Anyone wishing to send in articles which we can place on the website and will form part of our online brochure, please send them to the following email address:
articles@bmx-uk.org.

The days are ticking away, the clock is running down and the countdown has begun to our Grand Reunion in Goa, April 2009. We are now in the final straight and in the process of putting final touches to the time when the St. BMX Association will have the honour of being your hosts at this gathering.

We have decided to go 'digital' to use an oft repeated word in today's technological terminology and so the Brochure we are introducing will be via our website http//www.bmx-uk.org. Thanks to the environmentally 'green' idea from Richard of going online we are embracing this concept wholeheartedly and encourage you to support this trend.

The academic institutions have deep roots in the fabric of Goan history and their impact in our lives can be witnessed in far flung places of our globe. From your articles, we can hope to draw a picture by timeline through the memory lane of years spent there right to the present day. We sincerely hope that contributory articles, photographs, messages, etc. from you will feature prominently on the pages of this edition.

Feel free to draw on your present lives as well, experiences with family and friends and also in your professional field. Some would say you spent the most memorable years of your lives at these institutions. So great was the contact in between institutions that there are some who would even earn 'frequent visitor status'. Anyway enough said, I also look forward to receiving your remininsces of days gone by.

Memoires of a Green Chillie

In retrospect, the days at SMC were such innocent, ignorant, and impossible times! All those ghost stories, friends praise, tin trunks, bokok brinjals, and tri-weekly baths at some God-forsaken well. Peeping out of the window to catch a glimpse of guys, and other similar 'abnormal' behaviour, solicited the stick. The circumstances we shared were unique, the camaraderie ubiquitous.

Photo of Anna and Lumena D'Souza

The playground was certainly more alluring than the study hall, more so since the courts were strategically located, enabling us to keep one eye on the game and one on the road. Perennial hunger, recreations under the starry skies, queues at the loos, regiment of studies, sports, spirituality, bonded us in our joys as well as angst. Attendance at Mass was rewarded with a golden dot against our name, whilst absence earned a black spot. More than 3 black dots would sprout two curly horns. At the end of the month all the 'devils' had to squirm watching the others enjoy their prize of a patty/sandwich/cold drink.

Then there were the eagerly awaited school concerts, involving months of frenzied preparations. One play in particular, "Romanov", rocked. Any event that allowed us a wee bit of freedom offered a great high - little excursions, picnics, movies at El Capitan, whist drive at Brittos, sojourns into Mapusa town, even drill parades on national days at the Praça which provided an opportunity to wear long sleeves, or better still those colourful PT skirts. The 'ice-crut' at 25 paise used to be luscious inspite of hearing that the candy-man had taken a lick off them all! A treat at C. D'Souza was the ultimate in culinary experience. Speculations on the Pensão evinced greater interest than the functions of the Camra.

How naïve we were whilst novel, careless yet carefree, gauche turning gamine.....

So much water has flowed under the bridge since then. We've gained pounds and lost mounds (of hair), increased wealth and decreased health, shed tradition and shared technology. We've raised a generation and passed on the torch. And over history and across geography we've still kept in touch!!!

'Roots' by Lumena D'Souza

The year was Nineteen Sixty Seven
A wide eyed girl stood at the yellow gates of heaven
Missing chums of her previous boarding,
New friends would never give her cause for moaning

The first thing she noticed was the difference in loos
No more stones to give the piggies some boos
The cloistered ones seemed more worldly-wise
And some even talked to the neighbourhood guys

The nightly recreations provided a platform to perform
The Lightning Express had not yet reached the town
After it's rendition some of the girls cried for long
Since then she was never from the train put down

The food and the freedom, was also new
Plurality of doors and windows helped a few
Shedding of puppy fat & exposure to puppy love on cue.

Being a square peg in a round hole was not easy
A double promotion made things queasy
Hindi was Greek, and maths made one sick
Throwball and tennicoit were a passion
And skirts four inches below knees was the fashion!!

Birthdays were a thrill
With the fuss and the frill
Brand new dresses and confetti on hair
Turned the day into a special affair

Broad bands and thin waists
History and geography done in a haste
Triweekly baths at some remote well
Bimonthly visits of the dhobi made us look swell

Coconut oil and Ponds cream
For sheen on hair and glow on skin
Fast friends and ephemeral enemies
Scrounging for grub and saving of pennies

Tin trunks and biscuit tins
Ice fruit and zoom drinks
Sea shells and key chains, trinkets and rings
These were some of my favourite things

The lady now stands with her offsprings on shore
As the sea beckons them to horizons galore
The roots have grown branches on the family tree
It's hard to let go but right to set free
Just like it was at St. Mary's

St. Xavier's...yes; the very name recalls many tender memories of the past. Almost all those who have passed out of the college, fondly cherish their college days as these are the golden moments of our lives where there is lots of fun. Here are a few of my reminiscences of my dearly beloved St. Xavier's College which are fresh to date as these memories are all about loving college days.

