From Way Down Under 1

I have been in NZ for 5 days now. So far, it has been a simply amazing experience. Words might fail me but I'll try anyway. This blog will probably be long. So, I'll write it in a way I think, will make reading easier.

The Journey
It was absolutely tiring. About 3 hours to KLIA. Then 55 min from KLIA to Singapore. Waited for 2 hours. Then 8 1/2 hours to Auckland. Waited for 2 hours. Another 1 hour and 20 min to Christchurch. I spent nearly 24 hours travelling and waiting. I couldn't sleep much. Only 2 hours while in the plane to Auckland. Even that, I was waking up in between sleep.

Breakfast at 4am on the plane. I couldn't adjust to it. The solution? I changed my time to 8am NZ time, so that I won't have the 'psychological' barrier.

The most amazing thing about this flight is that I got to watch sunrise from above the clouds. I was lucky to get a window seat (someone requested to change with me). It was one of the most beautiful scene I've ever seen. We were above Australia then.

1st Hour
I got my first taste of NZ's cold weather when I stepped out of Auckland Airport (waiting for shuttle bus to the domestic terminal). I immediately took out my thick jacket. But still I couldn't stop shaking and shivering! I was so glad when the shuttle bus came.

NZ 'Home'
Kay picked me up from Christchurch airport and later dropped me at Yoko and David's home. The house is beautiful. The houses in NZ are all bungalows. David and Yoko's house is all white. It's like my dream house. They prepare me a very nice room, with a desk and also an antique sewing machine. The bed is comfortable and there were 2 teddy bears greeting me on the bed on the day of my arrival. They are into decos. They have a lot of antique looking and very good woodwork furniture.

The house is not far from Allenvale School. It's about 35 min walk. Kay had just discovered a shortcut. I have yet to try the new route.

Yoko and David
As you can see from the name, Yoko is a Japanese. Inter-racial marriage is a very common thing here. NZ is turning into a multi-racial country. Yoko and David are very great hosts. They are very warm and made me feel so at home within a day.

Yoko works part-time in a tour agency. She speaks good English and she is a very chatty person. She's a very elaborative narrator. When she tells you something, she will tell you every single detail of it. It's really interesting listening to her, not long-winded boring kind.

David is a computer programmer. He is quite a witty person and an interesting character. He's a white, but sometimes I feel he's more Japanese than Yoko is. He must take shoes off when he goes into people's house, which is not a New Zealander culture. H e always said, "What kind of house is this if they don't serve rice." He loves to eat rice.

The Weather
It's sunshine everyday. Kay and Yoko had told me I was lucky to have arrived only this week as the previous week had been only rain. However, don't be deceived by the sunshine. It's only for show. It' still brww....cold. For the past 2 mornings, steam had been coming out of my mouth. The morning cold is almost unbearable. Hot bath is essential to warm my body. I can cope with the rest of the day but morning? Gives me chill, just thinking about it.

I need 3-4 layers of blankets when I sleep. Sometimes, I even take hot water bottle to bed. I wear 3-4 layers when I'm out. This makes hot bath such a luxury! When I touched hot water, my finger were numbed and painful at the same time. How can these two sense go together?Apparently my fingers were tender. David warned me about having drastic temperature changes on my hands, from cold water to hot water. That would be the result.


Natural Blusher
When I look at other people's rosy cheeks, I thought they look so nice. My cheeks never turn rosy. My sister and brother would. But not me. I would turn green, blue, pale, sick....anything but rosy. And yesterday. when I looked at the mirror, to my utmost and certainly a pleasant surprise, that my cheeks are actually rosy. And my nose too. It's as if I had applied blusher. But I have no make-up on. Ah...vanity has set in.

Rugby
I arrived on the day before the final of Super 12 where Christchurch's team, Crusaders were up against Australian team, Waratah. If you want proof that NZ is crazy about rugby, Christchurch will provide it. Almost everyone wears black and red (Crusaders' colour). I was wondering why so many people, from children till middle-aged, had a jersey with Ford logo on it. Then, I found out that it was Crusaders' jersey.

The final was in Christchurch. Watched my first rugby match, complete with lessons from Yoko. Yoko is a huge rugby fan. I think the whole Christchurch was empty. They were either in the stadium or at home catching the match on tv. When Crusaders won, everyone went absolutely crazy. Wow!

And till today (Tues), the newspaper are still reporting news about it!

Allenvale School
The school is so nice. The people are very friendly. When i see the school, with its facilities and the way it is run, I wondered when Malaysia will be able to have something like this. Sigh.

