Written by Alynpim Kiriyapong, BBA#20
Good Riders BBA Thammasat 20th Anniversary
The luncheon feasted, donating the necessary items and entertaining the elderly at the NakhonPathom Nursing Home, Nakhon Pathom province on Sunday, April 1, 2012 was the sixth of the twenty missions for BBA students.
At first, I have to thank all BBA’s officers for creating an amazing program in which we are given such a great opportunity to share our love, hope, happiness and much more. My friends and I were all excited to meet and take care of the elderly at the NakhonPathom Nursing Home, to share their joy, in our activities. On Sunday, April 1, all of the participants who were BBA’s students, alumni, and officers met up early morning before heading off to the NakornPathom Nursing Home. When we arrived, Ms. Supansa, the caretaker of the nursing home, welcomed us and told us some adorable tricks to show to the elderly.
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As soon as we got inside, my first impression was that the elderly was waiting for us; this made my heart beats faster with the pleasure the excitement. We began by introducing ourselves and entertained them by singing, dancing, playing games, and performing some comedy gags. At first I was a bit embarrassed to sing and dance in front of many people. But when I saw the joy, smile, and happiness on the elderly’s faces and they were clapping hands and laughing, I jilted all my blushing off and got on track toward my goals: sharing warmness, creating happiness, and making it the best I could. After the performance, we had a chance to do Thai dances with elders, while entertaining, talking and sharing the stories of their lives. As it has been said, “Elders are the storytellers, the memory keepers. Elders have earned wisdom to offer guidance and unconditional love. Children are the elder's greatest joy.”
After that, we were assigned to have one elder as a buddy for taking care of the lunch, provided by our BBA program. My buddy was Grandma Daungporn, who had no family left. The only family she has is those in the nursing home. I brought her our noodles, told her some funny stories, serviced her during the meal like wiping her mouth or providing her as much as I could, told her how beautiful she is with the big smile on her face and how valuable our meeting is for me. Grandma and I had a lot in common; during the lunch was the precious time, full of laughing, hugging, also warmth and happiness atmosphere. She gave me the sweetest hug, a bright smile and the spiritual values of precepts. “The oldest trees always bear the sweetest fruit.”
At last, all of the BBA’s participants gathered together and showed our last song “Nok Khao Kuu Rak” (The Doves’ coo as love word) in order to reflect the elderly past memories of love. Surprisingly, the elderly also prepared the song for us. I could feel the grateful feeling everywhere; they sang from their hearts to thanks for our warmness we had shared. This memorable moment gave me the real meaning of this activity, “Warmth can be given to anyone, whether you know a person or not. It is the way to share your feelings and happiness with all those whom you come across on this sacred occasion. You never know; you might make a lonely person smile because of your warmness.”
Then, I have a chance to be one of the BBA’s representative to express feeling toward the visiting to everyone. “This visiting taught me that I, as ordinary person can create such a great happiness for and valuable smile of many others, so glad that I can be parts of the elderly’s joyful moments. Being here, doing the activities made me know that learning in classes is not everything in my life, but giving and sharing to people out there are also the important things I could not omit.”
Thereafter, we donated the necessary items prepared by the BBA’s gift boxes such as bunches of adult diapers, dried food, and some other appliances to the Nursing Home, then we took the pictures together and helped decorated the place for ‘International day for older person’ we all worked tirelessly and great smiles painting on our faces and hearts. We learned that “We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have and share it to others.”
Posted date: April 10, 2012 – 11:10 hrs.
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