Megzz's Life With Asperger's: Sydney Writer's Festival Volunteering. Part One.

A couple of months ago I put in an application form to volunteer for the Sydney Writer's Festival hoping and also praying that I could do something. As it so happens I did somehow end up on a team which was great.

My Shirt

Leading up to the festival I felt quite nervous yet excited at the same time because I didn't know really what to expect as a volunteer. About a week before I went to some sort of briefing on what volunteers did during the week of the festival. I found it really informative as well as really useful because we also got a big volunteer information handout that we read through before our first shifts for the festival.

As my first day Thursday 19 May came closer I found that the butterflies were getting a bit larger yet I knew that if I tried my best then i would be okay. For me having Asperger's and trying new things can be often hard yet I somehow get through it with God's help. I know it sounds a bit weird yet it is very true for me.

Two different ships

The first day on my shift Thursday finally arrived and the countdown to 3pm was on for my shift starting. I got myself ready and also researched the ferry times as well. I finally decided to catch the fast ferry and not the slow one because it would go quicker. So I drove down to Manly parked there and jumped on the ferry. On the ferry I was re reading the leaflet just so it would help refresh my memory. It was funny because as the ferry was making it's turn into Circular Quay I realized that I had no idea where in the quay it was going to dock.

Being a car and driving person is all that I know basically. So when it comes to public transport the newness of it can be quite overwhelming to me in some ways. Yet I noticed I few interesting things in the harbour like a ship and other boats where I started taking a few photos. It finally docked and I was so relieved to see it was closer to where the bus stop was meant to be.

Amazing view

Now the next challenge was to find the bus stop from where it was the last time I was there which happened to be a few years before. Finally the bus stop was found and the bus was just missed by less a minute. Seeing it drive passed me it was a bittersweet feeling because at least I knew where to wait now. So the waiting game of fifteen minutes for the bus began where the surroundings of the city grabbed my attention. Seeing a couple of volunteers turn up and wait for the bus was a comfort to me because I then knew I wasn't alone. The bus came and picked everyone up yet it was a real mystery ride into the unknown for me as I had no idea where to get off the bus. I quickly looked at the bus route again just to be reassured of the destination. Soon the bus stop came and I realized that because of the bus I was a couple of minutes late. About to get off the bus I had no idea what the volunteers room looked like so I thought I'd just follow the other couple of volunteers in front of me. The bus stop came where we all got off and they started to run, to which I did as well. It was like follow the leader where we were like three little ducks in a line. Yet at least they showed me in a sense where the volunteers room was and I didn't have to ask or look for it.

A step back in time..

Upon reaching the volunteers room it was all systems go where people, bags, forms and nearly everything was everywhere yet it seemed to have a type of system as well. For me having Asperger's I like having things in some type of order. So for me I knew basically knew that if I tried to observe things really quickly and follow instructions of what to do then I would be alright. The nerves were there yet in an excited way. I did what I had to do quickly. Also sat where I had to sit and waited for the supervisor. Luckily there was another lady who was at the briefing with me the other week which was another good thing. Our supervisor came along then the beginning of the shift was on us with all our tasks.

A step back in time..

After that everything was a blur with everything happened so quickly and I was introduced in the world of the volunteers at the writer's festival. We were led along the wharves quickly to where Pier 2/3 Club Stage was. Now this was the place where we would be working for the next four hours doing our tasks. Quick introductions took place and we were told what we had to do which I liked. Once I knew what I had to do and what was expected then I was all good basically. We were told that Wendy Whiteley was talking at the moment which seemed to be quite a full event with a lot of people there. http://www.swf.org.au/program/swf2016/wendy-whiteley-saving-a-secret-garden-54

The cruise ship..

We were lucky enough to hear a bit of it which was good. At first her name didn't sound familiar to me yet as I listened I realized that she was actually the late artist's Brett Whiteley's wife. Also that I had heard and knew about the garden she was talking about. It was then that I came to realize that this was such a blessing and privilege to be a volunteer.

