Thursday, July 19, 2007
Attendance of 2006/2007 Graduation Ceremony 參加粵華母校 2006/2007 畢業典禮後記
參加粵華母校 2006/2007 畢業典禮後記
二零零七年六月廿四日關敏如同學以澳門生產力暨科技轉移中心理事長身份及梁星棋同學以校友會獎學基金委員受母校邀請參加 2006-2007 年畢業典禮‧
下午三時三十分主禮嘉賓，各授憑嘉賓及嘉賓們陸續抵達千禧紀念館，該館前身在我們畢業年代（一九六三年）為一個露天大看台，由山坡地開墾建設出來，並無上蓋，集會時日晒雨淋。公元二千年改建為一可容納一千六百多人之全空調，音響及燈光設備先進之綜合表演大禮堂。想當年我們行畢業禮，先在體育操場集合，再結隊步行至清平戲院舉行，全場只有風線及抽氣線調節氣溫，與今天相比，學弟們幸福得多。
四時正，家長與畢業生已就座，各嘉賓魚貫進場。節目開始當然是唱校歌；旋律還記得，但歌詞則忘記掉，當時感覺回到時光隧道：穿著整齊校服坐在前排，等候上台領取畢業証書。
江志釗神父帶領眾同學、嘉賓祈禱後再致歡迎詞；接由孔智剛神父報告一年來之校務及新校舍之建設進展…。
跟著重頭節目開始：授憑畢業同學。
高中三分甲、乙、丙三班，分別由保安司長張國華先生、慈幼會澳門區代表梁熾才神父及教育暨青年局代副局長陳家豪先生授憑。
英中五分甲、乙兩班；由澳門基金會主席吳榮恪先生及澳門大學、教育學院副院長楊秀玲教授授憑。畢業同學一個一個由班主任讀出名字，只聽到姓氏及英文名字沒有中文名字英文譯音；可能讀書文化已改，英文部同學一定要加上一個英文名字。
英中六一班，由運輸工務司長劉仕堯先生授憑。奇怪的事出現：竟然有十餘位女同學上台接受文憑？沒有錯！她們是友校聖心書院選修理科同學，由學校舉荐到母校繼續Form V 及 Form VI 課程，因為聖心沒有開辦理科學科。學弟們比我們當年又進一步；於聖誕等節日開派對不用跨校邀請伴侶。
每班緊接著授憑儀式，班主任、授憑嘉賓及校長排列整齊，就在台上實地拍攝畢業相，與我們六十年代，於畢業前拍攝畢業相更有意義。
程序中途加插了部份歌唱、朗誦、管樂表演等節目娛樂家長、嘉賓。亦有畢業班代表致謝詞、談感受、說抱負。與我們當年楊德興班長之演講詞不璜多樣。
在這次觀禮中只見林文瑞神父精神奕奕，已九十四歲之齡還是行動自如，思路敏捷，甚受同學歡迎、尊敬。在老師，班主任中也頗多女性擔任；在我們讀書年代神長有一半以上是外國籍的，現在則較多中國血裔。
跟著的環節就是頒發獎項：由陳滿鋒搏士、澳門高等校際學院代表 Ms. Shivonne Fong，家長教師會長郭榮先生、梁文耀工程師等頒發。最後一項校友會獎學金則由生產力暨科技轉移中心理事長關敏如先生及香港蜆殼風線製造廠董事潘澤生先生頒發。該等獎學金共有三十個，遍佈每一班級，其中多個基金由我班同學捐贈。
最後值得一提就是：本屆授憑、頒獎嘉賓如張國華先生，劉仕堯先生，陳滿鋒博士，陳家豪先生，關敏如先生及潘澤生先生等都是母校校友，他們不是在社會上享負盛名就是在特區政府擔任要職；特首何厚鏵先生也曾在母校受教育；而關敏如先生更是我班（一九六三年英文部大熊星社）同學。
梁星棋
二零零七年六月廿五日
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Monday July 31, 1961
This morning I went again to buy some cakes. After coming back and eating them I went to school
When I got there I found that they had already had math period as they had changed the schedule without my knowledge.
So I came back home.
There wasn’t much to do so I just read and fisined the book I mentioned yesterday.
I did some math problems also.
At 3 o’clock Cheung and his friend came over for a visit. They can’t speak English very well so we try helping them.
Nothing else of interest happened.
My brother broke my camera and tried fixing it. He shall continue tomorrow.
Britain will soon join the Common Market, I think.Sunday July 30, 1961
This morning we rode a 3 wheeled chair down to Rev Chuengs church. My brother went to Baptist church to sing in the Choir. My dad went this time because he has to take photos for Rev. King.
After the service they baptized 22 members. These were mostly poor people.
We then went out with Rev. King to dinner.
My mom and I had stewed fish with rice and another man had spaghetti. Rev Chung and my dad and Reverend King had egg omelet’s.
After that Rev Kong went back to his hotel and at 5 he left for Hong Kong.
I stayed home the rest of the day reading “Eight Days” and listened to the radio.
After dinner I read until time came to go to the Baptists Church Union.
This is for young people who gather together for meetings and outings. We went to Church and listened to a tape recorded program in the Main building.
We then broke up into groups only this time the smaller ones were gathered with the bigger ones. I belong to the bigger ones and I am about the size of the smaller kids. Only I am the smallest of the bigger kids. We first had singing and Bible readings. My brother and I can’t understand a word they are saying but we have some boys to help us translate.
Then they had some games. The meeting was held on the third story of the church building.
The room had a semi circle of chairs around the room. After the games we had some peanuts and candy and cookies and tea.
We then left with another boy to buy some cakes. I left my bike at church to buy them but we couldn’t find any cakes so I went back to get my bike but by then they had locked the gates to the church. So we had to find someone to open the gates so we could get my bike
Friday and Saturday July 28,29, 1961
Nothing much happened on Friday. I stayed home still getting over my illness. I solved a geometry problem Raymond could not figure out.
On Saturday I went again back to school and then came home and began reading.
In the afternoon we (mom, dad, Frank , me and Reverend King) went out shopping.
I bought some film.
We went around trying to find some clothes for Reverend King’s wife.
Frank had to leave because he has lessons.
We then ate at a restaurant…which was noisy.
I went home but Frank had taken my bike so I had to wait to got to Raymonds.
We Frank came back we went to get his bike from the repair shop and went to Raymonds and then to Mr. Victal’s place. A guy there was talking about bad and immoral things that made Raymond and my brother uncomfortable so they left.
I was involved in a chess game with Mr. Victal so I couldn’t leave.
I returned after losing to Mr Victal…as usual.
Later Chung , from Church came over to get us to go on a bicycle ride with the Chruch Trade Union We rode to a member’s house to await the others. When they arrived we had some watermelon to eat.
A difficulty arose when we found we had only three bikes for 4 girls and 4 boys . So we had to let the girls walk while we went on ahead.