Anyway, I am working under Fleur Harris and Kay Solomon. I am very touched by the kindness they showed me. They worked out a whole schedule for me, maximising my experience in every possible way. Fleur told me to get the best out of them. Both of them are great and fun therapists. All the children enjoyed their sessions...even I.

The therapy sessions here are mostly group. The activities here include watching 1 min video, quiz, drinking milkshake, making waffles, acting, etc. All in the name of stimulating language. And it works. The children are so willing or stimulated to participate.

So far, I have helped out in session with children aged from 5-17 years old. I am also given the opportunity to do assessment with a 15-year old girl and language expression with a 5-year old girl . I will also get to work one-on-one with a few more. And strating from next week, I will be conducting group language sessions on my own. Of course, that also means, I have to plan and prepare. I haven been bringing work back home since the 1st day of school! But, I'm also having so much fun.

These 2 days have opened my eyes to other dimensions of clinical sessions. And I have another 2 1/2 weeks more.

So far.....
I have spent an afternoon walking to a mall, about half hour, and walking back. I enjoy walking here because it is cool and I will never sweat.

I have also taken a bus to city centre. I've been to the Art Gallery, Art Centre, Museum and part of Botanical Garden. These places are very interesting and most importantly, it's free admission! The architecture is very beautiful here. The view here is spectacular.

Christchurch is really a friendly and polite city. Strangers would smile at you. Cars will always let pedestrians cross the streets. Men will hold doors for women. And there are so many Asians here. The most are Koreans. Others are Chinese and Japanese Chinese. So, I blend in very nicely.

That's all for now (At last! - I heard that =)
Sorry for the long entry. But there's just so much to tell. Just bear with me. Take care.

Today!

Today is the day I'll board the plane to Christchurch. Excited? This is the no. 2 most asked question. What's no. 1? What time is your flight?

My flight is at 5.15pm, assuming there's no delay. (I hope not as I have to catch a connecting flight in Singapore.) I'm most excited only when I tell people that I'm going to NZ. When I thought about it, I feel quite excited. When people asked me, I don't really feel excited. I have no idea why.

Packing's done. All there is to do now is to get a good night sleep. So that I can wake up early tomorrow to catch the Result show of American Idol, check my list for luggage and finally off to KLIA.

I want to thank all my friends who have called, sms or mailed me to wish me well.

It's still too early to miss Malaysia. Take care, everyone.

Packing Headache

I have always disliked packing, especially packing to come home when semester has ended. However, that didn't give me as much headache as packing for New Zealand. I have never had such headache. It actually stressed me out.

I want to bring as little as possible. Yet, I have no idea how little is sufficient. If I'm going to a relative's house, I wouldn't be afraid of leaving things out. But I'm staying with complete strangers in a foreign land.

My mum and dad have opposite views. My mum would bring more clothes as she could not stand wearing the same clothes for a few days. My dad, on the other hand, would bring as little possible; the reason being it is a cold country and I won't sweat. They have just demonstrated why men are from Mars and women are from Venus.

I'm just happy if I can get most of my stuff into my suitcase. My packing's almost done, thank goodness. Spent a few days from writing list, buying necessary items, borrowing some things to rearranging my luggageso that space is maximized. I have great theory tips from my sister and practical lesson from Lydia.

Just a little bit more. And I'll close my bag and head for the airport.

For those interested in knowing about the special school I'm attached to, take a look at http://www.chch.school.nz/allenvale/

Meanwhile.....did I forget anything else?

Nasam Experience

Nasam stands for National Stroke Association of Malaysia. I started volunteering in Nasam Ipoh while I was playing housekeeping (when my parents went to China). It's actually very near my house, at the Kelab Kilat area.

Nasam is club cum rehab centre for the stroke survivors. I came to know of Nasam in KL first as I was sent for clinical sessions in Nasam Ampang. From there, I was surprised to find Ipoh had just had its own Nasam last September. So I kept a note to myself to check it out when I'm back for holiday.

I have been going there every Tuesday and Friday for the past month. I help out in the area of speech and language. Sometimes I also help out when they are doing exercises. They have regular volunteers there who help the stroke patients carry out exercises.

Almost all the members have great difficulty with movements on one part of their body. Most need walking sticks. Some are wheelchair bound. And most of them come diligently day after day to regain their lost ability.

I was struck by how the members encourage each other. They motivate each other to do more. Due to lack of physiotherapist, the members themselves will conduct their own exercises, led by someone who had physiotherapy experience. The leader would encourage all of them to perform the exercises properly. All of them challenge each other by counting out loud how long they can do certain exercises.

