REDISCOVERING THE JOY OF LEARNING

It's been three weeks since the first semester started at the University of Third Age (U3A), Malaysia - a non-academic 'university' for older adults aged 50 and above. My friends and I are enjoying all the classes we have signed up for. Not only are we learning new skills, but also making new friends.

Here's a pictorial account of the classes I've attended so far.

(Above): At the beginners' swimming class. Instructor Syaizalah Kamarudin taught us the correct breathing techniques, as well as how to float and move forward in the water. It must have been quite a challenge for him to teach a group of seniors many of whom had never stepped into a pool before. By the end of the second class, he had built up our confidence, and we are now well on our way to becoming water babies!

(Above): Instructor George Wong showing us how to take good photos. There's so much more to photography than just point and shoot. He took us through all the features in our digital camera and shared useful tips on what to look for when buying a camera. Next week we shall be going on a field trip to apply what we have learned in our photography classes. It should be loads of fun.

(Above): Nutritionist Dr Rosita Jamaluddin's class on healthy cooking is another much-in-demand course. It is easy to see why. Not only did we learn better methods of food preparation, we got to taste all the dishes at the end of the class. There was also much camaraderie during the two and a half hours of hands-on cooking session.

(Above): Sabariah, Catherine and SP giving the thumbs up for their dish of Nasi Hijau Iran or Iranian Green Rice - an exotic alternative to plain white rice, and definitely much more nutritious and tasty.

(Above): A healthier version of the much-loved nasi lemak using a mix of brown and white rice. The sambal is cooked with less oil and sugar. The side dishes of kangkong, cucumber, eggs, nuts and fried anchovies make this a balanced meal that's easy and fast to prepare.

According to Dr Rosita, healthy cooking is all about reducing the fat, sugar, salt and oil in your cooking and opting for healthier alternatives like brown rice for white rice, yoghurt for coconut milk and lime juice for mayonnaise. You can still enjoy your favourite dishes without worrying too much about your cholesterol or blood sugar levels. Think of the long-term health benefits for your family when you switch to healthy cooking.

(Above): Dr Rosita demonstrates how to toss salad without leaving half of it outside the bowl! Commercial salad dressing is packed with calories. So if you don't want to pile on the pounds, try making your own dressing.

(Above): The groups take turns to share healthy cooking tips about their dish. After the presentations, it's chow time with everyone tucking into the healthy spread. A virtual feast for the eyes and tummy!

I can't wait for my Traditional Chinese Medicine class to start in July. My friends are absolutely delighted with their Mandarin class and ICT class. I've also heard positive feedback from those taking home gardening, oil painting and seal engraving. There are 39 courses offered for the first and second semester which begins in September. The instructors are either highly qualified academicians, or industry experts with years of experience.

There are two classes for Basic Computing and the Internet to cater to the large number of seniors eager to learn how to use the computer, and how to access the internet.

At this stage of our lives, we have the freedom to select courses that appeal to us. There are no academic qualifications required for registration. There are no exams or assignments, so there's no stress or pressure. As life-long students, we are highly motivated. We have to be to drive all that distance to UPM Serdang just to attend a 2-hour class. But what does that matter when we are having fun rediscovering the joy of meaningful learning, of acquiring new skills and knowledge that we can put to good use.

If you are interested to register for any of these classes or just want to find out more, visit the U3A website at http://u3amalaysia.wordpress.com/ or email seniorsaloud@gmail.com.

Related article:

A University For Senior Students

RISING FOOD PRICES EATING INTO PENSION

Would you pay Rm10 for this plate of nasi bryani with one measly piece of fried fish? I did, at an Original Kayu restaurant in Ampang Point. When I complained, I was given an earful of the high price of fish, rice, cooking oil, etc, etc..

If your wife asks you for more money for groceries because Rm1000 a month just isn't enough to feed the family anymore, she's giving you a taste of reality. Unless you do the marketing yourself, you probably won't realize how fast and how much food prices have risen.

A loaf of wholemeal bread is now Rm3.20, bananas are Rm5.65 for a bunch of five. Add coffee or tea, butter or jam. Breakfast at home no longer comes cheap.