We went to a spot high above the water reservoir of Macau and we could see the ocean and the rain water from the spot.
We sang and played games until past dark.
We then returned by way of the road leading from the swimming huts. I rode with Cheung and then a girl. Only Chueng and another boy speaks EnglishThursday July 27, 1961
I was still feeling low today.
My brother went to the church to record a program which they are doing for fun.
My mom and dad went to Reverend Chungs church in the night because Rev. King is coming and is going to be there.
They drew a crowd of over 80.
Raymond came over in the afternoon.
This new house is about like the old one as it is just as noisy here.
We hear bugles from the nearby army camp. And then there are chickens and rosters downstairs and they are making a lot of racket building new houses nearby.
(drawing of noise)Wednesday July 26, 1961
I haven’t been going to school since enrollment. I was still sick but am improving.
I slept on a cot in the living room.
They had a nice feast across the street to celebrate the opening of their new house yesterday.
My brother fired up an antenna for the radio and my dad is recording and recording some music of Tennessee Ernie Fords hymns for church.
There are a lot of mosquitoes around here.
I have been lying in bed most of the time
(photos of my sick)Sunday-Tuesday, July 23,24, 25, 1961
I shall sum up 3 days in one entry to make this brief.
As I have said I slept outdoors on the ship back. Thus I got a bad cold. I was drowsy during church and could hardly keep my eyes opened. After getting back home and taking a nap I awoke with a temperature of 103.
Unfortunately Mike came over and I spent my time trying to get him to leave because I wasn’t feeling well. I am having trouble with my bowels. I guess I drank too much coke.
Anyway on Monday this all happened and my dad went to Hong Kong to sign our passports which he brought back.
We invited to orphanage up to see our house.
We received some imitation flowers from them
We also went ot Mr. Tsau’s house and had a chat with him. He gave me a book to read which I have just completedSaturday July 22, 1961
This morning we went to my grandmother’s place to find Timothy. He took us down to an amusement park near the beach and we rowed a boat. We had many difficulties during the one hour voyage. Splashing water over the oars and almost tipping the boat over. Frank almost fell into the water . My brother and I got blisters on our hands from rowing.
We then had a coke and next went by bus to an old Chinese tomb. There is a book written by a man about this tomb called “Message From the Tomb”
The tomb is shaped like the end of a bullet and has a semi circular chamber in which pots and other things were buried. It is over 1000 years old. We then went to some bookstands and then took a bus back to grandmother’s house and had lunch downstairs. (Pardon me. We left for lunch and then went to the bookstands)
At 5 pm time came to see our Aunt Kay and Uncle Phillip who are arriving from Hawaii.
We went to the airport and found them.
After waiting and waiting for the car form the Hotel, we (me my mom, my brother, my grandmother and my uncle and aunt) got two taxies which took us to the Prince Hotel.
We talked about having grandmother come to live with us in Macau. Our new house is two stories with an apartment downstairs.
We then went down and had a classy dinner.
My aunt my brother and mother and I went out and walked a bit and came back an hour later. We talked a little longer and then left for Hong Kong Island for the boat back to Macau.
I slept outside on the deck underneath the windows of the bathrooms on the boat. Boy did it smell!!Friday July 21, 1961
Today we ate the cakes which we bought yesterday for breakfast.
At 9 am my brother and I took the bus and ferry to Hong Kong.
We were going to our old apartment to visit some friends. We use to live on the ground floor apartment of a building that was at least ten stories high in Happy Valley.
When we got there we rang King Wah’s doorbell but he had gone to school to receive his report.
We then rang on Lick’s door. He was home and we went in and chatted. He said King Wah and he were planning to come to Macau soon.
We kept trying to get King Wah but he was still out so when noon came around we left the building.
Before going we were called up by our former landlady. She , by and indirect way, tried to get us to move back there again. Lick told us he would bring King Wah to Kowlook with him later when we returned.
We took a trolley at the bottom of the hill and a ferry and then a bus to the hotel.
We went to my grandmother’s house and my mom then took us to the downstairs apartment where a boy brought some plates of food for our lunch.
Another of my mom’s good friends was there and she ate with us.
My brother and I went back to the hotel to await Lick and King Wah. When the arrived we decided to go to Hong Kong so we took a bus ferry and a bus again to their house where Lick, the chess champ of his school beat me 2 games to one.
My brother and King Wah played dominos.
When 6 pm came we left their house and went back to Kowloon.
We then went downstairs to the Kowloon Café with my mom and her friend and ate dinner.
After seeing her off we went back to Grandmother’s house.
At the hotel we found Cheuk Kuen and his small brother. Also a note from SamWednesday July 18, 1961
Today we moved our house.
In the morning the movers came and we began packing the stuff preparing to move
The orphanage kids came over and they help us to move
The movers broke the legs off of the dressers . They were clumsy
After the movers left we started unpacking. I had to miss school again
Nothing happened for the remainder of the day.
It rained when we moved but not very heavily.
I can’t find my binoculars
(drawing of moving)
Thursday July 19, 1961
At 12 noon we boarded the boat for Hong Kong (mom, my brother and me) and took a bunk bed in a dormitory birth .
All the while the men were running up and down selling things but I fell asleep anyway so when I awoke we had already arrived at the new dock in Hong Kong.
We then went to a Chinese restaurant and had something to eat.
Then we took a long walk up to the U.S. Consulate and tried having separate passports for each of us at $10 each (US).
Next we took a ferry for Kowloon to see our grandmother.
Timothy’s mom was there and she went to tell him were there.
Timothy came later and we went downstairs to the Kowloon Restaurant to have lunch.
Timothy then took my brother and I to Hong Kong where we looked around and around for a bookstore.
We found we had nothing to do in Hong Kong so we went back to Kowloon and looked for more books. I bought a second hand history book for 6 dollars.
We next went to his house and looked at some books.
I had a slight stomach ache there.
The place where he lives has 5 girls and 5 boys and is for the CCF kids.
We went and had a coke and went to his school
We kept asking him to ask us questions on the exams.
We went back home to grandmother’s house and ate dinner.
Next we went back to the Prince hotel.
This is the hotel which we stayed at when we first got to Hong Kong from the US
Hong Kong has changed much since the last time I was here.
There is trouble brewing between China and Russia, France and Tunisia.
I think there will soon be a breach between China and Russia.
My brother is quite selfish and tried to take all the coke for himself.
Tuesday July 18, 1961
(little drawing of house)
This morning I had school and everything went smooth.
After school I went to the new house and we fixed up the blinds and curtains.
Tomorrow we shall move in
We ate lunch there and then my brother and I came back to our rental house..
My brother went to church to help a boy with his English and I continued reading “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court”
We then went back to the new house after eating dinner there.
Before we ate some men with Reverend Chung came over and argued over the price to carry our belongings over to the new house.
One of them was dumb (couldn’t speak)
Reverend Chung then came over while were there.
Later some more people from the orphanage came over and took a look at the new house.
