I have a question... I keep a trunk of old things...a Mao button, notes we passed during 9th grade English class, movie tickets, a "commie" bag, a 1-cent coin that was crushed by the trolley in Central ... oh wait, that would be illegal. No of course I don't really have one of those. But I do have the locker numbers and combinations for about a dozen of my friends in 10th grade.
Anyway, I recently read that saving things is a pretty common characteristic of "third culture kids" (which is what we all are). I was wondering if any of you also have collections...and what you saved. Please write back to the dragontrain and let us all know. If you saved a lot of stuff, just make a list. It'll be interesting to see what junk is still out there.
***************************************
From:
L.Gail GOULD Storey ‘71
one of the things that are "leftovers" that I have is the metal taxi cab plate that was on the back of the drivers
seat in a taxi
Gary ANDERSON ‘73
I kept my year book which my son's love going through for humorous entertainment. That's about it. We live by my
mother's admonition - "if in doubt, throw it out". Handy advice for a family who's moved 21 times in 24 years of
marriage.
Jonathan SLATON ‘72
I have more stuff than I CAN list. Actually,, I am finally getting up the nerve to throw half of it away....
Melissa PRESTON Sansing ‘75 As soon as you throw any of it away, it will become a collector item worth $$$.
Mark SHOSTROM ‘74
I still have: Mao's Little Red Book (in Chinese of course), my Muther's Club membership card, a Prom ticket dated
5/25/74 (a big HK$20), a President Theatre ticket from the night Bruce Lee died & a Rod Stewart ticket stub from
HK Football Club, 2/12/74. But where did all my Mao badges go?!?!
Melissa PRESTON Sansing ‘75
I still have newspaper clippings of our school "Streakers" running naked at the Star Ferry dock....and dozens of
pictures of people I would love to see........Hi Mark!
And I was at that Rod Stewart concert in Happy Valley too!
Debbie SMILEY Pulley ‘72
I not only still have that,(Mao’s Little Red Book) but I also have the other "Little Red Book" which was the 1968
HKIS Student Handbook called "Quotations from Chairman Mike. “The second page says, "Students of all Countries
Unite!"
Without pulling out my HK box or doing any major brain stressing, here is what I know I have right now: Mao Poster (with bug juice on the eyes so it glows in the dark) PacPai (taxi?) sign (don't ask) HK ID card Hilton & Mandarin credit cards Ashtray from the Hilton Jade rings ($1HK each) Cotillion dance cards (I finally ditched the white gloves) Incense burners Wimpey's ketchup dispenser (a tomato) Operation Santa Claus banner (Fund raiser at the Star Ferry terminal) Several newspaper articles (remember when we threw the swimming coach in the pool? Oh my, what a scandal!)
I also still have almost every note that was written in class, and I don't mean class notes :-) Now those are what really bring back the memories!
I also kept a diary while I lived in HK. The notes are incredibly interesting, especially during the summer when we
were traveling. (picked at random)"Went swimming at Sheko today, then took the helicopter to KaiTak. Went to
Manila."
"New Delhi today. It's hot! Going to Agra tomorrow."
"Parents made me go to Taj Mahal. Told them I was sick. Proved it when I threw up at the entrance!"
"Cairo today ... rode camels, saw pyramids"
"Beirut today.. nothing special"
And those were the longer entries! My kids can't believe I didn't write more. How does one explain that the travels
seemed so normal and like a regular day?
Bud SKENNION ‘74
I have HK jockey club racing forms, American Club badges, prom pictures from 73 with me and Cindy Alexander,
Patrick (Gould) and Mark (Leonard). Does anybody need to check their racing tickets to see who won from 71' to
73'?
Ike EICHELBERGER ‘78
Hi Everyone;
Again like some of you, off the top of my head, I know I have a stack of 1 cent bills, a few tens both HK Shanghai
& Chartered Bank, plenty of coins, a collection of San Miguel beer bottles, a few San Mig ashtrays, just broke my S
Mig. mirror in the last move, a Learner Driver sign, the patch off my HKIS blazer (didn't want the rest of it) I had
my HKIS gym shorts through 3rd year of college before they fell apart.
I’m sure there's tons more stuff around my house, I still have a few paintings & pictures on the walls showing scenes of HK. But, I am curious to see if anyone out there took a bus stop sign?? I know where there is a 6 & 6A bus stop sign in Peoria Illinois. (yes the big red metal ones, and the full sign with post) How's that for a souvenir??!!!
Dave KOHL Faculty
Hi Everyone...Ike Eichelberger - is that John? - I have a cast iron Hong Kong Motor Bus stop sign, red with white
characters....liberated from the stop by the Repulse bay hotel....it was part of the art room still lifes in the mid
and late l970s. I also have street signs from Beach Road, Durham Road, and a Hong Kong electric warning sign.
Anybody who wants to write me
(Dave Kohl, art teacher '73-'80) my address is kohld@nclack.k12.or.us.........in
Portland Oregon.
Dave MEYER Faculty (Physics “Mastah”) ‘74-82
Gee, Dave, I thought I was the only one who got away with a Bus Stop sign. Mine was actually lifted by another
faculty member who didn't want to pay for shipping when he moved back to the States to attend Concordia
Seminary--Gotta love them preachers! I also have one of the kerosene construction lanterns used to mark street
repairs and piles of sand, brick and mud. Also have an opium pipe (unused) brought to me from Southeast Asia by
Denise Trepanier; a Chinese Brush painting marking the Year of the Horse done for me by Bill Driscoll and a fish
barrel that I use to store garden hose!
Melissa PRESTON Sansing ‘75
Ne Ho Mah!
(my spelling...)Alright, as long as we're all coming clean...I have the British flag that flewover the school for the
year I was there. And in excellent condition I might add... are we all under arrest? The flag person was late one
day near the end of the year and since I was such a rotten child anyway, I ceremoniously lowered the Union Jack,
folded it with reverence and pride and stuck it under my uniform jacket and hailed a pak-pai driver and headed
home..... my bad....
Did we all keep the patch off our "lovely" uniforms? I did... and cash and coins and if I started
opening up old boxes, who knows what else would surface... I do have some great pictures of everybody and
everything, including me pulling some old Chinese rickshaw in HIS rickshaw.
