Very back-dated entry about class CIP. It was... well... ok.

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We did our class CIP at a hospice. It is quite interesting to be doing CIP there, knowing that CIP is commonly typified as an activity at an old folks home or orphanage or like-wise. Personally, I did none of my CIP hours at a hospice. Instead, I helped out at non-profit theatre companies as being passionate in theatrical arts, I enjoyed doing so. It was truly a very different experience. Though honestly, I would not say this experience has been a huge eye-opener for me, neither was it so enriching it "changed my life" whatsoever, but I feel it was a worthy experience and did make me think a little more about the elderly in the community.

The old folks home was nicely done up, offering a very cosy and homely atmosphere. We met the elderly folks upon our arrival at the home. They were mostly congregated in the main room; a couple looked chirpy to have our company, but most appeared rather grouchy and just laid back in their seats, resting. The old folks looked like any old folk you see around – face plagued with wrinkles, grey and sere their hair had become, hunched backs. They were just about any old folk you see in your neighbourhood, around void decks and community centres, except different. It seemed their limited life expectancy had brought a cloud of sadness over them; it was quite elusive, you could not quite put a finger on what, but they just seemed sad.

We performed a couple of under-rehearsed songs for them. The few enthusiastic ones clapped along and nodded encouragingly. It definitely helped boost our morale. Even a small smile from our audience helped to ease our embarrassment of our pathetic performance by a little. However, there were also those who continued to have a sullen look plastered on their faces. I mean, there aren't to blame, we were in a way merely disrupting their pace. Truly, thinking about it, there was not much we could do to help them in that short span of time, and indeed we did not do much.

Through this activity, I personally feel we did not exactly leave much of an impact on those old folks, much less a change. I guess for them, many other batches of students have came and went, and it does not change anything. Maybe that few moments of company might have cheered them up a little, might have eased their pain a little, might have brought a little light into their lives. Conversely, it might even have made them more upset – knowing youth has long left them; maybe we reminded them of their children, which they might not seen in a while? I do not know what impact our visit has brought to them; I will never know.

But this experience did arouse a sense of empathy in me. It pained my heart to see those old folks being left at the hospice. Perhaps their families really did not have the ability to care for them, and having them there was actually a good thing, but it was still sad to see the longing in the elderly's eyes to return home, to their families. I remember how gleefully an old man reacted when he was told his children were visiting that week end. It is saddening.

I guess this experience has taught me to be more aware and more caring towards the elderly in our community in general. Many a time we just dismiss them conveniently because of our busy schedules and fast-paced lives. It harshly reminded me of the numerous times I cancelled plans with my grandparents because I had a humungous pile of work, or I had to catch up with my friends, or I had a theatre production to catch, or merely selfishly wanted the time to myself.

So through this experience, I will say even though I did not help the elderly at the hospice greatly, they did help me instead by giving me some takeaway. It did serve as an epiphany to be more humane and more sensitive to the old folks in our society and to acknowledge their presence with care and concern. Also, very importantly, to treasure those around me more – both the old and young – and not to take anyone for granted.

Very back-dated entry about class CIP. It was... well... ok.

----------------------

We did our class CIP at a hospice. It is quite interesting to be doing CIP there, knowing that CIP is commonly typified as an activity at an old folks home or orphanage or like-wise. Personally, I did none of my CIP hours at a hospice. Instead, I helped out at non-profit theatre companies as being passionate in theatrical arts, I enjoyed doing so. It was truly a very different experience. Though honestly, I would not say this experience has been a huge eye-opener for me, neither was it so enriching it "changed my life" whatsoever, but I feel it was a worthy experience and did make me think a little more about the elderly in the community.

The old folks home was nicely done up, offering a very cosy and homely atmosphere. We met the elderly folks upon our arrival at the home. They were mostly congregated in the main room; a couple looked chirpy to have our company, but most appeared rather grouchy and just laid back in their seats, resting. The old folks looked like any old folk you see around – face plagued with wrinkles, grey and sere their hair had become, hunched backs. They were just about any old folk you see in your neighbourhood, around void decks and community centres, except different. It seemed their limited life expectancy had brought a cloud of sadness over them; it was quite elusive, you could not quite put a finger on what, but they just seemed sad.

We performed a couple of under-rehearsed songs for them. The few enthusiastic ones clapped along and nodded encouragingly. It definitely helped boost our morale. Even a small smile from our audience helped to ease our embarrassment of our pathetic performance by a little. However, there were also those who continued to have a sullen look plastered on their faces. I mean, there aren't to blame, we were in a way merely disrupting their pace. Truly, thinking about it, there was not much we could do to help them in that short span of time, and indeed we did not do much.

Through this activity, I personally feel we did not exactly leave much of an impact on those old folks, much less a change. I guess for them, many other batches of students have came and went, and it does not change anything. Maybe that few moments of company might have cheered them up a little, might have eased their pain a little, might have brought a little light into their lives. Conversely, it might even have made them more upset – knowing youth has long left them; maybe we reminded them of their children, which they might not seen in a while? I do not know what impact our visit has brought to them; I will never know.

But this experience did arouse a sense of empathy in me. It pained my heart to see those old folks being left at the hospice. Perhaps their families really did not have the ability to care for them, and having them there was actually a good thing, but it was still sad to see the longing in the elderly's eyes to return home, to their families. I remember how gleefully an old man reacted when he was told his children were visiting that week end. It is saddening.

I guess this experience has taught me to be more aware and more caring towards the elderly in our community in general. Many a time we just dismiss them conveniently because of our busy schedules and fast-paced lives. It harshly reminded me of the numerous times I cancelled plans with my grandparents because I had a humungous pile of work, or I had to catch up with my friends, or I had a theatre production to catch, or merely selfishly wanted the time to myself.

So through this experience, I will say even though I did not help the elderly at the hospice greatly, they did help me instead by giving me some takeaway. It did serve as an epiphany to be more humane and more sensitive to the old folks in our society and to acknowledge their presence with care and concern. Also, very importantly, to treasure those around me more – both the old and young – and not to take anyone for granted.