The House Association of Moon Chun Memorial College, University of Macau carefully planned a Halloween event on October 29-30, 2024, which attracted 100 fellows and students. The event was lively and filled with laughter. The venue was decorated with a mysterious Halloween atmosphere, with candles flickering eerily and ghost decorations swaying in the wind. Several themed booths became the focal points.

At the board game booth, players were fully immersed in intense intellectual battles. The face painting booth featured colorful paints like magical potions, creating terrifying monsters and strange totems, showcasing endless creativity and imagination. The “Turtle Soup” booth was enigmatic, with suspenseful stories like secrets hidden in the dark, challenging participants to deduce the truth, sparking continuous collisions of ideas.

Participants dressed in various costumes and wore either scary or cute makeup, moving between booths, experiencing different joys, and sharing their creativity and happiness. This event not only brought joy to everyone but also showcased their creativity and vitality. Even as the event concluded, the joyful and mysterious atmosphere lingered in everyone’s hearts.

On October 27, 2024, a film appreciation on Multicultural Communication titled “Language, Identity, Interaction and Culture: The Bewitching Braid” was held at the Moon Chun Memorial College, University of Macau. Assisted by Prof. Mário Pinharanda-Nunes, Director of the Centre for Luso-Asian Research, and Wolfgang Lei, Resident Assistant, explored the linguistic dynamism of Old Macau, the process of Creole language formation, and how these languages were used in different social communities living in adjacent areas. Consequently, based on the theories discussed, students appreciated the film The Bewitching Braid, with the aim of exploring how languages can help construct social identities and social positioning.

“I really enjoyed it, it was a nice moment and an amazing opportunity to learn more about old Macau and nowadays Macau. About the mix of Portuguese and Chinese culture. Besides this cultural acquisition, I also had a good time meeting with our professors and students. I hope to have more opportunities to participate in events like this one.” – Gabriela Rorato (Master Student/FSS)

“The insights shared by Prof. Mário Pinharanda-Nunes deepened my understanding of cultural identity and the power of language in shaping social interactions. I left the event with a greater appreciation for how the Macanese language intertwines with cultural heritage of Macau.” – Hoi Wai Hei, Onofre (Year 3 Student/FLL)

“The exhibition of the film made the seminar easier to comprehend. Furthermore, the partial filming also showed the street scenes and the customs of the people in Macau in the 20th century. All of this inspired me about the transformation of language and the harmony of communities in the same place, and it sparked my interest in exploring more secrets of this multicultural city” – Wang Chuyue, Célia (Year 3 Student/FAH)

Text: Wolfgang Lei (Resident Tutor)

On Wednesday, 6^th November, 2024, MCM College Affiliate, Prof. Siew Huat Kong (FBA) invited Mr. Gilbert Chan for workshop about career guidance.

Gilbert Chan, a motivational speaker who studied in Australia and the US, talked about his leadership role and experience at Apple, as well as briefly introducing his professional portfolio in several industries across Australia, Hong Kong and Macau.

Gilbert pointed out that one essentially needs to enjoy what one does. That also meant being honest and having a sense of accountability. His work ethics and personal philosophy is that everyone working on the same team should contribute rather than just focus on results or context.

“Being successful and productive at work requires more than just participation – it involves being proactive of  your own performance. The way in which employees perform is just as important”.

For an organization to be successful, employees must endeavor to continually evolve, learn and contribute toward overarching strategic objectives. Open and ongoing communication, information sharing, assessments and rewards gear individuals and organisations towards their goals.

Finally, Gilbert emphasized that team members volunteer to do more as they became more attached to the company: exhibiting a strong sense of purpose, and utilizing specific skillset & attitude. Above all, students understood that learning agility is key for a career, especially accepting and embracing changes to meet ever-changing circumstances, with the perseverance to chase one’s passion to succeed when most (sane enough) would have opted to quit.

