The Bride's Project室内

我想，对一位新娘来说，婚纱是婚礼最重要的一节吧？

在西方国家，新娘会花一笔钱买新婚纱。婚礼后，把它好好收起来，当作纪念。有些妈妈把当年婚纱留下来给女儿穿的也有。

The Bride's Project

前晚，CBC新闻电视台提到一间环保兼慈善婚纱店 – The Bride’s Project。这间店内的婚纱，有些是名牌婚纱店捐赠出来的新婚纱，有些是新娘婚礼后捐出来二手的。该店把赚到的钱都捐给癌症团体，尤其是帮助患有癌症的小孩的。

据CBC报道，虽然该店有很多新的婚纱，可是很多待嫁新娘却比较喜欢二手的。洋人喜欢背后有个故事的东西。这间店的二手婚纱，大都附有前新娘的一封信或结婚照。信是写给下一位穿她嫁衣的新娘，信内分享她的故事，并祝福待嫁的新娘。店员说，有些婚纱已在店内循环了好几次，其中一件已在第四个婚礼了。

多有意义啊！在人生最幸福温馨的一件事里，可以环保，可帮助到患癌的人，又可以省钱，何乐而不为呢？尤其现在经济衰退，可省则省。这里的婚纱都折扣约50巴仙。

我结婚时，没有婚纱，嫁衣是一件白色cocktail dress。目的就是为了日后其他节日可以穿，不要浪费。如果早知道有这间店，就可以去买件来穿，又捐回去啦！:) 可我的cocktail dress，也很精致小巧，便宜，可重穿，也算环保。

“The Brides’ Project is truly a community of women dedicated to making a difference through the happiest day of our lives” — The Bride’s Project

我看时在想，洋人没华人那么迷信。华人可能不喜欢穿别人的二手，如要是之前的夫妇离婚的话，那不是坏意头吗，之类的迷信。

所以，多伦多将要结婚的朋友，即使妳对二手婚纱有顾忌，也可到这家看看。他们也有新，没人穿过的。已婚的朋友，如妳不舍得将婚纱捐出，他们也乐意接受任何婚礼剩下来的小东西。即使妳不是住在多伦多，妳也可以把婚纱寄去。

有兴趣的朋友，可到他们的网站游览，除了该团体成立的故事，和捐赠细节，还有很多婚礼的资料。

想要看CBC报道的video的朋友，请点击这里。

我17岁离国，对亚洲的婚礼真的是一点头绪都没。在大马参加婚礼的头一次是一年前。记得，很久以前新娘可向婚纱店租婚纱的，对吗？那样也不错，也是省钱又环保。

因去年曾参与TIFF的自愿工作，所以，今年我收到特别通知，被邀请去只限有经验的自愿工作者的第一个招收会。我知道接下来的日子空闲，早已决定参与今年的自愿工作。

招收会在Roy Thomson Hall举行。我鲜少在这一带逛，也想细心欣赏一下这座有名的演奏厅。于是，招收会当天，我提早40分钟到。还以为有点时间吃晚餐 – 街边的热狗。嘻嘻！

怎知，我一走出地下铁站已见到了长长的人龙。不用问，我已知道是要参与TIFF自愿工作的人龙。我记得多伦多人怎样为ＴＩＦＦ而疯狂，没想到原来自愿者也这么热情。

我很不情愿地开始排队，心想，看来我的晚餐计划要泡汤了。只有祈求招收会快快完，我不用饿肚子。它准时开始，但有些排在后面的人被请回家，因为今晚他们只能照顾到４００个人！进主厅时，所有人的座位是照排队时的秩序编排的。有秩序得不得了。

原来，会议结束后，每一百人一组，先到的一百人先去另一个厅报名要的职位。我早４０分钟到，怎知原来有两百多人比我早到！所以，我是第三组，当前面的人去报名时，我们须乖乖在主厅等待。我的肚子呱呱叫。

等轮到我这组时，很多我想要的职位或日子已被人‘抢’光了。没办法，我随意选了几个，算了。要交报名表格时，还要排队面试。真的晕倒！

六点半开始，我九点多才出到来。什么胃口都没了，只想回家。

回家路上，我在想，这只是第一个招收会。接下来还有五个。看来可能场场都会爆满。又不见其他自愿团体有这么热情的工作者，连自愿工作都要‘抢’。

我为ＴＩＦＦ或电影界的成功高兴，但为其他自愿团体感到悲哀。如果，其他自愿团体也有这么多热情的自愿工作者，世界上可能会有多点爱，多点笑容。

Regard as one of most prestigious international film festivals in the world, Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), is coming soon.

