初次探訪波士頓的老人院 My First Nursing Home Visit in Boston

撰文: 陳慧盈 Chin Hui Ying, on July 17, 2010

English translation: Dheera Venkatraman

從密西根大學畢業後，我已經好久沒有參與慈濟探訪老人院的活動。接到波士頓慈青的邀請，七月十七日下午，我很興奮地搭上地鐵，走了一小段酷熱的路程，來到了座落於波士頓中國城的「中華頤養院」。
After graduating from the University of Michigan, it has been a long time since my last nursing home visit organized by Tzu Chi. After receiving an event invitation from Boston Tzu Ching, on July 17 I excitedly set off on the subway, and soon enough after a short walk through the torrid heat, I reached the South Cove Nursing Home in Chinatown.

這所老人院是慈濟波士頓聯絡處每兩個月一次的例行探訪。當我抵達時，幾十位老菩薩已經興奮地濟濟一堂。雖然他們大部分都坐著輪椅，卻依然笑容可掬地歡迎所有志工，而志工們也很快地在一旁做好上場表演的準備。
Tzu Chi Boston holds visits this nursing home routinely every two months. When I arrived, the room was already filled with excited grandpas and grandmas who were eagerly awaiting our arrival. Even though most of the seniors were in wheelchairs, they welcomed all Tzu Chi volunteers with big and welcoming smiles.

司儀雪芬阿姨是一位發心的菩薩，已經在這所老人院當了十幾年志工，為老菩薩們帶來許多歡笑。雪芬阿姨用流利的粵語和現場的爺爺奶奶互動，氣氛好熱烈，也很輕鬆，她的拿手粵語歌曲「楚留香」贏得了滿堂彩，連九十四歲的馬婆婆都豎起拇指說:「I like it! (我喜歡) 」。
The event hostess Regina Tsoi is a committed volunteer who has brought laughter and smiles to this nursing home for over 10 years as a volunteer. In interacting with the seniors, her fluent Cantonese brought a warm and relaxing atmosphere to the place. Her special Cantonese song "Chu Liuxiang" won unstopping applauses of everyone: even a 94-year-old grandma had her thumbs up saying: "I like it".

素有波士頓慈濟金嗓子之稱的歐陽珊師姑，才剛從台灣返回波士頓三天，雖然喉嚨有點不舒服，卻不願失去為老人家「獻唱」的機會，與同修黃崇校師伯、女兒黃韻玲現場表演好幾首動聽的鄧麗君金曲。當歌聲悠揚地縈迴著現場，所有的志工都很貼心地替老菩薩按摩，就像是為家中的爺爺奶奶按摩一樣地溫柔善解。雖然大部分的志工並不懂得粵語，但愛心早已跨越了所有的語言障礙。

There was also the golden voice of Kim Huang, who had just come back from Taiwan three days ago. Her throat had not yet fully recovered from the trip, yet she did not want to lose the opportunity to entertain our senior friends. Accompanied by her husband George Huang and their daughter Yun-Ling Huang, they performed many songs of Taiwanese pop idol Teresa Teng. As their melodious voices filled the room, all the volunteers helped massage the elderly, much like grandchildren in the warm and gentle environment of a home. Even though most of our volunteers were not able to speak Cantonese, their spirit of compassion was able to transcend all language boundaries.

我真的很感恩有這樣的福緣參與這次 精彩又有意義的活動。
I am truly thankful and fortunate to have this opportunity to participate in such a meaningful event.