Online Learning: Easy Access to Academia

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With the internet being an ever-expanding place, the opportunities to learn whatever you want, whenever and wherever is most convenient for you, are unlimited. For many expats, continuing their education abroad is a priority and, now more than ever, the ability to learn from the comfort of your home is essential. Even if you aren’t interested in obtaining a Ph.D. while practicing social distancing, there are plenty of ways to keep you and your family entertained and expand your knowledge on anything from art to technology to history. 

 

ONLINE COLLEGE

If you are like me, you have varying interests that make sticking to one topic difficult or nearly impossible. There are many colleges that offer classes through online educational platforms like Coursera and edX. Both online learning sites offer free or low-priced courses taught by professors from universities like Yale, Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, MIT and many more. You can access course materials and lectures for free, and some courses, for a fee, even grant you certificates upon completion, which you can put on your resume or LinkedIn profile. Check out this Business Insider article for a full list of universities that offer remote learning and the courses available.

 

MUSEUMS

Whether you are an art connoisseur or just enjoy the whimsical experience of walking through a gallery, art is something that anyone can appreciate. No matter your age, educational background or walk of life, there is always something to learn and relish through the experience of a museum. Now, you can visit some of the most famous museums in the world, right from your living room couch. Places like the Louvre, the Guggenheim, the Smithsonian, the British Museum and others offer online tours where you can virtually walk their halls and view all their exhibits for free. Other institutions like the National Gallery of Art and NASA offer virtual tours and online exhibits along with audio lectures about the history of different art pieces and artifacts. You can find the full list of museums offering online tours here.

 

ADDITIONAL COURSES

There are so many online classes and remote learning websites out there that it can be overwhelming to get started. Here are some platforms that can help you find exactly what you’re looking for.

Khan Academy: If you could use some helpful home-schooling materials for your kids, check out Khan Academy, which works with many secondary schools to offer a depth of information on different subjects. They have short, informative lectures that build on past lectures to provide learning at a manageable pace. With the current closure of many schools, Khan Academy can provide a way to keep students on track. 

CodeAcademy: Technology can be daunting, sometimes even scary. For those who want to conquer web design and flex their creative muscles at the same time, CodeAcademy is just the resource for that. You can learn a variety of formats from HTML, Java Script, CSS, Python and many more. They have videos of real-life see demonstrations and step by step instructions so you can always refer back to prior steps if you get stuck. 

TED-Ed: If you have never heard of TED talks, you are in for a treat. These lectures can be anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour and cover a wide range of topics from space theory, mental health, technology’s impact on the world and so many others. The range of subject matter makes it easy for you to take learning at a casual pace or take on more serious topics when you feel like it. Their library of videos and podcasts is constantly expanding so you will never run out of material. 

 

No matter where you are or what is going on in the world around you, there is always a way to continue learning. Challenging yourself mentally is a great stress reliever, regardless of whether you have lofty aspirations or are just looking for a fulfilling way to pass the time. Take your education into your own hands and check out some of the websites mentioned here. You never know what you may learn today.

Security on Camp

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Security on Camp

Part of the luxury of Brunei is the level of safety and the amount of trust between neighbors, security and the community. HSE and Security are responsible for keeping residents on camp safe and secure and have been implementing new measures to ensure that individuals living on camp feel at ease in their homes as well as on camp.

In collaboration with the Belait District Police, the following new actions have been added:

  • Increase in Choking Hours from 9:00 pm to 6:00 am daily, which started on Tuesday, March 10, 2020.
  • Pictures of Security Guards have been shared with Outpost and Panaga School, to enable community members to familiarise themselves with the guards.
  • Security Awareness Pack has also been shared with Outpost and Panaga School, to ensure that everyone has the awareness pack handy with them.
  • Improvement on the Standard Operating Procedures for the Security Guards at choke points and Panaga School.
  • Security vehicle mobile patrols continue to be stepped up around the Panaga Residential Area.

Other actions that will be implemented soon includes:

  • A Vehicle Identification System. Samples of the stickers have been produced. Next step will be to identify suitable vendor for the production of the stickers.
  • A Security Survey QR Code is in planning process and will be launched soon.

While these new actions are being added, there are still steps that you can take to make yourself and your family as safe as possible. Here are recommendations for how to keep yourself safe:

  • Look and Listen. Be observant and know your surroundings – especially the unsafe areas.
  • Avoid walking/running along quiet streets or walkways, especially during dark hours. Do not take shortcuts.
  • Avoid getting into a conversation with strangers.  NEVER give your personal information (NAME, ADDRESS, etc).
  • Walk / jog / cycle with a buddy.
  • Avoid carrying valuable items.
  • Trust your gut. Stay away if it feels unsafe.
What to do… :
  • If you see stranger(s) loitering around. Stay well away and call BSP Duty Security immediately with details.
  • If someone follows you on foot, get away from him or her as quickly as you can. Immediately go to a safe place or inform the nearest Security Choke-Points.
  • If a stranger tries to grab you, yell “HELP!!” as loud as you can and run away. 
  • If someone makes you feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused, get away as quickly as you can.

If you witness suspicious activity, you can call BSP HSE Duty Security at +673 8730905 or WhatsApp to +673 8721041. These numbers are open 24 hours and BSP HSE Duty Security will promptly respond and attend at the reported incident location. They will also liaise with police if necessary.

