University of Macau’s Moon Chun Memorial College, Dom Pedro V House, held a kickboxing experiential course on April 10, 2024. The experiential course collaborated with the Macau Kickboxing Association, enabling MCMCers to experience the charm of kickboxing, improve their physical fitness, and cultivate perseverance.

At the beginning of the event, Coach Tam of the Kickboxing Association provided a detailed introduction to the students regarding the basic movements of kickboxing. He then led everyone in trying them out, which immediately deepened their understanding of the sport. In the subsequent session, students began experimenting with the basic movements of kickboxing under Coach Tam’s guidance. They threw punches and agilely dodged, with everyone fully engaged and enjoying the kickboxing experience. The coaches patiently and meticulously corrected the students’ movements to ensure they mastered the techniques correctly and avoided injuries.

The experiential course not only focused on skill transfer but also emphasized cultivating students’ teamwork abilities and willpower. The students were paired up and cooperated with each other, with one punching and the other dodging, demonstrating excellent team spirit and collaboration skills. Simultaneously, the high-intensity kickboxing training deeply instilled in the students the importance of perseverance and determination.

The success of this kickboxing experiential course not only allowed the students to appreciate the joy of kickboxing but also facilitated their growth and progress in sports.

Text: Yifan YING

Life is full of uncertainties.  Loss and grief can occur at any age throughout our lives.  On 8^th April 2024, Pastoral Care Unit of Moon Chun Memorial College, University of Macau held a Coping with Loss in Life story sharing session to help students face this life issue. MCM College was delight to invite Mika Lee, Champion of the Greater Bay Area Speech Competition 2022 to share with students her experience of fighting cancer with her grandma, and how to accompany her through the last stage of her life. The speaker encouraged students to cherish their loved ones, accompany them with love, and never let themselves regret when they lose them one day.  During the interaction session, Yan Leong, (college social worker) and Jacky Yang (college student) were invited to share their“loss”experiences as well. The students listened carefully to the life stories of the guests and were deeply moved.

On the evening on April 13^th 2024, Camões House Resident Assistant, Maribel Diogo, a Year 2 FLL student of MCM College organised a cultural engaging event: Convívio Lusôfono 2024. This academic year witnessed a growing number of students from Portuguese speaking countries, (also designated as Lusophone students) which signals the diversification of the student population here in this college. Camoes House therefore plays a crucial role in counteracting the effects of culture shock, homesickness and possible alienation in assisting students to actively engage in social and acculturation process.

“Convivio lusôfono” – a Portuguese-speaking cultural exchange enabled 25 students across the lusophone community to celebrate existing friendships through increased interpersonal communication, and establishing new connections with other students from across the collegiate community of diverse origins. The event took place in the Master’s Dining Room, and was embodied with rich cultural elements including music, poetry and dance the catalyst to create a networking bond during a delightful evening of cross-cultural and social exchanges.

On the evening of April 10, 2024, students of Camões House enjoyed a two-hour rock climbing experience at the N8 Sports Complex Rock climbing Wall. Initially, students of the climbing club explained the history and precautions of climbing as part of the warm-up activities, and participants listened with great enthusiasm. After a live climbing demonstration, MCMC students tried the fascinating sport for themselves. It was the first time for everyone to engage in this type of sport, so they all expressed their strong determination.

During the activity, although the climbing seemed very high, some students succumb to a fear of heights, but they successfully overcame those psychological obstacles, and with constant encouragement from other students, they were able to do their best, and reached the top.

The event ended successfully

Avon Li Yafang (Resident Assistant).

Guia House of Moon Chun Memorial College, University of Macau, held a Life Simulation Experience workshop facilitated by the social worker of Pou Tai Youth and Family Service Complex on 7 April 2024 to promote life education. Participants experienced four main stages of life: birth, work, aging and death to understand the process of aging. Participants donned special aging simulation equipment and engaged in challenging tasks. The activity allowed them to personally feel how aging affects even doing the simplest of things in their daily lives. Some students realised the inconveniences and limitations the elderly had with movement, vision, and flexibility of motor control. They also had a deeper empathy for the inner and daily needs of the elderly.  The social worker concluded that life is precious and encouraged participants to live in the moment.

Last Wednesday, 3^rd April, 2024, Alice Hong, Resident Assistant of Camões House, Moon Chun Memorial College, organized a caring-themed experiential activity in the college. The purpose of that event was to encourage participants to show concern for their friends, and discover the needs of others before entering final examination period. Additionally, it also aimed to provide participants with a better understanding of foreign cultures.

Drawing inspiration from one of Portugal’s traditional graduation activities, where graduates engage in various celebrations starting in May each year, the event replicated Queima das Fitas.

