Christmas Dinner Celebration 2008

Welcome once again BISC blog fans. What a fantastic night the British traditional Christmas Dinner Celebration was on Saturday night. Even the ‘Christmassy’ weather was laid on – cold, crisp and dry. Bristol has not had weather like this in early December for a number of years now. In fact it was so cold that we were running out of coat hanging space – I expect that you noticed this blip in the otherwise extraordinary organisation of Alma Church and BISC teams!

Father Christmas was outside to welcome us all. I would not let him in as it was a black tie event only! Mind you, John’s bow tie wasn’t exact black either, and neither was his dinner jacket. In fact he looked rather more like the head waiter! Otherwise everyone else turned up in smart dress. The lights were dimmed and a selection of Christmas music enhanced the ambience of the evening along with the appropriate Christmas decorations. Noddy Holder’s 1973 pop chart hit is still a hit every Christmas.

The kitchen and waiting staff were brilliant as were the carol singers. Indeed the traditional Christmas carols were beautifully sung, which emotionally moved me. So I sat next to a Danish guest who had never heard the carol ‘Oh Come All Ye Faithful’. Did you notice that John’s jokes were worse than those in the crackers! They must have been cheap crackers as all the jokes were based on ‘The witch and the clean sweep!’ John went for a job once as a Christmas cracker joke writer but failed due to a lack of humour! Later he became an apprenticed tap dancer but was fired as he kept falling into the sink!

Fortunately Hannah, Ann and Xiaomei kept us all in order as we tucked into roast turkey and Brussels sprouts, with cranberry sauce, followed by Christmas pudding and brandy butter, or if you didn’t like Christmas pudding there was fruit salad. Fruit salad was very tasty with brandy butter as one Taiwan guest found out.

The Very Reverend Josh gave the sermon, and very good it was too. His previous experiences of Christmas in New Zealand and Taiwan were good. I remember Christmas dinner on a beach in West Malaysia some 40 year ago, and a beautifully set Chinese Christmas meal in Hong Kong in 1969. One guest from Central Europe informed me that similar Christmas dinners were also a tradition in Hungary, except fish was served rather than turkey.

All in all the BISC team can say that the evening was, once again a resounding success! This was thanks to all the Alma and BISC staff who had prepared the event particularly Hannah Xiaomei and the Alma team. But the success came from you our international student guests who came. Thank you very much for this. You will be delighted to know that on this blog I am not going to give a history half hour rendering; hooray I hear you cry. I did say that yesterday when announcing the quiz answers and my congratulations once again to all those who got the 11 answers right, and to Katherine -the winner who won on a tie break question. The answer was to be found on the BISC front door and notice boards – we close on 19 December 2008 – two days before John’s birthday! By the way has anyone seen my wife? I lost her at the beginning of the dinner last night.

Finally on a personal note, I would like to express my gratitude to all of you who by your friendly and smiling personalities have given me a new life and understanding. I have never been so happy in my life. This is the Christmas I never thought I would see. God gave me a new life and a new meaning to life. I have to see the consultant cardiologist at Southmead Wednesday afternoon. On that note may I leave you with this joke?

“A man came out of the doctor’s clinic crying. His wife said, ‘What’s wrong?’ The man said, ‘The doctor said I have to take one pill a day for the rest of my life. But he only gave me one pill!”

May I wish you one and all wherever you may be over the festive season, a very happy season, and safe travel; and may your God go with you.
The BISC Blogmaster, Mrs. Blogmaster and Oscar the eagle owl and the rest of the BISC team, although not necessarily in that order.

Christmas Card Making - December 2008

Hi, guys, we hold this Christmas Card Making after our popular soup lunch last Wednesday afternoon. BUCU kindly organize this event. Unfortunately, Hannah and I (May) was so busy preparing supper for Alpha Course afterwards that we miss this one. So we have a special guest as our blogger this time__ Joe Bain from BUCU. Here comes Joe's short account of the event:

I (Joe Bain) arrived at 14:55 very excited about making Christmas cards for my friends, I set out the materials we would be using- there was coloured paper, gold and silver card, glitter, coloured felt, coloured pipe cleaners, Christmas cards to cut up and lots of colouring pens! (plus scissors and glue etc).

We got started straight away and much fun was had with the glitter, after using it you would blow the excess glitter onto your neighbours clothes! I got covered in the stuff much to amusement of May! Halfway through the card making an Angel appeared! Well, not quite a real angel, Jenny in a shining white robe and accompanying wings came and gave a short talk about what Christmas celebrates, the birth of Jesus and why he was born. She did a very good job of painting a visual picture of how young Mary would of felt being visited by an angel as we were all a bit in awe of her costume!

After the talk it was back to card making, I managed to make 5 cards I cheekily asked Emily, who was sitting next to me, to write in my cards because I have terrible handwriting! I gave them out that evening and was very pleased with the impression they gave :) Merry Christmas!

PS, May did manage to peek in, taking some photos and taking some nibbles :P However, I have to confess that May does not like Christmas special: Ginger beer and Mince pie

Cardiff Castle and The Big Pit - November 2008

Greeting BISC blog trekkers and associates! What a day and what a trip! Its 11.30 on Sunday morning and I have just got up! Yawn!!! I had a dream last night that I was alone in the Big Pit and there was no light, and that there was a big Welsh dragon coming towards me. When I woke up in a big sweat and I found that I was really in a dark big pit – my bedroom, and Bubbles my Russian Blue cat had just jumped on top of me!!!!! Actually I slept like a baby! Yes I awoke every two hours for a feed! Personally I find that Chinese dragons are extremely friendly and would be willing to be down the Big Pit with one or invite one home with me for tea!

The November day weather wise turned out to be quite nice, particularly as we had to walk some distance to catch up with our coaches, but more on that shortly. The trip into Wales took us over some famous features of geography particularly the River Severn. The Severn is over 200 miles long and its estuary has the second highest tidal mark in the world. We crossed over the second Severn Bridge that opened in 1996. You may have seen the first suspension bridge that was opened in 1966.

