Chingay 2013

This is the first year that I joined Chingay directly under People's Association (PA) as the role of an usher. I brought Alice along to participate with me as there was no age restrictions anymore. This is what I really like to see as I do not believe that volunteerism should have any age restrictions.

As I decided not to take any leaves for this year's Chingay, I changed my half-day off with my colleague so that I can head over to Chingay. With my past experiences, I can roughly estimate the time and what is going to happen. Alice and I got to report a little late as my work will only end at 1pm on Friday and 1.30pm on Saturday. Furthermore, there's the departmental lunch on Saturday that I do not want to miss.

On the first day of Chingay, I packed food from my staff canteen for both Alice and me. Missing my shuttle bus to Novena, I went back to my department to finish up my dessert first. Upon meeting Alice, we sat at one of the benches along citylink to have our lunch. We head over to the Formula One Pit Building after I stuffed all the food into my mouth. Bad appetite.

As Alice and I did not attend the briefing held a few Saturdays ago, not much information were given to us. I found the volunteers reporting tentage based on my experienced guess. Things were almost all the same even though it is fully handled by PA this year. From the people I see last year and from the SMSes that I received, I kind of know what I can expect already.

Reaching there, Alice and I signed in and went to change into the volunteer's shirt promptly. I love this year's colour. After so many years of white-based T-shirt, this is the first time that they changed the colour and it is red! Very auspicious! =)

Returning back to the volunteers' tentage and report to our groups, it took me a while to find my group as there wasn't any specific distinction in how the others were seated. The leader of my group was not there. I went up to her upon seeing her appearance after a while. My guess of who the person is was correct. I am so glad that this is not my first Chingay and I know what is to be done. The way things were done then really have a very big room for improvement.

As predicted, we were deployed to the seats to place the goodie bags. Walking on the road, I was a little shocked to see the change of layout in the gallery seats. This is the only thing that I did not predict correctly. All the spectator seats were only on the promenade side. There were no seats on the pit side. I believe that those are for the performers. Hmm.

Looking around and trying to fix my eyes on the leader so that I won't lost my way, Alice was actually in the same sector as me! Not bad. I was actually a little disappointed that she was posted to a different group from me. As information were not passed down properly, we were stuck at the red sector for a while before we managed to make our way to the yellow sector due to the barricades.

Placing the goodies bags, we realised that there was a shortage. We went to the blue sector to get more bags. Upon reaching, we were told that there were none and we can rest at the yellow sector first while they send people to bring the bags over to us. Walking back to the yellow sector, the group leader talked to me, she said that it's a good thing that we are late so that most of the things were done when we get there. Seeing that I am taking pictures of the things laid at the side of the road, she told me not to take photos during the parade as we can watch it on TV during the broadcast. That really made me suspect that something is going behind me. Oh well, I don't care. I am not the old me anymore.

Proceeding back to the volunteers' tentage with the extra goodies bags, we were deployed immediately as there were not enough food available for dinner. We were promised to be given time to have our food at a later timing.

I am grouped with Vincent, a working adult that owns his own business, and Dion, a student. It took us a while to warm up. Deployed to part of the segment of the VIP sector, our role is to ensure that the audience enter the right gates. After some time of guidance, I am in-charge of giving out the flyers while guiding at some times. I met some audiences who went the wrong way and were really angry. I got scolded for the wrong reasons by a few families. That "awesome" leader of my group is so "cool". She "taught" me to push the audience to other people and let others solve the problems. What rubbish is this? What kind of problem-solver is she and she is valued to be a leader by the previous organisation that took charge of all ushering duties? Responsible? No way.

My neighbour found me at my side. Surprised. She was seated at the yellow sector to see her daughter perform. I was told that she actually had a spare tickets and wanted to ask me whether I would be interested to watch the performance. Mum said that she tried to ask me but I was asleep. Like seriously?

Dion was sent to have her dinner first when the food was ready. With the show starting, I was curious and went to have a peep as it looked like it was the wushu segment. As my side was blocked and watching show near the gate will not let me miss out any audience, I see that it is perfectly alright to walk a little closer to the gate. Vincent say he will take charge for a while, while I went to take a look. I have helped him to look after the place while he went to look for his family members at the gallery seats. That "awesome" leader came to scold me. Squared-brain?

I told Vincent about the politics I have observed and some of the things that I know about Chingay while still keeping part of my identity. I have been holding back not to tell anyone about the politics but I leaked a little. He still can be trusted in a way I guess. He doesn't seems to be that "kind" of people.

