Students on the Communications Course January 2012
The Birth of Ourspace
Hello everyone, We are delighted to share Ourspace with you. We have been working on the newsletter since September 2011. We were doing media studies at that time. We were learning all about newspaper layout, newspaper content and the role of reporters and editor. We all had a discussion and decided that it would be good to set up a mini 2012 company to publish a newsletter. We all got different roles: Jolie Kaba was editor, Manuel Garcia, Joy Atekha, Natalya Kalinina, Qing Zheng Huang and Lor Katanga were reporters. Aimee Ambule Beya was project manager. Manuel took the project roll call every day and even recorded the time we came to work. Thanks Manuel!!! Aimee was responsible for our deadline. She also gave us a checklist so that we had all the equipment for our trip to a publishing company. We wanted to see the way newsletters get printed. When we were researching local printing companies we were very surprised at the name, Mochua Print & Design because it is also an African name, meaning ‘bones,’ so on 5th October, 2011, we went as reporters to this company. We used a map to locate the company at Clonminam Business Park, Portlaoise. We brought notebooks, pen, camera and tape recorder to gather the facts. Jolie, our editor, did a taped interview with Sandra at Mochua Print and Design. Natalya and Qing took pictures. Later in class we listened to the tape and wrote a report. Later again we all went to Mochua’s Tower in Timahoe and learned all about the history of the place. We had great fun in class following the trip because we had to talk about the event in a taped video session. After many tries and laughter, we finally produced the video. This newsletter gives us a chance to express ourselves and to share our stories and pictures with you. Hope you enjoy it. Manuel, Joy, Jolie, Lor, Natalya, Qing, Aimee.
Laois VEC Adult Learning Centre
Fáilte romhat!
Manuel is introducing Mochua on the bus in English and Irish. He and his colleagues discussed the history of the site at Timahoe before the trip.
Teach Mochua (Mochua’s House) This is the ruin of the monastery that Mochua founded in the 7th century. First he was a soldier. Later he converted to Christianity and became a monk. The monastery was destroyed by fire in 1142. The tower was built in the 17th century. When the English came to Ireland they changed the name from Teach
Mochua to Timahoe.
To Dad with Love
Lor Katanga is from Congo. She now lives in Ireland with her husband and children She is a student on the Communications course and is author of, To Dad with Love.
Hello! My name is Lor Katanga. I am thirty two years old. I live with my husband and children. My favourite colour is pink because I find it beautiful. I was born in Kinshasa with a big family. My name means, ‘gift from God.’ I like it a lot. I was the youngest in the family, which I loved. We had no pets because we didn’t like them and I was allergic. I was a bit sad because my father sent me to boarding school. He loved me but he wanted me to get a better education. The boarding school was in Bas-Congo. It was 70.85 kilometres from home. I saw my family at the weekend, which I liked. But sometimes I didn’t see them for about two months. My mother’s name was Victory. My sister was holy and she was friends with nuns. She wanted to be a nun but my Dad wouldn’t let her. I wanted to be a hostess and be in an aeroplane and serve people food but my father wouldn’t let me. He was like a dictator. He was always wanting to be a boss, even though he loved us a lot. But I love him because he brought us to nice places and showed us people with good jobs. He also showed us diamonds. I loved my home.