Cardiff Castle, yes, it was more of a nineteenth century stately home than a castle. The original Norman castle was the Keep or main tower on a small hillock. This hillock is man-made and was possibly first constructed by the Romans 2000 years ago, who built a wooden watch tower on the top in order to have a commanding view of the docks area. This type of hillock is called a Mott. The Normans built Motts and wooden castles when they occupied England after 1066. They were quick to complete and linked a chain of defences against any opposition that may have occurred. The stone castles took over 100 years to build.

Did you notice the ‘castle’ that the Earls of Bute used as their residence for only 6 weeks every year? Most of this was constructed in the 19th century on the ruins of the original castle. To construct and maintain such a luxurious house was very expensive. Even John’s house is not like this! The Bute family owned a lot of land that had coal reserves, and the profits the family received from coal allowed them to live in such style! The ladies and gentlemen had their own rooms for entertaining; I wonder what the servants living conditions were like? We were not shown these! The walls surrounding the Castle were not the original ones, but had been reconstructed with the Bute’s residence during the 1870s.

Cardiff was a busy place on Saturday. The local University had an open day and there was a Rugby international, where Wales were playing the ‘All Black’s’ from New Zealand. I think the ‘All Black’s’ won! This caused a bit of a problem as we could not pick up our coaches at the usual place. But it was a nice day for a walk! Excellent Welsh fresh air and we were walking away from the crowds. Did you notice John telling you on route that it was only 5 minutes further to go! Xiaomei told you the same thing five minutes (or was it ten minutes?) previously! You must always keep a sense of humour when on BISC trips. Did you notice Lou the driver of the second coach having a friendly chat to a motor cycle police officer whilst she was causing an obstruction at the pickup point? It’s nice to be diplomatic!

What a contrast, the Big Pit. This was an example of how real Welsh working people had to work for a pittance in order to keep the coals owners such as the Earl’s of Bute in their comfortable and extravagant castles. This topic is of interest to John. He completed a thesis on the British coal industry between 1913 and 1947 for a Warwick University Master degree in Business and Industrial History in 1990. If you want any more information including photographs of how the miner’s lived then see John. In the Pit I kept banging my head, thank goodness for the helmet and Xiaomei who came to my rescue on numerous occasions. But many years ago, miners did not wear helmets and had to work either with candles or in the dark. Children as young as 6 years old worked underground to along with their fathers and mothers. Their whole lives evolved around the coal owners, who owned the tools the miners needed for their work, their houses (which were extremely small and cramped). There were no inside toilets running fresh tap water or bathrooms, and the local shop was also owned by the coal owner. It was slavery in all but name!

The next valley to the Big Pit was another coal mine called Senghenydd. An underground explosion there in 1913 killed 439 men and boys. Apparently, the Earl of Bute was more interested in how many of his horses were saved, rather than the lives of his miners! These conditions from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries left a lasting legacy throughout the British coal industry until its wholesale closure during the 1980s. Industrial relations within the coal industry were always bitter.

Perhaps you may have noticed towards the end of our trip to the Big Pit the Davey Lamp invented in 1812 by Sir Humphrey Davey. The Davey lamp can detect methane gas and carbon monoxide through the colour and size of its flame, the flame is guarded so it does not come into contact with the air in the mine, otherwise !!!!BANG!!! and Guy Fawkes Night would have arrived underground early scaring the Welsh dragon! If you want to have a close look at a real Davey Lamp, ask John, he has one which is about 120 years old from the Durham coalfield in the North of England!

The trip home was uneventful, where the answers to the quiz were given. Congratulations Edina who won the quiz on coach no.1. There were 23 nationalities represented on coach one and 18 on coach two. Amazing! So there we are, we of the BISC team hope that you enjoyed your trip and found it rewarding and enriching. Now it’s Sunday afternoon and your Blogmaster has got to go back the ‘Big Pit’ and clean it! I am, of course, talking about my bedroom which looks like a mighty battle has just been fought in it! After that, I think I will go back to bed!
So farewell you beautiful blog trekkers and BISC team until the next event and history lesson when you can catch up on another enthralling episode in the life of BISC and the Blogmaster. In the meantime I am pondering the universal question of the day- I wonder what’s for tea tonight.

The Night of the International Feast and Games - Friday 14th November.

Hi there! BISC Blog followers

This is your BISC Blog master reporting once again on the activities staged at BISC on the night of Friday 14th November 2008. This was the same day as the national 'Children in Need' and the Prince of Wales 60th birthday. The BISC night was even better. It focused on the International feast and games, and what a night it was of food, flags, games and enjoyment, and by the hilarious laughter that echoed through the hallowed halls (that is the lounge, kitchen, toilet areas and the reception hall) of the BISC Centre, the Team can only assume that a good time was had by all!

Even Oscar the International Owl was ready to go! He was observed at 10am in his usual perch, looking cool and eyeing up the University girls walking by with a rat in his claws!

There were about 50 international students present at the function supported by a contingent from Bristol University CU and the BISC Team. The range of food was amazing. Oh! By the way Joe thanks for the English range of chips! Perhaps less salt next time though ok! The range and talent of our international guests is amazing as was evident from the flags that were produced. There were flags representing every part of the Globe and food to match! I didn't notice any Welsh food or flags though. Perhaps they had their own celebration for Prince Charles and his 60th!

The games were outstandingly fiendish and where could you go except to BISC to see all the academic potential from the universe walking around in a crowded BISC lounge with labels on their foreheads. Excuse my ignorance but who is Bart Simpson? Is he related to Tony Blair? However I did notice an attractive Pavarotti, and an over sized Marilyn Munroe. By the way, whatever happened to Bridget Bardot?

The second game of signs was a little too intellectual for John who was relegated to collecting the empties and returning them to the kitchen. Perhaps this is the time to say a big thank you to the unseen heroines of the night Jacqueline and Hannah who spent their time washing up, putting away and cleaning the kitchen whilst the rest of the party went on with the party as it were! Jacqueline had been at BISC for most of the day. Jacqueline is the lovely South African lady who is a real gem! Next time you see Hannah and Jacqueline just say thanks; they will appreciate it.

