aam november publication 2015

1KL American November 2015A Publication of the American Association of Malaysia

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americanKLNovember 2015

2 KL American November 2015

Being there, or being ‘there’Crown’s people are always with you. Preparing you before you go, and helping you settle‐in when you arrive.

Crown service offerings include:• International & Domestic Shipments• Immigration & Legalization• Intercultural Support• Transit Insurance• Home Search• School Search

Tel: +60 3 5636 [email protected]

Go knowingwww.crownrelo.com/malaysia

CR Ad_AAM_June & Nov_FINAL.indd 1 23/3/2015 10:26:19 AM

3KL American November 2015

4 President’s Message

5 Editorial

6 Membership

7 Christmas Bazaar

9 Weekly Activities / Monthly Activities

10 November Activities

12 Pink October

14 How do I keep my kids safe? Similarity

21 Memories

27 AAM Messages

28 AAM Community Bulletin Board

30 AAM Calendar / November

Contents

AAM November 2015Advertisers IndexAdvertisers (A-Z) Page

Asian Tigers Transpo

Bolly

City Motors

Crown Relocations

Eastern Carpets

EvaAir

GSSKL Charity Bazaar

Hammam

Hop On / Hop Off

ibu Christmas Bazaar

VIII Latin Charity Ball

The Expat

RSDHC

Tropicana Medical Centre

Back Cover

p.18

p.6

Inside Front Cover

Inside Back Cover

p.26

p.19

p.18

p.15 & p.21

p.19

p.19

p.27

p.30

p.19 & p.20

7

12

10

22


President’s Message

Board of DirectorsPresident Peggy Uptigrove [email protected]

First Vice President Ann Blacklock [email protected]

Second Vice President [email protected]

Secretary Cindy Gros [email protected]

Treasurer VACANT [email protected]

Publications Director VACANT [email protected]

Major Events Director Jamie Abbott [email protected]

Membership Director Wendy Frazer [email protected]

Community Service Director VACANT [email protected]

Corporate Relations Director VACANT [email protected]

Bazaar Directors Lovie Alptunaer and Mary Mantei [email protected]

Liaison DirectorsAmerican Malaysian Chamber of Commerce Stephanie Chua

ISKL Hilda Alposilva

US Embassy Jessica SchneppleSamantha Elfmont

Corporate Partners For 2015

Event Sponsors 2015

Presidential

WOW, here I am again, writing my next newsletter for the November issue of KL American. I wish I could have an animated graphic inserted here that shows the months of a calendar just “flying” off the page. Is it just me or do you feel that way too? I really shudder at the thought but you know what I’m going to say - Christmas is just a little over 55 days away. Yep, there it is, I said it!

Let’s not focus on that right now because as we know, that will come all too quickly. Let’s focus on some of the great things that have recently happened at the AAM and some other great things that are coming up. When I last wrote, we were gearing up for our Annual Shrimp & Crawfish Boil as well as our 2nd Annual Pink October event. Both of these events were a huge success and it was so great to see so many of our members and friends all enjoying themselves and supporting us as we strive

to bring our community of members fun and value for their membership dollars. Pink October was a huge success and I want to THANK the Latin Ladies Association of Malaysia for their efforts and teamwork to help us bring this event to our guests and make for an enjoyable afternoon. Looking forward to doing it again next year!

In just a couple of days we will be hosting the biggest Charity Christmas Bazaar. We offer 107 vendor tables, all in one place, at one time so you know there will be some great shopping and retail therapy waiting for you. Get your tickets early – they are RM20 in advance or RM30 at the door. Grab your girlfriends and make a day of it. Be sure to stop by the Charity Tables on your way in and do some “pre-shopping”. We have invited 21 charities to come and sell their mer-chandise at our Bazaar and they don’t pay for their table and they keep 100% of their proceeds. What a great way to support these hard working, dedicated volunteers.

Peggy UptigrovePresident


Editorial

KLAmericanMagazine Team

American Association of MalaysiaUnit 19-1, 19th Floor, Tower BThe Troika, 19 Persiaran KLCC50450 Kuala Lumpur

OFFICE HOURSMonday - Thursday: 9 a.m - 4 p.m.Closed 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. workdays for lunchClosed Friday - Sunday and public holidays

Tel: (03) 2161-9008 / 9009Fax: (03) 2181-7005E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.klamerican.com

GPS Coordinates:N3° 9’ 28.899” E101° 42’ 58.217”

Editor VACANT

Photo Editors Judy Pescio

Randee Duncan

Contributors Debz Rafferty

Zainal Zikri

Editorial Support Peggy Uptigrove

Designer Yap Wai Kuan

Advertising Sales Tel: (03) 2161-9008 / 9009

Printer Seng Hoe Printing Process

33, Jalan Hang Tuah 2 Taman Salak Selatan 57100 Kuala Lumpur

Tel/Fax: (03) 8941-7603

Publisher American Association of Malaysia

The KLAmerican is published 10 times per year. The deadline for inclusion is at least six weeks prior to publication, which is the 1st of the month.

