ELSC Newsletter Volume 2.3

May is a month of celebrations, both locally and abroad. In fact, this month begins with a celebration. The first day of May is celebrated as a Spring Festival in some countries. Elsewhere, it is a day to honour the workers of the world. Many Socialist and labour demonstrations are staged on May Day.

In Britain it is tradition to dance around the May Pole. Colourful ribbons which hang from the top are woven into beautiful patterns as the dancers circle the pole. This practice began as a way to protect the crops from evil spirits.

Here in Hong Kong May Day takes on an added significance this year. It marks the 100^th Anniversary of one of the city's most famous landmarks, the Star Ferry. It all began on May 1, 1898. Nowadays, 32 million passengers take the ferry annually. About 25 percent of them are tourists. The Star Ferry has organised a series of events to commemorate the Centenary including a Ride-Free Day.

The Tuen Ng Festival is going to be held on 30 May this year. It honours the poet and conscientious royal government advisor, Wat Yuen who killed himself many years ago to protest government corruption. One of the highlights of this festival is the Dragon Boat Races.

And then, of course, there is the most important celebration of all - Mother's Day. This year mums all over the world will be honoured on 10 May. Great Britain, however, is an exception. There, Mother's Day is observed on 22 March.

The first celebrations which honoured mothers were held in the spring in ancient Greece. They paid tribute to Rhea, the Mother of the Gods. During the 17th century, England honoured mothers on "Mothering Sunday," celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent.

In the United States, Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia founded the celebration of Mother's Day. Her campaign to establish such a holiday began as a remembrance of her mother, who died in 1905 and who had, in the late 19th century, tried to establish "Mother's Friendship Days" as a solace for people suffering from the ravages of the Civil War.

Eve was born in China but came to Hong Kong when she was eight. Before coming to Polytechnic University, she taught in a local secondary school. Eve loves reading, especially books about life and philosophy. These days Eve is thinking of studying further to develop herself professionally. She finds her contact with students a very meaningful and delightful experience and that is why she loves teaching.

Finula, from England originally, has been in Hong Kong for 14 years. She has been in Poly U. for 13 years! She has witnessed great changes here, especially the Polytechnic becoming a University. Finula has four children. They lived in Sai Kung for 13 years and have recently moved to Kowloon to experience city life. Her daughter, who was born in Hong Kong, considers it as her home. Finula enjoys reading, playing tennis, and walking in the country parks.

Polly has been at the H.K. Polytechnic University for only a short time but already loves the environment. She thinks that people here are very pleasant and friendly. She worked in an insurance company before coming to Poly U and finds her present job much more interesting. She is the COI of the Study-Centre and works in the office with Ah Wai, Fanny and Stella. She has two sons. She likes reading books, and enjoys music and travelling.

Just in case you are a true bibliophile and have polished off last month's Top Ten List, here are a few more recommendations from Stella. You can borrow any of these titles from the Resource Room. Just bring your ID and a 50 dollar deposit that will be refunded.

It is usually a need for something that doesn't already exist that brings about it's invention.

The answer to the riddle is Pilgrims. The Mayflower was the ship in which the Pilgrim Settlers sailed from Plymouth, England to North America in order to escape religious persecution. They established a colony that they named Plymouth in 1620.

STUDENT FORUM provides writers with an opportunity to voice their ideas and have their writing published. All students are invited to submit essays, stories and poems to Shari or Thomas (ST405d&e).

"Wa...waa...", I hear a baby crying and suddenly I remember an unforgettable incident that happened in my five years old time.

I remember that in that year, one night, my father took me to the hospital. Suddenly, he looked very excited and I felt anxiety at that time. I did not ask him what had happened but I knew that it must be related to my mother. Actually, for a little boy, hospital was a horrible place. When we arrived, a strong "hospital smell" surrounded the hospital atmosphere, and I covered my nose with my thick coat and tried to stop breathing this bad smell.

When we stopped in front of a door, Daddy made me sit down on a long hard bench. The bench was cold, but my hands were even colder than that. We sat there for quite a long time, but during that period of time, no sound came from the corridor, I felt it was dead silent as graveyard.

"Wa...waa...", suddenly, some baby’s crying broke the silence, and my father stood up at the same time. Then, a doctor went out and talked with my father, actually, I did not know what they were talking about, but I found that my father was very happy. My father asked me to go into the room and I found Mummy sleeping with a lovely baby. At that time, my father told me a good news that I had a little sister now.

I was very happy as I often wanted to be a "big" brother, and now, the dream became a fact. I ran to see my sister clearly, and I found that she was really a pretty baby. She had an apple red face with a pair of big eyes. I tried to touch her hands, and found that they were very soft and warm. At that time, I thought that my sister was the most lovely baby.

At the same time, I found nothing but happiness on my parents’ faces, and I felt much more happy too. Actually, this happiness cannot be erased from my mind.

'Father' was always a strange word for me, as my father was a sailor. One day, the doorbell rang, and quite surprisingly, my mother shouted while opening the door. Later a "dark" person with smells like petrol which I hadn't smelled before, entered my room and said, "Hello, my son!" My heart was beating so fast that I couldn't stop it and my tears almost flowed from my eyes. (I had never been so happy before!)

Meanwhile, I could smell some smell from the kitchen then I learned that my mother was preparing dinner for my father, but I had no interest in food as somethings were more attractive than that and they were coins! My father had travelled to many countries and he collected many coins for me as he thought I loved them (Actually, I didn't like to collect coins before he came back). Certainly, he also brought many gifts for me and I felt very happy.

I can't remember what they were, but the feelings when I got the coins and the gifts are still there and every time when I put coins on my hands, the feelings appear in my mind and that is why I like to collect coins now.

James ran back in to the house when he saw the men approaching. He always was a mother's boy.

Saddam Hussein declared that the Gulf War was going to be the mother of all battles.

Like mother, like daughter Daughters usually take after their mothers in behaviour and looks.

Her father would always say "Like mother, like daughter", whenever Julie displayed mannerisms similar to her mum's.

Ben Obi Wan Kenobi said, "May the Force be with you" to Luke Skywalker in the film Star Wars

As the deadlines for your essays and reports approach, don't forget the resources available at the Writing Assistance Programme. The WAP allows writers to develop their skills while receiving individualised attention from a teacher at any stage during the writing process. Appointments can be booked in advance at the main desk.