We ten went and had a coke near one of the places near that “crummy” record player, which always wakes me up.Monday July 17, 1961
Today I went to school at the wrong time and stayed for an English period.
After coming home I decided to got to Raymond’s but when I arrived, he was out.
I went back again in the afternoon and we talked a while.
His brother Patrick is a great kite flyer and has 40 kites to his ribbons.
We then went to the swimming pool.
It is quite large but the place where we changed clothes wasn’t very big.
Raymond things he can learn quicker in a pool.
After that Raymond went to his teacher’s house.
The nights are hot and sticky.Sunday July 16, 1961
We went to church again and afterwards my mom went out to eat with some people and I made the lunch. After lunch I went to Raymond’s and then we went to Mr. Victals place.
There I played him two games of chess .. He beat me as usual.
Mr Olvieria was there and was just going to leave with his girl friend to Hong Kong.
We stayed a while longer and listened to records.
Then I left with Raymond to his house and got some paints.
He went with me to get his bike.
One of the Form II boys came over and I took him to see our new house.
In the late evening we went to the Church. Trade Union and the members listened to the recording of the Texas Baptist Choir. We did some talking and singing all in Chinese.
We then walked home with some of the boys.Saturday July 15, 1961
Late in the night it rained quite hard because of a passing typhoon…”Elsie”.
In the morning I wasn’t able to go to school because of the typhoon.
Downstairs (where our landlord lived) was flooded and my dad helped them to get the water out of their house.
The rain stopped later in the morning and after reading some more spooky stories I ate lunch and went to Raymond’s hosue where we did some geometrical problems and I then rode him to his teacher’s place.
Later at 4:30 pm some people from the Church choir came for a visit.
When they left Raymond came and we left with him to go look for school textbooks which we will be using next year.
We went all around to different stores and got 2 books
In the night my mom and dad went to the seaside while I did some geometry and my brother read “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court”Friday July 14, 1961
I went to school at 10:40 am after having seen one of the men from the other orphanage come over.
I waited outside until the principal came out, looked at my report card and took em to Form IV where they were having English.
The math teacher was absent today.
In the afternoon we patched up a hole in my brother’s bike.
I then went and picked Raymond up and then my brother and we all went swimming.
After we came back Raymond asked me to take him over to one of the boys who he will be tutoring
In the
In the evening I tried flying a kite but there was no wind. Suddenly a gust blew my kite up so that it broke.
I then came downstairs as it started raining and started readying spooky stories to my brother.Thursday July 13, 1961
This morning we went to St. John’s school and had some trouble finding it. We went to the principals office and he told us to bring my report card the next day.
I then went downstairs to Form I and II. They are up with us and are doing transversals.
I then roamed around after the bell rang and wet to the office to copy down the stuff in the back of this book
The school is ancient. It has old desks and old blackboards.
In the afternoon I went to Raymond’s and did some algebra.
We decided to go swimming tomorrow.
(Back at our rental house) We have baskets of stuff packed and in the from room ready to move on Saturday.
It has been quite hot lately.
I finished “Gone with the Wind”
My parents went out along the seaside to have a cokeWednesday July 12, 1961
I am almost at the end of “Gone with the Wind” now.
Tomorrow I shall be going to St. John’s school and if lucky I shall be spending my time in that integrated school. (coed)
I don’t remember how it shall be in a girls and boys School. We have almost forgotten.
We went back to the new house and my brother and dad were to build some shelves but there was no electricity.
It has been raining
I took out my books and began to study as the school which I hope to attend (St. John’s school) has high standards.
I just had a little stomach ache.
We plan to move on Saturday
My eyesight is getting worse.
Not much happened today
(picture of gone with the wind)Tuesday July 11, 1961
I continued reading “Gone with the wind”” when I awoke
At the end of this day I have read 500 pages of it
We didn’t do much today. I cooked breakfast which consisted of fried potatoes…my favorite. In the afternoon we went to the new house and painted the window ledges. All the time we were there some squatters were playing that sickening Chinese opera music.
When I got home I found a letter from Chuck (Chuck Kuen was our cousin in Hong Kong). He sent me some stamps and told me a little of his grades in school. My dad’s relatives came again today.
My brother and mom shall go tomorrow to see if my brother can get promoted to Form IV next year.
It is raining now.Monday July 10, 1961
I got up and began reading the book that James had lent me. I must write in short in order to save space.
My parents and brother went to the new house to fix it up.
Raymond came to ask if James had been here to see us.
James came over later to type out an envelope.
In the afternoon my brother and I went to James’ house to see him off.
Raymond wasn’t there so I went to get him
James leaves for Hong Kong.
Raymond and I went swimming
Raymond swims quite well now.
When we left I couldn’t find the key to my bike.
I take to take the bus home and then return with the key.
It took me one hour.
My mom and brother have gone to St. John’s school to see about it.
My brother was to pay $20 for summer lessons but I was chosen by father to take his place at that school which is far advanced in mathematics.Saturday July 8, 1961
Last night I left a kite flying in air above our house all night.. When I woke up in the morning it was still there.
I spent most of the morning reading one of James’s books. The name of the book was “Henry Esmond” and on one of its paged I discovered a Chinese stamp stuck to one of the pages. I tore out for myself. It was yellow colored and came off with part of the title of the book stuck to it’s back.
In the afternoon I went to Raymond’s and continued to paint the picture of the “house in the forest”. We completed it and then I took it home to show my parents.
James is planning to go to Hong Kong on Monday.
I sweat profusely because of the heat.
They are having rehearsal for the closing ceremony next door at St. JosephFriday July 7, 1961
This morning James came over and picked me up for church. Afterwards we talked to Fr. Krusner.
On the way to church we met with Raymond and Victor. We decided to go to swim in the afternoon. But later Victor came to school and told us he couldn’t go and James had already declined so we went to Raymond’s and told him about it. He had to mail a letter to his friend in China whose sister died in a Chinese prison.
In the afternoon only Raymond an d I were left to go so we set out.
On the way we got a flat tire.
We had to buy cards to go swimming.
We met Fr. Van Volk and swam with him.
He help teach Raymond how to swim a littleThursday July 6, 1961
This morning frank and I dressed for school. We are having our prize giving and graduation day today.
We rode to school and then all the students marched through town to the Oriental Theater.
We were seated and the ceremony began with a message in Portuguese from the Commissioner of Macao. The rest of the ceremonies we dedicated to the graduates of the forms and classes. Finally time came for giving out prizes. My name was announced and I went to receive my prize for the English speech contest. My prize was a dictionary. The Yuet Wah girls school also were present.
After that the end came.
Chau Kuk Shing and James also received prizes. We received our report cards.
I was greatly surprised to find that I just passed by two points in math.
My brother, however, did not pass and asked Mr. Wong about taking private lessons which shall cost $70 HK a month.
