Experiences
The tong master
Bala at the barbie!
I was flying back to Australia from my first holiday home in 18 months. As you would expect, the holiday was a hectic rush of family gatherings and catching up with old friends. And things were not about to get any quieter for me when I landed, tired and jet-lagged, back in Melbourne. Not only was it the start of second semester, I also had a mere 24 hours to organise an “aussie” BBQ for 125 students. I was not too nervous, I had organised a BBQ once before – however time was short and I had to trust that my previous experience would help see me through…
Back when I first arrived in Australia, like many international students, I wanted to move with the locals and learn about Aussie culture and style. It was not easy though. As a postgrad student with Buseco, there were very few Australian students enrolled in my course. However I did not assume that doors were closed to me and a group called MACS came to my rescue.
I joined the Monash Accounting and Computing Society (MACS) as a student member. Although the majority of members are undergrad students, membership is open to all students. My initial reason for joining was interest in their career events, but I soon found myself part of the organising committee. I made good friends through the MACS network, all of them being from different backgrounds and into the local life style. Our formal meetings paved the way to meet often.
MACS has a unique working style with each event allocated to a committee member. Why the President thought I would be the ideal candidate to organise a BBQ, I don’t know. I am a vegetarian from India and I didn't even know what a BBQ was! Perhaps the Aussie sense of humour was at play? However when my name was proposed I accepted the job – then rushed to my computer to google search “BBQ”.
I will never forget that first BBQ experience – working with two Aussie girls in the BBQ sub-committee it was a lot of fun, but also a real challenge. I decided to adopt a formal style to organise the event; scheduling meetings, designing posters, setting a budget and menu planning, plus, of course, running the event on the day. The task made me realise that I was exercising the basic principles I was learning in many of my subjects. No wonder it is believed from small beginnings come great things.
So how did my second ever BBQ go? Everything went off well and in style. No hurry, no tensions, no chaos, no confusions. Wow! Success has many friends. I believe MACS is one of mine. Now I can say I am a tong master!*
*Cultural Note: In days gone by the ‘traditional’ Aussie BBQ was quite a segregated event – women in the kitchen busying themselves with salads while outside, the men cooked the BBQ. Even in 2007 you may still see this phenomenon.
Out at the BBQ hotplate, it’s often been observed that one man will take charge and all the other men (even the BBQ owner) will naturally defer to him. This 'alpha' male of the BBQ, with his cooking skills and prowess with BBQ tools, is known as "The Tong Master".
