Yvonne Foong

Mailed Frivolous Bell to the winning bidder residing in New Zealand last week. The price of postage for a lightweight bracelet packed in an bubble wrapper envelope came to RM1.90 by Regular Snailmail. Recently, someone ordered two copiesof my book, also mailed to New Zealand for a little more than that.

I’ve also mailed books to Australia and England.

Someone had just placed a 1.1lbs order for Rochester, New York. I will be posting the package from Brea, California, thus making the cost of postage USD7.50 by regular Priority Mail.

So do not hesitate to support me across national and state borders, yeah?

My next visit to St. Vincent Hospital, L.A. is scheduled next week. So drop me an order for anywhere in the United States. You could also buy something for Dr. Friedman. Haha..

I always buy simple toys for my young friends and family members, like Lego, basic vehicles, large building blocks, pocketbooks, and crayons. As a kid, I never liked electronic toys myself. Yet I grew up fine.

What toys will you be getting this Christmas?

The recent recalls of various children’s toys have parents and would-be Santas leery this holiday season, but it may just be the thing to push consumers to be more creative about the toys they buy their young children.

“Old-fashioned retro toys, such as red rubber balls, simple building blocks, clay and crayons, that don’t cost so much and are usually hidden in the back shelves are usually much healthier for children than the electronic educational toys that have fancier boxes and cost $89.99,� says Temple University developmental psychologist Kathy Hirsh-Pasek.

The overarching principle is that children are creative problem-solvers; they’re discoverers; they’re active, says Hirsh-Pasek, the Lefkowitz Professor of Psychology at Temple and co-director of the Temple University Infant Lab. “Your child gets to build his or her imagination around these simpler toys; the toys don’t command what your child does, but your child commands what the toys do.�

FULL STORY

The lecturer returned our Abnormal Psychology paper yesterday. I got 19.5 out of 25 marks. He deducted one mark from every requirement. The lecturer asked me, “Why this topic?” So I explained that “Psychopathy is likely more common that we think due to it’s potential of going undiagnosed for many reasons. The study of Psychopathy has a close relationship with the criminal justice system. It’s understanding had caused many jurisdictions to revise their law. By writing this essay, I wish to show the impact and importance of Psychological research have in society. It is not a mere fad in lifestyle magazines”.

I would not have chosen to write the paper any other way.

Later, I thought if the lecturer had asked me, “Why did you not write it another way?”

I would reply, “The study of Psychopathy is still new, because Psychopathy is a condition and the cause of other problems, rather than an illness that could be treated by therapy. Much like the difference between NF and cancer. Even it’s prevalence is poorly documented in mental health institutions, and patients are often mistaken for having other problems instead of Psychopathy. With such limited discoveries and poorly supported hypothesis, I was not confident writing the facts.”

I shared my dissatisfaction with Reuben whose paper also deviated from the conventional requirement. But he said, “Your marks are considered high! Why care about how others receive your paper? You write because you believe it would make a difference.”

To which I agreed.

I said, “Oh, Reuben, but I have not finished!”

Reuben: “……”

Yvonne: I was about to tell you that right now, my friend Cordy is chatting with me. She is taking a sponsored scriptwriting course at Astro. The people she met there consists of experienced writers, directors, actors, and what not. At first, they were surprised that Cordy was chosen despite her lack of experience. Some appeared intimidated and competitive. People backbite and gossip. Cordy bought a copy of my book and gave it to her tutor as a token of appreciation. I said her act of kindness might cause jealousy. But she said, “Can’t think too much sometimes.” And I added, “Yeah, just do our part.”

I was reminded of the Legendary Jang Geum and her dedication towards the task at hand, unperturbed by what people say or do to her.

“Eh…. Reuben. You got 19.0 and you set it as the benchmark eh? What if your 19 is considered low? Then my extra 0.5 isn’t any much higher what.”

Reuben: “Ok”.

I’m such a pain in the ass.

Each time I walk over to the post office 15 minutes away, I take note of the cracked pavement, the potholes, the double-parked cars, the burst pipes, the litters, the dusty air, and the sort of people outdoors. The middle-aged and the elderly stay mostly at home, replaced by college students crossing the streets. By crossing, I mean they merely cross and head straight toward their destinations. Only a few still go to the playground.

I tell myself, if only we could turn back time, Subang Jaya was such a wonderful place to live in. But who are we to blame? Many Malaysians still mistake tolerance and pacifism for patriotism.

I tell you, at the rate our cities are developing without control, the country will soon fall apart.

If only we can rebuild Subang Jaya, this city where I had lived all my life. I hear students traveling from other cities to study with me here, that pride in their eyes, I wish to show them how beautiful this place used to be when it was only a town with only ONE shopping mall, good ‘ol’ Subang Parade, the longest one back then.

Sometimes, I feel guilty raising funds the way I do, encouraging this capitalistic trend. But what can we do? What can Malaysians do, but take care of our immediate needs?

