I got back to Wisconsin last Friday and have been meaning to write and thank you for your extraordinary efforts and skill in planning, organizing and running the MEHSA reunion in Hawaii. The location, the program, and the food were all great and the people you attracted to Lanikuhonua were such great company! It was one of the most enjoyable, interesting and nostalgic weekends I've ever spent and all of us were sad when it ended. Thank you so much again. All of us will forever be in your debt.

Warmest best wishes,
Lyn A

Hi Lil,

Thanks again for the excellent program you put for all of us at the Hawaiian MEHS reunion. Ron had a great time also. He said he is envious. Said our friendship/comradeship are "unique", something he does not feel even our daughters have at their school.

One thing I realized afterwards that I did not get much time to "yap". I think we were mingling with a lot of people and got to know the members of the other classes since the whole group was small. Plus, with all the activities that were going on, one needs to concentrate.

Your attention to details really showed. I was sad that we did not give the three of you a gift, not even flowers, to show our appreciation. I know you do not expect it but....

You need to recuperate from Honolulu. Our only limitation now is our grandchild/children based on when.

Thanks again.

Love and hugs,
Peggy Y"

"Where do I start? About a year and a half ago, my high school classmate Lily Chen (from Burma) sent me an email about our reunion which was to be held in Hawaii in Sept 2014. As I had just bought my ticket to go to India a month before that, I told her it had always been a dream of mine to visit Hawaii ever since I saw Elvis Presley's BLUE HAWAII some 50+ years ago, but since funds were low at that time, I was doubtful if I could make the trip out West so soon. And what do you know, because they are so unique in the way they get a great deal of satisfaction in seeing everyone around them as happy as can be, friends like Lily, Lilian Wu, Sally Joseph, Sheila Patail, Mra Tun all from California and Edward Hussain from Burma, rallied together to gift me a birthday present..........with air-miles donated to me and paying the registration fees for the reunion. At first I said "OH NO YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE!! but really I'M SO GLAD YOU DID. YOU MADE MY DREAM COME TRUE

I'm sorry I became emotional while I gave my little speech. I had meant to add how our mother had got a job as a History professor at Loreto College Southfield Darjeeling after our father left for England in 1964. She single-handedly brought up all of us after our father passed away seven months later in England. How she did this, especially since she had only worked for a very short time as a lecturer at The Adult Education Centre in Rangoon just before we left Burma, is a testimony to the fact that she was ALL that only a mother can be. "She taught, she cooked, she nursed, she provided and she educated all of us". And because it was what was expected in those days, she got us all married. Also, I got the job as a high school Mathematics teacher at Loreto Convent Darjeeling even before I received my graduation certificate only because our mother was teaching at the college.

The Mental Math sessions we had at MEHS were an integral part of my Math classes at ALL three Loreto schools I taught at, in India. Those sessions at the beginning of each Math class helped everyone to concentrate and listen carefully, as Mental Math problems were called out, The students were allowed to have just paper and pen on the desk in front of them, and just answers were written on the papers. The foundation we received at MEHS is what has helped us achieve everything we have, in our lives.

Thanks to the organisers, who once again, worked so very hard, making so many trips to and from Hawaii, the event was a HUGE success. The food was just lip-smackingly delicious and scrumptious, the games and the entertainment were ALL such fun, and meeting friends, some after 50 long years .......JUST PRICELESS AND UNBELIEVABLE. by the way Mra, the songs you belted out took us back to our teen-age years when life was just about fun, fun and even more fun. I'll be teaching my grand-daughters my favourite one and recording it too, so that I can email it to all of you....."THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKING, AND THAT'S JUST WHAT THEY WILL DO........."

Yes, ALL MY CHRISTMASES (or should I say PUJAS) HAVE COME TOGETHER. I spent the most amazing dreamy days and starry nights in Hawaii from the 5th to the 10th of this month. I still wake up every morning unable to believe that I am so blessed with such generous, loving and caring friends. My college-mate Jhumur Bhattacharya who had just been to Hawaii in April, (an anniversary gift to her and her husband from her two sons and their families), agreed to accompany me when I invited her to attend as well. MAHALO Edward, Jhumur, Lily, Lilian, Mra, Sally and Sheila. LOVE ALL OF YOU SO VERY MUCH.

Thanks Lily, for everything that you have done, and are still doing for all of us.

Much love,
RENE.

Thanks Lily for all your work.. great to see and reconnect with some old friends. Admit it I didn't see many of my classmates but it was great to catchup with people I haven't seen for years like Ko Lin Aung Thet. We used to ride the same school bus together and he was close to my late brother. Great to see him doing well in academic pulmonary medicine at Univ of Wisconsin. I told him I read some of his publication. He used to get off at 6.5 mile on Prome Rd and we get off at 8 mile. Usually I am asleep and my older brother would nudge me to wake me up. I lost my older brother and he lost his younger sister such is our destiny in life.

Owen L

I wish to thank you all for the splendid Reunion. I thoroughly enjoyed the Saturday, even though nobody from my class was in attendance! the memories of Burmese Food came flooding back - I had not tasted any since leaving Rangoon in Jun(?) 1959. The rescue by May from my hotel was a blessing and their company during Saturday was just what I wanted.

Sunday was a little of a disaster, I accompanied my wife in the morning on normal tourist duties and really got carried away with the day such that we completely ran out of time on the other side of the Island! So sorry I did not spend any of Day 2 with you. I trust it went really well?

Thank you again for the organisation of a first class reunion

Best Wishes
David B

Aloha Lily,

First thing first: Congratulations, Lily, you DID it AGAIN and so superbly too! We all owe you much for all the fun we had had during the two-day event in Hawaii.

Thank you for your concern about my wellbeing and also for the helpful suggestions.

Aloha and Mahalo,

Tommy H

Sorry we didn't get the chance to say goodbye.

We were very impressed with the venue-appropriately named and things in general. A lot of hard work and good organisation had gone into the reunion. We would like to acknowledge it by saying mahalo uni loa to all the organisers.

Aloha,
Winston TN

Dear all,

I'm still in Hawaii and will be leaving for SD next Friday. Both of us had experienced a memorable and wonderful MEHS reunion. After 50 years, I could not even imagine to see you all in good health. Thanks to you all for the hard work in making this reunion possible.

Let's hope that there will be another reunion in the near future again.

Last but not least, how can I retrieve pics from this reunion?

Best regards,
Roy K

Kwai Lam and I had a great time at the reunion. You guys did an outstanding job! We appreciate all your planning, negotiation and attention to details. Having been in the hospitality business, Kwai Lam knows how expensive it is to hold an event in Hawaii. He says it's remarkable that we were only charged $225 each.

The venue was beautiful....real Hawaii. Ala Moana Hotel was so convenient. I bought 5 pairs of shoes at Macy's. Should have gone Friday. I went on Saturday...could have scored more.

The flower hair clips/pins are beautiful. A friend thought they were real flowers. She put hers in the fridge overnight. We were on the same flight and she was wearing hers on the plane. Kwai Lam was happy with the chap stick and the luggage tag. He started using the chap stick.

Loved the food and tropical fruits. Wish we had the facilities to take home leftovers. We were thinking of the food when we were eating peanuts on the plane.

Thanks for a good time!

Love,
Susie F

Lily and Sally

Just wanted to say a big thank you for all the hard work you put into the reunion. It was very enjoyable. Also having a smaller group we were able to get to know each other better.

I hope the two of you have now recovered and are enjoying a fun time on the island.

Anne P