Lee, Shu-Mei's Volunteer Journals

9/6

We are assigned to different classes. I am in charge of Grade Two Class Love. Then we went the class we are in charge of to practice how to assist students of the class to brush teeth, wash the face, and clean up after using the restroom. We start to know each student who has different habits and behaviors. They are cute and innocent. I believe that this month will be special.

9/7

Today I took care of Chun. He is very cute and likes to play water. I found that his teeth are sensitive and he wears braces on the teeth, so I have to be careful while brushing his teeth. In addition, he always keeps moving, so it is not easy to assist him.

9/10

I came to the class earlier than before. I brought many students to wash rags. I found that some of them don’t know how to wash, some don’t know how to rub, and some don’t know how to dry them. Therefore, I have to teach them step by step. They are all different.

9/11

When I was on the way to restaurant and going down the stairs, I saw Fu’s nose was bleeding. I took him walking slowly and he told to me, ‘I am bleeding.’ I said, ‘Yeah.’ and he said, ‘What should I do? ’ I answered, ‘Using tissues to stop.’ Then he put his hand on my shoulder and I felt that he relied on me. We are like sister and brother. Students in Class Love are cute and kind.

9/12

I am so happy today. After I helped Chun to brush teeth, teacher asked me to complete the jigsaw with him and I asked his name and he said ‘Chun! Here!’ Then I asked, ‘what is my name?’ He didn’t say anything and I said, ‘Lee, Shu-Mei.’ He repeated it. I asked him again and he said, ‘Lee, Shu-Mei.’ I feel that he is great, but when his teacher asked his name, he answered, ‘Name.’ It was interesting.

9/13

Today I fed Chun and he kept sneezing because he got a cold. I cleaned his clothes because his nasal mucus was on his clothes. I realized that our parents are very tired to take care of us. It’s like that we take care of students of Class Love.

9/14

This is second week. I am assigned to take care of Chun. Today’s challenge is to change his clothes when he got wet. I felt a little shy but still needed to change his clothes as soon as possible in case he got cold. The teacher gave us dessert to thank us being volunteers.

9/17

When I was teaching Chun how to say my name ‘Lee, Shu-Mei,’ Fu was learning as well. Then he called me, ‘Mr. Lee, Shu-Mei.’ Chen, Yu-Jou and I laughed out. Later, Chen, Yu-Jou taught Fu that Miss Lee, Shu-Mei is correct, but he said ‘Lee, Shu-Mei, dude.’ It is not easy to teach them.

9/18

It rained today, so we only wiped students’ face. It is really hard for me and teacher to wipe their face. Because we have to keep their head still and then we can wipe. While I kept one student’s head still, she bit my hand. Although it is hard to complete the work, I still did it.

9/19

Today Fu kept calling me Mr. Lee, Shu-Mei. When Huang, Yi-Chieh told him his name, he called him ‘Bull shit Chieh’ unexpectedly. That was funny. We thought that it is because Huang, Yi-Chieh always said Bull shit. We had better watch out our words, or they will imitate you.

9/20

Today Fu let me laugh out again. He said, ‘Mr. Lee, Shu-Mei is beautiful.’ I was so moved, but he called me Mr. Lee, Shu-Mei again. Teacher said, ‘When will you change Mr. Lee, Shu-Mei to Miss Lee, Shu-Mei?’ Then he corrected it but said Mr. Lee, Shu-Mei is handsome. I don’t know what to say. I lost weight because I eat less than before and have to walk to fifth floor.

9/21

When I came in the classroom, I smelled something delicious—moon cakes. Because yesterday teacher said that we will have moon cakes, I started to slaver. After we took care of students, teacher asked several students to be representative to send us moon cakes. These moon cakes are made by those students. They are amazing because I don’t know how to make. They also have such a special talent. When we got moon cakes which are still warm, we felt so happy.

9/26

Chun is active today and it seems hard to keep calm for him. Teacher said, ‘It is because they have an injection today.’ He used his hand to wipe nasal mucus and then ate it. It was gross! I have to teach him not to do this.

9/27

Today Fu was convinced by Huang, Yi-Chieh and Chang, Kai-Hsiang to say, ‘Miss Lee, Shu-Mei is ugly.’ Then Chang, Kai-Hsiang told him to call me grandpa. Finally, he called me Grandpa Lee, Shu-Mei. I wanna cry but felt it is funny.

9/28

Today is the last day I serve in Class Love, so students’ of 4^th grade came to take over our work. I told them many characteristics of those students. While I was talking, I felt that I don’t want to leave here.

9/29

Today we shared our experience of taking care of Class Love. Everyone is little sad and don’t want to hand over the sacred work to them because we found that new volunteers are afraid of holding students’ hands. In addition, we get along well with those students. Although Fu likes to call me Mr. Lee, Shu-Mei, I don’t mind and don’t want to leave them. Although we cannot help them after today, we still can go back to visit them.

 Let’s finish it

 Let’s clean up the table

 Let me teach you how to dry the towel

Don’t forget to wipe the face after eating

 We are almost done with wiping

Put on the blanket or you will get a cold

Lee, Shu-Mei's feedback

　　It is a good opportunity to help students of Class Love. Although we study in the same school, we seldom meet each other. In addition, I find that I don’t like them before. Finally, I feel that they are cute, although one of the students of Class Love called me grandpa. Helping them lets me feel happy. Although I finished the volunteer work, I won’t forget them.

　　After being a volunteer in Class Love, although those students are special, they are all cute and innocent. If you see them, please don’t judge them by your own thought. Although they are mentally or physically disabled, they are excellent.