My visit on 5 September
Posted by CSC T.H.E. Seniors on Monday, September 07, 2015 with No comments
5 September 2015, another Saturday that I had to pull myself off my bed early in the morning to go for T.H.E.S regular house visit. I sounded unwillingly here, but given that I had to commute between Bedok and Kent Ridge every day, Saturday morning is such a good opportunity for me to laze on my bed or grab a few hours of sleep. Yet, I still pull myself off my bed, for I knew that I would be doing something good, and also learn things in the visit.
Enough with my futile attempt to sound noble. Unfortunately, I was late for the visit and when I reached Mdm C's house, whom I was allocated to that day, the volunteers (Clara, Valerie and Joselyn, I hope I got their names right) had done most of the household chores. As they had not mopped the floor, I volunteered to mop the floor for Mdm C while they (and also me after finished mopping the floor) engaged with Mdm C.
As Mdm C is a Cantonese senior, her Mandarin is tinged with Cantonese accent. In fact, sometimes she pronounced some of the Chinese words in Cantonese. It is interesting as it allowed me, someone who is still struggling to learn dialects, to pick up some Cantonese words. One thing I find commendable about her was her desire to learn Chinese and in fact, attempt to pronounce the words correctly. She told us that to learn a language, we just need to be daring to speak the language despite knowing that it may be wrong and others may laugh at the mispronunciation. It put me to shame as even though I was in T.H.E.S for quite some time, I still find it difficult to speak to the elderly in dialect (at least for now, I can understand simple Hokkien and Cantonese). It is something that I need to improve on and also one of the reasons that spur me to come for regular visits every week. if possible.
As an active senior citizen, Mdm C also shared with us the different activities that she engaged in every day, such as the outings which were organized by organizations such as Lion Befrienders and community clubs. She enthusiastically took out her photo album and explained to us about these events. She also directed our attention to various mementos that were displayed around her house, such as the lantern that she made recently in an event and the photo frame that was made during T.H.E.S National day mini celebration.
During the conversation, she also mentioned about the senior volunteers who used to visit her in the past. Unfortunately, most of them were unable to visit her anymore as they had graduated and were working. However, I found it amazing that they have such a close connection with her, as she still remembers their names and showed us pictures of them making flower together using plastic bags. She also asked about this particular senior volunteer, who still come for regular visit frequently despite the fact that he has already entered the workforce. It is admirable for him to do as, especially when his workplace was very far away from his house (so much for me lamenting about going to school every day). Speaking about him, he is perhaps like a role model for me as there is so much to learn from him (partly because he is older than anyone of us :P). He engages with the elderly well and in fact, many of the elderly asked whether he is around. There was this one occasion whereby he brought a Samsui Hello Kitty for one of the elderlies, as she was a Samsui woman in the past. His kindness and passion is what I can learn from. Furthermore, talking to him also makes me reflect myself as a person. (There are many volunteers who are also passionate, just mentioning him because it happens that he was so popular this week as two elderlies were asking me if he was around.)
These are perhaps the reasons that makes me looking forward to come for regular visits every week. Having conversations with the elderly is not only enriching, it is also relaxing and homely, which diverges my attention from my stressful schoolwork. Besides the seniors, the volunteers in T.H.E.S are also inspiring and encouraging :).
- Yen Sin -
Enough with my futile attempt to sound noble. Unfortunately, I was late for the visit and when I reached Mdm C's house, whom I was allocated to that day, the volunteers (Clara, Valerie and Joselyn, I hope I got their names right) had done most of the household chores. As they had not mopped the floor, I volunteered to mop the floor for Mdm C while they (and also me after finished mopping the floor) engaged with Mdm C.
As Mdm C is a Cantonese senior, her Mandarin is tinged with Cantonese accent. In fact, sometimes she pronounced some of the Chinese words in Cantonese. It is interesting as it allowed me, someone who is still struggling to learn dialects, to pick up some Cantonese words. One thing I find commendable about her was her desire to learn Chinese and in fact, attempt to pronounce the words correctly. She told us that to learn a language, we just need to be daring to speak the language despite knowing that it may be wrong and others may laugh at the mispronunciation. It put me to shame as even though I was in T.H.E.S for quite some time, I still find it difficult to speak to the elderly in dialect (at least for now, I can understand simple Hokkien and Cantonese). It is something that I need to improve on and also one of the reasons that spur me to come for regular visits every week. if possible.
As an active senior citizen, Mdm C also shared with us the different activities that she engaged in every day, such as the outings which were organized by organizations such as Lion Befrienders and community clubs. She enthusiastically took out her photo album and explained to us about these events. She also directed our attention to various mementos that were displayed around her house, such as the lantern that she made recently in an event and the photo frame that was made during T.H.E.S National day mini celebration.
During the conversation, she also mentioned about the senior volunteers who used to visit her in the past. Unfortunately, most of them were unable to visit her anymore as they had graduated and were working. However, I found it amazing that they have such a close connection with her, as she still remembers their names and showed us pictures of them making flower together using plastic bags. She also asked about this particular senior volunteer, who still come for regular visit frequently despite the fact that he has already entered the workforce. It is admirable for him to do as, especially when his workplace was very far away from his house (so much for me lamenting about going to school every day). Speaking about him, he is perhaps like a role model for me as there is so much to learn from him (partly because he is older than anyone of us :P). He engages with the elderly well and in fact, many of the elderly asked whether he is around. There was this one occasion whereby he brought a Samsui Hello Kitty for one of the elderlies, as she was a Samsui woman in the past. His kindness and passion is what I can learn from. Furthermore, talking to him also makes me reflect myself as a person. (There are many volunteers who are also passionate, just mentioning him because it happens that he was so popular this week as two elderlies were asking me if he was around.)
These are perhaps the reasons that makes me looking forward to come for regular visits every week. Having conversations with the elderly is not only enriching, it is also relaxing and homely, which diverges my attention from my stressful schoolwork. Besides the seniors, the volunteers in T.H.E.S are also inspiring and encouraging :).
- Yen Sin -
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