Fruits for Lunch

‘Aiya, no need to get fruits la Lucy… We already have so much food for lunch today! Park inside the office!’ Ching Ching said to Lucy who was sitting in her car one morning. ]

Lucy giggled and nodded. ‘Okay, okay...’ Lucy said. Happy that she succeeded for the first time in talking Lucy to not get fruits for lunch, Ching Ching pranced away to open the office gate so Lucy could park her car inside. To her dismay Lucy drove off, leaving Ching Ching speechless standing with a wide opened gate, and me laughing hysterically at Lucy’s clever trick. She wins again this time! 

Every Tuesday when Lucy comes to the eHomemakers office, we always have fruits after lunch bought by her at the nearby mini market. Sweet juicy papayas, oranges that if turned out to be sour, were sprinkled on with a little bit of salt and the sourness was gone (a trick that Lucy taught us), guavas or sometimes even apples. No matter what, there would always be fruits. After eating lunch, Lucy would run off to the kitchen and bring out a big plate of fruits, which we always found room to stomach, no matter how full we were.

 

Every intern that joins eHomemakers, no matter how short their stay, HAS to meet Lucy, and there has never been one intern that was never fond of her. Some of the previous interns even called her ‘Aunty Lucy’.  During lunch sometimes, Lucy would talk to the interns about her journey with SLE, and how she became the woman of perseverance she is today, and us interns would listen attentively. Who would have thought that quiet Aunty Lucy who was busy counting eco-baskets in the next room had such a big story behind her?

 

There was once where I was cranky and on that same day, I had to film Lucy’s video journal in the office. I grabbed the camera and set up, sulking. Halfway into filming, I couldn't help laughing at Lucy’s gullibility, and my mood was instantly changed from sulky to happy.  (see video below)

Thanks to Lucy, the office is always cheerful and happy. Lucy never ceases to ease the stress level in the office, her bright smile and laughter always does the trick. She is an angel in disguise, and despite our stress and struggles in eHomemakers, Lucy is definitely a reason why we carry on doing what we do. There was never a day I remember being in the office with Lucy where I had a bad day.

 

I can’t wait till next Tuesday.  


Rhonwyn H.

 

Jenny Pong in the Hospital with Pains

                I have never been proud of myself when I get sick, for I’d whine for attention. Even a little flu would make me feel like my world is about to end and I’d pout and grumble for the stuffy nose, or the headache or any sorts of mild pain I might suffer.

                Never had I seen anyone as jovial as our Jenny Pong Seow Chin though hospitalized. Just recently on the 12^th of June 2012, Jenny was admitted at the hospital with fever due to bladder infection.

Pong in the Hospital with pains

                Although with pain, she could cheerfully greet the interviewer, something which is quite an admirable feat. I can only imagine the pain that she would be going through.  As she said, “Smiling is the only cure for any sickness.” It is something everyone should make an example of. Smiling isn’t hard; people claim that it only takes 17 muscles to smile. Shouldn’t we all be doing it often too?

                Smiling actually helps in pushing away the negative aura and bringing forth positivity. Try to be like Jenny – try smiling through your pain and you can feel the difference. Though it may not kill the pain, but it makes it more bearable.

                Morphine is the drug given to alleviate the pain that Jenny is having, but for the interview she refused to take the drug as it makes her feel like she’s “going to heaven”. She endured the pain with a smiling face to talk to the interviewers. Isn’t that something admirable again?

                It takes strength to stay awake despite the pain she’s going through. I cannot admire Jenny Pong more than I already have. If it was me, I’d rather have painkillers and I would not think of the repercussions if I was meeting anyone – but Jenny had taught me to stay strong. If she can do it, why can’t I?

                How I wish I was as cheerful as her the next time I am down with a fever and able to talk to people as if I was healthy, instead of showing a sour face – trying to gauge people’s sympathy. We should not just look at Jenny and say “Oh, she’s a great woman, and I want to be like her too.”

                We should set her as an example of a person we should be, not a person we want to be.

                Jenny Pong is definitely a woman of steel. She is the epitome of strength, the pillar of courage – an example of how people should persevere in the face of adversity. I hope that things get better for her, because she deserves better.

Jenny Pong Seow Chin - My Superwoman

Photo Courtesy of 
Maria Skouras, The Advocacy Project

I can vaguely remember the small humble house at the foot of a limestone hill in Ipoh - a hazy memory of my yesteryears.

I remember holding on to my father’s hand tentatively as I walk into this home of a stranger – a place I’ve never been to. I know father knew the person who lives here, but I don’t know who it was.

        When I saw her, I knew in the heart of a little girl, that this woman has been through a lot, but I wouldn’t have guessed it, not with that beaming smile she shone upon us as we entered.

        She had no legs, and she moved around in a make-shift trolley, and it made my heart cry to see her that way. Although I know that I shouldn’t be feeling that way because she is a strong woman and strong women don’t want people to sympathize with them – instead we should be proud of her.

        Sometimes when I think that life is too much for me, and that I can’t seem to move forward just for a teeny-weeny problem - I think of her. How she would have felt when the doctors amputated her legs. I’m sure her future would have looked bleak for her, but she didn’t let that bring her down.

        She shows other women that she is the epitome of courage and strength. You don’t have to jump off a cliff and dive into churning waters to show that you’re fearless, nor do you need to lift weights to show your strength. You just need to be brave to face the challenges life puts in front of you, and have the power to rise above that, knowing that it is easy to give up but you’ve managed to stand up tall spiritually.

        Nowadays when I feel low and on the verge of giving up, I think to myself, if she and many others with the same problems can do it – who’s to say I can’t stand up tall and face only small challenges. She is my role model and she is someone we should all respect for we don’t need a man in a flowing red cape and the letter ‘S’ on his chest to be the figure of valor. All we need is to look at Jenny Pong Seow Chin and learn from her the true value of strength and perseverance.

Photo Courtesy of 
Maria Skouras, The Advocacy Project

        I left the house with Mandarin oranges in my hand – it must have been during the Chinese New Year Celebration – thinking that when I grow up I will not let any obstacles in my life bring me down. I will persevere and stand tall in the face of adversity as when I look into her eyes, it told me that you can be strong if your heart’s in the right place.