It wasn't that long ago when a loaf of wholemeal bread cost Rm2.10. Now it's gone up to Rm3.20. I don't eat meat. You would think I spend less on a fruit and vegie diet. I wish. My favourite Fuji apples were Rm1.19 each only a month ago. I was already complaining then. Now it's up by almost 30 sen. And you won't believe how expensive apple jambus are, especially the imported ones.

Rm14.75 for six apple jambus. That's about Rm2.50 each or 85 sen a bite.

Rm8.94 for six Fuji apples at a hypermarket. So much for eating an apple a day to keep the doctor away! Probably cheaper to fall sick and see the doctor at a public clinic.

Prices are also creeping up at hypermarkets like TESCO and Giant. Whether it's meat, beverages, cereals, sugar, garlic, vegetables or eggs, Rm100 doesn't buy as much as a year ago. Retirees are hard-hit. With no income coming in and money flowing out, they are digging into their piggy banks to pay for food.


Why is the government so reluctant to disclose the agreements signed between Tenaga Nasional and the Independent Power Producers (IPPs)? Is there something the public should not know?

Now that the electricity tariff has gone up by 7.12%, expect another round of price hikes. Don't be taken in by the government's assurances that this increase will have 'minimal impact' on consumers. Neither should we commend the 2500 members of the Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners Association for their promise not to raise food prices. Not yet anyway.

Talk is cheap. Let's see some action.

CAREGIVERS WHO DON'T CARE A DAMN

This video caused a furore in Singapore when it was first screened on Channel 8 news Thursday night. After conducting an investigation of the nursing home in question, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has issued an order for the home to stop admitting new residents.

Outraged citizens have expressed shock and disgust at the abusive treatment meted out to the 75-year old woman in the video. According to the news report, the woman was made to sit naked for 30 minutes under the full blast of a ceiling fan, and then flung onto her bed. When she groaned, one of the caregivers slapped her on the mouth.

Since the news broke, people with elderly parents at the home have come forward to relate similar incidents. Obviously this is not an isolated case.

Close-circuit cameras at a nursing home to monitor the staff and ensure all's well. (Source: Straits Times 11 June)

Elderly folks can be cranky, obstinate and verbally abusive. It takes a lot of patience to look after them, more so if they are mentally or physically unable to take care of themselves. You have to feed them, bathe them, change their diapers, accompany them to the toilet, give them their medicine and make sure they do not hurt themselves. Not everyone has what it takes to be a caregiver. When caregivers are overworked, the stress can translate into mistreatment of the very people they are supposed to look after.

This is not meant to defend errant caregivers, but rather, to place the onus on nursing home operators to ensure better supervision of their staff. For one, they should adopt MOH's guidelines on staff-resident ratio to ensure that the staff are not overworked and taking it out on the residents. This ratio varies depending on the category of residents:

Category One: physically and mentally independent residents who require less attention. Ratio of staff to residents is 1:30.

Category Two: semi-mobile residents who require some assistance with daily activities. Ratio is 1:8.

Category Three: wheelchair bound or bedridden residents who may have mental sickness. Ratio is 1:4.

Category Four: fully dependent residents who have mental or behavourial problems and are unable to cope with daily living on their own. Ratio is 1:2.

Lunch time at one of the better managed nursing homes I have visited.

I have visited enough nursing homes in the past weeks to know that many of the staff are overworked and underpaid. At one home for the aged in Petaling Jaya, I saw how one of the caregivers was feeding an elderly woman. The latter was still chewing the food when the next spoonful was shoved into her mouth. It's a wonder she didn't throw up. That particular caregiver was in a hurry as she had several other residents to feed. At another home, wheelchair-bound residents were left in front of the TV set where they would sit and stare blankly at the screen for hours. There was no programme of activities to occupy them.

One of the many privately-run homes in Petaling Jaya.

So before you register your loved one in a nursing home, do all the necessary checks. You can't rely solely on the information contained in promotional brochures or websites. Or even what the staff tells you. Drop in unannounced for a surprise visit, say, during meal time. You will have a better picture of how the residents there are treated and how well the place is managed. Be prepared for some depressing sights.

