Liburan bagi pekerja migran Indonesia di Hong Kong adalah saat yang sangat dinantikan. Setelah hari-hari kerja yang padat, waktu libur menjadi momen untuk rehat sejenak dan melepas penat. Namun, tidak hanya soal istirahat, banyak dari mereka yang memilih liburan produktif, memanfaatkan hari bebas untuk melakukan hal-hal positif yang tidak hanya menyegarkan tubuh tetapi juga menambah wawasan serta memperkuat ikatan sosial.
Ada banyak cara menikmati liburan tanpa biaya besar, dan salah satu cara yang populer adalah bergabung dalam komunitas olahraga. Melalui kegiatan seperti ini, para pekerja migran bisa bertemu teman baru, berbagi pengalaman, dan menyalurkan hobi yang mereka gemari. Salah satu komunitas yang aktif di Hong Kong adalah Wrecking Ball, kelompok voli yang dihuni para pekerja migran dari Indonesia dan Filipina, yang menjadikan olahraga ini bukan hanya sebagai sarana hiburan tetapi juga kesempatan untuk berkompetisi dengan sehat.
Retno, seorang pekerja migran asal Cilacap, Jawa Tengah, adalah anggota aktif komunitas ini. Bersama teman-temannya yang datang dari berbagai daerah, Retno menyampaikan bahwa bergabung di Wrecking Ball membuat hari libur terasa lebih bermakna. “Sejak dulu, waktu masih di Indonesia, kami sudah terbiasa bermain voli, baik di sekolah atau di lingkungan sekitar,” ujar Retno. Di komunitas ini, mereka bisa menyalurkan hobi sekaligus bertanding, karena setiap minggunya ada jadwal turnamen yang rutin diselenggarakan.
Setiap Minggu, Wrecking Ball mengadakan dua jenis turnamen di lapangan daerah Causeway Bay: liga panjang dan liga sehari. Liga panjang adalah kompetisi jangka waktu musim, biasanya berlangsung selama empat bulan mengikuti musim dingin atau panas. Sementara liga sehari lebih seperti turnamen sehari penuh yang langsung selesai dalam satu hari. Uniknya, ada juga liga kabupaten, di mana para pemain dari berbagai wilayah Indonesia berkompetisi mewakili daerah asal masing-masing, seperti Cilacap, Blitar, Tulungagung, dan Nusa Tenggara Barat. Ini menjadi momen kebanggaan tersendiri karena mereka bisa membawa nama daerah di negeri rantau.
Selain itu, komunitas ini tak hanya diisi pekerja migran dari Indonesia, tetapi juga menarik perhatian pekerja migran dari Filipina yang memiliki semangat yang sama. “Awalnya, kami bertemu dalam kompetisi harian, lalu tim Filipina mengajak kami untuk bergabung. Alhamdulillah, sambutannya sangat baik,” kata Retno. Dengan saling bantu dalam tim, mereka membangun kebersamaan hingga akhirnya komunitas ini pun menjadi besar dan solid. “Sudah seperti saudara,” tambah Retno, “asal punya hobi voli, tidak masalah dari negara mana pun.”
Konsulat Jenderal Republik Indonesia (KJRI) Hong Kong turut mendukung semangat olahraga ini, sering kali mengadakan kompetisi voli pada hari-hari perayaan nasional seperti 17 Agustus. Meski demikian, bermain di lapangan terbuka memiliki tantangan tersendiri. Cuaca Hong Kong yang sering berubah-ubah menjadi tantangan, terutama saat hujan atau angin kencang. Bola yang basah dan licin kerap menyulitkan permainan. Namun, para anggota komunitas ini tetap menikmati waktu mereka dan bersyukur bisa mengisi hari libur dengan kegiatan positif.
Retno dan kawan-kawan menyadari betapa berharganya kesempatan untuk menyalurkan hobi, bekerja, dan bersosialisasi di negara orang. Bergabung dengan Wrecking Ball bukan hanya mengisi waktu luang, tetapi juga memperkuat ikatan persaudaraan, berbagi kegembiraan, dan memperluas wawasan. “Kami di sini bukan hanya sekadar bekerja, tapi juga ingin hidup dengan penuh arti,” tutup Retno. []
Wrecking Ball: Transforming Holidays into Quality and Productive Time
Holidays for Indonesian migrant workers in Hong Kong are a highly anticipated time. After busy working days, holidays are a moment to take a break and relieve stress. However, it is not just about rest, many of them choose productive holidays, using their free days to do positive things that not only refresh their bodies but also broaden their horizons and strengthen social ties.
There are many ways to enjoy a holiday without spending a lot of money, and one popular way is to join a sports community. Through activities like this, migrant workers can meet new friends, share experiences, and channel their favorite hobbies. One of the active communities in Hong Kong is Wrecking Ball, a volleyball group consisting of migrant workers from Indonesia and the Philippines, who make this sport not only a means of entertainment but also an opportunity to compete healthily.
Retno, a migrant worker from Cilacap, Central Java, is an active member of this community. Together with her friends who come from various regions, Retno said that joining Wrecking Ball makes holidays feel more meaningful. “Since long ago, when we were still in Indonesia, we were used to playing volleyball, either at school or in the surrounding environment,” said Retno. In this community, they can channel their hobby and compete, because every week there is a regular tournament schedule.
Every Sunday, Wrecking Ball holds two types of tournaments on the fields in the Causeway Bay area: long leagues and one-day leagues. Long leagues are season-long competitions, usually lasting four months following the winter or summer seasons. While one-day leagues are more like full-day tournaments that finish in one day. Uniquely, there is also a district league, where players from various regions of Indonesia compete to represent their respective regions of origin, such as Cilacap, Blitar, Tulungagung, and West Nusa Tenggara. This is a moment of pride because they can bring the name of the region in the land of exile.
In addition, this community is not only filled with migrant workers from Indonesia, but also attracts the attention of migrant workers from the Philippines who have the same spirit. “Initially, we met in a daily competition, then the Philippine team invited us to join. Alhamdulillah, the response was very good,” said Retno. By helping each other in a team, they build togetherness until finally this community becomes big and solid. “It’s like siblings,” added Retno, “as long as you have a volleyball hobby, it doesn’t matter which country you’re from.”
The Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) Hong Kong also supports this sporting spirit, often holding volleyball competitions on national celebration days such as August 17. However, playing on an open field has its own challenges. Hong Kong’s often changeable weather is a challenge, especially when it rains or has strong winds. The wet and slippery ball often makes the game difficult. However, the members of this community still enjoy their time and are grateful to be able to fill their holidays with positive activities.
Retno and her friends realize how valuable the opportunity is to channel their hobbies, work, and socialize in a foreign country. Joining Wrecking Ball is not only to fill free time, but also to strengthen bonds of brotherhood, share joy, and broaden horizons. “We are not here just to work, but also to live meaningfully,” concluded Retno. []