Interview with Grandfather - Essay Example

Interview with Grandfather Introduction My grandfather, Abdullaziz, is the greatest person I have ever seen in my life. I have never met anyone who has as honest a heart as he has with his family and with other people. My grandpa was born in Jun/01/1930, this day makes me proud, because I born in the same day and month. He was the biggest of brothers .He took care of his brothers and his mother as well, because his father died when he was 14 years old. This is a paper which developed a course study, which had been aimed at developing a broad understanding regarding how my grandfather related with people. The paper has been able to apply the learned reflections for a mission engagement (Cash & Charles 53) My grandpa stayed with his father before he passed away. He shared his father’s personality. So my mother told me a lot of stories about him, and how everyone loved and respected him, because he loved and respected everyone as well. He was not a rich man, but his inheritance was a little bit of money, and big cows and some small cows to benefit from it. He had worked when he was 15 years old, and he sacrificed for his family because he always was saying “I don't want you to need any help from anyone except me”. My grandpa had used his cows to sell some of her milk to get money. I took a lot of his character because I really like what he had done in his life. Previously I did not realize anything before I heard my grandfather’s story, but after that I become serious and responsible about everything especially my family. For instance, how he made his dream, how he was helping everyone, and how his behavior and his personality were. First of all, in that old days everyone had an independent work and no one needed to get any help from others; all of them helped themselves. But obviously if they asked anyone to have what they need they would find everyone beside them. My grandpa is one of the honest people, because he had built his life by himself. He had two jobs at the same time; the first job was milking his cows in the morning to get what his family needed and to bring some clothes and some food. The second job was a seller at the supermarket with his friend's store, therefore, he had earned a lot of money, and he saved for his family in case or start his project or if he dies. By having two jobs at the same time, he was able to provide for his family whilst providing employment to other people in the society. In other words, he played a major role in bringing development in his society. His project was to build a dairy factory. He was dreaming about building that factory since he was child when he grows up. Indeed, his dream came true, seeing that he was hardworking and a principled man who never stopped until he achieved his goals in life. However, he never stopped working. Actually, he continued and developed that dream to make his company impact some kind of medicines which is the same company for the dairy but another department. I learned from his experiences and from his willingness when he has a small idea how he improves it and how he had never given up. As I have seen from him I will do in the future, because if I keep going and I never give up certainly I will reach my goals. Although, he was busy in the beginning of his life, he was also playing on the popular soccer team in Saudi Arabia. I was always asking him how you can make all these things at the same time and how you were perfect in all that what you had done; he answered me by a useful wisdom “Love what you are doing, to do what you love." After that, I say to myself why I could not be like this man. In one way or the other, he was very inspiring and he played a key role in modifying my life. Since that time I promise myself to put my goal in front of me and then remind myself about my grandfather’s story, and what he had done. Finally, he had worked at a small column in the newspaper which is a famous newspaper in the Saudi Arabia; he was a big Journalist and wise. At that time I realized we have something common between each other, so that is why I have blogs in some websites. In fact, he taught me how I can find my hobbies if I have never known them yet.  My grandpa was famous in my city, and everyone was talking about his character and his behaviors were the same and equal with poor people and with rich people, even though, he was a rich man, but most of his close friends were from these poor people and also who were working in weak position even with the security of his company. Indeed we will not find a lot of these people like my grandpa in this life again especially in these days. I witnessed my grandfather’s character one day, while working at his company. I have seen one woman who came to him and she asked are you Abdullaziz? He responded calmly what do you want from this man? She insisted to see him. He said I am his secretary. Just tell me what you want and for sure I will tell him, suddenly she started to cry. He asked what happen. she said I came to this company in the again and the same place, and I asked someone to see the owner of this company, because a lot of people saying "this man never let you go even give you what." and I told this guy that my son had a heart disease and I needed a lot of money to make the surgery to him, and then the guy told me come again tomorrow at the same time. In fact I came, because really I want to help my son. Then my grandpa said so what you want? She said I just came to say thank you to this man, because he paid all bills for the surgery for him, and the surgery succeeded. At