One of my favorite aspects of our program is the oral history project. Not only did this project allow me to learn more about my grandmother, but it permitted me to learn more about everyone else's extraordinary people as well. I believe that my peers are extremely creative and created projects in forms I never even considered. Furthermore, I loved being able to see the role these individuals played in my peers' lives and hearing the stories behind their projects. It was also great to see vintage photos of our extraordinary people from when they were babies, teenagers, and young adults. Though my family does not have very many photos from their lives back in Cambodia, I have always wanted to see what my parents and grandparents looked like when they were young. I would like to see the environments they grew up in and the various activities they participated in. I truly appreciate how this project allowed us to delve into our personal lives and connect the concepts we have discussed in class to an interactive activity. Throughout my college experience, I have never had such an intimate assignment to complete or share with others before. My assignments tend to consist of typical papers, midterms, quizzes, and final exams, with a few creative art projects here and there. This has been the first project that has solely been about me and my family. It felt great being able to share my grandmother's stories and simultaneously show others how far my family has come.
Before visiting Bayside Community Center, I had pictured the place to be similar to the Gary and Mary West Center in downtown. I was surprised to walk in and see that instead of being a center with different rooms, sections, and floors, the site was more like a recreation center, similar to my elementary and middle school multi-purpose rooms. I thoroughly enjoyed doing Zumba for the first time, especially with the elders. They had such great rhythm and really knew how to dance! Although I am not very good at dancing or following step by step moves, I quickly realized that it did not matter if you were a great dancer or not. Just being able to move to the music and have fun with it was a blast! Additionally, being able to see and take part in the potluck the seniors held was another great aspect of the visit. It was interesting to see how everyone brought their homemade dishes and was so willing to share food with one another, including us. One of the ladies I had a chance to speak with was actually from Minneapolis, Minnesota and joined one of her friends in visiting the center that day. She was extremely kind and told me about her career as a Nurse Practitioner as well as how she believed that Public Health is a field we are truly in need of and will come to benefit the future of society. Another lady I spoke with had moved to San Diego in the 1960s from St. Louis, Missouri and raised her family here. It was such a cool coincidence that she has multiple relatives, including her son, who attended UCSD and so she had a lot to talk about with us regarding our college experience and the six college system.
For our fourth class meeting, we reviewed the novel, Selling the Fountain of Youth. Upon reading this work, I was shocked to see how easily society was pulled into using products presented to them in the desperate attempt to look young. The way men slathered creams on themselves such as ones with testosterone that rubbed off on women during sexual activity and caused the women to grow hair on parts of their bodies that did not have any to begin with shocked me to see that this occurrence was just brushed off as no big deal. I have always been aware of all the anti-aging products out on the market along with various procedures that exist to get rid of wrinkles on your face, laser away cellulite, and many more. However, I did not realize how easily I bought into the idea that you could put off aging with easy procedures if you had the desire. From personal experience, one thing I enjoy doing is watching YouTube videos, specifically, ones in the beauty field that feature all types of beauty gurus that provide makeup, hair, skin, and various product tutorials. I enjoy seeing and learning how girls apply makeup and go through various beauty routines to improve their skin so that I may pick up tips on how to alter my routine. On the other hand, after reading this book, I remembered how time and time again, these beauty gurus recommend using eye creams and other anti-wrinkle creams on your face to start preventing any sign of aging while you're still young. I believe that this reoccurrence reflects just how prominent this market is among younger and younger cohorts.
Upon pulling up to Casa de Manana, I immediately noticed that the venue looked like a resort with its beach front view, beautiful architecture, and immense size. It was funny to me how I have walked by Casa de Manana numerous times while visiting La Jolla Cove, but I had always assumed that it was a hotel or resort of some sort that travelers stayed in while on vacation. I was shocked to discover that their prices to rent a unit ranged from $3,300 to $11,000 a month. The rate for a unit is higher than the price of an apartment here in La Jolla! One thing I did take away from walking throughout the establishment was its beauty. Every room was designed in such a grandeur manner including the library with its large windows overlooking the water, the rooms designed for gatherings with their unique chairs, and dining area that looked more like a banquet hall. Another aspect I thoroughly enjoyed about our visit was being able to speak and interact with the elders living at Casa de Manana. They were so enthusiastic to see us, hear about our lives, and share intimate details about their lives. It was amazing to hear about their families and witness how their eyes lit up when they spoke of their children. I was also glad to hear that they were all so happy with making the choice to live at Casa de Manana and how it seemed to fit into just what they needed. After hearing about the residents' lives, it made me reflect upon my future. I never considered living on one of these communities because in my culture, grandparents always live in their own home or with one of their children's families. However, seeing how this establishment acts as a community for a cohort of elders to come together and build strong relationships with one another has shown me that there are other options out there for life after retirement.
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Monique SimArchives
June 2018
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