One thing I love about Asian cultures [generally speaking of course] is the respect and honor the young ones show to their elderly family members.
I've seen it in both Taiwan and Philippines, teenagers going out socially with their parents and grandparents, and caring for them as they get older. I'm sitting at SM Mall right now, and an older man sat down next to me with his teenage son.
The man had a disfigured arm, was limping, and had a hard time sitting down, but the boy patiently helped him get seated safely, holding on to his father's arms tightly and protectively.
As they rested, they didn't say much to each other, but the young boy sat there quietly, hardly even moving, while his father leaned on him for support. After about 30 minutes, the father shifted his weight without a word, and the boy immediately stood up, put his arms around his father’s waist, and his father’s arm around his own shoulder, then lifted him up to standing position. The 2 walked off slowly, with the father's arm still around his son's shoulder for support. It was just a simple yet universal thing, a father wanting to go around and spend time with his son. Simple, and yet for some reason it really stood out to me. Images by Vinoth Chandar and used under Creative Commons License.
6 Comments
Kalei
9/24/2014 12:54:50 am
CUZ!! It's been forEVER since your last article. I can imagine why it stood out to you... respect for elders is slowly fading away, unfortunately. Absolutely agree. I am Taiwanese but I grew up in the States and though I still have the same family values in me, you see it much more in Taiwan. My two uncles live in the backyard of my grandfather in Taiwan who is declining in health to care for him. When we go out, they're always making sure he's warm enough, they help him out of the car, put food in his bowl. My little cousins are always taking care of the even little cousins and they do it all without complaining. Family is the core in Taiwan, it's the number one thing they value. I've been staying at my great-aunt's house in Taiwan and even though I'm not her direct granddaughter, they still treat me like their own. Family helps family, my father always says. 10/12/2014 10:17:14 am
I agree, there is such a mutual respect between the elders and the young generations in Asia that we certainly don't see as often in America anymore. We too have witnessed these types of moments that you described during our travels in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia.
Harmony
1/25/2015 06:40:44 pm
Beautiful observation & moment you shared. I especially like how the son cared for his father instinctively without saying much. My heart always aches when I see people with challenges like this man has but that struggle alone. How heartening this post is! I agree with Kalei, respect for elders is fading away, but it was also good of you to notice the father and son in the mall. There are those who still hold dear to positive traditions and hopefully, these kinds of things make a comeback. As we desperately need ethics and morals to make a comebeack. Leave a Reply. |
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I'm JR. I come from a long line of adventurers, some were nomadic explorers of the sea and others wandering cultivators of the earth. Ultimately, this legacy of drifters has deeply affected my view of travel. Read more...
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