SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA

I am so pleased to get in touch with Fung Pik Yeuk Rebecca [ F7 1984 ] again, after almost 20 years. She left a very nice message in the Guest Book, and mentioned that that she is a programmer as well as a beginning author. I wrote back to her and asked, "What do you write?" She replies:
 

Hi Ching Sir,
 
It was a pleasant surprise for me that you still remember me. Hope I didn't leave too bad of an impression on your mind. I do remember you as a very good teacher.
 
Visiting your web site gives me a special home-coming feeling that I haven't had for a long long time. I can't tell you how thankful I am for what you have done. In fact, I think all CCSC alumni are indebted to you for your effort to reconnect them. I'll try my best to retrieve photos that are worthy of appearing in the site. However, it will probably take a while since most of my old photos are with my parents in HK.
 
To answer your question, I write about quilts - an art-form that involves putting little pieces of fabrics together. I started to quilt a few years ago and was persuaded by a group of American old ladies to get my work published. My first and only book, Fantastic Fabric Folding, came out last year, which for some unknown reasons, was very well-received. It had once made the top 20 list in Amazon. I also write occasionally for some quilt magazines as guest writer/designer. It has been quite an extraordinary experience for a HongKong immigrant like me.
 
Well, I guess I can go on and on, but had better save some for next time. I sure look forward to seeing you in the next gathering.
 
Regards,
Rebecca

 
Actually the picture of the book cover posted here was not sent by Rebecca. After I got her mail, I plunged into the amazon.com web site, searched her work and found it displayed in a conspicuous position in the catalog. And, it is a best seller. There are many favorable and commending reviews written by critics and readers. Congratulations, Rebecca, for your great achievement -- even local American authors cannot dream of making into the top-20s. [ Click here to view Amazon's catalog showing Rebecca's book ]
 

---

 

Bay Area Gathering We are currently rushing to organize a gathering.   Tin Shun Kam Raymond [ F4 1989 ] has decided to return to HK to work, and will be leaving the Bay Area on June 22, 2001. Besides bidding Raymond farewell, we also hope to be able to meet and welcome two long-lost-and-found alumni Tse Tin Sing [ F7 1979 ] and Fung Pik Yeuk Rebecca [ F7 1984 ] to our CCSC Family, too.   Anyone who wishes to join us and meet with Bay Area alumni please E-mail me for last-minute arrangements of Time and Venue, which have not been decided on as yet. The dinner party will be on Monday June 11, 2001.

 
Raymond Tin sent us a recent photo from his office. Apparently what he's doing here is not what he's doing every day at work. Anyway, he has been considering for a while whether to go back to HK or not after graduating from San Francisco State University, but finally made up his mind. We wish him best of luck back home.
 
Just learnt that Chang Ching Jessica [ F5 1999 ] will transfer to University of Wisconsin, Madison in the coming Fall. We shall certainly miss her in the Bay Area. She said she will keep in touch over the Internet. Good luck to you, Jessica

 

 
HONG KONG

Tang Kam Kee [ F7 1983 ] said he ran into classmate Sing Man Kwong (now CCSC teacher) in the CCSCOSA Annual Dinner. In his same class of F5 1981 were To Siu Fai (nicknamed "Kong Ching"), Lee So Lun Grace, Lo Yin Yee Angie, Chan Yee Mei, Tse Chi Keung....
 
Tang Kam Kee wrote:

....."Kong Ching" had finished his PhD degree and is now the manager in a large chain restaurant. I have lost contact with Lee So Lun. The last time I heard about her, was that she was working in the Pediatric Department in Queen Mary Hospital.
 
After graduating from Dentistry from HKU in 1988, I first worked as a partner in a general practitioner dental clinic. Then I started my own clinic in 1998 and currently I'm undertaking a part-time Master's degree in Prosthodontics from London University.
 
Two days ago we went to the CCSCOSA annual dinner and met Mr. Sing. He gave me your web site and email address. It is so nice to have a chat (although via email) with you after so many years. Please keep in touch. I am sure other 'nosy-parker' would like to know how you are doing.
 
Warmest regards,
Tang Kam Kee

 
From Pang Yiu Fai Vincent [ F5 1990 ]:

Hi, Mr. Ching,
I'm still working at the same architectural firm since I was back to HK last year!!
Also, I've met a lot of old friends from CCSC (1990). A lot of them attended weddings of Vera Wong and Florence Hui several months ago!! Some of the my classmates even have kids!!
I'm sad to hear the bad news of Mrs. Yuen. She was a great teacher and she did a very good job during her vice principalship.
 
