Today was the first day of my internship. It is already crazy. The supervisor of the first agency I am working with this semester called this morning to ask me to come in and fill out paper work. So after I got ready I set out to their office. The paper work was all basic stuff, confidentiality agreements, contractual bits, tax forms, so it took about half a second to finish. Having done what I came to do I set off to Archdale to pick up my parent's dog from the boarders and feed the cats while they are out of town. I had not even made it back to the interstate when my phone rang. It was the interpreter coordinator for my internship location with an assignment!!! And not any old assignment mind you, but a medical assignment in Virginia! She said "I need you there by 2pm."
Now the boarders weren't going to have my parent's dog ready till 12. I ran home showered, drove to Archdale, fed the cats, printed directions, picked up the dog, dropped her off, then started towards Virginia. Now in all that mad rushing I had yet to think "This is the first day if my internship and I am off to a hospital in VA to interpret for God knows who, about God only knows what." About ten minutes into the drive I that thought finally caught up to me. I started switching, manic depressive style, between totally calm and mortified beyond belief. What if I didn't understand the client? What if I was late? What if they collapsed in the floor with some freak illness and I was the only one that could communicate with them!?
I finally got there, and actually arrived 25 minutes early. Having suddenly found myself with free time and wanting to fill it with something I decided to fill my stomach. I had also forgotten to eat all day long and definitely didn't want to be passing out on the job. That would be the perfect start to my internship. I ate a bit, got to the location, found my way to the appropriate room and sat down to wait on the client.
When everything was over and I was still alive (and the client actually asked if they could have me as their interpreter again) I got back in my trusty old truck and came back to Greensboro. I really enjoyed my first day. I just hope everything this semester goes as well as this assignment turned out.
In other news, my battle with my computer's wireless problems has ended with me victorious. You can congratulate me when you see me. :)