Finally on a historical note! Before his curiosity was drowned out by the high powered intellectual activity of the signs game, John's sign was twisting his nose with this hand. No that's right John cannot twist his nose without his hand!!! This was a sign used by Victorian criminals serving time in prisons in England over 100 years ago. You were not allowed to speak in prisons, and a silent regime was the order of the day. So to communicate the prisoners used signs to communicate to each other. Twisting the nose was a sign meaning 'have you any tobacco?' The criminal slang for tobacco was 'snout' which means nose. For this piece of information I must thank my old friend from school days way back in the olden days before the Beatles and Rolling Stones had made the big time! Tim worked for the British Prison Service for 30 years as a nursing officer. He too completed a doctorate late in life with the Open University, but his thesis was far more interesting than mine. His thesis was 'The Victorian Underworld and Silent Separate regime: A Study of 19th century British penal policy'. Thanks Tim and thank you all you wonderful beautiful people who come to BISC and revitalize our City and universities and make the BISC team very happy! The next trip on Saturday 22 November is to a castle and a pit. I cannot wait!!

Bridgwater Carnival - November 2008

The greatest attribute about this year’s Bridgwater Carnival was the weather. After a sunny late autumnal day, the evening was fairly mild and dry with a slightly larger than a half moon shining down on the proceedings. Indeed the Bridgwater Carnival is the largest illuminated carnival in Europe and it is claimed that the Carnival procession can be seen from space. I hope therefore if there are little humanoids on the Moon that too enjoyed the spectacle too.

The BISC Team (Hannah, May and John) assembled the majority of international students on Woodland Road outside the entrance to BISC, and the coach duly arrived; the driver was Lee. We picked up students from Zetland Road Junction and UWE, and proceeded on to a crowded motorway. Beyond Weston-super-Mare the M5 motor way was very much clear and we arrived at Bridgwater at approximately 6.00pm. One problem was encountered with the coach was that it did not have a microphone. Therefore this meant some of the on board coach activities had to be abandoned or modified. Don’t forget to post your quiz competition answer in by email!

Once we had arrived in Bridgwater there was a mad rush to McDonald’s either for fries or the toilet or even both. The demand for the toilets, particularly the ladies toilets was particularly high and the queue was longer for these facilities than for the food! McDonald’s should have charged a £1.00 for these facilities!!!

The BISC team carried two identifying badges. These were bamboo branches with leaves that when raised could be seen over the vast crowds, which numbered over 100,000 according to the local news broadcasts on Saturday. Using the bamboo as umbrellas, the BISC team positioned themselves on the Bath Road and for three hours watched the glittering procession pass by. The carnival cart that won the prize was organised by the ‘Gremlins’. The system of bamboo appeared to work as at the end of the procession and arrival back at the coach park all but one of our party arrived back safely, there was a late comer who just made it!!!

The journey back was made on an almost clear motorway and John and Iwona had a great discussion on the history of the event and the place of the monarchy in British culture and politics. Bridgwater is only a small market town yet attracts much history that has shaped the British culture. The Carnival although begun in the late 19th century to commemorate the Gunpowder Plot some two hundred years earlier, commenced during a major agricultural depression which affected the economy of Somerset. So in order to boost up the local economy and the welfare of the local population the commencement of the Bridgwater Carnival revived local fortunes at the time. There is a lesson here for the economic difficulties faced today perhaps. After all without history there is no today and no future!

To conclude a good time was had by all, the weather was kind (given the weather some 24 hours later on Saturday evening), and we got back to Bristol as Friday disappeared into Saturday. For the BISC team this was our first organised trip for this academic year and Hannah, May and John deemed it to have been a resounding success. We hope that you think the same too.

International Reception 2008

And what a wonderful evening it was! The autumn weather was fine and everything was prepared. In fact local volunteers had been working hard at Woodlands Centre for most of the day getting all ready. The night went by with jovial entertainment from Josh and his band, Transition. Do you remember Tony with his Union Flag waistcoat and guitar when he sang a traditional English folksong, ‘My grandfather’s clock’. John will be remembered for his dazzling white jacket and pink carnation, who was, on a number of occasions, mistaken for the head waiter despite there being no waiter service! May looked her beautiful self.

The animal game was amusing, but no-one imitated Oscar, the resident international eagle owl who’s taken up residence at BISC. The capital cities competition was won by Mevna de Silva (Sri Lanka) with 30 answers all correct, and the night proceeded by. All the papers handed in were marked by John. It was an easy task as only three papers were actually handed in. You might have not been aware but Hannah was not feeling well that day, but despite this she put on an excellent performance.
Here are some statistics from the night for your interest. Some 350 international students attended the International Reception representing 55 nationalities, countries or regions. However, there were one or two ‘international’ students from the UK and possibly one from Wales too!

Just to finalise, I certainly enjoyed it and wandering around during the course of the evening I am certain that you also enjoyed the evening. I trust that you made new friends and got into contact with fellow students from your own country. If you are happy then so are we at BISC and we can all say ‘job well-done’.

Globe Cafe - 'A Taste of the UK' evening

I (John) arrived at BISC at 6.45 in the evening to be met by hordes of students and only three cars, and they were little cars! So May and I got things moving and phoned up local churches for more transport to get things moving faster, and by 7.40 all the students (about 80) had been safely transported from BISC to Ebenezer Church (Ebe). John even got his hard pressed wife (Hazel) involved! It was like the Berlin airlift mark 2! Meanwhile, at Ebe, the Globe Cafe team had decked out the church with flags and soft lighting creating a pleasant ambience and atmospshere.
The evening started with the National Anthem of the UK and all of the students stood up! This was followed by video shots from the UKs past, Churchill to Diana Princess of Wales. It’s funny but we were sure we saw John with Churchill in the 1945 clip! Tony with his banjo and guitar serenaded us all before food was served. This was an English delicacy who recipe is known only to a few in the Royal Household and English nobility; ‘bangers and mash’ with peas and carrots. May was taking photographs throughout this event. John was wearing a blue jacket, grey trousers and a culturally correct tie with his BISC badge but was mistaken on numerous occasions for a bus driver! One person though he had escaped from the local psychiatric hospital!!
After ‘bangers and mash’ it was back to the band! To great cheers they even sang one song in Mandarin! After the band had finished a Beatles tape was played, their early music early 1960s and Hazel (John’s wife) and Ann (from BISC) danced the twist!!! After twenty six years of marriage I never knew that Hazel could do this!!! John met a young lady called April from Taiwan and she was standing next to May, so I went looking for June and July! For us at BISC we would like to say on behalf of the students who attended a big thank you to the folks at Ebe who catered for all our needs in entertainment, food and song.
All in all it was an excellent evening, and all the students looked happy and were smiling, and so it was back to the Berlin airlift to get everyone home safely. All-in-all BISC can honestly say ‘Job well-done’ thanks to the folks of Ebe and the wider Christian community of Bristol.

Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony

China hosted the Olympics 2008 at the massive Bird’s Nest Stadium that housed about 91,000 spectators. With millions of people watching around the world, BISC organised an afternoon event to watch the stunning opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games.

Attended by a handful of international students, it was an afternoon of leisure with cheers on the exciting event – with the start of a whopping 20,000 fireworks that was let off during the event in China. The artists involved in the ceremony were impressive. More than 150,000 costumes were in the ceremony.

Homemade apple cake, voluntarily baked by international student Johan, added to the cheers and smiles enjoyed at BISC throughout the ceremony – another wonderful BISC summer event.

Night Glow – International Balloon Fiesta 2008

The annual International Balloon Fiesta held at Ashton Court regularly attracts up to a million people from across the country. This year marks the 30th Anniversary of the fiesta that took place from 7th August to 10th August 08. BISC organised a trip to watch the spectacular opening ceremony on a pleasant Thursday evening.

More than 40 international students met Elvyn and Shanthi in Broadmead and we made our way there together on a bus, which we nearly filled! On arrival at aShton Court we explored the displays and entertainment at the venue, with the opportunity to socialise with each other prior to the commencement of the Night Glow which combines illuminated balloons with music. As if that wasn’t exciting enough the evening ended with a spectacular display of fireworks which lit up the night sky. We all enjoyed the evening out especially those who are soon to leave the UK – this was a good memory to be packed into their suitcases.

INTERNATIONAL FEAST & GAMES - FRIDAY, 30th MAY 2008

This term’s International Feast was attended by some familiar faces as well as new comers. Some students had an early start by cooking their dishes at BISC. More than 10 International students brought in a variety of mouth watering dishes - French Quiches, Chinese Stir Fry Noodles, Chinese Vegetable Salad, Hungarian Goulash, German Sausage and Sauerkraut with potatoes, Brunei Fried Prawn, Vegetable Soup, Japanese Miso Soup, English Quiche as well as the delightful desserts.

After a delightful meal, we played a couple of games which was led by Kevin. Spontaneously addition of games were made and played. A good time was had by all. Leave us a comment on the website!

River Cruise - June 2008

The evening was welcomed with sun shining while a group of about 70 people arriving at 6.00pm. Our journey began along the Prince Street Bridge where we boarded the boat before heading off towards Bath.

After being seated, the evening started with drinks and nibbles being served accompanied with happy chats / getting to know each other on board. This was followed by a welcome speech by Hannah Hedinger who enlightens us as to how the evening would enfold. We had the privilege to have Transition Band on board the cruise performing some songs and music for our enjoyment.

‘Transition’ Rock Band (www.transition.tk) from UK have been touring the UK extensively as well as playing in Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore and Malaysia. Their music is an audacious blend of passion, energy and finely crafted arrangements. The soaring melodies and rich harmonies are fused with the creative backbone of a surging rhythm section.

Dinner included a variety of delights being served, including rice with sausage, a range of pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, quiches, pizza puffs, salads as well as vegetarian and halal options. Dessert was served shortly after, with an irresistible choice of cheese cake, Black forest gateau, apple lattice, chocolate cake.

Following dessert, we were entertained with more music by the very talented band that included a Chinese song! It was a very pleasant evening enjoyed by everyone with laughter if not smiles. We came back to Bristol at 9.30pm docking by the Watershed where we say goodbye to each other. BISC Leavers’ packs were also being given out as some are sadly leaving Bristol.

Our final event for this term will be the Farewell Garden Party at BISC on Wednesday 18th June.

Knitting Afternoon

Cathy Brodie led more than 10 students knitting on a Wednesday afternoon, after soup lunch. Some students were complete beginners while some had some previous experience in knitting. Colourful wool was knitted into handiwork.
Organised by Christian Union, the afternoon was a pleasant session accompanied with cakes and refreshments. While hands are busy with the knitting needle, friendly chats were exchanged.
At the end of the afternoon, some students were tempted for more. Cathy, from Christ Church Clifton, equipped with 30 years of knitting experience, generously let the students take them home to continue their work.
Due to popular demand, there may be another knitting session held the next term. Please check our website for the updates.

Picnic & cycle ride

So, the hottest day of the year so far, someone wakes up and braves the blistering heat to meet up with a selection of people from around the globe to make a journey. To where? What for? One could say to Bath for some cookies and one would not be wrong but that would kind of miss the point. They go for the journey itself. Riding their bikes with the wind in their hair, under the midday sun, chatting to each other about life and other little things. To some it may seem a pointless venture, but to these, it’s what life is all about.

Lake District Holiday - Spring 2008

Eurovision Song Contest - Saturday 24th May

The Eurovision Song Contest 2008 was the 53rd edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, which was hosted by Serbia. The semi-finals were held on 20th May and 22nd May, and the final was held on 24th May 2008 in the capital, Belgrade. Russia was declared the winner, with Jim Beanz and Dima Bilan's song ‘Believe’ performed by Bilan. The Belgrade Arena, venue for the contest, is among the largest indoor arenas in Europe, with a total capacity of more than 20,000 seats. Serbia gained the right to host the Contest after Marija Šerifović won the 2007 Contest in Helsinki, Finland.

With the BISC lounge decorated with flags the backdrop was set to create the atmosphere for viewing the Eurovision in its entirety, which some 30+ of us enjoyed, or should I say endured?! Pizza, ice-cream and popcorn were served while we enjoyed the live entertainment, some acts more than others. Opinion was divided as to who was the best, but Terry Wogan, the BBC commentator, whilst providing much amusing commentary, was of the opinion that the voting these days has become more about politics that musical talent. You can form your own opinion!

BRUNEL TRAIL - SATURDAY 17th MAY 2008

It was a lovely Saturday morning that a group of more than 10 students gathered at 9.20 a.m. by the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Elvyn our guide shared his extensive knowledge on Brunel with insights on a competition that conceptualised the present day bridge. We were also given a glimpse of Brunel’s life.

It was through two design competitions that were held, and the great bridge designer Thomas Telford was the committee's expert. Brunel presented a total of four designs and won the competition. Unfortunately, he only got so far as to put up the end piers in his lifetime. The Clifton Suspension Bridge was completed in his honour by his engineering friends in 1864.

The walk continued to Clifton Village towards the docks. There are plenty of Brunel features around the docks. Brunel himself had a hand in their construction and there are capstans and swing bridges in the Cumberland Basin that can still be seen today. The Great Western Dockyard is commemorated with a plaque above the entrance to the industrial museum on Spike Island.

Our next stop was one of the best features of the day - the ss Great Britain. The world’s first propeller-driven, ocean going iron ship was salvaged from the icy waters around Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands in an operation made possible by the property tycoon Sir Jack Hayward. Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s ship almost ended her days as a rusting hulk but was rescued from decay by a dedicated team of salvage experts who oversaw the process of preparing the ship and sailing her back across the Atlantic to her homeport of Bristol. The ship came back to Bristol exactly 127 years after her launch (back in 1843) and was returned to the same dock where she started her ocean-going life.

We continued on towards Queens Square where Elvyn shared more interesting facts about Brunel before the walk ended at 3.00pm.

The BISC Lake District Holiday 2008

The best way to measure the success of the Lake District Holiday was to experience the warmth of different greetings as friends were reunited to view photos and share stories for the reunion evening. Great friendships had been formed amidst the back- drop of some splendid scenery and some very enjoyable activities.

On our penultimate day, we crossed the lake at Derwent Water and saw a fabulous rainbow. It seemed a symbolic emblem for the trip. A rainbow signifies the presence of both sunshine and rain (we also had snow on the mountain tops). For many a rainbow is also the reminder that God keeps His promises and a symbol of peace. Despite the varied weather patterns the trip involved much laughter and many new experiences.

As we drove around the corner towards the Youth Hostel on the first day, there was a sharp intake of breath. This was the sound of thirty nine world citizens from fourteen different countries, simultaneously amazed by the view: majestic, snowy peaks above the still waters of the lakes, bathed in colourful rays of sunshine. It was enough to make anyone’s heart skip a beat.

Every day the students were treated to a traditional cooked breakfast: sausages, bacon, eggs, toast, cereal, fruit, yoghurt, tea, coffee and orange juice. In the evenings the portions were equally as generous.

The activities ranged from snow ball fights to gentle journeys on steam trains, river cruises and rowing to hill walking and visiting museums and an aquarium . In the evening there were a wonderful sing-songs provided by our very own “Wild Rover” Tony Carey whilst Jo Jo frequently entertained us with her exquisite voice and unusual Chinese songs. As there had not been many extreme sports, Hannah decided that mud sliding was also to be an essential part of the itinerary.

Just like Wordsworth, we hope that as you return to the library and to everyday tasks, you might make time to see a glimpse of the beautiful scenery that we experienced on the trip on your “inward eye” and to remember the smiles of new friendships formed:

For oft, when on my couch I lie,
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

Kite Making Madness - May 2008

Plastic bags and bin bags, string and sweet wrappers, glue, scissors and sellotape. What could be done with such an array of apparently useless, cast off objects?

In the UK there is a popular children’s TV programme called Blue Peter with experts who make amazing objects from recycled materials. Our very own Mr. Kevin Yau was just as skilful as he demonstrated to the BISC students how to make a kite with the famous words
“..and here’s one I made earlier.”

Nobody could have imagined that from such plain and basic objects that such graceful and beautiful vessels could be created, far more vibrant and delicate than the sum of their parts.
Kevin ably demonstrated the step by step approach to making the kites and, amongst an atmosphere of steady concentration and jovial conversation, these simple creations came together in all their aero-dynamic glory.

After a test run in the BISC garden, with sweet wrapper tails flapping in the wind, the kite making troupe headed for Brandon Hill. There was glorious sunshine and a warm breeze that was perfect for the kites to take flight.

The kites came to life in the wind: some twisting and twirling energetically, darting about in an untamed manner, whilst others took to the air easily and soon reached extra-ordinary heights. Elena appeared to have perfected the art and it seemed that the real secret was to whisper to the kite as it took off. Her kite certainly won the award for flying the highest.

The BISC kite was also a success: it had a tail of many different flags and the BISC logo proudly flying high above the city. Whilst there were one or two kites which needed to go “back to the drawing board,”it was a truly unusual event which was touched by something magical. A reminder that in the midst of exam time, and the worries and cares of this world, it is still possible to take childish delight in simple pleasures.

Cambridge Trip in May 2008

In the dreariness of the dawn, international students all over Bristol peeled themselves from their warm pillows. As they met the cool morning air they strayed toward the woodland (road, that is) soon, many found themselves drifting off again against the background of a gentle hum. Their hibernation soon came to an end and they found themselves beside a small field where just beyond lay the gently flowing river Cam. Half of the group went beyond the river to explore further, and the rest stayed to play and relax and punt along the river. On the river, some seemed to prefer movement laterally and in the spectrum of elegance, there was displayed, every degree. Being a lovely and warm spring morning, one even went for a swim!
The other half who had ventured past the river discovered an old and historic, bustling urban settlement. There were three who wore blue badges who led them through the city and spoke of its history, its culture and its fame. Some reputedly saw a certain Stephen Hawking as they wandered about the city. Later on the students all gathered back into the small field before being taken home and back to their warm pillows.

Oxford Trip - March 08

Another day of fine British weather! BISC’s centuria of students invaded Oxford under the command of Shanthi and Kevin. Arriving a little past the hour we soon rendezvoused with our 5 highly informed professional Blue Badge tour guides who took us around and relayed to us the key points and history of the city. Part of the tour was a venture into Brasenose college, one of the colleges of Oxford University, where our guides transfixed our attention onto the history of the quadrangle and chapel. After the briefing was complete, our students were let loose on this poor city, some wandered into the world famous covered market, some climbed Carfax Tower, some saw the Sheldonian Theatre. At 3:30, the elusive Café BISC was opened for business and St Aldates church was soon bustling with students. Our return journey was swift and our minds enlightened by the city of dreaming spires.

Christmas Weekend Away (December 2007)

Apologies for delay report.

