Happy Me!
Just stepped home from Hollywood Senior Citizens Village.. Today was my first day volunteering there, as a tea lady primarily. I was supposed to reach at 930, decided to be early than late, and reached about 925 am. When I stepped in, there were already about 4 people sitting in the recreation room, waiting for tea to be served. I waited for a staff member to arrive, and then got led into the kitchen, where she (Debbie) taught me how to make tea! We then pushed the trolley into the recreation room, and then she said, " That lady over there is Mrs X, she drinks white coffee" and "That gentleman over there is Mr Y, he drinks tea" and she went on and on! I was like.. I mean, how am I going to remember? Even as I type now, I can barely remember! Then she started pouring out cups of tea and coffee all with milk, and i couldn't even differentiate them. Then guess what she did? She just served them, saying, they will drink anything, and told me to just ask them individually the next time. Sigh! Each of them then got a slice of pizza to eat!
I stood there feeling quite useless as they ate and drank, and then this other lady told me to unload and load the dishwasher.. My first time using the dishwasher. Hee.. And apparently I loaded the cups wrongly.. OOPS! Most of the ladies then told me that they enjoyed tea alot and thanked me for it.. For the little I did, that warrant such gratitude shown, made me feel so honoured, to be able to serve them a simple cup of tea or coffee. My action is almost insignificant, but meant something to them.
I particularly remember this lady. After tea, she asked me where the recreation room was. I was not very sure actually, cos I thought that there could be 2 of them. This kind gentleman cued to me that where we were was indeed the recreation room. I told the lady, "This is it" and she said thanks. I headed off to the kitchen, pushing the trolley back and she walked behind me and came into the kitchen, asking me again where the recreation room was. I brought her to it, and the kind gentleman was still sitting there. That lady asked me once more where the recreation room was, and I repeated myself. THEN, she asked me whether she should sit there and wait for the next activity, I said " Probably so" and you know what? She replied saying, " You mean you dont bloody know?" The gentleman gave me a grin then. As I walked past the room again, I avoided her path of vision, and the gentleman waved me goodbye. I know she didnt mean to be difficult, many of them have poor memory, and have problems with the days even. Maybe I should know the area better and the activities they have lined up after tea!
I headed off to my next destination, Mrs Grace's room. The first time I met her, the volunteer coordinator asked her whether she had anything for me to do, and she said she had loads of dusting to be done. The coordinator was very amused by that and told me that she had never expected her to ask me to do her dusting! I was perfectly fine with that, and was ready to do some spring cleaning, which actually my room requires too. Mrs Grace is a really kind lady. She often said she felt really bad that I had to do her cleaning, and she said, "You have no idea how grateful I am that you can do my dusting" and also "I am so pleased.." I often replied that it was not a problem at all. She felt so bad she couldnt make me a cup of tea cos she was expecting visitors. I couldnt believe it when she told me she was going to turn 98 2 weeks later. She asked me to guess, and I was about to guess 80! Mrs Grace is going to be an elderly I will most probably visit weekly! She said she has more dusting to be done next Sunday!
As i thought about the comments they made, when I served them tea or dusted their furniture, it is just this kind of satisfaction I enjoy and yearn. To be able to help, with my able mind and body, I know, this is something I have always wanted and loved to do. Can't wait for next Sunday!
I stood there feeling quite useless as they ate and drank, and then this other lady told me to unload and load the dishwasher.. My first time using the dishwasher. Hee.. And apparently I loaded the cups wrongly.. OOPS! Most of the ladies then told me that they enjoyed tea alot and thanked me for it.. For the little I did, that warrant such gratitude shown, made me feel so honoured, to be able to serve them a simple cup of tea or coffee. My action is almost insignificant, but meant something to them.
I particularly remember this lady. After tea, she asked me where the recreation room was. I was not very sure actually, cos I thought that there could be 2 of them. This kind gentleman cued to me that where we were was indeed the recreation room. I told the lady, "This is it" and she said thanks. I headed off to the kitchen, pushing the trolley back and she walked behind me and came into the kitchen, asking me again where the recreation room was. I brought her to it, and the kind gentleman was still sitting there. That lady asked me once more where the recreation room was, and I repeated myself. THEN, she asked me whether she should sit there and wait for the next activity, I said " Probably so" and you know what? She replied saying, " You mean you dont bloody know?" The gentleman gave me a grin then. As I walked past the room again, I avoided her path of vision, and the gentleman waved me goodbye. I know she didnt mean to be difficult, many of them have poor memory, and have problems with the days even. Maybe I should know the area better and the activities they have lined up after tea!
I headed off to my next destination, Mrs Grace's room. The first time I met her, the volunteer coordinator asked her whether she had anything for me to do, and she said she had loads of dusting to be done. The coordinator was very amused by that and told me that she had never expected her to ask me to do her dusting! I was perfectly fine with that, and was ready to do some spring cleaning, which actually my room requires too. Mrs Grace is a really kind lady. She often said she felt really bad that I had to do her cleaning, and she said, "You have no idea how grateful I am that you can do my dusting" and also "I am so pleased.." I often replied that it was not a problem at all. She felt so bad she couldnt make me a cup of tea cos she was expecting visitors. I couldnt believe it when she told me she was going to turn 98 2 weeks later. She asked me to guess, and I was about to guess 80! Mrs Grace is going to be an elderly I will most probably visit weekly! She said she has more dusting to be done next Sunday!
As i thought about the comments they made, when I served them tea or dusted their furniture, it is just this kind of satisfaction I enjoy and yearn. To be able to help, with my able mind and body, I know, this is something I have always wanted and loved to do. Can't wait for next Sunday!
posted by yenyen @ 11:28 AM
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