World Day for
Grandparents and the Elderly which will be celebrated today in churches in Goa,
takes place close to World Youth Day. Young people share a great relationship
with the elderly, as they listen to their stories while experiencing their love
and warmth from their early years, especially in the company of their grandparents.
78-year-old Annie Almeida is enjoying the
company of her two granddaughters, Carol and Angelina. While 20-year-old Carol
has completed her graduation this April in Bachelor of Commerce, specialising
in Accounts and Finance, Angelina is a first year student of Arts. Living with
Annie, Carol is very close to her grandmother and has learnt to always be kind
to everyone.
“She taught me that you should always have
a smile on our face even when we’re stressed, because when we keep a smile on
our face, we feel calm and happy, even when we face difficulties in life. The
quality that I love most about Nana is how positive and how prayerful she is.
She always prays for the health and wellbeing of me and the family, before
praying for herself. She keeps telling me that she always prays for Angelina
and me to gain all the happiness in life and help us in all difficulties that
we face in life. I also love how she laughs at Angelina’s and my silliest
jokes. I also love how I can talk about literally anything with her. I can feel
free talking to her. Nana is like my best friend,” says Carol from Soccoro.
When it comes to how Carol helps her grandmother, she says, “I
help her with some household work which she finds difficult to do. I have
taught her to use the mobile phone a little bit with the basic answering
incoming calls and making outgoing calls. My parents recently brought her a new
smartphone, and I’ve taught her to open OTT apps and watch any TV show or movie
of her choice.”
Veverly and Anselm Furtado from Navelim are the support system
for Bonita D’Silva. Living with her grandchildren, Bonita is a huge part of
their lives and has a great relationship. At the age of 82, Bonita is still
very much involved with their wellbeing. “Bonita nana has been very kind and caring
to us. She taught me prayers and how to recite the Rosary and Litany and when I
am not well, she has all the right homemade remedies,” says Veverly, a second
year BBA student while Anselm adds, “I have been with Bonita nana since my
childhood. When I was younger, if I had a fall, she was the one who would clean
my wounds. If I get cramps after hitting the gym, she will massage my legs with
oil. I love her company and she waits for me to get home from college.”
Technology still confuses the mind for Bonita so her
grandchildren make it easy for her. “We know her favourite serials and her
schedule of watching TV. According to the programs, we change the channels for
her, whether it is Mass or Hindi TV series. When required, we also take her to
the doctor for her regular check-ups,” says Anslem, who is studying bartending
at Porvorim.
Cian Ferrao from Aldona is blessed to enjoy her time with her
paternal as well as maternal grandparents, John and Elizabeth Ferrao and
Valerio and Joanna Fernandes respectively. Fortunately, her grandparents live
in the same village and she can be in the next house within a few minutes. “I
am really grateful to learn a lot from my grandparents. They teach me the value
of being caring and nice. They always emphasize on the importance of excelling
at studies and later at work. They all have different personalities and I have
something to imbibe from them. Their stories are always fascinating as it gives
a look at the past,” says Cian.
While John and Elizabeth have eight grandchildren, all living in
Goa, Valerio and Joanna have four grandchildren with one in Bahrain. “I am very
fond of my grandma Joanna cooking especially her Goan dishes. I told her that I
would love to learn her recipes like Xacuti, Sorpotel, Prawn Balcao and Mango
pickle. My grandpa Valerio is fluent in Konkani and has written songs, essays
and tiatr scripts which were later staged. He wants me to translate the same
into English, which I promise to do later,” adds Cian, a second year Arts
student at St Xavier’s College, Mapusa.
Class 8 student of Loyola’s High School in Margao, Kian Pereira
is always helping his grandparents deal with their phone problems. Grandson to
Francis and Luiza Fernandes from Benaulim, Kian is one of their four
grandchildren, including his sister Kiara and his cousins Zion and Zyron. “I
love listening to my grandparents’ stories and how they explain the
celebrations and culture of our state. I can help them solve their smartphone
issues for them. Clearing their data and updating them with new apps and the
latest ways to access videos and how to connect with their family and friends,”
says Kian.
Frazer Andrade from Fatorda has a lot to learn from his
76-year-old maternal grandmother Joyce Carvalho e Aguiar from Sernabatim. A
grandmother to four grandchildren, Joyce is happy to share her knowledge with
Frazer as he has a keen ear for her stories. “Most importantly, she taught me
discipline and mannerism. She is apt with her proverbs and I have also learnt
many old traditions from her which I am documenting. She explained to me the
meaning of the ‘Amostra,’ which was a complete sample of the different sewing
and embroidery stitches that a young girl learnt in a tailoring class. She had
to present this to the groom’s side of the family who would select one
embroidery pattern which the girl had to complete, frame and present as a part
of her dowry. That is the reason you can see these beautiful pieces of art in
many homes. My grandma has presented me with her ‘Amostra’ as well as her
original embroidery hoop, which she used to have completed her ‘Amostra’ in the
1940s,” says Frazer.
An avid gardener, Frazer now assists Joyce in the garden to grow
vegetables and build protection against grazing cattle. “She also taught me
bamboo weaving, ‘Rottesao’ which she learnt with bamboo cane and then switched
to the plastic nylon. While I first learnt it on nylon plastic and then moved
to bamboo cane weaving. I love my Avo for all the little things she shares with
me,” says Frazer.
As
the churches in Goa will celebrate World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly,
it is important to make them feel special and honoured.
