Visit to Mdm L - 16th January 2016

Hi guys! This is my first blog post and I hope that I will have more to share in the future!

This time round, Kai Him, Jeraldine and I visited Mdm L. As usual, Mdm L bought a lot of food for us and kept reminding us to eat them hahaha. I was about to help Mdm L with the usual routine of housework after some chit-chatting when she asked me to explain an English letter to her. It was while attempting to do so that I realised that I need to brush up on my translation skills hahaha. Coming from a Chinese-speaking family, I thought I was okay at translating but I guess I was so used to code-mixing that I had difficulty recalling some terms in Chinese, such as “MSF” and “CPF statement”. Thankfully, Kai Him and Jeraldine were there to help convey a clearer message.

After that, we went on to do some housework while Mdm L washed up. Apart from the usual routine, there was something new to do this time round. We noticed ants trailing across the walls transporting their food and Mdm L mentioned the problem as well. A lady who visited her earlier on noticed the ants and Mdm L was concerned about the impression that others have of her house. I think for many seniors, their homes are really something that they want to be proud of because one’s home can reflect his or her personality. Thus, we traced the path of the ants and killed them with the spray.

On our way to the hawker centre, Mdm L asked a few times if I was following behind when I was not within her field of vision. Although it was just a small gesture, it was rather heart-warming for me. :) On a side note, Mdm L seemed a bit forgetful that day because she forgot to take her medicine and bring the house keys with her until we reminded her hahaha.

I feel that every single visit I went truly widened my horizon and helped me to have a bigger heart. There is so much to learn from both the elderly and volunteers and I did work that I was not used to doing back at home or have never thought that I would need to do. These are the reasons that keep me looking forward to every Saturday morning. At the end of every visit, I learn a little bit more about not just our seniors but also fellow T.H.E.S volunteers and myself. :)

That's all I have to share, have a great day! :)

- Yuan Qin