Day 20
Mr. Bernard
On Saturday I joined the fourth formers for their day of service. Half of the class went to an orphanage and the other half went to the nursing home. While at the nursing home we socialized, played bingo, sang, danced, and help with meals and dishes.
After I took this picture of the students at the piano the gentleman there in the wheelchair motioned for me to come over to him. He can't speak or use the right side of his body because he had a stroke but I could tell he wanted to see the picture. When I showed him the picture on my camera he started wooting and hollering and slapping his knee. After my surprise at his reaction all I could do was laugh with him. And soon the nurse and the two students there were laughing with us also. I found out his name is Bernard and he's a Vietnam veteran. Apparently many Belizeans served with the U.S. Troops in Vietnam. Although Mr. Bernard couldn't communicate he was more than happy to listen to everything I would tell him about myself and the United States. He would laugh and laugh about everything and say one of the two phrases we could understand, "oh man!" or "f---". It was quite an opportunity for the students and for me to witness his joy. After I took a picture with him I introduced him to another teacher and asked if she'd take a picture with him just so we could all see his outrageous reaction to the pictures again!
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