Reality Check

It was a busy weekend for MUMSA last week, as we had 2 events in succession. The first was the Unity & Diversity show, where MUMSA is again participating with a dance performance, and also the next day, we had our Annual Malaysian Night dinner.

UNITY & DIVERISTY PERFORMANCE

I know I said somewhere that it would be a long time before I danced on stage again, but that was then, when I was what people called a noob, unaware of the joy of performing especially something that you would never think you were capable of doing ever in your life. It falls under the same category as bungy jumping, you never thought you would do such a thing, but you did, and you would do it again.

Dance practices started about a month before the show, and ideas of what we would be performing came pouring in. At first we wanted to do a five piece performance, malay dance, chinese dance, indian, kadazan, and a modern dance which involved hip-hop and break dancing. Yes it sounds scary, thats what I thought anyways. We ended up doing just the malay, chinese and indian dance. This year, it wasn't just 6 dancers, but we had 19, and that made practices fun. Once again, Caroline correographed most of the show, while Hani and Laili took care of the Malay dance. I have to honestly say, that after watching last years show, Hani and Laili made this years Malay dance simple, compared to Elun's piece. But, it was for the best, as Caroline's correography for the Chinese and Indian dances were intense, and the simple start at the start was needed, especially for the dancers who had to dance all 3 dances.

At the end of the show, we won best unique performance, which I think we deserved because of the different elements we showed in our dance.Video of the performance will be posted as soon as I get a better copy of it, as my copy was shot at an awkward angle, so not everyone is seen, including me..hehe.

MALAYSIAN NIGHT 2008

Due to last years success, organisers Lutfi and Jace decided to stick with the costume theme. This year, it was Hollywood, Bollywood & Mallywood.

Once again a video was needed for the night, so me and Lutfi got to work starting on Friday. We shot more footage on saturday, did the editing saturday night till the night of the dinner. I came up with the idea and so it wasn't that great of a video. It was meant to be more, but I think I did not execute it as well as I wanted.

I went to Malaysian night dressed as a gangster, Al Capone style, American gangster style. It wasn't much dressing up really, believe me when I say others dressed up, with make up and props, but me, a pinstripe suit, and put on my normal face, and I'm a gangster (coz people always say I have a unfriendly face).

People who have known me since high school will probably know that I was supposed to sing at my prom, but that never happened, so at Malaysian night, I made up for that, and performed. Hahahhah. It's funny how this year, Haizat transferred from Albany and he asked if I wanted to join him in performing for Malaysian night. What the heck, bila lagi kan. Good thing the performance were watched by friends, and our mistakes while singing were forgiven. It was good, bit nervous at first but by the time the second song came, we were comfortable.

Video me and Lutfi made will be posted up soon as well, and video of the singing will not be posted.

The night was fun, and of course the photo sessions, with all the different costumes. I even got the best dressed, just because Iylia won already for most photogenic. Look at the pictures here
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=150568&l=a21ff&id=673915175 , and you'll know why he should have a clean sweep for the awards.

The night ended smoothly, and kudos to Jace and Lutfi for organizing a great event.

REALITY CHECK

P.S : I am officially tired of it. My efforts have brought me nowhere near, instead has made me bitter. I am switching off. I am officially crawling back into my sanctuary where its safe.

BERSATU 08 : Style over Substance

The long awaited BERSATU games in Wellington ended with mixed emotions for me and my team. MUMSA obtained its first gold medal in the history of the games, but really, we were unlucky not to add to the tally. Takder rezeki.

Preparations for the games, besides the obvious deed of training, consists of fund raising, rallying supporters and keeping everyone on their toes. We did a pretty good job for fund raising, sausage sizzles, and also the selling of Nasi Lemak and other Malaysian goodies, which contributed greatly to the final amount. Kudos goes to everyone involved in making those two fund raising activities a success.

As for the games itself, we left for Wellington on the 28th of June, on the bus, and arrived a few hours short of the opening ceremony. This years opening ceremony was simple and I guess its how it should be. Our contingent arrived in our brand spanking new MUMSA t-shirts, which I thought was the paling semart out of the others. As head contingent, had to go through the baca ikrar, and some introductions on stage, which was all good. No speeches.

The night went on with introduction videos and performances from WMSO, a dance number, as well as the Haka. Ceremony ended earlier than expected, and all went back to the backpackers, to get ready for the first day of games.

Everyone was pumped up for the first day of games. All were on time. Only thing was the weather made the organizers have a headache. Football was canceled, and moved to the last day, while Touch was now to be played indoor. Netball went ahead despite the roaring winds and pouring rain. Badminton was on schedule as planned. First day was a bit of a bore, as the team split up into 2 as venues were different. Full support couldn't be given and to me that made us suffer. We bowed out of Touch in the group stages, but definitely with a fight. We were unlucky with netball and badminton, but didn't make the semis due to goal or points difference. Bad first day for MUMSA.

It was the same story for the second and third day, where we challenged but not making the semis again. Even lost my cool, my temper during handball, and I apologize to all that were hurt if any. The girls made a valiant effort in Futsal, and I felt had a great chance to make the semis if not get a medal. But due to a tactical error, we bowed out in the group stages as well. Despite the losses, I am proud to say, that our supporters were the best during the games. Our cheers and chants made a difference, and I could safely say, we all lost our voices supporting each other. Even WMSO who had the biggest number of supporters did not come close to our supporting power. MUMSA supporters ruled the whole of BERSATU. I say thanks to those who led the cheers, who till today still have not recovered from all that screaming.

