Contribution Name: SiewShi / Tzu Chi Singapore
Pseudonym: Khoo Poh Seoh
Year of Author: 1951
Khoo Poh Seoh, born in 1951, grew up in a bustling family of eight siblings, with two brothers and five sisters. Despite the joy of having a large family, she faced the hardships and sacrifices that were common in her generation. Her parents were dedicated vegetable sellers at the local pasar (market), working long hours to support their children. Due to the family’s financial limitations and busy schedules, one of Khoo Poh Seoh’s older sisters was given away—a common practice at the time, especially for girls, who were often seen as burdens in large families. Khoo Poh Seoh’s own education was cut short. She completed only up to Primary 6, as the school was far from home, and her family feared for her safety during the unrest caused by racial riots. Additionally, she did not feel inclined to continue her studies and chose instead to contribute to the household income.
At 16, Khoo Poh Seoh started working in a kaya factory, where she was tasked with washing glass bottles used to package the kaya. Though she wanted to work at the stove, stirring the kaya mixture, she found it too challenging—the stoves were tall, and the heat was overwhelming. When the factory expanded its production to include peanut butter, she shifted to crushing peanuts, a role she handled with determination. She worked at the factory for six years, earning a dollar a day, which helped her family and honed her work ethic.
Seeking more stable work opportunities, Khoo Poh Seoh eventually transitioned to a hotel job, with the help of a friend. This career proved to be more rewarding, and she steadily progressed through the ranks, gaining promotions and recognition for her dedication until she retired. Her hotel job allowed her to develop a sense of pride in her work and provided the financial stability she had once hoped for as a young girl. Khoo Poh Seoh met her husband through a mutual friend, and together they built a life around hard work, family, and resilience. They were blessed with two sons, and as the family grew, so did her responsibilities. She played an essential role in raising her four grandsons, dedicating years to their care and nurturing.
Now, as three of her grandsons have grown up and her youngest grandson is well taken care of by his parents, she has more time to herself, a welcome change after years of service to her family. In 2019, Khoo Poh Seoh joined Tzu Chi after being encouraged by her friends. Now, she attends activities at the center, relishing the sense of community and the chance to engage in meaningful events. Through Tzu Chi, she finds fulfillment in staying active and connected with friends, appreciating this chapter of life where she can prioritize her own well-being. Her story is one of perseverance, love, and dedication to family, a legacy she now enjoys in peaceful reflection and cherished friendships.
Chinese:
邱宝秀女士，1951年出生在一个热闹的大家庭中，家里共有八个兄弟姐妹，包括两个兄弟和五个姐妹。虽然在大家庭中生活充满了欢乐，但她也经历了那个年代常见的艰辛和牺牲。她的父母是当地巴刹（市场）里兢兢业业的蔬菜小贩，为了养育子女，长时间地辛勤工作。由于家境困难且生活繁忙，邱宝秀的一位姐姐被送给了别人——这是当时的常见做法，尤其是对于大家庭中的女孩，因为她们常被认为是负担。邱宝秀的教育经历也因家境受限而中断。她只读到小学六年级，因为学校离家较远，加上当时种族骚乱频发，家人担心她的安全。此外，她对学业兴趣不大，选择辍学以分担家庭的经济重担。
16岁时，邱宝秀开始在一家咖椰酱工厂工作，负责清洗用于包装咖椰酱的玻璃瓶。尽管她希望能站在炉边搅拌咖椰酱，但她发现这一任务太过困难——炉灶太高，热气难耐。当工厂开始生产花生酱时，她转而负责碾碎花生，这一角色她完成得十分出色。她在工厂工作了六年，每天赚取一美元，这不仅帮助了家庭，也培养了她坚韧的工作态度。
为了寻求更稳定的工作机会，邱宝秀在朋友的帮助下进入了酒店工作。这份职业为她带来了更多的成就感，她通过自己的努力逐步晋升，赢得了同事和领导的认可，直至退休。酒店的工作让她感到自豪，也为她带来了年轻时渴望的经济稳定。邱宝秀通过一位共同的朋友认识了她的丈夫，两人一起用勤奋、家庭和坚韧为中心建立了生活。他们有两个儿子，随着家庭的扩大，她的责任也随之增加。在照顾四个孙子的过程中，她倾注了多年的心血和爱。
如今，随着三个孙子长大成人，最小的孙子也由父母精心照顾，她终于有了更多属于自己的时间，这对于她而言是一种久违的自由与轻松。2019年，在朋友的鼓励下，邱宝秀加入了慈济。现在，她定期参加中心的活动，享受社区生活带来的归属感，并积极参与有意义的活动。通过慈济，她在保持活跃和与朋友们联系中找到了充实与满足。在这个新的人生阶段，她能够更关注自己的身心健康。邱宝秀的故事是一段关于毅力、爱和对家庭无私奉献的旅程。如今，她带着平和与喜悦回顾过去的点滴，并珍惜与朋友们共度的时光，享受属于自己的宁静时光和珍贵友谊。
This work includes translation generated by ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI.
此作品包含由OpenAI开发的AI语言模型ChatGPT生成的翻译内容。