5 Days. Of pain, happiness, sorrow and a touched heart.

Woots, i am back from university, and this is the first time i am writing an actual blog.
This is alittle long, but bear with me and try to read it all. =.=

As i woke up 6 days ago,

I awoke to the sounds of the gentle hum of my fan and the blissful chirping of the birds outside. As the fog in my mind cleared, i tried to grasp the concept of time. Arranging the previous days and dates, i came to a realization. It was time. As i climbed out of my comfy bed to get ready, my mums voice calling me to get up confirmed my suspicions. Today was the day i had to go to university.

After picking up my bags that took a whole night to pack, i took a picture in my mind. Just a simple glance, back into my room. My home. My sanctuary. Although i knew i could come back, i still left with a heavy heart. Breakfast that day was no less difficult, as in my mind, all i could think of was everyone i will be leaving behind. My friends, my sisters and brothers and most importantly my parents. Its not the bricks over my head and possessions i will be missing, it is the people i care most about...

The trip to Cyberjaya that took an hour was rather uneventful. But arriving there. Nearing the gate to the university, a sweat trickled down my neck in anticipation. I was very nervous, as my imagination ran wild with ridiculous claims of more talented students, more intelligent, and more good looking and would frown upon me. However after the kind security guards at the university directed me and my mother along the road to the registration counter. I felt a small wave of relief drench me. As i saw the other students with their parents; that, just like me, they too were unsure, nervous, and lost in the sea of people. As the registration can only be completed by the students, parents and guardians are sectioned off and parents are left to watch their children run off to stations and counters to do everything themselves.

Upon finishing registration, i had to shift all my bags to my room. Being at the 2nd floor, i cursed gravity at every opportuinity i could take a breath as i had 3 bags that did not get lighter with every step. After i reached my room, i noticed my door was already open and inside, was my two new roomates. With them was also their parents, and so everyone exchanged introductions. Rather obviously, my roomates and i stood awkwardly as the parents subtly interviewed each other.
Then at 3pm, i had to go into the hall to hear the first of many breifings, and so i said a final long farewell to my parents before they left to head back to Klang. As i waved and watched my parents drive away, i felt rather sad, but excited as well, for this is the first time i could make my own decisions and stand on my own two feet.

Cold air brushed my face eagerly as i walked into the hall and the lights above gave the hall a bright glow. As my eyes adjusted, i saw rows of chairs were alined and people started directing us to our seats. After satisfied that all students are in the hall, the briefing started, and i was introduced to the emcee, Steve; who also introduced, the O.C's (Organizing Comitee) and D.M's (Discpline Masters). We were assigned to 16 groups, and 2 O.C's were our guides for each group the rest of the orientation. D.M's, are the "cops", where by they are always watching for your mistakes in attire, speech and punctuality; and punishment will befall u swiftly if you fall out of line. My O.C's are Robin, and Kym. (Note, no relation to Batman and Kim Possible. They assured us many many times)

[Okays, gonna stop sounding like a story book and i am gonna be brief from here and highlight all the interesting and important events only. =.= My fingers are aching and i bet you cant take all this reading anyways]

Day 1

Day 1 is filled with introduction to the basic MMU Song, Freshies Cheers, and some games. We are known as freshies, a.k.a freshmen.
These are the O.C's. They are a happy going bunch. I really like them as they are always kind and helpful to the freshies. They were the people who urged us to keep going and don't give up during the orientation.






Besides that, on the first day we had learn to sing the MMU song, and do dances and cheers for fun.





We were also informed of the schedule. Roll calls are at 6.30am, 7.45/8.00am, 1.45pm and one more at 6.30pm. Other then the morning ones, the latter 3 are for meal times. Means we have to assemble and do a check to see if anyone is missing, then only we could go for meals.

Also, because the opening ceremony is tommorrow, we had to rehearse for the ceremony. Then at night, we had to stay up until 12am for activities in groups. It was actually fun, but i suddenly had gastric. So i had to excuse myself from the activity and walk myself back to the room. MMU isnt that big, but the pathway back to the hostel was still rather long. So when i got to the stairs at my block, i was so tired, walking back to my room on the 2nd floor was like scaling Mount Everest with a fork. The food was nothing to cheer about either.


And by the way.
This is lunch. Basically a ketupat with tasteless kuah. Mmmmm..... wets your appetite doesnt it?




In conclusion, the first day was rough. Very rough. You have no idea how rough. Metaforicly, its sandpaper on sandpaper. Hungry and exhausted, all i could think of is my bed back home, but that thought fluttered away as my eyelids fell heavy and i dropped into my hostel bed.



Day 2

Day 2, the day of "if-you-wake-up-late-you-are-so-dead". We need to wake up at 6.30 everyday for the orientation period, and since we need to get up earlier to get ready, nothing can possibly be worst right? Wrong.
"Why dont we, ask the freshies to gather in the carpark infront of the hall? In the dark? When most of them cant differentiate the offices from the toilets yet?" Oh, btw, the carpark is 10mins walk. Wow. I never saw so many people run like their lives depend on it. Everyone slept at 1am+. And not surprisingly, 90% of the freshies were almost late. What about the last 10%? Well they got punished by the D.M's. A lot, and alot of push ups. The O.C's were fun though, they were the opposite spectrum to the D.M's. The D.M's were creepy. They dont smile, and some say they dont even blink. No joke could make them laugh apparently. But... it will be explained later why they are like that.


