Mostly, disabled people are discriminated by other people. However, they are also human beings and who also live the same as normal people. They just need some help to do something. I have one unforgettable memory. I went to a shelter for disabled people. I went there to take care of them and it was just for my community services for my schoolwork. I have learned a lot from them and I want to share it with others as well. When I was 14 years old, I went to a place, which was for disabled people. It was during holidays and it was for filling up my community service hours.
I stayed there for 3days and 2nights and my sister also accompanied me. That was the first time that I met people who were not able to live alone. When I arrived there, I saw a lot of students. One nurse called all of us to come in to the hall. She explained about disabled people and she warned what we should not do and what we should care about them. All of the students were divided into different groups. Each groups has their own work to do. I took a part of counseling, playing or talking and cooking for them. I was uncomfortable and scared.
I wanted to give up and just get away from this place at the first time. It was really different with my perception. One of them saw me and he called me to talk with him. I wanted to keep a distance with them but I just sat next to him and talked. It was my job to do. I was so surprised and I felt guilty a lot after I talked with him. I realized that all these people are same as me and other people. They live just like us. They think just like us too. They are more intelligent than us in one part such as calculating in mind. I was ashamed of myself that I lived in a small box.
Actually, we are all the same human beings under the sky. I treated them better than before after I had a conversation with him. I did not even think that a disabled person would teach me about them. Even though, they made mistake and they did something wrong to me, I did not care and I understood them. My notion became totally different. They seemed they are sad because they cannot do what they want to do. After working hard, I did not know that time flew that much. It was time to go to the bed. I recall everything what I have done for the first day.
I was proud of myself and I was excited for the next day. Next morning, I woke up earlier than the other students because I needed to cook for disabled people. It was the first and the last time that I cooked that much of quantity. People who are not comfortable must be aware of food; so all the food was good for health. I watched them eating and my eyes became like an eagle’s eyes. I had to see them carefully. I knew that it is not easy to take care all of them at once, so I was so impressed with my parents. After breakfast, they had a nap. It was the first time to take a break for me since the first day.
I was so tired but I could not rest a lot. I went to prepare a bath for them. I think it was the hardest work to do. I helped one grandmother to take a bath. Her skin was softer than me and she looked so young. She said she liked to decorate herself. Actually, it was not taking a bath herself. It was just my job to do. She tried to clean but she does not have enough strength and she does not know how to do. While I helped her to take a bath, I felt like I became a mother of one baby. I also knew that it is not easy to clean the other’s body and I thought of my mother.
Suddenly, I had a lump in my throat. She saw my eyes and she hugged me without any words. I was comfortable in her arms. I felt that she understands everything what I thought about. In the late afternoon, most of the disabled people showed us their skills. We had a concert with them. I was so surprised that they can sing or play instrument. I think they are better than me. We had fun in the hall and we went to each room. I could not recall today because I just fell asleep after I lay down. On the last day, there were not much jobs to do. I just cooked as usual and had a breakfast with them.
We packed our staff after breakfast and it was time to say goodbye with them. I hugged with my friends who became close with me. They are my friends now. They were my friends since when I arrived that place. One of my friends came to me and gave a bracelet. She was the person who hugged me when I cried. Some of them cried a lot. Some of them just smiled. Some of them were just looking at us. But I could read their mind. I do not know how I did it but I just could do it. I think they accepted me as their friend so I could read their mind. It is not sure but I want to believe and think like this.