Take care.
Vincent Pang
(class of 1990)

 
KENYA
 

Cheng Sau Ting Aileer [ F5 1994 ] who began her very meaningful teaching career as a volunteer in Kenya, continues to send me very interesting episodes of her experiences and happenings in Africa. Obviously she really enjoys life over there and the people, and we are so pleased to be kept posted. Thanks, Aileer.
 

Date: 5/26/01 2:13:33 AM   ....... so I went back to school, I was a bit late (well 1 hour late is not late in Kenya). Anyway my boys didn't wait for me. But on Mon when they go for the handball match, other school feared and asked them 'Oh my god, you have a Chinese to train, you boys must be good.' So my boys said, 'Yeah she trained us very hard...'   Tue to Wed. We hosted the science congress competition. It was good to see in fact our students are quite good at it. Their presentation skill is horrible (for all schools). When we were preparing, I get so mush closer with the boys. and they had so much fun see me walking around with a stick (yeah I'm the only teacher who don't beat them up officially).   If you wonder what happen to the girls, well I like to teach everyone, but the boys are nicer to me in every way.   About the real competition, I wish I was more 'bias' and generous to my school. Well, all teachers are not fair when they mark, I learned this very well in Sports Day last week. But I like to hide it better to make sure our students can get in, instead of doing it too obvious and they get disqualified. Also I have a reputation of being strict and fair.   Last week in Sports, I was employed for a simple task, giving out refreshment. I introduced the system called Queue. I don't care what their position are, I made them form a line in front of me, give me their name, then I give them drink. Name not on list, no drink. They were shocked that I am so firm, but yet the Regional Secretary liked my job. I'm so strict, I said no I meant no. Also they were impressed I can introduce system into such a small task, but things were really better in order.   So this time I will be one of the judges too in the district level science congress competition b/c I'm famous of being fair and strict.   A lot going on in school. Kids in my compound now have a new place to sleep, my new cupboard. It can accomodate 3 of them at a time. and they (kids of my boss, and kids of my landlord) fighting every night, where I should go for my dinner.   Never know I can sing but I helped in choir, yesterday I finally see the beautiful African singing and dance. I enjoy watching and they enjoy teaching me. Surprisingly, some of the boys cannot do certain moves very well. And with my extremely limited skill I picked in IC during my 1st yr, I could teach sm/th.   Well new moon and stars in clear Africa sky is always gorgeous.   So much for this week. I'll speak to you again when I go to Nairobi for the long weekend.   Aileer

 
[ APPENDED: 6/9/01 ] And there it is again, newest tidings from her. Just received.
 

Date: 6/9/01 2:54:28 AM     I'm officially moulded   Well I am not that bored in here. But one day I found a red patch on my arm I thought sm/th bite me again. eventually the patch became a ring and later on I wa told that it is wingworm. scientifically it is a fungus, so officially I am moulded.   Thank you very much for all the posts. Last time I found out 2 more of us are going home. Then I felt I am still doing quite well. OK I am a bit more positive, but I couldn't fight all this alone. All your magazines and newspaper made my life so much better.   Woman like retail therapy. call me mad that as a volunteer we all like spending money. Well I am not the worst one here. Some of us stay in expensive hotel and travel by taxi. For me I just spend my money on transport to come to Kisumu (yeah no near town kericho anymore) for a better computer to have happy e-mailing, and swimming pool.   Last week when I went on strike in Nairobi, I spend my whole month allowance. Well it has to be more than beer. Nice sun dry tomato and olives, cinema--what woman wants, a little bit money on 2nd hand clothes market. I wish I know more designer labels to make my money worth. Still trying on all the clothes is good.   language lesson : they are all your size, they will all look very good on you.   when I get back home, I was happy even I didn't quite like going back. All the kids in my compound came to me immediately. I enjoy being missed. (only worry is, if their parents will jealous, you really never know this things). my best friend 3yr old steve (small son of my landlord) is improving his teaching skill too. He brought 3 big charts with pictures and single noun in english. This time he pointed at the pictures and taught me Kiswahili.   I didn't want to leave them as they missed me so much. But music competition on Mon, I had to go to school. I was happy in school too. They all worried a bit as I suddenly disappered for 5 days. So I told them I was in the airport b/c I was upset and wanted to go home. haha, it was fun. I think they really missed me a bit, but not sure if they really worry I would run away one day.   Well I'll go on strike again on Mon and spend a week in Nairobi. So I'll talk to you more with the cheaper computer then. Indeed I feel bad to go on strike again so soon, but it really have to be this week as a lot of people will be down there. Also the boys are not so worried this time round, they know I'm going to bring them a lot of goodies when I come back.   love Aileer

[ End of Update 35 ]

 

---

Copyright © 2001 Felix Ching