Advertising for non-profit organizations is free-of-charge on a space-available basis. The magazine staff reserves the right to edit copy for clarity, brevity, and accuracy. Information on AAM members is not to be used commercially.

Reproduction, in whole or in part, without written permission, is strictly prohibited.

We currently have several board position vacancies and we are looking to our members to help fill in the gaps and jump in on the fun. It’s a busy time of the year and we need YOU. We need volunteers to fill the areas of Second VP, Treasurer, Publications Director, Community Services and Corporate Relations. You can read a brief description of these positions on page 28. If you want any other information, please contact Peggy at [email protected]. Thank you for your consideration.

Help Wanted…

GST And Its Impact On AAMAs an organization that contracts services we are subject to paying the GST charged by those that have registered for a GST number. We are required to charge GST on our scheduled events and classes, major events, fund-raising efforts, member-ship applications, merchandise, practically everything.

When paying for anything at the office, a receipt will be issued showing you the GST you have paid.

If anyone has any other questions or comments about GST in relation to AAM business, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at [email protected].

Thank you for your support.

Peggy Uptigrove


Membership

Hello AAM!

I’m Wendy Frazer and I would like to introduce myself as your new Membership Director. It will be a pleasure to work with such a dynamic group of ladies. My husband and I have been in Kuala Lumpur for 2 years. Prior to moving here, we lived in Norway. Before beginning our expat adventures, I worked as a Critical Care Nurse in Alaska, where we raised 3 children into successful young adults. I am looking forward to getting to know you LAH!

If there is any information I can provide to you, please email me at [email protected].

Wendy Frazer

Abbott, Jamie & Doug

Choudhary/Singh, Shuba& Manos

Ebert/Lyman, Kim & Paul

McGrath, Patty & Paul

Schell, Gillian & Andre

“Selamat Datang ke AAM!” to our new members for September:

Now on sale at the AAM

Tel: (03) 2161-9008 / 2161-9009

12th edition price per set (2 volumes):

RM53

DatangSelamat


Christmas Bazaar

Required door donationRM20 in advanceRM30 at the door

All proceeds will go to AAM local supported charities.

Fantastic door prizes!Over 100 vendors!Charity Tables!Mouth-watering Baked Goods!White Elephant Treasures!Raffle!

American Association of Malaysia29th Annual Christmas Charity Bazaar

Sponsors:

Tuesday, 3 November 201510 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Renaissance Hotel / Grand BallroomCorner of Jalan Sultan Ismail and Julan Ampang


Christmas Bazaar

Mrs. Claus’s KitchenMark your calendars, it’s that time of year,

Our Charity Bazaar is nearly here!And one tradition so dear to my heart

Is providing the goodies that I love to impart.But I, Mrs. Claus can’t do it alone

Since I need lots of goodies for ourFriends to take home.

So I need some help to fill all my shelvesAnd I’m desperately in need of

A few helpful elves!Baking your treats as you are able

Will definitely help me to fill up my table.The instructions you need are all right below

Thank you to all and a Merry ho-ho!

If you have a favorite recipe for any baked goods, i.e. cookies, brownies, scones, cakes, pies, breads or muffins, that say “tradition” in your family, please consider baking it and sharing with our community.

For shoppers to enjoy right away, please package cookies three to four a bag and brownies two to a bag. Please include a description of the baked goods. Mrs. Clause would prefer items arrive at the bake sale table BEFORE 10:00 a.m. at the Renaissance Hotel OR can be dropped off at the AAM office by noon on Monday, 2 November.

Mrs. Claus can’t wait to see what everyone is donating! The funds we raise will mean so much to our charities. Questions? Contact Lovie Alptunaer at [email protected].

At the end of May, several ladies in the Stitching Friends group gathered in my home to make this year’s charity quilt, Skylights. We brought our talents, sewing machines, and food to have all day sewing sessions until the quilt was completed. Sharon, from Bernina Malaysia, kindly quilted the quilt for us and now it is ready to go home to the lucky winner. The proceeds from this raffle will go to AAM charities in need of our assistance.

Raffle tickets 1 for RM5 and 3 for RM10. A book of 10 tickets - RM35.

Be sure to stop by the AAM Villa to pick up your tickets and see the quilt.

Sherri

SKYLIGHTS!

