Cool New Asia: A Wrap-Up

Whenever someone from the symposium asked me what was my role in the event, I said I was working as Elena's intern. "Oh! So you are the organizer!"

I told them no. I am not the organizer, I am just one of the few people that made up the organizing committee. I dare not claim credit as an 'organizer' for this event is Elena and Scott's sweat and blood.

That is it. I am one of the team members. And I only claim credit for that.

I learnt this lesson from my experience in the symposium - no man is an island. I was ready to get my hands dirty and run around amok during the event, covering every single aspect I could, but I was not. Because of the excellent combination of a team, I had help from various angles, from tech support to emceeing to crowd management, to which I am very grateful.

However, this also poses a problem. I felt like I could have done so much more, but what I have really been is just a supportive team member - the one sitting on the bench, ready to pounce whenever a team members needs their support. This was to be expected, because no one has so much time in their hands to slowly nurture and watch over your every move when it is a real-life work setting. You just need to pick up bits and pieces wherever you are heading...

If you were to force me to say my role in the entire event, I would say that my role is being a learner. In comparison with the hard work the organizers committed, I don't think I dare claim any achievements under my own name.

What I did for them is the establishment of the relationships between the Asian communities in Auckland. As an academic symposium is created by scholars, for scholars, my workload was drastically reduced - I was not required to get massive amount of people to show up. The priority, as my supervisor stressed, is the build-up of relationships.

Sometimes it still bothers me, that I did not manage to get a massive crowd (as how typical events should be in my head!) to turn up at the doorstep of Cool New Asia and allow the sheer quantity of people to speak for itself what I have contributed for the event.

But that wasn't so. Blaring an academic event out to the entire Auckland public wasn't so. That was what I itched to do - they don't call me the Promotions and Publicity Coordinator for nothing! But I constantly reminded myself that the formation of a relationship between Unitec and Asian communities would greatly benefit Unitec's reputation as an institution who cares about that part of their stakeholders.

Besides describing myself as a 'learner', I would probably say I am the breath of fresh air in the committee. I'm sure Elena and Scott, being in the academic industry, will have tons of experience in handling academic symposiums, which to me is a totally new concept I need to embrace. Whenever I was working with them, it seemed like I was the outsider, and that they had everything in their head, ready to be executed when necessary.

Yet I was able to provide with several fresh ideas that were put to use in the event, namely:

1. Suggesting that we do a formal greeting of the guests the New Zealand way. Everyone in the team agreed, and we eventually thought a small-scale Maori greeting would suit our event.

2. Suggesting that we had an electronic greeting done up to welcome the guests at the lounge and display area, given how Mun has readily accessible iMac's and Unitec has a projector in Oakridge House. The usage of iMac to display a multicultural welcome slideshow was my idea, and it was well-received by the team. However, due to the ever-changing nature of events, there were 70 guests to handle, and 70 different levels of technology competency to adapt to. As such, I didn't have the chance to let my greeting slideshow run because the guests were anxious to make sure their respective slideshows would work on Unitec's appallingly dated technological infrastructure (thank God for the Macs!)

3. Rather than having the usual academic speeches by the various scholars as expected from an academic symposium, I suggested bringing in entertainment to serenade the guests after a long day of brainstorming and thinktanking. I brought in the Chinese lion dance and the Korean Madang Hannuri. My colleague Jon was actively involved in the Japanese community, and he arranged for a Japanese performance in addition to mine. I was in charge of ushering the performers and attending to their needs, organizing them in preparation of their performance.

4. Entertaining and socializing with the guests. I was present in the event for both days, providing help whenever necessary. I talked to various people from the event and got to know what they like about the event, and whether their needs were met.

5. Because I had a personal contact who has photography as a hobby, I brought him in to help take photos as a pictorial record of Elena and Scott's first initiative. They told me it was to be held annually if well-received, as such I deem it necessary for quality pictures for the record.

6. Attending to the guests' needs wherever needed, such as special dietary requirements.

7. Ensure the overall proceedings of the event - monitoring the overall layout of the event, for example assuring there was adequate room for the performances and made sure the guests were rounded up at the correct locations to view it.

