PUTTING THE FUN BACK IN LEARNING AT U3A

(This post is specially for our blog visitors and SeniorsAloud community members who do not have a Facebook account and do not want to sign up for one.)

Many SeniorsAloud members are also members of University of the Third Age (Malaysia), better known as U3A (M) for short. We have been enjoying the short courses at U3A for several years now, and we look forward to signing up for more courses each new semester. The next semester begins this Saturday, 30 August 2014. Details below.

First, a bit of background about U3A

The University of the Third Age began in France in 1973 at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Toulouse. The model became popular as it made sense to utilize the facilities and staff of the university to conduct the short courses offered by U3A. But the catalyst for the rapid growth of U3A was the phenomenal rise in the ageing population in Europe, the United States and Asia. Today there are U3As all over the world, even in Russia!

The term 'Third Age' refers to the 'golden years' after retirement when older adults are able to enjoy freedom from work to pursue their interests. As the retirement age varies from country to country, the Third Age could begin anywhere from 55 to 65.

The original model has undergone changes to adapt to the changing times. In the UK, many U3As are not linked to universities. They operate like focus groups consisting of members that share common interests. They meet regularly at the home of either a member or the instructor to listen to talks or share on certain topics of interest. The atmosphere is always informal, friendly and supportive.

Most U3As are self-funding and autonomous. Courses are usually of short duration and skills-based. Language courses are also popular. The underlying philosophy of U3As is to make lifelong learning fun and accessible to older adults everywhere. It is about enriching our golden years, and that includes making new friends and enjoying new experiences.

In response to older adults who are unable to attend U3A classes or meetings for one reason or another, there are now online or virtual U3As in several countries. You can find out where they are and what courses they offer at http://www.u3aonline.org.au/.

University of the Third Age, Malaysia

Group photo taken after the certificate presentation ceremony

U3A Malaysia follows closely the original French model. It is associated with University Putra Malaysia through the Institute of Gerontology (IG), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. It was set up in 2007 as a program under the "Lifelong Learning for Older Malaysians" project started by Prof. Dr. Tengku Aizan Hamid, Director of IG, and jointly supported by the Government of Malaysia and the United Nations Population Fund. In 2010, U3A Kuala Lumpur and Selangor was officially registered with the Registry of Societies (ROS) Malaysia.

Courses

U3A(M) offers an average of 40 short courses per semester, ranging from languages and skills to health and adult development. There are two semesters a year, commencing in March and in September. Courses run for 4-6 weeks. Most classes are of two hours duration and held weekly at IG. A few are held at Hulu Langat Community College, and at Auditorium JPA, Putrajaya. The certificate presentation ceremony is held in December. Those who have completed their courses receive a certificate and enjoy a celebratory lunch with their fellow course-mates.

Fee Structure

While anyone aged 50 and above is welcomed to sign up for courses, U3A encourages those interested to register for membership as they can enjoy more benefits. For new members, there is a one-time registration fee of RM15 (inclusive of RM5 membership card). Annual fee is RM25. Members pay only RM80 for any three courses. Each additional course is RM30. Non-members pay RM50 per course. Do consider signing up for life membership as you pay only RM150 and you can avoid the hassle of renewing your membership every year. Members also get to enjoy outings and various events throughout the year.

This is how the fee structure works:

So, are you eager to embark on a journey of lifelong learning with your fellow Malaysians? Then be there on Orientation Day.

If you have an FB account, please visit U3A FB page at https://www.facebook.com/U3AMalaysia for more info and photos of U3A events and activities. For enquiries, you can send an email to u3aklsel@gmail.com or info@seniorsaloud.com.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU VISITED A FISH FARM?

The group ready to go, with hats, umbrellas and shades.

Last Sunday 24 Aug, 2014, a group of SeniorsAloud members and friends paid a visit to a fish farm in Kuala Kubu Bharu. We couldn't have asked for better weather for the outing - clear blue skies and bright sunshine. Perfect for taking photos. It felt great just to be away from the smog and haze of the city.

KKB is about an hour's drive from the city. There were 12 of us in four cars. We were lucky to have Vijiakumar, one of our SeniorsAloud members, as our farm guide. He was with the Fisheries Department for 30 years before he retired and is currently adviser to the company that owns and operates the farm.

Waiting for Vijia's slideshow presentation on fish farming and fish culture. 

The expert sharing his knowledge with the city folks. Did we learn a lot!

The farm covers nine acres and has a total of 14 ponds.

