Twins!

In the summer of 2010, when Fawzia was holidaying in Outer Banks, North Carolina, she  bought a matching outfit for Shannon's mother Anna so they could be "twins".  

In Fawzia's Memory

Ishara Fernando lives in Boralessa, a village 30 miles north of Colombo, where our home "Pondside" is located. She is 10 years old and studies in Grade 5. Her father, Gamini, is a day laborer. He has three daughters and two have cleft lips. His wife is severely epileptic.

Ishara was examined by Dr. Romesh Gunasekera, a reconstructive surgeon. The note the doctor wrote is copied below. 

Doctor's Note

This child, Ishara Fernando, has been born with a cleft lip and cleft palate. The total cost of the operation which has to be done in 2 stages will be around Rs. 250,000. The first stage will be re do of lip and the front palate. The second stage after 6 months will be the the back of the palate.

Dr. Romesh Gunasekera

MBBS, MS, FRCS

Before surgery

Both  surgeries have now been completed at a cost of Rs. 300,000 (about US$2,500.) American donors contributed $800. 

Ishara now speaks without a lisp and attends school, no longer fearful of being taunted by her schoolmates.

After

Fawzia Braine Memorial Award

Fawzia Braine Memorial Award

For the Best Journal Article Published by a Novice Scholar

Fawzia Braine taught English for more than 30 years in Sri Lanka, the Sultanate of Oman, and Hong Kong. She qualified and served as a librarian in the United States. Fawzia was a lecturer in English at Hong Kong Shue Yan University when she passed away in January, 2012. She had been a supporter of HAAL for many years.

This annual award amounting to HK$2,500 is made in her memory to a novice scholar (postgraduate student or a recent graduate) of a university in Hong Kong for a journal article published in an international referred journal in applied linguistics.

The award is given through the Hong Kong Association for Applied Linguistics (HAAL).

At Jason Gleckman's wedding

My former colleague at the Chinese University, Jason Gleckman, got married in November, 2011. It was the last wedding that Fawzia and I attended together. At the reception, Fawzia and I shared a table with Mike McClellan, Chair of the Music Department at the university, and a professor from another department, both of whom I had known since my arrival at the Chinese University. 

For some reason, Fawzia insisted on posing for a few photos with Mike. This gesture now seems poignant because a few months after Fawzia's death, Mike was found unconscious in his flat at the Chinese University and passed away a few days later.

Fawzia's favorite family photo

This photo was taken at Mobile, Alabama, during a visit in 2001. Roy was working at Tallahassee, Florida, and Fawzia was still recovering after the surgery and chemotherapy for breast cancer. In 1989, after graduating from the University of Texas, my first job was at the University of South Alabama in Mobile. After she completed a Master's in Library Science in 1990, also from Texas, Fawzia's first job as a librarian was at Spring Hill College in Mobile.

Fawzia and I were visiting Roy in Florida and we decided on  trip to Mobile, about 5 or 6 hours away by road. Roy was driving the Mitsubishi Montero SUV that Fawzia had bought for him (I thought that an SUV was too large for a single guy) and we listened to Willie Nelson's "Jeatro" album which had just come out. Our first visit was to Fr. James Dorrill, who, as the Chair of the English Department, had hired me to teach at South Alabama. We then visited my former colleague Tom Brennan, who was living with Lei, his wife, in a lovely seaside home at Dauphin Island. He had retired a few years earlier.

The photo was taken by Sabrina, Tom's daughter, who was also visiting. The photo was Fawzia's favorite of the family. She had it enlarged and copied and placed them at all our places.

With school friends

In what is termed the "Punjabi" costume, during her school days. (Late 1960s)

At. St. Matthew's College, Dematagoda

Fawzia was the Head Prefect at St. Matthew's, where she attended secondary school. These photos are from her days there.

She was 18 when the photo below was taken, in school uniform.

 Fawzia carried away loads of prizes at the school's annual prize giving. Here she is winning the prize for "English Oratory - Seniors" (a hardback titled The Bronte Sisters which we still have) from Mrs. Malalasekera, the wife of Prof. G.P. Malalasekera, renowned scholar and diplomat, who was the Chief Guest seated at the table with M.H. Mohamed, the local MP and later the Speaker of Parliament and also a cabinet minister. For "Best All Rounder - Girls 1969", Fawzia was awarded Theodore Sorensen's monumental work Kennedy, published by Pan Paperbacks.

Fawzia is in the uniform of a Girl Guide. She was the leader of the troupe at St. Matthew's. 

Fawzia at the school's sports meet, standing at the extreme left.

Fawzia's was the flag bearer at the march past. The sports meet was held at the Colombo Oval, famous cricket grounds.

Shakespeare at Maharagama Teachers College, 1970-71

At Teachers College, our Shakespeare lecturer was Augustine Tambimuttu. Choosing students and young lecturers as his cast, he produced a Shakespeare play every year. Fawzia acted in "Midsummer Night's Dream" and "The Merry Wives of Windsor". In the former, she was a Fairy. In the latter, she played dual roles, as a Fairy and as Simple, servant to Slender. These photos, taken in 1970, are from "The Merry Wives". Mr. Tambimuttu is the one wielding a sword.