P.S. Hi Mr. Kohl...Your class was the only one I didn't skip on a regular basis, I think it's because, besides being a
totally cool art teacher, you were sooo cute! (see page 282 of the 1974 Orientale) And now we're almost
neighbors!
Mark SHOSTROM ‘74
Wow -- it's starting to sound like a bulletin board for HKIS kleptomaniacs!
I also have one of those kerosene road
construction lamps with "danger" in Chinese on it. My real prize though is a Star Ferry sailor cap which I nabbed
from an English ferry worker just as the gate went up. I remember him yelling for his cap and luckily never saw
him again. Inscribed inside the cap is "A.P. Harrison." I hope A.P.'s head hasn't been cold all these years.
Brad SANDLER ‘75
I would like to return a hello to Sue Israel, and ask her to pass on regards to Shari Laubach, Lynne Kirk, Lydia
Nelson and Laurie Taylor. It is a treat to hear how well you are doing, I haven't saved much from 25 years ago, but
my parents still have a copy of the Hong Kong Standard the day the streaking incident hit the front page. I have
asked them to NOT show it to their grandchild...
Cathy SMITH Caviness ‘75
Hi Brad!
I don't really know the rest of you that have written in the last few days(which is how long I've been on this thing).
But hello anyway. The only thing I have with 'San Miguel' on it is my 10th grade year book which has an
advertisement in it. I can't help wondering how many US schools would have allowed a beer company to be a year
book sponsor! (I mean outside of Milwaukee).
I have to say that my first response to all your 'treasures' was not so positive. Then I began to wonder if there is a difference between those who came to Hong Kong for a few years during high school (and what is a 3rd culture kid anyway?), and those of us who spent most of our childhood’s in Hong Kong. Hong Kong isn't a great place with cool memories for me, it is my childhood hometown. One experience isn't better or worse, but I suspect there is a difference.
At first I felt as if those souvenirs you mentioned were treasures that had been vandalized from my home. Then I realized that there are American kids everywhere who take street signs from their hometowns. On second thought, I suspect that I am jealous that I didn't know what to keep. I had Mao books waved in my face every October 1st in my life. I remember hearing the kids chanting the words from 'the communist school'. You could hear them a block away. But it never occurred to me that those little red books were a part of history.
Number 7 buses hold wonderful memories for me, but when I was in HK, they were just a means of transportation ... certainly not something out of the ordinary. I didn't even keep a ticket (much less an entire signpost). Does anyone remember the rhyme we used to say based on the number of thet icket? I know #3 was a kiss from whomever you gave the ticket.
I *do* have some souvenir type things (I have a green and red, inflatable Lop Sop Cheung) but my 'treasures' are
memories of people and places and situations. I don't live in the past and am very happy with my present, but
hearing from you guys has stirred up a lot of good memories for me.
Thanks for sharing. I'd be interested in hearing
from some HK long termers about what they saved .... maybe I'm the only one who was too naive too take things.
Judi PORTER Rower ‘75
I think whether you saved things or not really depends on how much you moved. When "home" changes every two
years, you kind of want to take some of it with you.
I remember that rhyme for the tickets. Here it is
One for sorrow
Two for joy
Three for a kiss
Four for a boy
Five for silver
Six for gold
Seven's a secret never told
Eight for a letter from over the sea
Nine for a lover as true as can be
(I saved all my "9" tickets)
I'm really surprised at the size of the things that were saved...A bus stop sign? Good grief! What do you do with something like that? I have my corsage from the prom in 73, and the issue of the Stars and Stripes that had the protocol for the release of POW's from Vietnam. (Of course I have my POW bracelet too, and just wrote again to the guy who's name is on it last week!)
I also have a "no spitting" sign in Chinese.
Melissa PRESTON Sansing ‘75
Hey Brad...perhaps I could send them my copies... Thanks for the memories! Missy
Hello Cathy,
I was in Hong Kong for one year. I was in the Philippines for one year. I was in Virginia for 1 year. I was on Guam
for 2 years...that would almost make that my "hometown", eh? I lived most of my life (I'm 42 in my 40th "home",
hoping for only 2 more moves before I am allowed to plant roots) in places for 1 year. I think we took the things
we did as a way of keeping a piece of each place to keep the memories alive and get some sense of permanence in
an ever changing world. I don't think the majority of us live in the past, we just had such a terrific time and made
such wonderful acquaintances, some life long, that in the busy bustle of some of our lives, something as simple as
a ticket or a newspaper clipping can bring forth a flood of memories that can easily be forgotten without that bit
of memory stimulant. I married (and am still with) my Senior Prom date, so I can't help but keep the past in the
present.
My husband used to ask me why I took so many pictures of everything and everybody. Now that we're older he is so happy I did because you can pull one out one photo and realize you had forgotten that day, person, place, etc. and without things like photos, or whatever you have to hold the memory as your mind ages, you will lose those times.
I hope you made happy times for yourself, being so fortunate as to be able to "grow up" in one place. Some of us have no "hometown". When asked where I'm from, I reply "originally or recently?". I think we are all a product of our past and mine was a mixture of every emotion, and it's all those thoughts and emotions that continue to make me who I am today. I never want to forget a second, good or bad. And those of you that know or remember me, know I had more than my share on the bad end... oh well, it's all good now!
I bet if you looked, there is something somewhere that you have tucked away, something just for you and you alone that would make you smile just by finding it and holding it in your hand...then again, maybe you don't.
I am happy to say I have a treasure of such things after being hauled around this big planet my whole life, and as worthless as they would seem to others, I hold them dear to my heart. Even the "purloined" items...and isn't it funny it was the teachers who started confessing to all the 5 finger discounts?!! HA! Our role models were human!! What a revelation!!! ;-)
You and I share the same page in the 1974 yearbook and yet I feel like we were indifferent countries. You mentioned the San Miguel ad in the back of the book, but do you remember that we went on a field trip TO THE BREWERY? And they gave mugs of beer to anyone who wanted one. Why not? The bars right up to the Eagle's Nest at the Hilton served us hard liquor nightly, why not a beer or 5? Their logic, not mine!Talk about a bunch of drunks by the end of the day!