Appreciating my volunteer work last year in TIFF, I was invited to the first volunteer recruitment session that only opened for returning volunteers. Knowing my following months will be quite free, I have already decided to volunteer for TIFF this year too.

The recruitment session held at Roy Thomson Hall. Since I never explored this area, I arrived 40 minutes earlier than the starting time. It was also to have enough time to appreciate the architecture of this famous concert hall in Toronto, and to quickly get a hotdog for my dinner.

However, I was shocked by the huge line-up I saw when I got out from St Andrew subway station. Although I remembered how crazy Torontonians could be for TIFF, I was still surprised by the ‘passion’ of the volunteers.

Well, without a choice, I knew I had to miss my dinner to start lining up. The session started on time. Many volunteers arrived later than me were sent home because Volunteer Department could only cater no more than 400 people at one session ! In the main hall, everyone was instructed to be seated according to the place in the queue.

After the session, every 100 volunteers per group as per the seating, were sent to another hall to register for shifts they wanted.  So organised ! And I thought I was early, but there were more than 200 people were earlier than me. So, I was placed in the third group and had to wait patiently in the main hall, while those who came earlier were signing up for shifts. And my stomach was groaning…

By the time of my turn, most shifts I wanted were already filled up. My empty stomach did not allow me to consider too much, but just quickly signed up for a few other shifts, so I could go home as soon as possible. However, to hand in my registration form, I still had to line-up for an interview! I almost collapsed due to hunger!

By the time I walked out from Roy Thomson Hall, it was already 9.30pm. I did not feel like eating anymore, just wanted to head home immediately.

On the way home, I noticed this was only the first recruitment session. There are another five more to come. I believe they will be as well-received as this one. Well, I never seen any volunteer work that need lining up at least one hour before, and have to ‘fight’ for the work.

I am happy for TIFF for such success, yet wonder why we could not have the same passion for other volunteer groups. If so, the world might be a better world…..

早上六点，在闹钟还未来得及吵醒我时，我已自动醒来。朦松间，心里有点诧异 ：我怎么这么疯? 在药剂行上班时也没这么早起床！

我七点钟已到达Cumberland 戏院，竟早到半个小时。有一，两个volunteers也已到了，人人都有点似醒非醒的。

今天，我是一名ACE volunteer, 即是紧急工作人员。依常规，ACE 要到自愿工作人员的休息室报到。在值班的时间，如果接到任何一个部门或戏院请求帮忙的电话，ACE 工作人员就会马上被分派到该地工作。听说，如果在值班的时间的头两，三个小时，没接到请求帮忙的电话，ACE 可以提早放工。

在昨天，我已收到电话，所以今早不用到自愿工作休息室等电话，直接到Cumberland戏院报到即可。在等待组长抵达时, 我向一位有经验的工作人员请教，如厕所在哪，售票处在哪等。Cumberland 属于中小型戏院，只有四个放映室，还算容易熟悉起来。

约十分钟后, 我们的组长一到，我们就先开始佈置，如安置好指示牌，将指定的排队范围围栏起来，摆放好TIFF放映时间表的小册子等等。准备妥当后，组长就开始分派工作，如有些人在戏院外控制排队的秩序，负责分派小册子等。

我被分派到戏院内的工作。戏院内的工作有几种 ：有人负责剪票的，有人控制进出戏院秩序的。还有，一工作人员用计算器计算进场的人次。这样我们就可以正确地知道院内有多少空席，以便让Rush Line 排队的人进场。这也是为了记录每场电影的观众总人数。另有一人会分派投票表格给观众，以在戏后评价电影。当电影节完毕后，最受观众喜爱的电影会以此选出。

