Saturday, July 14, 2012

last dance

The FOOD FAIR was today and it was totally amazing!!



This was Seri Mengasih's major fundraising event so it was huge. We've been getting ready for months, practically. Starting on Monday we didn't have regular classes and the teachers didn't even do extra afternoon tutoring sessions because that would have been overload for them (they work so hard!). The tables and chairs all over the entire center needed to be rearranged and relocated. Tents were set up. Food was delivered. Items were arranged and priced and perfected. It took many hours but it all looked good. I started learning about the popcorn process (my job) on Tuesday. In Malaysia they serve popcorn at the movie theatres however Malaysia popcorn is actually always caramel corn. It's not called caramel corn but it's equally as sweet. Therefore, after I made a deliciously buttery and salty batch of popcorn I was met with complaints. "Ew! It's SALTY!" as if it was a crime. I asked around and tried to find a trend. It seemed the older individuals liked their popcorn more tasteless but no one was requesting extra buttery. Then came my challenge of making popcorn in a portable popcorn stand and making it SWEET and sugary to satisfy malaysian tastebuds. One of my favorite teachers was willing to help me power through it and we ended up using brown sugar mixed with butter. I still don't think it was sweet enough for my customers, but almost. People came and bought 'my' popcorn though, it was fun and it was messy!



The FOOD FAIR is this huge bazaar or market with mostly food products. People buy coupons in sets of RM10.00 which is about USD3.00 and then pay for items by tearing off their coupons! Other people from the community come to Seri Mengasih, open up their booths, set up their tables with their edibles, and offer up what they've prepared. I'm assuming it's completely donated. I don't think we paid any of those people to come and their only getting coupon stubs in return. But I am not the accountant or treasurer... Anyway, there were popular malaysian dishes, second hand clothing, handmade crafts (by yours truly and the students), vegetables, chickens, interesting juices with grass jelly floating in them, SMC baked goods, and popcorn! There was so much to do and see and enjoy. It was a teensy bit overcast so not insanely hot. The local radio station was there broadcasting in SIX languages. I was asked to do the English interview for the radio broadcast. I wasn't nervous. I should remind you that this was considered my last working day at Seri Mengasih Centre. I was given a script for the interview so that all SIX languages would be saying the same thing about SMC. As I was reading and prepping I thought about SMC and more deeply. The script was somewhat written as someone who knows all about SMC, not someone who comes in and falls in love but leaves after 11 months and is from a different country. I thought of all the things I love about SMC and how truly beautiful the FOOD FAIR is for the community, the centre, the students, the teachers, the parents, and me. I've never seen such unity in action like that. Not many students came but every time I saw a student I just about lost it knowing I wouldn't see them again and that this FOOD FAIR was for them and that someday, with the help of SMC, that student is going to be a confident and independent individual. I feel so blessed to be a small part of that timeline. Imagining what I would say in that interview and how I can't feasibly sum up my year for the interviewer or indicate the single most memorable moment or how I am changed or what's my favorite thing about Sabah without some serious contemplation first... I lost it. Cried and cried and knew I had to stop so I could go tell the world how great SMC is but that just made me want to cry more. "Wait, you mean I have to leave?! But I like it!!!!"

The staff have been working so hard to make this a beautiful and smooth fundraiser. I applaud them. I am proud of them! Friday evening most worked until at least midnight and then were ready to work at about 5am on Saturday morning. Everyone was asked to wear orange and each time I saw an orange shirt working hard, finding something that needed to be done or lifting something heavy, I wanted to cry. "I have to say goodbye to that dedicated individual," I thought to myself. I think it's fantastic that this was my last official day. What a day eh? Unforgettable. The staff is the most important thing I'll ever know about Sabah. They taught it all to me. Taught me about love, friendship, commitment, patience, and bahasa melayu. And I am so glad that I could make it to this event and see all these superheroes in action! It's painful that I have to say goodbye to this human beauty I have found but their smiles keep me strong.



keep praying! I love you all!
peace


the night before the foodfair also had one of the most amazing sunsets I've seen yet!