My parents will be trying to see Fr. Rubini on Wednesday About Frank
In the afternoon I went to Mr. victals place and listened to some records and played a game of chess. Afterwards we went and looked for some second hand books from “Junk Alley”. When we got home we found that our parents had come back from Hong Kong. In the night we went to a coke stand out along the water’s edge and had a coke
(looks like a dragon picture)Wednesday July 5, 1961
This morning at 3 am my mom and dad went to Hong Kong. So Frank and I had to get our own breakfast.
I went to Golden gate restaurant and got some cake. James forgot to pick me up for church. I flew the kite early when I awoke and after that I started painting, a layout for th e painting which Raymond and I are going to do.
I then went over to Raymond’s after eating lunch.
My brother arrived a little bit after that
We painted a picture of a house in a forest and it looks quite nice.
I am supposed to go back tomorrow
Tomorrow we get our report cards and I know that my grades aren’t very satisfactory.
My parents shall be gone for two or three days
Raymond’s brother, Patrick, got in trouble today
Tuesday. July 4, 1961
Today is Independence day in the USA. I wanted to pop firecrackers here but they only allow you to fire them on certain days.
I went to church with James today and will go with him tomorrow.
In the afternoon I went with Victor to Raymond’s and we planned a picture to draw but we decided to do a completely different drawing. It will take us quite a while to finish it.
While coming home I bought some kites.
At 6 pm my mom and brother went to have dinner at the church. The dinner is being held to help the choir from Texas. These people came from colleges all over Texas and they are traveling around the Pacific singing at stops along the way. They came to Macao and we made a recording of their voices while they sang. In church. They all work uniforms of black. They sang about ten numbers and it sounded quite nice.
The orphanage was there as so were many other people including Number 2 in our class. After the singing we stayed and had a coke at church.
Sam came back from the GCE exams and we walked home with him.
(drawing here)Monday July 3, 1961
I studied my arithmetic in the morning. I then went to Raymond’s and then to James but neither of them were home. I drew a picture yesterday and I wanted Raymond to help me paint it. I almost got in trouble while I was going to Raymond’s for the second time when a bus turned the corner and made such a wide turn I nearly got trapped on my bike.
Raymond was home and we both got paper, paints and brushes and set out for Pine Tree Hill to paint.
We spent most of the time hunting for a spot to paint and we finally got down to painting ugly pictures of Macao’s crown water.
When we got back James and his pal were at our house. They all left and we then ate dinnerSaturday July 1, 1961
This morning James and I went to church. After coming back we ate and drank so0me juice. I then went with him to his place to get some books. He didn’t have any left for me to read so I did not take any. We then went to get some developer. I went home and began developing some pictures for him
At 2:30 James cam over.
A little later James friend, Raymond and his small brother , Patrick, came over and we then set out to go swimming. Raymond and his brother can’t swim so we tried teaching them.
We went to swim in one of the lots which ha a wooden hut strung out over the water. There are no beaches in Macao so we had to swim in deep water.
The lightening is quite heavy and this is the first rain we have had in a long time
Sunday July 2, 1961
The rain kept pouring throughout the night and on this morning we had to go to church while it was pouring cats and dogs. A colored man preached this morning. I did a little studying and then ate lunch. It was still raining hard. All talk about the new house we have just bought at a price of $43,000 H.K. dollars. And we plan to move in soon.
I went in search of Eddie Rutledge’s’ address and after finding it wrote a letter to him.
By night the rain had ceased.
The amusement park hasn’t been doing any business due to the rain so we can sleep in peace without that crazy music blasting off.
My eyesight is getting worse and I‘ll have to get glasses soonMonday, June 11, 2007
Meeting between Peter and Paul Chui and Frank Geefay June 9, 2007
