Dear Sayas and Colleagues,

Here are some feedback/news.

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Feedback to Saya Krishna's article
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Saya U Tin Htut (Mech 60), Steering Committee, wrote:

Hi Kris Krishna,

I am glad to read the article you have written to Ko Hla Min which he has copied to me. I didn't realize until now that you have been in USA since 1972. I wish to add [in my brief bio] that I was appointed Assistant Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering by Saya U Aung Khin, when Kris Krishna left for IIT in May 1960.

After 40 years we will finally have an opportunity to meet you again at our Millenium RIT ReUnion in SF. Congratulations again to Ko Hla Min, Ko Khin Maung Zaw, Maurice, etc. of ex-rit.org for a brilliant and hard work to create and give us such an opportunity.

Looking forward to seeing you all in SF.

With Metta
Tin Htut

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Letter from Saya Dr. Yan Naing Lwin (Physics)
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Dear Ko Hla Min,

Finally, I got my air tickets to SF to attend the reunion. I should be in the Bay area by Friday, Oct. 27 in the early evening. I plan to leave SF in the late afternoon on Sunday, Oct. 29.

I look forward to seeing you and other friends soon. I tried to send a note from the Reunion Website but it was returned. Below I enclose the message.

I have mailed the check today.

Regards,
Yan Naing

Subject: Ex-RIT Reunion Feedback Message
Name : Yan Naing Lwin
Comments : I look forward to attending your RIT Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe in SF, Oct.28-29. Although I'm not a graduate of RIT, I have come in contact with many students and sayas alike from RIT. It should be a wonderful experience.

Editor's note: Saya YNL studied at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (UIUC). Saya is the Professor and Head, Physics Department at WIU (Macomb, Illinois). He teaches as a visiting professor at UIUC during the summer. He has visited California many times. He'll be staying in Mountain View at the residence of a former student [an Iranian].

Saya's brother, U Kyaw Nyein, worked as an Information Officer at USIA/USIS until retirement. The USIS library [with a collection of books, magazines, movies and videos] was one of the resources for the teachers in Yangon, Myanmar.

WebMaster's note: Saya YNL's message bounced back due to the Webmaster's mailbox ran out of space, our apologies to Saya YNL.

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Not a bed of roses
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Life is full of surprises, and definitely it is not a bed of roses. So, is the preparation for the RIT Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe. Richard Taw (Mech 70) better known as "Chauk Pay" [or Htain Win] sent the following message to his classmate and host. The request by Benny and Ko Richard's reply are also shown below.

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Dear Ko Benny,

Due to the labour disputes and the City Workers ON STRIKE, I cannot come to the Once-In-A-LifeTime Event, SAYA PU ZAW PWE and Grand RIT Re-Union.

My wife Isabel and I thank you and your family for your kind Invitation to stay at your place. I will send my Tickets back and donate them to the Re-Union Fund.

I will take care of Ko Myo Khin, who will stop-over in Vancouver for 3 days.

I will miss you all !!!!!!!!

Richard & Isabel

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Hi Richard and Isabel,

I am sorry to hear that you cannot make it to the reunion. Please reconsider. Something may change at the last moment. We will miss you and Isabel.

Benny

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Ko Benny,

The Strike sometimes last a couple of weeks, sometimes last a couple of months. What a timing ?????. I will still send the Tickets back (for some last minutes decision makers ) . If things change, I will be in San Fransisco.

Thanks again
Richard & Isabel

Editor's note: Ko Benny was hosted by Chauk Pay during Ko Benny's visit to Vancouver. Chauk Pay readily agreed to be area representative of the RIT Alumni International there and then. He bought two tickets and was looking forward to see his Sayas and friends [some of whom he has lost contact for many years].

Like Ko Benny, we wish that good things will happen in time for Ko Richard and Isabel to attend the millenium Reunion and Saya Pu Zaw Pwe.

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Letter from Fred
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Ko Frederick Thet Gyi (Mech 69) sent this letter along with his donation [way back in late August].

Dear Ko Hla Min,

I got your email on my coming trip to Burma [Myanmar]. I will send a sort of report after my return. As what I have been informed from the news sources, out institute RIT or YIT does not function or exist as a whole school any more and have been chopped up into two year segments here and there, with not much left at the main institute.

I still ahve hope in Burma. That is why I am going to Burma and see what I can, for the people around the place I grew up. It is just a matter of policy, management and the outlook.

The Burmese people are quite intelligent, very adaptable, and very flexible. We survive well which is one of our best qualities. One thing with us is we are still quite straight forward and hospitable human beings, compared to some other nationalities. I believe that we need to understand ourselves and know who we are, so as to develop ourselves more in the future. If you [and others] have insight into the characteristic of the Burmese people, please share with me.

I always have very great respect and high regard for my teachers from my primary school to RIT, as they have taught me through the years so that I can make a decent living in my life. I feel that it is right and also our duty for all of us to have a Saya Pu Zaw Pwe and I wish you the best in making the arrangements. I will be visiting the web site and follow up on the upcoming event.

With metta,
Fred

Editor's note: Thanks Fred for your excellent letter. Many RIT alumni, no matter how far they are from their mother land, talk about how they can pay back to the alma mater, their sayas and sayamas, and the country.

Hope you can meet Saya U Kyaw Aye (Mech) who's still teaching at our revered institute. The sayas [irrespective of age, rank, or title] leave indelible marks on all of us. The SPZP is the beginning to honor and cherish all sayas and sayamas for their metta, cetana, ...

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           If you can dream and not make dreams your master
           If you can think and not make thoughts your aim
           If you can meet with triumph and disaster
           And treat those two impostors just the same ...

I'm not sure if the poem was written by Shackleton, the Antartic explorer, but folklore said that it was inscribed on the ship that he used for the explorations.

It's human nature to rail at setbacks and to bask in glory, but the poem reminds us that we should not dwell on successes and failures.

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With metta,
Hla Min