I don't drink beer (only because it tastes like ****) but I had a blast on the trip, and they left 6 of us behind out near the new territories at some Chinese Garden we stopped at on the way back, as we didn't get on the bus when they yelled for us. We had to hitch-hike back on the back of a big diesel truck, hauling rolls of carpet. We rode on top of the carpet, close to falling off half the time, going at least 60 mph and the school didn't give it a second thought.
Without the discarded, stuck together snuff bottles given to me by one of the workers at a snuff bottle factory we also toured that day, I would have a hard time remembering that excitement in my later years. And I think it's okay to escape to the past, it keeps us from repeating it for the most part.
Of all the places I lived, Hong Kong was the most non-stop exciting, day and night...especially the night. My memories as a 16 year old include a dear old pimp named "papasan" from Wan Chi, who was kind to his "girls" and to those of us who went to the Go-Down just to dance the night away. A Pac-Pai driver from India, we called "Sam" due to an unpronounceable name he had, who gave us rides whether we had money or not, just to learn better English on the way to where we wanted to go. Soap Opera actress Susan Sullivan even came to out flat for lunch one day after striking up conversation at the American Club (which I have my ID card to...)
But I also remembered being cornered by 7 or 8 large sewer rats in an alley in Happy Valley after a short cut late one night, so Hong Kong had the best and worst of everything...(do the words "China White" ring a bell for any of you?...) and deserves a special place in my minds eye.
Short of falling victim to Altzheimers’ disease in my later years, these memories will be kept alive and shared with anyone interested in revisiting, not reliving, our "colorful" shall we say, past.
Keep those Klepto memories coming everyone, we are having the best time “remembering"!!! Much warm Aloha to you all.
Melissa PRESTON Sansing ‘75
Hello Tim!
Do you remember the lazy days you, me and Gregg spent laying on your trampoline, talking and talking as we
watched the planes fly so low over your yard from Kai Tak that you could almost touch them? I remember your
smiles most of all. And your friendship. Which is what made Hong Kong, and every other temporary "home town"
we all had so very special...the people, not the place.
I also spotted a HKIS jacket, in Seattle, and had to run down the street and say "Hey! I'm one of you...", he was a teacher and was so pleased I had stopped him! Where are you guys? HOW are you guys??? I have gotten emails from so many wonderful friends in the last few days, I am overwhelmed at being remembered so fondly by so many people who have, to this day remained in my heart... Fill me in! I can't wait!
Deborah SMITH ‘80
Ha ha! I'd forgotten the rhyme! Thanks for the memory!
I think in my case, whether I saved things or not depended on the amount of space I had in which to save it. When
I went off to college, I had to put my whole life into two 5'x2'x1' trunks, so I couldn't take a lot of stuff ... but I
tried! And although I could store most of my "collection" in my grandmother's attic when I was in college, since I
started having to lug everything around with me, the collection has gotten smaller and smaller with each move
(and I've moved A LOT!). But, I did save a lot of small items (e.g. movie stubs ("Jaws" at the Ocean Theatre),
metro farecards, bus tickets, 1 cent bills, programs from high school plays, etc.) in the scrapbook I started in
college.
I used to have a Chinese flag with Tennessee bullet holes in it ... For three years in college (Vanderbilt), I used my Chinese flag as a curtain ... then one night a couple of the local Nashvillians took offense and SHOT the flag in my window! Luckily, the only things damaged were the flag and my peace of mind, such as it was...(I moved, and never used the flag as a curtain again! duh!)
Other than that, I still have all my yearbooks, my notebook from American History (most notable for the VERY different styles of artwork (gothic and cartoon) drawn on the outside 2" of the pages by Antony Anderson and Dan Reid,both class of '80), and a painting I did in Mr. Kohl's Basic Art class my Jr. year -- and Mr. Kohl, I still have the coffee cake recipe for which you gave me extra credit A's on double-period days! :-D
Since my parents continued to live in HK, I do have some other items from HK (e.g. Chinese dishes and artwork),
but I think the best things I've kept are the pictures and memories of all the people and places that made Hong
Kong my home.
Nahhhhh, the dadi shorts are my favorites!
(hee hee)BTW: Has anyone else noticed that the San
Mig you get in the States tastes completely wrong?
Eric ALLEN ‘76
I spent nearly all my youth overseas as well as some of my adulthood. Nowhere ever struck as deep a chord as HK.
I returned a number of times, usually in transit elsewhere, and always an exquisite excitement developed in my
solar plexus when the plane doors opened and an assault of the ‘Fragrant Harbour' air filled my nostrils. You know
that smell. A potpourri of everything from diesel exhaust to boiling tripe, fish and sweat, garlic and Double
Happiness cigarettes.
Occasionally, here where I live on the coast, the Atlantic will blow up a humid gust that tickles that special
sensory area nurtured in H-K. It maybe then that I consider those dusty artifacts freshly. Otherwise, they hang or
sit without much meaning, have even been thrown away.
People may visit and look at some quiet object and inquire......"oh, that's from Sri Lanka,......I got that on Cat
Street in Hong-Kong".
But, on the day I'm frying some ginger and my teenage daughter fires up a stick of incense,
that Chinese two string violin given me by Sally Cahill and Robert Bradlaw, and those jade worry balls I spotted
camping in Cheung Chau sure do deserve the title "souvenir'....(remember). Not just 'stuff'( god knows I've too
much of that).
If anyone ever canned that polluted elixir, I'd buy a bottle.
Cheers!
Melissa PRESTON Sansing ‘75
I thought I was the only one who thought “HONG KONG” when I smell diesel fuel (especially if it's near a Chinese
restaurant!
Dave KOHL faculty
OK Missy Preston (Neighbor!!)...I'm proud of the fact that I have the original Hong Kong flag that flew over HKIS for
years. I found it in the back of what had been Bob Christian's office, between the 3rd and 4th floors off the
stairway. It is now stapled to the ceiling of my son Adam's room. He's now 22, born in 76 in Hong Kong.
And thanks
for the "cute" complement...I've never been told I was cute by a student. Must get together sometime, I live in
West Linn , so we are only about 35 miles apart.
