Stephane + Old Ppl
Nov. 2nd, 2010 08:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bitchy_merlin"Let's go with "protection civile" (the civil defense service Swiss men are required to do if they don't serve a military duty - ed.) because I just recently did it. The first week was all theory as we learned how to do things, and during the second week we worked. We had to care for old people, it was the first time for me to be so close to old people, people who couldn’t talk, or move, or remember anything. Some of them couldn’t move their arms and we had to feed them, and help them go outside. It was so far from skating and from anything I’ve done until now. But I really enjoyed it. I saw that even if someone cannot speak, and doesn't remember anything; if his heart is beating, there are still emotions. And that you can make a difference; make his life more interesting just with a smile or with a word. We sang together, we had a very good time... I gave them something and got a lot in return. This experience gave me so much; you cannot imagine how much I matured that week.
Did they know who you were?
Some people knew. But with most of the people there, if you say "I'm Stéphane, the figure skater", they will answer "Ah, ok", but in 10 minutes you have to tell them again: "Hi, my name is Stéphane, I'm here to help you, I'm the figure skater". But I was not there as the skater, I was just there... You know, old people like to talk, and I listened to what they had to say.
Is your service finished now or will you need to do some more?
These were two weeks when you have to learn. And then every year you have to do three more days. I think you can choose where you want to serve, but I want to go back to the same place where I worked, because now I have bonds with the people there. They won't remember me, but I remember them and I want to see how they are doing. It was really sad to say goodbye to them on the last day."
OMG STEPHANE. Y SO PRESH? TEARS IN MY EYES RN.
Sauce
Did they know who you were?
Some people knew. But with most of the people there, if you say "I'm Stéphane, the figure skater", they will answer "Ah, ok", but in 10 minutes you have to tell them again: "Hi, my name is Stéphane, I'm here to help you, I'm the figure skater". But I was not there as the skater, I was just there... You know, old people like to talk, and I listened to what they had to say.
Is your service finished now or will you need to do some more?
These were two weeks when you have to learn. And then every year you have to do three more days. I think you can choose where you want to serve, but I want to go back to the same place where I worked, because now I have bonds with the people there. They won't remember me, but I remember them and I want to see how they are doing. It was really sad to say goodbye to them on the last day."
OMG STEPHANE. Y SO PRESH? TEARS IN MY EYES RN.
Sauce