Mochua Print & Design
A Note from the Editor Hello! My name is Jolie and I am editor of Ourspace. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Sandra at Mochua Print & Design who kindly offered to print our newsletter. She was very kind and helpful when my student colleagues and I went as reporters to her company. I interviewed her using a tape recorder. She showed us all around the printing company and gave us lots of interesting information about the company, the printing machines and the company name We learned that Mochua is an Irish saint who founded a monastery at Timahoe in County Laois. We then went to Timahoe to see Mochua’s Tower and the monastery ruins and we had lunch in Emo Court. It was a great day, except for the rain. Natalya and Manuel and I were tour guides. We researched the history of the place before we went. Mr. Headon, a local historian, also came to give the group some history of the place. Maria Headon, from the Adult learning Centre organized the historian’s visit. Thanks Marie! Thanks Mr. Headon! I would also like to thank Sandra Doyle at the Adult Learning Centre for her help in organizing the trips. After our visit to Timahoe, Sandra took us to Emo Court for lunch. We had beautiful hot soup, which we really welcomed because the day was very wet and cold. I would like to congratulate all my colleagues who worked with me on the project. They all worked very hard but we also had great fun. We learned lots of new things and for that I am grateful. Happy New Year to all! Jolie
Mochua Print & Design is situated in Clonminam Business Park, Portlaoise and also have an office in Kildare. This is now the company’s 4th year trading. They produce everything from standard business stationary to brochures, prospectus, match programmes, tickets, posters, memoriam cards, wedding invitations and personalised cards for birthdays etc. They offer a personalised service with their in-house graphic design team. They also work with an agent in the UK and ship there regularly. They use both digital printing and Litho printing and are currently expanding their facilities and printing remit. They have a full finishing departing with booklet makers, folding equipment, heat wrap equipment, platemaking systems and guillotines. They also have their own delivery vehicles and work with a logistics company for their nationwide deliveries. There are courses and internships available to learn about Graphic design and Litho Printing. It’s a very interesting and varied area to work in. Mochua Print & Design are also the Proud Sponsors in 2012 for the GAA Player of the Year Awards.
The sculpture at Mochua’s Tower Mochua’s three pets – a rooster, a fly and a mouse.
Jolie – tour guide
Michael Bourke designed the sculpture with help from the pupils of Scoil Muire Fatima.
Mochua’a three pets are fascinating. The rooster woke him for prayer every morning. If he didn’t wake the mouse nibbled at his ear. Of course there were no alarm clocks in the seventh century and I think there were lots of mice in the monastery back then. The fly was really bright! He walked across every line Mochua was reading and if he fell asleep the fly would stay on the word where he stopped reading. The fly was a very good bookmark!
Trip to Mochua’s Tower On the 18th November 2011 I went with my students colleagues to Mochua’s Tower in Timahoe, Co. Laois. I appreciate this day because I introduced Mochua to all the students on the bus. I also welcomed them in Irish - Fáilte Romhat! We saw the monastry ruins, the tower and Mochua’s three pets: a rooster, a fly and a mouse. A local historian, Mr. Headon talked about the history of this place but before we went on the trip, we had researched Mochua. Jolie and Natalya were also tour guides. It rained all day. Later we went to Emo Court for lunch and walked around. It is a beautiful place to take pictures, for weddings, picnics etc. We all enjoyed the day. Manuel Garcia
Natalya giving information about the monastery and Mochua’s Tower in Timahoe.
The Lord is my Shepherd My name is Aimee. My mother’s from Congo and my father’s from Angola. I was born in D.R.C in Kinshasa. My dad loved me so much. Also, I’m the first in my family. When I was between 6 years old and ten years, my dad went back to his country in Angola. I grew up in my mother’s family. When I grew up I decided to rejoin my father. I said to my grandfather “Could you let me go to my father?” He agreed to let me go. When I arrived in Angola I saw my dad. It was a happy day for me. I cried tears of joy. One day I went to my cousin’s house. I stayed there for a long time together with my cousins. One day, in the night time when we slept, the thieves came and knocked on the door very very hard. We were threatened by the thieves that night. They said to us, “Give us the money, if you don’t give the money we will kill you.” I was afraid to tremble. Then my big cousin spoke to us. We had to shout for help. We lifted up our voices to shout for help. Then the neighbours heard our voices. They took the weapons and fired at them. They ran away. One day they came back again but they didn’t get anything. In my heart I said, “sometimes in Africa there is not peace but in Europe you can find the thieves. One day I will go to Europe to stay there.” So I went to Europe.
Aimee Ambule Beya- author Aimee is from Congo and she is living in Ireland. She is a student on the Communications course and is Project Manager at Ourspace. She is author of The Lord is my Shepherd. Aimee is on the right. Joy shares her brolly with Aimee.
Another time I was in my uncle’s house. We sat in the sitting room watching the news. I saw on TV the gangs that came to set the bus on fire and beat the driver of the bus. When I saw these things I said, “oh oh oh my God!” In my mind I believed that in Europe you can find the gangs of thieves because it’s one country where there are laws. Since that day I learned more in my life - in this world there is no security nor protection. The protection or security is from Jesus Christ. The Bible said; in Psalm 127:1, “Unless the Lord builds the house, it’s builders labour in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.” Thank you Lord you are my shepherd, I shall not be in want. Amen.