Write back, please.....
Gregory ACAMPORA‘75
I have a blow up lap sap chung!!!! Also, undecipherable sign in Chinese, Mao hat, little red books...
hello everyone!
PS. My childhood memories are from Rome and I have to admit, they are rather powerful.
Lisa HAMEL Macdonald ‘79
My tiny collection includes scraps of food labels of Swan Brand "pressed duck" and Pearl River "grass jelly" taken off
food cans at Dairy Lane (the modern, new one in Chung Hom Kok, 1978), a learner permit tag and Happiness Brand
Toothache Remedy. Oh yeah, I too have a movie ticket from “Jaws” at the Prince Theatre.
Dave KOHL Faculty
Hi everyone...
I've really enjoyed hearing from about 10 of you. What a surprise, and a pleasant one.
I hope to hear from more of you and...now that I've confessed to owning the original Hong Kong flag that flew over
HKIS during its first decade....I wonder how many of you in your collection of Honk Kongiana have any silverware
from the original Repulse Bay Hotel. Inquiring minds want to know. Such a teaspoon just happened to fall into my
tux jacket one time at a prom at said hotel. Shuckydarn, how did that get there??? Next.....?
Hi Dave (Meyer)...Actually, there were two types of bus stop signs - the cast iron ones and some newer ones made of sheet metal. Also, bus stop signs on Kowloon side were blue and white, whereas the hk side were red and white. So what kind do you have? And by the way, how is Lindner? I hear he's taken a new pastorate north of Dallas in Garland Texas. Inquiring minds want to know why anyone would want to live in Texas? Enlighten me, someone.
Actually I've enjoyed visiting Austin and San Antonio several times, especially the class of 77 reunion organized by John Langford, but where are the trees (I mean real 50foot trees), the mountains, the rugged coast, the cool foggy summers, the 93 days of rain some winters, or a state animal such as a duck, beaver, gooeduck, or banana slug? Help me grasp the appeal of Texas (I expect a barrage of replies to this one!).Oregonians want to know!!
Mark Shostrom...My favorite kleptobilia from Hong Kong ferries is the huge brass name plate from the Takshing, a ferry that sank, was refloated and refitted to active service, but the Chinese would not ride on it because of the bad fung shui.I also have several signal flags and country flags which my wife and I bought on excursions out to Junk bay where they tore up old ships and melted them down into rebars for extravaganzas such as the Connought Center(remember, the building of the 1000 assholes?).
Howard HSU ‘78
Hi! This is Howard Hsu from the Class of '78 (the class of the unknown alumni).
You guys are beginning to scare me. All this time I thought everyone had halos. And Mr. Kohl! I had classes with
you.
Not to worry, I understand everyone's need for memorabilia. I miss the place too. I would share some of my
"memorabilia", but I'm waiting for the statue of limitations to expire on a couple of things.
I do remember Mr. Meyers personally voting Ike (Eric Eichelberger, Class'78) and I as the most likely to be arrested. Close, Mr. Meyers, but no cigar.
In actuality, I've turned into Ward Cleaver. Currently I am an IPA (Independent Physicians Association) Manager. In a nut shell I manage HMO contracts and operations for everyone's favorite form of healthcare-managed care.
Coincidentally, Cindi Webb Wingfield (Class of '78, say something Cindi!)is an RN and running a surgical practice. She's going through what I normally dish out. And Ike and his wife work IN LAW FIRMS (I love irony)!!!
I've relocated to Thousand Oaks, California in July. I've got two daughters: Natalie age 6 and Amanda age 3. The funny thing about being a father, I've only just reconciled the fact I am a father this year. I guess I've had a hard time overcoming the mental conditioning and training to avoid being a father. They’re great. I actually enjoy being manipulated by a 3 year old's smile.
I'm having a hard time placing names with faces. My stuff was at my parent's place in HK. When they retired and
moved to San Francisco, they tossed out my stuff! Unsentimental lot. Any extra copies of yearbooks out there?
I still have a few things like: a Hellraiser silk jacket, gym shorts, switchblade (oops), a few Mao buttons, and a
couple of scars.
OK, enough sharing.
Has anyone heard from Walter Schmidt (PE teacher), Randy Bright (Class
of'78 even though he left a year early), or Luann LeMaster (I think she left early for Class of '78?)?
Marcus WOO ‘75
Dear Bill (Steagall):
Great hearing from you! I noticed your name on the HKIS "cool list” and read your email.
Thought I'd write to you to reestablish contact and make this an open letter in hopes of stimulating others to share
news about themselves. Reading all the incoming HKIS messages the past few hours since Judi created for all of us
the electronic means to confess to crimes committed in the jurisdiction of the former British Crown Colony (for
which the relevant statutes of limitation have since run, I should mention) underscores for me at least, the highly
intense and special feelings of being young and impressionable growing up together in the unique HK and HKIS
community. (for more, see “updates: Marcus Woo")
Richard GRAYSON ‘78
Mr. Kohl - I never was able to get a handle on the wheel in your class and eventually gave up - got tired of making
ashtrays. I am shocked to hear you were such a kleptomaniac.
Does anybody know whatever happened to Gary Barnes? Remember he and his wife had the son he delivered at home.
I have to dig, but I know I have a program or two from "Guys and Dolls". Also recently found pictures from our Junior prom of Lee Wolfe, Bill Holland, Rochelle Rhodes, Andrea Bastian and Cindy Detmer (Cindy saw your name on the distribution list if you want I can scan and send the picture to you) at the Hilton. Even though contacting people from the class of '78 has been next to impossible I still consider HK to be a large slice of home.
I've spent alot of time in the last two years talking to people I knew from Singapore (include Sis Wang (Biggs) - who moved from HK to S'pore in 1975 about the time I arrived), and they have much the same feelings about a sense of home for Singapore, or lack of home. I assume the conversation (like the conversations with S'pore alums) will eventually turn to a certain loss of flow to our lives. Perhaps the people who lived in HK (the Ketterer's for example) for a long time never felt that way - we moved every two or three years - so I know I feel that way. For years my sister had the flag from the Czech embassy in Tokyo.
