Check out your health: CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME (CFS)

GIDDAY!   You may wonder since I have shared the kiwi slang words, we may as well practice so you wouldn’t forget it, fair enough? Sweet as!

Living a marvellous life means good health. No amount of money or wealth can replace a sound mind and body. You wouldn’t want to trade places with me, not in your wildest imagination you would say.  Actually I am a picture of health in person.  Although my waistline is equally perpendicular to the top and bottom, I am not overweight.  A health buff who do not smoke nor drink (seldom on occasions but light) and sleeps eight hours every day, was down with Brain Tumour.

Brain tumour is still an enigma to the medical science. No one knows its exact cause I was told If you get one you are just being unlucky.  I believe that everything happens for a reason and I have a God bigger than my tumour, miraculously without any complications through very hard work, i am slowly getting back to my normal self again with a renewed zest in life.

Everything started with the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis), refers to a relentless, debilitating exhaustion that makes a short walk feel like a Mt. Everest trek (Source: The Herbal Drugstore Book by L.White and S. Foster  reviewed by Dr. Ian Banks).  Do not be alarmed,    CFS alone do not result into a brain tumour. Both have no known cause,   research and doctor’s experience both suggest that some herbs and nutritional supplements can help ease the symptom.  

How to tell a CFS (From the same source)

This illness begins as a flu-like cold that won’t go away, followed by fatigue that rest won’t relive and tiredness that has nothing to do with overexertion. Other symptoms include sore throat, tender lymph nodes in the neck or armpit, muscle pain, joint pain, headaches, impaired memory and concentration, depression, anxiety and insomnia, Symptoms tend to wax and wane, just when you think you’re getting better and attempt to get your life back, you relapse.

If you suspect you have CFS it’s important to see a doctor for a diagnosis to prevent being full blown.

Living with CFS

If you’re going to conquer chronic fatigue, lifestyle adjustments are probably the most important treatment.

• Rest, rest, rest
• Reduce stress. Researchers note that stress reduces immune function resulting in many of the changes that occur in CFS. One theory is that stress-induced immune impairment could increase vulnerability for a viral infection or for reactivation of latent viruses such as herpes.
• Exercise lightyly. Studies have found out that moderate amounts of aerobic exercise can significantly improve fatigue, muscle strength and overall fitness.  Ask your doctor how much exercise is good for you.
• Eat wisely. Avoid nutrient-depleting junk foods and eat a varied, wholefood diet including ample protein and complex carbohydrates.  Frequent small meals every three hours or so can help maintain energy levels.
• Avoid stimulants.  Flogging your system with stimulants drains energy reserves, so it makes sense to stay away from caffeine, though it's easier said than done. Try substituting carob-coated nuts for chocolate bars, herb teas and decaf or herbal coffee for caffeine-laden coffee.
• Go smoke-free.  Cigarette smoke, including the second-hand form (passive smoking), increases susceptibility to respiratory tract infections, reduces how much oxygen gets to your cells and generally wreaks immune system havoc. It's a challenge you don't need. 

Drug Treatment

Currently, no magic bullet exists, no single drug has proven significantly and consistent helpful. Non-steroidal anti-inflamatory drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen can help relieve aching muscles and joints.

Some doctors prescribe benzodiazepine drugs such as Diazepam and Xanax when anxiety and insominia predominate, or antidepressants when sadness is among the symptoms.

Herbal Medicines

• Siberian Ginseng.  This well-known tonic supports adrenal function and bolsters resistance to stress. A German study found that taking this herb (10mg of fluid extract) three to four times daily for four weeks raised the number of immune cells in healthy volunteers.
• Echinacea,  This popular herb has been shown to enhance immune function in people with chronic fatigue syndrome. Dosage. up tp nine 300 to 400 mg. capsules per day or 60 drops three times per day. Take either for two weeks. Caution. if you're allergic to other members of the daisy family, you may be allergic to echinacea. 
• Reishi.  Another traditional Chinese remedy. It protects the liver and figth allergies, inflammation and viruses. It is also an antioxidant. Furthermore, it helps calm anxiety and ease insomnia, and it is safe to use long term. typical dosage. up to five 420 mg. capsules per day.
• Liquorice.  This root delays the body's removal of cortisol, an adrenal hormone that tends to be low in those with CFS. . Donald Brown, N.D. author of Herbal Prescriptions for Better Health  starts his CFS patients on 2,000-3,000 mg. of liquorice root twice daily for four to eight weeks. Caution. do not take if you have high blood pressure, diabetes or a disease of the throid, kidney, liver or heart, or if you take diuretics (water tablets). Do not use if you're pregnant.  See the book for more herbal options.