Buy a beautiful Christmas ornament for only RM50 and make a donation at the same time.

You may purchase an ornament at the Bazaar, at the Villa, or at an AAM event through December. You may also send donations to the Villa by mail or electroni-cally by contacting [email protected].

Help decorate the AAM’s Christmas Charity Giving Tree.


Weekly ActivitiesAll activities are at the AAM Villa @ The Troika unless noted.

First FridaysArriving in Kuala Lumpur can be overwhelming in the beginning, but the AAM is here to help! First Fridays is a social gathering designed especially for expats newly arrived in KL. We want to be the friendly face of the AAM and provide people the opportunity to ask questions, gather information, and take a second to relax with new friends. All members are encouraged to drop by and help us to welcome any newcomers. Please join us and pass along our invitation to new neighbors, co workers and friends.

RSVP: Appreciated but not requiredEmail: [email protected]

Tuesday, 4 November 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.St. Francis Xavier Home for the ElderlyTaman Sri Bahtera, Batu Lima CherasTel: (03) 9131-1464

Friday, 6 November9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.Starbucks located in CIMB Building(Across the street from The Troika and just behind Ampang Park LRT)Cost: Individual

Bingo with Little Sisters of the PoorJoin our monthly bingo game to help spread the joy at this home for the elderly! We will bring prizes for the winners. The bingo morning is one of the highlights of the month for the residents.

Please email [email protected] if you can join us or would like more information.

MONDAYMahjong1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.Members FREE / Non-Members RM10 donation(The first two visits are complimentary.)

Get rid of those Monday blues by playing a lively game of mahjong. We’ll shuffle the tiles, make ‘pungs’ and ‘kongs’, and enjoy the afternoon. Beginners are welcome. Please email mahjong Coordinator, Randee at [email protected] to confirm.

WEDNESDAYStitching Friends10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.Members FREE / Non-Members RM10 donation (The first two visits are complimentary.)

New and seasoned sewing enthusiasts work together to share their love of the stitching arts. We meet at the AAM Villa @ The Troika. Please contact Coordinator, Sherri Moore at [email protected] for details. Please be sure to put “Stitching Friends” in the subject line.

Monthly Activities

Gentlemen’s Night OutWhere: Taps Beer Bar, One Resi-dency, 1 Jalan Nagasari

When: Wednesday, 4 November6:00 p.m. onwards

Registration: None required, just show up bringing cash and conviviality

Calling all Gentlemen!

For many of us getting out and socializing with other menfolk can be difficult, with working all week and weekends reserved for family. Well, no more! There will be a ‘Gentlemen’s Night Out’ every first Wednesday of the month in the popular Changkat Bukit Bintang area. The format is entirely informal with the chance to sample some craft beers and great grub - and plenty of scope to move onto play some pool, darts or even just talk on manly matters!

See you there! Stan.

RSVP: Useful but not needed. Email: [email protected]


Friday, 13 November11:00 a.m. - ?NEW Ambiance ShowroomCost: FREE

Sunday, 22 November3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.Level 3A at The Troika (Tower A)COST: New toy for a Girl or a Boy

Thanksgiving Feast – Members only EventMimosa Morning

If you are a fan of the eye appealing items found at Ambiance, then you are going to be thrilled to know that they have moved from their old Ampang location to a bigger and brighter store. Now located in G Village, Ambiance is settled and ready to welcome us as guests in their new location. G Village is a new venture located at the base of G Residence Condo off Ampang Hilir. IThere is plenty of parking avail-able, either underground (first hour free) or valet parking.

Our Mimosa Morning will consist of good conversation with friends, a little shopping, complimentary Mimosa and a light brunch.

You do need to pre-register for this event even though it is FREE so we can advise the good people at Ambiance how many to expect.

RSVP: [email protected] by Wednesday, 11 November.

November Activities

welcomes AAM ladies to Christmas Mimosa Morning

13 Nov, Friday, 11am

Complimentary glass of Bucks Fizz, free-ßow peach tea & light brunch

Our new Ampang location from late Oct:

First Floor G-Village Desa Pandan (next to Raintree Club, Ampang Hilir)03 42667280

RSVP to AAM by 11 Nov

Where: Al Halabi Gourmet RestaurantDining Loft, Level 7, Pavilion KL*Note: access to the Dining Loft is via the elevators located at the Raja Chu-lan end (above Mercato)When: Tuesday, 24 November 12:00 noonCost: Individual

For those of you who haven’t sampled Syrian food before, then this is the perfect place and time for you to try it. You have to know it’s good when TripAdvisor quotes a Syrian man as saying that it is the best Syrian food he has tasted outside of Syria! The menu offers satisfying portions of a wide range of homemade soups and fresh salads, grilled chicken and lamb as well as vegetarian options at very reasonable prices.

