Ultimate thoughts

I just took my Cell Bio final but what moved me to write this blog was a short discussion that I had with one of my fellow Cell Biologists while waiting for the final. I was talking about not having 10 blogs and I was saying that it would be wrong to write another one today since I did not go volunteering and so to speak do not have a "current occasion". However my fellow student convinced me that the main part of this assignment was to complete 10 hours, which I did. Since I have completed those 10 hours I have a "right" to write a blog. In addition as a athlete you are always taught to never give up and fight to the bitter end, so this blog is basically my "heart" for cell biology (or good grades;-) fighting to the end.
I would like to go back to my last blog and emphasize that I did mean it when I was saying that I would like to volunteer past my 10 hours and "actually" volunteer in the sense that I do not get anything from other people (such as points towards my grad) but only from myself (satisfaction with myself).This finals week however was busy again and I dont think I will find the time that I need in order to volunteer before leaving for Germany. I will be flying back to my family next thursday after a year's absence. I am very excited to do so but I also would like to do something for society over there. This volunteering opportunity made me more aware of my social responsibilities as mentioned in the last blog. Yet it may be time to do something for my home country Germany. Please dont get me wrong after living in the US for a total of about 6 years I consider it my second home. But then again home is home and there is nothing comparable. People many times ask me where do you like it better what is it that you miss about Germany. I always answer I miss home. Even the bad annoying things about it is what I miss and I know there is no place on this world where I will get this same feeling. On that a little more personal note I would like to wish everyone merry christmas and a happy new year and please enjoy your time with the ones you love!

Volunteering is over

I have completed my 10 volunteering hours and with finals coming up I dont think I will be volunteering any more this semester. Meleah asked me whether or not she should take me off her emailing list and I said no. I do not really know why I did that because I doubt I will go again even next semester just because I doubt I will have time. Then again I feel like I got something out of it and that maybe I should do it again. I think the mere fact that I was helping other people and getting a view of what is going on at the MCC affected me positively. It was actually the first time I volunteered in a clinic and probably one of the first times volunteering in general.  I think it increased my social responsibility feeling. By that I mean that I became more aware of the fact that as being a member of society I have a responsibility to help the ones in need. Before I felt like that was not really my problem but now I feel like its part of leading a good life to help others.
I think that was my main gain from this whole project. I really did not learn anything new about biology but I guess I was not expecting to after I made the decision to volunteer at the MCC. The problems treated there are more psychological or social problems.
I also enjoyed working together with Devin, Heavenly and Misbah. It makes the experience even better if you can share it with someone. I only think that maybe I should have gone with them more often.
I have to make some critical observations however about this project. The main one is the time aspect. I had a difficult time trying to incorporate the volunteering into my schedule. I know its only 10 hours and that should not be very hard but at the same time I feel like 10 hours of volunteering is not enough to help properly or really get a good experience. I felt bad doing the mere minimum but at the same time I just did not have enough time so that I ended up volunteering but still feeling like "a lazy bum". Maybe one could give us more time(e.g. christmas holidays) and increase the amount of volunteering hours or just drop it completely. These are my thoughts on it, yet without it being required I know I would not have done anything and I would have missed out on the earlier described experiences.
Therefore all in all I think I gained something out of it.

Working on files

During this volunteering we spent most of out time doing administrative work.Again I went with company, this time it was just Misbah and I.I can only emphasize again that it is a lot easier if you have someone to go with.The work was a little bit less monotonous and it required a little bit more focus than the packing of condoms.I do not know if I liked that better.I felt like time passed faster but at the same time it was less relaxing.Most of the time we went through old files trying to find reusable ones.To me it felt like that was unefficient since it took a lot more time to go through all the old paper instead of just printing new ones.But then I found out why the MCC does it.They have no other choice since their funds are so limited that they cannot afford to just print new ones.They actually depend on our work and someone who is sorting through the old files in order to find reusable ones.This astonished me that a clinic, a place that is needed and helps people is forced to recylce everything.Their are so many other companies and places that maybe always complain about not having enough money but I feel like this is something else.It also helped me realize how important and vital the volunteers, like Misbah and I are to the functioning of the MCC.And I am sure there are many more volunteers who are a lot more involved than us and these are the people that are so vital to the mission of the place of helping the ones in need.

