The Day Everett Stopped functioning

As a resident of Everett WA for three (3) plus years where I would see people walking around the restaurants downstairs the apartment complex where I lived alone in the two fish in a bowl section, I had no idea what was about to unfold as the building changed management and oh the wonderful new management company began moving in and the "sharks" began circling as the developer began going down.

As an ever loyal employee - I noticed a few things at the workplace where I worked but pushed it aside.  The employer -Adult Family Home owner seemed strange by telling me that "They know" - I made light of this as I had no idea what she was talking about.  I was not so forward to ask her what she was talking about.  I moved on.  Working with my loyal self and the "do the right thing even when no one is watching" attitude, the employer or should I say Provider as it is called in the Health world or the label assigned by the Department of Health (DSHS) would search my bag daily and not even be aware that I was in the know.

The "I want to know what everyone is doing" attitude was in and I was not bothered.  I saw various things going on at the adult family home but would only help - using in house communication with them and I was wrong to even believe that they were going to accept that the state assigned way of doing things was not going on inside this house.  The only acceptable option was according to the Adult Family Home owner "The good is inside this house and the bad is outside" and in her own words again "I know everything that is going on inside my house".  I was not bothered I only said things as no one wanted to tell each other which is the usual "crossover" a term which I was used to at an Assisted Living Facility where I worked years ago.  The notion that I was complaining seemed to have plagued these people's mind as they are not used to telling each other what happened during the prior shift only writings in the communication log which for the most part is "NO CHANGE". "NO CHANGE" became a familiar and eventual ONLY phrase for not paying attention and caring less.

Back in my apartment my uneventful life continued as usual which this only fish in this bowl loved and enjoyed "ah my little space away from the crowded and noisy world". I slept, read, followed politics back in the home country, commented on the postings which I was interested in as well as others, photos of the day which I had to learn is submitted by individuals. My "forget the workplace when I exit the door" attitude was in full gear.  The individuals "in the know" knew - I in the "not knowing what they knew" mindset did not know.  I only knew that I was a tenant there, never attending the monthly residents social once a month on the Thursday assigned.  I was way too busy living in my apartment "sleeping" and enjoying my television time watching what I love and talking to my family and friends on WhatsApp - I had what I wanted to have to occupy my extra time with,  as I worked nights and had the days to do my eating sleeping and the likes.

The one time I took time off was in the hopes that my sister would visit to spend Christmas with me - I prepared, purchased the brandy I am used to well not the same brand Napoleon like I grew up with at home -my dad never missed, the wine, the food stock my refrigerator up so that she would be able to cook - she is a better cook than I am.  I requested way in advance - well she never made it - they are all work people - they take breaks and vacations after working for so long - I finally had my one first break. The "I am not coming" - well I would have loved to meet my family but I knew - left me with knowing that I would talk to them and have all the food and drink which would be my only Christmas taking off, I have always worked holidays except when it falls on my days off and even then I would be called in or swap with others as someone always wanted time to spend with their family or for whatever reason.  I would always make it known when I am living "you know where I live, call me".

My Christmas vacation came and there I am - "Don't forget where you work" began.  I went back to work and there the same continued on with new residents and all the getting to know them.  My holiday was not paid - this meant that I was able to sustain myself even then.

Back at the workplace I had to put up with all the happenings that went on in this work place.  The employees who have an extremely cozy relationship with the boss and family. Seems the  employer knew all their familial issues. I am not privy to any of these things - I am only an employee who does what is required and continued to as well as trying to ensure that the workplace is in compliance with what the state requires - it is a workplace that looks like a regular home. The individuals were way to content with mediocrity and wanting to have "high-paying" residents in their houses.  I once said "If the State comes in here, you all will get cited", I believe this comment may have gotten me on people's radar for no reason.  It was said in good faith.  One of the employees - the one who keeps the employers house, in addition to feeding the dog, letting the dog out and returning it when they are away doing what they were more preoccupied with besides operating a place for retired folks.

The employee would bully the other employees - they would complain - I was there only at nights and for months not seeing anyone unless they change their schedule or swap shifts.  I was living in my little world not communicating with these individuals outside the workplace.  I chose this as a way to insulate myself against any workplace dramatic events. One thing which seemed to be going around well in this place is that one individual had the "favorite" employee spot while others did all the work resulting in a place where people were forced to leave.  The employees that I know who left has one thing in common - the employer complained that they reported the house to the Department of Health and resulted in an inspection.  The first time I got to know that there was an issue is when I encountered an employee elsewhere who seemed to have had issues at the home and reported the place to DSHS while I told the employee certain comments were untrue concerning the meals because I cook the food - boy was I wrong. the employee left. I cooked the meals and left them but what was happening I noticed towards the end is that the employer comes up takes the food down to her house and feeds her family and brings some other food type upstairs or engages in some swapping of the food and residents were served left overs from the weeks food on weekends even when I have real cooked food as my work week ended towards the end of the week.

Back at my apartment the building's developer was having his own issues that I was not aware of and my country was experiencing some real hurricane and extreme situations because of the changing patterns or frequency of hurricanes and storms affecting the island.  I proceeded to the office and in my ever loving country self asked "do you all make donations or who is the owner of this place because I would like to find out whether you all can make a donation to my country". I was trying to find the owner - I was not aware that buildings constructed in this country and area had developers and multiple owners.  Back where I came from everyone owned their homes - apartments were not a big thing - today they are government built and ownership in the hands of those who live there with no way of selling.

