One more week...

I will take just a second to say I got a 79% on my first EMT test. I felt good about it and I will take a 79% for sure.

So next week I get to ride with Consolidated Fire District #2 of North East Johnson County. Wow, you need to take a breath before attempting to say that one out loud. This is the department that my dad work for over 25 years with. Needless to say there will be a few familiar faces when I show up to the station at 0800. I will have to fight the temptation to be to relaxed or laid back with the guys since I know them already. Every time I have an interaction with a firefighter or department I have to treat it as if I am on a job interview. Right now I am making a name for myself and the network of people I spin around me now will pay off when job application time comes. That means making sure to have my pleases and thank yous ready. Along with my Mr. and Mrs.'s, Captains and Chiefs. Not that i have a problem with that, I just have a feeling I will get a lot more shit from these guys than I got in Shawnee last month.

In Shawnee the guy gave each other plenty of shit. The firefighters would give each other hard times constantly. The Med-act paramedics and the firefighters were a constant comedy routine, one upping each other with every interaction. The Battalion Chief made funny faces and talked in a silly voice every time he showed his face in the day room. They referred to their chief as Forrest Gump and only after an impression did I realize who they were talking about. It was a very "good ol' boys" feel in the station. I am sure it is that way to a certain extent everywhere. I just expected a little more discipline and respect I guess, a more "traditional" fire house experience.

I am walking into District 2 with some higher expectations. I am sure there will still be plenty of jokes, gags and hard times handed out. But I expect to hear a few, "Hey Captain," or "Excuse me Chief," being thrown around. Where I had to ask for a tour of the bay in Shawnee I am expecting a tour without asking in the district. Maybe it will be a similar experience to what I had in Shawnee too. By no means am I trying to talk badly about them or paint a negative picture. When I have my certificated in hand I would apply for a job there without a second thought given. It just will be interesting to see what, if any, difference there are from a one department to the other.

Even if everything is pretty much the same this time around, I hope one thing that does change is the amount of calls we run. Even 2 would be more exciting than one that we ran last month.