March: Lion/Lamb, April Fool's and Happy Spring Break

Hello Friends,

We had a blustery end to March. Did it go out like a lion or did April sneak in a day early with those famous April showers that bring May flowers? You make the call!

Beware! April first is April Fool's Day. Look out for pranks and hoaxes. You have all day to prepare the perfect prank. Just be sure to shout, "April Fool!" Don't think that April Fool's Day is just an individual activity, use your Google Maps. Google will be bringing back the popular Ms. Pac-Man version for the day. Look out for other hoaxes.

April Fool's Day: Don't Trust Anything
Bored Panda Top 25 April Fool's Jokes
and here is a great April Fool's prank by a teacher: Spelling Test

Don't miss the end of March Madness on April 1 (not April Fool...It is April and still we are having March Madness) on CBS starting at 6:09 when South Carolina plays Gonzaga and then at 8:49 when Oregon plays UNC (or University of North Carolina). These semifinals are known as the Final Four. The championship game is April 3.

Have a happy spring break.
Meetings and classes will resume on April 11.

International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, room 100.
We read and discussed Acts 14:8-15:21. In the first part of the readings, we read about the travels of Paul and Barnabas. When they shared the good news with the people of Lystra and healed a crippled man, the people wanted to call them "gods" and give them sacrifices. Paul and Barnabas corrected them and pointed out that they were messengers from "the living God, who made heaven and earth sea and everything in them...who provides you with plenty of food and fills our hearts with joy (14:17)." Some Jews came to town and convinced the Lycaonians that they were blasphemers,  so the people stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city thinking he was dead. When the disciples gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. We talked about how this was an amazing and gracious act that took guilt from the people and strengthened them. Paul and Barnabas traveled throughout the area and then took a boat back to Antioch where they began bringing their mission to full circle. They reported to the church how the door of faith was opened to the Gentiles. In Acts 15:1-21 the church calls to Paul to come to a conference to decide whether or not people who were not Jewish as a heritage were required to follow the covenant laws (particularly circumcision). When everyone heard that God blessed the Gentiles with the gift of the Holy Spirit, they were very happy. Peter spoke up and said that since God didn't make any distinction between the Gentiles or the Jews in accepting and that "We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are." They came to the decision that following the traditions of the Jews would not be necessary. It isn't traditions and acts that save, but believing that God loves us and cares for us and saves us through Jesus. This is the first council meeting of the church. It is significant since it removes all barriers that humans would choose to put between us and God.

April 11: Let's read the rest of Acts 15 and into Acts 16

International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00, room 100.
We made our beautiful branches. It was fun to make this simple and very inexpensive project and enjoy very casual conversation.

April 11: Let's dye Easter eggs.
Bring white, hard boiled eggs and we will color eggs and talk about Easter traditions.

Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, room 201.
We enjoyed more poetry. We read the lighthearted, When Daddy Fell Into the Pond. We listened to and discussed the slam poetry What do Teachers Make. We discovered that even though the language may be simple, it is sometimes hard to understand poetry because we don't have a full appreciation for the culture and common experience behind the story being told. We talked about how slang and language evolution can impact our understanding, also. Shakespearean English differs from modern English just as American English differs from British English, but we did talked about the fact that there are universal truths that we all face that include: love, pride, honor, fear, humor...and poetry taps into these emotions using rhythm and structure of the language.

April 12: Let's talk about pages 2 and 3 in Easy English News. Also, We will read page 5 about Langston Hughes, American Poet.

English Classes: Thursdays, 9:30-12:00, upstairs classrooms.
We had quite the potpourri of English this week in our classes. Levels 1, 3 and Conversation met to listen and talk with Dr. Carrie Haifeng Xu who is a dentist at Care Dental. Dr. Xu told us that most dental problems are preventable with good care that includes brushing every eight hours (at least twice a day) and flossing at least once a day. She told us that dental problems are treatable and curable. Because most dental problems are caused by bacteria and effect our entire immune system, we can have other problems including heart disease. In many hospitals, patients can not have transplants until periodontal disease is resolved because the patient has a greater opportunity for death and organ rejection because of the bacterial infections in the teeth and gums can easily become bloodborne. Dr. Xu was so interesting to listen to and had many great answers. Interestingly enough, everyone could follow the discussion and the conversation across all of the levels.

Level 2 struggled with subject and verb agreement with nouns that are the same whether they are singular or plural.

For example: There is/are sheep on the hill.

When there isn't an article (a, the) paired with the noun, then we assume that the noun is plural. The answer here is "There are sheep on the hill." Otherwise the sentence would be "There is a sheep on the hill."

Now,  how about this one: There is/are many a sheep on the hill.