I have come to know some patients personally. One lady, in her 40s, depends on the wheelchair for movement. She cried when I asked her about her previous employment. She was a tutor in a university in Singapore before she had a stroke 2 years ago. Now, she cannot move on her own and it depressed her. However, she's motivated in changing her condition and works diligently in her exercises.

There's another lady whose husband has never failed to accompany her to the centre day in day out. Her husband was the one who was keen in seeing me after he has found out that I am a speech therapy student. Madam C had poor movements of her facial musculature and she could not speak at a volume above whisper. This couple really captured the essence of marriage. Her husband supported her so much in everyway. It's also hilarious seeing both of them working at facial musculature exercises. Her husband would make her laugh (and me too) by counting in different languages - Hakka, Cantonese, Mandarin, Malay, and English. I couldn't help asking if he knew Tamil as well. He claimed he does.

It has been a truly wonderful experience sharing my time with the centre. It truly speaks of the human spirits. It's not a gloomy place where people feel despair all the time. Instead, it's a place filled with hope, love and encouragement.

I often found that, when you give some time to other people, you'll gain a lot more. Today is my last day of volunteering. With a heavy heart, I left the centre. The people there thanked me for my help. I thank them for having me there, allowing me to share their experiences.

May God bless and protect them.

Way Down Under

I'll be leaving for New Zealand on 26 May. It's not for holiday....not solely anyway. The real purpose is because I'll be doing my attachment there. It can be considered as LI (latihan industri). We can choose to do our attachment anywhere, and I chose to go to NZ.

How did NZ come about? I was lucky to have met Kay Solomon, a speech therapist from NZ when she came to KL to give a workshop during MCare 25th Anniversary dinner. I have MCare and New Horizons to thank for giving me this opportunity. The rest is history. I contacted Kay-she helped me arrange things in NZ- and I get things done from my uni. This has been in planning for about a year and now I'll be off in a week.

Of course of living expenses will be bore by yours truly (as if my department will sponsor all students who want to go abroad). I will be taking my PTPTN to fund this. I will be burning a big hole in my bank account. A smaller hole than is needed as my dad has kindly offered to sponsor my air ticket. The catch? To pay for my parents' future vacation. Which I'll do gladly.

I'll be attached to Allenvale School in Christchurch for 3 weeks. It's a special school. The reason why I wanted to go to an advanced country, at least in the area of disability, is to widern my scope. I want to look at and learn more from the system there. I would really see how they run special schools and also their programme. What better way of doing that than to go there myself. I thank God for such wonderful opportunity.

Of course, I'll be taking a week for travelling. All the way there and not travel? I'll be backpacking...alone. Rather adventurous...but I'm looking forward to it. I don't mind not having a company. I guess, I want to try travelling alone.

And yes, I'm travelling alone to and fro and within NZ. I'll be grateful for your prayers. I hope to keep you updated while I'm in NZ. Meanwhile....back to packing headache. Do I need this? Should I bring that? And it's winter in NZ. I'll be frozen!

New Horizons

Family Day
Last Sunday was Family Day, a day for families to get together for a fun-filled day of sukaneka. All children were involved in at least 2 games. Not only that, there were also games for fathers, mothers, siblings and also their 'kakak' (maids).

Mothers were separated into groups of 4 and they were required to run, pick up beads using chopsticks and run back to fill a bottle with beads. Whichever group with the most beads would be the winner. Before the start of the game, they complained so much about the 'impossibility' of the task. You could hear all the "wahs" and "aiyohs". Nevertheless, they set out for the game, including the Malay mothers who had such difficulty with chopsticks.

The highlight, I thought, was the fathers' game. They were also separed into groups of 4. They were required to blow balloons with a standard size and stuff them into one of the father's shirt. Whichever group with the most balloons stuffed would be the winner. It was such great fun watching and laughing at them, with their wives and children cheering them on.

The day ended with a blessed draw. There were many great prizes, thanks to the contribution from parents and some companies. It was such a coincidence that all but two of the staff and volunteers of NH got their numbers drawn (including me!) I can assure you that there was no cheating.

It had been a great day with beautiful weather. Most of us (staff and volunteers) left with a suntan but some left with sunburn. But all of us, including the parents, siblings and kakaks let our hair down and enjoyed ourselves.

Killer smile
I was sitting at a corner watching the children during language time. Then, I noticed this boy stuck his head forward and flashed me a megawatt smile. He did it several more times before I had to force myself to ignore him as he was not concentrating in the activity. He has been known for melting hearts with his killer smile. And he used it tactically too. He would try to get out of work by flashing this smile. The new ones would be tricked by him. Who said these children were not bright at all. They also have some tricks up in their sleeves.

