Chapter 14 INTERNSHIPS
1430 Words
Chapter 14 TOHOM
KEIRA
I HAD a hard time adjusting myself in Manila. Iba pa rin sa lugar kung saan nakasanayan mo talaga. Life in province is relaxing and peaceful and away from hustle sounds from cars and buses or noise from people. Free from city traffic and you’ll get to enjoy the breath-taking natural sceneries. Me and Pristine are staying together in one apartment nearby the facility where we have our internship. Personal na hinatid kami ng mga magulang ko dito para makita din nila ang lugar kung saan kami titira. At first, we wanted only to stay in a bed space but when my parents saw it they don't want the idea staying in that place. That's why we ended up in a small apartment with two rooms, one bathroom, small kitchen and small living room.
Even in the facility, good thing Dra. Melody Montana Gabriel was very accomodating and understanding. She was there always whenever me and Pristine would ask questions and guides in handling the patients inside the Private Psychiatric Center. Mababait din ang mga staffs niya na nakagaanan na din namin ng loob.
As the days passed by, we adapted the new environment where we are. It took us some time to adjust in everything. Adjustment. Kapag talaga magsisimula ka ulit ng bago talagang may pag-aadjust lagi na mangyayari. Hindi ibig sabihin na sa una ay hindi mo kaya ay ganun ka na habang buhay. Nasa sa atin kung paano tayo hahanap ng paraan para masanay tayo.
Sa bawat araw na lumilipas din na malayo kami ni Khian sa bawat isa may mga bagay-bagay na hindi kami nagkakaintindihan. Hindi kami masyadong nakakapag-usap. Dahil kung siya ang tumatawag busy ako sa practicum duty ko. Kung ako naman ang mag-call back to reached him, busy naman siya sa meetings o clients niya. Na kung minsan nagtatampo ako at minsan nagtatampo rin siya. Sa mga pagkakataon na ganoon hindi pa naman namin naranasan na mag-away ng grabe na hahantong sa hiwalayan. Sinisiguro namin na nahahanapan namin ng paraan kung paano namin aayusin ang pagtatampo ng bawat isa. Khian really can't sleep without fixing our fights, vice-versa.
"I miss you so bad, bb" he frustratedly whispered on the other line.
"I miss you more" I answered him back as I ended his call.
Weeks normally passed. Nasanay na ako sa routine na apartment, facility. Facility, apartment. Hindi rin naman kami kasi palalabas ni Pristine kahit wala kaming OJT tuwing sabado at linggo. Mas nanaisin pa naming mag-pahinga pagkatapos namin maglaba ng kanya-kanyang damit namin. O kaya ay gagawa ng mga group activities for the patients to the help them build group identity, social skills, that can serve as an icebreaker.
Being in the facility for how many weeks, the difference from the people I met in normal life is that psychiatric patients have worse lives, and they are far more diversed and more surprising, and often very pleased to have someone to talk to. You needed to have in-depth conversations with them, especially about subjects that they have difficulty talking about, I ended up knowing them better than you knowing my neighbors. I am much more careful about to what I believed. I learned that people are doing the best they can with what they come into a situation with. I have learned that people only change when they want to and the majority of people don't appreciate advice. I am much more empathetic than I used to be. I am a much better listener.
"Congrats Trainees, I hope you learned new skills from us, on how you can give guidance, advice and counselling to your future patients." Dra. Melody said with a wide smile on her face.
"Thank you so much Doc, for the opportunities, experiences and learnings that we gained from all of you here" Me and Pristine told her, as we thanked her for having her as an our Clinical Adviser.
Being a clinical psychology practitioners we thoroughly enjoyed our internship, made some really good friends, got some amazing residents and learnt something amazing. It was overwhelming, challenging but definitely a lot of learning. It was an experience we shall always cherish.
After bidding our goodbyes to all the people in the facility, Dra. Melody offered us a lunch. She told us it her treat before going back to the Province. Who we are to refused that invitation to the most kindness person?
"Order the food that you still want" Dra. Melody told us.