Don't get tricked. Someone may talk about "many a sheep" which is a plural noun because of the "many". The answer: There are many a sheep on the hill.


pranks: a practical joke for fun
hoaxes: a plan to deceive
resume: continue
"quotation (additional information).": when a period is included within the quotation it completes the thought of the quotation. When a period is included outside the quotation (In this sentence "for example". The thought is part of a larger statement. Be careful with all your punctuation!
came to town: arrive in a place; when someone comes to town it is usual something grand
blasphemers: people who lie about God
gracious: forgiving
door of faith was opened: people who were not Jews were taught about God's love and that they had direct access to God
conference: meeting
lighthearted: fun, happy
full appreciation: complete understanding of a situation or story
common experience: culture, normal everyday events that make up a way of living
Shakespearean: like that in the plays of William Shakespeare
universal truths: ideas that are true no matter who you are
potpourri: (PO-po-ree) pleasant mix
preventable: something doesn't happen because of other action
treatable: able to be corrected
curable: made whole or healthy
disease: sickness, not healthy
periodontal disease: gum disease
resolved: fixed or finished
bloodborne: carried in the bloodstream
how about: consider

The end of March

Hello, Friends.

This has been an exciting week for us. This was severe weather week in the Midwest. You may have heard the sirens go off twice on Tuesday: once in the morning and once in the evening. If you have school children, they probably practiced their tornado drills. Where do you go when you hear the sirens? What if you are driving in your car? What do you keep in the safe place in your home? NOAA publishes a PDF of severe weather safety tips that are particularly applicable to Midwest living. It is the last week in March. This month has flown. Since March came in like a lion, tradition has it that it will go out like a lamb. This March has been unseasonably cold with more snow than usual. The frost and cold hasn't daunted the spring flowers. They are still hanging in there. Watch the predictions, but don't put your gloves away, yet

March 20 was the vernal equinox (equal hours of night and day). Other signs of spring are the owls. The Great Horned Owls have been calling at night. These amazing birds hunt at night. Their calls carry for miles. This time of year you can hear them well since the trees are still bare. You may even see them in the trees. Great Horned Owls have a classic "Hoo Hoo" call. Owls are also a symbol of wisdom. Edward Webb wrote the poem The Owls Wisdom. Notice that this poem is one long sentence that never actually ends since he does not include a period at the end to complete the thought. This is a very interesting and unusual approach to expressing a thought.

Carmel is beginning construction on the intersections of Gray Road and Main Street and Gray Road and Smokey Row. There will be two more roundabouts installed. We do love our roundabouts! When you come to church you may need to come up with a new route. And speaking of roundabouts: you are supposed to signal when you intend to exit the roundabout. You should signal as soon as you pass the exit prior to the exit you want to take. This lets the other drivers' know that your intentions and allows them to move forward. The law states that you should always use your turn signal in an intersection and a roundabout is an intersection. The Carmel mayor is proposing an ordinance that has $100 fine attached to the ticket for not signaling in a roundabout. This is to ensure that people can move smoothly through these intersections and increase traffic flow as they were intended. Using your signal also takes the guesswork out of driving.

International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, room 100.

We had the most interesting discussion on Tuesday! Several of us had attended a seminar last Saturday, in which we learned about sharing the love of God with Muslims. Our discussion started with what we had gained from that experience, but it moved on to our general angst about sharing our faith with neighbors, co-workers, and friends. This morning, as I was browsing through recent Facebook posts, I came across a blog titled "What if All I Want is a Mediocre Life?".

"What if I am too religious for some and not spiritual enough for others? Non-evangelistic. Not bold enough. Yet willing to share in quiet ways, in genuine relationship, my deeply rooted faith. And my doubts and insecurities.
This will have to be enough."
(From a blog on Facebook by Krista O'Reilly Davi-Digui)

It is enough! God can and will do the work of evangelism. It brought back many of the thoughts shared at Tuesday's Bible Study. In the book of Acts we have read about the sermons of St. Peter and St. Paul. But what if we can't express our faith as eloquently as they did? We can still share the love of Jesus in small and simple ways and let people know that the reason for our hope lies in Jesus, who died and rose again for us.

March 28: We will continue with Acts 14. Please join our group for more fascinating conversations about the early Christian Church and what the Church today can learn from their experiences.

International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00, room 100.
We met for a planning session and to talk about emergency weather planning. Click on our International Friends Schedule to see our plans for the rest of the year.