The University of Macau’s Moon Chun Memorial College held its first series of emcee training courses on October 7, 14, and 21, 2024. At the end of the training, three emcee trainees were successfully selected. Together with the college’s Resident Tutor, Pan Baolin, and other emcees from Moon Chun Memorial College, they formed an official emcee team. Led by Resident Tutor Pauline, this training course not only improved the professional skills of the new emcee team members but also enhanced their understanding and passion for the emcee profession, as well as their service and leadership abilities. The emcee team at Moon Chun Memorial College will continue to optimize training content and methods to meet the college’s needs for event emcees and hopes to improve the overall competitiveness of its students.

Text: Baolin PAN

On Friday evening, 1^st November, 2024, MCM College held a second film screening as part of the Mexican Film Festival. “La ira e o el seol” ” –Anger, also known as “Seol”  is an interpretation that introduces two stories: Eva or Paradise; Pedro or Hell; and Juan or the World. The final piece is based on the director’s personal healing process of a terminal cancer, which also includes the stories of other cancer survivors and people who currently live with cancer.

After the screening, there was a 40 minute online discussion session with Prof. Juan Mora Cattlet, academic and film director, which was moderated by Sr. Pablo Mendoza Ruiz, Academic and Cultural Coordinator of the UNAM-China headquarters. During the discussion, Prof. Mora gave a detained explanation of the film’s elements, such as the use of different emotional aspects and symbolism to the three stories. He highlighted that the theme of the film encapsulates a very complex concept that people struggle to come terms with. Some view the diagnosis of stage four cancer as a death sentence, while others take different approaches in living with the disease, and learning to discover happiness while still living.

Once again, MCM College would like to express its sincerest appreciation to Centro de Estudios Méxicanos (UNAM/BFSU), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), and Beijing Foreign Studies University, China, for promoting two films as part of a special Mexican film festival. The college sincerely appreciates Sr. Pablo Mendoza Ruíz, Coordinador Académico y Cultural, for his active coordination and support for this meaningful event.

Moon Chun Memorial College, University of Macau held a short film salon on 28th October, 2024, which attracted 70 participants. Resident Fellow and film executive producer, Alice Hong introduced the production background of the short film “The Invisible Self” and shared the effectiveness of the short film’s tour screenings in local secondary schools over the past year. After the film screening, Dr. Elvo Sou, Head of UM Student Counselling Section analyzed the film from a psychological perspective and discussed the theme of “inner child,” which inspired students’ attention to “self-compassion.” During the post-screening discussion, Dr. Sou, Director Steven U, crew members, and representatives from Psychological Society of UMSU interacted with the audience to discuss the mental health issues presented in the film. Finally, Director U shared his thoughts about winning the “Best Director” award in the University Student Film category at the Asian International Film Festival 2024 for “The Invisible Self”. He said, “The positive response and recognition this short film received in society are due to the collective efforts and dedication of the entire crew.”

 “After watching ‘The Invisible Self,’ my first thought was: Are you ready to accept your imperfections and dark sides? I believe that on the path of growth, we will encounter many failures, and it is normal to feel negative or lack confidence. Do not let these things defeat you; be brave enough to accept your imperfect self. No one is born perfect.” – Joo Shien Teh (Year 2 Student/FSS)

“This short film showcases the helplessness and despair of those with depression. I deeply realized that when facing them, we cannot just stay at the surface level of concern but must truly enter their hearts. We need to patiently listen to their seemingly trivial yet heavy thoughts and provide them with strength through continuous and sincere companionship, becoming the light that illuminates hope as they navigate through the darkness.” – Kent Liang (Year 1 Student/FSS)

“I deeply felt the truth and depth of this film. It made me realize that accepting both the bright and dark sides of oneself is an important step in growth. When facing stress and emotional troubles, we should bravely seek help and express our emotions. The protagonist’s story is closely related to our lives, teaching me to embrace inner strength.” – Katherine Yang (President of Psychological Society of UMSU) 

“This is a touching film that is not only educational but also made me understand the difficulties everyone faces. The participation of teachers and students in the film’s production must have been an unforgettable experience. I hope the college will organize more activities like this in the future!” – Kaian Lam (College Affiliate/FSS)

On October 27, 2024, University of Macau Moon Chun Memorial College Dom Pedro V House student leaders led a group of MCMCers in a Serradura pudding-making activity. The event attracted 15 enthusiastic students from different grades, aiming to allow them to experience the joy of making this traditional Macanese dessert.

