Tammika

Journal Entries

Day 3: March 6th 2009. Today I started around 2:30pm at KB Woodward Elementary and volunteered with the city of surrey in a cook and play workshop for kids with this guy named Attila, and we baked brownies and played outside on the playground and in the gym. That finished at 4:45pm then I went to the rec centre to work in the gym with the Weight room Attendant named Peter and he gave me an orientation...I wiped some equipment, sat around most of the time, it's really really boring. I haven't experienced anything yet that was totally unexpected....honestly.

Day 4: March 7th 2009. I started at 9:00am today so I actually had to get up early and meet a weight room attendant named Kerri and we cleaned the weight room organized weights and equipment, leanred about her job.

Day 5: March 9th 2009. Started at 5:00pm today until 9:00pm, but the weight trainer I was supose to work with called in sick so I did weight room tasks by myself like re-stacking weights, wiping down equipment things like that, it was good because I was doing it all independently and I had already been shown how to do everything.

Day 6: March 10th 2009. Started at 3:00pm until 9:00pm, the personal trainer Steve was in today so I worked with him a bit, then helped out the weight room attendant Peter. Today was the most fun I had an awesome time with Steve and his private client. The kid was 14 and out of shape, but he was really funny to talk to and just the way he complained about the work out was hilarious. I didn't think young teenagers got a personal tainer so I was surprised when I was introduced to him. I don't remember his name though. So after helping out with the 14 year old, we took a break. Then Steve had a class of three middle aged women and he invited me to join in so I did and it was a good work out, then we stretched and cooled down and I went back to the front desk to wait until 9:00pm or until someone gave me something to do.

Day7: March 11 2009. Started at 2:45 until 4:45. Went to Bridgeview Elementary and worked with Attila in the Cook and Play workshop, we made pasta today and the kids were less roudy. Attila was in the kitchen most of the time so I had to handle the kids by myself so I played various versions of tag with them; freeze tag, ninja tag... it was really fun. Then they all ate and were happy, and we went into the gym afterwards and played dodgeball and badminton.

10 things you should know about working at the North Surrey Recreation Centre: Jobs that exist at the work place are, front desk, weight room attendant, personal trainer, head of weightroom, head of hwimming pool, lifeguarding, Security, l, Electrician/ Handyman, manager.
 * There is only one personal trainer who works there named Steve.
 * You meet at least one new coworker everyday
 * There are all these secret rooms, exits and entrances that you pass by everyday without knowing
 * They order and eat lots of fast food
 * You meet new people everyday, and regulars
 * The weight room attendants have not all met each other in person
 * They waste so much paper it's unbelievable
 * Who ever leaves the front desk to go to another room takes a walkie talkie (but there are no code names)
 * All the equipment is updated
 * There are people on the ice until as late as 12:00am 1:00am.

Education needed is at least a certificate from college, high school diploma, first aid, costumer service, typing,

I had a positive experience with a comstumer that was asking me where the washroom was.

I had a positive experience with the manager of the pool department Alison Huston. She asked me to go on the computer and make an add for a Preteen pool party on every saturday at the end of the month and I put images in it, printed and laminated it and she was very pleased.

Something that I experienced that was totally unexpected was seeing some kids from our school at the gym.

This type of work is very interactive with people who cannot speak english and you have to figure out what they want, working in the weight room is so much fun because you stack some weights, walk around and make sure no one is doing something that might hurt them, work out if you want, and take lots of breaks.

Working and going to school are similar because you are not getting paid, you see and interact with many different people, some parts are fun and others really boring. They are different because at work there is no designated lunch time, no one will write you up for being a few minutes late, if you don't finish cleaning or doing your job it's ok, you get your own computer that is high speed, flat screen, and everyone is mature and wants to be there.

I don't think I will ever forget one person gossiping about there fellow coworkers.

I will never forget working with the personal trainer and his client.