The weekend passed.
Annual 10,000 dumpings for the needys
55h.... 3h slp... simply amazing.
As JL said, bracing through all these,
knowing at least people have benefited.

From the set up, to the event, to the closure, everything was a miracle. Its amazing that we are able to pack up in an amazing speed of 2h less. Ofcoz, which much JL aura. Well, throughout the event, do noticed that some people are looking badly at him, labeling him fierce or bossy. However, I think, if he is not there to quicken things up, there would be chaos.

Someone commented, "I cannot think of anything he cant do", I added, "perfectly". Means everything he did was at such high quality and perfection. 

Well Ive been helping out at the event annually, but never was so tired yet gratifying. Guess Ive made a wise decision to stick around. There is really so much planning and logistics to do off the screen. Like how few of us was up early to prepare rice in the wee hours of the morning, making herbal tea, and washing up for them to have immediate utensils and cookery to use. Then, every night as people leave, we cleaned up the place, foraging the place for "lost" utensils and gather them back, wash them, etc. Then, it's all the logistics that we had to set up with little men on sat night so that there are lesser things to worry on sun, and ofcoz, to print seating arrangement and program flow at midnight so there wont be chaos. But look at it this way, he is not a degree holder sitting at office deck ordering things to be done, he personally showed us the way to efficiently get things done, he himself are able to deliver a certain standard thus he demands such standard. He's not all talk but no action, he is able to command with authority of status and action. 

Really a hilarious scene to see when I was eating, I looked at the goodie bag section, like stroll in the park picking flowers hahah! Then, JL came, set up tables and all, and the speed hasten up 600%!! Within the same time I finished one plate of food (I ate 2 plates during this observation, second plate lesser food ofcoz), they produced so much more completed goodie bags. And his fry rice techniques, so fast, so swift, so tasty, and his laminating, like machine hands!

Being the "pakaliao" guy is not easy. Basically we walk around helping anyone in need. Thus we have to know everything well, or at least know who to approach for help, we can redirect the inquiries but never ignored them. Then, while doing that, we have to do PR work, we have to go around encouraging, thanking, and motivating the volunteers, crack some jokes here and there for a conducive work environment. This also includes noticing areas with louder noises to ensure no quarrel is going on, and joining in the jokes as they guffawed, to have a more "people-person" feeling. Oh and all these, amongst the need to appear for bday celebrations and all. This are like a welfare thing, like the Ice Kacang uncle. Despite the committee saying its waste of time and all that, look at how one simple thing could boost the morale of volunteers so much!

It;s really a different thing if you see for yourself how a few men managed to set up everything on fri evening, under the hot sun, and slp for 2h, still have to maintain the clarity in his thinking. He must appear in all three days, and off screen he is already planning and running the next day event already. He have to plan and get measures done to coordinate all his 17 faculties in the event. From that I understand the role of a manager. You have to conserve energy as much as you can, as at the end of the day, when all left, it's all up to you to do everything, literally everything.

This time, there are some extraordinary people I would like to thank. First is the one that stayed with me through the first night. Not only that he accompanied me through the night, he also helped to retrieve my wallet back. Seriously, rather rely on ourselves than "authorities". On sat after fetching a volunteer from mrt, I realized I my wallet dropped out. So I called sbs which was closed, and sent in an online application. Then, I dialed 999 to get them to call the bus driver as I thought through the trip to Toa Payoh the wallet woudl be mobbed. Yet, after finding all the details, they said "sry we dont have sbs number, pls check with them:, I was so raged I said "then why the hell do you need so much details in the first place if you cant do any shit?" seriously........ Anyway ofcoz, on sun he was there to help too, great friend.

The person that stayed the second night too, was very grateful for him, he came for 4 hours that night, in which I was able to sleep 2 and a half hours. That was sat night. After all of the volunteers left at 6pm, a few of them stayed on to steam the dumplings till 8pm, and then JL was there to wait for me till 10pm. The sight of him when I came back, sitting there alone, in a huge tentage, empty, and "boxes" surround him, just made me sad. It was as if "abandoned" old man, packing up to leave or forced to leave, leaving behind a big empty  "asset". Perhaps it was just my over-thinking, but still that sight saddens me. 

Then it was the one who volunteered to stayover but I declined due to his age. He was not proactive, totally unsure what to do, but as I snap by finger and "ordered" him to do work he would give his all. To the extend when we were waiting for the lift he carried the whole stack of chairs up the staircase himself! Crazy! He is the one that when all his peers left he stayed on. Kept teasing him that "with age comes wisdom" by using energy-saving means to do his work hahas! One day will generously reward him!

With him was another friend who mistook dumplings as dim sum prawn dumplings hahas. He stayed and helped alot, especially during the setting up, that needed alot alot of strength. All these done by 3 non gym ppl and kids and ladies, seriously, all those "gym" ppl sitting around downstairs, but still JL was glad they came to help. He said it was his 1 student that called in the group of them.

Then ofcoz, the one that offered the cab so I could retrieve my wallet at Toa Payoh. She is one active volunteer with a generous heart, working with Singapore Institute of Mental Health. She expects no returns for her contributions and all beyond the miles as she help. Enjoyed doing community work as a social worker, she stayed there 8 years and counting. Though tiring, she said he enjoyed the event thoroughly, despite waking up early to reach the venue and all, as she was happy that "she had participated in such meaningful activity, and did meaningful stuffs", she said on sat.

After all, everything he had achieved, he stayed so humble. They never mentioned about their organisation or promote it at all unless was asked. I saw him talking to random strangers on sat morning, "there is no religion is doing good", no matter who, just help. hahas he was smart to say "I dont believe you can wrap, come help" hahahs! Trap!!

Well, then there was a few of them that came from the sunday morning exercise program and decided to drop by the kitchen to help prepare the food, voluntarily. Felt so happy to see people putting in effort for charity programs.

Well, there is alot to say, alot to comment, but all humans have un-satisfactions too. Overall, Im really glad I stayed throughout the event.