From Fire to Ice -BISC experiences a true winter celebration
Despite the icy weather, lips and logs were aflame with food and fire in a weekend which thrilled the senses and gave each person time to relax and escape the heady pace of studies to make time for life and friendship.

The minibus was filled with representatives from a wide variety of exotic and unusual destinations. Students from the larger nations on earth, China and India, some from Pakistan, Malaysia, France, Britain and yet others from Samoa to St Helena .People had literally travelled hundreds of thousands of miles to attend.

The cold December night was off-set by the heat from Shanthi’s extraordinary Malaysian curry. This was the first of many new experiences as the heat from liberal portions of red hot chilli peppers soon set our mouths on fire.

After an introductory talk about the peace that happened during the first world war at Christmas time, the two great cricketing nations of Britain and India battled it out to become world champions of the name game.

Next, the group wrapped up warm to strike out for a night walk with torches and warm coats. The stars were visible and the mud tangible as we strode off across the fields into the night. Thankfully the weather was kind and much laughter and conversation was sparked as a result. On our return there was evidence of those determined to continue the games and conversation late into the night.

An early start on Saturday with prayers followed by breakfast and more stories about Christmas. The weather was terrible. Thick grey clouds and drizzle greeted us that day. However, Kevin prayed to the God who is able to do more than we can ask or imagine and by lunch time the clouds had parted and blue sky appeared.

A fascinating discussion of cultural differences was sparked as students shared their experiences of life in their own country. From the most beautiful place they had ever visited, to cultural expectations with regards to marriage and money, each person listened attentively and learned much. Why is Western attitude to marriage so different to Eastern attitudes? What is it like to live on an island of three thousand people where everyone knows every one and the prison population is just five people?

After sitting down to a traditional BISC soup lunch, the group headed off for further out-door adventures. Ian, our skilful driver, took us to the dramatic Quantock coastal path where he left us to face the elements: crashing waves, bright blue sea and sunshine and gale force winds which left us battling and struggling through the wind. Even three abreast it was difficult to keep our feet on the ground. Amazingly everyone returned safely .

An impromptu stop-over found us in a beautiful local church and Cilla was soon conducting the choir with “Silent Night” and “Ding Dong Merrily.”

The bonfire blazed on our return with thanks to Kevin behind the scenes. At this point, melted pink marshmallows were on the menu along with charades and camp singing.

Later that night, the students discovered a proper Christmas feast prepared, with everything from Christmas crackers to turkey and stuffing, followed by silly games and forfeits. A new Olympic sport was invented: the Tea Tray Challenge, which involved some very elegant moves and dipping, twisting and diving with a newspaper sword, with the aim of removing the opponent’s skilfully balanced tea tray. Ballroom dancing and waitressing were useful skills to have mastered in this international event.

A later breakfast, with a final discussion about the true meaning of Christmas was followed by free time and a very muddy walk before lunch.

On our return home , we had a final blast of fresh air on Brean Down beach in the cold, wintry, light before Christmas carols at Christ Church. A splendid candlelit experience with mulled wine was a fitting way to end such a glorious weekend of friendship and fun.

MEAL WITH A MESSAGE (MARCH 08)

In conjunction with Fairtrade Fortnight, BISC organised an evening with a home cooked meal using Fair-Trade products. More than 20 students attended. Tanushree – an Indian student volunteer skilfully spent the afternoon preparing an authentic Indian chicken curry as well as a vegetarian curry. The fruit juice drinks served on the evening were also Fair Traded.

William Blatherwick, a representative from Christian Aid, gave a presentation on poverty then facilitated a Trade Game which involved making paper bags. Everyone got their hands busy on the ‘production line’ making paper bags for their ‘livelihood’. The completed paper bags were then being traded to the banker. The message for the day was: ‘What it actually takes for people in poverty to live on’.

The evening was concluded with some interesting questions, including ‘how can I help / what can I do?’ as well as purchases on the Fair Trade goods in stock.

BISC actively promote Fair Trade during a nationwide held Fairtrade Fortnight held on 25th Feb to 9th March. As on-going support, all the teas and coffees served at BISC are Fairly traded. Come an enjoy a cuppa next time you are here at BISC.

SLAVE TRADE WALK (MARCH 08)

A lovely afternoon walk at College Green with our usual well experienced guide, Elvyn.

From College Green, we went on to the harbour side, and then on to Arnolfini where we hear about Cabot’s discovery of the North America continent that led to the rise of ‘slavery business’. We crossed over to the river side where Elvyn told us gruesome tales on the condition and treatment of the slaves in the 16th century. People were not only chained worse than animals, but were stamped with hot iron metal to identify their owners. The ironmongers were located a stone throw away at Bedminster.

We were led on to Redcliffe and then on to ‘The Hole in the Wall’ pub. One can easily imagine the tales with the site being showed as such. The actual hole in the wall vividly existed till this day. We walked a few minutes more into Queen Square where the rich merchants used to live before ending the walk in the vicinity. This enlightening and challenging walk concludes our series of walks on the Slave Trade for this term.

FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT

BISC is taking a front line in promoting Fair-trade! The event commenced on 25th February for two weeks and ends on 9th March. In conjunction with the Fairtrade Fortnight, we held a talk / presentation on Wednesday 27th February over soup lunch. The talk highlighted the importance of fair-trading and the impact it brings top the life of the people being affected – the children, the artisan and the community at large: with a focus on India. Matthew Kent, who is a manager of Fair trade crafts chain – Shared Earth, shared through visual presentation on his experience in India, giving a first hand account of the positive influences of fair-trade to the community. The session ended with a quiz on Fairtrade with prizes sponsored by Shared Earth.

This Wednesday 5th March BISC will be holding a Fairtrade Fortnight dinner, serving authentic Indian cuisine, followed by a chocolate game! This is organised in a joint effort with William Blatherwick, a representative of Christian Aid and will look at how we act responsibly to those who grow and produce our food.

We also have opportunity to support Fairtrade – with two sections of items on display, one food section and the other jewellery and crafts with interesting items for sale throughout the two weeks.

Cotswolds Trip (March 08)

A very popular BISC event – and we certainly know why...a trip to the beautiful English countryside! The journey was less than 2 hours away from Bristol. We visited 3 places for the day, starting with Chedworth Roman Villa on our first stop. Arriving just before 11.00am, we explored the place with some people who opted for the visual presentation while the others wandered off on the audio tour assisted by a handy device.

