China's older population has always captivated me, however, I didn't realize how much we can learn from them until I visited an older adult day center in downtown Manhattan a few months ago (field work for my masters)...if you thought that a 24 hour diner at 4am was jumping, than you should take a look at the Mott Street Senior Center any time between 6am-6pm. This place is hot…I honestly thought I was walking towards a sample sale and was about to score me some new digs.
It didn't matter that the center’s decorum was modest or that the walls hadn’t been painted in at least a century…this place was full. There must have been 80 people 65+ packed in a small room doing Tai Chi while others eagerly stood by the door waiting for a chance to get their flow on…
Not too mention the fact that the Maj room in the basement was jumping—people were squished around tables like sardines…all with smiles on their faces playing away! I wanted to join!
China is 2nd among the world's oldest population—a gerontologist’s Mecca. I will keep dreaming until one day I can see it for myself…
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