Vitamins for Inside and Out

Thew following supplements may help.

• Vit C, zinc and quercetin all fight the herpes simplex virus
• Amino Acid
• Garlic. Typical dosage. one to three fresh garlic cloves per day

As an old adage ." An ounce of  prevention is worth a pound of cure". My two big difficult brain operations were without complications simply because my immune system is very healthy and cardiorespiratory is remarkable. My cholesterol and sugar is normal mainly because I tried to live healthy, complications are scary that could lead to serious complications if  ignored. 

Patients for surgery together with me with unhealthy lifestyles have to wait for days till their sugar, cholesterol and ECG are normal before doing the surgery, a lot of risk is involve.  Others with the do or die attitude sneaking cigarettes at the ward perhaps its the addiction already. 

Blessed to have the best medical treatment and attention without paying a single cent. The least we can do is to get well fast, so as to sustain the next ones who is in need of treatment.  Keep watching your health so you can enjoy the fruits of your labor.  

Have a fantastic and marvelous life!

How To Fill Up an Expression of Interest (EOI)

KIA ORA!  Professionals who are wanting to apply through the Skilled Migrant Category online can start Logging in to the website (www.immigration.govt.nz) for Expression of Interest (EOI). Once you have logged in, you will be able to browse the website as a registered user and you will have access to the Skilled Migrant Expression of Interest (EOI). 

Filling up the form can be tedious if you are not ready with the relevant informations needed.  I did it for one of my family member for he is busy working in the Middle East as an Engineer.  It took me weeks to complete the form, because all the information required should be authentic and verified correct. Providing false or misleading information may have negative impact on your application.

Once logged in you can start and save your work if some of the informations are not ready yet. You can always go back and continue anytime. With your inputs the system will automatically calculate your points and you will know if you are doing fine or lacking in some ways.

I would like to be of help. Be ready with all the informations needed so you can finish the form in one sitting or two otherwise it will take you forever.  When I did mine I went nuts logging in and out and when I finished I was mentally and physically exhausted I could ask for a thousand dollars.  No wonder Immigration consultants charge that much, that is if you are not prepared.  I am giving you a headstart nice and easy.

You will be asked for the following:

1.       IDENTITY:  Name shown in the Passport , Passport No., Date of Issue, Date of Expiry,Place of Issue

2.        Country – Place of birth, Birth Certificate Number, Name of Issuing Authority

3.        If Applicable: Driver License that you currently hold, Name as shown in the license, Driver License Number, Date of Expiry

5.       Taxation Number, Country

6.       Social Security Number, Country

7.       List of all countries you have lived for in total of 12 months in the last 10 years including your country of citizenship. Include countries where your stay has been broken by any departures. Dates needed from – to .

8.       Residential address and contact details

9.       What is your main occupation – you can choose from a drop down menu

10.   What is the industry of your man job – you can choose from a drop down menu too

11.   If your EOI is selected from the pool, you have to provide a Police Certificate

12.   Name of qualification – Whether Bachelor’s degree or trade or post graduate, Name and date obtained, date  commensed  studies, date completed studies, Institution name,  Street name, number, suburb, city, Province, zip code (as detailed as this), country, phone and even website.

13.   All recognized work experience, dates from – to (day, month, year), phone,email address and contact persons

14.   Complete name of children, birthdays, name of parents and siblings, birthdays (even if they are not included in the application)

15.   Spouse passport details (upon application), birth certificate number

16.   If chosen from the pool, spouse needs Police certificate too

17.   If you will claim points for spouse’s qualification, need to provide same info as yours

18.   Spouse list of all siblings and parents, name and birthdates

19.   Complete names of children, birthdates and passport details (upon application)

Now you can see where I am coming from.  Even if you engage the services of an Immigration  Consultant you will still be asked for the same thing.  I took pains in simplifying them for you as my labor of love. My recent family's application is almost complete and now waiting for funding, still in progress. 