Manuel and Binga enjoying the rain
My Big Fish My name is Manuel. I recall catching a big fish in my country, Angola, when I was fifteen years old. It was my first day going fishing. I went with three friends. My mother worried about me. She said to me, “Manuel, you can’t go fishing because it is too dangerous.” The river is called Lukeya and very, very deep.” “No, I want to go fishing mother because there’s no food in the house.” I went to the farm and cut a long stick. The stick could bend. I put a hook and a small snake on the stick. I walked 10 km to the river. I felt very excited. The day is bright and not much rain. And I put the stick into the river. And I waited fifteen minutes. I caught the big fish. I called my friends to help me to pull the stick out, why, because the fish was too big. My friend killed the
Manuel Garcia - author Manuel is from Angola. He is a student on the Communications course and he is living in Ireland. He is author of My Big Fish, which was published on the NALA website ‐ A story with me in it, in 2011. He is also author of Monkey Business. He is a reporter with Ourspace .
fish with a big knife for cutting trees and sticks. I brought the fish home and my Mama and Papa were very very happy. They had food for two days. Mama boiled the fish in a big saucepan with tomatoes, onions etc. It was very good food.
Monkey Business This is the story of an event that happen during my childhood in Angola I recall in my country Angola, when I was seven years old, I went with my sister to the market to sell the food Kassava- Kikwanga. From my village to the market is very far. I think it’s about 25km. I was feeling tired and I said to my sister “I want to go back because I’m very tired and hungry.” I am crying. My sister said to me, “Manuel stop crying, we will be at the market in a few minutes.” My sister put me on her back and tied me safely in her cloth - Pano. Near to the market there are many mango trees. Suddenly three big monkeys jumped on me and took my buns. I was so hungry. They frightened me and scratched my face. All the Kassava fell down along with my sister. I was crying and shouting at the monkeys, “why, you stupid people, ugly and not working?” My sister took the Kassava from the ground and put it back in the big bucket. There were so many people waiting to buy Kassava at the market. My sister sold everything and she kept the money safely. She said to me, “Manuel, lets go back home.” My Mama saw me scratched and very hungry. She said to me, “my son what happened?” And I said to Mama, “three stupid people jumped on me and took my buns.” My sister said that they are bad animals, not people. Mama and other family members smiled so much. Ah,ah,ah,ah.
My first Day in Ireland I arrived in Dublin on the 31st of December in
2008 at 10pm and it was my first New Year holiday in Ireland. I saw my son and his family and my granddaughters for the first time in 6 years. It was happiness. On January first we went to the city centre. My son showed me the centre of Dublin. It was covered in lights and very beautiful. I saw a very high fir tree in a shopping centre. I was thrilled. I really liked Dublin. I felt at home as though I’ve lived here all my life. I later learned, when I read an astrological forecast, that Ireland is my country and I lived here already in another life. So I’m so in love with Irish songs and dances.
Natalya Kalinina - author Natalya is from Ukraine. She is living in Ireland since 2008. She lives with her husband Igor and her son and grandchildren live in Dublin. She is author of the poem, ‘What I see.’ She was published on the NALA website, ‐ A story with me in it. She is also author of My First day in Ireland.
Scrambled Eggs I remember the first time I cooked scrambled eggs. I broke the eggs into a bowl and put some salt in it. Then I placed a frying pan on the stove and I put a little cooking oil in the pan. While I was waiting for the oil to become hot I whisked the eggs in the bowl. As soon as the oil became hot, I poured the eggs into the pan. As one side turned yellow I turned it over. When both sides were cooked the scrambled egg was ready to eat. My brother and my sister came and had the scrambled eggs. They liked it very much. I was so happy. Qing is from China. She lives in Ireland with her husband and children. She is a student on the Communications course and is the author of Scrambled Eggs.
