THEY WILL ASK thee as to what they should spend on others. Say: "Whatever of your wealth you spend shall [first] be for your parents, and for the near of kin, and the orphans, and the needy, and the wayfarer; and whatever good you do, verily, God has full knowledge thereof." - Al-Baqarah (2:215)
Malaysia Flag Pictures, Images and Photos

Saturday 28 July 2007

The excitement continues

Just another week to go to our Family Day outing and for the past week I had to make quite a number of phone calls. There will be 23 adults and 35 children (age ranging from 6 months to 16 years) from the PLWHA families joining us and out of these, 10 of the adults and 22 of the children are from the families under my care. Naturally I had to make the most phone calls!

Although they had informed us earlier that they’d be joining, we had to confirm again as there may be some cancellations due to whatever reasons. From our past experiences in handling the Family Day outings, there are bound to be those who cancel but never bother to tell us - which is fine if we don’t have to pay first. For this year’s outing, we are going under group package to cut down on cost, and so we have to pay in full at least 7 days before the date of the event.

When I called my PLWHA clients who are coming, they told me their children are already all excited. They have already decided on what to wear and all those stuff. I am not surprised if they have already packed their things in their bags.

Yah had already arranged for her neighbor to send her and the children to the bus station. It’s not easy getting a bus from her kampong early in the morning and if she is to wait for a bus from her place, she’d probably reach Ipoh late. Yah also told me that her younger sister, who was happy that Yah’s children are getting the chance to go for such an outing, actually bought some new clothes for the children to wear. She may not earn much herself, but she was so happy for them, she thought it was the least she could do.

When I called Zainab, although she was excited at the prospect of bringing her children for the Family Day, she had her concerns. She asked if she had to bring any money to buy food. She usually gets her pay in the middle of the month and since our Family Day is on the 5th, she’s usually broke at that time and may not be able to afford buying food at the park. Only when I assured her that everything is provided for and that she didn’t have to bring any money did she finally give an affirmative YES.

Out of all those I called, only Sha had to cancel as she and her family was moving to another house that week. Maybe she can join us during some other outings. Bashar (brother to the late Lily and the new guardian of Lily’s children) also assured me that he will bring all of Lily’s children to join the fun. Meanwhile Fuzi said she’d be taking a “teksi sapu” as there is no public transportation from her place.

Anyway, other than confirming their attendance, our calls to our clients are also to inform them of all the arrangements – where to meet and what time… what to bring… what not to bring… who’s fetching who… and all those stuff.

4 volunteers will be waiting at the bus station to fetch those from outstation who are taking the bus to come to Ipoh. Most of those who need a lift from the bus station are my clients. They know me, but they don’t know the rest of the volunteers waiting there so I will have to coordinate things there and I too will have to be the last to leave the bus station to go to the park.

Since the theme park does not allow outside food to be brought in, we had to remind the families not to bring any. They have never been to such a place before and if we don’t remind them not bring any food or drinks; they may just think it’s best to bring some of their own. And who knows, it is now rambutan and durian season…. you know…









Other than that, the theme park also has dress codes for those who intend to get themselves wet either in the pool or at the water slides. No this no that… actually in the dress code posted outside, even track bottoms are not allowed, but the nice gentleman who’s handling our package told us they are rather flexible on that. So we just told our PLWHA clients to wear something suitable. As long as they don’t jump into the pool in a sarong, it’s quite okay. They can bring in t-shirts, shorts, swim suits…bikinis…or trikinis… as long as they don’t bring zucchinis! Outside food not allowed, remember? :) And speaking of which… if I wear a track bottom, long sleeved t-shirt and a headscarf; will that be considered a trikini too? Three piece whaaat… But anyway, if they don’t intend to get wet, then they can wear whatever they want.

All the above guidelines may be something we take for granted but not for these families. Many of them never had to chance to visit such places and so if we don’t forewarn them on the do’s and don’ts, they may just be like the “rusa masuk kampong” kind… or in this case, the “ayam kampong masuk bandar” kind… (Unlike the volunteers who are more of the “ayam baru bertelur” kind – so kaypoh…)

I just hope everything will run smoothly… and most importantly, that the weather will be fine…

14 comments:

winniethepooh said...