I still remember all those strict fathers and teachers. I especially remember Mr. Tzau (can't remember how to spell his name) our Form 5-6 English teacher from the American West Point Army academy. Ran our classroom like an army academy. He seemed to scold us more than teach and talk a lot about West Point and America. But he was as gentle and kind as a kitten outside the classroom. He seemed to be very impressed with Marilyn Monroe as I recall. I also remember a Portuguese English teacher in Form 3 by the name of Mr. Vitalis or maybe I am mixing him with the other English Portuguese teacher, who loved to listen to his Victor Borge record over an over again. He turned me into a Victor Borge fan and I've been listened to his comedy performances ever since until he recently passed away. I remember visiting the Portuguese teachers who lived in some kind of community housing for Portuguese bachelors I think. The more I think about those days long ago the more I begin to remember. The nostalgia of these reminiscences makes me feel a little younger. Maybe someone has a list of all the teacher we had from 1961-1963 in Form 3-5 that they could share with us so that I can refresh my memory. I have a pressing need to feel younger as I not so gracefully age.Naming & Delivery Ceremony of "Unique Carrier" 及 上海、蘇、杭遊記
大熊星社 (II)
上海遊記 (二零零七年五月九日至十三日)
二零零七年是大熊星社（II）同學驛馬星動的一年。繼三月十一日重回澳門母校粵華之後，五月九日，承蒙懋德航運集團董事長鄭承忠同學之邀請，前往上海參加外高橋造船廠 (SWS) H1075號命名與交船典禮。
五月九日（星期三）上午十時各同學於香港機場集合，下午二時半飛抵上海國際機場。在懋德航運集團之接待人員安排下，入住東郊賓館。該賓館所佔範圍甚大，約為一千二百畝地，酒店建築物三座，佔用只八十畝，酒店外為園林佈置，並與高爾夫球場相連，只見綠草荵荵，樹木連綿，環境非常優美，我們住在第三座。
當晚出席設於浦東金茂大廈天萃庭之歡迎晚讌，一嘗美味之上海筵席。
次日：東道主邀請賓客參加市內觀光，首先登上東方明珠塔，從高處觀賞上海市的景色；繼續前往參觀『豫園』，是上海著名景點之一，當地有名之園林建築物，園內雕樑畫棟，亭台樓閣，為遊人留下很多精美之藝術佳作。午飯設於『綠波廊』。飯後由專車接載遊覽淮海路及其他著名街道，之後回酒店休息並預備出席酒會。
下午六時半各同學盛裝出席該集團於酒店第二樓所設之酒會。抵時接受儀仗隊禮樂之歡迎，是晚冠蓋雲集，各出席嘉賓把酒言歡，觥籌交錯，極一時之盛。
宴會開始，由董事長鄭承忠同學致歡迎詞及祝酒，各來賓紛紛向鄭承忠夫婦回敬致賀，席間有娛樂表演，包括有名的『變臉』、男女高音演唱、魔術及現代拉丁舞，節目多姿多采，賓主盡歡而散。
訪滬第三天：五月十一日（星期五）是『命名與交船典禮』的日子，由大會接送前往上海外高橋造船廠，踏進船廠之道路上，只見沿途插滿錦旗，以示歡迎。
首先，各同學被安排到船廠之會客室稍為休息；那邊廂交船簽字儀式舉行，出席者包括造船公司及船東外，並由美國驗船協會（ABS）見証，懋德航運集團正式由造船廠接收所建造之新船。
十時三十分，命名典禮開始，嘉賓陸續登上貴賓台上，司儀介紹來賓之後，由外高橋船廠領導致開會詞，繼由懋德航運集團董事長鄭承忠先生致辭；接下來就是命名儀式，由鄭承忠夫人為新船揭幕，將該船命名為『UNIQUE CARRIER』，嘉賓鼓掌慶祝，船廠鳴放爆竹助興，大眾拍照留念之後，獲邀請登船參觀。新船排水量十七萬七千多噸，從甲板開始上至駕駛室，已達九層之高，各同學登船到處遊覽，並與船長拍照留念。
十一時許，參觀完畢，各同學離開外高橋船廠，返回賓館，參加命名招待酒會，與各嘉賓共進自助午膳，由鄭承忠同學致謝辭、祝酒及致送紀念品，賓主盡歡而散，為這一回新船命名典禮劃上完美的句號。
各同學的行程並未完結，繼續踏上旅途，開始蘇、杭之行程。
傍晚抵達蘇州，遊覽觀前街，太太團未有放棄購物之機會，滿載而歸。
近黃昏之際乘車趕赴杭州，晚餐於杭州的著名的食肆『樓外樓』。
一宿無話，午餐後提早前往景點『靈隱寺』，寺內遍佈古代石鵰佛像，並有緣目睹該寺內博物館陳設之宋‧清名家之繪畫及書法，靈隱寺屬杭州著名景點，遊人眾多，特別是在假日及星期天。回程時祇見旅遊車大排長龍，部份已不准進入。因為行程緊迫，我們需緊貼回港之航班，不能有誤，今提早參觀，確是明智之舉。
在午膳前各同學趁尚餘少許時間，在西湖天地漫步，並於 HAGENDAZ 雪糕店前閒坐一下，該天恰為母親節，趙崇就女兒文琪小姐特為母親獻上芝士蛋糕及雪糕，聊表孝思，各同學太太齊齊合照，渡過溫馨的一刻。
午膳設於西湖的『張生記』，當地名店之一，飯後乘車前往機場回港。
勝地不常，盛筵難再，五日行程匆匆結束，後會有期！
本社對於鄭承忠同學贊助往來機票、酒店及全程接待；梁星棋同學之各項聯絡；鄭觀森同學及趙楊瑞瓊女士對旅行之安排，深表謝意。
趙善威記
2007年5月
出席命名與交船典禮同學：鄭觀柱夫婦、鄭觀森夫婦、趙善威夫婦、趙崇就夫婦及女兒、關敏如夫婦、黎榮樂夫婦、梁星棋夫婦、楊德興同學。
蘇杭之旅：除鄭觀柱夫婦及關敏如夫婦因事提前返港，其餘出席者皆參加蘇杭之旅遊。
Our 2007 Re-Union 畢業四十四年後重回母校記
雪泥鴻爪，時光倒流
畢業四十四年後大熊星社 (Great Bear II) 同學重回母校記
經過一位熱心同學之悉心安排、頻密之聯絡；另加好幾位同學之襄助工作，於一九六三年七月畢業的大熊星社同學，經過四十四年寒暑，再次聚首一堂，踏上昔日上學的途徑，重回母校。
早於二零零三年三月，回校的秩序已編排妥當，但一場『沙士』風暴，把回校的時間押後了查不多四年。
二零零七年三月十日 (星期六)，六位同學先抵達澳門，為回母校之行動揭起序幕。
次日(星期日) 上午九時，另六位同學攜同家眷在香港港澳碼頭出發，在澳門居住的兩位同學及早在澳門的六位同學齊到碼頭接船，最難得的是，從 Form III 時一直擔任班主任的黃兆川老師暨夫人也在接船行列，一時受到各同學熱烈歡迎，大眾握手相見之時，容顏有改，熱情不減，各同學自道姓名，黃老師竟一一記得清楚，時間和歲月不能洗卻老師對同學之印象，黃老師之記憶力真驚人。
上車後，先到路環之媽祖廟遊覽，此乃澳門新旅遊景點，由台灣人士斥資興建，廟宇巍峨，氣象萬千，在廟小丘上，有一尊白玉石雕刻而成之媽祖像，身高數米，法相莊嚴，垂慈大覺，化道群迷。
稍後，中午的聚餐開始，席訂於路環竹灣餐廳，連黃老師夫婦在內，一共二十一人。各同學頻頻向黃老師敬酒，對老師多年之教誨深表敬意，席間少不了談及往昔之趣事，昔日之頑童，今日之長者，彈指之間，匆匆數十年。
飽餐一頓，在回校之途中，趁機盡覽澳門之風光，路經葡京酒店，水坑尾，高士得馬路，紅街市，蓮峰球場，逸園跑狗場，台山，觀音堂等勝地，部份之景點或大型之建築物，原是舊時之滄海桑田。
經過個多小時之遊覽，旅遊車終於到達母校，由於重建校舍工程在進行中，我們需由後門入校，獲校長孔智剛神父親自接見，最難得是九四高齡，眾人稱為『爺爺』的林文瑞神父，精神奕奕與我們一起談笑，再一次拿出他的珍藏『煤炭片』請我們吃，這一塊小小的『煤炭片』是從義大利運回來的，現僅存半罐，沒有再補充存貨，林神父的心意，無言以為謝。
同學們圍在一起，聆聽校長之說話，校長介紹了母校之重建進程，教育之方針，未來之發展。粵華母校率先響應澳門政府之教育政策，成為最早『入網』之學校，並積極為澳門之教育工作而努力。教育是長遠而沉重的工作，孔校長有信心繼續把粵華中學發展成為港澳著名學府之一。此外孔校長出示一張印有歷屆粵華校長肖像的郵票小全張，作為擴建校舍捐款之紀念品；如捐款一千元可獲贈一張。班長楊德興即時行動，各同學亦不甘後人，反應熱烈，結果推舉梁星棋同學負責收集捐款後交回校長。
校監江志釗神父亦介紹今年復活節將會帶領十五名學員前往中國落後地區，體會當地學童辛苦求學的生活。
林神父領導同學祈禱，並向我們祝福。各同學亦熱心響應林神父的號召，向『明愛』作不記名捐款。
之後，校長帶領我們到鮑斯高神父銅像面前攝影留念，各同學按一九六三年七月影畢業照時同一的排列再影一次。今次回校的同學共十四人，除了部份在海外(八人)或因事未克參加的小部份同學(四人)，可說是六成的同學能再次合照，誠難能可貴。
皇天不負有心人，當大眾重遊英文部校舍之時，竟發現當日拍攝畢業照的地點之樓梯仍在，未被拆卸，於是重新列隊，照足當年的位置，同人同地同點再來一張合照，正是：
雪泥鴻爪，時光倒流
撫今追昔，感慨係之。
在握別之前，校長與各同學在英文部舊址門前再拍照留念，互道珍重，並約期再見！
全體同學，返港後於中環馬車會所晚飯，盡歡而散，並相約在畢業五十週年，即二零一三年，來一次大團聚。
後記：今次回校一遊，承蒙梁星棋同學悉心負責各項聯絡工作，關敏如同學編排活動，鄭承忠同學贊助酒店、船票，張功良同學負責攝影及各同學之熱衷參加，大熊星社II深表謝意。
趙善威記
二零零七年三月十三日
出席同學 (以英文字母排列)：鄭國重，鄭觀柱，鄭觀森夫婦，鄭承忠，張恭良，招再強，趙善威，趙崇就夫婦，何春霖夫婦，關敏如夫婦，黎榮樂夫婦，梁星棋夫婦，盧榮耀夫婦，黃兆鈞，楊德興夫婦。
社友：莫國興同學。
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Friday June 30, 1961
It is over now and I don't think my marks were very good.
