Volunteering in Floriade

I've decided to volunteer at Floriade this year. Floriade is basically an annual flower festival that is held at the heart of Canberra every year. I've been going to Floriade every year since 2004 but have never volunteered before. I only applied this year because at the time I was only making jewelry and thought that some sunshine would do me some good. Though life decides to change drastically and gets very busy, I still don't want to back out- so here I am!

I have to work 4 hours every session for 6 shifts in one month. I don't know what my job is for the day until I sign in, and they change every time. On my first shift my first job is to walk around the park with a radio (which is really cool!) . On my second shift I had to sit in the exhibition marquee for 4 hours, and oh my goodness it was sooooo boring. I can't believe I had to leave early from work to do this stupid shift. I was sitting in a tent full of mannequin wearing floral outfits. It was during the week so there weren't very many people walking through the tent. I felt a bit left out being the only one who is not wearing flower outfits, but at the end of the day I felt like people were walking pass me like I was one of the display.

One very cold rainy day I was scheduled to greet visitors on the second busiest gate- and not very many people came. Half of the volunteers didn't turn up and I was on the gate by myself until a very kind lady decided to stay on the gate with me. I was VERY cold and miserable that day. I had to go again that Saturday and the weather was exactly the same so I was very naughty and decided not to go.

Then again, I got very lucky on one of my shift when they put me in the 'on the pantry' marquee. There was a guy there who did a demonstration on food decorating. He carves natural materials into interesting shapes. He's been doing this for 22 years and is VERY good at it. He carved out a peony flower out of watermelon in 5 minutes and 40 seconds! So I was there helping out with his presentation and when he finishes I helped clean up and shut the place. Before he left, he gave me a statue of a mini budha carved out of a butternut pumpkin. I thought that was super awesome so I brought it to work the next day.

Val told me that it's actually not a budha but a god of longevity, and Margaret told me that the huge forehead means that he is full of wisdom. Anyway, all budha look the same to me. Our customers enjoyed it which is nice. Most of them thought it was made out of wax, or candle. Who would have thought that you can cut up this statue and turn it into soup if you're hungry.

So today is the last day of Floriade, and it also happens to be my last day of volunteering. My job is to walk around Floriade for the last time with a radio. Sometimes Floriade feels like Heaven to me. There's a sea of colours every where you look, sounds of live music and carnival, smell of flowers and happy people everywhere- it's been a great experience and I'm glad I did it.