Farewell Barbecue 2007

Many farewells and some unexpected welcomes for the penultimate BISC event of the summer term.

The party had started in the early afternoon, when a team of international barbecue consultants arrived from near and far: representatives from Iran, Finland, Germany, Sheffield, Redland and Weston-Super-Mare were all present and ready to help out.

Students and friends were welcomed to a traditional summer garden party experience. Amazingly, the rain held off but the wind didn’t. A gazebo had been put up and the barbecue was already flaming away as the guests arrived.

Despite the sadness of saying goodbye to so many friends, there were still opportunities to meet new folk: some people from Iran and South Korea had never been to BISC before.

As the weather cooled, the warm atmosphere did not. Guests were invited inside for coffee and desert. The small living room was filled with over 50 people from the four corners of the globe: from Korea, Japan, China, the Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, Kazakhstan, Iran, Mexico Taiwan, India, Sri Lanka and beyond.

Neil Edbrooke, a familiar friend at BISC, encouraged us to reflect on what we had learnt this year and what was important to us in our lives. As students return home and to new chapters in their lives, he spoke of returning to familiar surroundings with new eyes in the light of the love and friendship they had found here in Bristol.

The night ended with some singing. Hannah strummed along on her guitar, a hidden talent that a handful of us had the privilege of sharing accompanied by the BISC Team Harmony Singers. “Good bye sweetheart, well it’s time to go….I hate to leave you but I really must say, well goodnight sweetheart, goodbye.”

O.K ...so it’s not quite the last event of term: Ruth’s leaving party is on Saturday at 4.30pm at Alma church - all are welcome - and the final Jazz Walk of the term will be this Monday 25th June. We hope to see you there and wish you all the best for safe travels home for your next adventures.

Click here for photos.

River Cruise

The BISC River Cruise was an excellent way to celebrate the end of exams with friends, flatmates and work colleagues.

The trip afforded many the opportunity to see a different side of Bristol and her surroundings. From the elegant ships in the docks and sophisticated warehouse conversions, we were soon out in the lush greenery of the waterways towards Bath. Herons were spotted overhead and we were able to breath in the fresh country air.

The band “El Gran Desorden” set the tone for the party atmosphere with their funky, Latino rhythms. Nibbles were nibbled and drinks began to flow.

Food was served in generous supply. Adopting the traditional British queuing system, over seventy students lined the ship, waiting patiently before piling their plates high with salad, sandwiches pasta and rice dishes. In the mean time we were entertained by some Dutch and Russian singing. Amazingly the ship did not capsize at the arrival of the puddings, despite some very eager surges forward to grab the best of the myriad cheesecakes in different flavours: blackcurrant, toffee, lemon and strawberry.

Despite ominous skies, the rain held back until the last twenty minutes when umbrellas were pulled out and there was the opportunity to practice dancing in the rain. (Did you know that the actor Gene Kelly, star of the musical film “Singing in the Rain” was born and raised in Bristol?)
All in all, a fitting celebration to mark the end of exams and for many, the end of their time here at BISC and in Bristol. We wish you all a fond farewell and encourage any new comers to stay in touch.

Click here for photos.

Hispanic Fiesta

BISC has been blessed with a number of South/Central American students this year, particularly from Mexico. The Hispanic Fiesta started with songs and guitar music with a distinctively Mexican flavour. Doris, Seb, Becky & Gabriel sang and entertained, then a delicious feast of tapas was served. Plates were piled high with jamon Serrano (Spanish ham), patatas bravas (spicy potatoes), pimientos rellenado de queso (stuffed sweet red peppers), pisto, and of course tortilla Española. This was followed by some delicious Portuguese puddings, accompanied by some beautiful strumming in the background. We also enjoyed a traditional Mexican game of piñatas; which involves smashing large papier mache objects filled with confetti and sweets. Of course the evening would not have been complete without some dancing and Luis from Mexico helped us to master the Latin rhythms!

Many thanks to Izzy, Carmen, Clemence, Patrick, Seb, Gabriel, Doris and Chloe for all the help we received with coking, singing and piñata making.

Click here to view photos from the Hispanic Fiesta.

Llancaiach Fawr Manor & Forest of Dean.

A small group of us set off for a Manor House in Wales with a name that tested our Welsh pronunciation skills! We arrived in South Wales in the sunshine, having left Bristol in a grey haze, at Llancaiach Fawr Manor where we embarked upon a tour of the Manor House. We were greeted and shown around by the "servants" of the owner, Colonel Prichard and again had to tune our ears to the Welsh accent. We learnt about the traditional customs the everyday life of ordinary people over 350 years ago. We got to see where they ate, slept and socialised. After the tour we traveled on some windy roads back into England to the Forest of Dean. Dean Heritage Centre was our lunch time destination, with a brief look at the museum of the forest and a game of frisbee whilst Elvyn and Hannah prepared lunch on the BBQ. After a late and relaxed lunch, we took at leisurely walk around Soudley ponds enjoying the scenery and sunshine of English countryside before returning to Bristol.
Click here for photos.

Exam Lunches

For 3 weeks, lunch was served daily at BISC to those with, or without exams. A range of meats and cheeses were on offer, along with salad, pasta, bread, cake, crisps and fruit, and of course BISC’s special homemade salad dressing. Each day a range of people would come to lunch at BISC and enjoy relaxing from exams, revision and the stress that it brings. There were many willing volunteers who gave freely of their time and efforts to help prepare the lunch each day, to whom we are very grateful.
Click here for photos.

Slave Trade Walk

With the 200th anniversary of the act in parliament to abolish slavery inEngland, BISC benefited from Elvyn's extensive knowledge for a guided touraround the city. From the Cathedral to St. Mary Redcliffe, the waterfrontand docks area, the Old Vic theatre to the Colston Hall, Elvyn skilfullyguided us with all the relevant facts and figures, names and dates.The tourrevealed some of Bristol's shameful past, built on money from the slavetrade. It also revealed those people who were keen to challenge the tradeand eventually help to bring about abolition.

One cannot underestimate the massive profits which were made from the tradewhich grew up from the times of American colonisation. Much of the wealth ofthe city and the grand buildings are a result of the money from the trade.From the grand warehouses along the docks, housing sugar and tobacco to thewealthy town houses of rich slave-owners in Clifton and other parts of the city.

Our tour took in the Georgian House, where Pinney, a slave owner withplantations in the West Indies had lived. We heard about Hannah Moore, awealthy heiress and highly intelligent and articulate head mistress, who hadset up a school where "Fopp" now stands. She was also a persuasive andpersistent abolitionist. Stopping by the Cathedral we were reminded of howmany of the apparent great and good of the city, with plaques in theirhonour, were also involved in this terrible trade.

We learnt how slaves were carried across the seas in appalling conditions.The journeys lasted 40-50 days and many did not survive along the way. Menand women were split up. Those who spoke the same language were split up.Sickness and disease were rife. And various methods of torture were used forthose who attempted not to conform.

It is important to remember that even to this day slavery continues in adifferent form and in different countries throughout the world. Whilst weare grateful for those who fought to ensure slavery in this form becameillegal 200 years ago, there is still a lot more to be done. Buying FairTrade products is a step in the right direction to ensure that workers todayreceive a fair price for their labour.

Click here for a few photos. Don't miss Elvyn's next walk on 18th June.

Russian Evening

The BISC Russian Evening, run in conjunction with the University of Bristol’s Slavsoc, was a night to remember with music, food, dancing and much laughter!

Between 40 and 50 people arrived and crammed themselves into the BISC centre, and we kicked off the evening watching a beautiful slow Russian dance from Ilona and Sasha. We then sampled some traditional Russian food including salads, black bread, cabbage & mushroom filled rolls (pirozhki) and meatballs. The Slavsoc girls and Katya’s grandmother had done a fantastic job, and also managed to keep the kitchen very calm and clean!

After this, a choir, which Dorinda from the Russian Department had been practicing with, accompanied by Luke on the accordion, sang us some lovely folk songs, and got us all joining in on a chorus. A rather impromptu rendition of the famous “Kalinka” followed, and some of us got up and danced to this – it just goes to show that you don’t need any vodka to have Russian fun!

More drinks, pancakes, biscuits and gingerbread were then the order of the evening, and the jokes and chat continued until people drifted off home to rest their voices.

Don’t miss the Hispanic Fiesta next Wednesday night – book in advance on the BISC website!

Click here for photos from Russian Evening.