Whatssup world? I am here today to blog about my orientation visit to T.H.E. Seniors. For the orientation visit, each group of new volunteers were paired up with 2 seniors where we visited the elderly's home. For this visit, we went to Mdm Chua's place. Mdm Chua is an 80plus year old lady who always have a smile on her face. We helped her to clean up her place which includes sweeping, mopping and cleaning the windows. One thing that touches me is that Mdm Chua told us that without the help of volunteers, her house wouldn't be tidy and clean as she is unable to do the chores. This shows that there ought to be people in society which needs our help. 

After the cleaning session, we had a long chat with her where she shared with us her life story. She told us that she used to work at a hotel where she helped out in the kitchen(where she worked for 20 odd years there), as well as the challenges she faced and the regrets she had. She said she started off as a junior staff but was promoted to an assistant in the kitchen where she would make sandwiches and salads for guests. Since she is illiterate, she had difficulty when taking on the job at first, but managed to do well after learning and improving. She even told us she had never gotten a wrong order! In addition, she also know how to make vegetables curving like creating a rose out of tomato.

On the note of her personal life, she have three sons who are extremely good to her (including her daughter-in-laws). Due to a slight dementia, Mdm Chua would use a poker card to remind her which son visited her that day. (Ace meaning the elder son, two meaning the second son and so forth). How innovative is that?! Finally, she said that she had lived in Kallang for over 10 years and is very appreciative of the help and concern she received from T.H.E. Seniors. All in all, this experience taught me that despite we moving on to a globalised city-state, there ought to be ppl who needs help and assistance in society. An fulfilling orientation visit I must say.

Koh Kok Seng