Leisure Consumption 17:35 2021/03/12
▲ After early retirement, Yang Jiaoling became self-isolated due to a lack of psychological adjustment; later, she became a tour guide volunteer, which boosted her confidence and brought her an unexpected benefit: her sleep apnea recovered, and she no longer needed to wear a breathing machine to sleep.
Yang Jiaoling, 59, was only in her mid-forties 15 years ago but decided to retire early due to work pressure. The change in her life made her feel lost and without self-worth, so she chose to isolate herself and stay at home all day.
She later actively tried to develop different hobbies and participated in an event called "Kwun Tong Walkathon" as a volunteer team leader. It was then that she realized that as long as people are brave enough to try new things and never stop learning, life can still be wonderful even in old age. The team leader job also brought her an unexpected bonus: her sleep apnea recovered, and she no longer needed to wear a breathing machine to sleep.
Before retirement, Yang Jiaoling worked as a clerk in the teaching department of City University, mainly handling administrative matters and providing support to faculty and staff. In 2003, when SARS broke out in Hong Kong, the university faced financial pressure due to insufficient student enrollment. Jiaoling, who candidly stated that "my salary was enough to hire two instructors," began to feel the threat of layoffs, and her workload also increased significantly due to resource issues. Coincidentally, the university launched a voluntary resignation program, offering a substantial compensation package to resigning employees. Even though she was only 45 at the time, Jiaoling chose to leave her job of 15 years and retire early to become a housewife.
Honestly, I loved my job and didn't really want to leave. I had no plans to retire. Going from the workplace back to the family, I felt lost and uncertain. I was unhappy then, so I chose to isolate myself at home.
In addition to being a housewife, Jiaoling also became a caregiver, responsible for looking after her mother and mother-in-law, both elderly.
Brave to take a step forward and self-improve
In 2015, Jiaoling was only 53, certainly not "old," so she wasn't very interested in activities specifically for seniors. By chance, she saw "Elders' Oasis," a publication by the Christian Family Service Centre, which featured many interest classes for "50+" individuals. She decided to take a step forward and improve herself.
▲ Yang Jiaoling demonstrates her work as a Walk Leader on the spot, introducing the history of Kowloon Flour Mills. It turns out the flour mill is still operating, and the orange color indicates the flour conveyor belt. (Photo by Tang Bingqiang)
She said, "There were so many things to learn at the center, and the students were of similar age. So I enrolled in courses like line dancing, mobile apps, and traditional Chinese medicine knowledge. Their philosophy was to encourage more learning. Initially, I just wanted to learn, and only later did I start participating in volunteer work."
The volunteer work Jiaoling referred to was the "Kwun Tong Walkathon" organized by the center. Having lived in Kwun Tong for 30 years, she admitted she wasn't very familiar with the neighborhood. Feeling a bit overweight and having no exercise in her daily life, she thought it was time to force herself to get moving. She was attracted by words like "walking" and "understanding your community" on the poster, so she signed up and even became a Walk Leader volunteer for the event.
The activity routes were carefully researched by the center and divided into two. The first one included historical and cultural sites plus natural scenic areas, while the other focused on understanding Kwun Tong factories. Both routes are suitable for beginners and elderly friends. She said, "Walking along Hung To Road is safer, with fewer large trucks, and starting from the Christian Family Service Centre, we can utilize the community footbridges. Also, it requires using smartphone apps so participants can learn various aspects of knowledge at once."
▲ Yang Jiaoling (right) started participating in the walkathon in 2017. A year later, her weight dropped from 160 pounds to over 140 pounds, making walking much easier, and her sleep apnea even recovered. (Provided by the interviewee)
Jiaoling chose the first route:
We will go to Lei Yue Mun Village, where there is a stone quarry site where former quarry workers still live; we will also go to Cha Kwo Ling Village, which has a 200-year-old Tin Hau Temple and many strange rocks. The residents are very friendly and explain the history of the village and the origin of the fire brigade to us. I was touched by the friendliness of the villagers because nowadays people are more distant, and you might not even know your neighbors' names, but I felt very close to the villagers when I interacted with them.
Volunteering to overcome grief
As a Walk Leader for the event, Jiaoling sets off with about 6 to 8 elderly participants each time. Before departing, she calls the group members to inquire about their physical condition. This activity is subsidized by the Jockey Club, so each elderly participant is provided with an electronic wristband to count steps, monitor heart rate, etc. Jiaoling also reminds the elderly to regularly return to the center to record data and see if their physical condition, such as blood pressure, has improved after walking.
The center also invited professional tour guides to teach simple guiding techniques and on-site scenic spot introductions to the Walk Leader volunteers, as well as nurses to teach walking precautions, such as footwear and walking posture. Jiaoling said she benefited greatly.
When asked to choose her favorite spot in Kwun Tong, Jiaoling said it was the promenade:
The promenade holds many heartwarming memories for me. My mother was a pancreatic cancer patient, and I took her there before I joined the walkathon. I remember one morning I accompanied my mother to United Christian Hospital for an abdominal examination, and then we came here for a walk. That day, my mother took many photos with our family and was very happy, so I often think of her when I come here.
2017 was the first time Jiaoling participated in the "Kwun Tong Walkathon." In the same year, both her mother and grandmother passed away. Jiaoling said it was a sad year for her, and she was grateful for the opportunity to volunteer, which helped her overcome her grief.
Encourage those around you to learn together
As a Walk Leader volunteer, Jiaoling most enjoys walking and chatting with elderly friends, learning about their recent situations. She said she never realized how many slopes there were in Kwun Tong. She, who used to dislike walking and would even take a car for just one block, has now become a passionate walker. The activity's route takes about two hours, and she has walked it countless times within a year, which brought her an unexpected benefit:
Although the walkathon had to be suspended this year due to the pandemic, it has already changed Jiaoling's lifestyle. She now walks 5,000 to 10,000 steps daily and goes fishing in Lantau Island in her spare time, with no problems going up and down the mountains.
In addition, Jiaoling is also a volunteer for the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra. She continues to develop her interests: learning the thumb piano, cajon, and singing, often performing publicly. She says she has met many friends through these activities and is happier.
The most memorable was a performance where a group of young people wrote a song for Jiaoling and her husband. Her husband played the bass, and she sang. They practiced for three months, and the successful performance brought a sense of satisfaction. After that performance, her husband immediately went to learn guitar. She said:
People should be brave enough to try new things and never stop learning, and encourage those around them to learn together so everyone can share. Don't hide yourself away; elderly people can also live wonderful lives.
Source:
https://topick.hket.com/article/2899622?fbclid=IwAR2oleJ9OuF3cojMtNZsJn6FyT7aec0M1IUydXvyQlNVkXgl0Eb_-FuV8HU