What I Learned dcook

After spending time with the resdients of the retirement center I learned a avery imporant lesson. That leson was that no matter whatage or stage in life I may be at you can always find youthful joy and happiness in life. For some of the residents that I encountered it was Rummikub that they found a brief moment of joy in. Some had played rummikub in their somewhat earlier years and this served as a gateway that allowed them to travel back to the days of their youth and vibrance. Although it is wuite a different story now that thye have aged and heir bodies can no longer do some of the things that they were used to doing in their earlier years they are able to somewhat enjoy what they once had in the game of Rummiub and gain a sort of peace. I discovered that this is something I need to apply in my own life. In the times that I find myself in dark and infamiliar situations I can always think back to times of happiness and joy and make the best of any sitaution and any circumstance.

Prior Thoughts to Time Spent. dcook

Before I started spending time at the Due West Retirement Center I had soem preconceived notions about what it would be like spending time with retired elderly people. I assumed first of all that it was going to be a very awkward experience for me and even for some of the residents that I migt encounter while being there. Now it was sometimes awkward for me and I am sure it was for them but i learned that if you find a way to relate to soemone they will accept you for what you appear to them to be. Although I was just a college kid assigned to serve and spend time with a group of elderly people I was able to relate through games they played (Rummikub). Another preconceived notion I had was that spending time there would be no fun for me at all. Being the grandon of a retirement center resident back home I have often visied retirement centers and for me they have always been the archetypal symbol for sadness and loneliness. I cam to learn that within those walls is a small community of older folks who find anyway they can to have a little fun even though their age may restrict what they can and cannot do. Even though it is depressing to think of the somewhat lonely life that these folks posses it is clear that I myself had a good time playing rummikub and learning anew game with some elderly counterparts.

field notes 4 dcook

On this day i returned to th Due West Retirement Center determined to improve my new found obsession in Rumikub. Although they only play certain days at 3 o' clock I had spent some time over the week looking up diffeent strategies and different plays that could procure a victory. The first couple rounds of the game I realized that all the startegy and and game plans that I had eveloped were sudenly useless. General Patton, I believe once said, " No battle plan survives contact contact with the enemy." He could not have hit the nail on the head any harder than he did. I spent all that time deeloping a point of attack and plan to thwart my elderly counterparts but all that preparatin was nullified by the experience my fellow rummikub players possessed. I played for quite some time that day but left once again defeated but with a better understanding of what these rsidents use their time doing at the center. They may be cut off from the rest of the world but in the center they have to make due with what they have and have as much fun as they can even though they may never get a visit or call froma family member.

Field Notes Day 3 dcook

On this the tird day that I visited the retirement center I became familiar with a practice that is known and many enjoy within the retirement center and that tradition of pride and competition is rummikub. The game of rummikub is a somewhat complicated game. I was invited to join after observing a certain board game being played by several residents. I had never played nor heard of the game but the residents were avid on teaching me and introducing me to the world of Rummikub. I will not go into a great detail about the game but suffice it to say that I am not the world's greatest rummikub player, in fact i downright stunk. I will say this though, this is more to show how good these players really are, at the end of a round the tiles on everyone's racks are added up, the three players who did not declare rummikub and essentially vistory get that added number subtracted fromm their score but the victor gets the total negative number of all three players added to his own score. The very first round that I played went something like this...my score was negative 33 the other two round loser's scores were negative 3 and negative 1 with the winner possessing a score of positie 37. Needless to say i was both somewhat embarrassed and astounded at how these residents had perfected both their rumikub play and startegy. I left "with my tail between my legs," but determined to come back the next day that they would play.

Field Notes Day 2 dcook

On the second day that I went to the retirement center I spent a little time just trying to find something useful to do. I sat down for a brief time in the sun room trying to get on a more common level with some of the residents. I chatted with several elderly ladies talking more about what is going on outside in the world rather than what is happening inside of the center. I discovered from these two ladies that the residents are somewhat shut out from the rest of the world although some own and watch their own televisions. They also seemed very intrigued with the happenings of the college right down the road so i shared some of the many stories that I have gained by living at Erskine. After staying a while longer talking with a few more elderly residents, just visiting and conversing, I left.

Field Notes Day 1 dcook

My first experience at the Due West Retirement Center consisted mainly of walking through the entire facility. By walking through I was able to become awafre of the type of enviroment that the Due West Retirement Center possesses. My "tour guide" led me through the halls and introduced me to some very interesting characters. I met one man who was a world war 2 veteran, and another woman who was involved in newspapers and even taught for a short time in Egypt. I soon realized that any preconceived notions I might have had about working and spending time at the center might soon be put to the test as the first two people i met had led interestng lives prior to their stay at the center itself. These were two of my more memorable encounters and after that I did not remember many more faces but I am sure that on my next visit things wil become considerably more interesing.

Field Notes Six.DHudSmith

I truly enjoyed my service today.

First, I was conscripted to the task of giving the Bible study. I was grateful for the opportunity. I started by reading from the book that they take all of their studies from. I think it was written for the elderly. I thought it was good. Maybe a bit shallow. Afterwards we read from Jeremiah a passage that I had recently read. It actually fit together pretty well. I stated my thoughts. Several of the ladies (no men) had something to say about it. Then, we were finished. The whole experience was a bit strange. As I read and spoke, I looked out into the OPs faces. Many of the faces were blank. They were not present. Despite my attempt to be loud, I do not think that everyone could hear me. There were two, however, clearly with me. The rest...who knows.

I met a nice lady walking up and down the ramp (a form of exercise which they are allowed to preform solo). At first, she seemed distant. Understandable. To her I was just some random youngin. However, after I told her who I was and why I was there, she treated me as if I were her own grandson. We walked up and down the ramp four times (spending more time than you might expect). She was surprisingly tall. Had she not been slouched with age, she may have been my height. She was so grateful for my company.