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Recognize Blessings by Loving Others

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Tuesday December 3rd, 2019

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  Grade 10 students visit Nursing Home

The morning has just started, but the hall at the Budi Mulia 2 Nursing Home was filled with bright smiling faces. Excitement filled the air and the happy faces of the elderlies made a warm welcome for our Tzu Chi School students. 74 students from Grade 10, lead by Ms Temmy Arisanti visited the Budi Mulia 2 Nursing Home in Cengkareng, West Jakarta on 21 November 2019.


“When I arrived, I felt so happy that I could be here, I hope our visit could cheer them up,” said Vanessa Lai, 10 Love.
Ms Temmy and Mr Gunawan who lead the gathering asked the grandparents in the hall, “Opa… oma… how are you today?” They answered enthusiastically, “Good!”. Even Mr Gunawan sang a couple of songs by Indonesia legendary band Koes Plus, which managed to make some grandmas came up to the front and danced together.


For some, a one day visit might be short, but it is hoped to be able to bring not only smiles to the people at the nursing home, but also leave wonderful memories. Our students danced, sang, and presented a drama performance and visited a couple of different buildings at the nursing
home.


Vanessa Lai with her fellow 10 Graders, the teachers, and Tzu Chi volunteers, sang the ‘Satu Keluarga’ song which was a favourite among the elders. There are currently 336 old people living at the Budi Mulia 2 Nursing Home and while most of them are still in a relatively good health and able to go up and about easily, some aren’t.


Our students took turns in between their classes to visit the different buildings, one of which housed the sick ones who are tied to their beds. “I felt very sad when I saw their condition, but when we see people who are sick, the most important thing for us to do is to give them encouragement so that they feel better,” said Vannesa Lai.


See suffering and recognize blessings ~ Jing Si Aphorism


A couple of days before the visit, our Grade 10 students gathered at the Xi Shi Ting hall to prepare themselves to meet these old folks. On this occasion, Ms Yessie Christina, a Tzu Chi volunteer who’s been long involved in Tzu Chi’s charity activities shared some of her thoughts based on her experience. “The first and foremost, you have to protect their hearts, you may feel uncomfortable being around them, but you must now show them,” said Yessie Christina.


Ms Christina has been a volunteer since 2007, as a part of Tzu Chi community, she feels thankful for being able to help others and see the world bigger, “I can see the world with a bigger perspective now, this allows me to feel gratitude at all times.”

 

She also added that, a visit to a nursing home shall be planned well, “It’s good to talk and discuss with the caretaker to see what they like, so we can suit the activities with their likings.” Vanessa Lai also said that, this trip made her feel grateful for her family even more, “This reminded me to love them when I can, and to see and talk to my grandma more often, since she must be bored at home.”


Such reflection weren’t just felt by the student, but also the teacher. Mr Jefri Oliver, Secondary Math Teacher and Homeroom tutor for Grade 10 Love said it was his first time visiting a nursing home, “I have never been before, and I was so nervous on how to act or to speak since I am trying to not offend them,” said Mr Oliver.


For him, it was an eye-opening experience, “Some of them were old and poorly but to my surprise, most of them are relatively healthy and are in good spirit, that amazed me,” he added.


Mr Oliver hoped, through this trip his students can also feel what he felt after this trip, “I am hoping later our students will realise to love their family more and appreciate every single moment they can have together,” said Mr Oliver.