Orientation Week

Melisa Pang, Malaysia

Aah, the joys of Orientation! It was as much fun and as eventful as I imagined it to be, on both the times I've been on Orientation, last year as a participant and this year as an assistant.

Last year, I came to Orientation feeling a little intimidated, being in a new place and not knowing many people, anxious about what university life may hold and whether I would get to know many people. But it was all needless worry really, getting picked up at the airport by friendly smiling faces just gives you relief after over 20 hours of travelling. Meeting people was not as difficult as I imagined it to be, I met and got to know a few people at the airport itself.

The week was great, all the activities: treasure trail stuff and during the whole time meeting people and forming friendships with so many people from countries I'd never imagined getting to meet and know someone from. It was magnificent. By the end of that week, I was much more comfortable in my new surroundings and settling in my new 'home'. Well, hall was much easier than I imagined too.

I guess, all that fun I had as a participant is what made me want to be on Orientation so much again, this time as an assistant. Of course, all those helpful friendly faces and people also motivated me to want to work in such a close knit team as well.

I was really glad when I was able to be on the team, and I must say it was really as great fun and joy working in the team as I imagined it to be if not even more so. The training days we had, the trip to Bakewell and all the other activities brought us all much closer together albeit the team comprised so many nationalities and cultures. I guess you could say we bonded in a way, and got to know each other much better. Its amazing that after only a few days, every one had a sense of team spirit and togetherness.

Then came the beginning of Orientation Week itself, and our duties: showing people around and to their rooms, the tours, the walks, the helping out with questions, the formal dinner, etc. Although it was work and duty, it was really enjoyable because we were working with people we liked and were glad to work with.

Of course there were moments too, like almost getting lost in the never- Before- been- to Sorby annexe, falling off stairs so many times ( it's the shoes I tell you!), being silly running down the D corridor with my mates waking up some of the team, dealing with prank distressed calls from one Fatta Mohamed aka Phil Harper, etc. And, of course, I learn a lot too, like handing out cutlery, knowing the Sorby meal menu and the annexe pretty well, knowing almost every corner of the union and, best of all, learning or discovering the secrets to card and coin tricks.

But soon, Orientation came to an end. The week seemed to have flown by so quickly. It was the last Saturday we would be together as a team. Clearing out our room and Sorby and saying goodbye, it was almost teary, Even though we were going to see each other pretty soon. It was a sort of feeling of loss, since we can't be together doing stuff and working. I was missing that and not being able to sit around chatting and popping into the room down the corridor to find a familiar friendly face and feel that everyone was so close together.

Orientation was really a wonderfully brilliant experience of learning, sharing, co-operation, togetherness, caring, support and, of course, of team spirit. Thanks to EVERYONE who was on and a part of Orientation or involved in it in anyway - you guys are bright little sparkles that will always be fondly remembered.

Melisa Pang, Malaysia