the same time someone came to talk with him, a man said Mr. Abdullaziz! My grandpa looked at him. And he was angry, because he did not want this woman to know who he was, immediately. The woman started to ask are you Abdullaziz? By the happy voice and screaming, because finally she found him, however, my grandpa did not like that he screamed on her, he said go away and do not know who Abdullaziz you were talking about. My tear was running on my cheek, but I did not feel that. Seriously his story changed my life, and also I understood why he screamed at the woman, because he did not want any one to know what he did or what he will do. He was always saying to me " Do not let anyone know what you want to do, because no one will help you, but let what you want to be for God; he is the only one will help you." Basically this man was my superhero and I think he is one of a kind. Seriously I have never seen someone like this man in my life The people always say this man is unique, indeed if anyone met him before or just heard about what he had done and how he was behaving in the hard situations and how was easy for him to solve any problems he faced it, immediately they are going to love him. However, not because he is my grandfather or I have relative with him? but really he was so patient to any disaster he face, hospitable to anyone who knocks on his door even if he couldn't help, but he was trying to let who ask him to any reason to satisfy. One of his friends told me an impact story in his company; one day my grandpa asks his secretary could you ask the financial management department if I still have any of my salary in this month or not? The answer was no uncle Abdullaziz you don't have. Because he was helping anyone need to help. A lot of poor people were coming to his company at 4:00 pm, the main reason is asking for money, but the stranger thing is that he had never ever refused anyone, because he was always saying "Satisfy to what God gave you, and always thank him, because God will never forget anyone.”  The kind of dialogue which we had with grandfather had been quite fragmented and kept on jumping from one point to the other, but in the very end it was possible to get information and understanding which does define his personal and business life. Such kind of discussion and dialogue was quite eminent towards getting the relevant information and knowledge which really did define his past. From this kind of knowledge and study, I have been able to come up with a number of ideas and knowledge which I had not known before. I have been able to learn the major events and issues which really define my grandfather. As well, I have been able to note the major practices which define the path he took by loving and respecting all people. This has been a limelight in helping me understand the reason to respect other people and relating well with them accordingly. Such kind of an understanding has been necessary towards improving my development and growth in the long run. From this kind of study and discussion with grandfather, I was able to come to an understanding that he really believed strongly that respecting and loving people is the key to success. He did have the strong understanding that loving and caring for other people is a promoter of global peace and at the same time be able to effectively fight all forms of inequality which had been faced by man in different parts of the world (Cash & Charles 68). As well, there is the understanding that the poor people within the society should be given alms so that it can be able to live better lives and also be helped whenever the going gets extremely tough on them. Dialogue and Conversation Since my grandfather had already passed as explained earlier, I had a conversation with my grandmother who explained everything in details. Here is the dialogue and conversation. Me: How did grandpa provide for the whole family? Grandmother: Through working hard in business. Me: Why did people respect him? Grandmother: Because he had self respect and was responsible in everything he did. Me: How did he contribute to the family? Grandmother: through making sure all the needs are met accordingly. Me: Did grandfather provide for his siblings? Grandmother: He was a loving man who was responsible for all members of the family. Conclusion In conclusion, my grandfather had taken care of his family; he was responsible for about 11 people when his father passed away. He took a lot of his father’s character and his behaviors. And he took a promise to himself which is he did not want his family to need any help from anyone except him. My grandfather was obeying his mother and his father as well. His sons and his daughters love him if he was still alive. Because he taught children a lot to live in this life without need for anyone to help them. I really had gotten a lot from his power which he is seeing the life through his own vision. Reflecting on the interview, I realized the only way to success is to have a personal philosophy, which acts as a guideline in the way one relates with family members and even neighbors. In this philosophy, one has to state the personal goals, mission and vision. This becomes the key factor towards leading by example and achieving respect from people of all walks of life. My grandfather believed that such philosophy made him famous and gain respect in the society. In conclusion, the interview proved that grandfather’s principles defined his life accordingly. Work Cited Cash, William & Stewart, Charles. Interviewing: Principles and Practices. . New York: Paragon House. 2007. Print. Read More