Music at the Home

Last week at the Veterans’ Home I had a lot of fun.  The musicians that came were the same ones from last month so it was a little boring but we found a way to have a good time.  When I first arrived, the two people I volunteer with and I had some time to kill before the event started so we sat in the lobby and talked with one of the musicians.   It was really nice because we all had played instruments before and we were talking about our experiences.  It made me realize how much I miss playing in my high school orchestra (I always swore I would never miss that)!

             After a while of talking about our pasts it was time for us to go get residents for the event.  We ended up in a conversation with a group of men for a good while.  One guy told us that his cousin was the original guy that sang “Jingle Bell Rock”!  We thought it was really awesome! As much as we enjoyed the conversation, we had things we were supposed to be doing and it was rather hard to get out of the conversation.

            As we were leaving to go to another wing of the Veterans’ Home we asked a man if he wanted to come to the show.  He looked at us and began to cry.  It was really hard for me to watch.  It turns out that he was just having a bad day.  We ended up convincing him to come listen to the music and he had a good time.  It was really nice knowing that we helped cheer him up.

            Although we had already heard the show before it was still entertaining.  The musician that we talked to before the show brought a really cool guitar.  It looked like a shark and had a built in amplifier!  It was a really good day at the Veterans’ Home.

Busy Schedules

It has only been two weeks since I have been at the Veterans’ Home but it feels like much longer!  I cannot believe how much of a routine it has become.  If I remember correctly, tomorrow night at the Veterans’ Home should be live entertainment.  This is one of my favorite nights because we just get to sit there and listen to the music.  It is very relaxing after a stressful day at school!  It is also nice to see how much the residents like the music.  Last time the band came the singer sang the song “You are my sunshine”.  While singing, she went around, held each resident’s hand one at a time, and got him or her to sing with her.  It was really nice to watch. 

            Last week was probably the most stressful week I’ve had so far at Purdue.  Because of a Calculus exam I was not able to volunteer at the Veterans’ Home.  I really enjoy volunteering and I wish I did not have to miss last week but it is becoming very hard to juggle everything.  I am starting to get stressed by the mandatory thirty hours.  It really has been a hard transition from home to college mostly because I do not have a car.  Instead of being able to go somewhere whenever I want I have to plan out how I am going to get to and from where I want to go.  Volunteering would be so much easier if I could drive myself there!  When I volunteer on Monday nights I rely on the girl I work with to take me home.  I always have that worry that she will not show up one week and I will not know how to get home!  Thankfully everything always turns out fine! (: I hope everyone’s service work is still going well! 

Black Jack

Because of Fall Break I wasn’t able to volunteer at the Veterans’ Home last week.  I was kind of bummed because it was the ice cream social which I really enjoyed working the first time.  There will be more in the future so it’s okay.  Two weeks ago we played black jack and that was a lot of fun.  There were not enough residents at my table so I got to play with them while my friend was the dealer.  We would help the residents make their decisions and get really excited when we would beat the dealer.  Unfortunately I was not the best at black jack and lost.  Good thing it was only for fun!  After the game was over I walked a lady back to her room.  She really enjoyed black jack and even won at the other table! When we got to her room she had me put her prize on her shelf and showed me around her room.  I had somewhere to be so I felt bad telling her I had to go but when I did she hugged me goodbye and told me she loved me.  It was really sweet! 

            I really enjoy volunteering at the Veterans’ Home and getting to interact with the residents but I also really enjoy the people that volunteer with me.  It’s nice to be able to go and have a good time with people that are also students at Purdue.  I am the youngest volunteer in my group so they all give me tips and help when it comes to college.  Meeting them made things less stressful for me because they now give me rides and make me feel comfortable.  This English class is what led me to the volunteering at the Veterans’ Home but I will probably stick with it even after the class is over.  I have to miss volunteering again this week because of a math exam but I am anxious to get back next week!  I will keep you all updated! (: