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Newsletter


Summer 2002 Update



Contents

1. Summer Programme
2. April Talk: Student Life in Ireland
3. 27th Annual General Meeting
4. Annual Report of the Honorary Secretary for 2001-2002
5. Fun at the Chester
6. Attention! Chinese Languge School
7. Irish Chinese Information Centre
8. Munster Area Members - new web address
9. Reminder -- Subscriptions

1. Summer Programme


Please note that our evening events have been changed to SECOND WEDNESDAYS.

For the Summer Programme, click HERE.   

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2. April Talk: Student Life in Ireland.
by Luning Quyan


Luning Quyan is a Chinese student from Dalian studying Principles of Education at UCD.

She outlined to her audience the different educational stages through which a Chinese child progresses as he/she is growing up. She informed us that education becomes competitive at an early age, and children must obtain good grades to advance to the college of their choice. She explained how there is streaming and specialisation in the later years of school, depending on whatever career the candidate has chosen.

Luning then went on to advise us on the experiences of Chinese students who have come to study here in Ireland. She told us of the large sums of money that students have to find before they leave China: for Agent's Fees, travel, tuition, and subsistence in Ireland.

She informed the house that, in a recent survey that she had been involved in carrying out, over 75% of those surveyed had experienced some form of racism here - racism on the street, at college, at their place of work, at government offices, or at social events.

She said some racism was just name calling, but sometimes involved being shouted at, or, more seriously, being physically attacked - "just because they were different". She also advised the house that courses for non-Irish could have second rate teachers, and that some Chinese students have difficulties in being allowed to attend classes with better tutors.

Everybody attending this talk was amazed at the extent of the problem, and hoped that with stricter discrimination laws that this situation may change.

Luning gave a very informed and informative talk and we thank her for her contribution.

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3. 27th Annual General Meeting




The 27th Annual General Meeting of the Irish-Chinese Cultural Society took place at the Institute of Engineers of Ireland 22 Clyde Road, Ballsbridge Dublin 4, on Wednesday 8th May. The meeting was chaired by our Hon. President, Dr. Da-Wen Sun.

Since there were no more candidates for the committee than the required number of places, all the nominations were approved en bloc.

Position: Nomination Approved
  
President Dr. Da-Wen Sun
Vice-President Prof. David Judge
Hon. Treasurer Denis Mullen
Hon. Secretary Colm Coleman
Hon. Programme Officer     Jane Almqvist
Committee Norman O’Galligan
Committee Jenny Slevin-Williams
Committee Katherine Chan Mullen
Committee Sam Tsang
Committee John Ryan


There were no motions put to the AGM.
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4. Annual Report of the Honorary Secretary for 2001-2002.

We kicked off our Summer programme of 2001 with a visit on the 19th May to the Botanical Gardens in Glasnevin, Dublin as guests of the Director, Donal Synott. The Garden was in magnificent condition and we were advised of plans to open a Chinese area within the Garden, hopefully this Summer.

Youxie at National museum

Our next activity was the arrival of a delegation from (Youxie) The Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries who arrived on the Tuesday May 22nd. We had arranged a full programme of visits to various cultural, educational and scientific venues, They got the opportunity to meet the Lord Mayor and various other heads of faculties, the high point of their visit was the official Dinner hosted by our society for the Chinese delegation on Saturday the 26th May at the Kiliney Court Hotel. Dr Da-Wen Sun presented on behalf of the society to Mr. Wang Jianhou Director General Of the European Department a beautiful Bronze sculpture of an Irish Dancer in traditional dance costume.

Next came our Annual Barbecue on Sunday June 17th, The weather was kind to us and over 80 people had a great day, the New Consul to Ireland, Consul Li Yuanming and some of his colleagues represented the Embassy at this social event.

Toys

The 2001-2002 Lecture programme commenced on the 12th September with a talk by Sally Keaveaney titled Aisling Project & Working with Chinese Orphans.
This talk outlined a visit made by International Orphan Aid Ireland to an orphanage in Changsha Hunan Province to evaluate its needs and upgrade its building also to arrange a medical programme for Orphans to have treatment here in Ireland whilst being fostered by host families.

On the 1st October the society with the help of the Chinese Embassy and Dublin City Libraries hosted a magnificent Photo Exhibition of natural and scenic China at the Central Library ILAC Centre.

Huangshan

On the 10th October Fr. Thomas Murphy of the Columban Fathers gave a most interesting talk on Bridging the Gap: China and the West. He gave a very enlightened view of different ways of looking at the same point his talk generated a great deal of discussion.

On the 10th November Dr Da-Wen Sun gave a talk Growing up in China to our South West members at the SMA Hall Wilton, Cork. This talk by our president was part of a workshop being hosted in Cork. Such was the response to his talk that he is contracted to return to Cork to continue his story.

Dawen in Cork

On the14th November our Vice-President Prof. David Judge hosted A Beginner's Evening of Chinese Traditional Music and Song.
Much thought went into this presentation and a great deal was learnt.

Fergus

On the 12th December We hosted our annual quiz night this is normally one of our fun events of our calendar in the lead up to Christmas. Dr. Fergus Gaines our past president was our usual Quiz master but sadly on the 10th November Fergus died at the age of 62 years, He had been ill since the previous May. We were all deeply saddened by his death and we express now as we did in November our Sympathy to Marie his wife and all his family. Prof David Judge took the chair for our quiz night.

After Christmas we recommenced our programme with a talk on the 9th January, Seamus O’Brien of the Botanical Gardens gave a talk on Botanic Exploration of China. Seamus captivated his audience with his magnificent slide show and his depth of knowledge; it was evident that Seamus had a great love of his job.

Next up was the Annual Chinese New Year Dinner held on Monday 11th February at Wongs Chinese Restaurant Ranelagh. 110 members, guests and friends had a most enjoyable night. A special word of thanks should go to Dr Katherine Chan Mullen MC on the night, who made sure with the help of her Chinese singers Dodo Hou and Oliver Wang that the night was an outstanding success. Thanks also are due to the sub committee Norman O’Galligan, Jane Almqvist and Dr Katherine Chan Mullen Sam Stang who were in charge of putting together the behind the scenes preparation.

On the 13th February Tony & Yanyi Blake gave a talk Along the Silk Road.
This talk was a researched lecture covering the History, Geography, Cultural and Political devolution of the Silk Road. It was a most detailed and structured talk and left the audience with a real feel for the place.


Jiayuguan Fort
Jia-Yu-Guan Fort


On the 13th March Paula Whelan gave a talk on Advanced Feng Shui. Paula spoke about our behavioural characteristics based on a number system. She identified how each person’s behavioural traits are governed by Feng Shui.

Our final talk of this year’s programme was on the 10th April when Luning Quyan gave us a talk on Student Life in Ireland. Luning a postgraduate student studying at UCD told us of the education system in China but moreover she discussed the growing racism suffered by Chinese Students studying and living in Dublin. Our Cead Mile Failte is a little bit tarnished and we need to refocus on our attitude to other cultures.
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5. Fun at the Chester

Sunday 12.05.02 the World famous Chinese artist Chen Zhongsen was in the Chester Beatty Library for a workshop on Landscape paintings. Master Chen is the most unassuming man you could meet. He, through his interpreter, made us all very welcome and brought us all up to the top table to watch him at work, and answered any questions. He started off with the first types of writing before paper was invented; then he went on to show us three more types of calligraphy, till we reached today’s type of script, all done with one brush stroke - truly a master.

ChenZhongsen

Chen Zhongsen demonstrating Chinese calligraphy at the Chester Beatty Library. (photo Michael Doolan)

We then had a go: wetting our paper we put a drop of paint onto the paper and watched as it formed into a work of art? More arty for some than others, but we all had a lot of fun trying. Chen then went around the room helping people and offering advice on what to do.

The children at the workshop were having a ball. Chen had us all up to the top table again, and started to paint Shrimp with one brush stroke. After he did a shoal of them it was our turn. He moved among everybody to help out where he could.

What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon - but even to visit the library on its own is a treat. Chen has given one of his micro-carvings to the library which will be on display there for all to see in the near future .
Michael Doolan.

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6. Attention! Chinese Language School

Attention Parents, Children, & Anyone Wishing to learn Chinese

It is planned to commence Chinese Language School next September and this is an advance notice to gauge the level of interest in this programme. These courses will not be run by the Irish-Chinese Cultural Society but by the newly formed Irish Chinese Information Centre

Course “A”: Parent and Child Language School - primarily directed at Chinese children adopted into Ireland. It is planned to hold the course probably every Saturday afternoon for about 2 hours in a near city centre location. This course will be open to children from 4 years of age in the company of one or both parents and will follow the standard teaching calendar ie. Sept.-Christmas, Jan-Easter, Easter-Summer.

Course “B” Adult Language Classes. It is proposed to hold these classes one night a week commencing in September.

There will be fees for both classes to fund teachers and rental/insurance costs.

If you are interested in either course would you kindly as soon as possible

e-mail me at iccs@oceanfree.net
or
phone the Irish Chinese Information Centre
01-8881086 (Mon, Wed, Fri, 1-4 pm.)


Please state in your contact which course you are interested in, also what time and day is most suitable. This will help in our forward planning.



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7. Irish Chinese Information Centre

This newly-established centre provides information to Chinese people, both newcomers and residents, who have difficulty in English communication. It offers a help line and drop-in centre to assist Chinese people, especially in dealing with with State and Semi-State organizations.

Can you help in this worthwhile work ? Please phone the centre at:

01 8881086,

or call into

“The China Desk” Migrant Information Centre,
3 Beresford Place, Dublin 1 (Mon, Wed, Fri, 1-4 pm).



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8. Munster Area Members - New Web Address


Attention Munster Area Members
There is a new web address for the Irish Chinese Contact Group (formerly Chinese Contact group, Cork Chinese Contact Group):

WEB ADDRESS: http://mcom.cit.ie/iccg

They can be contacted by e-mail:

mlbrennan@cit.ie

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9. Reminder: Subscriptions for 2002.


The Subscription Year for the Society coincides with the Calendar Year, 1st January to 31st December. The Treasurer wishes to remind any members who have not yet paid their subscription for 2002 to do so now.

The annual subscription is €25.00,
with a reduced student rate of €8,
and a lifetime subscription of €250.

As a concession, the first subscription paid by a NEW MEMBER who joins after the AGM in May is effective until the end of the next Subscription Year; i.e. if a first subscription is paid between 9th May 2002 and 31st December 2002, the second subscription is not due until 1st January 2004.

Subscriptions to be sent to:

Denis Mullen, Hon. Treasurer,
130 Mount Merrion Avenue,
Blackrock, Co.Dublin.

Cheques to be made payable to:
"Irish-Chinese Cultural Society".



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This Newsletter is published by the Irish-Chinese Cultural Society.
Views expressed by individual contributors do not represent any official policy of the Irish-Chinese Cultural Society.
We would be delighted to receive articles, photos and stories for our newsletter.
The Editor welcomes all submissions, but cannot absolutely guarantee the return of any photos or documents supplied, and reserves the right to shorten or modify any letter or material submitted.
Please send to Hon. Secretary
Colm Coleman, 3 Pacelli Ave., Sutton, Dublin 13.
E-mail: iccs@oceanfree.net




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