AIDS prevention

With my soccer season coming to an end I finally was able to create some time spaces in my schedule to volunteer at the MCC.I went together with Misbah and Devin and we made condom packs.As in almost any aspect of life it was a lot easier and more fun to do it in a group.It makes it also a lot easier to actually go volunteer if you do not just do it by yourself.I actually enjoyed the packing because it was such an easy job that required no brainwork at all.It was kind of relaxing after a busy week of school and thanksgiving break just about to start.
One of the things we put into each packet was a little card that read something along the lines of: The only safe sex is with a condom.This caught my attention and I decided to look some stats up about AIDS.According to aids.about.com in december 2006 there were 25993 (19.7 per 100000) cases of HIV in Houston which is the most for any major city in texas.Since I am not really familiar with this topic and did not want to go further into the analysis of this data I thought it would be interesting to compare it to my hometown Munich, Germany.As I was trying to find the HIV data for Munich an assumption that I made was confirmed.It was really hard to find any data and I believe it is because AIDS/HIV is a subject in Germany that people try to avoid.So finally I found some data from the Robert-Koch-Institut which said that the were 9400 cases in all of Bavaria for 2010.Even though I am not sure this data is comparable on a one to one basis since there are different types of AIDS/HIV victims and I am not sure whether these included the same definition.Anyways matter of fact is that the number of people infected seems to be a lot lower in germany than here.One of the reasons I consider valid is the fact that Germany is not quite at America's level when it come to tolerance so that there are many gays in Germany who do not come out or repress their feelings.I can only see this as the reason since both countries are equally well developed in medicine and prevention as well as AIDS awareness.

Volunteer Orientation(finally)

This Monday I was finally able to attend to volunteering orientation. The orientation basically gave me an overview of what is going on in the Montrose Counseling Center. The main functions include life counseling, HIV counseling, anti-violence services, a 24-hour telephone line for gays and lesbians, SPRY senior services, outpatient chemical development treatment, HATCH youth services, GLBT foster care referrals for parents and youth, case management, education, prevention, outreach and employee assistance program. I did not expect the MCC to be involved in so many different programs. From a cell bio perspective the two most interesting services would probably be HIV counseling and chemical dependency treatment. There are many volunteering options but I think I will just come by the office and help with clerical, administrative work in the beginning since that would be the easiest fit into my schedule. I also like the fact that I can be flexible with this kind of volunteering work. At the same time it would probably be a lot more interesting to get a little bit more involved and to get a better view on what is actually going on at the MCC. I will try to do this as time permits. Furthermore there will be special events that require volunteers and maybe I can attend some of those. The main thing I got out of the volunteering orientation was the fact that there are so many different problems people have to face and the MCC approaches so many of them. I mean of course the MCC does not cover the whole spectrum and is mainly focused on serving the GLBT community but it was still somewhat astonishing to realize how, literally, close this entire world of people in need is. The MCC is only a couple blocks away from the private catholic university and yet the people going to either one seem to be living in completely different worlds.

Volunteer Orientation

This week I was not able to actually volunteer.I have had a hard time scheduling the volunteering orientation with the MCC. My schedule so far has not allowed me to attend the Volunteering Orientation.It is necessary however before I can actually start working at the MCC on a regular basis.
The MCC contacted me about volunteering opportunities but I could not help out because of this issue.However we are currently trying to find a time when I can do the orientation.
Again I am realizing how difficult it can actually be to volunteer especially if you have a busy schedule.But then again everyone has a busy schedule and people still manage to volunteer.

Houston's Coming Out Party

Last saturday I had my first volunteering session.I helped out at a party titled "The secret is coming out".The Montrose Counceling center collaborated with Pride Houston and another Gay-Lesbian Organization.The party contained an auction of art pieces in order to raise money for these organizations.Even the mayor of Housten Annise Parker attended the event.Our job was to "take care" of the guests by bringing them drinks and answering questions about the event.
It was a new experience for me since I have never really been involved with the gay-lesbian-transsexual community.I also had a hard time relating this experience to cell biology.So I was considering changing my clinic to Ben Taub.I guess you are slowly getting to realize how indecisive I really am.
But I guess the event is something different from helping out directly at the clinic.So I will try to be more active in the daily routine at the clinic rather then helping out at special events.
At the same time I also think it is important to realize and recognize the social work of the clinic.Helping during these events not only raises money but is also improving the image of the constitution.