Airport Extravaganza--part 2

It was a busy day at work.  We had just found out that day that a new family was arriving.  They had a medical emergency on their way here and one of the refugees had to spend a week in a New Jersey hospital.  Their caseworker just happens to be on vacation for the next three days.  So now we were trying to juggle two cases arriving on the same day and one with an absent caseworker.  Of course, the flights of the new arrivals weren't at the same time so that meant two separate airport pick-ups.  Another co-worker and I coordinated the KRM van schedule so we could both use it that night.

I had spoken with the staff member in charge of apartment set-up that afternoon and everything was ready to go.  The family was set to arrive at 9:20 pm.  I went home to eat dinner and relax until I needed to go to the airport.  As usual, my mind kept going through a mental checklist of all the things that needed to still be done--check the apartment, buy and prepare a warm meal for the family, check the flight status, go and pick-up the van, make sure there is an infant and booster seat inside, pick-up the family.  Sounds simple enough, right?  Well, I don't drive the van very often, but I know there are usually car seats inside or in the back.  I couldn't remember about the infant seat.  I decided to call the co-worker with the van who was now picking up the other family at the airport to inquire about the infant seat.  

Hmmm--no infant seat in the van.  Well, that means it's back at the office.  We recently moved buildings and our new location has a security system.  It makes me nervous.  You have to check the whole building to make sure no one else is inside before you set the system because it is motion-sensored.  I decided to leave early to make sure that I could find the infant seat and wouldn't have problems with the security system.  

Hmmm--I can't find the infant seat in the storage room.  Where else would it be?  I spend about 20 minutes scouring our office for an infant seat.  Nothing.  What do I do now?  I can't really drive the 3 month old child home without an infant seat.  Who do I know with an infant seat?  Luckily, one of our caseworkers is on maternity leave and lives close to the office.  Thankfully, she was coming home soon and was happy to let me borrow her car seat.  I decided to go and pick-up some food from Sav's since I was running short on time instead of preparing food myself.  

In a moment of genius, I had decided to sign up for flight notifications via text message for their flight.  Bing--Flight delayed until 9:42 pm.  Awesome.  Now I have time to run by the house and drop the food off before I go and pick up the infant seat.  I change directions and head towards the apartment.  Bing--Flight arriving at 9:16 pm.  Wait--What?  Which is it, 9:16 pm or 9:42 pm?  Bing--Flight arriving at 9:16 pm.  Really?  Bing--Flight arriving at 10:07 pm.  Ahhh!  At this point, I am totally stressing.  It looks like the family could arrive anytime between 9:16 pm and 10:07 pm.  If they come at 9:16 pm, I likely won't make it in time.  Thoughts of this tired and scared family roaming around the airport with their little children and becoming frantic when no one is there to pick them up starts running through my mind.  I dial Justin (who is about to have a skype interview for a job) and tell him to look up my flight info.  American Airlines says the flight is arriving at 10:07 but Bluegrass Airport says 9:20 pm.  Which one is right?  I am hoping that American Airlines is more up to date and I continue on my course, yet I still feel a bit nervous about their arrival time. 

I get to the apartment complex and start looking for their apartment number.  It's like a maze with no logical order.  I skip over one building that I can't see any numbers on.  Driving, Driving, Driving.  Where is it?  I loop around and on the way back I see it was the building I skipped over.  The numbers were on the back.  The plan is to drop the food off and do a quick check of the apartment to make sure everything is there and then race back to get the infant seat and then off to the airport.  Time check is 8:50.  

I go inside and everything looks good.  I drop the food off and do one more sweep.  Wait a minute--there are two twin beds and a double bed.  A three month old doesn't sleep in a twin bed.  A three month old sleeps in a crib.  Oh no!  There are certain requirements that each apartment has to meet before the family arrives and proper beds is one of the requirements.  I need a crib!  Where am I going to find a crib before the family arrives?  I don't know.....Panic.  