Crafts When I was in fourth, fifth and sixth class the teacher used to ask us to bring to school some crafts that we can make at home. They use them in the school. But sometimes you don’t really know what we can make because it is really hard to do, but we have to try. It is very difficult. Sometimes the teacher tells the group to bring different things to school. Some people did. Some people didn’t because they were very busy, I think. What are the things the teacher now told us to bring? These are the things: brooms, bamboo- tree rope, water sponge and sometimes money. The wood and bamboo-tree rope is used to fence the school. The broom and sponge are for cleaning. If you didn’t get one of these, you were in trouble. Sometimes your parents will tell you to meet them in the farm after school so we didn’t have time to go into the bush to get these things. We were very busy. So next morning, before class, before 8am, you have to go into the bush to get some of these crafts. Because I don’t want to be in trouble I have to go into the bush. Well sometimes you would be late and teacher will be standing at the school gate or she could give you punishments. Sometimes you would be lucky if your parents gave you money to pay for he crafts.
Joy Atekha - author Joy is from Nigeria. She is a student on the Communications course and she is living in Ireland with her husband and children. She is author of School in Nigeria, which was published on the NALA website ‐ A story with me in it, in 2011. She is also author of Crafts. She is a reporter with Ourspace .
School in Nigeria
I started school at the age of eight to nine years with my first cousin. Her name is Lovet. She was older than me with three months. So we went to school together and school started at 8am. My Mom and her Mom didn’t go to school with us because they had to go to the farm to plant corn and melons. When we arrived at school the teacher told us to touch our right ears with our left hands. Then we did but Lovet’s hand was too short so teacher told her to go back home because teacher thought that Lovet was too young, but she was older than me with three months and teacher told me to go into the class, then Lovet was now going home. But our Moms didn’t go to school with us because they had to go to the farm to plant corn and melons. Teacher gave me a slate and chalk. In the class we were about twenty to twenty five children. I missed my Mom because I was with her every day. And the teacher told us to be singing. Primary one to three was good. Four to five was difficult. When the children made noise they got punishment. Teacher said, “close your eyes, arms up and kneel down in the class” or “pick up the rubbish in the compound garden.” Sometimes you had to kneel in the sun. The heat was terrible. I missed primary first.
World Outstanding Poets In the summer of 2011 Manuel Garcia, Joy Atekha and Natalya Kalinina, along with other students, took part in a poetry reading of their country’s renowned poets. This reading was captured on video and each student received a copy as a memento of that day. Readers: Joy Atekha – Gabriel O’ Kara, Nigerian poet Manuel Garcia: Antonio Jacinto, Angolan poet William Butler Yeats, Irish poet Natalya Kalinina: Taras Shevchenko, Ukrainian poet Antonio Jacinto was an outstanding Angolan poet. He was born in Luanda, Angola on September 28th1924. He started writing in 1940. He wrote about Portuguese colonialism. He was a nationalist. In his poem, “Letter from a Contract Worker,” he talks about forced labour but the poem is written as a love poem. In 1975 Angola got independence and Jacinto became Minister of Education and Cultural Secretary of State. The António Jacinto Literary Award was started in 1993 to celebrate António Jacinto’s poetry. The winning poet gets 5,000 US dollars. Letter From A Contract Worker I wanted to write you a letter my love, a letter of intimate secrets, a letter of memories of you, of you of your lips red as henna of your hair black as mud of your eyes sweet as honey of your breasts hard as wild orange of your lynx gait and of your caresses such that I can find no better here … I wanted to write you a letter my love, that would recall the days in our haunts our nights lost in the long grass that would recall the shade falling on us from the plum trees the moon filtering through the endless palm trees
Antonio Jacinto - Angolan poet Reader: Manuel Garcia
that would recall the madness of our passion and the bitterness of our separation … I wanted to write you a letter …but oh my love, I cannot understand Why it is, why, why, why it is, my dear that you cannot read and I – Oh the hopelessness! – cannot write!
