The lecture for this week was very brief and quick because we only went over a few topics during the class. First, we made sure that everything was going smoothly for the upcoming events especially the dance that was coming up on Friday at Casa de Manana. It was unfortunate that small Oscar trophy could not arrive on time for the Oscar theme in Case de Manana. As the Senior Dance for Gary & Mary West Senior center, we were looking for donations from restaurants that could be used as a gift for seniors in the center because they would be pleased and happy if they have something that they could spend to buy some extra food. I have been to Starbucks and McDonald’s, but both of these places could not give out any vouchers or small gifts because either they did not have enough profit or their managers were not here. What I learned was that going on the weekend to these restaurants might not be a good idea because people in charge would be less likely to be presented. We also updated our progress of NAP that would be due next week. Our group had gone to Barrio Logon two times, and we took the checklists with us to ensure that we were on the right track. People living in the neighborhood were amicable and welcoming when we made our visits, and some were willing to share their exciting stories with us. NAP is an interesting project because it actually allows students to go into the neighborhood and experience the culture and environment of the community.
For this week, we went over many things during this lecture. First, each of us reflected on what they thought about the previous site visit. After reflection, our group had to present our book. Everything went smoothly, and we were delighted that people participated and answered our discussion questions. Despite doing the presentation about this book, I actually prefer the other book because of shocking details about the anti-aging industry that were explained in the previous book. I found it interesting to read and discover many things that I did not know in the first place. Overall, both books offer many insights to the reader, and each book has its uniqueness.
Many people presented their oral projects, and I was very excited to hear the stories of their Extraordinary Person. Everyone’s project is very creative. Doing this project enriches the relationship between our EPs and us. For me, I have learned a lot of things from my grandma, and she was pleased that she could help me to do my homework simply by telling her stories. My grandma is a very energetic person, but all her kids and grandkids do not live with her. Therefore, she is very glad that I have the time to talk to her and listen to her concerns. It is almost the end of the quarter, and there are many projects that are coming up. Both HAP and NAP can take a lot of time to prepare and finally put everything together. However, both projects will worth the time and effort at the end because I am sure that it would teach me many valuable skills and lessons. Visiting Bayside Community Center was a very eye-opening experience for me. It is inspiring to hear the story of this community center, and I am glad that they have made it through. After hearing them talking about the process of how they got out of debt and started building a new charter school that would serve the community, I was amazed at how everything turned out the way it was right now. It was interesting to learn that they were in debt at first, but all of sudden, they had an agency to support them to build an elementary school.
We also got a chance to learn Zumba afterward for approximately an hour. Zumba was such a complicated dance to learn. However, it was undeniable that Zumba was a fun experience for me because I got to exercise and moved around on that day. Just a few minutes of Zumba felt like 30-minute exercise to me. After Zumba, we also got a chance to sit down and talk to other people who were part of this neighborhood. This neighborhood sounded like a family to me because everyone supported each other, and some people were willing to take out loans to keep this community center from shutting down. This is what makes Linda Vista a friendly neighborhood to live in. Every staff working in there is passionate and dedicated to his or her job. In addition, I am surprised to hear about the diverse demographic of the Linda Vista. It sounds like that this is a very friendly and welcoming neighborhood, and everyone living in here works together for the same goal. We first went over Selling Fountains of Youth presentation during the first hour of lecture. The first group did a great job of touching upon each topic that has covered in the book and also asked great questions that encouraged discussion. I would recommend this book to my other friends because it just opens up a new perspective to many of us. Despite the fact that this book only brings out the evidence that the author believes is important, it is a very interesting story that delivers a unique view of the anti-aging industry that people in our age often neglect. I enjoy reading this book because it gives out different interesting stories behind this specific industry.
After the presentation, we divided up into three committees to go over our plan for our upcoming events. The theme that the decoration group came up was very creative, and I cannot wait for the actual event to come up. There were several obstacles that we faced when trying to come up activities. First, we realized that we should reach out to the dance organizations on our campus to see who would be willing to help out in our event. Second, we should also think about what dance would be ideal that would encourage participation. Besides talking about the upcoming event, half of the class also presented their oral projects. Everyone had his or her unique experiences. After hearing different stories from other people, I realized that everyone was extraordinary in his or her way. Their experiences in the past all sounded fascinating and interesting to explore. As we headed toward Case de Manana Retirement Home locating in La Jolla, the building itself and the location are just stunning and beautiful. This is a wonderful place for elders to spend their retirement, but the minimum cost for living here is $3300 per month. I am not very good at remembering numbers, but hearing about the cost is enough to let this number to stay in my brain for a pretty long time. The fancy hallway led us to the community room and the library. The library that faces the ocean, the exceptional restaurant for elders to enjoy their daily meals, each rose that represents each individual, and every design in Case de Manana attract people and make them feel warm and comfortable to be living here during retirement. This place gave us way too many surprises in one day.
When talking to one of the elders in a small group, I learned that she was the Dean of Women when she was young. She was such a lovely and energetic lady that all of us were very surprised to know that she was already 90. She taught me the importance of history and how we have come very far to have all the resources that are available to us. Back in her time, she could not even purchase her own house without her brother’s name because her husband had passed away. It is my first time talking about an elder who was perhaps involved or presented in the famous event that was documented in our history. Hearing her story was fascinating, and even now, the idea of aging does not stop her from pursuing something she enjoys. Gary and Mary West Senior Center has limited resources and funding to help every elder. Some elders can easily pay their rent every month, but some struggle in food insecurity. Comparing with Gary and Mary West Center, Case De Manana offers better resources for elders. In addition, what I realize is that Case De Manana even has their own club, and staff welcome feedbacks and suggestion from residents. However, it is undeniable that both places create a very welcoming community for many elders. Both places broadened my perspectives because I have never visited retirement home before. I have seen elders in nursing homes, but spending the rest of the time in a nursing home can be very miserable for elders because they prefer being independent. Therefore, as long as they have a comfortable home in which they can always go back, many elders would be very happy about it regardless where they live. |
Ruoyi NiArchives
June 2018
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