\n<\/p>\n
He used to be an attending physician in a Taiwan hospital before moving to Singapore to reunite with his wife and their two children after the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n
Unable to practise medicine in Singapore, Hsu Cheng-yuan has taken on a new role as a stay-at-home dad, he shared in a YouTube video published by Glimmer of Life, managed by the Tzu Chi Foundation, on Wednesday (Oct 21).<\/p>\n
Hsu, 48, is also a volunteer with the organisation.<\/p>\n
Every fortnight, he visits Yishun Community Hospital.<\/p>\n
“Apart from chatting, I sometimes ask patients if there’s anything I can do for them, such as making them a cup of Milo,” Hsu says in the video.<\/p>\n
He is not a registered doctor in Singapore \u2014 but it is not for lack of trying.<\/p>\n
He explains to Tzu Chi that he has twice registered to take the qualifying exam here, but his applications were not accepted, perhaps due to quota issues.\u00a0<\/p>\n
According to him, local regulations give him two more years to sit for and pass this exam.<\/p>\n
Giving up his job and accomplishments he achieved as a doctor <\/strong>in Taiwan to join his family in Singapore comes with “a very complex mix of emotions”, said Hsu.<\/p>\n His wife, Dr Maeda Momoe, empathises with him: “It’s as if he can’t quite find that sense of purpose.”<\/p>\n Volunteering at the hospital appears to have helped somewhat.<\/p>\n “I’m very grateful that through my volunteering experience, I’ve been able to let go of much of the sense of self that I had built up in the past,” he reflects.<\/p>\n “Sometimes, helping a grandma with her meals or giving her a little massage…little things like that. As long as I’ve been of some help, I feel really happy.”<\/p>\n