In Bourton-on-water, our second stop, we had time for lunch and to explore the beautiful village. Taking advantage of the lovely weather on the day, some of us lunched by the riverside. Photo taking kept everyone busy with cameras flashing throughout the afternoon.

We proceeded on to our last stop of the day to the quaint village of Broadway. Upon arriving, we were served traditional English cream tea with home made scones accompanied by fresh coffee/tea. The rest of the afternoon was spent exploring the beautiful yellow (Cotswolds) stone with more flashes for the album! At about 5.30pm, we headed back to Bristol. A truly wonderful day out was had by all.

BISC is organising a trip to Oxford on 15th March, while there are still spaces left – hurry, book online or pop into BISC office!!

Globe Cafe Unplugged

The highly anticipated Globe Café Unplugged kicked off with Bristol’s very own rock band Transition. The trio captivated the audience with fresh songs from their brand new album, as well as some of the old classics. Transition did not fail to satisfy with a standing ovation and cries for “more” from the crowd. Always a tough act to follow, the BISC team stood up to the challenge with their renditions of “Lean on Me” and the delightful “Sounds of Freedom” by Jewel. The team, led by Rebecca Bruce, exceeded even their own expectations when every chord was reached, with the onlookers singing along (hoping to drown out the noise most probably). The first session was wonderfully wrapped up with Lilian’s elaborate dancing skills. Without putting a step wrong, Lilian took to the stage like a born natural, much to the crowd’s delight.

Always providing a good service, Globe Café supplied an array of delicious snacks which was consumed within minutes of laying the table. It was a much needed break in preparation for Djoaine Asis’ solo performance. With her dazzling pink wig and her pet mascot as an encouragement, Djoaine sang two meaningful songs on the keyboard. The audience was amazed at Djoaine’s slight “tongue in cheek” performance which could possibly have been the performance of the night! To keep the night alive Emmanuel Mathe offered his expertise by drumming a rather uplifting beat. So good was his performance that his new found fans demanded more! The only way to end such a phenomenal night was to recall Transition to the front stage. Their new song, “the sky”, was so well received that they had to replay it a second time.

Overall, the night was a huge success. A late entry from our very own Kylie & Jason and (Becky & Kevin) and their version of “Especially for You”, entertained students as they departed. The quick departure may have been caused by a further mournful performance by Kevin. Unfortunately the hills were not so alive with the sound of music, dampening future hopes of a job at the west end! The BISC team would like to thank all those who attended and took part in Globe Café Unplugged, especially those who prepared the event at Ebenezer Church.

Written by Carys Davis

Japanese Evening

JAPANESE EVENING - FRIDAY, 15th FEBRUARY

Another popular BISC event!! Back again by popular demand, tickets were sold out well in advance. About 40 students came to another interesting cultural evening.

On arrival, besides the socialising, a range of origami kept us entertained. The menu for the evening included an amazing dish of ramen, carefully prepared and served with Japanese fried chicken bites. We also had opportunity to roll sushi in the kitchen followed by sweet rice balls dessert.

The evening included a presentation and a briefing / talk on Japanese culture and some film clips - which we all enjoyed, especially the Japanese tap dancing that mixed old and new traditions.

A big thank you to the University Japanese Society for another successful and entertaining evening! If you would like to find out more information about the Japanese Society, you may log on to http://www.bris.ac.uk/depts/union/JapSoc/

Coming up….BISC will be hosting Fairtrade Fortnight (25th Feb to 9th Mar). There will be a lunch time talk session on Wednesday, 27th March at 1.00pm by Matthew Kent from ‘Shared Earth’ giving us an insight and a first hand experience on Fair Trading. For further details, please log on to our website - www.bisc.org.uk or pop in to BISC!

Let’s Talk About Love and International Feast

“ You don’t have to wait until Valentines Day to give flowers to your girlfriend who you really love…”

Romance, marriage, money, taxes, who pays? matriarchal societies, patriarchal societies, a marriage proposal after ten days, what’s your definition of love?

The termly international feast took place on Wednesday with world class cookery available to share. There was a delicious and appetising array of different tastes and flavours from around the world: Polish “Bigos,” Indonesian Chinese omelette, delicious home made French quiche Lorraine, Pakistani curried potatoes served with Naan bread and yoghurt, English toad in the hole and Japanese sushi. From chocolate mousse to crepes and bread and butter pudding, all pointed to the universal language of good food, washed down with an interesting diet of discussion and conversation.

Ruth Johnson, a local author led an informal and interesting discussion on the meaning of romantic love. The discussion touched on a variety of different themes and topics from marriage to romance with a valuable contribution from students from varied cultural backgrounds. Many held different opinions about who is expected to pay in a relationship? A student from a very patriarchal Indian society in Mauritius felt that it was important for a woman to be able to pay to demonstrate her independence, whilst in Indonesia in certain matriarchal societies there is an expectation that women will pay. For the Chinese students represented however, there was a more traditional expectation that the man alone should pay.
We discussed marriage and arranged marriages, and even the tax benefits of being married.
In Taiwan there are churches which teach couples to hug and to express their feelings towards each other and there was an assertion that English people are reserved in their affections. Another student pointed out the fact sometimes British people use the word “love” too lightly to describe our feelings towards cars and other objects as well as towards people. Ruth shared her own personal experiences of love and how this related to her Christian beliefs, however there was a very open spirit of listening and sharing with a great deal of respect when opinions differed. The debate continues…

Would you like to win a cream tea? … Tell us in approximately 50 words or less your own definition of love and you could win a free cream tea at BISC…. (closing date 22nd Feb 2008)

Windsor Castle - February 2008

On Saturday the 9th of February, Hannah, Kevin and Elvyn shepherded 102 international students across to Windsor Castle. Being larger than the average group, is was difficult to track everyone and there was a nervous moment when handing out the tickets wherein we were worried some random people might have infiltrated our group and helped themselves to a ticket, but God was watching over us and all was fine. After the ticket distribution, security check, and free audio guide pickup, the mass of students dissolved into the castle leaving a small group of us who waited around for the guided tour of the grounds which was very interesting and entertaining. We quickly discovered that sadly, the Queen was not in residence that day, as indicated by the Union Jack flying above Round Tower (which isn’t actually round!). Inside we gazed in amazement at Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House with fully functioning electricity and plumbing, we absorbed the history of the Royal Weddings exhibition and we marveled at the grandeur of the State Apartments. Although the Queen wasn’t in herself, many of England’s previous monarchs were lying around in St. George’s Chapel, though I suspect they couldn’t appreciate the magnificent Gothic architecture.
A great day out was had by all!

