November 12, 2010

*I'm catching up for the blog I did not have time to write on friday*

November 12, 2010

Day 67, 1st Vocational Training Day----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Today I ended up having a pretty good day. I was really nervous because it was my first day officially in trade. My head instructor, Scott Ferguson, kind of scares me a little bit. He wasn't there today and I am very grateful, it only would have added more pressure on me.

I have already made several friends who are in H.E.R., and they quickly got me involved in a project. I was a little reluctant at first, afraid I would break something or mess up, but they insisted and explained that the only way I would really learn is if I tried it. So even though I didn't understand most of the stuff I was fixing, they coached me through it and we managed to get it done.

I learned all about brakes on heavy machinery because we replaced... um... well I can't remember exactly what it was called, but it was a little thingy that was attached to the air tank for the brakes. It's supposed to pop at about 175 psi* but it was popping off at 135 psi which is way too early. It has something to do with safety. I can't remember exactly what it prevents, why, or how it works, but if you told me to fix it, I would remember how to put it together and I could do it again. Besides, that's what I have a whole 21 months and 3 weeks for; to figure out the details.
We also fixed a hydraulic hose that moved a part on something. I can't explain it to you but I could show you what it did.

On another note, since Jamie and I are in the same trade, we can't act like we are romantically interested in one another, or basically anything other than acquaintances, especially if there are rumors going around saying that we are. Trade related relationships are highly frowned upon, and although I don't know what the punishment is, it could very well be removal from vocational training in that area. So Jamie and I spoke very few words to each other. In fact, I counted them and he only spoke ten words to me in the whole day, this includes earlier this morning before trade hours. I asked him where the tape measure was and he said, " I dunno* but I think I know where one is". Ha, wow, what a conversation. I know that he is pretty serious when he is working, and even if we weren't trying to watch our backs he would still act the same, but somehow it still hurt my feelings just a little.



*PSI means 'punds per square inch'
*'dunno' is slang for 'don't know'. He said it just like that too, so it counts as one, instead of two, words.