In today's class, we debriefed our past site visit experiences, discussed some current events related to aging in the news, shared a few oral histories of classmates' "extraordinary persons," and discussed This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism. While discussing the site visits to Bingo and Zumba, the biggest surprise among the Life Course Scholars was how excited the elders were to talk to us, and how surprised these seniors were that we wanted to talk to them. It goes to show that human beings naturally seek connections with others, yet we so seldom reach out.
The concept of socialization versus isolation was again discussed with a current event addressing the life expectancy of people in Nigeria and Sardinia. Nigeria has a life expectancy of 54 years, which can be attributed to a variety of illnesses, driving hazards, and, potentially, loneliness. There's a strong rural to urban migration among young relatives in Nigeria, leaving many older adults without strong family ties or social connections. Meanwhile, Sardinia has the highest percentage of people living to age 100 or beyond. This longevity is attributed to time spent outdoors, polyphenol-rich wine, genetics, and strong socialization among families and neighbors. Feeling valued as a source of wisdom gives Sardinians the drive to stay active and involved.
Once again, the theme essential human connection was repeated by our oral history projects. Katie, Tiffany, and I explained that our "Extraordinary Persons" (E.P.s) were touched to be selected for the mini-memoir, and our E.P.s shared valuable stories in return. We all learned a lot more about our family members than we would have without this assignment, and it showed us how much people have to share if you ask with a genuine interest. Ultimately, we all gained a stronger sense of respect for our family members as, not just people in our families, but as individuals who have a lot of wisdom to share.
The concept of socialization versus isolation was again discussed with a current event addressing the life expectancy of people in Nigeria and Sardinia. Nigeria has a life expectancy of 54 years, which can be attributed to a variety of illnesses, driving hazards, and, potentially, loneliness. There's a strong rural to urban migration among young relatives in Nigeria, leaving many older adults without strong family ties or social connections. Meanwhile, Sardinia has the highest percentage of people living to age 100 or beyond. This longevity is attributed to time spent outdoors, polyphenol-rich wine, genetics, and strong socialization among families and neighbors. Feeling valued as a source of wisdom gives Sardinians the drive to stay active and involved.
Once again, the theme essential human connection was repeated by our oral history projects. Katie, Tiffany, and I explained that our "Extraordinary Persons" (E.P.s) were touched to be selected for the mini-memoir, and our E.P.s shared valuable stories in return. We all learned a lot more about our family members than we would have without this assignment, and it showed us how much people have to share if you ask with a genuine interest. Ultimately, we all gained a stronger sense of respect for our family members as, not just people in our families, but as individuals who have a lot of wisdom to share.