Special Event - Transition Live!!

Hugely popular Bristol based band called 'Transition' who have appeared at many BISC and Globe Cafe events over the last 5 years, and featuring regular BISC volunteer - Josh, are launching their new album on Saturday 23rd February at Elim Centre in Bristol. Full details on their website - http://www.transition.tk/. Buy your tickets now!!
(Also appearing at Globe Cafe Unplugged on Friday 22nd February! See BISC website for details.)

Film Nights at BISC – January 2008

An eclectic range of films, a handful of popcorn, a large projector screen and a room rearranged to create the special atmosphere of a mini-cinema. The BISC film nights have become a little known treasure in the BISC diary and greatly enhanced by the added insight provided by Elvyn Griffith’s extensive knowledge of film history.

The films chosen have been from a variety of different cultures and produced in response to changing historical circumstances. From the more recently produced “The Shawshank Redemption,” exploring themes of hope and fear in terrifying and unjust circumstances, to the moving and controversial film “Life is beautiful” by Roberto Benigni, set in a concentration camp where imagination serves to make life more bearable. The film “Chocolat” was served with real hot chocolate with vanilla and spices. Other films chosen might not naturally be a first choice for a modern audience, for example Orson Well’s classic film noire “The Third Man” set in post-war Vienna.

On the other hand, the films have not always been controversial or educational. To watch and delight in the infectious joy and exquisite art of a Nineteen Fifties Hollywood musical in “American in Paris” has in itself provoked a sense of awe and a surprisingly rich depth of conversation and reflection. Why is such glamour and entertainment less popular for an audience in the twenty first century Western Europe?

So whether you’re there to enjoy the pop corn or to improve your English in a relaxed atmosphere, the BISC film nights look as though they are here to stay.

“It’s better than going to the movies with a bunch of strangers” commented one Polish student. Films and discussion are a great way to build relationships, to really get to know how somebody views the world and what their passions and questions are in life. Future film nights will undoubtedly require exposure to film from other continents. If you could choose three films to provoke discussion and debate, what would you choose?

PANCAKE PARTY

On Tuesday, 5th February BISC was given a sumptuous treat by Ian Knight and his team (from Holy Trinity, Nailsea church) - “We are Crepe”. They just secured a Golden Spatula award for their signature Crepe Deluxe recipe at the Cannes International Pancake and Crepe Fiesta!! Back for the second year at BISC to organise a Pancake Party - the lounge was buzzing with about 50 students. The team prepared a superb mouth watering choice of home made pancake fillings, chicken and mushroom, honeydew English ham with Mendip Hills Cheddar Cheese, and slow roasted Mediterranean gourmet pepper and sun ripened tomato served with hot fried crepe!!

After the main course, Becky (BISC Team) gave us a talk on Pancake’s Easter and Lent with a clip from the movie ‘Chocolat’ that illustrates Lent and at the heart of the message: God’s kindness to mankind. Following the talk, we were treated to a sweet version of the crepes that includes honey lemon, apple cinnamon, marsh mallow or fruit to select from. A very difficult choice to make - they were all equally superb!

Another brilliant event! If you missed this one, be sure to sign up for another cultural evening: International Feast Wednesday on 13th Feb or Japanese Evening on Friday 15th February. For information, BISC sends out updates of events in our weekly mailing list, sent on Mondays. Sign up either online or at BISC!

SCANDINAVIAN EVENING - 30th JANUARY 2008

Organised in conjunction with the Bristol University’s Scandinavian Society, BISC held a Scandinavian evening on Wednesday evening, where around 40 students attended.

It was a very interesting cultural evening; where guests were given an insight into the Scandinavian culture - which was led by Peter Ahlers, society’s president. Peter and co. provided us with a general overview with statistics and facts of Scandinavian countries i.e. Norway, Sweden, Finland and Demark.

We were treated to an interesting variety of dishes, starters including fish, caviar, sausages and lots of Swedish meatballs for the main meal while being entertained with Norwegian folk music. The evening ended with dessert being served, hand made waffles with cream and a choice of jams, following a quiz on Scandinavian. The winner walked away with a tray of Scandinavian goodies, courtesy of the society.

It was a lovely evening of socialising and stretching knowledge on Scandinavia! BISC is also organising a Pancake Party next Tuesday, 5th Feb & Japanese Evening on Friday 15th February - be sure not to miss these exciting evening - book online NOW!

SLAVE TRADE WALK 1 - 16th January 2008

A good number of students participated in the Slave Trade Walk on Wednesday, 16th January led by Elvyn Griffiths. The walk started at Arnolfini where Elvyn explained Bristol’s involvement with the Slave Trade in the 14th Century. He also explained on the origins of Cabot and his involvement in the trade.

The walks highlight what life and living was like at the height of the slave trade in the 16th and 17th century in Bristol. It showed how the culture of slavery had been with Bristol since Saxon times. We visited the places where ships were built, where merchants lived and to Redcliffe caves, whose sand was used in the production of glass and where cargo coming into Bristol was stored. The sand of the cave was also used as ballast on ships going out to Africa. The walk itself started from Cabot statue whose discovery of North American Continent gave the opening of the increase of trade for Bristol.

St Mary Redcliffe Church was also referred to as many slaves’ captains were church wardens. It was the church that rang its bells in civic celebration when news reached Bristol of the defeat of the first bill to attempt to outlaw slavery.

Queen Square was visited, and it was here that a lot of merchants were dealt with - America, West Indies and Africa. And it was also in the square that had America’s first ever consulate established in 1792. The walk ended after visited Kings Street which is an old trading area and most of the buildings were put up by slave merchants including the Theatre Royal.

There are 2 more Slave Trade Walks to be enjoyed coming up in February and March…..why not join us? Our thanks also to Flo for the photos!