First thing first, people should take note that volunteering and organizing an event is two different things. Volunteer means we are given certain task to HELP the organizer. The organizer or the staff is the head and they know most of the progress of the event. Thus, do not COMPLAINT to volunteers because we can't do ANYTHING about it. Be nice to volunteers if you are in any competition or an event.
It was my second time volunteering for a huge event. The first time was for SUKMA 2018 in Perak and i was in charge for opening and closing days. Of course the opening requires more work and preparation (rehearsals) and late night home journey. I discovered that i actually have the balls to go home late night. Yet for Spartan, it requires less time in preparation but we worked the whole day during the event.
Payment. Sukma paid us RM50 per day since we checked in, Spartan paid RM60 per day. Sukma required a few days of working but we only work in the evening like 6pm to 11pm as all the rehearsals and the opening, closing were in the evening. Sukma was a HUGE event like an olympic for Malaysia and some neighbor countries as guest competitors. So, the money was from the government. Spartan was more to private organiser. The day we arrived was the day we were separated into our duties. We can't really choose what to do as they choose people based on numbers needed. Example, 30 girls for festival - 15 for registration, 5 for merchandise, 5 for bla bla. If we are lucky, we get the nice job which have less sunburn.
I summaries SUKMA volunteer. We filled a form about almost a year before the event. They would checked our record if we had any criminals record. Then we were called for 2 days of volunteering courses, by that time we knew we would be in which part ( opening & closing, medic, doping department, etc) and we could request to change with solid reason or you could bailed out. Whoever absence or didn't stay until the end of the seminars will not be chosen. Lastly, we gather a few days earlier to know which is our main duty and we also got 2 tshirts, a cap, a beg and a volunteer tag. The payments were given according to how may days you came and at informed place. We got cash. Certificate also provided. In total i got RM200 for 4 days of duty. Meals were not provided btw.
Spartan was so much fun and I really really enjoyed it! Of course more than SUKMA. Firstly because we were working with an international company. Spartan is a well-known event and most of the participants are foreigners. It was held in Lost world of Tambun. Mainly i worked in registration for both days and helped at the finisher. We could choose to work either saturday or sunday or both days. I sign up for both because i just want to (LOL).
Saturday, 20/7/2019
Got up at 1 am to be there all prepared at least before 3am because we were told that we need to get our tshirt first. Of course i was so fucking early. From my house to LWOT, i needed to use the highway which during that fucking early was filled with crazy motorist ( rempit lumba haram) which had the bright white as their front light. Both saterday and sunday. We needed to give out a waiver to them as proof we know the risk volunteering for this event. We might get hurt so we can't sue them and we must accept the help if needed.
About 4am, ( i know i woke up at 1 am to wait) we had our morning from the organizer and was assigned to particular duty. I got to handle kids race. Honestly, it was much easier and less sunburn (LOL). Overall most of the parents were okay. We were given breakfast and some snacks which we didn't have much time eating. About 11pm where there are no more kids to register, i got to catch some brief power nap. At around 2pm, i walked to finisher where they gave medals,drinks and tshirts to the racers, helped them clean up that place. Overall, first day finished around 6pm. It was okay.
At 5pm, we walked around LWOT. Got into the swing boat, the roller coster and just enjoyed the park. Enjoy the free entrance while we could.
Sunday, 21/7/2019
Woke up at 2am and was there on time to sign in. We needed to sign in and out as proof to get our payment later. This time i still get to be in register because on this day we only have 2 category ( beast and ultra), long-distance. We were told we might finished at 8pm. It was less hustle and more less like yesterday. The last race started at 11am thus we closed counter at 11am too. It was still early to go back so the organizer gave us different jobs later. Instead of asking for the next job, i asked my manager, Brent who is a Philippino and worked for Spartan PH if i could helped him clean and everything. Got to know him more and taught him thank you in malay (Terima Kasih). He was cute so, why not! It's not like im gonna see him again. LOL
Then, i got myself to the result place where the racers see their finished time and what places they got. It was so boring so i moved to finisher (again). This time i help to distribute the waters and gave the racers their medals. I actually put the medal on their neck despite being short ( im 157cm, that is average for ASIAN not european). Of course some spiky hairs SPLASH the sweats right into my face, my hijab and stuck into my lips some of them. Itzz...zokay... We finished up, said farewells to most people and go back.
You think we had no dramas? We did!
In saturday, most of the parents were weird why the time their children registered was not as same as what they had chosen while online register. Well, we only do what we are told to do. We had no idea if anything changes and whatnot. One of them almost burst because her son missed his race. Well, we told her that you should find the organizer (staff in blue shirt) to complaint. Volunteers in red! Then, we had super and split categories that day, super was the first race then only split. Some of them actually entered both! Some of them finished super quite late so they got mad as they saw the registration counter was closed. Brent had to reopen a counter for them.
Okay the situation. Like 3 people came and complaint while we were gathering the equipment. Then one lady came to register, well she was the one got berserk and she searched for Brent's superior, someone upper. Ok they got to register. Then another 3 Chinese came and before they could asked at the counter, one lady from the first 3 people said, " THEY CLOSED ALREADY. GO FIND THEIR BACK-MANAGER (BRENT'S SUPERIOR) THE ONE IN BLUR SHIRT AND COMPLAINT". Well, that got Brent's nerve. He whisper some curses, i saw it (LOL) and just register those people.
Well, due to trifecta weekend means if they entered 3 races, they will received a special medal. Ill leave a picture.
On the last day, i talked to a bunch of people like randomly and it became great conversations! It had less drama for sure. Probably the drama would be some races who didn't managed to complete the race well but they begged for medals and tshirts. Imagine, this uncle who was injured but he forced himself to complete the ultra race, 50km or 30mil for you other people. Some of the racers actually cried as they reached the finished line. 2 people actually sujud syukur! Bro, 50km is no joke!!
Overall of the experience, it was worth it! Imagine being in my shoes where almost everyday is the same. No adventure accept the meltdown of studying. That is such a journey into the depth of sadness. Volunteering is not mainly about money, it was more to the experience and observing human interaction besides enhancing yours.
My advise, look at this as spices of life. Don't expect too much from organiser. Be more patience while interacting with shitty people and make the most of people who actually talked to you and laughed together! FYI, i joined this with my best friend so everything i did was actually with her too! If you wanted to sneak out some extra tshirts or medals, do it carefully because some of the organizer hated that. Lastly, make the MOST of the volunteer status. Try to walk around and give a hand because if you only do the only thing you were asked, you bored yourself.
I may not tried any of the obstacles because i have high risk to hurt myself, I may not know ALL the obstacles and I am damn far from walking the whole track. I see it as an opportunity to make new friends and be surprised how some of them LOVE TALKING TO ME despite my height, skin colour, just overall physically i appear. It kinda boast my confidence and sparks something in me.
THANK YOU FOR READING <3 FYI, if you ever think about joining the next race? They will held the next one in kuching!! Do consider about volunteering too because some of the volunteers actually race on the day they didn't volunteer.
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