CCSC's MAGIC BOW

 
FROM CANADA -- NEWS FROM THE 1970s !!!

Ottawa, October 1998
From Left: Joyce, Camelia, Janie

Mr. Ching,
 
I was a student in CCSC's first F1 class, and finished F5 in 1975. In those days, it was very stressful to keep up with the school work and tests, but at the same time, I have fond memories of those good old days. I remember both the students and the teachers worked very hard.
 
I was very surprised when I heard from Andy at Janie's home. Actually I still keep in touch with Leung Kwok-Ching (Janie Pang) in U.S and Yip Ching-Han (Joyce Li) in Ottawa. I immigrated to Ottawa fifteen years ago in May with my husband and daughter. Now, I am working in a world wide fiber optic manufacture company as an operator; our company is transferring all the products to Shenzhen for manufacturing because of the cheap labor. In May or June, when all the transfers are done, I will get laid off. I will use this chance to visit all of you.
 
Joyce Li and I think we saw Mr. Tang in a restaurant a while ago. After seeing the pictures from your website, I'm now sure it was him. I did not approach him, but I wish I did. If I meet him again, I will talk to him this time. I was sad when I found out Miss Ng (Mrs. Yuen) died two years ago; she was a very nice lady and she was always patient with us.
 
Joyce Li is going to sign the guestbook today (maybe she already did). She is going to tell some other schoolmates in Toronto about this CCSC website too. She will send you the pictures because she has a scanner at home.
 
Thank you for all your hard work in setting up the website and maintaining the information so that we can have a chance to contact our old friends and teachers too. I am looking forward to seeing you.
 
With regards
Camelia
 

I migrated to Canada in 1972, then I became known as Joyce Li after I got married. I am so excited to know this CCSC website as I was a student from 1969-1972, F1 to F3. I was one of the first group of F1 students when the school opened in 1969. ....
 
I believed that there are not many former teachers and classmates who remembered me. I was a common student in those years. Even when I go through this website's photos, I only can recall some memory by looking at those b/w photos. I remembered Miss Lam (Mrs. Sinn), Mrs. Big Ng, small Ng, Mr. Fung, Mr. Wat, Miss Chan, Mr. Leung and his wife, and my classmate Au Fung-Yee and more ----. Me and Chu Chik-Chun met again in 1988 when she migrated to Ottawa. Since then, she and her husband and their daughter have been living in Ottawa. Later, she and I worked in the same high-tech company for so many years. She lives not too far from me, only needs 10 minutes driving, therefore, we can meet each other so often.
 
Now, I start my story. Actually I don't know how to start it. It seems that everyone of you have a bright story. I don't have a good one to tell, but I still want to say, because I am proud of being a CCSC member.
 
After I migrated in Canada, I continued my education for high school, then college. I never studied in a university. I studied biochemistry in a college but never worked in this field. Instead, I worked in a few high-tech companies for 20 years. I went back to Hong Kong for a visit in 1978. I got married in 1981. My life looked peaceful before my daughter was born in 1987.
 
My daughter was not a healthy child. When she was ten years old (1997), her serious illness started to show. Since then, we lived in horror. Unfortunately, we have a genetic disease in our mother-side family. This is a kind of mitochondrial disorder disease, called MELAS (Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy, Lactic Acidosis, and Stroke). That is, there are abnormal mitochondria in our cells, which cannot create enough energy for body functions. You can imagine, if the body cannot function properly, the cells are dying, we are dying slowly also. This disease is passed from mother to child through mtDNA. This is a very rare disease and it was discovered in the late 80's. The horrible thing is, this disease cannot be detected before or after the child is born, until the symptoms are shown. I have this disease. I passed it to my children. My daughter had seizures all the time. She struggled against this MELAS for many years. Finally, she fell in coma. She passed away last year (March, 2002) at the age of 14.
 
I was not well for so many years, I was diagnosed to have this disease in 1998 after my daughter's diagnosis. Due to this horrible disease, I stopped working in the end of 2000. I had a stroke in March, 2001 which caused me immobility for a few months. Later, I gained back my mobility. 2001 and 2002 were my awful years. I am on long-term disability now. I don't work, but I still have to look after a young son who is 10 years old. I am a housewife now.
 
In the memory of my daughter, I joined an internet friend in the mito-disorder support group, whose daughter passed away with the same disease last year also. We both wrote the story of our daughters. This book was published in March, 2003. It called "Melas Angels." You can find the Chinese name and information about this book in this publisher's website : www.intelligenthall.com. The Chinese version is available in HK's most popular bookstores now. Both the Chinese version and English version will be available in North America and UK later the year.
 
I have been in Canada for more than 30 years. I am still proud of knowing how to read and write Chinese. Thanks to Miss Lam (Mrs.Sinn) and Mr. Lee Lap-Ming. They were my Chinese teachers for my F1 to F3 years. Therefore, in the "About the Author" section of this book, I wrote down I was a CCSC student. If anyone of you have interest, you can buy this book to read.
 
Ching Sir, although we never met, you never taught me, I am glad to know you through Chu Chik-chun's introduction about you. I welcome any e-mails from any of CCSC's classmates (1969-1972), schoolmates or teachers. I like to make friends with anyone of you. I don't need to work; I have a lot of time to write. Although I have this horrible disease, I know I am dying, I even had a stroke two years ago, but I am still alive, my mind is so clear, I still remember those days in CCSC (1969-1972).
 
Due to this disease, I am hearing impaired (deaf), so there is no way to call me by telephone. My e-mail address: ch_joyce@hotmail.com
 
Thank you very much for reading my long introduction.
 
Regards,
Joyce Li (Yip Ching-Han)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
 

 
FROM NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA

My only year at CCSC was and still is the best year of my life! Right now I am working on my PhD in Civil Engineering at Dalhousie University.

[ APPENDED 4/14/03 ]
Brian.... thank you so much for the vivid account of your school life in F1 in the Guest Book. It's so nice; I couldn't help grinning all the way while going through the lines in your long message. I suggest all our readers go to the Guest Book and read it. -- Felix

 
FROM CCSC CURRENT

From : Yuk Ng
To : Felix Ching
Subject : I am now studying in CCSC........
Date : Thu, 27 Mar 2003 00:49:38 +0800 (CST)

 
Hi,
My name is Stephen. I am now studying in CCSC. I like your website very much and hope you will bring us more news about our teachers. I know that you have taught in CCSC for 18 years and do you know Mr.Tsang? He is teaching us Chemistry now and we all like him very much. We all want to know more about him and could you plz tell us something about him?
 
Truly yours,
Stephen

[ End of Update 53 ]