Dailies

27 February 2013

This week is another week I did not expect to go on the way it did. Monday, I went early to the office so that I can catch up reading LF slides. I did read up a few but did not make it to even one-fourth of the 100 I was supposed to view. My first agenda that day was GAHI mapping. I was doing a part of Birgit’s job assiduously.

Ms. Lara from med lib must be at the end of her rope when she talks to me. I always have lots of questions for her. No wonder she is irritated with me. I did not mean to irate her but that’s how I am.

Just when the team meeting is about to start, only then am I informed of what I should discuss or only then would my seniors have time to discuss matters for presentation where I require their comments. I am expected to know everything about how things work when those two people I am to bother to ask from are too busy. I can’t help but wonder why that is so. I know how much they are doing and I think more than thrice before barging into their spaces for assistance.

I’ve been going around, asking library people for assistance on how to access an online journal article to no avail. There was no question why librarians were lethargic that day. ‘Twas EDSA day, a holiday. They should be at home relaxing. How about us who have to avail of their assistance to carry on with our work?

GAHI mapping is an arduous task. Aside from somehow reducing the burden of Birgit’s work, I also chant in my mind that what I am doing directly benefits the country. If this epidemiologic data is presented, misconceptions on helminth infection burden in the Philippines would be mollified.

Conventions in the business world are dizzying. People in the seat of power also somehow solidify the front of their being powerful by keeping a lot of people around them as marshals. By setting up screening levels for people they meet and who have contact with them, going near them becomes a daunting endeavor. I was unaware of such set-ups and went inside the director’s office to directly talk to the director and pass to him the files he requested from me. I even ventured to ask a question which reflected my ignorance side by side his expertise on parasitology. Having it hard with remembering names is such a bummer. It was enough for me that I knew the initial letter of a word. My memory though far from being eidetic, should rehearse data retrieval more often.

Good thing, though I was inclined to assess how I fared in this team meeting, I didn’t. It was enough for me that the presentation was uneventful on my part though overtones on how I conduct myself were being passed like a hot potato before starving people across the table.

Yesterday, I was bustling through different libraries to access the article I need for LF mapping. Unlike June, I was deferred the privilege of demanding online journal articles as a library service. Half my day was spent for that. The rest of the day was for the bulletin.

I also found a way to deceive myself into eating raisins. I am willing to eat raisins if they are masked in yogurt. Dra. Carla again shared with me her preserved goodie cocktail which includes yogurt covered raisins, a healthy alternative for the typical sugar coated chocolate sans the variety of colors.

I also am grateful for Aids’ company. He shared with me a milk bottle shaped milk chocolate from Prof. Molina. I ate my lunch, pizza, in his office as he was busy searching for a file. He and Ate Ching reminded me that I have people who support me.

Before the day ended, mom made me laugh so hard. She called me to ease her anxiety on debt issues. We were having an encumbering conversation when suddenly she mentioned that she had to clean up pechay she was going to prepare for dinner. I cannot contain my laughter.

Pechay occupied my mind after that since I was scouring my mind for the English name for it. I remembered right that it is termed Chinese cabbage.

Today was not much different. I progressed with microscopy, finishing my box of 50 slides. I also experienced a strange pain on my abdomen which I can’t attribute to any underlying condition. I met my deadline for the ACT final report and upward delegated it to Paul despite the excruciating sensation.

I saw this morning Mita and Nover. I got two hugs for the day. My daily hug from ate Ching and another from Nover. I actually miss Nover’s hug because I appreciate better now why he gives them out. People really need hugs, it works wonders even without words. Those two, Mita and Nover, are busy reviewing for the MT boards. They will make it.

Though I am not adept with setting boundaries, I will try to create a credible demarcation line for my time. Recently, work has been dominating so much of time I do not have life apart from it.