一年一度世界有名的多伦多电影节（ＴＩＦＦ）又要来了。
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…..
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