Janet begins to talk about Spain and how lovely the plazas are. As I try to finish sketching the MTS sign that looks more T.V. than bus, I realize that listening is really all part of the community building process. After quickly jotting down some notes about transportation, I begin to see the intent bubbling from under her words. Janet isn’t just talking about a favored vacation from days of yore—she’s telling us what and why she admired the Spanish built environment. It’s because it’s conducive to intergenerational interaction.
Strangely enough, coming back to Casa de Manana felt like coming home. It felt almost familiar and safe as I walked down the lobby and met up once again with Janet. I’m really pleased that I’m getting the hang of it—talking to people and finding the right words to say. Talking to Janet and Bill made me feel at ease. There’s something about talking to elders—they’re not rushed and when you stop and talk to them, you begin to reflect about your own life and think, “Well, maybe all the things I’m stressing about aren’t too bad. Everything will work out in the end. After all, I’ve made it this far, and there’s still such a long way to go.”
With each year of my education, I’m discovering things that I cherish, And this year, I find that I am rediscovering how exciting and precious life can be. Usually, it can be a drag with the quarter system and the heavy demand of assignment after assignment, but when it comes down to it, life goes by faster than we realize. After this class, I am considering joining the intergenerational club that Jessica and John are part of. There is still so much I don’t understand.
Indeed, after wrapping up our discussions with the seniors, our carpool group decided to take a quick walk at the shores that bordered Casa de Manana. Sometimes you can’t just live life through a book or classroom but you actually have to go out and see it for yourself—to taste and touch everything to really understand what’s truly at stake.
**after-note: it was so touching to hear all the elders express their hope in our generation. It made me want to live up to all their grand expectations. It also made me realize that all these seniors truly crave is to still be a part of our society, to see what the people of tomorrow are planning to change. they want to belong, they still want to contribute
Strangely enough, coming back to Casa de Manana felt like coming home. It felt almost familiar and safe as I walked down the lobby and met up once again with Janet. I’m really pleased that I’m getting the hang of it—talking to people and finding the right words to say. Talking to Janet and Bill made me feel at ease. There’s something about talking to elders—they’re not rushed and when you stop and talk to them, you begin to reflect about your own life and think, “Well, maybe all the things I’m stressing about aren’t too bad. Everything will work out in the end. After all, I’ve made it this far, and there’s still such a long way to go.”
With each year of my education, I’m discovering things that I cherish, And this year, I find that I am rediscovering how exciting and precious life can be. Usually, it can be a drag with the quarter system and the heavy demand of assignment after assignment, but when it comes down to it, life goes by faster than we realize. After this class, I am considering joining the intergenerational club that Jessica and John are part of. There is still so much I don’t understand.
Indeed, after wrapping up our discussions with the seniors, our carpool group decided to take a quick walk at the shores that bordered Casa de Manana. Sometimes you can’t just live life through a book or classroom but you actually have to go out and see it for yourself—to taste and touch everything to really understand what’s truly at stake.
**after-note: it was so touching to hear all the elders express their hope in our generation. It made me want to live up to all their grand expectations. It also made me realize that all these seniors truly crave is to still be a part of our society, to see what the people of tomorrow are planning to change. they want to belong, they still want to contribute