18th August TOUCH!

Touch was so meaningful!

Before going to the old folks home, we had a briefing and introduction because it was the outreach session. All the freshmen interested in Touch could check it out. It wasn't easy remembering all those names, but besides that, I had alot of "fear of the unknown"! I can't speak hokkien, but because all my friends went for the hokkien group, I tagged along too. It'll be good to expose myself more to the dialect, anyway, I thought.

So we splitted into three groups. One group for Mandarin speaking folks, one for Cantonese, and the last Hokkien. For the Hokkien group, we were due to visit Mdm Lim first, and then Mdm Tan. An association was distributing food at the void deck of the opposite block, so we went over there to introduce ourselves to Mdm Lim. She has a back problem which causes her pain whenever she stands up. Some of us went over to queue up for her. She's an old lady with big spectacles and she laughs like little ripples! Very adorable. Jiancong asked if she remembers him, and she said she remembers him by his voice, and "ripples" again.

After recieving the food, we made our way up to her flat. It was raining heavily then, so we had to walk under the shelter. But from the shelter path, the only way for Mdm Lim to get back to her flat was by walking up a flight of stairs and than take the lift up to her flat. To us, it may seem easy. For an old lady with back pains, she had to hobble up. You'd feel a pinch in your heart when you see her walking up the stairs, one step by one step. It makes you feel like giving her a piggy back up the stairs!

When we reached her flat, she slowly reached for her keys and we noticed a cross at the top of her door. We asked her if she was a Christian, and she smiled widely(no eyes seen) and answered with a big YES. Mdm Lim was very hospitable. She wanted to serve us, make us comfortable despite her inconvenience in movement. While we sorted her medicine, she shared how much trouble she had in just buying food for herself. She shared how difficult life was, and how God was her only source of strength. At this time, it was best to divert topic! So the seniors who faithfully visit her fortnightly helped us participate by asking each of us to ask Mdm Lim a question or talk to her about something. I tried to tell her a joke, about a bird flying from one point to the other. Please do keep in mind, that I have very poor command in Hokkien. Mdm Lim obviously was more amused by the attempt than the joke itself. But she was nice. When asked if the joke was funny, she said it was okay, and "rippled" again. She was patient, and didn't mind poor attempts of us communicating with her. At the end of the visit, she said, "God bless you all," and some of us shaked her hands, or hugged her. It's really heartwarming when she hugs you back and laughs lightly. You know that she's happy when she has company. It matters alot to her.

Mdm Tan! She's adorable too! She looks very healthy but she has cataracts. But it's not noticeable because she looked so optimistic! She greeted us with a big "Hey you're here!". It sure makes you feel good. Her room mate wasn't in, but we heard from the seniors that her roommate doesnt like visitors. Probably inconvenient to have strangers around. Mdm Tan was so warm and friendly! Her flat is super neat and clean, and she brought out a fan for us so that we wouldnt be too warm. She also brought out her photo albums with her sons and daughters, or her nephews and nieces, wedding photos. She also had one of her during a Touch activity! She wore glasses with fake eyes pasted on the glasses! So cute! I told her she looked nice in that and she proudly told me she won 1st in that event! She told us stories during the war while she had to take care of her young sisters, and till date, her life. She's a very happy person, optimistic, and waay cool. Her perspectives are so modern, I'd think she's much younger than 70! I tried the joke again, and this time, she was funnier! She started saying, she was wondering why the bird was flying outside her window to and fro! We explained it was a joke, and only after hearing that it's supposed to be a joke, she laughed. I guess it wasn't that funny. So we could all try again the next time.

After the whole visit, I really had a new perspective on old people. Not all are old and cranky. They have high level of humour too! Being old may be tiring, with all the old ailments. Company brings alot of joy to them, to know that they are cared for and loved by people, even though they aren't related to them. Well, to sum it all up, old people rock.


Amily Low