We dinned in a Chinese restaurant not so far from her center.
"We are fine with this Doc. Thank you" I told her politely as I looked at her. She's sipping her juice.
Napatigil siya sa pagsipsip ng juice niya ng may mahagip ang mga mata niya na kilalang tao. She stood up and went to their direction.
"Ms. Avila, Ms. Llanes, meet my nephew Dave Ariston Montana and his wife Ara Montana, Dave and Ara their are Czerina and Pristine my practitioner from Ilocos Province." pagpapakilala sa amin ni Dra. Melody sa pamangkin nito at sa asawa niya. Pagkabalik niya sa lamesa namin kasama ang buong pamila ng pamangkin.
May bitbit silang apat na batang magkakamukha, gwapo rin na kagaya ni Sir Dave. And Ma'am Ara told us that they are quadroplets. Deon Asher is their eldest, next was Dale Albert, Dane Andrei and Dustin Arron is their youngest.
We shared with them the same table, and had a little chitchat. We came to know also that Mrs. Montana was once an outside patient of Dra. Melody.
Panay din ng hinging sorry sa akin ng mag-asawa dahil sa ginawa ng anak nilang si Dale Albert na siyang pinakapilyo sa apat. Giliw na giliw kasi ako sa pakikipaglaro sa mga anak nila ng biglang napamulagat ako na may dumakot sa pekpek ko mula sa likuran. Nakasuot na pala sa pagitan ng mga hita ko ang maliit na kamay ng anak nila.
Until we parted our ways. Panay pa rin ang sorry ng mag-asawa kahit si Dra. Melody. How lucky we can get, meeting such a very nice and down to earth people.
It was a long trip going home. More than nine hours on the road was draining and tiring. Nagulat na lang ako ng makita ko ang sasakyan ni Khian sa may station.
"Hi"
"Bb", niyakap niya ako ng mahigpit at binaon ang ulo niya sa leeg ko. Hindi ko mapigilang pagilidan ng luha dahil namiss ko siya. "Finally, you're in my arms again" sabi niya bago niya ako pakawalan sa pagkakayakap sa akin.
"Bakit ikaw ang nandito?" tanong ko.
"Nakakainis ka alam mo ba yon? Kung di pa tumawag ang Mama mo na nagpasuyong susunduin ka di ko alam na ngayon ka darating" nagtatampong saad nito. Umiwas din bigla ang tingin niya sa akin.
"I love you" sabi ko na lang na tinatawanan siya. Minsan he acted like a baby. My baby damulag.
Christmas and new year came, we celebrated Christmas together in our house. During new year, he needs to gome to celebrate it to his family.
On my second setting in practicum, I was assigned in a big public school under Guidance and Counseling Department togeteher with Maddie and Pristine this time. Mrs. Agnes Moran was my practicum advisor and she was also the head of school guidance councelor. As a practitioner in guidance we help to provides advice and helpful resources to students regarding certain personal and academic situations. We offered counseling to students or teachers, conducting group counseling sessions to help students develop their personal and academic skills and providing career advice.
The last setting of my practicum, industrial and oganizational psychology, I was assigned in one of the biggest company in our province. It's not easy for me to adjust the tasked work being an internship. Daig ko pa talaga na nasa mundo na ng work field.
"Bad day?" Khian asked me. Ganyan palagi ang bungad niya tuwing sinusundo niya ako sa hapon.
I would only smiled at him a little as an answer. It's really exhausted, parang gusto ko nang bumigay dahil sa pagod pero kung sumasagi sa isip ko ang mga pangarap ko nagkakaroon ako ulit ng lakas ng loob para magpatuloy.
Khian was there always to lift me up. Palagi niyang sinasabing "kung pagod ka hindi masama ang magpahinga, huwag mo lang sukuan ang mga bagay bagay na naumpisahan mo para sa mga pangarap mo. A little bit push, you're almost there".
My family and Khian serves as my solidity. And the “glad I did not" came the very next moment.
- Writer
