One of the highlights these past few weeks was the Intergenerational Virtual Café. We were able to have conversations with some older adults including retired UCSD staff. Our class hosted a similar event last quarter with some residents from Casa de Mañana. I enjoyed our interactions both times but with this Virtual Café, our class was more prepared since groups of us were in different breakout rooms that we were assigned to facilitate. We prepared questions in advance but I noticed that the conversation flowed very smoothly and we naturally started talking about other topics. It was fun learning more about their lives and one key takeaway I got from the conversation was that life can be taken with a “backbone approach,” meaning that you can have a general plan but allow yourself to go where life takes you. One hour with the older adults was short but sweet.
The next big ticket item in the gradebook is the Age Friendly Neighborhood Assessment paper. To start off my research, I went out into the field (aka my neighborhood) and made some observations and took some pictures. I usually go on walks in my neighborhood but it was interesting to have a more analytical perspective during my field observations. Small things that usually go unnoticed like uneven sidewalks, wheelchair accessible ramps, and shaded seating areas now stand out to me. Living in the Chula Vista area for all my life, I was happy to see the changes made. I distinctly remember my grandma did not like Chula Vista when I was a kid since she said that our house was too far away from the bus stop. Now, there is a bus station (see picture below) that is a 3 minute walk from my house. I am still in the process of finishing the paper but it is coming along. Thank goodness for the one week deadline extension!
The next big ticket item in the gradebook is the Age Friendly Neighborhood Assessment paper. To start off my research, I went out into the field (aka my neighborhood) and made some observations and took some pictures. I usually go on walks in my neighborhood but it was interesting to have a more analytical perspective during my field observations. Small things that usually go unnoticed like uneven sidewalks, wheelchair accessible ramps, and shaded seating areas now stand out to me. Living in the Chula Vista area for all my life, I was happy to see the changes made. I distinctly remember my grandma did not like Chula Vista when I was a kid since she said that our house was too far away from the bus stop. Now, there is a bus station (see picture below) that is a 3 minute walk from my house. I am still in the process of finishing the paper but it is coming along. Thank goodness for the one week deadline extension!