RSVP: [email protected] is not necessary but would be appreciated.

Looking Ahead…Be sure to mark these dates for activities in December and beyond:

01 December- Dim Sum Tour (rescheduled) 01 December – BINGO at Little Sisters02 December – Gentlemen’s Night Out04 December – First Friday13 December – Family Christmas Lunchcelebrated with Canadian Association

Please join us as we host our second MEMBERS ONLY event of the year, a Thanksgiving Potluck Dinner. We will provide the turkey and you bring all the trimmings. See page 11 for all the details

RSVP: [email protected] by Wednesday, 18 November and please indicate what dish you will be bringing (see list on page 11).


Pink OctoberPhoto by Randee Duncan

This years’ Pink October event, held on the 2nd of October at the Sheraton Imperial KL was a huge success. The AAM partnered with the Latin Ladies Association of Malaysia to bring together a group of ladies that came out to support a great cause and raise a lot of money for the National Cancer Society of Malaysia. We had over 150 ladies attend a delicious luncheon and also had 14 vendors available for our shopping pleasure. We had plenty of door prizes and a silent auction that helped increase the amount of our charitable giving and the total raised for the day was just over RM39,900. That is fantastic!

The AAM & LLAM would like to thank our sponsors, the Sheraton Imperial, for going over and above what was expected for the day. They attended to our ever need with such care and quick response. The buffet lunch was exceptional and plentiful, the flower centerpieces on the tables were exquisite and the finishing touches provided by them helped to create a successful event.

We hope for all those that were in attendance that you too had a beautiful afternoon and we thank you for supporting us while we support our community. We look forward to a bigger and better event for next year.

Special Event


Special Event


How do I keep my kids safe?Article by Debz Rafferty

This week I was involved with a new Community Policing in-centive spearheaded by the Prime Minster’s Department with the Royal Malaysian Police. Guest speakers including Superin-tendent Choo Lily, head of the Royal Malaysian Police Interna-tional Liaison Unit, and myself presented at the Garden Inter-national School, Mont Kiara. The event was the Parent Teacher Association coffee morning, and the objective was to pass on up-to-date information on personal safety and security in Kuala Lumpur. The question time after the talk is always most interesting for me, because it is an excellent way to find out what are the safety priorities of parents, and to gauge if I have any shortfalls. In this case I was doubly lucky because my slot was after Superintendent Choo’s. It was a good opportunity to see how someone as experienced and wired into Malaysia’s crime and policing responds to open spontaneous questions. I personally find Superintendent Choo Lily to be personable, patient, and professional. What can I say but I like her, if only she could clone herself. Her English is faultless and she is very understanding when it comes to some of the eccentricities that the average expat brings to the table. As usual the she did not disappoint and gave excellent realistic advice in a straightforward no frills manner.

Child safety was a big topic of conversation. The main concern being kidnap risk, with many questions on the how, what, and why it happens. One parent stood up and said, “They can take my stuff but not my kids. What can I do so nobody kidnaps my kids?”

Superintendent Lily had some good tips for keeping our kids safe, for example:1. Educate our kids about stranger danger.

2. Have a family password. So if there is an unforeseen emer-gency and a need to send someone to collect the child/teen from school in an emergency, they know the person is 100% safe. Use a word or phrase that is easy to remember, but not immediately obvious. Something that is easy to remember like a Grandparent’s pet.

3. In Asia there is a tendency for children to be very polite to people they don’t know, so maybe encouraging your children to call strange men and women “uncle and aunty” should be more closely monitored so that kids do not become too trust-ing.

Thankfully kidnapping of expat children is not a frequent oc-currence, and in the rare occasion every parent’s nightmare takes place. The Royal Malaysian Police are very quick to re-spond. Please note the last known case was in May 2012 and the RMP took only one week to find the kidnappers and return the 12 year old South African boy to his parents.

If you would like a “crime prevention talk” at your children’s school, or even at your workplace drop me a line on [email protected] and we will make happily make the arrange-ments.


Kota Damansara A Community Forest Powered by the People

By Zainal Zikri Committee Member for the Kota Damansara Community Forest Society

The Lake

Kota Damansarais an 800 acre forest located in Section 10, Kota Damansarathat was gazetted as a community forest in February

2010 tobe used for conservation, education and recreation. This is the first urban community forest established in Malaysia. Management of the forest iscoordinated by the Selangor Forestry Department, the Kota Damansara Community Forest Society, residents of Kota Dam-ansara and nature lovers from all over the world.

