Wednesday, April 28, 2010

My First Census Adventure

Today was Day 3 of Census Enumerator training.  After two hours of sitting in an art classroom on hard, backless stools, we got a dinner break.  I ate, then decided to stretch my legs by walking through the campus of the middle school training location before I had to go sit for the rest of the evening..

This school has a long covered walkway with a building on either side.  Each building has multiple entrances along its length.  Some of them are at ground level, and some are up a couple of stairs (or a handicapped ramp).

I started at one end of the walkway and briskly strolled towards the opposite end, walking up each flight of stairs and jogging down the corresponding ramp.  At the end of the walkway, I turned to the left, walked completely around one of the buildings, then started the circuit again.

As I passed one of the doorways for the second time, I saw a sign that indicated the area was under video surveillance.  I laughed to myself; surely a middle-aged woman out for her evening constitutional wouldn't need to worry about that, but right after I walked by the next door, a school employee was standing there,  asking me if  I needed any help.

I quickly told him what I was up to and slunk away.  All of a sudden I didn't feel like walking anymore.

4 comments:

  1. Well they do say we are all under almost constant surveillance when we're out and about. Cameras everywhere.

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  2. Interesting. I suppose at a middle school, people can't be too careful... I'm very interested in your experience working with the census. I've always been curious about it. I hope you write about it.

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  3. Nancy-I'd not thought about it that way. It's a bit creepy.

    Kathy M-I'll certainly pass on any interesting (and non-identifiable) tidbits I come across.

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  4. Awwwww..Kathy! oh dear oh dear. too funny though.

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