Interviews With Old Folks (Grandparents From Mother's Side)

Interviewing My Grandfather.

1. Why are you waiting for death instead of just to kill yourself?
Why do I have to kill myself? I don't see the purpose of killing myself except the God wants me to. Have the chance to live is already worth living. It is not like I have lots of problems that I cannot solve or I am in pain. Being old does not mean your life does not have meaning.

2. Is there any meaning for you to continue your life with pain that you have to suffer?

Yes. Because I hope my children are living happily. Also my grandchildren, too. I have seen a lot of pain and I can live with these pain until now.People do not stop living or end their life because of pain. Life do not contains pain, happiness also. Most important, is to be happy.

3. What motivate you to continue living?
I still have my company to take care of and things waiting for me to do. I can play with my grandchild and be with my spouse. I can also go to the senior center and play with my friends. There is just so many things for me to do that I do not even have to think why should I keep living. Because I am human, that is why I live.

4. Do legacy plays a big role in your life at this point?

Of course. I worked so hard and hoping my family to be happy. All the things that I have and the family that I have right now is my wealth. I worked hard for all these so my descendants can have a better life in the future. The things that I have left, I wish it will pass to the next generation and so on.

5. Are you afraid of death?
No, because I can't be afraid of death. Also, it is something that will happen to everybody. I am old enough and I have seen a lot of dead people in my life. The world is fair, everybody have to die. Why should I even be afraid of it? As long as I can live, I appreciate the days that I have. If death comes, then it just come.

6. Why are you so optimistic about death? What caused that?
I am not optimistic about it. Perhaps it is because I have seen it a lot. When you get old and see more people leaving you. Then you will get use to it and you know the pain. Keep in mind that I am just going to somewhere else. To the place where my mom has went long time ago. I am just meeting her there. I don't see life as the end, it is just a new start. It is just passing it to somebody else. I contribute to the next generation and the next generation should contribute to the next.

7. What do you think the meaning of life for you at this point of life?
Enjoying life. To be with my family, and sometimes going back to my company and manage my business. Sometimes I can go out with my friends and we can drink tea in a nice hotel together. Also I will always be here for my descendants as long as I could.

8. Have you ever thought of tomorrow? Or you are always ready to die?
Of course. People should always have plans. So what if tomorrow is the time for you to die. You still need to have plan. You do not just sit there and waiting for death. Don't think more than you do. You should not always doubt about the future because you never know what will happen tomorrow. Live as long as you could, and don't miss a day or any chance. When you get old, you treat everyday as your last day. And you should expected and get prepared.

9. Did life meet your gratification? Or at this point of your life, what gratify you?

Yes. I have a successful business and I have a great family. I am happy because I have so many people to be with me and we always have big gatherings. Everything is going fine in my life even though it has pain. I have wealth, family, love, and friends. What should I really complain?

10. Have you ever try to fill the generation gap between yourself and your descendant? Or have you ever felt being excluded by the society?

I never felt like I am being excluded by the society because I am old. There is senior center for our old folks to chill and have fun. My children did not leave me alone and always come visit. I don't feel being alone or being excluded. For generation gap, it didn't really bothers me. Even though I do not know so much technology like you guys do, there is always something that we can talk about. It didn't really bother me and I don't feel we are misunderstanding each other. Like every time when you come back from the U.S., there is always something that we can talk about. I don't see it as a gap, is just your generation and mine.

11. What are your responsibilities at this point?

To take care of my family and stay with my wife as long as I can.Hopefully I am not a burden for my descendants. If I can help them, that will be great.

12. Do you like to be old?

Nobody does! But you just have to accepted. Being old is not as bad as you think it is. You don't have to worry so much about it. When it comes, then you'll know how it feels like.

13. Do you have more patience when you are old?

No, because I don't like people who does not how to manage time. When you give me the time, you shouldn't be late. People should have plans and you never should kept people waiting. You have to keep your promise.