The original forest was once part of an extensive 6,590 hectares known as the Sungai Buloh Forest Reserve established by the Brit-ishin 1898 during colonial times. Beginning in thelate 1990s, the Forest Reservebegan to be aggressively carved up for housing and commercialization. Its strategic location closeto established suburbs made it a valuable piece of real estate.

As forest cover began to diminish, residents within the area in 2003began a sustained campaign to safeguard the forest. Through their strident efforts, that included dialogues, protest and constant engagements with key stakeholders, the forest was eventually saved.Today, the Kota Damansara Community Forest Reserve is enjoyed by thousands of people who use its trails for hiking, running, biking and just exploring the forest to enjoy the flora, fauna and serenity of be-ing in thisjungle within thecity.

Now that forest has been saved, the focus now has shifted to the

sustainable use of the forest according to a jointly developed Forest Management Plan.

Even before the forest was officially gazetted by the residents, vol-unteers and the Temuan Orang Aslihad begun tobuild a fewsustain-able forest trails. Since the gazettement, KDCF Society has extended the trail length to close to 14km. All the trails are built to ensure that people are able to enjoy the beauty of the forest with minimal dam-age to this living ecosystem.

The local Temuan Orang Asli community,who have a tradition of forest use in this area play a vital role here – some of their members are closely involved in building and maintaining the forest trails. This provides them with an opportunity to stay connected to the forest and putting to use the skills passed down to them by their forefathers, while supplementing their income.

Our TrailsAll our trails with the exception of the Petaling Trail, Sipew’s Ethnobo-tanical Garden, and the soon to be opened Resam Hiking Loop, are suitable for mountain biking, hikingand leisurely strolls. The trails are color coded and wooden signs and coloured disks mark the trails and assure you that you are on the correct path. There are currently six trails and an Ethnobotanical Garden in the forest.


The Peak View of the forest from the top Crowfunding Trail Maintenance Campaign

Kayaking in the Lake

Volunteers in the Forest Scouts Volunteers

Petaling Trail – This is a walking trail originally built for environmen-tal education by Malaysian Nature Society. It circles the lake and is suitable for children and all fitness levels. This is an easy walk of 25 mins.

Scouts’ Trail – This is an easy walk of 25–40 mins depending on your pace. It is suitable for first-time visitors to the forest, and those that do not have time for a longer walk.

Temuan Trail – This is an additional 2 km loop from the Scouts’ Trail. Add this to the Scouts’ Trail walk for a combined 4 km. This is a hike of 45–80 mins depending on your level of fitness. There is a strategi-cally placed picnic stop with benches along this trail.

Sahabat Trail – This is an additional 2 km loop stacked on top of the Temuan Trail (for a total 6 km). This is a single trail which leads to a small loop and you need to return to the Temuan trail the same way that you came in. A full 6 km walk takes 90–120 mins.

Unity Trail – This 2 km trail was completed in November 2014 and strategically links the entire trail network by joining the Harmoni Trail and the Sahabat Trail. It is now possible to trek from Section 10 to Section 9 under the forest canopy.

Harmoni Trail – This is the first trail leading from Section 9, off Jalan Rimba Riang 9/1. It is 2 km long and extends straight to the meeting point with the Unity trail. Close to the end of the Harmoni Trail there is a wakafor rest shelterand picnic benches.

A seventh trail which will soon be opened to the public is the Resam Hiking Loop comprising the Unity Peak Trail and Denai Tiga Puteri. It will be opened before the end of the year. This trail provides a route to one of the forest reserves highest peaks. This is a challenging but exciting trail for nature lovers.

TahakSipew’s Garden – This is a small in-situethnobotanical garden which showcases plants traditionally used by the Temuan commu-nity for food, flavouring, medicine, craft and building in their natural setting. A tour with a Temuan guide will open your eyes to this rich traditional ethnobotanical knowledge and the amazing provision of the forest.

Your Role in the ForestAs a registered non-profit organization, KDCF Society gets its fund-ing from memberships, grants, and corporate sponsors to run our programmes and maintain the forest. So far, we have been very fortunate to have gained loyal supporters that have sustained their involvement in the Kota Damansara forest for many years. Contri-butions from the public and membership fees go towards keeping the trails well-maintained and also fund our public awareness and outreach programmes. There is also scope for further public contri-butions to enhance enjoyment of the forest such as through adding amenities such as shelters and picnic benches along the trail.

It is our pleasure to welcome new groups to the forest. If you are in-terested in visiting the forest, kindly contact us on [email protected] or 012-3520215 to enquire further. Aside from enjoy-ing forest recreation there are also opportunities to participate in volunteer activities, either for maintaining existing trails or building new ones.

You can find out about us through our website www.kotadamansara-forest.org or join our Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/KDCFSociety).

