Colours of Sound

I have experienced a lot of different feelings for this event. This event is a Chinese Orchestra concert performed by Marsiling Chinese Orchestra. President Nathan and his wife were the guests-of-honour for this event.

I was really surprised when I was assigned to be the VIP usher. I am of course very happy too. It's a rare chance for me to be a VIP usher and furthermore, usher the president and the first lady of Singapore. I was rather calm though. Guess it's the mixture of feelings that cause me not to feel too much of each emotions. Neutralisation? *shrugs*

My andrealine was flowing at a rather high rate when I heard that the president was at the lift. After a few seconds, I saw a guy in army uniform appear. Behind him, was the president and the first lady. I finally saw the president and the first lady in person! I didn't get to see the president while I was in NDP and now I got the chance to see both the president and the first lady. I wonder why I feel a little excited. Maybe it's the challenge of the job. Excited yet calm. Mixture of emotions. Maybe it's my clinicals training; whoever that person is, that person is just another human biologically. I felt a bit disappointed as the hirers totally ignored my presence when the guests-of-honour were making their way towards the door that I was in-charged of; they squeezed me out of the way. I thought I was in-charge of that door that the guest-of-honours were going to enter?

The performance was great. The stage was extended to house more musicians, especially the strings section. The first song to welcome the arrival of the guests-of-honour was really high-spirited. It's a percussion piece. There's only one word to describe that item; superb. For their encore piece, they played a Christmas piece. Everybody took out their santa's cap for this piece. I wonder where they hid it. Some wore it on their heads while some wear it on their instruments. Interesting.

What a pity that I could not take a picture with the guests-of-honour. Was really envy of those who were able to do so during the intermission. There was once when I walked pass the reception table, the sight of the brownies really make me drool. Haha. Well, too bad that I am not one of the VIP. Haha.

It's almost full house for this event. Busy. As the in-charge had told all of us to be more aware of our actions, I must do my job better of course. I was usually a little not confident enough to stop patrons from breaking the house's rules. I had a lot more confidence for this event. I wonder why. It seems to be the presence of the president and the first lady. Their presence have forced me out of my comfort zone and into my courage zone.

Even though the President was present, there were uncooperative patrons that were present. This was the first time that I called the in-charge for help.

During the intermission, I was confused as there weren't clear instructions given. Glad that the hirer was nice enough to answer my queries and did try to understand how I feel.

After the performance was the leaving of the guests-of-honour. Security was really tight. Those body guards were so big in size. From their expression, I can see that they take their jobs very seriously. They look very stern. There's one body guard that help to bring the bouquet of flowers given to the president out of the house first. He looked really different when he smile to the hirers when he walked past.

As the president went onto the stage to take a picture with the orchestra, I think he took another route to leave the house. I ushered the first lady out only. My main job was to block patrons from coming down the stairs. While Mrs Nathan walked past me, I think she wished me 'good night'! I didn't hear clearly as she was quite soft. I didn't reply back but just smiled as I am not sure what she said. After she left, I was waiting for the president to take his leave. I feel weird as he did not appear after a while. Later then I realised that he had already left. I wonder why the in-charge didn't inform me about it. There was something that made me feel puzzled though. If the president had left, where did the body guards go after escorting the first lady to the lift?

It was rather late when I left. Tired. But I am happy. =)