You can still work for the money. Until you submit and you are selected from the pool, you will be advised through email. Only then you will be asked to pay the fees. For detailed information and the complete guide in making your EOI, visit the website, it is user friendly. CHEERS! 

Have a fantastic and marvelous life!

  

Migrate NZ. KIWI SLANG AND IDIOM

Let us chill out for a while from Immigration matters and see a typical day in New Zealand. When I came in at 2001, it took me six months to have the confidence and courage to speak and converse to a kiwi. I am scared and embarrass that they might not understand me and laugh with my accent. Doing my grocery shopping, I would not dare pay in the Checkout for the operators in their fast charming ways will ask loudly if you have this and that kind of reward cards which I don’t have any idea on what it is. The customers are waiting in queue and poor me getting stares of understanding , oh yes she’s new.

Worst is answering phone calls at my aunt’s home where we live for a while. You will be listening to an unintelligible words on the other line only birds can understand. So I practiced, I started talking to the dogs in the neighbour , yes they are English speaking too. Next is talking to the kids, their corrections do not embarrass me.  Pretty soon your ears  will get attuned to their talks and through the course of time you will get used to it, often I get remarks that I have an American accent,  all Filipinos are.      

New Migrants, visitors and tourists find it hard at first to understand and follow a typical kiwi conversation.  Reason being is that  new Zealanders will use words and expressions that are not considered English. This is the New Zealand idiom – Kiwi slang talk.  Some idiom is unique to New Zealand and some has been adopted or modified from terms used in other English speaking countries.  The native kiwi have a distinct accent wherein “E” is pronounced as “I” i.e.  pen is pin, ten is tin, seven is siven, yes is yis . Going crazy? try talking to a typical kiwi, it will blow your mind.

KIWI SLANG AND IDIOMS

Aussie -  Australian

Aotearoa - Land of the long white cloud (Maori name for New Zealand)

Barbie - BBQ

Bach - Small holiday house normally near the water

Bench - Kitchen counter

Biscuit - Cookie

Bonnet  - Car engine hood

Boot - Car trunk

Bring a plate - Bring food on a plate or dish to share to others 

Cardie - Cardigan

Catch ya - Goodbye, see you later (even if you don’t meet again)

Catch ya later  - Goodbye and will see you at a later time

Cheers - Thanks, goodbye, goodluck (cheers mate)                                                                                       

Choice - Good, excellent

Chook - Chicken

College - High School

Crook - Sick, unwell or a criminal

Cuppa - Cup of tea

Cuz - Cousin or other family relation

Dairy - Small shop selling dairy products, confectionary, like a variety store

Daylight robbery - Overpriced

Dear - Expensive

Dodgy - Can't be trusted

Dork - A foolish and difficult person

Duvet - Bed quilt (feather inner with removable cover

Fair enough - it's acceptable with me

Fair go - appeal for fairness (give us a break)

Fizzy drink - soda pop

Flat - Apartment

Gidday - Hello

Give us a bell - Make a phone call to us

Good as gold - Everything is ok

Hangi - Traditional Maori Earth oven

Heaps - Lots of

Hire - Rent

Hit the sack - Go to bed

Jandals - Thongs, footwear

Jersey - Sweater

Jumper - Sweater

Kia Ora - Maori greeting, hi, hello, thanks

Kiwi - A New Zealander

Kumara - sweet potato

Lift - Elevator

Lolly -  Candies

Loo - Toilet

Lounge - Living Room 

Mate - Friend or stranger (male))

Morning tea - Short break from mid-morning

Nana - Grandmother

Nick - Steal

No worries - Not a problem, easy

Oi - Call to attention (hoy)

OZ - Australian 

Pakeha - Maori terms for person of European descent

Ring - Make a call or telephone

Ripped off - Cheated

Rubbish - Nonsense, trash, or garbage

Sickie - Time off work and apparently sick

Smoko - Short break from work

Stuffed up - Made a mistake

Sunnies - Sunglasses

Sweet as - Excellent, very satisfactory

Ta - Thanks

Togs - Swimsuit

Uni - University

Wicked - Exceptional, excellent

Yack - Conversation between friends and acquaintances

Zed - the letter Z 

These are few common ones that when get used to will make life easier to live by. The lovely olds of the migrants who can't speak English, we communicate in sign language. Filipinos, Indian, Fijians, Samoans,  Brazilian, Chilean, Russians and others.  Welcome to New Zealand!

