The audacity of elderly Venezuelans
Aside from my experience with the cuckoo lady at the supermarket, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the elderly in Caracas. They will not hesitate to ask for help crossing the street, carrying their groceries or accompanying them home. I always feel like I get a work out with my Spanish after helping one because I can never understand what they say at first. Eventually, after I say “como” a thousand times, we communicate just fine.
After I got over the shock of the first person who asked me to help them get to his apartment (he was also legally blind), I realized that I had never been approached to do anything of the sort in the States. Even when I was a teenager and took the bus everywhere, not once did an elderly person ask for assistance. This actually makes me sad. It’s sad because I think senior citizens in the States need just as much help doing every day things as Venezuelans; but, they must be afraid to ask.
While working in human services, I would always hear how the American society does not take care of its most vulnerable – the youngest and the oldest populations. When the going gets tough, programs for young children and the elderly are the first to feel the squeeze. It goes to show how that sort of thinking in government permeates the culture as a whole. So, we’ve become a culture that gets annoyed when children act like children and pretend we don’t see the 80 year-old struggling to get across the street safely.
What I hope is that these experiences will make me more aware of senior citizens silently struggling wherever I am. I also hope that I’m setting a good example for my kids, so that they see it’s not only okay to ask for help, offering it is even better.
Tags: Caracas, Cultural Norms, Cultural Norms in Venezuela, Senior Citizen privileges in Venezuela, Social Norms, Venezuela, Venezuelan Culture
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I think it’s great that they feel comfortable enough to ask for help.
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In this day and age I think many older people feel scared to ask for help incase they ask the wrong person and are mugged or robbed. Pretty sad but true. Funny you should write this post now, 2 days ago I was getting off the train in our neighbourhood when an old lady who lives on our street asked me if I could carry her bags to her house, of course I said ‘what a gentleman’ oh I got a chocolate biscuit as a reward…………I’m 35 haha.
LOL, unfortunately gentlemen have become the exception instead of the rule.
What a powerful observation, Deborah. It brought tears to my eyes. I know it is a cliche; but, truer words were never spoken. Wow!
Thank you!
I want to add that when I saw the title of your post with the word AUDACITY, I thought you were going to have a story about something outrageous that occurred. But, as I think about it further, I realize that the AUDACITY is the lack of regard for the young and the elderly in the States that you described.
I like your interpretation! I used that word also to demonstrate how we (Americans) have come to expect so little in regards to our most vulnerable.
I am really amazed at how comfortable these elderly Venezuelans are in asking for assistance. Unfortunately, many people in the States are simply afraid to ask for help because they fear being mugged or harmed. Additionally, we now live in such a litigious society that we almost allow fear to control our lives.
That being said, I think this article has brought to focus the need for me to be more aware of the needs of the elderly and render assistance when possible. Whenever I think of the elderly I should think of loving kindness and compassion.
Hey, Joy! I'm glad you found me
Yes, I think there is a myriad of reasons why people in the States avoid helping each other out. While there are some people out to do harm, it's sad that someone who has lived 70 years and beyond should hold so much fear when it comes to asking for help.
Would you say that people in general in Venezuela are quite outspoken and will ask for help when needed regardless of age, or is this specifically an age thing?
I have never been asked for help before. I live in the UK and I see alot of old people REFUSING help when it is offered… perhaps its a thing where they dont like to be seen as weaker and want to be seen as self sufficient.
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I've only seen this amongst the elderly. I have been offered help when with the children without asking – that was also surprising. I definitely think it's cultural, but that culture had to come from somewhere. Since they have so many laws to protect them, I assume it came from the top. There are also PSA's all over the place encouraging people to make seniors (and the disabled) a priority. Did you see things like that in the UK?
Thanks for pointing this out. The thought of helping senior citizens never occurred to me, but I’m sure there are ways that I could help if I stopped being so “busy” and took time to ask.
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