Blog summary #2

Before writing this summary, I have revised my blog posts to find evidence if I have leisure educated someone based on what I have written and it seems there isn't too much to relate to as how to become a leisure educator. In order to be a leisure educator and a successful one,I feel, it is essential to be somewhat fully educated about yourself and your own leisure. Writing this blog made me appreciate leisure, made me aware of what i like and dislike and to a certain extent reinforce my self-identity in relation to leisure,and finally, point out more freely my intentions and goals towards leisure. I learnt about my time constraints, hobbies, social interaction, etc.. By learning this from my own experience,from books and a leisure educator himself, I believe the concept of becoming leisure educator is coming through. Therefore, the information in my blog relates indirectly on how to become a leisure educator.
Now,have I ever leisure educated someone? I will say: yes.
I have worked for approximately 4 years as a leisure animator\musicotherapist in a CHSLD for the elderly. Part of the job was to follow an assigned recreation curriculum and create new programs if I felt that already existing programs were not adequate enough and the participatory level was low.
The hardest part of the job was to increase the participation level in organized activities. When it came to a passive activity, there was a high level of participants such as watching a movie or playing bingo but when movement was required such as playing games and some form of sport, the level would decrease.The residents would seldom voluntarily participate. Everyday, you had to get them and promote the activity and sometimes explaining the benefits of the activity. As a leisure educator, you have to increase leisure participation and that's what I had to do taking into consideration their mental and physical constraints,etc. Boredom was the hardest aspect to overcome. When you had an hour to entertain them, you had no choice but to switch over activities, approach, tone of voice....if not they would fall asleep or leave.
I feel that to a certain level; I have leisure educated the elderly there unconsiously as I made them try new things, spoke with them about what they enjoy and work around that, made them aware of their physical constraints for them to enjoy certain activities they didn't know they could before, etc.

Passions and leisure: he likes dancing...

I went to New York for a few days last week during my time off from work...I will not write about what happened there,the stories, the experiences or my leisure. I will write about a guy I've met that has a passion and that passion is dancing. I met him while my cousin picked me up where I was staying close to central park for a night on the town. There was me, my brother, our mutual friend/ex girlfriend that studies there as an actress, my cousin and Slawek. Slawek was sitting in the passenger seat and we were listening to dance music. During our drive, whenever there was music he liked, he went out of control with his movements to the point it was hard to follow his moves. We stepped outside and went to small irish bar for a beer and he was continuously complaining that he disliked the music and that he likes to dance. I cannot count how many times he stated, in his Borat sound accent:"I like to dance."
We had trouble getting in the clubs later on as I didn't think to bring my I.D. It seems that in New York they will even ask your grandmother for her I.D. if she wants to go to a club. So, we had to go see a few places until a sympathetic bouncer let me in. In every place, we tried to get in, Slawek would ask what kind of music they played and everytime they said it was something other than dance, he would get angry and tell them that he dislikes their music and again that he likes to dance.
We finally got in to this place in a basement. There were maybe max 75 people with a live eight piece band. There wasn't technically a dance floor nor they played tunes that were made for dancing. Most of the time, everyone was sitting but Slawek did not sit for more than a minute and danced the night away. He never stopped even when everyone was sitting because the band was playing some complicated tune, he would still be up standing playing air guitar. The people were laughing at him because he looked like a fool most of the time but he continued. He wasn't doing this to show off he simply likes to dance. He had this rare zest of life and enjoyed this simple activity and he wasn't on drugs or drank alcohol.

A cigarette break!!!

I have noticed more and more...that people that surround me are not simply smoking. The other day at a dinner reception which had around 17 guest, I was the only one smoking which actually made me unconfortable continuously leaving the restaurant for a quick smoke such as before dinner, between meals,etc.
I enjoy smoking..I cannot imagine for the time-being without it..As all heavy smokers, I have a somewhat routine; I smoke while I drive, drink coffee or any other beverage, talk on the phone...and especially when I have a break at work.
Breaks at work are given for employees to relax and I feel they should be doing something leisurely and not just sit there and wait until the break is over to work again.
Smoking for me is related to leisure. My breaks are all used for a smoke and while I do that I do chat with other smokers which makes a lesuirely experience.I wouldn't know what to do during that time off without cigarettes..It would actually help me to quit if I had a leisurely replacement!

What a wedding....

On Saturday October 11th, I have attended a wedding of my older brothers best friend. The reason I'm writing this particular blog,is not how I have enjoyed the wedding which I truly did but the downsides of it. Is there such a thing as a perfect wedding that will be fully pleasing to all the guests. Is it possible to use program planning theories to the planning of a wedding and on the same time make as leisurely as possible.
It started with a mass...I wont lie, I came an hour late not on purpose; punctuality is something I have to work on in my life and my younger brother was part of the problem too as it took him 20 minutes to find a specific belt which at the end he hasn't worn any..Anyways, the mass started at 1pm and lasted for more than 2 hours...Sweet Mother Of God...it was longgggggggggggg...There were over a hundred people at the church which many of them weren't even catholic. His wife was Greek Orthodox...However, I've truly enjoyed the music and singing which made it a lesuirely experience...
Thereafter, we were expected at the hall at 4h30 and finally they let us enter the main hall at around 6h30. That was ok as we had the open bar already and a smoked meat stand...but no music...there should of been a small live band playing..
The food was phemonemal, decorations impeccable, the guests were fun....One thing about the food is that, there weren't any foods to choose from as the main course...It was, I think...an eight course meal..What bothered me the most is that the Dj continuously played traditional Greek music and out of 200 people there, Greeks were a minority...That night made me dislike that type of music.
I'm not complaining...I'm sure most of the people have enjoyed themselves...But eventhough it's their wedding and I'm not just talking about that particular couple...the guests should be somehow surveyed to make the proper choices in order to have that perfect wedding. Entertainment and leisure is an important aspect of the event.

I truly enjoy every aspect of poker

Last saturday, a buddy of mine called me up for a poker game at his place and what the heck: I told myself, instead of wasting hundreds of dollars at a club I supposed to go to, I'll enjoy my night with friends and acquaintances. Of course I had to buy some beverages, how can you go to someones place not bringing anything, so I got a case of Heinekens. We were 3 at first and at the end of the night we were 11 guys playing poker.
I see myself as a good poker player, some people had no clue what they were doing, others it seemed as if they were professionals which two of the guys actually make a living simply by playing poker amongst other things. What I like about poker besides the game is that it brings people together. That night I rekindled friendships with guys I havent seen for years through the game of poker. It enriches the evening instead of eleven guys talking and watching tv.
Every time I play poker, I improve my game by watching others, sometimes without even knowing it. Other times, people will tell me what I did wrong and what I should do. I educate myself on the game...I dont know if you can call it leisure education...I guess I learn to enjoy the game more and more when I see that it's more a social event than trying to win money. I mean, I'm not gambling by myself in front of the computer...I'm with people. I used to think of poker as a way to make money; that has changed..
My night ended at around 4h30 am and can you imagine I was the first one to leave. You lose track of time when you play it. Because, you're continuously having fun...well, not continuously, I tend to be agressive on the table when somebody bothers me on their lack of skill or bad beat.
Anyways, the beer cost me 20$, I only lost 40$ as it was a friendly game and made new friends.