This is the opening ceremony for the orientation. They having a video conference with the Melaka branch because they are simultaneously having their Orientation too. I couldnt take any pictures during the actual ceremony for obvious reasons. It is a live feed with the other campus in Melaka, so a chinese guy in a crowd swinging a handphone trying to take a picture and embarrassing the Cyberjaya campus isnt a way i would like to be remembered.

Later on the briefings continued.



In the briefing sessions of day 2, we are introduced to the STAD. (Not stud. STAD.) Students Affairs Division. The man standing now is Abadi. Hes a nice guy. Nothing much during the briefings. This was the only one i took a photo of cause i was conscious enough to press the button.


Its a constant battle to stay awake during briefings. As u can see the row infront of me is suspiciously staring down. I wonder y.




Moving on, we had our lunch as it ended at 11-ish. Following that, more briefings. I managed to keep my sanity and battled the will to sleep and follow the briefings and actually learn alot about MMU. But we still had to stay up for activities untill 12am. Get back to the room at 1am. Sleep about 1.30am, and thats the normal schedule for the 5 days of the orientation.

Day 3













Day 3, the day that "OMFG-I-AM-LATE". I was actually late today with my roomates because we couldnt wake up. But we managed to escape death as the D.M's say this better be the last time anyone be late. After having breakfast, we had time to mingle, and explore until 8am. So which exciting or adventurous place did we go?

No where!

Everyone was too paranoid of being late so we just went to the carpark and parked our butts on the pavement. The view was beautiful though....


















After morning not much happened, and actually i was starting to adjust to the hustle. So i was starting to enjoy the orientation. Later that day, they anounced that there was going to be a MMU Talent Search on Wednesday night. A parody of Britains Got Talent for orientation as a special event. Well, i thought it was a good idea. That night we had group practice sessions and had to decide what do we do. We could choose a number of acts to display; sketches, singing, dancing, percussion instruments or comedy. I opted for percussion music. Because? Its simple and unique. It has potential to wow the judges as the other teams wouldnt have thought of such a performance. But the team leaders wanted to make a comedy sketch. A safer choice, but also the most difficult one, as all the other teams would surely do comedy with any combination of the choices too. However we still went ahead with the comedy sketch. So i just helped out with the scripts that they had decided. But unknowingly, (or maybe i did) i ended up rewriting 70% of the sketch with their concent; and managed to put in a lil percussion part at the end. Whoops? I think i did it again.

Day 4

Day 4, the day that the D.M's were surprised. Because everyone ran to the carpark even before the O.C's could get there. Yes, we are quick learners. But day 4, is filled with so many things that only pictures can explain.

Just a random picture~

This looks so wrong in some angles.
But this is one of the activities they do. Massaging i mean.

And the night ended with a BANG. My teams performance wasnt the best, but it certainly wasnt the worst. Everyone did their best and tried to have the most fun they can. In the end, we did not win because any of the main prizes. But. We won the outstanding cheer award. Woots!

After the awards were given out, we all danced with the O.C's and just went all out and had the most fun we can. It was damn fun. It is because of this night in Day 4, that i truly realize how much effort the O.C's put into this orientation program. All the meticilous planning and sleepless nights they spent organizing this orientation just for us. Although i am just a voice in a crowd and one of you may never read this blog, i want to say thanks to you guys from the bottom of my heart. You guys rock!


Day 5

The final day of orientation. And one would assume that we would all make it there in time right? Wrong. Well i was early, but about 40% of the students were late. The freshies were numbered around 500+. So... do the math. But, the D.M's did not punish them, instead, he just said, "This is the last day of the orientation, and we dont want to punish you. You all did good yesterday." The late commers breathed a sigh of relief.

Nothing much happens until the closing ceremony which is at evening, so i will fast forward there.

As i got into hall, i entered at the wrong time and i got the front row seat. A flash back for those reading, MMU Cyberjaya holds their official ceremonies in video conferences with their Melaka branch. First row + cameras pointing at the first row = me on live tv. One word ran through my mind. Crap. Wheres that swiss army knife with a comb or a shoe polish when you need one. But the event went well. All the freshies sang the loudest i ever heard them sing the MMU official song and were so high spirited. Later after the closing ceremony. We had a little duel with Melaka branch. Which branch had the best cheer. They got jealous of MMU Cyberjaya for having a unique freshies cheer, which they never invented one. So they challanged Cyberjaya with one they created yesterday. Oh. It was so ON. But, we still won. And although we knew we won, we just called it a tie. After all, after the closing ceremony we were not freshies anymore.

After all that, we were informed that we should not judge the D.M's. Because they were chosen to uphold discipline. And under specific orders not to laugh, smile, or join in the activities. They had to turn to stone and not show any emotion, even if it meant it hurt them inside. And because of that. I respect the D.M's. Not being able to join in the fun, punishing people all the time, having people look at them with hate, and being talked about badly. I truly really respect their resilience. For me they did what other O.C's couldnt do. Especially the female D.M's, for your tears while confessing this to us. As a message from my group, i thank you too D.M's. You helped mould the orientation and keep it on track. Your smiles melted our hearts.

These are the D.M's ^_^

Then the O.C's dancing with the D.M's

And with that i end the orientation from my point of view. The rest of the pictures are just random. Wahahaha.










Thank you for reading. Its long because i brought a journal along and wrote in it everyday. If i wrote everything i had in the journal, you would be reading a storybook. =_=" Anyways, Thanks again for reading! XD