This contraption in the pond helps to oxygenate the water. It functions like the pump in our home aquarium. Fish thrive and breed better in oxygen-rich water.

Feeding time. The farm uses only quality fish pellets produced by their company. Fish that are fed chicken organs and entrails tend to have an unpleasant 'fishy' smell and taste.

Water flows into each pond via a system of pipes. The water comes from the river nearby. It is vital to keep the water constantly aerated and filtered.

Watching the fish coming up to feed. The farm breeds several varieties of tilapia, kelah, patin, and kerai in ponds. 

Not all the ponds are filled with water and fish. After the fish are harvested, the pond is drained and limed before the next batch of baby fish is released into the pond. Proper water management ensures the fish remain healthy and disease-free.

Admiring the fish in the tanks. 

A close-up look at these baby arowana. Each orange sag contains nutrients for the baby fish. As the fish grows, it gradually absorbs the sag, and are able to swim more freely.

Fish for lunch. Can't get any fresher than this. The farm workers caught for us two tilapia, one kelah biru and one grass carp, each weighing about 1kg to 1.5kg - big enough for a seafood lunch for 13 people.

All weighed and packed in plastic bags ready for us to take to the restaurant. The farm accepts orders for fresh fish. 

We managed to find a restaurant that would cook the fish for us. Most were closed on Sundays. We were so hungry we started tucking in as soon as the first few dishes were served!

Four different fish dishes, from spicy to gingery, but all steamed. Fresh fish are best enjoyed steamed and garnished with celery, salted veg, ginger or mushroom. 

Restaurant owner Mr Chai packing honeycomb for us to take home to make honey lemon drink.

Group photo for remembrance. We came, we saw and we learned a lot. A most enjoyable Sunday outing!

A big thank you to Vijia for making the visit possible, and so enjoyable. If you would like to order fresh fish from the farm, or make enquiries, please contact Vijia at 019-240 5491.

If you are looking for a nice restaurant in KKB to have lunch, we recommend Mr Chai's restaurant. If you are lucky, he may offer you complimentary dessert and honeycomb to take away.

If you would like to join SeniorsAloud activities, and receive our monthly e-newsletter, please click HERE to register for membership. Membership is free and open to anyone aged 50 and above.

(Photo credit: SL Koeh & LF)

HOW TO SPOT A SCAM

Click here for tips on how to smell an online love scam

Ignorance is not always bliss especially when it involves money. It pays to know how to tell a legitimate investment scheme from a phony one, and how to distinguish between a genuine business opportunity and a scam. Let's also not forget online Romeos who target lonely women, and sweet talk their way first into the lady's heart, and then into her bank account.

In MLM companies, it's the topmost levels 
that rake in the money
(Image: The Star, 5 August 2014) 

There are as many types of scams as there are victims. Scammers are getting more and more creative. We need to remain alert at all times. Better to be safe than sorry, better to be relieved that we escaped getting conned than to be relieved of our money and possessions.

A word of caution to seniors who are new to the internet and using email for the first time. You will receive letters from banks asking you to re-submit your account number and password for security purposes. This is phishing. You may also get emails from strangers offering you a shot at an easy money-making scheme, or from 'friends' who are stranded overseas without money overseas.

There has been a resurgence of pyramid schemes of late. The Star recently did a comprehensive coverage of various direct selling schemes, including tips on how to spot an MLM scam. The images below are sourced from the article "All That Glitters" published in Star2 on 5 August 2014. Do read and share to spread awareness of MLM scams.

The latest edition of The Heat (Issue 42 for Week 9-15 Aug, 2014) also carries an expose on online work-at-home scams. Be wary of those that advertise 'no experience required' or 'earn up to 5-digit income a month. Most of these scams ask you to pay a certain fee first before starting your 'employment'.

Below is a list of the many types of such scams. Be familiar with them to avoid getting conned. For the full article, get a copy of The Heat.

Types of work-at-home scams

• Email stuffing
• Processing claims or rebates
• The home typist
• "E-con-merce'
• Faux-real jobs
• Online pyramid scheme
• Dial into nothing
• Pre-screened lists

One final word of caution. Do not click on any link that looks suspicious. Never divulge your personal data or passwords to companies or organizations that ask for such information. When in doubt, DON'T. Scammers prey on those who are ignorant, fearful, gullible or greedy.

Source: The Telegraph

RETIREMENT UTOPIA - IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT

Here's one more item to add to my wish list - a week's stay at The Villages, Florida. To own a home there would be beyond my wildest dream.