After having our Physics and Geometry I went home and had lunch
Then I went to James' house. He and I went to Raymond's and then the three of us went to Mr. Victal's place.
We then went to my house and had some drinks.
Afterwards we went to James house again. Raymond got some books and I got a Physics book.
We plan to go swimming tomorrow. (I recall that we actually swam in the ocean. There were no beaches in Macau. People had built little bamboo huts out over the waters edge where the Guia Circuit meets the ocean. You paid them your fee, changed and went right into the ocean. The water temperature was perfect...although the water was brown with silt)
After dinner I went to James house and we both came back here.
After he left I did some paintings on a sheet of celluloid (I always thought I would be an animated cartoon artist)
Monday June 26, 1961
I was the second one to finish.
After exams I went to the chapel.
I left school with James
After dropping him off at his house I went home.
In the afternoon, the rest of the boys in our class had their Chinese exam in the afternoon (My brother and I were exempt because we could neither speak, write nor read Chinese) so Victor came over to study Chemistry.
Later Raymond and James dropped by.
James had to give something to Fr. Vandavar so we had to go back to school.
We then went to James house thinking Victor might be there waiting..He wasn't. So we went to Raymond's house thinking that Victor had gone there. He wasn't there either.
James and I rode back with me sitting backwards on the bicycle.
We found Victor at his house
So we all went to James' house.
We joked around and then left.
Later that evening James came over. Mom and Dad went out again looking for a house.
James and I talked a bit, had some drinks and then when my parents returned , James went home.
Sunday June 25, 1961
After church mom and dad went looking for ceiling fans.
Tomorrow we will have exams in English and History
I went to James' house and we worked on History.
We studied into the night.
I might as well say something about Macau.
This town does not really belong to the Portuguese. It is owned by the Communists.
Not long ago they had an anti-Communist meeting in the school next door to our house (It was a school run by Nationalist Chinese, I think) They were composed of the Catholic School. They had about 1000 people attending. This town is full of opium dens and gambling houses. There are also a lot of poor people living here.
Saturday June 24, 1961
I was really tired from last night and I had overslept this morning.
Today is the Feast of John the Baptist.
Fr. Krishner is trying to get me to become a Catholic but I don't think I ought to .
Anyway I go to the Catholic Chapel with James whenever he asks me to.
After church James and I went back to my house and had breakfast.
Then it was off to his house.
On the way I stopped off and bought a new pen. It's gold color and looks expensive. It cost $3.20. (in those days we use the old style ink fountain pens)
My brother and I went back to James house in the afternoon and found him sleeping. He said that he might drop by tonight but it's quite late now so I doubt he'll come.
Friday June 23, 1961
Paul Chui, Habang Singh and Lau Yat Man were messing around with my books so I went and sat in the Captains desk.
Fr. Rubini came to the class and told us that we need not come to school in the afternoon.
Victor came over my house and we studied algebra .
Frank went over to Raymond's house.
When we finished I took Victor home and then went to Ramond's house.
I stood outside their house and called but no one answered so I went back home.
Later I went to James house and we spent most of the time fixing the coolers in his father's barber shop.
James came over in the evening and we did a little Geometry.
Thursday June 22, 1961
After school I changed clothes and I went to James house.
Victor Kuan arrived later.
We did a lot of joking around and very little studying.
Wednesday June 21, 1961
After school I went to church with James and then we went to his house and did some calculus. I know nothing about calculus.
The I went downstairs to his father's barber shop and got a hair cut.
The barbers there always joke about me because I don't speak Chinese.
James' little sister was in the barber shop getting her hair fixed and she was laughing at me. I could see her in the mirror.
Tuesday, June 20, 1961
The guys in the back of the class got a little noisy so Fr Rubini stepped in.
He called Captain into his office and gave him a scolding because he wasn't able to keep the boys quiet.
On the way home Captain was riding me on the bicycle as usual and we almost crashed into another bicycle. The other guy didn't give a hand signal to turn.
After school Victor came over to our house and we studied Ethics.
We shall have a test on that subject tomorrow.
My mom and dad went looking for a house to buy. Didn't find anything
Monday June 19, 1961
Fr. Rubini came to monitor us. During study period Fr. Rubini got angry at Habang Singh because he was joking around in class instead of studying
In the afternoon we had our geography test.
The questions were fairly easy.
Captain didn't do so well.
Some of the kids in our school have already finished their exams which were held upstairs next to our classroom.
There's not much to do in Macau and I don't know how I'll enjoy myself during the holidays.
Macau only has theaters and swimming.
It's too moist here.
I haven't written to Eddie or any of the others in America yet. I'll have to do that during the summer.
Sunday June 18, 196
We shall have our geography test tomorrow.
I had to go and get some clothes at the laundry for my mom.
As I came back home one of the girls downstairs (the landlord who lives downstairs has 5 daughters) saw me and ran away. The girls always run away when my brother and I come in the gate.
Saturday, June 17, 1961
So before morning exercise Paul Chiu (he forgot his also) and I went home..like we did yesterday.
Fr., Cota came back from Hong Kong where the boys of Form VI are having their exams (GCE).
The kids from the orphanage got to go to the carnival they have in Macau every summer. It's not much...just a merry-go-round and a lot of cold drink stands.
The kids got to go on rides.
Frank and I had to stay home because we are going to have our geography test Thursday.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Friday June 16, l961
During Physics period, Paul Chiu and I went home to fetch our books...which we had forgotten to bring.
We went to his house first...and then to my house.
Mr. Victal got angry at the boys in the back of the room because they were making a lot of noise.
He asked the offenders to step to the front of the classroom. He made each boy recite 20 words from the dictionary.This happened again when the bell rang and he let a few of us go while the others had to stay behind.
My mom charged me 20 cents for some books I left laying around the house.
The kids from the choir (at the Protestant Church) came over later that day and went up to our rooftop.
We all had dinner and then dad showed them 16 mm movies he took of our family in America.
the Chinese are a little like the English in manners. They don't joke around like Americans.
After showing the movies of Disneyland ,the San Diego Zoo and Marineland we all went downstairs and sung some Christian songs.