On the day of the event, under the guidance of the student leaders, participants first learned about the origins, preparation methods, and flavor characteristics of Serradura pudding. Eager to get started, everyone jumped into the cooking process. During the activity, the students worked efficiently in teams: some whipped cream until it was smooth and creamy, while others mixed the pre-prepared cookie crumbs to add texture to the pudding. Throughout the process, participants also expressed their creativity by experimenting with different flavors of jams and chocolate sauces, hoping to create unique and delicious variations of the dessert.

After over an hour of effort, beautifully presented cups of Serradura pudding were finally ready. Students eagerly tasted their creations, their faces glowing with satisfaction and joy. Everyone agreed that the pudding not only looked enticing but also had a rich and delicate flavor, especially enhanced by the flavors they had personally chosen.

Text: Yifan YING

On Wednesday evening, 30^th October, 2024, MCM College Affiliate, Prof. Nick Groom (DENG-FAH) presented a spook-filled a workshop of all things wicked and scary: Hallowe’en, Ghosts and Gothic.

Prof. Groom began the workshop with a lively introduction of different representations of Halloween figures: ‘Goth culture’ – black robes, lips and finger nails, gothic texts like Dracula and Frankenstein, just to name but a few. However, Prof. Groom soon had the audience clutching the edge of their seats as he vividly created a dark medieval setting with a short story. The audience could feel a chilling sensation of gothica running down their spines. Prof. Groom used his voice to create a scary effect of an elderly character with a gravelly voice, pausing for dramatic effect, then suddenly speeding up to build tension, and finally, the ending told quietly – in a whisper.

As Prof. Groom wandered around the room, donned in a leather coat with a myriad of protruding squeamish human-like faces: a stark reminder of torment from the depths of purgatory, he explained that although vampires were alluring, and zombies were repulsive, however, both figures titillate our fear of cannibalism. He added that vampires were often glamorize as predators, whereas those humans were victims of prey for zombies. Since both characters call into question the relationship between the ordinary and the extraordinary, Prof. Groom pointed out that vampires were exceptional, privileged creatures of superhuman strength and hyper-acute senses, in the grip of an inscrutable and painful secret, whereas the zombie were rather like helpless victims suffering from incurable diseases—themes of many Hollywood films.

In the final part of the workshop, Prof. Groom explained that Halloween dated back to Celtic tradition of wearing costumes. Today, it is a fun and ‘spooky holiday’ among many cultures. It is a great way to carry on the tradition by going to a costume party, trick-or-treat with friends, or simply just stay at home and watch scary movies. Halloween is indeed the perfect occasion to re-learn about the origins of the holiday’s superstitions.

On October 23, University of Macau Moon Chun Memorial College students participated in a rock-climbing competition that fostered friendship and teamwork. Throughout the event, team members encouraged and supported one another, showcasing their individual strengths and team spirit. Each team had 25 minutes to challenge themselves and reach new heights. As they climbed, the students utilized their entire body strength and strategic thinking to select the best routes. This experience not only enhanced their physical fitness but also strengthened their bonds and teamwork skills.

Text: Tony HUANG

In collaboration with the Macau Jazz Promotion Association , the University of Macau’s Moon Chun Memorial College featured Macau-born female jazz drummer Fanfan Cheung in “MCMC Musicales: Beat It! Jazz Drumming Talk and Workshop.” The event drew an enthusiastic crowd eager to learn from her unique journey in the world of jazz. As the first drummer from Macau to earn a master’s degree in jazz performance, Fanfan shared her invaluable insights and experiences, captivating attendees with her story.

Fanfan’s presentation traced her musical path, highlighting the diverse influences that have shaped her expertise in various styles, including modern jazz, traditional jazz, neo soul, R&B, and Thai-pop. Her live drumming demonstrations showcased her exceptional skills and brought a dynamic energy to the event.

In addition to her inspiring presentation, attendees enjoyed hands-on exchanges of performance techniques and concepts. Fanfan’s openness and willingness to share her knowledge fostered a collaborative atmosphere, encouraging budding musicians to explore their own creative expressions.

The event successfully created a sense of community among participants, bridging cultural and musical boundaries.