Preview to South East Asian Night 2011

Hi Everyone!

Don't get too upset as reading break is coming to an end because MASSA's South East Asian Night 2011 is just 7 days away from now! 

The details for SEA Night 2011 are as follows:

When    : 5th March 2011
Where   : SSMU Ballroom, Shatner Building
Time     : Doors open 630 pm
Tickets  : $7 for non members, $5 for members with valid student ID

This year, backed by generous support from the Ministry of Information, Communication and Arts Singapore, Ski Mont Blanc and many volunteer collaborators, these are some of the things you can expect:

1. EXPECT CULTURAL PERFORMANCES

- Traditional folk dances from around the Malay Sultanate regions
- The TINIKLING, a traditional Filipino dance involving bamboo sticks.
- A unique traditional Chinese dance as well as a performance by your very own exec team!

2. EXPECT MUSIC AND COLOUR

- Instrumental ensembles that will steal your attention
- Expect to see many colourful people in colourful ASEAN costumes among the crowd.

3. EXPECT EDUCATION

Informational and INTERACTIVE booths will be set up that feature general ASEAN information. Expect souvenirs!

4. EXPECT FOOOD. GLOOORIOUS FOOOOODDDD

Cooked by ASEAN locals. So expect your grandmother's food, ASEAN-ized. Think NASI LEMAK, CHICKEN RENDANG, BANDUNG, ONDEH-ONDEH, and food from all parts of the region including Indonesia and Burma!

MASSA is a small group, but no doubt a hospitable bunch. Whether you want to eat things other than Thai express, or just want to have a good time--whatever it is--come be our guest in our little but big-hearted event.

So spread the hype! Let all your friends know about our event and we will try our bet to live up to your expectations! 



You can also get the tickets from our tabling sessions at the following dates:
- 28th February (Monday) Leacock Building
- 2nd March (Wednesday) Leacock Building
- 3rd March (Thursday) SSMU Lounge
So come down and visit us and get your tickets!

Hope to see you guys there on Saturday night!!


Love from MASSA Execs

MASSA Kopitiam Breakfast

On the first weekend of our study break, MASSA had its Kopitiam Breakfast with those who stayed back in Montreal, ‘enjoying’ the harsh winter weather. It was indeed a break during the busy midterm period.

The weather treated us well on the Saturday morning when all gathered at SSMU Building. Sitting in an ‘old-fashioned’ atmosphere of kopitiam, all who attended was served with Teh Tarik (Milk Tea) & MILO, authentic bread toast with kaya, half-boiled eggs and not forgetting Ondeh Ondeh!

Hand-made Ondeh Ondeh!

2 1/2 mins to get half-boiled eggs

Lastly, SOUTH EAST ASIA NIGHT 2011 is on March 5th.

Get your tickets nowww by contacting one of our execs or sending us an email! It's gonna be a fun and wonderful night of performances, culture and FOODDD!!!!

MASSA Ski Getaway!

Montreal’s notoriously cruel winter months tend to leave us dreading the new school semester, especially after a festive Christmas or southern escapade to enjoy warm weather. However, on January 14, MASSA organized its first ever Ski Trip Weekend Getaway at Mont Blanc and attracted its members and friends to enjoy a fabulous weekend with MASSA.

On the first day arriving at Mont Blanc, after collecting our ski equipment from the rental store, we headed off to our apartments and prepared a yummy delicious dinner.

Ski @ Mont Blanc

Next day early morning, it took us quite a long time to put on the ski boots before we headed up to the mountain. For those who have no experience skiing, we had a skiing lesson with a ski instructor. After having a few practices at the bunny hill, we were ready to challenge the ‘Green’ slope (considered the easiest, followed by ‘Blue’, ‘Black Diamond’, ‘Double Black Diamond’). With some experience with skiing, this was considered as easy as a cup of tea but for those who were skiing for the first time, they had a hard time going down the slope. Some fell badly while some crashed into the woods!! Ouch! It was painful!! Nevertheless, they preserved and managed to ski to the end.

Winter came alive as we took an enchanting moonlit sleigh ride through the snow-covered forests. Just from hearing those sleigh bells jingling, tingling enhanced our sleigh ride journey in the cold.

Sleigh Ride

On the last day, some of us continued skiing and they challenged themselves with ‘Black and Double Black Diamond’ slopes. The rest went for tubing and short trip to Mont Tremblant.

Tubing

Caramel Apples!!

@ Mont Tremblant

We then had a sushi buffet @ Crescent Sushi after we arrived Montreal.

Thank you to everyone who made this Ski Trip a huge success. I hope everyone had a memorable winter experience in Quebec. Check out our MASSA Facebook  / Blog for more upcoming events.

MASSA Execs :-)

Welcome Back Movie Event

With the new year and new semester upon us, we decided a welcome (back) event was much needed to chase the end-of-holiday blues away!

So on January 8th we rounded up a projector, a selection of local movies and several good friends willing to brave the snow and cold and snuggled in for a night of cinematic entertainment.

 

The movie we voted on watching ended up being "Sepet", a Malay term referring to the 'slit eyes' of the Chinese. Directed by Yasmin Ahmed, the movie has garnered many awards for best film and is, in my humble opinion, an amazing romantic comedy highlighting the difficulties faced in attempting a cross-cultural relationship.

One of the coolest things about the movie was that English wasn't the only language spoken: Malay, Cantonese, Hokkien and Mandarin were all included. For an outsider with no experience of Malaysia or even Singapore, the fluid switching between languages while speaking may come off as incredibly confusing or hard to follow, but for me it was like being back at home again. I'll also admit to feeling a bit smug that I got some of the "inside" jokes even with my incredibly limited knowledge of Hokkien and Malay!


I don't want to spoil the movie for anyone who hasn't seen it, but you can find more information about it at Wikipedia or watch a trailer.


Afterward it was off to Scores for over-eating, for what is a MASSA event without a serious makan session with friends?