For today's class, we visited the Gary and Mary West Senior Wellness Center. We were introduced to the Center and learned some history about it. We were also provided a tour of the space. I was surprised to learn about the number of resources that the center offered, including free dental care, health care services, exercise classes, meals and a computer lab, because of the size of the space. The inside was actually very spacious and had many different rooms. According to the staff, the dental care services offered at Gary and Mary West Center are one of the very few services that is free in the entire country. I was also surprised to learn that most of the people who visit the center are living below the poverty line. I learned about issues that seniors face in San Diego, which included affordable housing. Housing is so limited and expensive in San Diego which drastically affects seniors the most. The center does an amazing job of taking care of the seniors that visit.
After learning more about the Center, we were then given time to interact with seniors at the space. I got the opportunity to talk to a man named Cherense (I'm not sure if I'm spelling that correctly) and learned about his family and his background. He shared that he came to the United States from the Phillipines, and eventually ended up in San Diego when he was in his 60s. I also learned that he did a lot of farm work when he was younger, and that he has a lot of family in San Diego as well as in places like London. After talking to him, I also joined Victoria in mid-conversation with another woman named Dwaina. She definitely had the life of the party inside of her. She mentioned that we should all go together to Las Vegas sometime and explore. Before I knew it, it was already 11:25pm and it was time to go back to school. I would have loved to talk to more people and listen to their stories, but the time was too short. The visit to the Gary and Mary West Center was one to remember for sure, and I look forward future trips for the class!
After learning more about the Center, we were then given time to interact with seniors at the space. I got the opportunity to talk to a man named Cherense (I'm not sure if I'm spelling that correctly) and learned about his family and his background. He shared that he came to the United States from the Phillipines, and eventually ended up in San Diego when he was in his 60s. I also learned that he did a lot of farm work when he was younger, and that he has a lot of family in San Diego as well as in places like London. After talking to him, I also joined Victoria in mid-conversation with another woman named Dwaina. She definitely had the life of the party inside of her. She mentioned that we should all go together to Las Vegas sometime and explore. Before I knew it, it was already 11:25pm and it was time to go back to school. I would have loved to talk to more people and listen to their stories, but the time was too short. The visit to the Gary and Mary West Center was one to remember for sure, and I look forward future trips for the class!