8. Publish Cool New Asia in Asia NZ website and Auckland Council website, and also Auckland City Harbour News and Central Leader.

One thing that I regret not doing is emceeing during the performance. It was supposed to be a chance for me to shine, for my effort to be known. But I hate my voice! Everytime I go to a karaoke back in Malaysia, I cringe listening to my voice. I cringe when I hear videos of me talking and I generally think I squeak like a mouse. Guests wouldn't like hearing a mouse squeak. It could be something in my head, but I know I just missed a great chance in gaining good experience and overcoming something that I do not like. Jon, with the better voice and confidence did it for me, to which I am grateful. But also regretful. Note to self, grab opportunities like this next time, don't ever lose it again.

Overall, the feedback that I received from the guests were they thoroughly enjoyed the event. They felt that they were well taken care of and it was quite successful. Given how I know we have a very tightly constrained budget, I am immensely proud of how the team managed to pull it together, especially the organizers themselves. However, by the end of the second day a lot of the scholars were mostly burnt-out from having so much strong ideas shared among themselves. I particularly enjoyed the impromptu conversations when the scholars shed their academic-ness in exchange for conversation with a personal touch. These people were really interesting themselves, Canadians that spoke Japanese, Australians that spoke Korean, so much of a mixture that it puts Malaysians (who are multicultural ourselves) to shame. Multicultural what? We ain't seen nothing yet! It made me realise just how much cultures transcend borders, and it was also very heart-warming that the "Asians" are not disregarded in favour of "Western" study - there were scholars that were equally interested in us, which is great.

As a concluding word, I learnt not to underestimate small-scale events. They might seem small, but for every drop of blood and sweat shed by each member of the team to make the event possible, it made me realise that each event is truly unique in its own right. I have definitely learnt much, both from the event production side and the publicity side. And not to forget the insightful talks given by the scholars about Asian culture! That is one of the perks that I truly enjoyed, learning what the participants of the events are talking about, and getting a feel of it. I was particularly drawn to one Master's student about her research project, because I happen to be doing the same for my Communication Research project. It almost made me feel like giving a speech myself... I even put up my hand to ask a question, which I surprised myself. I'm just a Degree holder, who am I to question a Master's holder in a room full of Doctors!!!! Hahahahahaha.

Maybe next year, if I happen to be in New Zealand again. I'm going home for now.

Thanks to everyone that made this learning opportunity possible and a fruitful one.

The Concluding Chapter.

Elena sent me an email the other day that goes something like this:

"Thank you for helping out today, Yahui, what shall I do next year when you will be gone?"

It made me tear up. Just because I'll miss Elena and Valia, and also the email made me realise how little time I have left in New Zealand.

That also means my internship is drawing to an end. It's really funny how I'm supposed to do evaluations on my performance and whatnot even when I haven't been through the actual event yet. Oh well, it's all bureaucracy, and to satiate the insatiable appetite for paperworks that this program is so fond of! (Mind you don't take marks off for being honest, you wanted me to be critical, Internship program)


So what have I learnt throughout my internship?

I have learnt that publicity is not achieved through getting the largest amount of people possible, but rather learning how to tailor publicity to suit the needs of the target audience.

I have learnt that I'm so accustomed to dealing with Kiwis (which I'm so immensely proud my ego might just explode) that I am close to shedding my old ways of dealing people to make way for the Kiwi way. Which is good, but not very good as well. Good because my dad's sinister plan of chucking me into a faraway land to learn how to be survive in different settings has worked. Not very good because I'm a Chinese! I'm supposed to be fast, snappy, get right down to business, be fast and effective, and be super efficient! Cut all the wishy-washy greetings and get things DONE. Well, in the end I did, but with a Kiwi touch. So all is well.