Graduands would purchase ribbons representing their faculty’s colors in large quantities and distribute them to their family, elders, and friends. These ribbons would have blessings and well wishes written on them for the graduating student. We adapted this tradition and extended its scope to students from all grades.

During the event, Alice distributed ribbons to the participants. Participants found it fascinating and expressed that this approach would enable them to assist their less familiar classmates better and encourage introverted students to step out of their comfort zones and make an effort to understand others more.

TEXT: LAI I HONG

On the evening of March 24, 2024, MCMC held the event, “Unveiling the ‘Guard of Honor'”, in collaboration with University of Macau National Flag Team (UMNFT) at UM’s Lotus Square. The venue is particularly charming especially during sunset, and the national flag guard can be heard loud and clear.

Under the direction of the flag team members, participants had a new understanding of the content and form of the daily vocal training of the National Flag Guard of Honor. At the same time, under the leadership of the team members,  participants personally experienced the flag-raising ceremony, and learned how to hold and release the flag and the corresponding actions.

Finally, students experienced more regarding the standard about the swords used during the ceremony. After the event, the students of MCMC and the principal members of the National flag guard of honor took photos.

Avon Li Yafang – Camões House Resident Assistant

MCM College is delighted to have invited Professor Sheyla Zandonai from the University of Macau Department of History to give a talk on Macau Culture on 27 March 2024.

During her captivating presentation, Professor Zandonai laid out, in simple terms, the historical development of Macau during the era of the big discovery and China’s development. She also shed light on Macau’s historical transformation during a period when it was losing its prominence as a global trading hub in southern China, following the British takeover of Hong Kong in 1843. Professor Zandonai further analyzed the development of new infrastructure, the preservation of traditional business alternatives, and the adoption of innovative strategies for political and economic survival. These endeavors allowed Macau to postpone abandoning its maritime heritage while simultaneously embracing the rise of new elites and a fresh vision for the city, emphasizing its transition into a more localized and regional economy.

On 18^th March, 2024, Moon Chun Memorial College, University of Macau held an entrepreneurial mindset seminar titled “The Development of Online Shopping Logistics in Macao during the Post-Pandemic Era”.  This seminar was hosted by Mr. Otto Ieong, CEO of 369 Co-op Town Limited, and Mr. Hunter Cheang, founder and director of Aoyun International Company Limited was invited to share his entrepreneurial experiences in developing cross-border e-commerce logistics services.

Cheang graduated from the University of International Business and Economic in Beijing in 2013. He developed an entrepreneur mindset as early as his university studies. When he returned to Macao after graduation, he saw the need for smart locker services in Macao, so he started his business to address market needs.  Later, he found the great market demand for Taobao’s collection logistics and transformed his business into a cross-border e-commerce logistics service company in 2018. Currently, his company has more than 170 logistics service stations across Macao, serving more than 400,000 users.

During the seminar, Cheang introduced his company’s background and business model. Since the competition in this field is fierce, he said that it is important expand the company’s service stations and add value to the existing service to retain clients. His business philosophy is to put the clients’ needs first and provide services with sincerity. He emphasized that as an entrepreneur, one must possess the trait of “courage”. He encouraged everyone to step out of their comfort zone, bravely embark on the journey of entrepreneurship, and not be afraid of making mistakes.

Moon Chun Memorial College, University of Macau held a drama appreciation on “Old Classic, Timeless Macao” produced by Frost Ice Snow Creative Experimental Theatre on 16 March 2024.  The play tells the story of an old man suffering from Alzheimer disease who meets a social worker and helps him find memories of the classic taste of Macao. They established cordial connections with the people they met along the way, demonstrating the human touch between people in this small city.  A post-screening sharing session was hosted by the assistant director, Charlie Ng and the scriptwriter, Vege Cai. During the discussion, the participants raised their concern for preservation of the traditional craftsmanship of old shops in Macao and the elderly people with Alzheimer disease.

” This is a touching and enjoyable drama appreciation experience. Through the well-designed scene layout and wonderful performances by elderly actors, this drama successfully showcases the stories of some old shops in Macao and the human touch of this small city, which is impressive.” – Donner Tang

” This play is very rich in content and the theme is very attractive. It successfully interprets the affection of Macao’s old brands and resonates with everyone. I learned from the drama that when doing business, we must not forget our original intention, and we should not only focus on monetary benefits ” – Jacky Yang

“I am deeply touched by this drama, especially the scene about the grocery store. It brought back memories of my childhood and made me more immersed into the atmosphere of the scene. I think that a city’s cultural preservation needs to be integrated with the needs and values ​​of modern society to find a balance.”- Benjamin Kuok