I Finally Get It! 3 June 2016

Today I finally understood some of the functions of a Helper on the International Floor!  I worked on case studies from various countries this morning, including the Norway one which had me stumped. I had thought I was doing the DigitalArkivet search correctly but got no results. I had gone to ask for help at the Scandinavian desk, but before the consultant got back to me I figured out that I had been using too many variables.  Once I backed off I was able to access the required records for the case study!

I was able to complete the Germany case study, and the one for Poland. Then I looked at some One Minute Training  Power points, and found the  duties of being a Helper are actually pretty simple:  find out what the guest knows, and what the guest is hoping to find; have the guest do a search in FamilySearch.org historical records; do a search in image only collections; do a search in Ancestry.com; check out the WIKI for tips on researching in a particular area; and then check the Catalog for films or books that might be available.  If the guest needs more help than that, turn them over to a consultant!  I think I can actually do this!

I got my schedule for next week, which apparently will not change much for a while.  My research half-day is Thursday afternoon.  The time off for choir will be two hours, but that is also my eating time--still not bad for having a break on my late day.  Next week I start off on Tuesday as Monitor. and the last hour on Thursday I will be the Rover. I will have two hours, Thursday and Friday at 8 a.m, to function as the Greeter. Then, on Saturday, I will have one hour in which I shadow the Germany/Slavik consultant! I need to be very diligently studying to get up to speed on my German and Polish script deciphering.

I got some positive feedback on the book I recommended yesterday, "If I Can, You Can", and shared the information with a few more people.  It is such a great resource to have available on line for anyone who has German ancestry--and frankly, many of us do.

I had slept quite well last night, so during my time at the temple this evening  I was able to stay pretty alert.  Definitely a blessing.