MARRIED LIFE IS WONDERFUL FOR MUSLIM MEN IN MALAYSIA

The Sun 6 June. (Click on image to enlarge.)

"My cup runneth over!" Salih Yaccob seems to be saying. He must be the envy of men in Malaysia. He's off on a honeymoon with his new fourth wife, and bringing along his other wives as well. How thoughtful of him. His entourage also includes his 11 children. What a caring husband and doting father!

In Muslim society where polygamy is legal, the first wife gets short shrift. She has to bear the hurt and pain of sharing her husband three times over. It's a crushing blow to her self-esteem to know that the man she has given her heart to finds her inadequate. By the time he takes his fourth wife, the first wife is probably in her forties or early fifties. I wonder how she feels. She is not getting any younger. Neither is her husband, but the women he is marrying keep getting younger and younger.

Which woman would quietly acquiesce to her husband's bombshell announcement of his intention to marry again? As far as I know, my Muslim lady friends would rather seek a divorce than remain in a marriage where their husband no longer regards them as the love of his life.

If a Muslim woman wants a divorce from her wayward or irresponsible husband, it can be a long drawn-out process. However, if the husband is not happy with his current wife, he only has to utter the words of the 'talaq' (seeking divorce) three times to divorce her. In some states, this can even be done via a text message! It is relatively easy for a Muslim man in Malaysia to marry up to four wives, and equally easy for him to divorce any one or all of them.

According to figures released by the Islamic Development Department (JAKIM), Muslim couples get divorced every 15 minutes in Malaysia. There were 27,116 divorces in 2009, up from 17,749 in 2005. Divorce rates among Muslims are now at an all-time high, making up about 82 per cent of total divorces in Malaysia. (Source: Straits Times 27 May 2011)

The Malay Mail 6 June

With the scales already so heavily tipped in favour of the men, you would expect Malay women here to protest. Not quite. One of them, Dr Rohaya Mohamad, has set up the Obedient Wives Club to train wives to be a 'first-class prostitute' in bed in the belief that if a woman can satisfy her husband's sexual needs, he would not desire other women or abandon her.


The Star 7 June

This is most insulting and degrading to women. Dr Rohaya, the vice president of the club, is a highly educated professional, a mother of three and one of her husband's four wives. She seems to have forgotten that we are no longer living in the Dark Ages. Women now have rights, and one of them is to be treated with respect, and not as sex objects.

To quote the good doctor, "When a man is kept happy in the bedroom, he would have no reason to stray, seek out prostitutes or indulge in other social vices. The family institution is protected and we can curb social ills like prostitution, domestic violence, human trafficking and abandoned babies."

Male dominance over women still exists in the 21st century.

How naive! If only it were that simple to eradicate these major societal ills. As preposterous as the whole idea may sound, the club already boasts more than 800 members since its launch on 4 June. There is a chapter in Jordan with 200 members, and a third will be launched in Jakarta on 19 June.

It would be unfair to paint all Muslim men with the same tainted brush. There are good men out there who truly appreciate their wives. I know of Muslim couples who do everything together, who cannot envisage life without their other half by their side. Unfortunately, such happily married couples are becoming a dying species.

JUST PACK YOUR BAGS AND GO!

Off the beaten track - Cannero, Italy.

What a great feeling to be on vacation. You wake up as and when you please. There's a whole new day ahead of you to do whatever grabs your fancy. Life slows down to a leisurely pace. That's how a holiday should be. Not one of those frenetic package tours where you visit 101 tourist attractions in one day, and each one remains a blur in the memory.

Retirees are spoilt for choice when it comes to travel destinations. Time is no longer an issue. And with budget airlines offering discounted fares, we no longer have to save for years to see the world. Do a Google search and you will be amazed at the number of websites that cater to older travellers.


Established in 1987, ELDERTREKS is the world's first adventure company that caters exclusively for those 50 and above. A must-visit website if you love the thrill of discovering new experiences.

