Hello! I Am Back

Life has become more exciting and more meaningful after the last blog since July 2013. Seemed like so long ago that I might have forgotten about the blogsite which I have been updating since 2007. Please bear with me as this may be quite a long post as I try to recollect the happenings for the last 13 months. You may recall from time to time from earlier posts of unsuccessfully acquiring a guide dog with the Guide Dogs Association of the Blind. I gave my best in the assessment in December 2012 in which I was uprightly rejected and disqualified. Hence, with the initiation of Nick, Cheng hock and Kendra (who passed on on 1 August), agreeing to go on the programme with me, we successfully raised $20,000 through UFM1003. We were invited to go on air on 13 December 2012 in which the funds was raised within 24 hours. Thanks UFM1003, the donors and Nick who turned this dream into reality. This sum of money was not to acquire or buy guide dog, but is used to support in the maintenance of the guide dog should unforeseen situations arise. Mr Kuaalso gave a breakdown of how the sum might be utilized, including the air fare and accommodation of the assessor (guide dog mobility instructor) who needed to visit Singapore to study the environment besides assessing my suitability of using a guide dog as a mobility aid, my travelling and accommodation expenses for staying one-month in the school and so on. He also qualified that it would take about one year to source for a suitable guide dog from an international accredited school. With this sum ready, we embarked on the next stage—to source for a guide dog school which would be willing to give a free guide dog. As Cheng Hock has great connection internationally, he took on the task. He approached schools from Japan to USA to Europe—Norway. However, futility was staring at us for the first five months. In mid May, he rang me and said, “Lee Lee, I still don’t have good news yet. The Norwegians wanted to give but had not heard from them. A school in USA was willing to give pups but not trained guide dogs. I had written to Japan but no reply. We may have to settle for the worse”. Although I resigned to the fact and that I might have to return the money to the donors by the end of 2013, I still continued to pray for an open door. When I picked up the phone on the evening of 28 May, Cheng Hock’s voice came through delivering the good news with excitement that Eye Mate Inc Japan would be sending an instructor in the next few days to assess my suitability of acquiring a guide dog. I was elated and we met with Alvin at Swensens in Parkway Parade the next day to discuss plans as it was confirmed that Mr Shotaro Hara would arrive on 4 June and depart on 7 June. Eventually, we put him up at Grand Mercure Roxy Singapore, not only because the hotel was having a promotion but I was familiar with the area and would be confident to take him around the vicinity. Thank God that SIA was running promotion too. Mr Shotaro Hara arrived on 4 June, hence,, upon completion of some formalities and paperwork, I took him around Singapore for the subsequent two days. While we trravelled on buses for the assessment on 5 June, we took the MRT on the 6. Proper assessment commenced after he visited my home to assess if the environment was suitable to accommodate a guide dog. Aaron came to pick us at the Toa Payoh Hub, proceeded to the Rochor Road Bean curd for some light snacks. We then went to the Marina Barrage in which He took more pictures of the scenery from the rooftop in which we could get a bird's eyeview of the island of Singapore. He took care of his own dinner for the evening, window shopping around the vicinity. On June 6, After meeting him, walked around the Parkway Parade perimeter. We then took a bus to a train station. I showed him the intricacies of our rail network. Our last stop was at Lucky Plaza to pick up some souvenirs. We had a sumptuous dinner at GuMaJia Restaurant in which Kendra was the star for the evening. Gwyn, the boss brought her son specially to capture a shot with her. When he departed on 7 June, he assured me that I qualified but was to wait for an official email from Mr Takao Shioya, the president. His parting words, “You are all ready to go. I am thinking of the dog I have for you in Japan now.” He added, “We don’t have class from August to September because it is too hot to train. You will come in September if all goes well”. Cheng Hock then advised him with regards to the procedure of importing a guide dog into Singapore, which included the compulsory vaccinations for the dog and the documents needed to be approved by AVA before the guide dog touched down at Changi Airport. The confirmation email arrived on 26 June from Mr Takao Shioya and Notes for the walking nstruction arrived on 9 August, the same day that we booked the air ticket. Thank Cheng Hock and Takao San for making the arrangements; for Cheng Hock told me, "Lee Lee, I don't want you to be bogged down with logistics. I'll handle this for you. You just go, train and come back with your guide dog. You have waited all these years seize this opportunity." I jetted off from T3 on SQ636, having sent off by mother, brotehr, maid and Collette, arrived at Haneda International Airport at 6Am Tokyo time. As I was earlier by 30 minutes, a mandarin-speaking ground crew accompanied me till Till Shotaro San showed up at 6:30am. I was greeted by cold winds as it was autumn. Excitement overtook the chill and I asked many questions travlling in his car. Later did I know that training to walk without a cane commenced upon arrival at the school. The cane was confiscated and I was supposed to follow his verbal queue. He would be my instructor for the next one month. While at lunch, he said, “we will go shopping in a while”. It wasn’t exactly a shopping trip per say. He assessed my ability to cross streets and intersections without audible signals at traffic junction and taught some queues I am to issue my guide dog for a good working relationship for the years to come. While touring the facility, walked by the kennel. Shotaro San’s intention was to slide open a little window so I may get a glimpse of the environment. Lo and behold! A dog on training hurriedly sped towards our direction. It greeted me and was instantly instructed to go back. I don't know if I was excited or couldn't accustom to the time there, I woke up at 2:30Am Singapore time. As the regular bathroom would not be operational till after 7:00 a.m., I was directed to use the smaller one. Breakfast was quite sumptuous for I don’t eat so much even at home. It was to be a daily affair. I needed to butter the bread , to be accompanied by a cup of tea and a cup of yoghurt. At 10:30 a.m. we gathered and everyone—instructors and trainees introduced ourselves. The lesson “Don’t Free” was kind of interesting for I was taught handling the leash and harness. I never knew there were so many ways to direct, using the leash in different positions and methods. Rfer to the picture to understand. Different correction techniques require the handler to hold the leash and harness differently. Japanese curry rice, salad and oranges was the menu for lunch. The sun was glaring as I walked without using a white cane for the first time. The different verbal queues were the orders as we walked through three intersections with Shotaro San playing Juno. Every training will have pictures taken for keep sake as permission was granted by the school and my fellow trainees, all of whom were receiving their 2nd or 3rd guide dogs. Among them, Ms Michiko could converse in English, be it limited and I limited Japanese. Certain days, we shared the communal bathing facility due to the lack of time for life was quite regulated. I shall follow up with subsequent post with regard to my training and Life after Nice becomes apart of me.