I searched online and in looking I noticed that the developer was a former Tibetan Monk and I was actually looking for him but my little "minding my own business self" decided to live this in hopes of getting to meet him sometime thinking that he will show up at the apartments I lived in prior.  Well I never attended any social event I only got to meet maintenance guy who was ever so friendly and doing what he does best.  The building was pretty much quiet - I never heard any random strange noises, in there with people fighting or doing anything or yelling I had no issues.  I walked in around 7am or later 7:30am  daily when I am working and stay in for the most part not going anywhere pretty much content being in the comfort of my own place - a place when I saw it, I wanted to live there. I slept quietly no issues - the restaurant downstairs buzzing as usual, I would see people walking around and it was a place that  appeared that it had life during the summer months.

Life continued as usual.  The former Monk's issues which were in the news when I checked caught my attention resulting in me trying to find his case online.  There was nothing or not much that I could find at this time, so I was pretty much content with minding my political business and going to work. The workplace had a lot going on that I did not know and still does not know only that someone seemed to have pulled me into their ever so growing piece of "nothingness" that I did not and do not want to be a part of.  The building changed management - while the change was so obvious that one had to be asleep all the time not to have noticed.  Prior to all this my employer had asked me "where do you live" "how much is your apartment" and little did I know that my life somehow was something that these people were interested in outside the workplace.  

At Potala Village apartments named after the famed Potala Palace the events which unfolded seems like a novel.  There was once a sound similar to what one would hear if there were a bang on the old fire alarms which are outside buildings.  I said nothing as I am in my apartment.  I have no idea what others were doing in their apartments, never had any reason to call the police or emergency in my apartment.  My only time being in a social event was at an event organized by a past manager at some other place I worked.  The place was changed into a place that is managed by Russian owners - which I was told that one cannot understand how this management company has employees emigrate from Africa to train and work for three months at a time employees are cycling through. I did not know and have never worked in this environment, so I moved on with this knowledge.  I have since visited the past workplace where there were only two of the residents from the time I worked there.

My life at my little apartment that I loved only lacked a fireplace but all was good.  The noise level I had no issues with as I heard none of this.  Then came the fire inspections which did not mesh with me working nights.  There was once during inspections I wrote to let the management know that I was working nights and will be sleeping and gave them my days off, but I generally was not there at nights.  I have had a few when I was there.  While the developer was facing his own issues, I was trying to read up on his case to find out what was going on.  I became interested in the housing development process as I had never understood how this was done.  My country's development exposed me to this and wanting to use my business degree to engage in the building and development process of my country.  But first I was interested in learning, and I looked at even trying to meet this developer to just find out a little bit about the industry and how to go about it.  

Work continued as usual but there seem to be some changes taking place that are no longer subtle.  Residents were passing away and this place became stranger as time went on.  Following the passing away of one resident there came the missing ring.  Word was going around among the staff that a ring was missing which belonged to the resident but during the day of the death the only employee there was the owner - I know as I left that morning and seeing the condition of the resident I knew - experience as I was  - I was used to being on a shift where I worked with little direct supervision as a Lead at nights with the Nursing Director a phone call away.  The morning I left, and the owner was there and I asked whether I should stay on to assist she said no.  I went home, word went around that the ring was later found.  The owner has this "you are free" phrase on my exit daily as she takes up the morning shift.  I was asked where I get all my high energy from.  I saved up my energy to apply in whichever area it is needed.  I am not one who is given to high confrontation. I have always said that I am a non-confrontational individual as I was taught from a very young age to keep my emotions in check and stay away from trouble.  I have practiced this for all my life.  I have never allowed the persons I work with to get me distracted from what I do.  I will always say that I can put up with the residents, but I am not one to take these unnecessary immature behaviors from employees.  I am working but I am on my way out inching my way out of the healthcare profession.  I am not one who is there working as a caregiver or trying to prevent others from advancing.  I have my goals aims ambitions and aspirations. One of my goals is political strategist/politician as well as become a developer. 

Following the hurricane in my country and having the design of a bridge in my mind but I have to be able to design this bridge but I have to go to school. I have not forgotten that I am looking for this Monk and missed the opportunity to attend the court hearing, but it is all good I went on to read about his case.  In the apartment the group which managed the apartment had a sought of final inspection of the building, I was in my apartment.  My employer on the other hand continues to search my bag daily.  Another employee left in tears as she was escorted off the property with a claim that she stole their food, the husband said the employee took food from the pantry.  The employee told me she did not do anything.  I am still not aware of what was going on.  This employee escorted off the property for theft was being bullied by another employee. One of the other employees who left was also bullied and put in her two weeks notice - she also had complaints about an employee that she could not tell the employer as she was the only one listened to.  The employee escorted off the property for theft was crying as I witnessed the bullying with log notes written "When Tina is not there I am the one in charge you know this already" which would later by scratched and later the page would be ripped out.  I never said a word as I did not want to find my way into this type of workplace dramatic events.

The workplace became a place where I did not want to have any piece of - it was down to two of the people that I originally met when I began working there -the bully and myself.  The workplace bully began getting all the shifts and reducing my hours. I decided to leave and then realized the problem was worse than I thought in the Everett area.  It involved city employees, law enforcement jail staff and countless others even the legal staff of the city.