I call the caseworker on maternity leave again and explain the situation.  She is a lifesaver and donates her pack and play to the family so they can use it as a crib for a few days.  Okay, I am finally on track now.  I pick up the infant seat and pack and play around 9:00 ish.  Do I head to the airport now or ???  I am still anxious about the time of their arrival.  I better just get out there just in case.  I reach the airport around 9:30 pm.  The arrival screen flashes 10:02 pm.  I have plenty of time to spare now.  

There are these loud and obnoxious kids running around the airport.  They are literally screaming at one another.  It doesn't sound too crazy because there is a lot of background noise, but I am starting to get a headache.  Please little kids--stop screaming!  The parent looks overwhelmed and not in control.  The screaming continues.  

I now start to worry about communication.  The bio sheet said that the family spoke some English, but sometimes those files aren't very accurate.  It would have also been nice for the family to have a fellow national who could relate to their experience and culture to welcome them and answer questions.  I should have brought a translator.  I was thinking more about the logistical side of things and since they have some English I would probably be able to communicate with them.  I know worry about this until the passengers start into the baggage claim area around 10:15 ish.  

Thankfully, the family does speak some English and their bags arrive with them.  Yay.  I don't think I could have handled anymore drama this evening.  We head to the van.  

I am always awkward with car seats.  I gently put the baby in and then have to navigate the straps to their proper places.  The infant seats refuses to cooperate with me.  The family looks perplexed as I try to accurately restrain their child.  I am sure they have never used a car seat before.  We load up in the van and then the parents try to awkwardly utilize their seat belts for the first time.  Strapped in and secure, we hit the open road.  The baby starts to scream.  

We reach the house and I grab the pack and play.  A quick tour of the apartment.  I warm up the food and the show the parents how to use the stove.  Now time to set up the pack and play and go home.  I get the pack and play frame set up, but there is this weird mesh piece that I have no idea where it goes.  Awkwardness ensues again.  The father is convinced that it is a mosquito cover for the top of the crib, but I have my doubts.  Mosquitos and malaria aren't really an issue here.  Plus those mesh holes look big enough for mosquitos to fly through.  I decide to leave off the mesh piece.  The father does score a win when he finds holes for the mattress to velcro through in the floor of the crib.  Finally!  

The family has been picked up, apartment and all of the necessary housing items provided, answered questions and provided safety instructions, and warm food has been served.  My job is finished--at least for tonight.  Time check is 11:30 ish.  Whoa--I'm tired and ready for bed.  I'm glad that all airport pick-ups prove not to be this eventful!  Still you never know what to expect with this line of work.  Just another day as a refugee resettlement worker.  

Airport Extravaganza--part 1

I really enjoy my job.  I like my co-workers.  I love working with international clients.  I enjoy helping people and welcoming them to their new community.  BUT, my job does stress me out.  I often take work home with me--especially the mental aspect.  There have been mornings that I wake up and can't go back to sleep because I am thinking about all the things I have to help clients do that day.  There is A LOT of responsibility in being a refugee resettlement worker.  When refugees first arrive into the country, they heavily depend on the KRM staff.  Any problem that arises--sick child, no food, lost trying to find their way home on the bus route, bedbugs, can't pay their rent, etc. results in a phone call for help.

Refugees have many obstacles to overcome in their first year of resettlement.  They are expected to learn the language and culture quickly, find a job within 3-6  months of their arrival, and become self-sufficient.  For most, this goal is achievable, but there are clients that come who aren't as well equipped to reach self-sufficiency.  A pregnant single moms with no English and no work experience with several small children is not going to find a job as easily as a young, strong single guy with good English and prior job experience.  During the school year, my position focused on helping clients to find employment, a sort-of job hunter.  This proved to be quite a challenging task given the current economic situation.  This summer I have added some hours and have taken on some case management.  Casework involves everything from airport reception, medical appointments, applying for social security cards, getting financial assistance, home visits, orientations, etc.  I really like doing case management, but it is more time demanding and doesn't fit well with a graduate school schedule.

This past week I was given a new case to manage--a family of four from the DRC (mom, dad, and two small children).  Most of the cases I took on this summer where older clients so this was only my second case to manage from the beginning.  I was excited to have a new case and wanted everything to go smoothly with their arrival.  Instead, here is what ensued.....

To be Continued!