If your other half isn't into travelling, leave him behind. Don't feel guilty about it. It's his choice. He can feed the cat and water the plants while you join your group of friends on a cruise down the Nile. Life is too short to sit around and mope about having no one to travel with. This is a great opportunity to make new friends. Be adventurous.

Senior travel clubs are proliferating. Join one. Or organize your own travel group. A group of retirees I know are organizing a trip to Tibet from Aug 13-20. There are limited places left. If you are keen, contact seniorsaloud@gmail.com for more details.

Tiger's Nest, Bhutan. Simply breathtaking. Photo: YonGo Travel

Brothers Yong Lee Min and Yong Lee Keng are seasoned backpackers. Their Kuala Lumpur based company YonGo Travel has organised trips to Peru, Bolivia, Eastern Europe, Syria, Northern India, Korea, South Africa & Zimbabwe, New Zealand Milford Tracking, Hanoi, China Tibet, Cambodia (Angkor Wat). Their website is a veritable directory of travelogues, tips and useful links. Contact them for information about their upcoming trips.

Swap homes and save on accommodation when you vacation overseas. HomeExchange boasts a listing of over 40,000 homes worldwide, including homes in Malaysia (24) and Singapore (43).

If you think you are too old to travel, think again. My uncle Xavier will be 78 in October. He has been blazing a trail across the Americas, Europe and Asia since he retired at 55. Not even a by-pass could get him to hang up his backpack for good. Click here to view some of his travel photos.

Still youthful at 78, my Uncle Xavier continues to enjoy life as an intrepid globetrekker.

If roughing it out is not your idea of the perfect getaway, you can always opt for hassle-free package tours to popular destinations like Guangzhou or Bali. If you are like my daughter, you will want to plan the entire holiday yourself online, from booking the air tickets to arranging for car rental, and everything else in between.

The private pool at our villa in Phuket.

Relaxing at Laguna beach with a book and a refreshing coconut drink.

Kids have a major say in family holidays. My grandchildren love the beach, so seaside resorts are a family favourite. Photo: Max and Reiya showing off their tattoos.

Grandma has one too!

Why just dream of faraway places? Pack your bags and go! Explore the beauty and wonders of the world while you still can.

BE VIGILANT AGAINST SPEAR PHISHING

Source: Straits Times 4 June 2011

This is too important not to share - my first encounter with spear phishing. It's a new and rapidly spreading form of fraud that comes as an email from people you know like your family members, colleagues or friends. Google has acknowledged on Wednesday that it is aware of attempts to steal hundreds of gmail passwords and hack into gmail accounts.


The Telegraph Sunday 5 June

This email below almost got me fooled because it 'came' from a good friend. I received it a few days ago. It had my ex-college mate's familiar email address. As I continued reading I knew for sure the email was a scam. Linda has contributed articles to Seniorsaloud. It was unlike her to make so many glaring grammatical errors. The desperate plea for money to be sent to her in Greece sounded suspicious to me.

I'm reproducing the email here in case you receive similar emails purportedly from someone you know. DO NOT RESPOND TO IT.
_____________

Hello ,


I 'm sure you are okay. Apology for contacting you in this manner.Sorry I didn't inform you about my trip to Athens. It was an urgent business/seminar trip. I'm stranded in serious mess here in Greece.It is not easy to be stranded abroad. I was attacked on my way to the hotel I lodged, although I wasn't hurt because I complied immediately to their demand.


My mobile phone and luggage were stolen. My Credit Cards and some other vital documents were inside my luggage. I have called my credit card company to blocked all my cards.I have also been to the embassy to report the case.The embassy promised to take the necessary measures. Aside these, I need to sort out some vital issues including my bills.


Please I want to ask you for a favor.I need financial assistance urgently. I would like you to help me with 2000$.I will refund you with interest upon my arrival back home.If you can't be able to send me the whole 2000$,please,send any amount you can afford.I am in urgent need of Money to sort out some bills.


It is not a spam or virus message.I am in a critical situation here and needed urgent help.
Send me any amount you can afford using western union money transfer.Find a nearest outlet and send me some money to my name and address below.


