisingly) like a storybook princess, and in the end, she wound up staying as long as the taxis would allow her to, braiding the hair of many of the little girls, and singing songs for those who didn't want braids, or whose hair was far too short. One little boy insisted she try regardless, and who was she to say no? He seemed pretty thrilled with the tiny, bobbly braids that stuck up a couple of inches from his scalp and ended in pretty ribbons all the same.

When it was finally time for her to leave, a few of the children asked her if she would consider coming back. Elsa smiled, and nodded, and said that she would certainly try.

Re: Children's Hospital

[notamascot]

Within moments, Kaylin was on the floor with a growing group of children telling them stories (thankfully, greatly censored) about life in the fiefs and with the Hawks. Of course, the children thought they were all make-believe, but neither they nor Kaylin cared about who believed what.

She had to work very hard not to heal anyone, though. She practically ached for one of the little ones with huge sad eyes.

Still she got a smile out of her and that was something!

Coat Drive

[glacial_queen]

The volunteers at Charm City Warmth Drive could always use help with organizing. You'll spend an hour evaluating, sorting, and caring for the warm winter coats that have been dropped off, making sure they're clean, suitable for continued use, organized by size and gender, and placed neatly in the appropriate boxes.

There's also an opportunity to wear a sandwich board and ring a bell outside the facility to bring attention to the cause.

Re: Coat Drive

[justwantedfriends]

Kira was pretty good at organizing, so she got to work sorting the coats and folding them into neat piles by type and size and color.

Veterans

[glacial_queen]

Spend some time at the local VA and assist some of Baltimore's veterans. Opportunities include offering coffee and refreshments, acting as clerical staff, being a 'recreation assistant' or patient visitor, or a pharmacy aid.

Talk to the TA

[glacial_queen]

Who did a wonderful job filling in last week. Thank you, Kaylin!

Re: Talk to the TA

[notamascot]

She really really wanted to heal the children. Not even one? Really? Who'd know?

But she was being very good. For now anyway.

Nothing said she couldn't sneak back some other time, right?

Re: Talk to the TA

[glacial_queen]

"I know it's hard," Karla said quietly. "Believe me, I know. But not here. The machines measure too much, look too closely. If one of these children makes a miraculous recovery, the doctors will want to know why, how."

Re: Talk to the TA

[notamascot]

"Just that little one? Just a little bit?"

Right. Like Kaylin had the kind of control to heal 'just a little bit'.

Talk to the Teacher

[glacial_queen]

She'll be spending time at all four locations today and will be remaining after class is over.

OOC

[glacial_queen]

Ping here if you'd like an NPC, though apologies in advance if they all either look like kid versions of Karla or someone out of the Victorian era! I work with the icons I have.