THERE'S A LESSON EVERYDAY
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There are on many occasions, events that happen which inevitably set us reflecting our thoughts. One such event which I experienced is the recent Entertaining Our Senior Citizens Project held in one of the most prestigious hotels in Malacca, the Ramada Renaissance on the 25th August 1991. This is an annual project by the 'A' Fort Rover Crew and in order to run this project, manpower was needed. As stated in another part of the foreword, I quote, Therefore, it is our duty and privilege as able bodied youth to play the important role of guide and nurse to the elderly, to repay them for always being there when we most needed them, unquote, it is only logical that the source of manpower should stem from schoolchildren. If all of the above seem boring and bears an uncanny resemblance to a dull report, kindly bear with me for I wish to project an image of what the event was like so that what I write later on will have an even better impact.
The project's main objectives is to give underprivileged senior citizens an entertaining afternoon. This was achieved by giving them a lavish 8-course meal kindly sponsored by the numerous patrons and with a few stage performances. The schoolchildren contributed by taking care of them from the moment the senior citizens stepped into the hotel's premises until the time they left. Besides that, the schoolchildren also served them during the luncheon.
To many of us schoolchildren there that day, the event was not that significant. In fact, most of us saw it as opportunity to contribute towards our community and in the process, sacrifice one of our Sundays. To those senior citizens, it was a different ball game altogether. This annual affair was an opportunity of sorts. Firstly, they were treated to a grand meal which is hard to come by. Secondly, they can, perhaps for the first time, walk into a hotel without any fear of embarrassment and with their heads held high. Perhaps too, it was the first time they were welcomed with open arms and without people sneering at them. If you had been there, then perhaps you would realise why the fear of being sneered at would arise.
Please bear in mind that they are underprivileged senior citizens and despite the many years they have slogged, unfortunately, they have not much to show. As the luncheon was by no means a minor affair, they were all dressed in their Sunday's best. (Coincidently, it was indeed a Sunday) Out of the few hundred senior citizens present that day, there were quite a number who were dressed in clothes, in our opinion, which was rather shabby. There was an old Malay man with wheezing cough, who wore a smart green coat over a white Pagoda brand shirt and a sarong. Upon closer observation, I found, to my dismay, his shirt had a few holes in them. It shows how intent he in on looking his best and did so by wearing that green coat. He wore it which such pride and I guessed it must have been one of his few treasures. There were many other similar cases, for instance, there was an old Indian man with a sweater that came with a gaping hole on the right shoulder. If these are examples of the best clothings they have, then we, the spoiled brats of this generation should be utterly ashamed of ourselves not to be satisfied with what we have !
During the luncheon, as I walked by, I overheard snippets of conversations. One of which was between two elderly ladies. "Ini setahun sekali, mesti pakai cantik sikit-lah !" Translated it meant, "This is an annual affair, so we have to dress our best." So many of us are ignorant of the fact that they took pains to look presentable. It reflected on how much they look forward to functions like this and of how determined they are to attend them. So determined are they that a few of them hobbled in on their walking sticks making slow but steady progress. What's more. Some of them have failing eyesight yet this was not a deterrent. These scenes really pricked my conscience and again I realise that suffering and frustrations must have been constant companions over the years. Once, when I was peeling a prawn for an elderly 'Makcik', she commented that even her children do not treat her in this manner. I was so touched by this comment of hers. Imagine, a simple act of peeling a prawn bears so much of significance to them ! Had I not moved aside for a while, I guess I would have tears streaming down my cheeks.
At the end of the function, each senior citizen was given a food package. Again, to us, it may not seem much as it consisted of a few packets of instant noodles, a tin of condensed milk, some chocolates, biscuits and a 'Good Morning' towel along with some other items. To them, this food package means a lot to them and they treat it as a child would his favourite candy; consuming them slowly one by one and relishing in the taste of them. When it was time to leave, we guided them across the road and escorted them to the waiting buses. Just before boarding her bus, one lady I escorted squeezed my hand and turned to look at me with such gratitude that for the second time that day, I was moved to tears. I believe, no looks from any Romeo could ever melt my heart the way my heart melted that day.
To the many people helping out that day, I sincerely hope that their service was not a charade or a show put on for attention's sake. Instead, I hope their willingness to contribute did not end together with the function. How I wished I could give such happiness to these underprivileged folks every single day. In actual fact, I still can, in many small ways that have never struck me until recently. Every little act of kindness on our part, in fact, has a great effect on the receiver. Therefore, I urge all of you to set aside some time and thought for others and let us share and share alike whether it is sharing love or just sharing time. Let us too join our hands to make our society a more caring and sharing one.
by AK L6A6
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