Some teachers come and go but every so often one comes along that you'll always remember. One who makes learning an adventure...and who can still remember what it's like to be young and growing up...The kind who can make you want to be the very best you can be... Someone you can really talk to, who really cares what happens to you...Here are some of those teachers who have left an impression on my mind...

Somehow, I feel that lecturers in colleges are not as close to students as teachers in school are. Most of them didn't even know our names. Maybe this has to do with them teaching so many students. It would be unfair of us to expect them to remember our names. That could be one reason why school teachers are closer to students than professors. Professors also often find it difficult to connect to teenage students and are on a completely different wavelength. In school we have to follow many rules, but that is not so in college. In school we obey certain teachers, and they become our confidantes. But college is a free-wheel institution for teenagers, where they taste unlimited freedom for the first time in their student life. Perhaps, that is what professors need to understand - they need to tread cautiously and be more lenient.

As I look back on my years at St. Xavier's College, I think of the key people who I feel influenced me, with the motivation to value intellectual thought, and people who assisted me on a personal level, people who liked me and valued me as a person. Perhaps the person I think of first is our most beloved Vice-Pop, who was instrumental in forcing me to take Portuguese. With much repugnance, I was forced to take Portuguese, and I thank him today for encouraging me to do so. We were only about 6 students and with the stern teaching methods, there was no way we could play any tricks in the class. Though he was friendly and cooperative in the class, I used to fear him as many a time he used to catch me bunking, but never did he say anything to me, on the contrary, he would be very kind in the class and go out of his way to prepare us for our exams. I still remember the class where we used to have the Portuguese classes, it was on the ground floor and there used to be lots of distraction outside the window (boys and girls chatting)...but no way could we even glance out for a second, once he happened to catch me looking out... the Vice-Pop came to me with such a sweet smile, that I thought for a moment that he was coming to say something nice to me....but he came and drew the curtain so that I wouldn't get to look out. The best thing in Vice-Pop was whatever he did, he did astutely, although sometimes he did hurt our feelings, but if we were to look back now, we would see that he had good reasons to do so, as he did it only to enhance our character. He was a disciplinarian, no doubt about it..but sometimes he would go over board. One day we thought about mass bunking as a new movie was on show; as I, along with another 6 girls, were coming down the stairs, we suddenly heard the footsteps of Vice-Pop coming up the staircase....we were so nervous that we all ran into the toilet, as that was the only place we could escape to. He smelled us rightly...and he stayed out at the door of the toilet for nearly 20 long minutes..while we were wondering how to escape from him. Can you believe, that he waited till we all came out to give us a lecture for bunking?; when finally he came to me he said that he never expected his student (meaning Portuguese student) to bunk classes when exams were nearing. That was the end..I never bunked classes ever again for the simple reason that if I was caught again I would not be able to bear the same humiliation again from him. I give full credit to Vice-Pop, as finally I achieved the highest marks in Portuguese to the dismay of my family!!!!!!

Then comes Prof. Arthur Gomes... a very stylish professor who had a very good diction, and a good command over the subject, he made it easy to understand and was approachable. He taught me Economics. He was the best professor any student could ask for as he knew his subject well and made learning easy for us. To many of us Prof. Gomes was a friend and guide, and the way he explained the subject, made it interesting to study. He would get an idea across to us and I would rate him to be one of the best teachers. He was young and handsome...then in 76-78, he was highly appreciated and liked by all and of course he was my fav. teacher. He had a typical way of getting things across to us..like one day he said "India is Pregnant with population" and this got us so hysterical that he had to dismiss the class, hehehehe. Actually, he was trying to prove the point that India is over-populated, but we were a bunch of giddy-headed girls and boys and this sentence sparked the silly laugh!!!!!!!

Next we had Prof. Vasco Pinho as our Economics teacher, and he too was excellent though he had a Portuguese accent, and I just loved hearing him talk as some words were totally Portuguese. He had the ability to make the dullest subject interesting. I admired him. It helps if the teacher has a good sense of humor and is polite with students..and according to me, these two were exactly the ones who had traits of good teachers.

Then we had Prof. Ruth, our psychology teacher, she was understanding and sympathetic towards us. Though we were a burden by her notes, she made the subject interesting in her own way.

Miss Ann was our English professor, she was too good. She appeared strict no doubt however she had the knack of making lessons fun and would throw in trivia for added measure. That made her classes fun. She was easy to talk to. She let us speak our mind and share anything new that we had learnt. This encouraged us to learn more than just what was in the curriculum. And that is what a teacher should do.