This post was inspired by THIS ARTICLE John showed me today.

If only we are free to want a common good. I am sad to see new merchants at the local pasar malam trying hard to make ends meet. Some have children so young, barely into pre-school.

This is the state of Malaysia today. Everyone is struggling.

This is a continuation of the previous post. Lest you think I am unreasonably demanding, I am not.

Assunta Hospital in Petaling Jaya recently upgraded their facility including massive ground floor reconstruction. They now have a fee-for-service jockey. They also hired ‘bell boys’ to open car doors and greet patrons with a smile. I loathed seeing them bow lowly to greet patrons still inside their cars.

Farce, farce, all farce.

Sunway Medical Center treated me the same when I took Pei Lee there. So did Pantai Hospital rush to me with a wheelchair in 2002. But does this mean their medical expertise are more superior than government hospitals? No, not always.

A good hospital with dedicated doctors is confident in their services. There is no need for demonstrations.

I tell you what is hospitality. Do away those fancy curbs and obstructing plants. Make wheelchairs accessible, receptionists attentive, procedures swift and easy, and hallways clear. Hire social workers, not bell boys, to assist the old and the disabled. I would be ten times grateful.

Remember, a good system promotes independence among the disabled by making things accessible. It does not pamper.

Sometimes, I wonder why do we pay extra to Malaysian private hospitals when most of them can’t offer any better services than the government.

I see Kuala Lumpur General Hospital is improving now. I sure hope the government can outdo the capitalists.

I wish to hide behind a name of late. A struggler’s name many identify with. A name so familiar it slips off the tongue. My dream is to see a disabled-friendly Malaysia, a state for the people.

I tried. With Keisha, we formed a tiny group that went nowhere. Rarely did people identify with us. We had no viable plan, no do-able action. So we dispersed.

I tried again. This time I clothed myself the banner of hope. From speech to speech, stage to stage, one reporter after another. telling my story in words.

Now some know who I am, but ignorance continues. “Sorry, I’ve never organised events for people with NF2, or even those in wheelchairs. By the way, what is NF2?”.

She missed the point. Whether it is NF, or Glaucoma, or Muscular Atrophy, or Arthritis, illnesses make people different. We blend in with the masses, just as some people wear spectacles, some don’t. You do not prepare aids because special people are attending, you prepare because they are expected to come with or without prior notice. You do not say, oh no chair for you, uncle, most of us are young, we can stand. People may lack experience in event management, but ignorance is unforgivable. The lack of experience may result in ill-preparation, ignorance results in no preparation.

Perhaps to Malaysians, I am speaking French. But this is why we are far behind. We often talk about diversity and unity. When people with special needs join the equation for diversity, they will not be forgotten.

Having put myself out there, I still see no change. Perhaps it is better hiding behind a name. Let not my face diminish my words.

A fellow writer put up our chat log on her blog. Yvonne’s view on suffering.

Someone recently left a comment saying I am condescending these days. An old reader, I know she meant well. But other readers might take her literally. So here goes Yvonne condescending.

Haven’t all writers who caused social change been condescending? Believing they are damn right to the point of fascism? If you can’t see it here, then look abroad.

In the words of George Bernard Shaw. “The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.”

I tell you what is condescending. This is. But like Voltaire, I may not agree with her, but I will defend to death her right to say it.

It is better to be firmly one-sided than to be like a boneless straw swaying wherever the wind blows.

Was flipping through the December 2007 edition of Personal Money magazine. To keep things clean, they separated merchants’ contact information from the product catalog. Check this out. Click image for larger view.

Yvonne Foong listed together with Anna Sui, British India, Nike, and Padini, woi. Not Heart4Hope, but Yvonne Foong.

Wah so glamorous. Hehe… pardon me. Needed the occasional ego boost. Much thanks to Noelle Lim who got me in that mag. Now if I tell people I am as famous as Anna Sui, they won’t sue me right?

PERSONAL MONEY magazine helped promote my cause. I’ve put together a special package just for this Christmas. Click the image on my sidebar for more details. This special deal was planned two months ago. TheEdge magazine offered to raise funds for my healthcare. So I’m sticking to it.

In another note, I’m bringing dad to UMMC on Monday, which is tomorrow. We’ll see how it goes. Taking one step at a time. Please be patient with me. I’m trying my best to make the best decision for dad without burdening anyone.

A friend recently met someone wearing my t-shirt whose friends commented that my cause is not one worth supporting. This is not the first. My supporters have received such comments countless times.

Must have been difficult defending me. Thanks everyone who stood up. You know what? This problem is coming to an end soon. My trust deed is almost done. You’ll be able to tell the detractors, “Hey, didn’t you know? Yvonne has a legitimate trustee now! I got receipts for donating. Oh… and… lest you did not know. Yvonne gave instructions for her funds to benefit other needy people after her demise. So it’s one charity for another. Cool ain’t it?”

Yah man. I can’t wait!