Pesta Hoki USM-Penang International 2011!!! (16-18th Dec 2011)

Technical Table at Minden field where I worked at on the 3rd day. The board with manila cards are under the Results & Records Department.

YAY!!!!! I JUST WANT TO SHOUT OUT VERY VERY LOUD NOW~~~ AHHHH!!!!!!!! IT'S FINALLY BEEN CARRIED OUT SUCCESSFULLY!!!!

Before it's over, people keep asking me if I'm happy that it's going to be over soon. That time I thought that I will feel 依依不舍 because Pesta Hoki is going to be over and everyone won't be gathering together and do things together anymore. We will seldom meet each other anymore, unless we meet coincidentally in the bus or anywhere in USM...

BUT, the feeling is really, really different from what I've imagined when everything is over!!! My heart instantly feel very relax and very light and happy!!! I can't stop smiling!!! And everyone is also smiling non-stop! XP We shook hands, congratulating each other. The sense of satisfaction is really indescribable!!!

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Now, let me share with you what I've learned and what I feel throughout this event, be it before or during Pesta Hoki. While reading about my own feelings, please enjoy the pictures that I've took during the tournament! ^.^

I worked at the Stadium on the first day. In the evening, it rained quite heavily, but the match still had to go on. You know what our head said? "You get wet never mind, but must protect the match report form from getting wet." LOL! But this rain affected the 2nd day's matches. Some pitches cannot be used at Minden field, so there are some last minute changes, but fortunately only the beginning part of 2nd day was a bit chaotic, after a few matches, everything started to go on smoothly and back on track.

First, I learned a lot from interacting with different people in our own organising committee and enjoyed it very much! Most of them are Indians and sometimes they will talk in Tamil. But I didn't feel uncomfortable because I understand that sometimes using your own mother tongue language is more efficient (saves time) and effective (the person you want to talk to understands). And it's quite interesting watching people communicating in "alien language". LOL! ;P Everyone is very friendly and easy-going. This is why I love joining events related to sports instead of academic, because sports people usually is more flexible. In around October 2011, there was an event - Convex 2011, which is Convocation Day. They were also taking in students to help them. But that time when I went to the interview place, I suddenly don't have the urge to apply. From their interview style, I can feel that they are very rigid and strict. On the other hand, I was really looking forward to Pesta Hoki assistant coordinator's interview. And this proves that my intuition is right. I know what I love best and I love what I choose. I feel really committed throughout the whole process of organising this event.

This is Minden field! There are actually six pitches here, but during the final matches for all seniors categories on the third day, they were held in only one pitch. The picture shows one of the final matches. Senior categories include men's veteran (MV), men's open (MO), women's open (WO), varsity men (VM) and varsity women (VW). Junior categories' games were all completed during the second day and the prize giving ceremony for junior categories was also done on the second day.

Secondly, I realised one important thing. SMILE IS THE BEST TOOL TO CLOSE IN THE GAP OF FRIENDSHIP. I was in Technical of Games (TOG) Department. My Head of Department is someone who has a serious face. Really serious! At first I felt that he is someone who is hard to get closer to. But there's one night when we were doing things at the TOG room (TOG members often have to work till past midnight to process registration forms, check fixtures, deal with umpires, Field Marshals and Awards Committee, etc.), I saw him laugh really happily for the first time. At that moment, I felt so shocked, you know, because he looks totally different when he smiles! He looks really friendly. And then there's another time when we have to take pictures for our department, I noticed that I didn't smile and the photo came out not really pretty for me, because I didn't smile. These two situations made me realise that WE SHOULD SMILE MORE, MOREOVER, SMILING DOESN'T COST US ANYTHING. ^.^
 

Across the road, we have food stalls and also businesses related to hockey such as companies selling hockey equipments. Besides, for the three days, we have a Milo van distributing free Milo. But every time there would be a long queue. Fortunately, we don't have to go to queue. We just sat at the Technical table and someone will bring the Milo to us. XD

Thirdly, I learned how to communicate with people whom I'm not familiar to. If it was the past me, I won't have the courage to look at strangers in their faces or talk to them . But through Pesta Hoki, I got to talk to strangers through the phone as I have to call the team managers to settle issues such as payments and answering their questions or complaints. Then, during the three-days event, as I was appointed to be at the technical table, I had to answer several team managers' questions. I feel more confident when facing them and I can even say firmly about Pesta Hoki's rules to them. =)

This is the pavilion overlooking the field. This is also the place where the team registration was carried out. Team registration was the one that caused us TOG members to be deprived of sleep, as there was a registration at 5.30am! We had to reach before 5am, so imagine waking up at 4am, because taking the transport to this field needs time. But we still enjoy it! ^.^ Walking straight along this pavilion, you will reach the Technical table and R&R Department. Pity the Field Marshals, they had to run to the Technical table to pass the match report form after each match. And we even rushed them because we needed the results to prepare for the next match. Pity them... But they did a good job!

Fourthly, (and also the part that I love the most!) I got the chance to cooperate with many different people from different cultures, and has widen my view about other people. I realised that many people are actually more talented than what we perceive from the outside. For example, our secretary is a Siamese from from Kelantan who knows Thai, Chinese, English and Malay language! And I'm very impressed by how the International Liaison (LO) coordinator and assistant coordinators handle the international teams! Besides, I feel that our Logistics Department coordinator and assistant coordinators are like superman! They can sleep for less than one hour and then drive the van to pick us up on time! As for me, there was one day when I woke up late and everyone had waited for me for more than half an hour! The chemistry among all the departments is very good.

All the trophies for seniors categories. The participants are not allowed to take the trophies back. They can only take pictures with it. Then, the team name of the champion for each category will be engraved at the trophy.

Eveyone's role is equally important no matter what position and responsibilities that they take. Even runners who are responsible to hand in the match report form from the pitch to the technical table is also very important! So, with many people each specialising in their own tasks, Pesta Hoki can only be carried out successfully. We really depends on the manpower, which are the voluntary students, to ensure that this event can be carried out.

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That's all for my sharing now. I have to continue with my last assignment now and go to sleep early, as these few days I was really deprived of sleep. 
Goodbye, and see you again in FM004! ^.^