Standing there for so long without any breaks is really draining. I felt a big strain at my legs. Pushing on, I just push myself to my limits.

Dion returned and it was time for Vincent and my dinner. Reaching the end of the bas of the yellow gallery seats, I was told that we had to sit near the river and have a quick one as it is not allowed to let the audience see us having dinner. What? If I am not wrong, some went to the tentage to have their dinner. Having no appetite due to the tiredness, I took my food and went to the gallery seat to look for Alice. Not being able to get through her phone or find her, I just watched the show and took pictures while contacting her once in a while. It was really noisy to get in contact with each other that day.

Feeling that it's about time, I went back to the assigned area. Vincent was not back yet. I can guess where he was. I kept my food in with bag. I was a little shocked that my partner left it unattended. Lucky no one touched it. Phew.

Dion and I went to watch show a little while before the end of everything. We went back to our positions shortly after. Vincent came back a while later. Hearing the wow from the audience, the three of us went up the staircase to peep again. It was the snow! It's really wow...

Returning back to our position after a short while, a YPC member saw us. She said that she is alright with us going to watch it. The three of us hurried up again. We were so happy then. As we were in our high-spirits, the "awesome" leader came and screamed at us. Dion obviously looked shocked. Other volunteers at the area were a little shocked too. We went down the stairs as she continued her scream. We bring told her that someone from the committee allowed us to. She shouted loudly that we should only listen to her. Seriously, are we dogs? As she walked away, I told Vincent: "see, told ya". He nodded and say that he will talk to her about it later.

I talked to Dion, hopefully she is not affected by this, especially when this is her first time volunteering. She in turned surprised me by saying: "after I wake up tomorrow, I will forget everything". That is a good mindset. How many good volunteers are loss due to leaders like her?

The performance ended and I started waving goodbye to the audience. Feeling shy, Vincent and Dion joined me in the goodbye "thingy" after a while. At that moment, I feel wow-ed. I never knew that I can make a difference like this. Other volunteers from the red sector joined us in the byebye session too. Wow...

As the snow dropped down, I shouted "huat ah!" I shouted that once in a while when the snow dropped. As Dion have tests the coming week, Vincent said my shout of "huat ah" will ensure her to pass the papers. Haha.

As the "awesome" leader came to "see us", I just ignored her and smiled to the audiences. She came to me and said sternly: "your side clear very slow leh. The other side is almost finishing". I didn't reply her. Is her brain burnt? Am I a controller of how fast the people leave the place? She continued: "You all come and look for me automatically after the crowd has cleared!" and left the area.

The three of us continued to have fun with the crowd. At one point of time, Vincent held the hand of a little Caucasian girl as her parents left something at the gallery. We teased him and I said I want a Caucasian boy. Haha. As the crowd cleared, we took a photo with the sign of our "gate" and went to the gallery to make sure that all the people has left. A lady lost her phone and we took intiative to help her to search for it. In the end, I only took photo of myself with the floats in the background as it was found by Vincent very quickly. Leaving the place, I told them about that the "awesome" leader had said and we headed over to the yellow sector even though another YPC member asked us to report to the volunteers' tentage directly. I said that we must go there or else we will get scolded again. The person did not really get what I was trying to say. Great.

Reaching there where the rest of the group has gathered, the "awesome" leader was screaming angrily. I sat at the back of the group on the metal pole. My legs were really sore. The short break I had during dinner time was not enough. I wanted to keep a distance away from the "awesome" leader too. Vincent stepped in as she spoke halfway and said loudly that we as volunteers should be respected. A leader from another group heard it and was a little shocked. The short quarrel between the two started. It only stopped when another leader stepped in and say that we are to report to the volunteers' tentage immediately.

Heading back, the three of us agreed that we will appear and have fun the next day. We even want to be grouped together again. I told Vincent that he should have brought up the issue at the tentage as it would be more effective. He then told me that he is giving her "face". Yes, he is being nice.

Going back to the tentage, the "awesome" leader again showed her "awesomeness". She asked us to wait and abandoned us there till one group member found out that we can actually start signing out. It was only after a long wait then we found out that we are waiting for nothing. Great. It was a long queue at the station and there are even people who just cut in right in-front of me! Wow. I really have a good-to-bully look?

Alice waited for me for a really long time. I feel really bad and angry at the same time. As she has called me during the quarrel, I told her something happened and will explain to her. On our way home, I told her the whole story. Amazing people that I have met on the first day. Wow.