We look forward to seeing you at our enchanted forest for biking, hik-ing and if you are lucky you may be able to do some kayaking on our very own magical lake.


• LONGEST SEAFOOD TABLE • PRIZE DRAWING• GAMES • LUCKY DRAW

• BOUNCY CASTLE • CLOWNS

ALL YOU CAN EAT SEAFOOD IN 90 MINSRM200 - PER ADULT RM100 - CHILDREN BELOW 12

1PM-3PM

Kindly show AAM member card to be eligible for the special fresh

popcorn

CELEBRATING

GRAND OPENING WITH

ANNUAL SEAFOOD

CARNIVAL15 NOVEMBER 2015

For ticket enquiries:Crab Factory +603 7865 5850

Brolly +603 2181 4122

GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY

*Terms & Conditions

Apply

RM150-Per Adult

RM75-ChildFor AAM Members

Only


Saturday, 21 November 20152 pm to 6 pm

Carcosa Seri NegaraTickets RM 20, Children RM 5

We proudly present the 30th annual

Austrian-German-Swiss

www.gsskl.com.my

JOIN US for the ibu Christmas Market

Saturday 14th November 2015 10am-6pmat Bangsar Village G-17 (Near Village Grocer)No 1 Jalan Telawi Satu, Bangsar Baru 59100

New & Handmade ItemsClothes, baby equipment, books, toys, jewelry, food and more...

2015 Charity Christmas Market

No Door Charge!Lucky draw, kids play & fun.Help support our charities.Contact ibu Family Resource Group below for more information and table bookings.

Save Time and MoneyFind all your Christmas gifts for pregnant women, babies and young children under the one roof.

03 6211 9183 / 010 257 1715 p

[email protected]

www.ibufamily.orgw

ibu family resource group

CONTACT DETAILS


By Dr. Ananda DoraiMBBS (Madras), MS Plastic Surgery (USM), AM(MAL), Fellowship in Burns, Reconstructive, Laser & Aesthetic Surgery (Taiwan)Consultant Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic SurgeonTropicana Medical Centre

TROPICANA MEDICAL CENTRE11, Jalan Teknologi,

PJU 5, Kota Damansara,47810 Petaling Jaya,

Selangor Darul Ehsan.T: +603-6287 1111

W: www.tropicanamedicalcentre.comFB: www.facebook.com/TropicanaMedicalCentre

E: [email protected]

FAQ : About TUMMY TUCKWhat is tummy tuck surgery ?Tummy Tuck (also known as abdominoplasty) is a popular form of cosmetic surgery for people wishing to regain a flatter abdomen.

Abdominoplasty is designed to flatten the abdomen by removing excess skin and fat and to tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall.

It is an excellent procedure to correct excess lower abdominal skin and repair muscle laxity.

Types of tummy tuck surgery?Mini tummy tuck, full tummy tuck and extended tummy tuck surgery.

What are the differences between the three types of tummy tuck ?Mini tummy tuck surgery is ideal for those who have slight excess of skin and fat below the belly button.

Full tummy tuck surgery is for those who have significant excess of skin and fat at the upper and lower abdomen.

Extended tummy tuck surgery is for those who also have significant amount of excess skin and fat at the hip and lower back areas.

Is liposuction similar to tummy tuck surgery ?Liposuction is performed by making a small key hole opening in a natural fold of the skin and only the fat deposits under the skin is removed by suction.

Tummy tuck is performed by making a horizontal incision from hip bone to hip bone and removing skin and fat from the lower abdomen and tightening the abdominal wall muscles.

Who are ideal candidates for tummy tuck surgery ?Those who have excess skin and fat below the belly button and a protruding lower / upper abdomen.After childbirth and those not intending to have any more children.

After massive weight loss or bariatric surgery.

How is tummy tuck surgery performed ?Tummy tuck is performed under general anaesthesia. The procedure takes 3 to 5 hours, depending on the individual patient.

The doctor will make a horizontal incision in the area immediately above the pubic bone. The length and shape of the incision will be determined by the degree of correction necessary. Excess skin is removed and the weakened abdominal muscles are sutured together resulting in a smooth, tight abdominal wall. If necessary, liposuction may be used to achieve the desired correction. A small incision around the navel will be necessary to re-position the belly button.

How long do patients need to stay in the hospital ?Generally, one or two nights stay in the hospital is adequate for most patients.

How long is the recovery period ?After your surgery, the doctor will apply a dressing to your incision.

You will wear a removable compression garment in order to minimize swelling while supporting your abdomen as you recover for the first few weeks.

The doctor may also place a temporary drain tube under the skin to drain any excess fluids that would otherwise collect around your incision.