It was the last day, and there were 2 sports left for MUMSA to get a medal. Football, which was now to be played indoor, went on first. We were up against the defending champs, and expectations were high. We won 2-0. We broke the curse, we won our first football game at BERSATU ever. Morale was high. Too high, as we switched off against CMSA, which left us vulnerable to get kicked out of the tourney yet again. We won our 3rd game against Otago, but then had to depend on the match between CMSA and WMSO. Everything was going smooth, until CMSA scored with 12 seconds to go. The group was now tied 3 ways and due to some technicality, we were out, WMSO and CMSA were in. Potential out the window yet again.

All of us went up to support Takraw, the last game. I got a text on the way there saying we made the semis. I was overjoyed, at least points for MUMSA. When we got there, another fight with WMSO, although it went to rubber set, the experience of MUMSA shone through, and carried forward to the finals. The abang-abang post grads showed us experience, as well as moves no one at the BERSATU level has seen. MUMSA got our first gold. We were ecstatic.

That night we had our closing dinner. The venue was great, some hiccups, but overall an enjoyable night, even more so when MUMSA won the video competition with this video




The audience responded positively, reacting how we expected them to react, many of them asking us for the video to keep. Credits to Imran for showing us the video, Matt Harding for the inspiration, and Lutfi for making the video a reality.

We left the games this year with a new and improved reputation, that MUMSA were contenders, not just another team making up the preliminary stages, but challengers, tough challengers that other contingents should be looking out for in years to come.

8 eight

Okay people. I was tagged by la poupres, saper entah dier. Since I am always looking for excuses to put off studying, I will layan. Anyways, 8 things, facts about myself. Oh before that, the rules? Here they are


Okay. Laying down the rules of the tagging game:
----------------------------------------------------------

1) Semua blogger harus menyatakan peraturan-peraturan ini dahulu.

2) Setiap blogger harus mula dengan 8 fakta/amalan tentang diri mereka.

3) Blogger yang di tag hendaklah menulis tentang 8 fakta/amalan mereka itu dan menyenaraikan peraturan-peraturan ini. Seterusnya tag pula 8 orang lain.

4) Tinggalkan komen kepada mereka yang di tag memberitahu bahawa mereka di tag dan suruh mereka datang baca blog kamu.

(La Poupres, 2008)

I think the rules were in English, then she changed it to Malay, and so I just copy paste, cited, maybe not correctly but still cited ok..


So here are the eight:

Uno:

I have a thing about letting people down, I don't like it. I think its because I don't handle guilt very well. So people that are pleased = no guilt for me


Dos:

I still think i'm overweight even though i'm borderline not overweight. If by all randomness someone were to ask "Who's the fattest here?" I would raise my hand, even though I'm not the fattest there. This is not a joke. Haha

Tres:

I am more alive in my imagination than I am in real life, which i'm trying to minimize this year. Keeping it real in the year 2008.


Cuatro:

4. Thats my jersey number, for football, futsal. Started because of Patrick Vieira. Arsenal great, midfield general. From those few statements, I love football, the greatest sport in the world, watching, playing, being passionate because of it. www.espfootie.blogspot.com

Cinco:

Family and friends are my lifeblood. If I call you a friend, I would literally go to the end of the world for you.

Seis:

From the numbers, uno, dos, tres, you might figure I like the spanish language. Hope to learn it soon, and also hope to visit the country in the near future.

Siete:

I like cooking, and flatting this year lets me do that. It doesn't work everytime, but it also means it does work sometime, which I am proud of.

Ocho:

I would like to think I am creative, with my writing, pictures and videos. Hopefully I am really creative at one of those things and not be a poser, and just say I am creative but not.


So, there they are, 8 facts off the top of my head, not much time because i'm not using my own laptop which is still not functioning. Sorry if the facts are useless. Haha

I am tagging:

LSG : Because he's the only one I think will do this thing..

thank you. good night

24...eh 23 la...

Another year, and another birthday away from home.

Just before midnight, text came in and wished me a happy 24th birthday. I read it, and then locked the keypad on the phone. Only after 15 minutes, did I unlock the keypad and re read the text, and realised that 24 is wrong. I'm only 23. Haha.

"to the beat of tradition we danced, eyes meeting, arms swaying, cheeks blushing, feet uncoordinated"

It was yet another simple birthday, as always really throughout my life. Have I ever had a real birthday party? surely, but I can't remember my baby years ( I still believe one of them, brother sister or cousins dropped me on the head when I was a baby, but they deny it profusely). Its always dinner with the family, and drinks with the Kakibangkus.

"in the dark, sparks flew, oh how the sparks flew..."

This year, its sad and happy. Sad because no family and kakibangkus, but happy because brothers cooked and baked for me. Appreciate it guys.

"light? say it isn't so, waking up is not an option now"

Remember those videos last year? we're making fresh new ones this year. One is already on my youtube, silly test video, but fun nonetheless. Another 2 definitely coming, because its required for BERSATU, with potentially more video fun after that.

"what good is a name, if it's not for reference"

With exams getting closer, and one more assignment to hand in, its officially nearing the end of semester one. Like my age, time flies.

"teardrops of water triggered by time"