Testimonials like this keep me going the past 21 years thru sars recession haze covid. This girl is now in UK studying law.
Mr Ong, I actually just really need to tell you how grateful I am to have met you.
Firstly, I’ll (confidently) let you know that you’re the first tutor (ever) that I have known, who truly teaches to make a change. Who truly has a good-heart (and I hope I did not judge wrongly in this) and has a good in them. Most tutors tutor for the money. And many don’t have a genuine heart and kindness.
Secondly, I feel safe to say it now.
This period of time, I tried my best to avoid thinking of it and I do hope I am doing a good job, but I am feeling very lost.
Ever since my dad passed away in December 2018 (4 months ago), I really had nobody who was knowledgeable enough about life to guide me along. It was him who studied with me for the last month before Os when I finally told him I’m giving up (just look at my prelim results). It was him who gave me a comfortable home and conducive environment since I came to sg when I was 1. My life had always had him.
Then there came December.
We were in Portugal, happily enjoying and celebrating my after Os holidays. On the fourth day, while we were on the coach travelling back to Spain, he just fainted and because we were at a secluded area, the ambulance took too long to come and there goes the last of his breath. I didn’t even have a chance to say how sorry I was for being so rude to him sometimes and how I rarely said I love him after primary school. I didnt had the chance to thank him for everything he did for me and the family.
The thing is, we had always been very healthy and health-conscious. We used to go jogging every night. My dad was fit and all and till today I’m still lost about how he just so suddenly passed. The autopsy report has yet to be sent to me because the portuguese have very slow procedures.
There in Lisbon, a place where I do not understand their language and 98% of them don’t understand even basic english, I was all by myself for 2 whole weeks until my aunt and uncles came over.
My mom fainted when the paramedics said “We are sorry.”
I was bawling and the next moment my mom just fainted.
The police arrived and asked for so many things. There was no one to help me there. My mother was or was on the verge of going crazy and there was nothing I said that could make her come to senses.
It was that moment, that I truly learnt independence.
I started taking all the passports and money and cards from my mom’s coat, the 7 luggages we had and arranged a taxi to the nearest hotel.
There, I had to travel to the courts at Almada, Seixal, and Lisbon. Every court was just pushing their responsibility to other courts in other districts. The nearest Malaysian Embassy was in Paris. One court suggested and almost made me really decide on flying to Paris to get things settled. Luckily the hotel manager saw my distress and helped me in being a translator. Then I had to go to the hospital to speak to the coroner. Then I had to collect reports and documents and run from this court to the next, all in Portugal. I was so frustrated I did not know what to do and whether or not I’m doing things right. I had to email to Singapore government departments and relevant personnels, all of whom were kind enough to try to understand my plight but the time difference is really not helping in speeding things up. Then in the evenings I had to keep emailing our travel insurance company to prepare for my father’s body to be embalmed and repatriated back to Kuching via Singapore. But insurance companies, when it comes to money, they take things slowly even with a 16 year old who was managing things on her own. They delayed and delayed and dragged and told me I needed to pay more for the whole body to be transported although we bought the premium insurance. I read and read and reviewed and reviewed the insurance policy and was so sure it included full body repatriation back to Singapore. Singapore to Kuching is our own expense. I was so fed up I finally on roaming on my phone and called my father’s friend, that lawyer, and he went straight to AIG and they finally agreed to repatriate my dad’s body. After insurance emails there comes my mother. I had to hug her and calm her every night. We barely slept for those 2 weeks + there in Portugal. I keep telling myself to not break down and stay rational until my relatives come otherwise we would really be so so lost.
That was when I realised how people in this society avoid all the troubles and troublesome matters.
We were Malaysians. I couldn’t speak their language. Just these two simple conditions gave enough excuse for the courts to push things around and play me around. But I was helpless and there was nothing I could do so i obeyed and did whatever they say.
That was when I confirmed very very strongly and surely about my ambition to be a lawyer.
There are helpless people everywhere and I want to help them. Even if they can’t pay me.
Those people who avoided me during that period of my life, I see and I will always remember.
Friends and family, they were my only solace. Yet condolences were all they could utter. My bestfriends cried with me.
Fortunately, the funeral parlour had kind souls and helped me as much as they could towards the end of my stay there. Afterwards my aunt and uncles came and helped me sorted out on when my dad’s body can be repatriated back and bought the tomb for my dad in kuching.
Until today, I’m still emailing insurance and bank companies. I hope I can settle them double-quick.
My dad promised he would be there with me to collect my O levels results but he wasn’t. And I really hate him for that. He promised. And he never once broke my promises. Now I had no one to ask maths and chinese questions at home. No one to discuss the news with me.
My mom had gotten better since but I know deep down she’s still very hurt so I still try not to bring the matter up. She’s retired but we still have more than comfortable monthly income. So don’t worry I can pay your tuition fees haha.
My point — I’m really thankful for whoever connected and however I met you. Maybe it was upstairs that arranged for me to meet a nice tutor. Maybe it’s just fate. Regardless, I am thankful.
Have a good weekend Mr Ong, and remain the kind soul you are.