工作算很轻松。每隔两小时左右，我们还有休息时间。 我们也准时放工。组长再三声明，如遇到麻烦或刁难的人, 不用自己应付, 马上找组长即可。组长也一再谢谢我们的帮助。每一部电影开映前，都有一个谢谢自愿工作人员的前奏短片。我看了那么多电影，每一次这个鸣谢前奏上映时，观众们都会热烈鼓掌以示谢谢。

我见过好几个观众对我们说：“每次进场前，我都很开心，因为有那么多自愿工作人员对我微笑。” 真的，每个人都真的很友善。

我和几个自愿工作人员谈天, 每个人的背景都很不同。有位当地的退休人士，有位上大学的学生，有位日本旅客，有位上班人士， 有位刚刚辞职而想要转行的印度女士，有妈妈女儿一起来的，等等。来当自愿工作人员也为必爱电影。很多是想有一种新体验，有很多已做了很多年，还都很喜欢这个工作环境。所以，虽没酬劳，每人都很乐意和认真地工作。

其实，当被友善对待和珍惜时，哪有人不认真工作的。这么简单的道理，真不明白为什么有那么多商业管理层还不懂。TIFF超过两千多名的自愿工作者就是最好的例子，这也是TIFF成功的原因。

如果明年我还住在多伦多和有空闲时间的话，我会回来工作。

Before the alarm clock rang, I woke up on my own at 6am. I wondered what’s wrong with myself and why I was never this serious even during my working days in pharmacy.

At 7am, I arrived at Cumberland Theatre. I was half an hour early and some volunteers had arrived too. Everyone looked like only half awake.

I was an ACE volunteer today. ACE volunteers were the emergency volunteers whom would be dispatched to the areas that needed help the most. Normally, the ACE volunteers would be expected to report to the ACE Volunteer Lounge, then they would be dispatched according to the phone calls for help. I had heard that if no particular request within the first two to three hours of the shift, ACE volunteers could finish the shift early.

I was not that lucky I received a phone yesterday from the the Volunteer Officer and I was informed to go Cumberland Theatre directly instead of reporting to Volunteer Lounge.

While we were waiting for the arrival of our captain, I tried to familiarised myself with the theatre. I found out where the toilet are, where to buy tickets etc with the help from an experienced volunteer. Cumberland Theatre is a medium size multiplex cinema with only four cinemas within the building, hence it was not too difficult to familiarise with.

15 minutes later, captain arrived and we started the set up immediately. We placed all the signages at the appropriate spots, we arranged areas for line up, we took out TIFF brochures for distribution later etc. After set up were done, we were assigned to specific responsibilities. Some volunteers volunteered to work outside of the theatre to control the traffic and the line up, some to give out TIFF brochures and so on.

I volunteered to work inside the theatre. Usually, each cinema had about at least three volunteers : one being the movie ticket tearer; one to control the in-out flow of audiences; one volunteer to be the head counter. An accurate head count was an important measurement to decide amount of people from Rush Line were allowed to go into the cinema. We also had to record the total number of audiences for each film. Another volunteer would give out ballot to audience to vote the film. At the end of the festival, an audience’s most favourite films would be voted out through this ballot.

The work itself was pretty simple and easy. We were treated very well. For example, we were entitled to 15 minutes break every two hours or so and we finished the shift on time. Also, we were advised that we did not have to handle the difficult audiences ourselves, instead we were asked to immediately get the captain to handle the situation. The captain said thank you to us most of the times. In addition to that, at the beginning of each film, there were a special thank you to all volunteers. Every time when I was in the cinemas watching movies myself, I never fail to hear the applause from the audiences to show their appreciation to the volunteers. I was so touched by it.

There were a few audience told me personally how happy they were when they saw our smiles before they entered the cinemas. Frankly, it was true, most volunteers were really friendly people.

