~ PerCusSo ~

FREE Outdoor Drumming & Performances (by Lila Drums)

Details are:
Date: 1st May 2006, Monday
Venue: Marine Cove Amphitheater (East Coast Park near McDonald’s)
Time: 4PM & 6.30PM (2 sessions)

FREE participation for all, drums provided. Plus drumming performances by Lila Drums Orchestra! If those interested, you need to drop an email at kelvinkew@liladrums.com.

By the way, I’m going for it (4PM session). Anyone who wanna tags along with me? Do let me know soon…

Yesterday, I attended the Deaf Go-Karting Championship 2006 at the Kart World that is located very near my home. I made to it after my work ended at 12PM.

Actually, I was the last-minute replacement of Hai Shu for the Fun Karting program which does not require anyone to possess a driving licence. Thank God, I attended it. It was very enjoyable although the karting lasted 10 minutes. Throughout my karting, I sped and at my last lap, I experienced my “accident”.

My “accident” went on: When I was going to turn to the left side, I didn’t brake it. I wanted to speed all the way to the last stop whenever it turned to the right or left. When my car went out of my control, I was welcomed by some flying grass. Haha, it was a good, fun experience.

After the fun karting, the next item was the Championship (MEN only). There was an air of excitment among the people and most of them cheered the participants on. After all, we all enjoyed it very much.

Next year, there will be the next Deaf Go-Karting Championship 2007. It will be at Tuas. However, it’s not confirmed. It was only rumors. Hopefully, there will be the FEMALE Championship competition. This time, there were not enough female drivers. Only 2 female drivers showed interests. As for me, I couldn’t take part in it as I do not have a driving licence. If you ask me to go for it, wait long, long… There is a plenty of opportunities ahead. No hurry! For now, I have my other higher priorities.

Counting the days… Counting the days down to Vesak Day.

12 May to 14 May: it seems to be a quite long break. I have been thinking of going down to Malaysia to meet deaf people and to enjoy some leisure like sight-seeing. However, I do not know how to do about it. I have been wondering who can go with me.
Also, I’m thinking of abandoning this idea to save money for my needs. Stay at home all weekend?!

Last Tuesday, I met Ramesh Meyyappan at the SADeaf. I was grateful for that opportunity to meet him in person. I felt it this way because he’s the one of sources of inspiration. He was selected by the NAC to study degree in acting or theatre studies. From what I know, I really hope to be another person that will be selected by the NAC one day. It’s not easy to get the NAC scholarship.

Guess my budget was too high for that NAC scholarship.. So, I have to change budgets. Finding a correct course/school overseas is not an easy task. For now, I have to take small steps one by one. Enrolling at LASALLE-SIA may be a good idea, but I’m afraid that there’re no resource to help me like a note-taker. It will be another tough challenge to study without any disability assistance like the period when I studied IT at Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Compared to that IT course, I was impressed by the Chinese course organized by the NTU. It’s specially designed for the Deaf people to learn Chinese because there are volunteers to help the Deaf people with their lessons. I like this way!! There’s no need for me (or the Deaf people) to ask for help in our lessons.
Most of the coursemates may not understand why we need help badly in our studies. And, they have no interests or passions to help the Deaf. One time, I tried the idea of having buddy system. It was not very effective at all times. The coursemates fail to see the main point and they may not commit themselves much to help the Deaf.

