Wow, only one month left of winter quarter!! Since the last blog, we had the chance to listen and present our Extraordinary Person project. For my project, I shared the story of my maternal grandmother’s zest for life and love of learning. From having to take a year off of school due to an unknown medical condition that left her nose bleeding constantly to owning her own plot of land next to her apartment to have fresh produce for her meals, my grandmother is one of the most active and straightforward people I know. Her zest for learning and of life helped me explore the significance of staying curious and connected with the people around me. It was so cool to listen to the stories of other people’s loved ones and see the creative projects they brought to the class. Having this project definitely allowed me to view my grandmother as her own person as well, not just her role in my family. It was an extremely valuable experience that I am happy I got to share!
Unfortunately, our trip to casa de mañana did not occur but even seeing just the outside of the retirement home contrasted heavily with the affordable housing we toured earlier in the month. With a beautiful ocean view, the residents all left the retirement home to go on a safari zoo trip - something I hope to be able to do when I get older as well. The senior home flaunted a salt bath, furnished buildings, and even a mini golf mat on the outside. However, one thing I noticed while we were on our way to the cafe was that it would be extremely difficult for an older adult to stroll around the neighborhood due to the steep uphills. For one, I was definitely out of breath just going half way and I can’t imagine how hard it would be to explore the neighborhood or just go on walks. Also, another time I was in the La Jolla Cove area, I remember seeing a lot of ambulances not being able to move due to the heavy traffic and narrow streets. I definitely think that the location of the senior home has tradeoffs on how age friendly the neighborhood really is. Even so, the Casa de Mañana was a gorgeous place and the residents appeared to be extremely friendly in the few seconds we got to say hi.
Overall, I have enjoyed going on field trips through this class. It definitely brought me out to parts of San Diego that I would never have gone if not for these tours and walks. From the first day we talked about age-friendly city planning, it has been something I consciously think about whenever I go on a walk or explore new neighborhoods. Out of the many outings we went on, I definitely thought the Senior Affordable Housing Tour was the most valuable experience. Nonetheless, going around Barrio Logan and seeing the powerful community in Chicano Park was also a significant trip that showed me the relevance of the content we learn through lectures. The most fun event however, was definitely our Love, Connect, Care event at the West center! I brought my pumpkin bread and brownies and I was so happy that everyone enjoyed the snacks and care packages we brought. I also wandered around at times to paint and explore the boutique which was amazing. It has been extremely charming to be able to interact with different communities even through just short, surface level conversations!! I look forward to the next few weeks of LCS!
Unfortunately, our trip to casa de mañana did not occur but even seeing just the outside of the retirement home contrasted heavily with the affordable housing we toured earlier in the month. With a beautiful ocean view, the residents all left the retirement home to go on a safari zoo trip - something I hope to be able to do when I get older as well. The senior home flaunted a salt bath, furnished buildings, and even a mini golf mat on the outside. However, one thing I noticed while we were on our way to the cafe was that it would be extremely difficult for an older adult to stroll around the neighborhood due to the steep uphills. For one, I was definitely out of breath just going half way and I can’t imagine how hard it would be to explore the neighborhood or just go on walks. Also, another time I was in the La Jolla Cove area, I remember seeing a lot of ambulances not being able to move due to the heavy traffic and narrow streets. I definitely think that the location of the senior home has tradeoffs on how age friendly the neighborhood really is. Even so, the Casa de Mañana was a gorgeous place and the residents appeared to be extremely friendly in the few seconds we got to say hi.
Overall, I have enjoyed going on field trips through this class. It definitely brought me out to parts of San Diego that I would never have gone if not for these tours and walks. From the first day we talked about age-friendly city planning, it has been something I consciously think about whenever I go on a walk or explore new neighborhoods. Out of the many outings we went on, I definitely thought the Senior Affordable Housing Tour was the most valuable experience. Nonetheless, going around Barrio Logan and seeing the powerful community in Chicano Park was also a significant trip that showed me the relevance of the content we learn through lectures. The most fun event however, was definitely our Love, Connect, Care event at the West center! I brought my pumpkin bread and brownies and I was so happy that everyone enjoyed the snacks and care packages we brought. I also wandered around at times to paint and explore the boutique which was amazing. It has been extremely charming to be able to interact with different communities even through just short, surface level conversations!! I look forward to the next few weeks of LCS!