Pi Bani, have a great family day outing..all of u work hard for this. :) will pray tat weather is good, everything will go smoothly for u guys too! :)

I had such a good laugh with ur bikinis...trikinis and zucchinis! haha and of course u in ur 'trikinis' :P

enjoy and i'm sure it will be a success with u (and your sense of humour)around!

Cheers

Daphne Ling said...

Adoi Kak Pi!

First you wanna be a flying nun...Now you wanna wear "track bottom, long sleeve t-shirt and a headscarf" and call it a trikini!

Aiyoyoyoyo!!! Sakit hati gua ketawa...

Ok...I don't know what I missed, but wasn't the family day a looong time ago? I thought we talked about it during Aisya's party adi, and it was the week after?!?

Haha...Sorry, a little out-of-touch here...

Have fun though!

J.T. said...

You wrote: "As long as they don’t jump into the pool in a sarong, it’s quite okay."

I'm imagining that scene. The sarong will kembang and probably lift up in the pool. haha

Wow.. another week to go. Seems like it was so far away when you first blogged about it. All the best to you and the gang. Enjoy yourself.

Pi Bani said...

Winnie,
In my posting I said the kids are all excited about it... but sounds like I'm the one more excited, eh?

I guess to make sure they have fun, then I've got to have some fun too!

Pi Bani said...

Daphne dear,
When I told you about it at Aisya's birthday do, I told you next month, not next week laa...

And my "Flying Nun" posting also came after that whaaat... I think your running nose must have had some effect on you...

Pi Bani said...

JT,
Yes, the sarong will probably kembang and float in the water... quite a scene... haha... wearing my kind of "trikini" is much safer lah!

Mat Salo said...

Best nyer.. saper nak pakai "Trikini" nih? :)

The palpable sense of excitement .. I can feel it.. but looks like YOU are the one yang lebih-lebih. Hehe...

But you deserve it, Pi, and the kids too of course. With you around, heck it'll be a success, Insya'Allah.

All the Best,Pi. God's little children... They WILL have the time of their lives!

Pi Bani said...

Amboi Mat Salo... orang sebut trikini terus celik biji mata dia!!

Excited lebih? Of course, we volunteers always excited lebih... very the kaypoh like that... :)

Unknown said...

Kak Pi...hahaha Zucchini?? Ahaks lamanya tak nampak sayur ni...

if bikini sume singkat-singkat...so trikinis camne kak? ahahaha...my mind wander dahhhhhh...

All the best ya sis...Hopefully the family day will turn out to be a great event...

Salam.

Pi Bani said...

RG,
Your mind tu jangan wander jauh sangat... if bikinis singkat, trikinis labuh le... at least MY version is!! ;)

Have a safe and blessed umrah trip and balik nanti don't forget to blog about it, okay?

pearly said...

hi Chegu Pi Bani :
wow you got to bring such a large family out and kids too .

brave lady xxxxx
you have a lovely time weather will be fine no to worry I bet those kids will enjoy every moment bless them hahha.

sori I long time no here cos the last time I have problem leave comment on it don't know why la .

I love the scere sorang floor top the pool alamah holy sugar shhhhhhhhhhhh don't forget to catch up with a picture to share with me and JT ok promise ok .....PLEASE .......kekekekkke

Pi Bani said...

Pearly
Wah, now you're stuck with calling me chegu, huh? I make a lousy chegu you know... :)

I will try to share some photos here, but don't expect to see a picture of someone wearing a sarong floating in the pool. ;)

zaitgha said...

hope the weather will cooperate....saw a documentary on burkhini = burkha + bikini....cant remember which channel ....

Pi Bani said...

Zaitgha,
Read the article and seen the picture of the burkini, somewhere from the internet.

And yes, praying hard that the weather will be great... suspense sikit tengok cuaca dua tiga hari ni...