"We have people who have come from all over North America and even Europe,” commented Gerard Rodrigues, team leader of the event. "Some of our couples have journeyed from Canada and far away as England," he said. Past Locations of the Goan reunions have been every where from Rhode Island to Washington DC

One of the highlights of the evening was a Konkani skit called Soirikek Vetam,” written and directed by Anthony Diniz, that humorously followed two young Goan men living and working abroad who return to Goa, India to find a nice Goan girl to marry. One young man, living and working in the us for McDonalds solicits the help of a matchmaker and together they go to the house of Alemao, the girl he wants to marry. Meanwhile another young man, straight from the gulf and loaded with “gifts “ and jewelry, simultaneously arrives felling pretty confident that he can win Alemao on his own. Of course the matter of the dowry comes up and both men and the girl’s parents get into the act. The audience on board ship thoroughly to enjoy the confusion on stage.
“Being Goan is a matter of coming from Goa and having either a family root there or having lived there,” commented Gerard Rodrigues. “ That means we’re everybody, not just Catholics. Goans are Hindus, Muslims and Jains, because as you know, Goa has residents from all over India.” He said. Terrance Mascarenhas, current president of G.O.A and a recent graduate from Cal Berkeley, said he hoped events like this would inspire young people like himself to embrace their Indian Goan heritage.

Relinquished reluctantly by the Portuguese in 1962, Goa’s 131 km coastline has been called “ the pearl of the East.” Originally part of the Mauryan empire and latter ruled by the Satvahanas of Kolaphur, Goa even survived a Muslim invasion by the Sultan of Gulbaraga around 1469 and the Adil Shah of Bijapur, Finally when Dutch, French, British and Portuguese all wanted to control it Alfonso. De Albuquerque of Portugal led an invasion in 1510 securing Goa as a Portuguese territory for nearly four centuries. Now the top spot for Indian and European tourists from November to February, Goa ranks as India’s gem of resort areas with a growing market of tourist junkets for native Indian’s who are currently taking advantage of discounted monsoon season hotel and airline rates. Even time shares have made Goa a prime investment for developers and home owners.
The menu brochure for the Queen Mary celebration also featured delicious Goan recipes of mango curry, rice pudding and hot “chillie” chicken. Dancing through the night was punctuated by a traditional Goan dance in custome by selected men and women.