Typically patients can return to work after about one to two weeks. However, strenuous activity must be avoided for four to six weeks. After this time, you should be standing tall and confident with your new slimmer profile. Your scars will take approximately three to twelve months to fade and flatten.

How much weight will one loose after this surgery?Depending on the size of the individual, the average weight loss can be from 2 – 5 kilograms.

How many inches difference on the waist line ?If liposuction is performed in combination with tummy tuck surgery, then one can loose around 2 – 5 inches off the waist line.

Is it safe to do liposuction together with tummy tuck surgery ?Yes, it is a good combination to have liposuction with tummy tuck surgery.If one has excess fat at the hips and back areas, it is possible to have liposuction in order to achieve a curvaceous figure.


Memories

August Coffee Morning – 20 August:

Recipe Swap Photos by Randee Duncan

A small group of ladies got together on a Thursday morning to swap recipes and catch up after summer break.


Memories

Ladies join in for coffee, a light breakfast and lively conversation as we gather for our First Friday in September after the summer break.

First Friday- 4 SeptemberPhotos by Randee Duncan


Memories

Ladies were “dazzled” by this informative workshop on Gems. We were instructed on how to best tell a fake stone from a real stone and hope-fully some of these ladies will be able to put in to practice what they have learned when we travel to Chiang Mai, Thailand a little later this month.

Gemology 101 – 8 SeptemberPhotos by Azizah Aziz and Randee Duncan


Memories

Shrimp Boil – 26 SeptemberPhotos by Randee Duncan

If you were not at the Annual Crawfish/Shrimp Boil you missed a finger lickin’ good time. Over 100 guests gathered for a great evening filled with fantastic food prepared by none other than Dave Mantei, Rusty Sawyer and Jon Blacklock. The haze was heavy in the skies but that didn’t keep the party from rolling on. Everyone was treated to a big bucket of Cajun style shrimp/crawfish/corn and potatoes as they caught up with old friends or welcomed new friends to the group. A good time was had by all.


Memories


Do you have any ideas or suggestions for new activities, events or workshops that may be of interest to our members? Can you think of ways we can improve our current line-up? Any concerns about the AAM’s building facilities? Your feedback, whether positive or negative, is always welcome. Kindly drop us a note in the Suggestion Box located in the villa or email [email protected].

Your $0.02

Solicitation PolicySolicitation of business by any member or guest is not allowed at any AAM function without prior board approval. Members are requested to respectfully observe the policy that membership information is to be used solely for AAM business and is not to be used for personal or business solicitation purposes. If you are interested in sharing your talents/services with the AAM, please contact the AAM office.

Membership Renewal To avoid missing any issues of the magazine and to continue receiving discounted prices for AAM events, please make sure your membership is up to date. Renewal notices will be emailed to you one month before expiration. Dues can be paid by cash or check in person at the AAM Villa @ The Troika by or cash deposit to the AAM’s bank account directly.

AAM Online Communities

The AAM is on Facebook! “Like” the AAM Facebook fan page by logging on, typing ‘American Association of Malaysia’ in the Search bar at the top of the page and clicking ‘Like.’ You’ll get the latest information on all of AAM’s exciting events and activities!

Introducing the AAM Google Group - a forum for members to consult with other members on queries and recommendations for anything from best family hotels to dentists to household help. Members can join in two ways. First, you can send an email to [email protected] with the email addresses you would like to add to the Google Group. Please put “Need AAM Google Group Invite” in the header of the email. The second way to join is you can go to Google Groups, search for American Association of Malaysia and then ask to be invited and the Administrator can add you. When you receive the invite via email, you must respond to complete the registration process. For more information, go to http://www.klamerican.com/online-communities.

Holidays in NovemberPlease note the AAM office will be closed:

10 November – Deepavali

EXPATTH

EAAM Messages

Reservation & Payment PolicyEvent and Activity reservations can be made via email to [email protected], in person or via fax.

• If the reservation is made via email or fax, the AAM office will send you an acknowledgment receipt and advise whether or not the activity is still available.

• Fees MUST be paid within 48 hours of signing up for an event or activity. You will not be “confirmed” for the event/activity until payment in full has been received by the office.

• You may pay by cash or check in person at the AAM Villa @ The Troika or cash deposit to the AAM’s bank account directly. If you wish to deposit cash payments to the AAM’s bank account, please contact the AAM office for account information and instructions (your bank may charge you a minimal fee for this service).

• We cannot accept credit card payments at the office. We are currently working on details to secure an on-line payment system for your convenience. Further information to come.

Cancellation Policy• Reservations MUST be cancelled FIVE BUSINESS DAYS prior to

the activity in order to received a refund. If you do not cancel your reservation within this time period or you are a no-show the day of the Event/Activity, a refund will not be issued.