Godmother?
I was sitting down, talking to a mother. She had this most adorable and superbly active Down Syndrome child named Alicia. I have been watching this girl grew since she was 2 now she is 6 already. She is a bright and alert child. Everytime she sees me (notvery often these days), she would run to and hug me. So sweet. As I have said, I was talking to her mother.

Mother: Is Michelle your godma?
Me: Yes.
Mother: Why don't you become Alicia's godma? You can help me take care of her.
Me: Huh? Godma?
Mother: Yeah.
Me: I am not even married yet and you want me to be her godma? Can I be her godsister
instead?
Mother: She already has two older sisters. She doesn't have a godma.

Fancy that! I was amused that someone would actually want me to be a 'godmother'. I then related this to my godma.

Me: Alicia's mother wanted me to be her daughter's godma.
Godma: Huh? You cannot simply take goddaughther or godson. Then what would I be?
Me: Haha. God-grandma!

Now I have found a way of having children without even having to get married and suffer the agony of bearing children. My parents and godma can't complain. Just for thought.

Amy

I watched a very interesting movie two days ago. And also quite humorous at times. A little sypnosis of the movie, just simply titled Amy.

Amy is a 7-year-old girl who could hear and speak till she was 4, after watching her father died suddenly on stage in a rock concert (her father was a rock star). Social service came after her mother for failing to send her for special education. Her mother, who believed that Amy could be cured, refused to heed social services. To escape from them, she packed her bags and ran to Melbourne together with Amy.

They ended living in the most dysfunctioned neighbourhood I have ever seen. Among their neighours were an old lady who was always 'watering' the road, two young men always fixing their car, and another man always singing with his guitar living with his sister who was mad and pining for her ex-lover (a hairdresser). They befriended a boy, Zack, and his mother, who seems like the most saned people there, except that the boy's father was a drunkard.

One day, the man who was singing with his guitar, John, found that Amy could hear him sing and that she could sing. He went to tell her mother but she didn't believe him and thought that he was a paedophile. When Amy's mother went out, John went to their house and sang of the people in the streets, trying to get Amy to respond. When Amy opened the door, he asked her if she would like to go out to the park (in singing). Amy agreed.

When they came back, the police was already there. Amy's mother wanted John apprehended for kidnapping. John argued that Amy wanted to go to the park and that she could hear singing. To investigate this, the chief police got his subordinates to get down on their knees to sing to her. It was a hilarious song. However, Amy just smiled. John was given a warning and was freed.

The next day, Amy's mother was awakened by a singing voice. She went to investigate and found her daughter singing to the radio of one of her father's songs.

She brought Amy to see a psychologist, Dr. Uruquart, and explained that she could not speak but could sing. He said he had once seen a patient who couldn't walk but could dance. Sounds like conversion disorder. Thus began the assessment. Amy did not respond to his questions. So, he sang the questions. And Amy sang the answer. It was quite a scene to watch, as they made up the rhythmn on the spot.

Amy's mother worked as a waitress in a restaurant. She left Amy at Zack's house. But his father came back drunk and started beating his mother. Amy ran away frightened. Zack's father chased after her. Amy hid behind some baskets in an alley. Zack's father was beaten and robbed there. The thieves found Amy and took her away. Amy sang out "Let me go. I'm just a little girl."

The whole neighbourhood went searching for Amy. As she could only hear singing, they had to sing out loud as they searched for her. The police, too had to sing out loud.

Amy's mother, John and Dr. Uruquart were searching for her at the park. Suddenly Amy's mother heard singing. They searched for the source and found a rock concert some distance away. They tried searching for Amy. True enough, Amy was there. She was crying out "Daddy!" A man, who thought she lost her parents, lifted her on his shoulders and they found her.

Dr. Uruquart asked Amy's mother why Amy had such strong reaction towards the song. Apparently it was Amy's father's song. He then asked Amy where's his father. She shouted that she killed her father. Amy's father died of being burnt as a result of short circuit. Moments before that, Amy wanted to run to his father, who was singing on stage, but was hold back by her mother. She didn't remember being held and thought she was the one who caused her father to trip over the microphone wires and burnt. So, she was traumatised, resulting in her creating a world where her father was still alive. After she was reminded that she was being hold by her mother all the time and that she was not responsible for her father's death, she was cured.

Amy could hear and speak once more.

I don't know if this can happen in real life....but it was an interesting watch. And the girl can really sing. Reminds me of Shirley Temple.