In this week’s RA Spotlight, Mai from PGPR shares some anecdotes from her colourful life in Singapore and Vietnam: from her misadventures in cooking, to planning large-scale projects, to finding friends for life.
First of all, tell us how your nickname OmNom came about.
My friends gave me that nickname ‘cause I eat a lot. They also said I looked like an OmNom [the candy-eating frog character in the Cut the Rope game series]!
I heard you were active in the Freshman Inauguration Ceremony (FIC). What was your role and job scope?
I was the Project Director and I managed four teams [Publicity, Treasury, Programme, Logistics]. I interviewed and chose the ICs and members of each team, and coordinated with them to plan the big-scale event [for 6,000 freshmen]. [Planning for FIC] could also be very tiring; we were planning for 8 months. During the holidays, I would wake up with a jam of messages indicating the issues in the different committees.
So what motivated you to join FIC?
I thought it was a very meaningful endeavour – like, “You are just a freshman…here’s the official welcome for you!” When I was welcomed to NUS through the FIC, I really felt like part of the NUS family. That’s why I decided to join FIC committee the following year, to organise something meaningful for the freshmen.
So it was your way of giving back.
[Nods]
Mai in action, at the 2013 Freshman Inauguration Ceremony | Photo courtesy of Mai
You came here from Vietnam 8 years ago. Did you find it hard or easy to adapt to Singapore?
I found it easy to adapt, because I am the kind of person who is open to changes. At the time, my mom questioned whether I can live in Singapore…I begged them until they allowed me to come. I liked the freedom here, and how we all live together in a hostel. We’re international students…all living away from our families. We are all the same, [so] I was not homesick at all.
What do you love best about Singapore, your new home?
The diversity. My close friends here are all international and they treat me like brother and sister. I’ve had a clique since Sec 3 from Indonesia. We used to study together at the vending machine at [our hostel] CJC, so we call ourselves Vendz.
Mai and members of Vendz | Photo courtesy of Mai
And what do you miss about your country?
Food. There’s a lot [that I miss], I can’t list them all. Basically everything.
So do you cook here?
[Shakes head vehemently] No. I’ll tell you a very funny story about me cooking:
Sometime after ‘A’ levels, my mom had to come to Singapore to take care of my sister who was giving birth, while I stayed with my dad in Vietnam. In that one month, I had to cook for him. I cooked so well that we cannot eat it! [laughs]
An example of how I cook…Step 1: put in everything. Then I taste it…and it’s too salty. So, I put in more water. Then it becomes too bland. So I put in more salt…
It’s a never ending cycle!
Yes! So from start to finish, the soup level goes from here [gestures to waist] to here [chest level]. My dad finds it hard to lose weight, but in that one month [with me cooking], he lost 4kg. I also lost weight, so when my mom came back, she was like, “What happened to you?”
Tell us about your R5 family. I used to be in R5, and I noticed how close the RAs and RADs are.
We are super super close. We started to get really close at the RL camp last year, especially the female RAs – we three are the Powerpuff Girls! At the RL Camp, we accidentally wore shirts matching the colours of the Powerpuff Girls.
For my birthday, my R5 family set up a “meeting with a twist.” They informed me that we will be having a meeting on my birthday, so I suspected it would be a celebration. They found out about my suspicion and staged another scenario. When I came, it really was just a meeting – when I was looking forward to something else! [laughs] Nothing happened. Halfway, Mdm Usa picked up a call, and we had to “help” a resident pick up her keys. I volunteered and another RA came with me. It was the usual case [so I believed it]. Mdm called us back up, saying that the resident was able to go up already. When we went back up, the whole apartment was dark…then they came out and sang happy birthday, with a cake. They also invited senior RAs; one of the seniors baked brownies.
That’s really sweet.
The PGPR Residence 5 crew enjoying some Nando’s chicken! | Photo courtesy of Mai
Outside of Residential Life activities, what other hobbies do you have?
I like cycling – although on my first time, I failed. I was in Red Cross and we had a compulsory 5-hour session to learn how to cycle. The professionals guaranteed that after the course, everybody will be able to cycle. And after the five hours, everyone was able to…except me! Then one day, I went to cycle with a friend; [instead of driving a tandem bike] we both got single bikes and she taught me how to cycle. In a few minutes, I was able to do so. Now I can go from ECP to Changi – 26 km, 3 hours straight.
Cool! Finally, what is your tip for those who aspire to be a Resident Assistant like you?
Just be more caring about the people around you. That’s what being an RA is about. If you have the heart to care for people, then you can carry out the job very well, in a relaxed manner. You will enjoy the activities here, rather than feel they are just a burden.
