For my program, I needed to search for a volunteering opportunity. I found a few places and ideas, but thank goodness I found something I could look forward to every week.
I asked my host teacher if she had any recommendations for volunteer work or where I could look. That's where my search ended. Her mother is currently residing in the nearby retirement homes down the street. For not one second did I hesitate and reply "It would be my honor, when can I start?"
Missing my great grandma Jean, I thought about the last time I was in a home. Friendship Village (where my great grandma resides many years) was the most young and loving community I've ever been to. Each resident loved hearing about my cheer competitions, wanted to show me their finished crosswords, and played the most wonderful music on the grand piano. Heading into this new retirement home without any expectations, I was eager to hangout with my new girlfriends.
The first time I went was quite the treat...it was my host teacher's mum's birthday! God knows how old she was turning (she sure didn't), but it was a lovely celebration!! My host teacher and her sister brought wine, flowers, biscuits, and marshmallows (their mum's favorite). I learned a little about their family and what their mum has been through.
Growing up with a high functioning GREAT-grandma was immune to me. I didn't realize how dementia, Alzheimer's, depression, and dozens of other mental health issues can truly affect an older friend or loved one.
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My grandma meant so much to me. She was always so proud and interested in all my cheer competitions, college festivities, the time I broke my nose, and almost all the other exciting things happening in my life. This woman showed me how to laugh at, confront, or just accept difficult situations. The strength she had every single year of her life was remarkable, especially the last three. I remember being away at college and Facetiming her at her best and worst, always looking gorgeous with her smile. I even taught her to fist pump! Having such an impactful woman in my life made me realize how life changing the residents in retirements can be. I was lucky to have an extremely aware, humorous, kind, loving, and intelligent great-grandma with lots of friends that made her smile. Before losing my great-grandma Jean, I never understood the impact of hanging out with anyone in a resident center aside from my loved one. But what about the forgotten loved ones? What about the loved ones who have forgotten?
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The teacher in me decided reading my students' short stories, favorite children's books, and throwing the rainbow in a NZ nature coloring book would be the perfect way to bring back the fun.
I have enjoyed every second of reading to the residents and hanging out with my host teacher's mum. Blood connection or stranger, these grandparents feel just like family. There's this connection I feel where I am back with my great-grandma; across the world, over the Pacific Ocean, and up through Heaven are just a few directions GPS might use to somehow explain why I look forward to each time I enter the retirement home to hangout with my new friends. Who else is going to laugh at all my 4th grade boy jokes and think I'm one of the coolest people in the world day after day??!?!?!?
I must say, my favorite part was when we were coloring. Reading all the children's books were fun, don't get me wrong, I wanted to try something new. But right away, I got a strong head shake and "I don't know." She couldn't remember how to color. The inner teacher kicked in (again) and I decided to guide her, hand-on-hand. Coloring books turned into a fun thing to do together, to now, a together thing that was fun to do. Traveling Tip #26: If time allows, do your best to give back to that country.
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