"Fawzia Braine's Sri Lanka"

Memie Kwok was more than Fawzia's doctor. They were friends. In the summer of 2011, Fawzia took Memie on a tour of Sri Lanka.
 
Memie is an artist, a diver, a photographer, a traveler, and a raconteur. The following link contains her delightful account of that tour. Enjoy.

http://memiewrite.blogspot.com/

Memie at Pondside

10th Wedding Anniversary (1983) in the Sultanate of Oman

At Maharagama Teachers College, Sri Lanka, 1970-71

Fawzia and I entered the teachers college in 1970 by examination. About 30 of us entered as "non-teachers" because we had no teaching experience. later about 200 more were admitted. They were "teachers", those who had taught English without being trained to teach. Some of these teachers were old enough to be the parents of the "non-teachers". In the last photo, the only "non-teacher" is Fawzia. At the center is Mr. Paul Pham, a visiting lecturer sent by a volunteer organization in Britain. (See last photo below.)

 Fawzia was the leader of the Girl Guide (Scouts) at Maharagama Teachers College. n the above photo, she poses kneeling in the front row.

From her ID card photo, probably taken in 1969. This is as I first saw her in 1970 at Teachers College.

George with Paul Pham in London. January, 2013. First meeting since 1971.

Fawzia in Saree

Fawzia wore a saree for the first time when she was a bridesmaid at the wedding of her friend Assanta Silva, probably in 1968 or 69. This photo was taken on that occasion. Fawzia was still in secondary school.

Fawzia's cousin Diane Noordeen comments: "Yes, officially the 1st time at Assanta's wedding, she was her bridesmaid, unofficially, at the big match of St. Mathews, she wanted me to tag along and made me promise not to tell anyone at home that she wore a saree.I broke the promise today." (The Big Match was the one between St. Matthew's College and St. John's College, both of Dematagoda. Fawzia attended St. Matthew's.)

Fawzia loved sarees and continued to wear them to formal occasions, and always to weddings. As this photo proves, she was gorgeous in saree.

A Memorial Gathering for Fawzia

At the home of Roy and Shannon in Maryland.

Memorial tablet at "Pondside"

Fawzia was buried at the Muslim cemetery at Raddolugama, where her mother and brother-in-law are also buried. Muslim cemeteries in Sri Lanka do not allow tombstones. 

A memorial tablet for Fawzia was therefore placed at "Pondside", our home in Sri Lanka.

From Miriam Meijer in Maryland

Miriam with Mandy (left) and Snoopy. She "inherited" them when Fawzia moved to Hong Kong from Conway, Arkansas, in 1996.

 

Dear George,

The news about Fawzia came as a real shock to me and I am very saddened by it. I cannot begin to imagine what you and Roy are going through right now. You have my sympathy and my condolences.  I am so very, very sorry that Fawzia is no longer with us.

Thank goodness she succeeded in getting American citizenship for Roy and herself, that she enjoyed seeing Roy get married, establish a good career, and that she met her granddaughter. She even got to see you retire after a successful career.

Fawzia was actually one of my longer-lasting friendships. She played a gigantic role in my life in Arkansas. My private life there improved greatly after I met Fawzia at a cultural event on campus. No one in Conway matched Fawzia in quality. She was very intelligent, cosmopolitan, knowledgeable, and politically liberal. She had a work ethic at a university where few seemed to have one. She had real integrity. Fawzia was sympathetic to other people and kept confidences. She was fun: always open to going out and doing something interesting. These characteristics are not as easily found in the general population as we would imagine them to be. I really appreciated the many delicious meals she prepared for me and others. We had a very good time when we, with Roy, drove to Texas and visited Sri Lankan friends.

Fawzia organized my meeting you when I had to give a paper in Mobile, Alabama. I remember like it was yesterday: arriving at your house, seeing that low Corgi smile in the door threshold, you inviting me inside to another fabulous Sri Lankan dinner. Mandy was always leaping in the air until you had to scold her to calm down!

After Mandy moved to Conway and picked up Snoopy, I took them on long walks to try to reduce my constantly increasing stress level. Fawzia was facing challenges on her job as well at that time but she managed to keep her job. Fawzia and I shared meals, concerts, lectures, festivals, museums, sightseeing, shopping, and trips. Over the years Fawzia has given me such beautiful gifts. Our friendship became one of my longer ones when she moved to the Washington metropolitan area. Most of the other Arkansas “friends” turned out to be typically American: superficially friendly with no substance. “Out of sight, out of mind”.

On August 30, 2008, Fawzia, Roy and Fawzia’s friend feasted the dogs and me. Fawzia took a lot of photographs that have become very precious to me because they became almost the last ones before the dogs had to be put down. (Mandy on 8 November and Snoopy ten days later.) Whenever I look at those photos I think of that day as the big party Fawzia and I shared with the dogs. The dogs ate up their Sri Lankan food so greedily that it made us laugh. Clearly they had missed it! Then someone said “Walk?” and the four of us strutted out as we had done so many times in Conway, Arkansas.

