The most fulfilling part of my job.
Today I met a jovial uncle. He laughed when I knocked his door. He told me to come back in ten minutes because “我的电视看到一半 leh！” So I did. He didn't go back on his word. The show was still playing when he invited Jay and I in, gave us drinks while patiently letting us say our piece. He apologized twice for the messiness because his wife wasn't around. All this while he had a very genuine smile. He joked around as we waited for his son to come out of the shower.
We were caught unaware. In Jay's choice of words: we 'e-braked' as soon as we found out his wife recently passed away. He couldn't sign because he had no job. His 17 year old son and him were making ends meet using his wife's insurance payouts. But I was no longer thinking sales. A few seconds after his son mentioned the mother, uncle's eyes welled up red with tears and he grew silent. We stood up to leave and he apologized for taking up our time.
This isn't uncommon. What really made me look up to this particular uncle was not his circumstances. His grieve was evident only at the later part. My heart goes out to him because in spite of the pain he's carrying... he didn't wear it on the outside. He was most polite out of all the people we met tonight even though he had the most reason to reject me. So no, we thank YOU uncle.
The most fulfilling part of my job is that I get to learn every day. I learn not from experts or educators, but from people who are grounded. The uncles and auntys you see at coffeeshops but never do interact with, that ah beng running around in tattoos you are wary of, that introverted fellow you don't mix with in school etc. We meet them and more. Sometimes we hit a pot of gold. We find people with characters that shine brighter than their circumstances. They give me something to bring home. I am more aware.
Today, I met a sad uncle.
I wish his family the best things here on.
I wish his family the best things here on.