I went into my room to do some studying but the heat got me down.
Finally everyone left. Thank heavens!
Today is my brother's birthday.
Thursday June 15, 1961
I forgot my homework again so during the morning exercise I left and went home to get it.
Day after tomorrow will be the "Dragon Festival"
Dragon Boat races will be held in Hong Kong. The people here in Macau can't afford dragon boats and besides the ocean around Macau is very muddy due to all the silt that comes down from the Pearl River.
My mom said she would start charging us money if we left our school books lying around the house. So far she owes me 3 dollars.
Michael from Form II came over after school and we talked about our school marks.
I'm not sure I'll pass because last year I knew nothing about Algebra or Geometry (In those days our school in Palm Springs didn't teach those subjects until we got into High School). When I entered Yuet Wah this year they had already finished 1/2 the book.
Tuesday June 13, 1961
In the afternoon we had our dictation test on "Arctic Explorations"
After the test we had our music exam.
When school let out, Victor Kuan and I went over to find out our marks.
So we headed over to Mr. Victal's house. Several boys had arrived before us and were reciting ten words from the dictionary to Mr. Victal. This was their punishment for something they had done wrong earlier in class.
Mr. Victal thought we had come over to give him his cigarette lighter. He had forgotten it and left it in class.
We checked our papers to see what kind of marks we had gotten.
Mr. Victal wanted me to go to school and get his lighter but I proposed that he should go instead.
So he hopped on my bike and headed off to school
When he returned Victor and I left.
Monday, June 12, 1961
Mr. Victal picked ten titles..one of which was "The Use Which Man Has Made of the Forces of Nature".
Captain had memorized a composition from a composition book. He thought Mr. Victal would let us pick our own titles. But it turned out just the opposite. He ended up having to write down the one he had prepared.
We got a letter from China. Since my dad has agreed to buy fertilizer for the Chinese government, they have gone a step further and asked for $20,000 US.
We've had an invasion of cockroaches.
The town has quieted down since the festivities Saturday
Sunday June 11, 1961
As usual I had "stewed fish over rice".
In the afternoon we went to James's house and begged him to come with us to Raymond Chu's place so we could all study Physic's together.
James was just about to go to bed because he was very tired.
Anyway, we went to Raymonds, studied and then we gave Raymond and James a ride on our bikes to our house. They wanted to go to the book store but it was raining so they stayed at our house till the rained stopped.
Right now they are having basketball matches next door so it's hard to concentrate on studying.
(When we first arrived in Macau we rented a house. We live on the second floor of a two story building. The landlord, his wife and 5 daughters live downstairs. Right next door there was some sort of gymnasium.)
Saturday June 10, 1961
I got dressed, ate and then went over to James Lai's house with my algebra book.
Unfortunately he wasn't home.
So back home I went.
There were army soldiers everywhere. They were marching up and down the street in their tan colored uniforms.
People thronged the streets and stores.
After I got home James and another one of his friends came over.
We played records and then hopped on our bicycles and rode out along the water dikes all the way up to Don Boscos school.
In the afternoon I went to James house again. We sat around and joked. Then I took him on my bike to his teacher's place...and I went home.
When I arrived at the house I found Raymond and his brother, Patrick, waiting for me.
We all had planned to work on Physics with Frank.
When Raymond left, he forgot his pen...which I am using to write now.
It's night time now. and Frank and I have just finished having a big debate with my dad about Communism.
It all started when dad read an article about how the American's were planning to launch a space ship to the moon. "That's ridiculous..impossible " , dad said.
That's how the debate got started.
The argument, as usual, turned from Russian satellites to freedom of the press..and from there it lead to Communism.
During the argument dad offered us 10 dollars to prove that newspapers could run without advertisements.
Friday June 9, 1961
In the afternoon today we had our gymnastics test. I wasn't able to do my exercises so I think the teacher gave me a failing grade.
"Egyptian" (I recall a fellow student who went by the nick name "Egyptian". I can't remember who he was. Maybe later in the diary it will come back to me. Most students had nicknames. I remember some of the names :"lady","the nun", "pig". ) gave me some stamps from his stamp collection in return for some stamps from mine.
Tomorrow there's going to be a big celebration in honor of Luis de Camoes.
He was one of Portugal's most famous poets. So the day is a holiday and we are off from school.
There is suppose to be a parade of soldiers. I don't care about it.
It gives me more time to catch up with my maths.
We are going to have our composition test on Monday. But I don't need to prepare for anything.
Thursday June 8. 1961
This morning I forgot to bring my homework to Maths so I had to rush home and get it during the morning exercise drill (we all had calisthenics out on the main courtyard every day. It was compulsory. Everyone had an assigned spot on the field and roll was taken. If you weren't in your spot...not good )
It rained again as we were going home for lunch
We have much to review in maths. Mr. Wong, our new math teacher, goes much faster than our old teacher, Mr. Olivera.
Wednesday June 7, 1961
When the bell rang it started raining just as we were leaving.
I went down to get my bicycle but the rain wouldn't stop so I went back upstairs to the classroom to wait it out.
By that time I was soaking wet.
We waited and when the rain finally did stop we all headed home for lunch.
In the afternoon Victor Kuan came over to our house and we studied a little Physics.
Tuesday, June 6, 1961
It rained again today.
During the Physics experiment some boys in one of the Chinese classes got into a fight.
They got a scolding for it.
James gave me his negatives to develop (back then we developed contact black and white prints from negatives in our bedroom at night when it was dark) but my dad had used the plug for the extension cord so I couldn't use the light for contact printing.
We spent English period rearranging the tests schedule. It was a difficult job.
It's getting so boring in Macau. I can't wait to get out of here.
Nothing much to write about either
Monday , June 5, 1961
In the afternoon Fr. Kirkland wasn't feeling well so we had a "free study" period.
We are getting nearer to the tests dates and I don't know if I'll have much time to write in this journal.
I don't read as many books now because it hurts my eyes. I'll have to get glasses during the vacation.
We are revising for the final exams.
Yesterday in the South China Morning Post I read that President Kennedy and Premier Khrushchev met and talked for a long time in Vienna.
Communist China objected to the meeting...but tough luck for them.
My dad has decided to buy fertilizer and send it to China because he supports the Communist cause. His relatives in China have been begging him to do it because for every ton of fertilizer sent to China, they get some rice or something.
Sunday, June 4, l961
Both of them had gone to see Mr Victal.... but he wasn't at home.
We all joked around and listened to records.
My dad needed some gasoline. He was trying to make rubber glue.
So we all went out looking all over town for gasoline.
It rained really hard part of the day.
It's the hardest rain we've had so far.
Saturday June 3, l961
The hall of the school is filled with pictures which are to be voted for (I don't recall what this was. Must have been a drawing contest or something)
Mr Vital asked Raymond, James Lai, Frank and I to come over to his place and listen to records tomorrow but I can't go because my mom got mad at me for wrinkling my Sunday clothes.
