Learning from the Experienced (Generation Gaps)

A few nights ago, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet a few more interesting people in this world. They were friends of the family of my friend and I just so happened to be there when they were called over to eat dinner. Yay, food!

While stepping into a new environment, these people were a few generations older than I was. Their history involved what I learned at school and I was actually very amused with our greetings. I was very shocked to hear that these wonderful people knew the island on which I have spent my 15 years of childhood before moving to the States and the history behind it. Rarely do I have such a surprising encounter. Though I am shy at first, I was able to be myself while chowing down on their delicious food.



Due to the fact that I am a foreigner (somewhat), history was the topic in the dinner table. Honestly, it was truly amazing to learn and hear about the different experiences they had living through the World War (II) from what I've read in text books and lecture notes. Besides my mother, I haven't really heard stories about the past like what I see in movies. That's what it felt like. I felt as if I was in a movie or in a situation where the guy brings home the girl and they all loved her. The feeling of actually being able to talk to someone who knows so much, like a grandparent, is very interesting and fulfilling. I never had the opportunity to speak with my grandparents about their history and what it was like to live life back then. Realizing this, I figured out I had a void in my life, a little hole that I've been wanting to experience and that was to learn from my grandparents. Unfortunately, they all have passed away before I had the chance to realize how much I wanted that connection.

Sometimes as new generations grow, we tend to not really listen to the stories our parents or our grandparents tell us. Sometimes when we do, we don't put the lessons they've learned in account to what we could learn later. I believe it's just natural to have a rebellious side. We all do. However, after experiencing the riveting conversations and learning so much from others, I think it's best to seize the opportunity whenever we can. Though we may not be able to relate to their time with ours, I think it's best to always try to create or strengthen the bond between the generations of the family. I'm not saying that going to grandma's house as a  young child is enough, but every time there is a chance. If not, we could lose the opportunity of learning what life can't teach us now. I believe this will bring happiness within us knowing that we can still enjoy the company of our love ones no matter how old they tend to be.