(abridged)
Taras Shevchenko Ukrainian Poet Reader: Natalya Kalinina
Gabriel O Kara Nigerian Poet Reader: Joy Atekha
Taras Shevchenko
Gabriel O Kara
Ukrainian poet
Nigerian poet
Taras Shevchenko is an outstanding Ukrainian poet. He was born on March 9th 1914, in the village of Moryntsi in central Ukraine. He read Ukrainian folklore, Russian and east European writers. He didn’t like the oppression of the Ukrainian people. Tsarist Russia deleted many lines from his work. Don't Wed Don't wed a wealthy woman, friend, She'll drive you from the house. Don't wed a poor one either, friend, Dull care will be your spouse. Get hitched to carefree Cossack life And share a Cossack fate: If it be rags, let it be rags -What comes, that's what you take. Then you'll have nobody to nag Or try to cheer you up, To fuss and fret and question you What ails you and what's up. When two misfortune share, they say, It's easier to weep. Not so: it's easier to cry When no one's there to see.
Gabriel O Kara is a famous Nigerian poet. He was born in Bumoundi, Nigeria in 1921. He attended the government college. His poem is called, “Once up on a Time.” In this poem he talks about the beautiful, ancient culture of the African people .He was awarded the Commonwealth prize for his outstanding poetry. Once upon a time son they used to laugh with their hearts and laugh with their eyes: but now they only laugh with their teeth, while their ice-block cold eyes search behind my shadow. So show me son, how to laugh; show me how I used to laugh and smile once upon a time, when I was like you. (Abridged)
Maude Gonne and William Butler Yeats Reader: Manuel Garcia
William Butler Yeats was born in Sandymount, Dublin in1869. His father was a famous portrait painter. He is one of the most outstanding poets writing in the English language. He won the Nobel Prize for literature in1923. He was educated in Dublin and London. He fell in love with Maude Gonne. She was a republican. She didn’t love him. He asked her to marry him four times but she refused. He loved her all his life. He wrote the poem, “When you Are Old” for her. He won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1923. When You Are Old When you are old and grey and full of sleep And nodding by the fire, take down this book, And slowly read, and dream of the soft look Your eyes had once and of their shadows deep;
How many loved your moment of glad grace And loved your beauty with love false or true But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you And loved the sorrows of your changing face; And bending down beside the glowing bars Murmur a little sadly, how love fled, And paced upon the mountains overhead And hid his face among a crowd of stars.
My Grandma As a full moon in the sky, the stars around, that is your love to me Grandma. As a calm river your voice with humour I hear. You always like my success, I love you Grandma. Your skin like ebony, Your strength of work like iron. I remember you bringing me to the farmer showing me how to sow seed and in the night around the fire with other members of the family eating nuts, drinking tea and coffee, you were there telling us the stories of our ancestors. Cultural women! I love you Grandma.
Jolie Kaba, Congolese poet
Bolinhos De Bananas (Banana buns) Angola Ingredients: 10 big ripe bananas Pinch of salt Cooking oil. Method: Mash the bananas and add a pinch of salt. Heat the cooking oil in a pan. Put a dessertspoon of the mixture onto the pan. Cook for three minutes on both sides until they are golden brown. Serve with fish and garnish with lemon. Enjoy your meal! Bon apetite! From: Manuel Garcia.
Sharing our recipes with you
Kassava Leaves Congo
Sushi – China Ingredients:
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Ingredients: Kilogram of Pondu- Kassava leaves 2 onions 1 bulb of garlic 1 leek 1 aubergine 4 Maggi cubes or stock cubes (small size) 1tsp of salt 2 cans of pilchard 100ml of palm oil 2 litres of water Method: Blend all the vegetables and garlic in a blender Mix the vegetables with cassava leaves Add 2 litres of water Bring to the boil, add stock cubes or maggi cubs, salt, palm oil and pilchard. Simmer for 1 hour Serve with white rice. From: Jolie
 
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Sushi Rice 150g 2 Sushi Noyi Half cucumber 1 carrot Sweet corn 50g 2 Seafood sticks Little Sushi Vinegar Method: Cook rice in a little water and cook for 20-30 minutes. Cool rice and add a little Sushi vinegar. Cut the cucumber and carrot lengthways into strips Cook the carrot and sweet corn seafood stick in a little water until soft. Drain the cooked vegetables. Cool vegetables. Roll the Sushi Nori, spread the rice, cucumber, carrot and seafood stick, sweet corn on Sushi Nori and roll. Chop the sections and serve. From Qing