The Past - 23rd SEA Games, Manila, Philippines

first of all, i must say i wanted
to type in mandarin,
but my crappy desktop doesn't
have the software installed!! =(
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2005, 23rd Sea Games, Manila, Philippines.
it was a single mindedness, a purpose,
because at a crossroad when you're 21,
you try real hard to find that meaning
in this society, in this world, cos
you've just been given the key to adulthood
and yet you're still cocooned in youth,
somehow i feel,
only REAL PHYSICAL WORK,
of giving and doing concrete things,
may be the answer to my doubts,
and pave way slowly towards something.
i dont know what, but the SEA GAMES LOGO
caught my eye in a local newspaper,
suddenly i knew i must go. i applied online,
not even sure of who i'm dealing with,
and at the airport armed with savings RM2000
(was meant to buy a brand new lap top)
i have a big luggage with mini wheels
(i was not familiar with bagpack back then)
and head to Manila for 10 days via Mas Airlines.
(everything was my own savings.)
and a lot of blessings from parents for my safety
alone, in a foreign country, for the first time.
thank goodness, i met Maria Rose Narag,
she's like savior, i practically RUN to her
when i saw her at the airport, cos she was waving my TAG!
(one of the proudest & teary moment for me!)
~ this is the OPENING CEREMONY~
our dresscode was red,
all we need to do was chant loudly
'Mabuhay Mabuhay - name of country-'
to welcome the SEA countries! I was sooo PROUD
when i saw Malaysian Flag & Athletes,
I scream with all my might the athletes names I know!
Was assign with the Secretariat,
what we do is we go to various sports venues,
and distribute allowance and volunteers booklet.
these are Chinese Filipinos!
can you imagine the amazement i felt when
they start speaking in mandarin & hokkien?!
hahaha, they are scouts volunteer
so young, earnest & adorable, they dont know
Lee Hom or Jay Chow, but they know.....
F4 from Meteor Garden! (=_=)

that's our main hang out.
it comprises the media centre.
everything under one roof, main hub.
a lot things to do here.

like making new volunteers tags, typing certificate,
ensuring enough uniforms are distributed,
answering queries, catching up with results,

basically, we are Super Volunteers!
we do everything & go everywhere!

head all the way to Canlubang,
Malaysian Athlete, Lim Eng Seng, Golfer.
thats the bangga (proud) part about it,
watching your own national athlete competing!

We stayed in school dormitories,
this is a lovely lovely catholic school

Santa Isabel on Taft Avenue

time flies, and soon its the Closing Ceremony
we were there to arrange chairs!

with the usual bunch of hang out,
i still keep in touch with Daisy, Peach, Rose, Paul,

i was a bit silly to buy so many souvenirs.
DO NOT REPEAT AGAIN!
(i was nearly cant go home when i reach KLIA!)

most important of all, there was an incident,
(it occurs throughout my volunteer period too)
a school girl, her height reaches only my chest
she came over and hold my hand in hers,she said
"they say you're malaysian! i feel so honoured,
you came all the way from your country to help us!"
and then followed by her bunch of friends,
who came and they all hugged me!
i was both shocked and amaze and touch,
on my flight home, thinking if an individual,
can make such an impact
just by being there for someone,
pouring sincerity without
expecting anything in return,
the reward is indescribable.
i cant share it in words with you.
it could be the location,
it could be the people,
it could be the event,
it could be anything,
but as long as you've experience it once,
you know you can do something more
and better in other areas to see more happiness.

i actually thought that one experience
was humbling & enough answer for my search,
but someone came knocking on my door,
and invited me and encourage me
to apply for Asian Games & the Olympics
that was Christina (a friend who has
volunteered in Commonwealth,
currently studying in Australia)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
so here i am again,
this time arm with better knowledge,
contribution may differ from the last,
we will be ready for it. :)
~Fei Wen~