Studying in overseas is really a good exposure, I strongly believe. I’m very sure that it will benefit me alot. But I have a very long way to reach this goal. I’ve been working hard for it! One day, success will be knocking on my door and I will see many bright opportunities coming…

Many people have been asking me about my job at the Joy Place. I told them that it’s an enjoyable work! Great experience in working with special kids, I can say…

My duties include:
1) Plan education programs including the operation of computers.
2) Provides administrative support, eg. photocopying, distribution of lesson materials and maintaining teachers and students record books and daily communication to parents through the note-book.
3) To assist with the management of resources by maintaining & updating inventory list and monitoring stock levels a& requirements.
4) Preparation and maintenance of the learning environment by maintaining equipment, materials and resources for use in classes, displays and demonstrations.
5) To keep clean and safe storage of items after classes and activities.
6) Implements indvidual student or small group programs or demonstrations.
7) To organise with care and supervision of students in out-class activities, on school excursions and overnight camps.
General care and well being of students, including attending to sick students or students in need of minor first aid.
9) Assist with arrival and departure of children, including placing students in and out of vehicles.
10) Assist students with food preparations, eating and where necessary, feeding of students.
11) Assist by moving students, and when required by changing student from one piece of equipment to another.
12) Assist children in undressing, bathing, dressing, toileting etc. including cleaning up after accidents.
13) Undertake bathing or showering of students.
14) Any other duty as deemed necessary.

Every Monday to Friday morning, I usually have a lot of free time and I make use of this to plan programs/activties for students. Sometimes, I do my own things like practising my percussion techniques, reading.
I help babysit autistic kids in the absence of their teacher. (Sadly, I am unable to teach autistic kids because of my handicap. If I teach these kids or I take charge of them, their language development will be greatly affected. They easily grasp whatever they listen. I’m worried that I may pronounce words wrongly. But somehow, I can teach them to do Arts & Craft or music by playing instruments. At least, I know what it’s like working with these kids and I’m satisfied with teaching them Arts & Craft and music.)
One of these days (Tuesdays or Thursdays), I walk to the Singapore School for the Deaf to borrow books and/or to observe the music lessons. The SSD is very near to the Joy Place. Only 15 minutes’ walking time.

In the afternoon, I usually teach three deaf kids almost all of the subjects like English, Maths, Sign Language, Creative Writing, Reading, Arts & Craft, music, etc. Sometimes, I teach Life Skills (housekeeping, IT skills, money skills, time-telling skills, etc) to two children with intellect disability.

Over there at the Joy Place, my colleagues are very flexible. One of my colleagues ask me to go off at 5PM and my working hours are supposed to be from 8.30AM to 6.00PM. She even tells me if I come late, it is still alright.
Recently, I was very sick and I was down with a flu and a very bad cough. I sms them that I couldn’t come down in the morning and I was to see a doctor. I promised that I would come down in the afternoon after seeing the doctor. Therefore, it was not counted as a half-day leave and it still considered as my working day. Somemore, I’m still on probation and 1 more month down to go. It will end in the end of this May.

I guess we have only 9 kids to take care and that’s why we’re flexible.

Alright, if you wanna know more about these kids, I am sorry that I am unable to tell you about them. Their details are highly confidential because of their parents and other reasons. Most of the their parents do not open up yet. They’re still protective of their children. Even when it comes to media and publicity, their parents’ consent will be sought. Some do not allow it. It is highly understood!

Well, I feel that I’m more fortunate when I experience working with them day by day. Even, I can say that deafness, blindess and physical disabilties are the most fortunate. It’s because our brain can function well and it’s just that there are more possibilities for us to carve out our careers.
As for the other disabilities, they face more difficulties and challenges than us. They may not socialise well with the mainstream society. Or they may not have their professional careers at any own pace. They may not be completely independent. It’s just that the mainstream society may not embrace them openly. These other disabilites (like autism, intellect disability) are different from deafness, blindness and physical disabilites because of brain funcionality. This is my opinion.. If you feel I may be wrong, do correct me and I’m willing to learn. I know that there are lots of things that I may not know out there. I need to read up lots of these things!!

Working with these special kids is really a wonderful gift to me. In this such way, I am able to do more research on my own work in music education/therapy. Different approaches can apply the best to different people. GOD BLESS!!