 

Saving Strays

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Saving Strays

By Savannah Jung

Milly on Day 1 of being rescued.

Many of us care for our furry family members as if they were our own children, but for so many animals in Brunei, having a forever home or even knowing where their next meal will come from is just a dream. Jeremy Ptak has made it his mission during his time in Brunei to extend a helping hand to animals in need. He also makes an effort to educate foster and adopting families about what their pets need to live a healthy, happy life. I myself have rescued animals in the past, including our dog Hera, but after rescuing a 2-month-old kitten named Athena here in Brunei I contacted Jeremy for further advice. The support of someone who has extensive knowledge about caring for animals and about the resources in Brunei goes a long way. 

Jeremy’s background has included animals since he was a child. From growing up with pets to working in animal control in Alaska, he has rescued animals from a variety of situations. While in Alaska he worked with others to make sure rescued animals were spayed/neutered, vaccinated and rehomed to good families. When he and his family arrived in Brunei, he saw a need for his experience like never before. He quickly became involved with Care and Action for Strays (CAS), raising donations and helping adopting families get set up for success. In the nearly four years he has been here, he has rescued 30 animals and counting, helping cats, dogs and even monkeys. He has personal experience with many of the issues that arise when rescuing a stray here in Brunei.

His family adopted their dog Milly after they found her roaming around Pandan Five. Soon after getting her home, Jeremy began to notice signs that Milly was ill. He took her to a nearby vet who diagnosed her with parvo, a virus that can spread between canines. In cases where the animal is young, malnourished or left untreated for a long period of time, parvo can be fatal. With care, proper nutrition and medicine from a certified veterinarian, Milly made a full recovery. This experience showed Jeremy how local strays are at risk of illness and death due to poor treatment or just lack of knowledge about the signs of sickness and about proper treatments. With so much information out there it can be overwhelming to figure out what is best. The first and most important part of rescuing or adopting is to make sure the animal is healthy and has no pre-existing illnesses. See the inset for signs of illness that require veterinary attention.

Milly today, happy in her forever home.

After rescuing an animal, take them to a vet you trust to be checked out and vaccinated. Prior to your vet visit, find out what vaccines and booster shots you should ask the vet for. Do thorough research before the vet appointment and/or ask Jeremy for advice on what to ask for. At the appointment you should ask the vet to make an appointment to spaying or neutering your pet. Keep a planner to write down the date for the next set of vaccinations or boosters shots so you can stay organised and avoid missing important vaccinations. 

Every month, dogs and cats need flea/tick and heartworm treatment. There are different brands and types for both cats and dogs, so always buy according to your pet’s size and age and take note of how they respond to the medicine. Always read the labels carefully and check expiration dates. When in doubt, consult a licensed veterinarian. 

Because of the hot and humid climate in Brunei certain types of skin issues, fungus and ear mites are common. These can be treated with topical sprays, pills, ear drops and even shampoos. Before going forward with any type of treatment, contact a certified vet or reach out to Jeremy, who knows where to get the proper treatments. 

Other key things to keep in mind when adopting a pet are grooming, collar tags and registration. Jeremy recommends the groomer “It’s A Ruff Day” located in KB. Along with grooming, they work to find good homes for strays around Brunei. You can find them on Facebook and on Instagram (@itsaruffday). Collar tags are a good idea, as is microchipping your pet in case they run off or get lost. Be sure to include your contact information on the collar tag so whomever finds your pet can contact you. You must register your pet each year for a fee of $8 or face a fine up to $2,000. You can go to Jabatan Bandaran in KB to complete the form and pay the fee. 

Many expats in Brunei foster or adopt a pet, but not all families are able to take their furry friends with them on their next assignment. It can be difficult to find available families to rehome your pet to when you leave. You want to be sure the family has the time, desire and means to properly care for the animal. Jeremy can assist with the rehoming process by helping you put together an advertisement showcasing your pet and getting them set up with their new family. 

Hera (dog) and Athena (kitten).

 

For us, rescuing a kitten has been both challenging and rewarding. With every rescue you have to work at their pace to get them accustomed to things they didn’t have before, such as toys, a bed, food bowls and, in our case, a dog. Watching Athena become friends with our rescue dog Hera was a long but rewarding experience, and seeing Athena play with a toy for the first time was oddly simple but extremely exciting. When we first got Athena, she had feline chlamydial conjunctivitis. Although this sounds like a serious illness, it is essentially the cat equivalent of a cold, and with proper medicine she recovered quickly. When I rescued Hera, she came to me with parasites and kennel cough; I was distraught until she was given medication and, like Athena, made a full recovery. Something to keep in mind with rescues is that they likely will become sick due to their past poor circumstances. Try not to get discouraged because with proper medical treatment, they can make full recoveries. Athena is now healthy, happy and has finally warmed up to her new dog sister. 

If you feel called to adopt or rescue, feel free to reach out to Jeremy at +673 896 4552. You can also reach out to CAS through their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/careandactionsforstrays/)  if you want to rescue, volunteer or donate items. You can also reach out to The Love Paw Sanctuary at https://www.facebook.com/lovepawsanctuary/ for volunteer and fostering opportunities.