James Lai came over in the evening and we talked and did some algebra sums.
We went to "junk alley" (that was a street in Macau that sold a lot of used things...books and stuff. Many were just poor people who had a few odds and ends to sell on the sidewalk. Sometimes they would have good English novels and books so we were always on the lookout)
before dinner to see if there were any good books or not. There wasn't.
Not much to do here in Macao. Business is going on as usual and the Communist are getting the upper hand here. That's because the Portuguese government is too weak (I don't recall much about the political situation in Macau at the time. Not sure what I was referring to)
Friday June 2, 1961
Today Frank and I got to school and found we had the wrong books.
He thought it was Tuesday. I thought it was Thursday.
I rushed home to get the exercise books that Mr. Victal had asked us to help him check for his Form II class.
I went first to my house and then to James.
I got back in time before the bell rang the second time (I think there were two bells. The first was to call us to class. The second was to signal that everyone not in class was late)
Mr. Victal got mad again today (because the boys were talking).
The boys in the back of the class are the most talkative.
He asked all the offenders to step forward to the front of the class.
Mr. Victal once again invoked Fr. Rubini's name.
That was enough to get the boys in the back to step up in front of the class.
The lessons started again.
Victor Kuan and I went to Mr. Victals after school and we listened to one of his comical records, checked some more exercise books for him and chatted some. Nothing much to do except study now since the heat is too oppressive.
While we were at Mr. Victals, a postman came and Mr. Victal tried to converse with him in broken Chinese (as I recall Mr Victal was either born in China or lived in China for a long time.
I think he came from Shanghai area. I recall him telling stories about old China. I remember vividly his description of the time he witnessed someone in China being beheaded..how they dragged the frightened man out. And when they cut off his head his teeth kept chattering. Funny how some recollections stay with you)
Mr Victal lost 4 dollars playing ping pong against some other boys and by the time Victor and I had finished correcting a stack of exercise books, he had lost another 2 dollars. Mr. Victal complained that there was nothing else to do around here.
Thursday, June 1, 1961
After church I went to his house to get some study books and we then went to my house.
The door was locked so I had to go to the orphanage for the key.
The rest of the day we studied.
In the evening I studied by myself since James had to go home and Frank had gone to the orphanage to paint the new shower.
I slept on the couch in the living room where there is a nice breeze.
It is still quite hot.
The Laos bit is clearing (Fighting broke out between the Royal Lao Army and the Pathet Lao in 1960; in 1961, a neutral independent government was set up under Prince Souvanna Phouma, based in Vientiane) and South Africa now has a white president ( -May 31, 1961 South Africa becomes a republic. Charles Robberts Swart becomes the first State President of South Africa)
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Wednesday May 31, 1961
Tomorrow we shall have a holiday to celebrate "Corpus Christe" and James Lai asked me to go to church with him.
Mr. Victal asked me to go to his place and pick up some Form II exercise books to correct. He's lazy by habit and doesn't want to check them himself.
So Captain and I went and got them.
I then went over to James' house to give him his share of the books to correct.
I stayed and we checked the exercise books at his place.
He and his friend then came over to our house during the night and we talked late into the night till about 11:30 pm.
He (James' friend???) is planning to go to a Hong Kong school.
We talked about the GCE examinations
I hope I can skip Form V and go directly to Form VI
Tuesday May 30, 1961
Fr. Cotta got really angry this morning while we were doing our experiments in the Physics laboratory on hydrogen.
(omitted personal things about my relationship to my dad)
Monday May 29, 1961
Mr. Victal got mad in class today because some of the boys behind the "38th parallel" were talking while he was giving his lessons.
He walked out of the classroom and stayed outside our window. He came in some time later and threatened to go down to Fr. Rubini and lodge a complaint if the boy who was talking didn't volunteer to go to the blackboard and write down the lesson as punishment.
He counted to ten.
When he got to ten and no one had confessed, he stormed out of the room again.
Shortly he came back in and gave us all "one final warning."
At last Lo Wing Yu (number 21) stood up to confess. He confessed but showed no remorse.
It's very hot and moist these days.
Sunday, May 28, 1961
In the afternoon I went over to James Lai's house to chat.
We decided to visit Mr. Victal. (As I recall Mr. Victal was living in a dormitory complex with a lot of other Portuguese men. It was like an army barracks. Each person had his bed and small area for his personal belongings. Mr. Victal loved playing records on his record player. I remember one favorite of his was the comedian Victor Borge. Students use to drop in to visit teachers on the weekends in those days. Don't know if they still do it today.)
It was quite hot and sticky that day so when we got there we found him lying on his bed with a wet cloth over his head.
Mr. Victal played some violin concerto records and we talked.
He took out his chess set and played me a game. He won. (first time I had played since leaving America on June 10, 1960)
We suggested playing a game of ping pong and had to wait our turn while some other boys finished playing. James and Mr. Victal played against each other. I watched.
Then it started to rain so we decided to start back for home.
At night I slept out in the porch because it is so hot.
Saturday May 27, 1961
In the morning the weather was a little better as we started off for the orphanage picnic.
Frank couldn't come because he was still ill.
(deleted comments regarding orphanage picnic to Taipa Island)
After we got back that evening, James Lai came over and we went around at night looking for a light for my bicycle. I told him I would come over to his house the next day.
there are so many bugs about due to the weather. I hate it.
Well, I'm tired and want to go to bed
Friday May 26, 1961
My brother still has a stomach ache but is getting better.
We plan to make a trip with the kids from the orphanage to one of the neighboring islands tomorrow morning and spend the day there. I don't know if I will go with them or not. Last week we planned the trip but because of the typhoon we had to put the trip off. The older kids were disappointed when plans got changed and staged a "No Go To School" strike in protest. After much discussion they were persuaded to go to school. But I didn't like their attitude and feel better if I don't go.
I went to James Lai's house to give him our "leave of absence" slips (in case we miss school Saturday)
I stayed to chat with James. I still do not approve of his ambitions of becoming a doctor.
We talked of his conversion to Catholicism and he told me of some of the problems he had with his Buddhist family when they learned he wanted to become a Catholic.
Anyway, for me, I still think I would like to be a cartoon animator as a profession.
Whether my brother Frank goes to the islands with us tomorrow is still in question.. He insists that he should be at the picnic.
It's very hot in the mornings and in the nights.
My eyesight is getting worse. I think I am becoming nearsighted and may have to get glasses.
We'll see what happens
Thursday May 25, 1961
(Although my brother and I have a tough time catching up with the high school standards here...compared with those of the U.S. Much harder)
Anyway, I enjoy schooling here.
We all received our reports today. My brother was confined to the bed with a stomach ache so I served as a representative for him.
I only failed Arithmetic...getting only 10 marks . But Algebra and Geometry plus the Sciences went for the better.
(deleted comments about how other students fared)
The weather was better today than yesterday but we still have no sunshine.
It rained during the night.
