I completed the first round of medication, and while I wait a few days to start the second round, I have been experiencing new things around the ranch. One cool thing I just learned how to do is care for the newts (underwater lizards). Every day I have to use a large syringe to gather the newt eggs and put them all into the 'nursery' tank. The eggs are really tiny and hard to find, because the newts lay their eggs in the plastic plants that float on top of the tank. Some eggs fall to the bottom and I retrieve those as well. Then, I have to give all of the newts food. They eat these strange frozen worms that come in a package similar to the package of chewing gum, I have to pop out one block into each newt tank.
I also learned how the shipping process works. My first task was to figure out how many small frogs (between 1/2 and 3/4 in.) were in stock. It is really difficult to count frogs, because they hop really far and are difficult to contain. I ended up getting a large plastic bin and putting one frog at a time into the bin and keeping track that way. That system worked relatively well, except when I lost count and had to start over (from then on I wrote down on paper how many I put into the bin). Then, I prepared the shipping cups by putting moss and water in each cup. After that, I had to put 5 small frogs into each plastic shipping cup. This was the most difficult part because the frogs would hop everywhere and it was hard to keep 5 inside the cup. Eventually I figured out that it was easiest to put five into one hand, then really quickly dump them into the cup and put on the lid. Next each order was looked at and the correct number of frogs were added to each shipping box, which are just cardboard boxes lined with foam. After all the orders were sorted, it was my job to seal each box. First I had to crumple up newspaper to make sure the frogs didn't move during shipment. Then I had to put on the foam lid, put the packing slip in, close the lid, and seal it with packing tape.
A few days ago some dragon eggs hatched, and I was lucky enough to be able to observe the process. It took a very long time for the babies to hatch, almost 12 hours. When they first emerged from their eggs they were so tiny and fragile looking, but after they dried off and warmed up they acted just like the other young dragons. It was my job to move the young hatchlings to their new bin in the dragon nursery room.
Over these first weeks, I have had to self advocate many times. I often self advocated by asking for help if I didn't understand something, because it is really important to do certain tasks (such as giving medicine) correctly because animals lives are at risk. Another way I self advocate at work is by taking breaks when I need to because the work I am doing is very physically difficult.
Before we left for internship, we were given five 'golden rules' for internship. The first rule was to always be doing something. I am following this rule because whenever I am done with a task that was assigned to me and can't find my mentor, I ask another employee if they need any help. The second rule was to always bring a notebook to meetings. I have not been to a meeting, but my notebook was very useful for keeping track when I was counting frogs. The third rule is the one I am struggling with the most, to get to know your colleagues early. I am having a difficult time communicating with my colleagues because they all speak Spanish. But, even with the language barrier, I have been able communicate with the small amount of spanish I do know and small gestures such as opening the door or just smiling and saying hello. The fourth rule is to show up early for everything. I have not been late to work, and I do not waste time during work. The last rule, to dress more professionally than you need to, is also a little bit difficult for me. It is hard because in the dragon and frog rooms are built like greenhouses, and can get over 100 degrees easily. I have been trying to stay professional, but practical with my clothing choices.
I also learned how the shipping process works. My first task was to figure out how many small frogs (between 1/2 and 3/4 in.) were in stock. It is really difficult to count frogs, because they hop really far and are difficult to contain. I ended up getting a large plastic bin and putting one frog at a time into the bin and keeping track that way. That system worked relatively well, except when I lost count and had to start over (from then on I wrote down on paper how many I put into the bin). Then, I prepared the shipping cups by putting moss and water in each cup. After that, I had to put 5 small frogs into each plastic shipping cup. This was the most difficult part because the frogs would hop everywhere and it was hard to keep 5 inside the cup. Eventually I figured out that it was easiest to put five into one hand, then really quickly dump them into the cup and put on the lid. Next each order was looked at and the correct number of frogs were added to each shipping box, which are just cardboard boxes lined with foam. After all the orders were sorted, it was my job to seal each box. First I had to crumple up newspaper to make sure the frogs didn't move during shipment. Then I had to put on the foam lid, put the packing slip in, close the lid, and seal it with packing tape.
A few days ago some dragon eggs hatched, and I was lucky enough to be able to observe the process. It took a very long time for the babies to hatch, almost 12 hours. When they first emerged from their eggs they were so tiny and fragile looking, but after they dried off and warmed up they acted just like the other young dragons. It was my job to move the young hatchlings to their new bin in the dragon nursery room.
Over these first weeks, I have had to self advocate many times. I often self advocated by asking for help if I didn't understand something, because it is really important to do certain tasks (such as giving medicine) correctly because animals lives are at risk. Another way I self advocate at work is by taking breaks when I need to because the work I am doing is very physically difficult.
Before we left for internship, we were given five 'golden rules' for internship. The first rule was to always be doing something. I am following this rule because whenever I am done with a task that was assigned to me and can't find my mentor, I ask another employee if they need any help. The second rule was to always bring a notebook to meetings. I have not been to a meeting, but my notebook was very useful for keeping track when I was counting frogs. The third rule is the one I am struggling with the most, to get to know your colleagues early. I am having a difficult time communicating with my colleagues because they all speak Spanish. But, even with the language barrier, I have been able communicate with the small amount of spanish I do know and small gestures such as opening the door or just smiling and saying hello. The fourth rule is to show up early for everything. I have not been late to work, and I do not waste time during work. The last rule, to dress more professionally than you need to, is also a little bit difficult for me. It is hard because in the dragon and frog rooms are built like greenhouses, and can get over 100 degrees easily. I have been trying to stay professional, but practical with my clothing choices.