AMSA Welcome Afternoon Tea

Recently, AMSA held an afternoon tea to welcome new members. It was a chance for us on the committee to meet both old and new members in person, touch base and to make new connections. We also took the opportunity to introduce ourselves to everyone, and also to welcome our new webmaster on board.

The grey weather failed to dampen the liveliness of the event, which we held at the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts (SMSA). Judging from the constant chattering, with little groups discussing their own topics of interests spread across the function rooms, the event served its socialising purpose.

And the food - fried noodles were plentiful and who could resist the home-made bright red angku kuih, as well as the red and pink kuih lapis?

Our lovely Singaporean members Christine and her husband who came all the way from the Central Coast could not agree more that the kuih were finger licking good!

The afternoon tea would not have had such tempting food without the help of members, Rose and Jennifer who volunteered their time and energy. A very big thank you to them.

There were also 'story-telling' sessions, where Elvan (our president), Evelyn (our vice president), James (the other vice president) and Tony (long-time member) shared their experiences of living in Australia, the country they have called home for some time.

Elvan shared his experience of living with a Christian Lebanese family and how living with students was a terrible idea.

Evelyn recalled how she learnt to use a lawnmower and to care for her children without a domestic helper.

James advised us uni students to challenge with knowledge, to believe in our own abilities.

Tony made us laugh with how he was a lecturer with a difference.

A special guest of mine did a little promotional talk for his upcoming big event, as well. Yes, Logann, the big guy behind the upcoming Malaysia Festival spent a few minutes marketing his event.

I would also like to thank the newly elected Executive Committee of the Malaysian Students' Association (MSA) from Macquarie University. Choong Hern (the president), Siew Lee (the vice president) and Vijey (the secretary), thank you for coming all the way! Hopefully, we will manage to establish a partnership of some sort to have MSA involved in AMSA events, or vice versa,in future.

I made a new friend, Li Ping, whom I have already invited over for dinner with Xin Wen and added to our support network.

Now, who would like to put their name down for the next AMSA event, Pamper Day? It will be at SMSA again on Saturday, October 29, 2011 from 2:15pm to 5:00pm. As the name of the event suggests, it will be a day of pampering the self, with facial and make-up demonstrations for the ladies, and for the men, Swedish and chi trigger point massage.

Why not come to relax and make some new friends while you are at it?