Soon the talk finished and I was about to do a task of escorting a couple of authors to our venue which would be interesting. The names sounded familiar and I wondered whether they had to do with the late Chris O’Brien who was the really Doctor at RPA Hospital. At the allotted time I went to the writer's room to ask for the writers. They then came out where we were all introduced with shaking of hands and so forth. As I was leading them to the venue it felt I had to help take care of them and make sure that they got there okay. So I'd look back quite often while I was making small talk to another lady. We got there then I left them with the next lot of people. Not long after their talk started which was http://www.swf.org.au/program/swf2016/gail-and-juliette-obrien-after-catastrophe-66

The cruise ship..

As they were talking I went next door to see where I was to take them for the book signing and what to do just to make it clear to myself. After that I heard bits and pieces of this very moving yet heartfelt talk. I also felt so humbled to hear the story of Chris's wife and daughter with what they have gone through. It was quite surreal for me to be here and again I thanked God again for this chance to help out. At one point as Juliette, the daughter was reading part of the books she wrote found herself nearly in tears. My immediate reaction was to rush up to the stage with a tissue of mine to help her out. Yet my second thought was maybe that was not a good idea and just to leave it. Which I ended up doing. I also remember feeling very amused when they were talking about Lifehouse and RPA because we were actually there on the Monday for something that had to be done. Like what were the chances that I would be helping out with this talk only just a couple of days later....
Question time came then I was the one walking around the microphone which was another interesting moment. At one point I was stuck in the middle of the room wondering which side to go to for another question. I was teetering backwards and forwards on both feet which must have looked amusing to the audience. Next thing I knew the interviewer said something like "Your confusing the poor girl."
I can't remember exactly yet it was something like that. It brought a smile to my face yet a bit embarrassed at the same time. After that the rest of that time went quick then it was time for the next segment and tasks for that.

The Bus Stop

The sun was setting fast down at the wharves yet the evening events were just coming into their own. Next thing we knew a lady named Peggy came and introduced ourselves talking about things that were going to be happening for the next segment. Yet little did I know that she was on of the main participants for the next segment. http://www.swf.org.au/program/swf2016/mick-turner-and-peggy-frew-living-dreaming-making-75

Which was quite funny in a sense because it's such a big festival. So we were all doing what we had to do and next thing we knew the lights went out in the huge room. We also had quite a big queue with a lot of people standing waiting in line to get into the show. There was a bit of light yet very dim and quite hard to see. Quite a few other volunteers didn't know what was happening so I thought to find a supervisor or someone else in the team to help out. I found someone else to help out with the lighting where informed some people in the queue. Surprisingly they seemed really calm and relaxed. Not long after the other lady came back and informed everyone that all was alright saying something about mood lighting. She then came up to me and thanked me for my help which was nice of her. It finally dawned on me that maybe they did turned the lights like that on purpose and it was at the point I did a cringe to myself saying "Doh"...

Different angle of cruise ship

The fun was just starting when we all realized it was about time for the queue to go in for the show yet there was no torch to shine the light on the tickets to check them for validity. Earlier in the afternoon I remember my supervisor checking the tickets for one of the events and ushering them in which was interesting. I also thought that I could never do something like that at all. Yet that evening wondering about torches the other volunteer who I knew said that maybe the torch or something on the mobile phone could work. So no sooner had I found the torch on my phone, switched it on and then next thing I knew I was going to be the one checking the tickets by myself basically. Then the people of the queue came forward and I managed to check all the tickets and answer questions as well. All the time I was thinking things like " Wow! I'm actually doing this... What a surprise!" I'm checking tickets..."

After all the people were in there were a couple of late comers where we the volunteers helped them which was also quite interesting. I heard bits and pieces of that session because I was doing other things as well which needed to be done. It wasn't too long before that session finished and I ended up staying later then my shift ending to help out a bit more because I wanted to.

Walking back to the Quay that night I was seeing heaps of photo opportunities and took a whole lot of photo's of the beautiful Sydney. It was like I was walking along in a night wonderland filled with lights, buildings and people. It was so novel and new that it was taking longer then expected. Longer to the point where I missed my ferry yet that was alright. When I did manage to catch the fery I was thinking back on what such an amazing an very surprising day it was. I also took a couple of selfies with my volunteer shirt and I to keep myself amused for the trip. On the other side I treated myself to a cheap slice of pizza then drove home to my partner waiting for me. So day one of the three days of volunteering for the festival was over and now for more amazing adventures to begin.....