14. What is your elderly plan when you are young?
Like all tradition man, have a family and be a nice grandpa and a good husband. Then taking care of my family and hoping to help them as much as can. Be there when they need me.

15. How does it felt to be separated from your own child?

Being old, I expected that I have to let go of my children. So I will always find something to do for myself. Although sometimes I felt lonely when they did not come, I can't do anything. All I can do is to accept this reality.

Interviewing My Grandmother.

1. Why are you waiting for death instead of just to kill yourself?
DID NOT ASK BECAUSE OF CHINESE NEW YEAR. IS PROHIBITED TO TALK ABOUT IT TO CERTAIN PEOPLE ABOUT DEATH AS THE MEANING OF BAD LUCK.

2. Is there any meaning for you to continue your life with pain that you have to suffer?

Life must go on. You should not stop living because of pain. It is all destiny. You born to have a bad life then you just have to accepted. Even though it is the worst, there must be a good side. I have suffer a lot of pain, but who's life is perfect? You just have to accept this and it is not the end of the world.

3. What motivate you to continue living?
My husband and my family. They are part of my life and they motivates me to live. As a mother and a wife, you suppose to take a good care of them for your rest of your life. That is parent's responsibility.

4. Do legacy plays a big role in your life at this point?

Yes, I worked hard and of course it is for my descendants. I cannot bring all the things with me when I am not here anymore. So of course it will pass to my children.

5. Are you afraid of death?
DID NOT ASK BECAUSE OF CHINESE NEW YEAR. IS PROHIBITED TO TALK ABOUT IT TO CERTAIN PEOPLE ABOUT DEATH AS THE MEANING OF BAD LUCK.

6. Why are you so optimistic about death? What caused that?
DID NOT ASK BECAUSE OF CHINESE NEW YEAR. IS PROHIBITED TO TALK ABOUT IT TO CERTAIN PEOPLE ABOUT DEATH AS THE MEANING OF BAD LUCK.

7. What do you think the meaning of life for you at this point of life?
My family. I get used to be a housewife and taking care of my family. There is so many things for me to do in this house, and I don't have the time to think about is there a meaning or not. I just live my life, why even bother to think of the meaning?

8. Have you ever thought of tomorrow? Or you are always ready to die?
DID NOT ASK BECAUSE OF CHINESE NEW YEAR. IS PROHIBITED TO TALK ABOUT IT TO CERTAIN PEOPLE ABOUT DEATH AS THE MEANING OF BAD LUCK.

9. Did life meet your gratification? Or at this point of your life, what gratify you?

I have take good care of my children and they are have a good family. As a mother, seeing all my children are living healthy and happily is one of my pride.

10. Have you ever try to fill the generation gap between yourself and your descendant? Or have you ever felt being excluded by the society?

I did not see generation gap as a problem for me and my children. They have their stuffs to do and I have my own. We can always talk and communicate with each other and I don't see as an ignorant of technology has create a gap between myself and my descendants. I don't feel like I am being excluded by the society because I do not feel I am being left out, also it does not really matter anymore.

11. What are your responsibilities at this point?

Take a good care of my family and my husband.

12. Do you like to be old?

Of course no. I don't think anybody want to be old. But that is the reality.

13. Do you have more patience when you are old?

Yes, because when you are old, things are getting slow and as times pass by. It will turn out to be a habit, and you will get used to wait. Everything is the same and it trains you to have patience. Also, you cannot really rush things out.

14. What is your elderly plan when you are young?
I never thought of any plan when I am young. I mostly very busy on my work. But as now, I just wish I have a happy family and all my children can be independent, so I don't have to worry about them.

15. How does it felt to be separated from your own child?

For daughters, when they are married, it is like water that you pour out. For sons, I wish he marry and have kids. It does not matter they are separated from me as long as they come visit. I know they are working hard and busy on their life and I should not a burden for them.