The next day, I went to work as usual, before going for Chingay. I have asked to claim time, reporting to work an hour later than usual. My legs were too painful and tired, causing me not to have a proper sleep the day before. I went to Sakura for buffet before heading to Chingay as it a treat from the radiologists that I do not want to miss. I have planned to report late.

Setting off from Sakura to head towards the F1 pit, I called Alice to set off too. I was so full that I could hardly walk! I have planned to tabao the dinner that would be given later already. Upon reaching the tentage, it was so quiet and empty. Alice and I signed in and proceeded to the yellow sector to look for our respective groups. On the way there, we took a few photos on the road that the Formula One cars races on.

Half the gallery were filled with the goodies bags already. The people were resting at the base while waiting for more goodies bags to be sent there. Some of them were slotting the separate piece of flyer into the main magazine so that each audience will be given a proper set of booklet.

A short briefing was given before we head back to slot in the goodies bags. A guy that Alan considered to be rather gay gave his speech. With his crew cut, I believe that he has just enlisted not long ago. He said something about listening to leaders. He also said that those who do not listen will be charged. Wow, what a strong word used. Upon hearing, I know Vincent is offended. At suitable pause, Vincent pulled the guy aside and have a private talk with new friends that he brought along, a guy working Mount Elizabeth and that friend's wife. Vincent asked a very good question. "If somebody in your organisation did something wrong, will you charge them"? I just sat there and listen.It was amazing. I am ready to step in when necessary.

The crew cut guy replied something that made me feel that he is super ridiculous. "Trust me, I have been here for two years." Like, seriously? I almost wanted to say this is my fifth Chingay. I don't see how being there for two Chingay Parades shows that he is in the right. In fact, I see how incapable he is in solving issues; especially in handling middle-aged adults. This really made it more ridiculous for him to use the reason for being there for "two years" to be convincing. I see that most of the highly regarded people from the previous organisation seems to be rather arrogant and ignorant.

It was time for dinner and I sat with Alice for dinner. As I had a very heavy and late lunch already, I kept my food in my bag. The crew-cut guy walked passed me and asked if I had food. That is nice of him but I still find his "reason" ridiculous.

It was deployment after dinner. We are supposed to get in pairs. I got this feeling that I may be paired with Vincent since he is the only working adult there without a partner but I do not want to be discriminated that way. As I stood there, I was so glad that the cheerful guy in the group, Nicolas, came to stand beside me. I was like, wow... I believe that I am going to have an awesome parade.

Posting to the various aisle, we tried to go crazy a little. Nicolas said that my personality is really mysterious. I told him that I was quiet the previous day as I still had fever in the day. I also said that I will try to be high as I have not fully recover yet. He asked for pompoms from the motivators and he got one for me too. Yey.

Our area was assigned a girl from crowd control. Her name is LiNeng. She seemed a little lonely as she is the only one from her side that came to our aisle. Nicolas and I made friends with her and we tried to have fun together. Seeing a group of people distributing some wrist sculptured balloons, he went to grab some from themfor both LiNeng and me. Whee!

Well, as usual, my inferiority sets in again. It was more of like me having fun alone and they having fun together. Sad. I did my best not to think it that way and tried to have as much fun as possible. I do not allow any unhappiness to affect me till the end of the parade.

The parade ended and the "awesome" leader asked us to stand up. No specific roles were given. The crowd were gushing out and the walkway and staircases were jammed. We sat down again. She came to us and screamed at us again. Cool.

After the crowd has left, Nicolas took our contacts and promised to add us in facebook. Oh well. I didn't get the add. I wanted the photo in his phone. Hope he will add me as a friend soon. The PA staff at our sector gave out the goodies bags that we had collected bag for him. Nicolas keep saying those who took the bags are "cheap-skate". Whatever.

Reporting back to the volunteer's tentage, Alice told me that she has claimed her $5. I went to sign out and collect too. That person who once accused me of doing things that I did not do stopped the people from giving me the money after I signed on the paper. Great organisation of things. I will make a big fuss if they do not allow me to take the money after I have already signed. Anyway, I told the guy that I am on medication and I need to go off as soon as possible. He helped me with that, allowing me to be able to get the money and go off. We were supposed to stay back for a debrief. Alice wanted to stay for the debrief so I took the goodies bags that she had and went to wait for her at the flyer.

It was after around 20 minutes that she managed to make her way to the flyer to look for me. We headed home with lots of goodies bags. Happy.

I am glad that the parade is over. It is really time to reconsider making this my last Chingay parade as an usher. My physique is really going down. I am kind of sick and tired of the drama of those people who think so highly of themselves too. Photography perhaps? Let's think again.