• For Events/Activities that have a required minimum attendance, AAM reserves the right to cancel or reschedule when circumstances warrant.

• Each Event/Activity will have a sign up deadline date and we must adhere to those dates. This allows instructors of classes to gather all required materials or tour companies to arrange the proper transportation for our group.

• If you still have not made payment by the reservation deadline for an Event/Activity, your name will be automatically removed from the sign-up sheet and there will be no further correspondence from the AAM office. To avoid disappointment, please make your payment within 48 hours of making your reservation.


US EMBASSYWe strongly recommend that U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Malaysia enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at http://www.travel.state.gov/. STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the embassy or nearest consulate to contact you in an emergency. If you don’t have Internet access, enroll directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

The U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur is located at 376 Jalan Tun Razak 50400, Kuala Lumpur and is open 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. If you are a U.S. citizen and have any questions or concerns, please call the U.S. Embassy at (03) 2168-5000 or visit the U.S. Citizens Service website at http://malaysia.usembassy.gov/. We will post the most updated information on the website.

USEFUL LINKS:CountyOffice.org is the most accurate internet database of county government offices in the United States. Use our site to locate your county assessor, board of elections, chamber of commerce, child support offices, colleges, coroner, courts, and much more, with all relevant details.

USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERSEMERGENCYPOLICE......................................................................999FIRE & RESCUE.........................................................999CIVIL DEFENSE.........................................................999ANY EMERGENCIES FROM MOBILE PHONE............112UTILITIES...ELECTRICITY/POWER FAILURE............................ 15454WATER DISRUPTION................................1800 88 5252SEWAGE SYSTEM.....................................03 2780 1100OPERATORDIRECTORY ENQUIRIES............................................100ANIMALSMISSING PETS..........................................03 4021 1682SNAKES & PESTS......................................03 4042 6742ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER. (24 HRS.).....03 4041 6742

HELP WANTED

Secretary – as a member of the Executive Board your duties would include taking minutes at all Board Meetings, Executive Board Meet-ings and our Annual General Meeting. Keep our Directors up to date with meeting reminders and calling for agenda items. You are also one part of the Nomination Committee that convenes in November to start work on taking nominations from the membership for Execu-tive Director positions to be voted on at our Annual General Meeting in the New Year.

Community Services Director – what better way to get involved with this community we live and play in than by becoming the Communi-ty Services Director. Our Community Services Director has the task of caring for our charities when it comes time for the Annual Bazaar as well as the big Check Presentation event in February. We can’t com-mit to doing good things for the community without you.

Second Vice President – this Director is not only a part of the Execu-tive Board, but also he or she gets to bring to members all the fun ac-tivities we do every month. This position is the head of the Activities Committee in planning and executing our monthly activities, helps with major events, coordinates volunteers as well as being a liaison between the Activities Committee and the Executive.

Corporate Relations Director – just as the title suggests, this valu-able volunteer is the “face” of AAM when it comes to our Corporate Sponsors. Maintaining a valuable relationship with our Corporate Sponsors and advertisers is vital to the AAM and the continued ser-vices we provide to our members.

We currently have several board position vacancies and we are looking to our members to help fill in the gaps and jump in on the fun. It’s a busy time of the year and we need YOU. We need volunteers in the areas of Community Service, Second Vice President, Secretary and Corporate Relations. Below is a brief description for each of the cur-rent open Director positions. The current board would welcome new people with new ideas and new energy – and that could be you.

If you want any other information, please contact Peggy Uptigrove at [email protected]. Thank you for your consideration.


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AAM Villa @ The Troika

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AAM OfficeTel: (03) 2161-9008 / 9009

email:[email protected]

1:00 - 3:00 p.m.Mahjong

10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Stitching Friends

1:00 - 3:00 p.m.Mahjong

3:00 - 7:00 p.m.Thanksgiving Pot Luck Members Only

1:00 - 3:00 p.m.Mahjong

1:00 - 3:00 p.m.Mahjong

1:00 - 3:00 p.m.Mahjong

12:00 - ?Lunch BunchAl Halabi/PavilionLevel 7

10 - 11:00 a.m.Bingo @ Little Sisters of the Poor

10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.Chirstmas Bazaar @ Renaissance KL

9:30 - 11:30 a.m. First Fridays Starbucks/CIMB Bldg




6:00 p.m.Gentlemen’s Night Out TAPS Beer Bar

11:00 a.m. - ?Mimosa Morning at Ambiance

AAM Closed

Deepavali

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32 KL American November 2015(60-3) 5565 2200

aam november publication 2015

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