I learnt that having past work experience has helped me tremendously. Having all those administrative and secretarial experience (even if it's for my evil big brother) has helped bolster the shock of having to deal with the internship work. Writing up paperwork was a breeze - letters? No big deal. I get the touch just right, just becaue I have prior work experience. And I'm immensely happy because the tasks that I once thought were mundane has actually helped me in my current work. Of course, I have to adapt here and there to suit the Kiwi way of doing things. Also, what sets my current work experience apart from my past one is the fact that I get to correspond with people myself without going through a boss. Yes, I need to report to Elena and she has the say in final decisions, but the correspondence with people, I do it myself. That was a privilege that I couldn't do in my previous job, and it's refreshing that I get such access now.

I learnt the art of dealing with people from the very best. The chance to observe Scott at work was an invaluable lesson that taught me something I have never quite achieved - the confidence and ease he had when dealing with people. Although I would like to achieve the same standards that he exude, I think accomplishing this throughout the span of one internship is impossible - as such I will continue to develop and grow my communication skills and always have Scott in mind as a role model.

And most of all, I learnt the art of adapting to survive. Work environments are usually dynamic. Act fast or get lost! Once you are confronted with a change in situation, bam! you need to make decisions fast and not muck around at the change. I also learnt the greater art of adapting faces in the workplace. Even if you are dissatisfied, you don't write it all over your face. You need to be diplomatic and careful when dealing with colleagues.

Speaking of colleagues, I can't help but to rave at how much I love them. They are the greatest bunch of I'll ever have the chance to meet. They were easy to work with, they were great listeners, they were firm on the fact that study comes first (a privilege I would never get if I work with a business outside), they were understanding. They were FUN, and made my time there enjoyable.


That sums up what I've learnt so far. Please don't tell me I'll be marked down if I don't give a detailed account on how I dealt with that nasty bug in Microsoft Word that nearly ruined my entire workflow! The internship program has so many clauses printed in so many pages I am afraid I might violate any of them. *Shudders*

So what do I have to say about the internship program?

Well, the other day Valia taught me a very interesting theory, called the Pendulum theory. She said that both sides of the extreme must be met before the pendulum will settle down into a balanced middle.

I would like to write this concluding chapter by praising how well the internship program has been executed. But unfortunately, the pendulum of the internship program has swung to the far end of being overly loaded with paperwork and overly invasive of study time. My own personal pendulum (work placement) granted by Elena, which I have endless gratitude for, has allowed me to strike a balance between gaining work experience and studies. I can't say the same about other students, who skive off classes just to get the hours accomplished. Why bother studying then? Honestly, I don't really care for the students (the third-years I'm with are selfish and arrogant and never made my time at Unitec a pleasant one, thank god for the first and second year students who are more down-to-earth) in the internship program. but what made me voice this is my sympathy for the lecturers who constantly have to deal with students running off halfway through class, or worse of all, face a half empty class during lessons (sorry Valia long sentence but I can't help it). Yes, the programme leaders and head of department said it's a matter of time management on the student's side, but why study when you are dropping lessons for work? It beats the core purpose. It should never work that way.

And I still can't shake off the look of horror when I suggseted an alternative way of executing the program - asking Kiwis to work on the summer or weekends are almost like sentencing them to death - they will protest and say no and complain. Okay fine. Cram the internship into a semester, and you all still complain. I don't know what to say.

Yahui wonders, when will the Unitec internship program pendulum swing and gradually rest in the middle? I look forward to that day, but unfortunately am not blessed to experience it sitting in the middle.

But so far, it'll do.

*Looks at the Learning Outcomes paperwork, ticks boxes*

So yeah, I guess that's it. Valia, you're probably bored of this, but thank you for your time and effort in making this internship a valuable learning experience for me. Thank you for reading all the rambles I had throughout my time as an intern, and thanks for the academic support that you provided even when it's not your responsibility. You really touched my heart with that. The Chinese might be fast and snappy, but we are certainly a grateful bunch. :)

Thank you.The internship paperwork might be coming to an end, but for me, this is just the beginning of a new chapter in my life...

Less is More.

Just got an email from my boss saying that I'm striking an ideal balance in my work.

Still remembered that I had felt inadequate a while back because someone was introduced into the committee to handle jobs that overlap mine.

But now I realise even if that person outdid me, it doesn't mean anything if it isn't done right.

Less is more, less is more.