DETAILS NEEDED FOR THE MONEY TRANSFER.


Name: Linda Toh
Address: 87 Valaoritou str. ( KOLONAKI )
ATHENS CENTER 10671
Athens, Greece .


I appreciate your help and kindness. Please get back to me via my email with the MTCN once you transfer the money.


Many thanks in advance.


Linda Toh
___________

If you are using gmail, you would have received emails like this one:

Just a reminder that you're receiving this email at Google support centre because your registered Account needs to be verified via our website to receive related news and updates for the security of your Account on our new central webmail system. If you would like to login to your account please do send us the details below regarding your Account for confirmation.



Account Name:
Password:
Present Location:


Warning! If you would like to continue using Google services, please click on the reply button and email us the aforementioned details immediately for confirmation and validation. We will not accept liability for any loss or damage to your Account. Again we apologize for any inconvenience.

Copyright © 2011 Google.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
________________

Online scammers are raking in millions duping web-users, in particular, older folks who are new to the internet and who are easily swayed by appeals for financial help. Younger web-users are more likely to fall for get-rich scams like this one below:

Dear Gmail user


Your email emerged a winner of £500,000.00GBP.(CGPN):7-22-71-00-66-12, Ticket number: 00869575733664, Serial numbers:/BTD/8070447706/06, Lucky numbers: 12-12-23-35-40-41(12).

Contact Mr. Bernard Graham for more details: Email:bernard.w.graham04@gmail.com


Sincerely,


Ms. Mary Johnson
_______________

When unsuspecting recipients of such fraudulent emails respond, their email address is harvested and used in mass emails to their friends asking for financial assistance.

Never disclose your passwords, bank account numbers and PIN numbers to anyone. No legitimate banks, corporations or good friends will ever ask you to email them confidential personal information.

If you ever receive an email from me or Seniorsaloud asking for your personal data or appealing for donation or financial aid, take it from me that I would NEVER EVER send you such an email. Chances are it came from an underground syndicate operating in some Third World country. These scoundrels are skimming off millions from gullible web-users.

Stay vigilant against such scams and scums.

A CAREGIVER TAKES A BREAK IN PHUKET

Far from the madding crowd and from the daily stress of caregiving.

I have the deepest respect and admiration for caregivers who quietly dispense TLC day in and day out without complaint. Me? After only three months as primary caregiver to my mom, I'm suffering from burn-out.

Thanks to my sister who's in KL to relieve me, I'm able to take a week's vacation in Phuket, courtesy of my daughter Belle. Much as I am concerned about my mom, I welcome this temporary respite from my caregiving responsibilities.

All caregivers welcome a break, but not all are fortunate enough to get that break. A few hours of free time to go out, see a movie or visit a friend can do wonders to lift the morale of a full-time caregiver.


Enjoying the luxury of having room service and someone else do all the housekeeping.

Looking after my mom during her post-surgery recuperation required a drastic cut-back in my work commitments and activities. Now that geriatrician Prof Dr Philip Poi has confirmed that my mom has dementia, my role as her primary caregiver has taken on a new dimension. I have to double my efforts to stay patient and calm. A simple task like showering my mom and getting her dressed for breakfast can be quite an exasperating experience. There are so many little tasks like these to get through each day, with each one having the potential to turn into a bickering session.

My bathroom at the villa is spick and span - no commode, bed pan or strange odours for a change.

Dr Poi tells me not to argue with my mom, as she doesn't understand me anyway and won't even remember what the argument was about. He says I must always humour her and be patient with her. It's easy to accept the advice, but applying it is a different matter altogether. I confess I haven't always succeeded in keeping my cool. Harsh words spoken in a moment of exasperation often leave me feeling guilty and wondering if I am a filial daughter.

Finally after three months of sleeping on a mattress on the floor next to my mom, I get to sleep on a proper bed in the villa.

It's so important that family members offer to help out with caregiving duties on a regular basis. They should volunteer to take turns to look after their elderly parents for a few hours each week to allow their caregiver sibling a chance to unload some of the stress.

Blogging at my little work-station in the villa.