Have a fantastic and marvelous life!  

                                                                       

Migrate NZ: InfosonWhatnottodo, Read on.....

I have a rich experience in Immigration matters because  upon getting my residency my next move is to get the immediate members of my family, friends and relatives, the ideal thing to do.  So aggressive that again landed me in hot water. The matter once again needs a lot of  planning and information, consultation and sufficient budget.  Without the latter it is next to impossible. 

Relevant factors to consider in pursuing your dream with a New Zealand sponsor either family or friend: 

1.       Be prepared with your budget.   It is important that you have enough funds to sustain your search.  You do not expect your sponsor family, friend, or relatives to carry the burden of your residency and job hunting.  Gracious enough to provide you with a place to stay (food is not expensive it is okay)  at times additional unplanned expense hurts the household budget if you became short of money to continue.  Your  family host with their good intention to be of help often hesitates to discuss their financial standing and capability. It will only disrupt your residency pursuit resulting into a huge downfall of your NZ dream.  Every day counts and your time is ticking.    

2.       Knowledgeable with proper  contacts in the country.  Have a proper communication if your sponsor knows the ins and outs of the trade.  Ask in all honesty if  they can guide you in approaching the proper authorities with  regard to your paper. If they are in doubt and you can sense unease in their tone, think twice. You do not want to take the risk of being left on your own in an unfamiliar country.   Good if its family you will be hugely embraced if things goes wrong but it is different for no relations at all.  It can be uncomfortable on both sides and as always you will be at the loosing end.  When visa runs out and you are still not getting good results, option is to go back. Waste of time and money another dream gone in the gutter.  

3.       Information is key.  Do your assignment, be knowledgeable yourself,  ask details before  coming. Many Skilled Migrants who passed and made it in the country with a work permit of six months to look for a job offer at times are not properly informed. That if your qualifications is not listed into the future growth areas, and absolute skills shortage  of NZ job market finding job is a mission. The NZ job market is looking for highly skilled migrants. If you passed because you are a Supervisor or a Manager of any trade in your country of origin it is expected that you will find an equal post and there is a required salary threshold to qualify for residency. Your most desired residency can come to a halt for a time  and you may find work not in line with your qualification.  Still there is hope that you can stay working in the country,  if you are smart enough in finding an employer who is willing to give you job offer since you have  work permit, but residency  may take time.

In my neglect in considering those factors, my family circle suffered a huge blow:

1.       Because funds are running low job hunting cannot be done in full scale. Our moves are restricted into getting the right professional advice for there’s a fee in every consultation and they are not cheap mind you.

2.       Since everybody’s busy working because every minute is crucial, you have to wait for their availability to accompany you in your job search if it is out of the way. Personal transport is a must, there can be sites  which is not accessible to public transport, another time lost.

3.       Worst of all with no knowledge on whom to approach due to lack of proper information, fell prey to Immigration fraudsters posing as legitimate advisers who drained us of money and energy .  I never entered a police station in my entire life back home, in New Zealand had the experience of being interrogated and cross examined by the police authorities.  The culprit was punished and the money,  God knows on when can we get it back if ever,  maybe yes maybe not.  It happened several times, no excuse of falling into an unscrupulous immigration advisers who left some family members  and friends with strings of unsuccessful results from the immigration.  We never learned our lesson in a desire to fight on.   

The Immigration law is more stabilize now and in place, so ignorance is not an excuse anymore. With no sponsor and with an  Immigration Consultant, demand a detailed explanation of all information and your rights since you are paying heaps of money anyway, make them responsible if in case  you are faced in a difficult situation, make them work for every cent you are paying them.   A good consultant never leave you on your own till you get your residency. 


If you have the capability to apply on your own online, it could save you a lot of money. All the informations are given and the NZ Immigration is more than willing to answer your queries (www.immigration.govt.nz.).   Sadly I have family members and friends who went back home in their failure of knowing their rights and other options to stay. So much waste of time, money and sapping your energy.


Any help I can offer, feel free to post a comment and I would do the search for you.


Have a fantastic and marvelous life!