17 November 2008

Summerhill Fun Fireworks Evening 8th November

Celebrating Guy Fawkes Night at IPC

By Shirley Ghozalli, Nisarat Chanaboriboonchai and Satya "Ayu" Duhita. Edited by Moira Blake

Students enjoying themselves as the bonfire gets going

A happy little girl at the bonfire with student friends

A real bonfire!

Bonfire Night, more popularly known as Guy Fawkes Night, is a British tradition but is also followed in the former British colonies. It began as the result of a failed coup, referred to as the Gunpowder Plot, that took place on 5th November 1605 in Britain. A group of young men, who were not satisfied with the Government, planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament in order to kill the King at that time, King James I, and the Members of the Parliament. They smuggled 36 barrels of gunpowder into the cellar of the parliament to be lit on the night of 4th November 1605. However, they were betrayed and Guy Fawkes was caught before he managed to light the gunpowder. The very next day, 5th November 1605, Londoners joyfully lit bonfires to celebrate the fact that the King had been saved. (Guy Fawkes was tortured and executed.)

This year, encouraged by the popularity of the first Fireworks evening last year, a "Summerhill Fun Fireworks Evening" was oganised by the EOC staff for the local people as well as IPC students. It took place on the Sports Field at IPC on Friday 7th November, starting 8 pm.

No customers at the refreshments tent yet, but plenty of helpers

Three more happy students

Students at the fireworks. So happy..!! (Right: Nisarat Chanaboriboonchai)

Nisarat Chanaboriboonchai (a 2007 student from Thailand)

Fireworks day is a special day for New Zealand people. Many people go shopping to buy a box of fireworks before fireworks day because there are only a few days around November 5th when people can buy them. There are many different types of fireworks in a box, some big and some small.

On the 7th of November, IPC had a fireworks night for IPC students. Some people from other universities came and also some people from town. On that day I had a great job which was selling glowsticks with other friends. Some other students also had different jobs to do such as selling BBQ sausages and cups of tea or coffee. We started around 8 pm. and worked until 10 pm. I walked around the fireworks place and asked many people to buy glowsticks. We sold them for only a dollar each, and most of the people who bought them were kids or parents buying for their kids. My friends and I talked to many people while we were selling glowsticks.

Next time, I think we should have more things to sell and more games to play. I would like to help IPC staff do something like this for IPC every year. On that day all the people who came to our IPC fireworks event were happy and enjoying themselves.

Satya "Ayu" Duhita (a 2007 student from Indonesia)

The 2nd Summerhill Fireworks that was held on Friday by IPC was pretty good. It started on time. The fireworks were colourful, and it was really nice to warm up beside the bonfire on that chilly night.

The visitors were really pleased with it. Many came from town with their families and friends, and of course, their blankets.

The food stall was actually a nice touch. I think they did good business that night. Nice pick on the menu, tea, coffee, and sausages. This second fireworks event was actually better because IPC prepared it really well and they provided chairs and benches. Some of Hall 10's residents were really creative - pulling out the common room's sofas.

Overall it was nice despite the "winter's coming back" weather. I hope IPC can have another one next year.

Satya "Ayu" Duhita and Mina Ueyama in front of the bonfire

Students enjoying the night with food and drink (From left: Satya Maulana, Nurul Adlina Halim, Nga "Diana" Nguyen, Amanda Rizka Putri Utari, Kusumawati)

For more information on EOC and EOC upcoming events, please visit: http://www.ipc.ac.nz/en/eoc/

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