In between films, I had the chance to chat with a few volunteers. Everyone of them had such diverse backgrounds – one was a local retiree, one was a university student, one was a Japanese tourist, one was a office worker, one Indian lady was in between jobs and wanted to change career, one came to volunteer together with her mother. Some volunteers might not love films, instead they wanted a new and different experiences. Some of them had worked as a volunteer for many years and still loving it. I saw their seriousness and joys working here even without any returns.

I think when people are treated respectfully and are appreciated, they will definitely work hard. Sometimes, I wonder why some corporate companies still don’t get this right. More than 2000 volunteers work happily and voluntarily for TIFF is a good example and this is the one of the reasons why TIFF has become one of the most successful film festivals in the world.

If I am still living in Toronto next year and has free times, I will come back to volunteer without any hesitation.

明天是电影节的最后一天, 我还有三部电影要看。 共看了十一部电影吧。嘻嘻！和一些疯狂影迷来比较，我只是个小小影迷。有些人在十天内，会看上四十多部电影。我没这种耐力。

除了看电影，倒是在电影节的自愿工作里学了和看到很多东西。真的是一个新体验。接下来几天，我会在这部落慢慢地回味和记录下来。

I have been very busy with Toronto International Film Festival recently. Not only busy with watching movies and spending too much time lining up, I am also involved in the volunteering work at TIFF. Exhausted, and don’t have much time to write any post for this blog.

Tomorrow is the last day of TIFF and I still have three more movies to watch ! Including these three, I would have seen total of evelen movies. Well, compared to the real filmgoers, I am nothing worth to mention because some of them can watch more than 40 movies in these 10 days. I don’t think I have such energy.

Apart from watching movies, I have learned heaps from my volunteering work at TIFF. It is quite a new experience for me. I shall slowly put together all my thoughts and share them here soon.

Ed有个朋友是个职业妇女，自己做老板开了间设计网页的小型公司。一直以来，经济支援着丈夫及孩子的生活。

刚抵多伦多时，我有想过去她公司免费做些简单的工作，反正我有的是时间。主要也是想了解及学习一下加拿大小资本公司的经营和操作。这对我以后在多伦多开自己的中药诊所有帮助。可是，想到自己一点网页的基本常识都没有，只会越帮越忙。所以，也没去多想。

最近一个月，为了写这个部落，天天都在网上学些有关网页的东西。很多时候， 我会很懊恼，因为有些东西，我怎样学都学不懂。最近，听说这位朋友的公司很忙。突然，想到，我现在学懂了一些简单的网页常识，可能不会太笨手笨脚了。而且，除了学习商业上的经验，我也真的想学基本的网页设计。真的是一举两得 ！

于是，给她写了一个电邮。星期天，收到她的电话，说她想到一些容易的工作我可以帮忙。我心花怒放，一口答应了。星期三 (即明天）会到她公司去“上班”。

想起来，我只有零售及店铺的工作经验，从来没有在办公室工作过。 虽然有点战战兢兢，却期待尝试新的体验。

Ed has a friend is a working wife and mother. She owns a website design company, though is not a very big business, it financially supports the family.

When I first arrived in Toronto, I thought of volunteer myself to do some simple works in the company. For me, it is mainly to learn more about the small business operations and management in Canada. Such experience will help when I am ready to open my own Chinese medicine clinic in Toronto. However, I did not pursue further because I realised I did not have any basic knowledge or skills in website design, I would only create more troubles for them.

In the past month, in order to blog and maintain this blog more “professionally”, I went all out to learn more about blogging and some basics on website promotions and etc online. There were always things I never understood no matter how many websites I tried to read and learnt. It really frustrates me.

At this time, we heard that this friend’s company is extremely busy. Suddenly, it occurs to me that I might be able to help instead of creating troubles, since I now have more understanding and basic knowledge in website. In fact, I am not only want to learn the small business management skills, I also really want to learn about website design. This would be a “kill two birds with one stone” opportunity !

We wrote an email to her to offer my volunteer work. On Sunday, she called me and said that she has some ideas what and how I can help. I was very happy and agreed to go to her office to “work” on Wednesday (ie tomorrow) !

When I think of it now, for all my work experiences they were only in retail industry, this will be my first office experience. Although I do worry about my incompetency, I am looking forward for this new adventure.