After teaching sign language, I just met a group of YouthBeat volunteers. Yiyi and Xuehui are still there!! They mentioned the camp to me and it sounds quite interesting. Though I wanna volunteer on those actual days of the camp, I’m still not sure whether I should help out at the camp. I do not wanna involve much work and I worry it will affect my schedule. Still, I will see how… Again, I will say it depends on my schedule.

Anyway, I’m glad to see both of them at the SADeaf. Glad to see another person. DAWN!! Ha, her tummy is getting bigger and bigger. It has been a quite long time that I haven’t seen her at the SADeaf even though I come down to the SADeaf often in the evening. She’s expecting her third son soon..

Now recuperating at home since today is a Good Friday.

Well, I intend to stay at home all day again tomorrow. I need to settle my things at home before they get piled up or they never get completed!

Guess, it will be a good day for me to rest more since I have been very busy every day.

This morning, my cough had been very bad. It was getting worse. So, I decided to see a doctor.

WOW, alot of medicine to reduce pain in my left ear, to cure my cough, to cure my fever/flu… Yes, I need to drink plenty of water.

Sighz, even though I drink lots of water every day, I still get sick. I do eat fruits every day. Guess, I overworked myself… For now, I stopped the Chinese practice. I need to rest more…

Anyway, the cause of my sickness was the unpredictable weather in Tampines. Last Monday & Wednesday, I went to Temasek Polytechnic for the Deaf Awareness Programme, together with Zach, Joan, Shirley, Shalini, Freddie, Pet, Jennifer, Serming and Claudine.
Over there, it was raining dogs and cats. Freezing cold!! Yes, I did wear my jacket but still, I felt cold.

I think I got a flu from it..
It was a very terrible feeling that I had ever felt!!

Coughing… Coughing… Coughing…

It started last friday after my percussion lesson ended at 7.30PM. When I boarded the bus, my whole body began to feel so feverish that I had been feeling very terrible. I shook with coldness in the “unfeeling” bus. Then, I cried inside…

My friends advised me to see a doctor if it worsened the next day. The next day, my body still was feverish and yet, I went to Canossian School for music teaching work. It was only 2 hours. Somehow, it seemed to be under control. So, I assumed that I could make it to my appointment – to attend my friend’s daughter’s 1-year birthday party. But over there at Pasir Ris, it was raining all of sudden. My body temperature increased till I felt very terrible. It was so freezing inside!! Therefore, I left early for home to grab more rest.

Coughing… Coughing…

I hadn’t seen a doctor since then. Yesterday, after my sign language work, I still held on to my appointment – to meet a group of 14 Deaf seniors (between late 40s and early 60s). That was my first time to meet them. Usually, we had 1-3 Deaf youths visiting Singapore.

Cough.. Coughing… Coughing.. Cough…

Anyway, I enjoyed meeting them. My great pleasure in guiding them in Orchard for a while… Shalini, Gophi, Evelyn, Shirley and Keng Ying had been another great help!!
Also, I met Sushil, a deaf guy from Nepal whom Shalini and Gophi brought to the SADeaf earlier on. He was an interesting person!

Cough.. Cough… Cough…. Cough… Cough..

I have to stop here… It is getting worse!!

Truly grateful to the SADeaf for organising the sign language workshops on 24-26 March. These workshops were enriching, especially for the games (Visual-Gestural Communication). I enjoyed the lessons conducted by Lucy Lim and Koon Wei although I disagreed with some of the topics like “SEE is not a language”. They have raised my awareness and in this such way, I will be able to know my strengths and weaknesses. I will work hard to overcome these weaknesses.

For those topics (Bicultural & Bilingual, other history) that I’m unfamiliar with, I will read up more on them. And, I will get information from the senior instructors and summarize it. This wil be shared among all the instructors. Meanwhile, I hope to make my objectives very clear to those whom I share or teach.

Alright, I look forward to another course on the Art of Visual Communication that commences on 17 April. Again, I hope that I can apply to what I’m currently doing – performing, signing, teaching.