Roy visited the dogs early November and took a few more pictures. Mandy was sick at that time and I did not yet fully realize that Snoopy’s kidneys were shutting down. The Braines’ sincere compassion during Mandy and Snoopy’s final months was a testimony of love. I feel that the dogs are a permanent bond between us. I still dream about them but lately my dreams have Fawzia.

This made me realize how much she had impacted my life. It is said that you really do not appreciate someone until you experience their loss. Alas, that is all too true. I told my mother that I hoped Fawzia was with the dogs.

I wish you much strength and love.

The Moonstone painting

Dr. Memie Kwok kindly gifted us the Moonstone painting that she completed in Fawzia's memory. On a recent trip to Hong Kong, Roy took it back with him, and the painting will hang in the Maryland home where Shannon, baby Nelum and Roy live.


Our family is grateful to Memie for the painting. We'll cherish it for the rest of our lives.

With my dad and Beaula in Hong Kong

In 2006, my dad paid a visit to Hong Kong. Beaula also came from the States. 

In Sai Kung. My friends David and Jennifer Johns are also in the photo.

With Beaula at HK airport.

Birthdays

These two photos were taken on August 6, 2001, when my sister Beaula gave Fawzia a surprise birthday party at Dairyton Ct. Sandra Sourjah is also in the photo. Fawzia lost her hair after chemotherapy, and, when it grew back, it was a lovely silver.






















At another birthday, with Sandra.

With Nelum

Note from Theresa Connors to Fawzia

Dear Fawzia,

It will be so hard to say goodbye! During the past 4 years you have been my friend and esteemed colleague.

Although we come from the “far corners” geographically, we seem so close in our hopes, dreams, and ideals. We are truly sisters.

We have seen so many things together: the Cossatott River and our haunted ride home, Mt. Nebo and Petit Jean, Scenic 7 and many miles of Interstate. That strange Thanksgiving at my folks’ house, and my parents’ 50^th Anniversary. It has been such a comfort to know you were so near!

I hope we can continue to be close/ though so far apart. I look forward o future ALA conferences so we can see more of the world together.

There will always be a welcome place for you and your family … in my home and in my heart.

Best wishes,

Tess

Tess wrote this when Fawzia was leaving Arkansas for Hong Kong. Fawzia kept the note for more than 10 years.

From Gabrielle Soumah in California

Remembering Aunty

I remember aunty as a very generous woman and always welcoming to poor international students in Arkansas.  I know her  kindness made our stay at UCA (University of Central Arkansas) and she made your house feel like a home away from home.  I pray for you and your dad often, that you come to a good place after, where only the good memories of her live on.

I know aunty is in a better place, and is not in pain.  Until the day we meet again, I know her memory and the things that mattered to her will always live in our heart.  She is dearly missed by all of us.

                      

From Theresa Connors in Arkansas

Fawzia and I enjoying Mt. Nebo, a favorite place to view the summer
sunsets.(6/1996)

What do I remember most about Fawzia? Her smile of course, but also the way she made a song out of my name. Somehow this song represented me, and I will miss hearing her song.

I met Fawzia in Mobile, Alabama. She was going to be our new reference
librarian. I was the technical services librarian and didn't leave my office
very often as that was where my work was. I did meet Fawzia, and we were
quickly great friends. I later met George and it seemed like that summer was a “Merchant- Ivory summer”. We all enjoyed the films and discussing the films and the books the films were based on.

However, I was moving on to a job in Arkansas. Imagine my delight when a
short time later, Fawzia accepted a job in Arkansas as well. It was about 40
miles from my house, so we often toured the state, enjoying the beautiful
Ozark and Ouachita Mountains, or shopping trips to Little Rock. We went to
movies when possible. It was so nice to have her near, even as our jobs
seemed to give us less time and energy to do fun things.

Fawzia met all my immediate family when she went with me to my parent's 50^th anniversary in Bossier City, Louisiana. She never met a stranger, and soon fit right in with the crowd (I have 3 brothers and a sister). One of the
pictures shows Fawzia at the stove working away.

This past summer, Fawzia and Roy spent the weekend with me. It felt so great to see her again - but also as if no time had lapsed as our friendship was still so strong. Had I known that I would not see her again, would we have just sat at my home and talked for those hours? And the answer would have to be no, as seeing the sights has always been part of our friendship. As was shopping and eating out.

Fawzia was far too young to leave this life, I miss her and looking back
through my decades of photos has revived memories of time spent with the
best of friends. This Arabian Proverb describes her so well because she always remembered the best about her friend in Arkansas:

"A friend is one to whom one may pour out all the contents of one's heart,
chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and
sift it, keep what is worth keeping and with a breath of kindness blow the
rest away."

Fawzia at my parent's 50th anniversary (11/1995)

Fawzia with my sister, Connie, at home in my folks' kitchen, always ready
to help out (11/1995)

Here we all are in my Russellville apartment. I have this dated for
1995 before George moved to Hong Kong.

One of our many trips to the brewery at Kelts, in Altus, Arkansas - wine
county is here (5/1996)