The name is a misnomer, for The Villages boasts a population of more than 110,000 residents, with an average age of 65.5. Situated about 100km northwest of Orlando, The Villages is reputed to be the world's largest retirement community, and is growing rapidly.

The Villages offer a multitude of facilities to keep active retirees busy and entertained all-day and all-year long. From shopping and dining to sports and entertainment, The Villages has it all. It also has a lifelong learning center where residents could sign up for classes on a wide range of hobbies and skills.

Images from The Villages website

Or they could choose to do nothing at all except play golf for free at any of the 42 golf courses. Not surprising the main mode of transport here is by electric-powered golf cart, each one customized to the fancies of the owner.

Images from The Villages website

Prices of a new home start from USD 150,000, depending on whether it a designer home, villa or cottage. A fully-furnished 3-room home rents from USD3800 a month. Crime is almost non-existent, and there is no traffic jam or pollution. Also no children. They can visit but not reside.

Rules are set by the The Holding Company owned by the Morse family who began developing The Villages back in 1980s. They own everything here including the local newspaper, a radio station and a TV channel.

Singapore's first retirement village to be ready end of 2017 - The Hillford

Resort living does not come cheap, but there is a growing demand for such a retirement village for the more affluent retirees in Singapore and Malaysia. The wait may soon be over for Singapore retirees as the first retirement village, The Hillford, is due for completion end of 2017.

Malaysia's first retirement village, Green Acres, is expected to be completed in early 2016

As for Malaysia, the first retirement village already had its soft launch recently, and is due for completion in the first quarter of 2016. This is the much-heralded Green Acres in Ipoh, comprising 110 units priced from RM300,000. Another is Eden-on-the-Park in Kuching, Sarawak. It is marketed as the 'first Integrated Senior Lifestyle and Care Residence Resort facility in Malaysia'.

An artist's impression of Eden-on-the-Park, consisting of luxury apartments, villas and aged-care facilities.

As the population of Singapore and Malaysia ages, it can only be good news for companies that operate retirement homes. Purpose-built housing for retirees is indeed a sunrise industry for the sunset community.

For a virtual tour of the facilities in The Villages, watch the video below. Will the first retirement villages in Singapore and Malaysia offer resort living similar to that at The Villages? We'll have to wait and see.

SELAMAT HARI RAYA

AN ONLINE PORTAL TO ENGAGE SENIORS

Council for Third Age (C3A), Singapore launched its Chinese portal yesterday at the National Library. SeniorsAloud was invited to attend the ceremony.

In his speech at the ceremony, MP Mr Heng Chee How said, "Society's perception of seniors can only change with our seniors' perception of themselves. I am happy to note that many of our seniors are embarking on their active ageing journey, leading active and healthy lifestyles.

There is also a growing number of seniors participating in the myriad of programmes available for them to pick up new skills, discover new interests and hobbies, and stay engaged in lifelong learning in their silver years....One area where seniors are interested in is that of technology. Seniors today have access to technology and many are using it to stay in touch with their friends and relatives through various platforms, including social media.

Not many countries have a minister in charge of Active
Ageing and Employability. The government takes the
challenges of an ageing population seriously.

Thus it is most timely that Council for Third Age is launching a Chinese portal, after having achieved success with their current English portal which has reached out to more than 200,000 visitors since its inception in 2012."

Well said, Minister! Exactly why SeniorsAloud places priority in encouraging seniors to pick up some pc skills to enable them to go online to learn, discover and connect. Oh, and to enjoy too. The benefits are endless.

Seniors present at the launch were shown a step by step guide on how to navigate the portal so that they could easily explore all the features on their own at home. These include upcoming activities, recipes, videos, discounts, and much more.

You can access the C3A portal at www.c3a.org.sg/. Lots of goodies for seniors, especially if you live in Singapore.

The launch also saw participants of the Kopi and Toast buddy programme receiving their Certificates of Completion from the Minister. This is a 6-month mentor-mentee programme where an active senior is paired with a less active senior to build a meaningful friendship of mutual support through activities and learning. The mentors are given free training by C3A prior to matching them with a buddy each. Thumbs up for this initiative, C3A!

Some of the mentors (kopi) after receiving their certificates from Mr Heng Chee How

The mentees (toast) posing with Mdm Chua Foo Yong, Chairman of C3A and Mr Heng Chee How.

Mentee Mdm Sunita Khemlani was happy to have participated in the programme and made new friends.

For a guide to what's available on the C3A portal, please watch the video below. Do share the link with Chinese-speaking seniors. Just click on the language icon on the top right corner of the C3A home page to switch from one language to the other.