Yes, I can speak Vietnamese :)

Yesterday, I was told to stuff the biohazard bags with alcohol swabs again while the nurse beside me seemed to be calling patients to schedule an appointment for them. Of course, I could not help but hear that she was trying to schedule an appointment for a patient with last name Nguyen like me, It sounded like the person on the other end of the phone line did not understand English, so when the nurse hung up the phone in defeat, I took a chance and told her that I could translate for her. She was delighted! At last, I felt useful! So we both called the patient again and I was able to schedule an appointment for the patient to come to the clinic this week!
Another of the nurses found out what i did and asked me if I could come on Fridays, because the Asian clinic is open then. However, I work on Fridays :( I really would have liked that. Nevertheless, there are a few times in my life when I am thankful that my parents forced me and my sister to speak Vietnamese at home; when they make us, we usually do it unhappily. The only person in my family who does not understand English is my grandmother. However, after the event yesterday, I am sure proud that I can say I am bilingual.

Yay!...stuffing...

Last Saturday, I actually volunteered with a partner. He is a high school student, who just reminded me of those old days when I had to volunteer for credit. That was long ago! Anyways, there was sadly not much to do, again. The nurses are always very nice, and they try to find something for us volunteers to do, but it is often with difficulty. We did a lot of stuffing biohazard specimen bags with blood test kits or alcohol swabs. I also brought the nurses' mail to the mail room for them. The other volunteer and i then went around all the rooms and refilled them with linens and went around all the printers to refill paper. I finally sorted their room files in numerical order. It was basically busy-work.
I do very much wish I understood Spanish though! I would probably be able to learn so much more.