Vincent B., 70 years old
Teresita R., 63 years old
Sharon M., 64 years old
Aurora C., 62 years old
Vincent B. interviewed on January 7 at McDonalds, Dammam Corniche
Teresita R. interviewed on January 8 at Al Bilad Mall
Sharon M. interviewed at University of Damman
Aurora C. interviewed at Al Shatea Mall
Results of Interview
Vincent B.
1. 70, widower, with three grown up children and 12 grandchildren; graduated with a degree in business administration; likes to read, watch basketball games, go to the park, supports himself through pension, and lives with his son who has four children.
2. He worked in a non-life insurance company and rose from the ranks from the lowest entry point as a clerk to managerial position. This is the only company he worked for 45 years until his retirement at age 65. Upon entry he was still trying to complete his college education and was promoted to higher ranks upon graduating with a degree. He said he liked the profession and was the reason why he did not change his career, nor the company where he worked for.
3. Presently, he survives through his monthly pension and a little savings that were earned. This was not much, according to him because he spent a lot when his wife got sick of breast cancer. As such, when his wife died at the age of 46, he had to support all the three children through college. Currently, since he lives with his son, he also shares in supporting daily expenses. He said that his times spent with four grandchildren are very productive and happy. He acknowledged that since times are hard, they do not spend on things that are unnecessary; and instead, focus on buying food for the children and in needed medications. He relayed that they are not fond of travelling or going out to shopping malls, or watching movies, since these necessitate money and they could not afford to splurge on these.
4. He feels fine but he said that he could not walk very well. He said that one time, when he was taking the subway, he slipped on the stairs on the way down and from then on, he limped. Also, he said he had lung problems because he started smoking at a very young age. He said he only had to stop before his sixties because of difficulties in breathing. Currently, he said he is taking medications for urinary tract infection.
5. He defined successful aging as the natural process of getting old without any hitch; such as contracting chronic illnesses or grave challenges. He stated that if he could turn back the hands of time, he would not have started smoking since this created all his health problems.
6. He defined happiness as a subjective and that it depends on the perceptions, values, and perspectives of a person. For him, happiness means being able to enjoy simple pleasures with loved ones. As such, he considers himself as a happy person.
7. His words of advice were: enjoy life to the fullest but always with steadfast fate in God. He said that young people should take good care of their health; and to stop being so consumption oriented. He finally emphasized that young people must value friendship and try as much as possible to share their blessings to those who are in need.
Teresita R.
1. 63 years old, married with one grown up daughter. She finished college with a degree in education. She taught in an elementary school after graduation and until the time that she got married, which was about 15 years. Her husband is a retired maritime engineer and her daughter now works as a quality assurance officer in a call center.
2. She worked as an elementary school teacher in a public school. She did not change her career or the school where she worked at but had to opt to stop working when her husband got a job working overseas as a maritime engineer in a seafaring vehicle. She therefore became a full time mother and wife.
3. They are currently still financially well-off. She has saved enough from the earnings of her husband and although her husband is not working anymore, the savings keeps them supported. Also, she has invested in another house which she is leasing; and the amount augments the income from interests on their savings in bank accounts. Likewise, since her daughter is now working and is still single, she helps with the daily expenses of the family.
4. She and her husband were apparently still in good health with no chronic illnesses. However, she admitted feeling some aches and pains in her joints; apparently from arthritis. Also, she said she is currently taking medications for high blood pressure and as such, she is required by her doctor to watch her diet. Her daily household activities were deemed the exercises she undertakes such as doing laundry, marketing, shopping, watering the plants, and cleaning the house.
5. She defines successful aging as being able to do the usual activities done without having to address illnesses or financial problems. She said she and her husband could be considered role models for the aged since they rarely go to the hospital and can perfectly do all the activities that they love to do. She said she is a very religious person and loves to hear masses, pray the rosary, and attributes their good life as blessing from God.
6. She defines happiness as maintaining peaceful relationship with people and being able to do what one dreams of in life. She then considers herself and her family as having enjoyed a perfectly happy life because they were able to invest and share their blessings to others.
7. She advices young people like me to complete my studies, to earn well, to save money, and to share my blessings with others. She said the secret of being happy is to do what you love in life and to take good care of yourself. Since they were able to save, they were given the opportunity to travel and see other parts of the world. Also, since she has only one daughter, there were not much expenses and they lived within their means.