Bunking classes to watch the first day of a show is so adventurous, and once in a while we used to do it. College is a place which grants a youngster freedom with responsibility. You are ready to take on the challenges of life, it's a time to remember, moment to cherish, so all you college-going folks enjoy each passing second and gear up to face the hot sun and the cold wind with the same spirit, in the years to come. We had our share of fun and I would advise those who are there now in college..to have a decent camaraderie. Campus is a place where you are in touch with the latest fads, what's in, what's hot and keep yourself updated. But bunking classes at times, enjoying tea with friends along with the fear of being caught unawares by the teacher, will be the most unforgettable memories for us in the years to come. At Xavier's we would say that besides other activities, imparting high-quality education was the motto of our college and we were fortunate to have some of the best staff guiding us.

The Annual Day on the 3rd December was one of the most remarkable days for us, as on this day we made new friends. Some of us learnt the first steps of dancing while some others showed off their dancing talents. Also the College Fete was great fun and this allowed us to mingle with one another. These were some of the joyous days when we were away from the stern look of Vice-Pop, though he was around most of the time.

Finally, how can I forget our age-old college bus that took me up the hill without any hassle? The college bus plied from the bus stand to the college campus for the benefit of the students and staff, with very nominal charges..I still remember the card-punching method. Even today when I see the bus which is sometimes parked in front of my place, I get those memories as to how I had my seat reserved by passing my bag through the window. In our days, the boys were more gentle and would give us the preference to enter the bus first. I still meet Mohan the conductor who was the conductor during my time; he still works and is the same - ever-smiling. This bus used to take us for the games to Vasco, Farmagudi etc. it was a picnic for us, and even though we were all crammed in the bus, there were no complaints. It made our trips by the fav. college bus a treat to remember.

Well, these are a few of my recollections from 28 years back, that I have shared as college days have left unforgettable and memorable memories in my mind.

ARLETTE AZAVEDO.
CLASS '78
ST. XAVIER'S COLLEGE

Ex-students from St. Brittos, St. Mary's and St. Xavier's in the Holy Land

The group posed in front of a statue of St. Jerome in the Holy Land. Mapusa Church is called St. Jerome. He was the foremost biblical scholar of the ancient Church. His translation of the Bible, along with his commentaries and homilies on the biblical books, have made him a major intellectual force in the Western Church. Amongst the photos you will see a scene of three faiths in prominence ie. the Wailing Wall (Judaism, the Golden Mosque (Islam) and the Tomb of the Holy Sepulchre (Christianity). Rooted in Goa, we too have three prominent faiths, Hinduism, Islam and Christianity. When we crossed the ferry on the Sea of Galilee we were told by the ferry operators that they knew of Goa and I felt a likeness to a ferry crossing in Panjim. How wonderful when at the Pater-Noster Church we found the prayer of 'Our Father' in Konkanim (Roman and Hindi script). We were blessed to hear Mass in the tomb of the Holy Sepulchre where a peace rosary from Medjugorje and the beatification prayer for Fr. Agnelo was offered to the Franciscan monk; & Fr. Agnelo's sachet of mud as well as a pebble from Medjugorje, was placed at the Holy-Sepulchre tomb. We visited the Holy Land during the novena for Fr. Agnelo; and Rommel Coutinho and I prayed the beatification prayer daily. The photos herewith have a special relation to our beloved homeland. It brought us great pleasure to watch on television a researcher on Christianity that we met during our trip to Jerusalem. He appeared on our screens last Easter and also at Christmas. The trip was spectacular and so special.
By Jennifer Fernandes

"Greetings from Green Chillies to all meeting at the Reunion."

Santa Monica Resort (Shyam D'Souza) and Estate Agents
http://www.souzagoa.com
http://www.resortsantamonica.com

Osborne Resort (Joe Da Silva)
http://www.osborneresort.com

Ronil Royale Hotel (Cipriano Barretto)

http://www.ronilroyalegoa.com

Palmarinha Resort


Greetings to BMX-UK on the occasion of the BMX Reunion 2009 in Goa.
www.palmarinharesort.com

Earsfield Travel
318 Earlsfield Road,
London,
SW18 3EJ.
Tel. 020 8874 8329/2642

Wilson Soares

"Hello Everyone,

First of all I like to introduce myself as Wilson Soares, originally from Ponda Goa but settled in Oil Rich Calgary-Alberta. I studied at the Xavier's College in Mapusa and from there moved to Kuwait. Worked in the Airline Industry for 14 years and finally settled in Canada as a REALTOR.

If anyone is planning to move to Canada, buying a home is one of the largest financial transaction that most people ever make. Because the process can be lengthy and sometimes confusing, I want you to know that I am here to help you through every step of the way. My GOAL is to educate you on the requirements, make your home buying process easy and enjoyable and find you the Home of Your Dreams.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me anytime either by email or phone.

WILSON SOARES

CIR - REALTY

RES: 403-241-8951

CELL: 403-863-4869

EMAIL: wilsonsoares@yahoo.com

WEBSITE: http://www.wilsongsoares.com"