Dave KOHL Faculty
Marcus Woo...I saw your name on the e-dress list last night and was going to write today, and here you come up on
my screen. Kindred spirits, I guess.
I haven't got time to write a lot now - I'm supposed to be teaching - but thought I'd remind you of the jam sessions
we used to have on Shouson Hill Road E with Cathy Clasper, my ex-wife on the piano, Adam on the stools which he
played like bongos, and I forget what I played, maybe the harpsichord.
I didn't see any real personal confessions in your note, except for the very interesting family history you revealed.
Any memorabilia from all those years in Kowloon, or riding New Territories ferries.
I do remember the time we all took the ferry to Chek Kaing, then hiked to dai long. The village headman started
talking to you and it took a long time before he realized that just because you looked Chinese, you didn't
necessarily speak it!!!
My son is now 22, starting a management job with Sherwin Williams paint, after spending a post grad semester in
Grenoble France, polishing his French as well and snowboarding a great deal. Turned out to be a really nice young
man, like all of you HKIS people were.
Gotta keep my middle-schoolers in line (ha).
Gregory ACAMPORA ‘75
Ed Ketterer...Hello!
For some reason I was harkening back [go figure what with this coollist] and thought of you amongst others.
Someone mentioned the #6 [Stanley] bus and I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. I recall sitting on the upper deck, if one were so lucky as to get a double, as it would creak with each turn after crossing to the backside of the island. Remember the guys who would wear white cotton gloves while driving?
Ann AUMAN ‘73 How many of you kept your old Star Ferry monthly passes? I used to go to KGV before HKIS was built, and I still have mine. Also have lots of old five- and fifty-cent coins, a Mao badge and little red book.
Rick BRACKMANN ‘70
By the amount of mail flying around about HKIS, my wife is seeing even more why I have such a passionate feeling
for HK even though I haven't been there in 29 years! I wish we had more people from my era around and on our
list. I am really a "dinosaur" compared to the rest of you. I can even remember carrying boxes of new textbooks
into the new building during early August, 1967. (My Dad was the first AD and head of the PE department, so I
ended up being really cheap labor that summer.)
Although my 3 three siblings did not graduate from HKIS like I did, I will check with them and see if I can give up their e-mail addresses. I also would like to find Mark Schmidt, an old bud of mine who I played tennis with from 69 in HK through college and even after for a few years.
I got the new issue of the Alumni Mag today and got goosebumps all over as I read it.
Melissa PRESTON Sansing ‘75
I must be the only one that not only does not have a little red book, but for the life of me cannot remember ever
seeing one...
Barbara STONE Fehler ‘74
I definitely saw a "Little Red Book", but who knows where it has ended up -so many moves, so much "stuff"!!! I
remember the custom made little red book the first year in the "new" school building - put together by the student
body president I think - anyone remember?
Ken KOO ‘79
Hi Rick,
Guess I should introduce myself first, my name is Ken Koo from the Class of '79. I've been going to HKIS since the
days when your dad was athletic director and basketball coach. Those were the days when I was in 2nd grade and
he was my gym teacher. Please give my wishes and regards to him. Thanks
Gregory ACAMPORA ‘75
I've got several. Both in Chinese as well as unique 'sino-english' [Queensie lo, staa felly, stanie bus]. You’re
certainly welcome to one.
Diane ADCOCK Cribley ‘73
I lived in Hong Kong for 6 years and spent much of my 14 year old savings on temple carvings that came out of China.
(Thanks to the "cultural” revolution.) I feel like I should send them to a museum because nothing I have seen in
any museum, comes close to the quality of these pieces. I have the little red book and assorted trinkets as well.
Two years after we returned to the States, my Mom died. Dad moved to Taiwan and sent me many of their household goods - lots of rosewood furniture made in Hong Kong. Although it limits the decor of my home, it feels good to have it here.
When we moved to Milwaukee in ' 72, I felt like more of a stranger than I had any place overseas. It felt much better when I went to the University and had to register as a foreign student. Those were the people that I felt at home with. I won't bore those of you who don't know me with any more details of my life since Hong Kong, but hope to hear from those of you who did know me.
Lynn BARRATT Frau ‘73
How great to come back from the summer madness and find all these messages! It brings back a lot of memories
even when it's someone I didn't know personally.
Going through the year books and trying to match faces and names, Judi, I did find where you had signed my
yearbook - all over your picture! And whoever had the idea of not putting the pictures in alphabetical order
certainly has caused some stress (and time) trying to find everyone.
It would be nice to hear from some of the class of '73 - I don't think we were quite as light fingered as those who
came after us! I haven't done a thorough search but I think all my souvenirs were purchased! I have china,
figurines, pictures, etc. I would have to spend some time and do an actual search to see if I still had the Mao Red
Book and other memorabilia of that type.
Over the years and moves, a lot of those types of items got tossed unfortunately.
Keep those memories coming -
Ciao,
Melissa PRESTON Sansing ‘75
They not only didn't put us in alphabetical order, they didn't use our real names all the time either... "Missy" was a
nickname I no longer use ... but that's the name under my picture... ;-}
Hey Gregory ... thanks for the offer of the little red book! Bring me one to our next reunion! I'll add it to my
eclectic collection of stuff I call my boxes of "hometowns"!
John “JB” MORRIS ‘76
Judi... .you have done a wonderful job getting everyone together.... You have brought back so many memories
that seem to have been held up inside for so long....
I was in HK from 72-75 and would have been in the class of 76. When people ask me where I graduated from, my response is HK, considering I spent only 6 months in Altus, OK my last few months of highschool (talk about a culture shock)
My memories have always been of the rugby games, trips to the islands, Wanchai and friends... I have often wondered what happened to Tim Fennel and Tony Cahill, and a few others... if anyone that was on the team was wondering, I had the rugby ball only up to a few years ago, it rotted (I took it when I left).
In my memory closet is my Rugby windbreaker, rugby shirt,stamps, a sign in chineese that says STAY LEFT and year books. I look forward every day getting e-mail.
Sheila PEARCE Roger ‘75
Hi anyone who remembers me.. I have a t shirt with the words "McDonalds Restaurant in english and chinese. It's
from when the band I sang in with John MacMillan, Gilbert Lo, Robert Bradshaw and others opened the first
McDonalds Restaurant in Hong Kong in 1975, in Happy Valley, I think it was.
