2016-MAY-28-1510Hrs
Dear Errol,
It was a joy to visit Mr. Williams this morning. He told me it was a shock and a joy to see me. He said it several times. Since our 50th anniversary I had promised to visit him to read the poem I had done up at Mausica when we had the concert. I had read it over the phone to him then, but had always promised to visit him at Jubilee Street. You can see from the video how he has al his wits about hi. He greeted me in French, "Bon Jour," but when I answered him in French,he said, "No compran." I told him he could not switch languages on me from French to Spanish. I told him I had told Gwen I would visit and he said he sees her all the time. He assured me that he was happy and being treated well. He likes it there. I promised to visit again soon as he wants a copy of the poem. I told him I lived close by and he wanted to know how I had not come before. I had come from mass at Mt. St.Benedict and brought him a buljol sandwich and Nestle drink from on the Mount, but they said he could have it later.They told me visiting time was from 9:00 am. but they let me in although I arrived there before 8:am.
I am attaching a video my husband made of our visit, as well as the poem which I had to retype last night as I could not find a soft copy. You will see from the video that Mr. Williams said he knew about Freddy the frog and could not forget Chris Osborne and how delighted he seemed to be about the other memories about Mausica.
I also promised him I would visit Mrs. Cuffie. I went to a funeral of a teacher at All Saints church last week and as I passed by the Home, I promised myself I must make time to visit her.
God Bless my Mausica family and keep each and every one of you safe.
"THE MAUSICA STORY
Eric Eustace Williams the father of our nation
For
the advancement of education conceived a vision
To
revolutionize teacher education that would be on par
With
world standard, and so was born a college named Mausica
Fro
existing colleges he took educators who were the very best
To
train young teachers from north south east and west
He
ensured every creed and race was represented there
When
in 63 Mausica opened its doors to one hundred and ten pioneer
These
brave men and women some of whom are in our m
Began
to live the motto of “Moulding a nation through service.”
Their
lasting legacy we celebrate even to this fiftieth year
We
salute them and for those who have died we shed a tear.
……..
But
what is this Mausica legacy that we cherish and love?
It
ranges from our folk song choir to kissing Freddy the frog
Remember
Silver Springs Orchestra that we waited for in vain
And
when worms from Grell cup gardening caused emotional pain
Blindfolded,
we thought we were given garden worms to eat
Then
discovered was noodles touching our tongue and teeth
What
of Morning Assembly with erudite impromptu speech
No
wonder some of them in Parliament, they reach
Politicians
as diverse as Morris Marshall and indomitable Jack
Ojah
-Maharaj and Acheson alias Rodney Charles were inside the pack
Anna Maria Mora threw her hat in the ring for
COP
And
Eastlyn McKenzie decided to bow out
We
showcased talents in drama, singing, poetry and dance
Arts
and Craft and other skills were also enhanced
For
singing calypso some girls wanted to cut mih tail
But
Noel T and Parmesad gave protection from buxom female
Mayfair
mansion was the worst hostel on campus for boys
Used
to disturb your sleep with maco radio station noise
They
always used to know who was going with who
But
among them handsome men were very few
Everyone
had a nickname, the meanings we did not always know
Maybe
the Warden could tell why they called Scratchy so
I
knew one they called Cowboy did not like to bathe at all
And
the measured one known as Flagpole was not really so tall
……………………..
Agnes
Howell and friends used to put on some wicked skits
Mausicans
in drama and arts festival were a great hit
We
had our way of doing things in Mausica country
Where
else could you bow and unbow and do it with glee
Who
could forget roti an dorange juice on a Wednesday night
And
Mr.Julien who would give seconds if you ask him right
Remember
Harry Joe dancing with white kerchief I hand
Moping
he brow of sweat from dancing with young woman
We
recall our home Economics teacher Beryl wood
If
you put a ‘s’ on her name she would buff you good
“I
am only one Wood,” she would cry
While
Miss Hordatt would shake her head and sigh.
……………….
Constance
Fanny Roopchand taught us Sociology
Douglass,
Science, Romain, Literature, and Baptiste, History
Dukhan
introduced us to Psychology and Harribance, the psychic
While
Maunday, boss in Industrial Arts had Scratchie as devoted sidekick
Furlonge
tried to tech me New Math in vain
Was
like battling locusts in Mausica after the rain
When
Chris Osborne came, on his very first day
“Mausica
stinks, I will clean it up,” he did say
And
when the thief took ladies underwear from off the line
Say
they take shadow, will return for substance they leave behind
The
Cuff could mess you up with a voice real cool
When
she tell me better late than never I felt like a fool.
………………
We
came to Mausica to learn to teach and got added bonus
How
to live on forty dollars a month, to gamble and cuss
When
is teaching practice we busy like a bee
Preparing
the best chart and lessons for supervisor to see
Nervously
we hoped to get off to good start
Shedding
tears when experiments and plans fell apart
Some
came to Mausica, fell in love, married life partner
And
we learnt to live in harmony with one another
We
learnt lessons that did not always come from book
Mad
life-long friends, shared experiences that took
Many
of us to reach higher heights, acquire divers degrees
To
build our country of origin and some overseas
……………..
We
matured with grace, made contributions to society
In
teaching and in so many other spheres of activity
Some
stayed in the classroom giving students their all
For
others becoming principals and supervisors was their call
Yet
others chose the path of university lecturer, businessman, psychologist,
Permanent
secretary, lawyer, artist, musician, writer, feature on the list
Pierrot
Grenade, steelband judge, calypso and mas too
You
will find that we Mausicans are a motley crew
In
this year, twenty-thirteen our anniversary date
There
is o much that we can and must celebrate
We
thank God for our beloved extended Mausica family
And
if He will, may He grant us life to see another anniversary.
Hazel
Thompson-Ahye
23-
07- 2013"
Hazel Thompson-Ahye 70