Sharon M.
1. 64 years old; widow, has one son divorced from first wife and who remarried and now has 6
children; completed a doctoral program in management and administration at UCLA; currently teaches as a professor of human resources management.
2. She became a professor at a university abroad when she finished her master of arts in education. She also became a professor in another university while taking her doctoral studies. She said she became a consultant for various public and private organizations regarding HRM issues. She wrote a book on human resources management and she owns several houses which she leases to tenants.
3. She is currently financially well-off having saved substantial amounts through her years of working and for only having one child. As a widow, she said that she pledged to support her only son who currently has different illnesses ranging from diabetes, kidney problems, and cardiovascular problems. Therefore, his son with wife and grandchildren lives in one of her homes.
4. She does not have any health problems. She goes to the doctor regularly for check-up. The only ailment she experiences is pain from her joint due to old age. She has joined several community groups and ladies’ organizations. She said she loves to go to parties, go shopping, see movies, and spend leisure time with her grandchildren.
5. She defines successful aging as the ability to grow old without gross impediments and being able to retain good health, good wealth, and a happy disposition in life. She said that she had been successful in life due to her ability to save and make good use of her talents and resources.
6. She defines happiness as a state of mind where one is able to realize one’s dreams. She regards the world as a difficult place to live but that people are given gifts and blessings and it is how people are able to harness these gifts, talents, and abilities to one’s advantage and to share to others define what makes him or her happy.
7. The advice she provided to young people like me is to focus on personal and professional advancement; depending on one’s genuine interests and goals. She also reminds young people to be very careful of spending money, especially since current times are financially difficult times; and therefore, we should distinguish between what we want and what we really need. She uses credit cards to avail of deferred payments but always observes spending only what one could afford. She warns young people to be especially careful of what we eat and in engaging the safe activities. Above all, she said that we should enjoy life by doing what we love to do most and enjoy the company of our loved ones.
Aurora C.
1. 62, single and never married. She finished a college degree in business. She lives alone in a maternal house from where she leases part of the house’s rooms to tenants to earn money for a living. She also has a pension which she uses to augment the income that she earns.
2. She said that she worked after graduating from college in a bank for only five (5) years. She said she transferred to another company and worked for another three (3) years but did not like her colleagues and supervisor. She realized that she does not want working for an employer. Eventually, when her parents died and when her siblings left the maternal home, she decided to take in tenants to earn a living.
3. At present, she said that she is just making ends meet. Since her employment history is not lengthy, the pension she receives is just minimal. Likewise, she frequently changes her tenants because she encounters problems with their ability to pay on time. As such, she said that when she gets sick, she goes to the community health care and applies to avail of health facilities in public hospitals in Dammam. She said she does not get bored because there are always people around the house, her boarders, who she could talk to and who keeps her company.
4. Currently, she said she feels well and does not have any illness. Although, since she was hospitalized for high blood pressure, she is still maintaining the medications that were prescribed. She gets to eat what she wants but, she said that she limits eating meat; and more on vegetables, fish and poultry. Her form of exercise is doing the household chores. Finally, she says that she manages to watch the movies and visit her niece, who she assists from time to time. This, to her, is a form of volunteer work because her niece lost her husband to illness and has five children to feed.
5. She defines successful aging as growing old with grace, not having contracted any major illnesses, and still managing to do what one likes to do in life. The only thing she regrets, according to her, is not having found the right man to marry.
6. She defines happiness as being in a state of grace where individuals do not worry about trivial problems and be able to enjoy what life has to offer. She said that she acknowledges that the world in current times is more difficult and challenging to live in; as compared to the world when she was still young because of the high cost of living.
7. Finally, as a word of advice, she informed me that young people must be able to appreciate whatever blessings that come their way. She said that we should focus on completing our education, be able to save for the future, find someone to spend the rest of our lives with, and to share our blessings with others.
Summary of Interview Experience
Likewise, one learned that real happiness is not about gaining material wealth for oneself. It is the ability to share what one has gained to one’s loved ones or to those in need. I also learned that a college education is not a guarantee for success. Like the experience of Aurora, although she completed a college degree, she eventually realized that serving an employer is not for her and she would not have been happy that way. Therefore, she found other ways to make a living through renting some of her rooms at her residence and eventually was able to survive doing what she loves to do best.