Now my 17 year old works at McDonalds here in North Vancouver BC Canada.
John, I also wonder what happened to Tim Fennell ?
Kerry SCHONCITE ‘75
Hello to all (especially Class of '75),
Wow is it ever great to hear from all of you, as I never have made it to any of the reunions so far, this is the next
best thing!Thanks to computers for the Tech. & thanks to Judi for putting us together.
I too look upon HK years as the best! It's amazing to think back to all the wonderful experiences we had. Happy Valley, Serendipity Day, basketball games, Lantau Island, The Hilton, The Mandarin, The Repulse Bay Hotel. We were fearless, exploring where ever we wanted to! Can you imagine even 1/2 of the things we used to do in Today's world? We were soooo lucky. It's great to reminisce with all of you because YOU understand, unlike most everyone else you might try to relay the experiences to.
As for mementos, I have 2 Chinese "Junk" model boats (in my livingroom), a Lop Sop Cheung inflatable (yeah me too!), some old Junto's (school newspaper), some "Lucky Money" red envelopes, an ashtray from the Mandarin Hotel, a plaster bust of Mao from the Commie store(with the face painted glow in the dark green!!!!), the Red Book (school version), Crusaders banner, "The Muthers Club" membership card signed by Mark Leonard, a swizzle stick and little gold dragon from the Hilton, my school id, from 10th grade, and believe it or not, I still have 2 plates left (which I use) from my firt set of dishes bought at Daimaru when I was 15. I guess you could say I'm a bit of a pakrat!!!!
Eric ALLEN ‘76
Hi Sheila (and all),Hello fellow Canadian!
I remember that Happy Valley Macdonald's opening......One small step for H-K, one giant leap for junk-food dollars. We also did a grand opening of the one in Repulse Bay (in'76 I think). I played baritone sax but think I joined the stage band under Chet Passerellain '76. John Macmillan, Robert Bradlaw, Diazo Koda, Peter Chorowski, Scott Hart, Amat Tajudin and others were in that particular group. We had the kind of performing opportunities very few non-professional bands could ever enjoy.
At one point (under the flag of "American Fortnight"), we played in Macau, at dances in various hotel ballrooms in Central, and for a crowd of thousands at the Happy Valley stadium as a warm up to an American style football game (wasn't it the Dallas Cowboys?!) Incredible to think of now, I think we were pretty good.....but who knows? We were lucky if nothing else.
I avoid MacDonalds completely now, but happily recall that when they let the Band members eat and drink as much as they could stomach, I seized the day , took a dozen Big-Macs home, put them in the freezer and ate 'em later (YUK!)
On the Topic of Mac D's......am I mistaken or do I truly remember eating the damn things in the school cafeteria? Still raining over there?
Cindi WEBB Wingfield ‘78
I have been reading the messages since the list began. It is wonderful to feel that sense of belonging again. Third
Culture Kids we were and still remain.
I had to comment on the McDonalds for Lunch issue. yes, we did have them! My kids ( 17, 16, 13 & one brewing) today can't fathom the concept! "Thats not Fair!" is what I hear! I still have a few receipts for my orders.
This past year I was ever so lucky that Howard Hsu and Ike found me. It has been great to talk again to people from so far back. We TCK's do not have the lasting friendships that others around us have. My husband has lived all his life here and has no understanding what it is like.
This is my home now, but my heart remains forever in Hong Kong. Keep up the writing. It is really great!
Barbara SCHWERDTMANN Easton ‘77
It used to be so mind boggling to tell people in the States our school had McDonalds catered, now everyone has it!
We were always such trendsetters!!
Gabe LAU ‘77
Hi Eric, Maria & all,I remember those moments vividly when I hung around with the Stage Band guys and took a
number of the band's pictures. Calling myself "The Stage Band's official photographer". In fact, I was trying to
locate those photos the other night but with not much luck.
Eric, you almost forget to include our famous drummer friend-Mohan.
Sheila PEARCE Roger ‘75
Hi to John and Eric and anyone who might find this of interest, John, that picture you took of me for the "75
Orientale ( I think that was the name of our school yearbook) remains in my father's wallet to this day. I'm sure he
still shows people his daughter, never mind that I'm no longer 17 years old. It was an extraordinary photo and still
probably the best one EVER of me, so thank you for that.( I'm not very photogenic).
Do you remember why you took it?
Speaking of boyfriends, when I think of Hong Kong , I think about that. In my senior year , I dated 2 guys( at different times ) and both were juniors at HKIS. It was with some satisfaction that I noted when they were seniors the following year (1976) one was chosen best looking senior and the other most talented.
P.S. I married a man one year my junior in 1979 and will celebrate 20 years of marriage next month.
Eric ALLEN ‘76
We weren't supposed to use the elevator...but no one ever said anything about riding ontop of it!!
One of the all-time dumbest, unsafe, totally wonderful things I ever did ("I wasn't the only one'!) was ride on top of that elevator and (this is true) jump onto the counter weight as it glided past..........To this day when I ride elevators along with my glum and serious-looking companions, I glance up to see if I can spot a concealed trap door and I smile.
Cathy SMITH Caviness ‘75
Okay, I don't remember the chicken fat song ... but I confess that I spent the better part of the day trying to find
momentos from Hong Kong.
Does anyone remember how to put together one of those puzzle rings ... you know,they look like those magician rings that you try to take apart ... only smaller and in this case, the four rings fit together into a finger ring? I just spent about half an hour trying to fit the stupid thing back together. Why was this a cool thing in high school?
I did find my highschool class ring (ugliest, heaviest ring I ever saw ...I love it), the tassel from my graduation cap, a honor society 'trophy', the program from a choir Christmas performance (featuring a solo by Sheila Pearce and readings by Marcus Woo ... among others), my invitation - and Ron Carrero's- to the Sr. Prom ('Color My World' was the theme),a collection of 'snuff bottles' from China, a silk coin purse, and various and sundry other knick knacks. My favorites are still the letters and yearbooks that I kept within easier reach. But it was fun sorting out my childhood memories from the numerous other momentos from other places and ages that were stored in the boxes with them. I still don't think I 'took' anything from anywhere ... but I do have a little metal tag that says "Property of HKIS" and I have no idea where it came from. Maybe I blocked it out.
