Observation #2

September 29,2007



Today I went to Sisters of Charity to do my service learning project. I was excited to go because the first time I went was alot of fun. Today when I arrived I helpped prepare juice and snacks for the sisters after Bingo was finished. There was about twenty five people playing bingo, and I helpped the nuns who could not see the numbers on the bingo cards. I thought it was interesting how one nun was very competetive and would get frusterated when her number wasn't called. This nun had six bingo cards and towards then end of the game she said bingo acouple of times, even though she knew she did not have it. This reaction from the nun really surprised me because I usually percieved nuns to be always happy and not really competitive. Then there was another lady who won bingo three times and everytime she would feel bad because the lady next to her had not won any bingos. After bingo, I was able to socialize with the nuns. I found out that Sister Margarite used to be a Chemisty professor at Clarke College. She said that she really enjoyed teaching and was always enthusiastice about it because then her students enjoyed it more. Also, I talked to Sister Annina who described when she taught children in the slumbs of Jamaca for six weeks with another sister. She teaching was fun, but the little boys didn't always behave so she would have to tell them to listen so they could help them learn. This reminded me of the service experience i had in Mexico spending time with children in poverty.

trouble

Ive been trying to locate a spot for my service learning requirement. However am having difficulty finding one. I fist began after class on week one contacting What I believed to be the Dubuque Community Food bank. I then discovered an overload of volunteers and no need for more. I followed with a question "where would I be able to volunteer?" I was then directed to St Stephens Food Band Where I was in contact with the coordinator there and scheduled to work 8-9 am on Mondays and 11-12 on Wednesdays. However, I drove around the city of Dubuque for an hour and a half searching for this location and could not find it. I then contacted my coordinator at the center and expressed my concern. The following week I once again attempted to find the location and was unable to. So, I contacted St Joseph the Worker's ministry because I had located it whille searching for St Stephens. I called the location and gave my name and number and reason for calling. The caller then informed me that I will be contacted when the coordinator is able. This was Wednesday. I have not been contacted. I am confused. Im trying to connect with a service learning location but running into difficulty. It reminds me of a true search for Divine inspiration of some sort. I will continue to search and have faith that I will find a location