Melissa PRESTON Sansing ‘75
Okay .. I wasn't going to be the one who brought it up... but Mr. Westrick may remember the day he found out we
were riding up on top of the elevator (I'm not mentioning any other names... Chris M...), and as we were
attempting to get back down through the trap door on top, I was the last one to do so, my uniform dress got
hooked on something...and, yes, you got it...as I came down,my uniform went up, all as the lift doors were
opening with Mr. Westrick and several teachers, students, whoever, all seeing almost all of me...legs a-dangling,
caught in the act ...
It was too much even for embarrassment to set in...mortified works better for me... nothing I could do but just head to the office and see what they had in store for me for this stunt. Ahhhhh schooldays... I could write a book...
Your patience knew no bounds Mr. W!
Melissa PRESTON Sansing ‘75
I'm multi talented and among other useless talents I have, I can put together any puzzle ring you want. I have 6
different kinds (I collect EVERYTHING) from 4 ringed to 16 ringed and several in between.
I kick myself on a regular basis for not being more of a shopper when I lived there. I know there are a hundred things I can think of that I would love to be able to put in my home now, as an adult, that never crossed my mind at 16...
I also collected snuff bottles and have a beautiful collection all these years later.
And what the hell were we all doing in night clubs at all hours of the night at 14, 15, 16??? Where were our parents??? I mean besides dancing to "Kung Fu Fighting" at Thingamees and the Go down, we had access to any club in town...andfor $10. HK$ cover they served us hard liquor...no one believes me here! Roaming the streets of a busy Asian city, day and night, without a care in the world... has the world really changed so much or are we just really lucky to have done that and lived to tell...
I also have the dubious distinction of having a mom that, besides volunteering as a "lunch lady" in the cafeteria, where no student wants their mom to show up in a hair net or otherwise... had the song "The Streak" sent out from the states and put on the radio for all of Hong Kong to hear....
Okay...Everybody that DIDN'T look when Brad ran by in nothing but a tie and sneakers, stand up....oh, I see
Kari Shimasaki is the only one standing... and was it just me,or did Brad and Mark seem cold... just asking... :-}
Brad SANDLER ‘75
Cold - no, try scared, adrenalized, anything but amorous.
Bill STEAGALL ‘75
I have been reading about several people asking about how things have changed in Repulse Bay. I have visited a
few times over the last few years, and I can tell you that since '75, almost everything has changed.
Some of you may remember that I lived in those blue buildings right next tothe school on the uphill side. Well, over the visits, I saw them change colors (to tan), then go vacant, and the last time they were gone, replace by a big hole where something new was going up. That seems to be the way things are going in HK.
The beach front is completely remodeled. All new buildings, shopping centers, food courts, vastly enlarged beach, new rafts in the bay (swim team members, remember swimming laps to the rafts?). Even the Buddhist(sp?) shrine have been vastly expanded. It was hard to recognize.
One of the times I visited, I walked around the old school, then walked down to the beach. I happened to walk down South Bay Road behind an elementary school class going on a brief field trip to the beach. The uniforms had changed, the kids were acting like kids, enjoying life, and it was all I could do to not run up to them and say: "I am one of you! Do you know what these years will mean to you in the future? Are you treasuring every moment? Do you know how blessed you are?"
Some day they will be where we are today. They will remember, and remember with fondness as we do. Anyway, I guess I have rambled on enough.
Speaking of old friends, I am still looking to hook up with Steve Smith. Also, has anyone heard anything about Kathy Johnson, or Marcy Brooks?
Sheila Pierce, do you remember me? I was the one (probably one of the many) that had an enormous crush on you, and was always waiting for you to break up with your boy friend. Oh well, I'm happily married now, so I eventually got over you ;-).
Does anyone remember Philip Lim? He looked me up some time ago, and we corresponded for a while. He was kind of doing the traveling around the world thing, and helping his parents with their Hotel in HK. If anyone else remembers me, please drop me a line, open or private. I'm leaving for South America for a couple of weeks on Sat., so don't despair if I am slow to respond.
Rosemary GARVEY ‘77
Melissa:
I am not sure we know eachother but I definately know Chris Meyers and Mr.Westrick (years don't change the
salutation). Please send them both my regards. I also remember Dave Kohl but did not know him too well except
for the fact he was my teacher.
My family had 7 girls in it and we all went to HKIS at the same time.
Anyway, Chris and I were very good friends and I would love to find him again. This dragontrain is great.
Chris MYERS ‘76
Rosemary,I found an 8 x 10 picture of you and I at the cotillion at the American Club in 71 or 72. Do you remember
me?
Tim HARVEY ‘74
Rosemary,
Do you remember the play that your sister Patti and I were in with several others?- Passionella I had a lot of fun
doing that play, especially the part where I got to ride the motorcycle onto the stage. What is your sister up to
these days?
Rosemary GARVEY ‘77
Chris,
How could I ever forget? I just sent a message to "Melissa" who I am not sure that I know, asking for your address.
How the hell are you? How's Sue? I'm not sure where to begin, there are so many memories. Are you still in touch with the Roches? I have Jerry's cross, which was a family heirloom. Such were the days in love. I can't believe I am hearing your voice.
Bob MAHONEY ‘74
anyone out there remember brian mahoney at that same cotillion?
Lynn BARRATT Frau ‘73
I remember the play - Passionella! I did make-up, costumes, scenery, etc. Of course, the most fun was putting
make-up on the guys and sewing Patti, for each performance mind you, into the gold lame dress I made for her!
The 1973 supplement to the Oriental has a picture of me on page 4 applying make-up to Gary Anderson with Cathy Smith assisting by holding back hishair, and page 8 has Tim Harvey, Alan Claassen and yes, Patti, in her gold lame dress performing Passionella! Where is Patti now?
LuAnn GARVEY ‘76
Hi Lynn and Tim,
I am Patti's younger sister LuAnn (class of '76), who was also in the "choir"in Passionella and had the best time.
Patti is living in Fla. with her husband Geno. She is in sales (of course)and boating. They do not have any children, but love their boat. This has been a hoot to read all of these e-mails. I am living in Minnesota with my husband and 3 sons. I will have to get Patti on this dragontrail! What a great memory!
Lynn BARRATT Frau ‘73
Hi LuAnn,
Thanks for the up-date. I remember you from school and that you were in the Passionella "choir"! Please send my
regards to Patti and all you Garvey Girls (Hi Laurie and Beth) - I've thought of all of you often over the years. We
had some great times in HK.
Ciao,
Bill STEAGALL ‘75
Hey, I remember cotillion! Remember the stuff we would do after the meetings?
Rosemary,
Yes, my sister is June. She lives in Mesa, Arizona, has 5 children, the oldest is in college at BYU. I don't have her
permission to publish her email, so she will either kill me or thank me, I don't know which. This email is copied to
her, so you can get her email that way. Her married name is June Wamsley.
Bobby WOO '77
Dear Judi,
Thanks for all your efforts at keeping this Dragon "flowing". I think it is
great. Many, many memories have started to surface and I cannot tell you how
precious that is to me.
I noticed you mentioned John MacMillian. Where is the old hoot and can I bother you for an e-mail address for him.
Happy Moon Festival and thanks again.
Alan CLAASSEN 73,
I attended 11th and 12th grades at HKIS.I've been enjoying Dragontrain very much, and have been keeping up the only way possible - by sacrificing sleep.
Mementos? The seemingly required little red book, an HK identity card (doothers have this?), the streaking clipping (courtesy of my parents; I was at Cal Poly SLO when that craze struck), a 12" Crusader pennant, a volleyball shirt, a "Do Not Disturb" sign with large Chinese characters from the Hong Kong Hotel (Kowloon side, near Star Ferry), an HK license plate (AC1321, paid for), an inexpensive scroll of the famous mountains in China (name?), a black on parchment style painting of the same, a painting on a small piece of white tile, and an 8x10 I took of a junk under full sail (motoring along).
Not sure what else I might find ... No, I wasn't a klepto, though the red kerosene lanterns were tempting.
Memories? Lots. Here's one. Approx August 1972. Lots of HKIS people spent the day on Cheung Sha = Long Beach on Lantau. And many of us spent the night. About 1 am, just laying there, we watched a terrific meteor shower(maybe the Perseid?). Don't believe I've been awake at the right time and place to see one like that since then.
Since June 1973 I've been back to HK only 3 times: Christmas of 73 and 74 and January 90 for only 2 days. I went back to Long Beach on at least 2 of those trips. In January 90, there were condos at the base of the hills and a bath house at the far end. Not as remote as it once was, but deserted the January week day I was there. Wonder what it's like now, almost 10 years later. (Actually heard a Cathay Pacific commercial once about 6 months agothat mentioned Cheung Sha.)
Also on that 1990 trip I visited the high school at the new Tai Tam campus.Two things struck me. The sports fields at the bottom of the hill were amazing compared to what we had. And the high school stopped wearing uniforms, apparently in approximately 1983. Shocking.
Third Culture Kids? Haven't read the book, but I have read about the concept in a newsletter from ISB (International School Bangkok, 7th-10th grades). We are definitely different and not alone. I think the military kids in Bangkok were more dislocated than many of us because they moved more often. There are a couple other organizations for TCKs that I don't think have been mentioned here: Overseas Brats (OSB) and American Overseas School's Historical Society (AOSHS).
Lynn BARRATT Frau 73
I haven't done a thorough search for memorabilia but I too have a red book of Mao Quotations. I have a whole set of rice pattern china, several tea sets, lots of ginger jars, some of those clay cooking pots, several lamps, vases, my parents rug, a chinese cabinet with stones set into it, joss sticks (I haven't shook those for a long time!) and dice cups, cloisonné,ivory, silver, pictures, etc. I was able to buy a lot of things at the Red Chinese store that my American friends weren't able to buy.
I also read all the James Clavell novels but I don't know what has become of my copies. I wouldn't mind reading that series again. I think we read one of his books (the one set in a Japanese prisoner of war camp I think - Rat something or other) for an English class and had to do a book report.
I have some text books from HKIS - Modern Health; Living World
History (besides my own, it has the signature of a Jane Lighthall); Exploring Lifethrough Literature (signed by
Joey Morabra and yours truly); Outlooks through Literature (signed by D. Bruce Knowlton) and Biological
Science(signed by Mary Lighthall, Rick Telesco and myself). The one thing that I haven't been able to find
though I know that I carried it around for many years - is a little book that Rich Siegert had lent me on one of
the American Presidents (Jefferson?) - and I still feel incredibly guilty because I had promised several times that
I would return it to him.
Very,very sorry!!!!
Rich SIEGERT Faculty
Lynn, I guess I have to forgive you after all these years for coming clean about the missing book on some president. Although I could probably still use it since I still teach US government, you can keep it if you ever find it.
Makes me wonder how many other books,etc, might be floating out there somewhere that I forgot were borrowed from me. That's what teachers are for, right?
Lynn BARRATT Frau '73
Hi Rich,
Thanks for the dispensation! I wish I could find it and mail it off to you but I think it got lost in all the
moves. I don't know if loaning out books, etc. to irresponsible students is what teachers are for but I can tell
you that I think of you as one of the best teachers I ever had and certainly one who instilled in me a lifelong
interest in history, though certainly not limited to American history.
I still turn red when I remember trying to give an oral report on something to do with "Mississippi". With my lisp it was a challenge! If I recall I ended up spelling that word for most of the report. The traumas of high school!
My lisp is more undercontrol these days but there are still some words I have to consciously concentrate to say properly.
Where are you teaching
these days?
Ciao,
Gail GOULD Storey 71
I've enjoyed the walks down memory lanes - particularly the lanes I never went down - it was enjoyable to hear the memories from the "younger" classes - and staff :-) I hope this continues so that we can share. It's like finding siblings that you never realized you had...makes up in a way for the class reunions I never had.
I've also enjoyed hearing from younger Kowloon "Tong- ers" - Oxford Road, Hampshire Durham Roads etc. I liked the various years responses.
I wish more from my "era" would write.