March 28: By popular request, we will make a spring flower craft. Bring your scissors, some branches (you should be able to find plenty on the ground since our last wind), tissue paper (the paper that comes with shoes or as other wrapping is perfect, or bring colored tissue paper if you have it. If you have a glue gun, bring it. Here's what we will be making: Flower branches

Casual Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, room 201.
Conversations circled around poetry and the Easy English News articles. Discussions around Shakespeare's poetry including meaning and pronunciation were the highlight. It is so interesting and engaging to talk about abstractions that are expressed and inferred in poetry. Discussions comparing culture, crime, and government between the various countries following articles in the Easy English News were very interesting.

March 29 Let's watch some Slam poetry! Here is a link to help you write your own slam poetry. Here is a passionate performance by Taylor Mali. Find one to share! 

English Classes: Thursdays, 9:30-12:00, upstairs classrooms.

daunted: discouraged
still hanging in there: persevering
drills: training that requires specific behaviors or knowledge
applicable: relevant or appropriate
approach: a way of dealing with something as opposed to moving toward something
prior to: before
ordinance: a piece of legislation (a law that is under consideration) enacted by a municipal (relating to a city) authority
proposing: an idea presented for consideration
intentions: what you plan to do
takes the guesswork out of: makes something easy to do; helps to make confident decisions
seminar: a meeting for exchanging information and holding discussions
angst: a feeling of anxiety
browsing: looking at or glance at casually or randomly
mediocre: of only ordinary or moderate quality
evangelistic, evangelism: sharing the Gospel story
eloquently: having the power of fluent, forceful, and appropriate speech
fascinating: interesting
Church: it is capitalized here to indicate that we are writing about the Church as a proper name as opposed to church as a building
abstractions: dealing with ideas and not events
inferred: gathered through deductions

Happy St. Patrick's Day and have a great weekend!

Hello Friends,

I hope you feel better after the daylight saving time change that we had last Sunday. Experts say that it takes time for the body to adjust and recover from the time we lost, not to mention that people that are late to their activities and feel out of place for a few days after the time change.

Being tired can decrease productivity, concentration, and general well-being. Studies have found that setting the clocks forward for spring increases the risk of heart attacks, road accidents, and sleep problems:

A Swedish study in 2008 found that the risk of having a heart attack increases in the first three days after switching to DST in the spring. Losing one hour of afternoon daylight after setting the clocks back to standard time can trigger seasonal depressions like Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) or winter depression. A Danish study found an 11% increase in depression cases during after the seasonal change. The cases dissipated gradually after 10 weeks.

However, when it comes to car crashes and DST, there were less accidents after switching back to standard time, probably due to another hour sleep.

But now that we lost one hour to sleep and have one more hour to be awake and active, enjoy this wonderful Spring season, Spring is officially upon us on either March 1 or March 20, depending on your preference:

There are two different methods used for determining the dates of the seasons, and the method you choose will change the date the spring starts.

The Met Office often use the meteorological seasons, these are based on the annual temperature cycle and the state of the atmosphere. The meteorological seasons also co-ordinate with the calendar ad they consist of splitting the year into four three month seasons. Using this system the seasons are defined as: spring (March, April, May), Summer (June, July, August), Autumn (September, October, November) and Winter (December, January, February). By this system spring starts on March 1 and runs through until May 31.

The other system is to use the astronomical seasons these refer to the position of Earth’s orbit in relation to the sun taking into account equinoxes (when the length of the day is exactly the same as the length of the night) and solstices (the longest and shortest days of the year). If you want to get technical the astronomical calendar determines the seasons by when the Earth’s rotational axis is at a 23.5 degree in relation to its orbit around the sun.

By this system spring starts on March 20 and runs through until June 20.-Lupita Carrillo

International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, room 100

In Acts 13, St. Paul is on the road again on his first missionary journey, hoofing it from one end of the island of Cyprus to the other, with Barnabas and John Mark in tow. (See video) Again we see the same modus operandi. Paul and his companions consistently make their first appearance in a new town at the Jewish synagogue, where they tell the story of the nation of Israel and God's promise to them to send a Messiah. Then they testify about Jesus and how he fulfilled every one of God's promises. Sometimes their message is gladly received, and sometimes they are persecuted for what they are preaching, but in all their challenging and difficult situations, God is using them for good. 

We talked about problems that the Christian Church faces today, and that we need to trust that God can do great and mighty things, even in the midst of what might seem to some like chaos. When John Mark left Paul and Barnabas and returned to Jerusalem, it caused a rift between him and Paul. However, later we see John Mark and Barnabas setting off on missionary journeys of their own, while Paul and Silas traveled in other directions. All the while the Word of God was being preached throughout the world.

We also discussed how culture and traditions can sometimes get in the way of truth, a problem in St. Paul's time that can still be a problem today. We also talked about the beautiful story of God's love for us and how it becomes part of our language and our story. We read the Maasai Creed which tells how these people take this story and makes it their own. Chapter 13 ends with these words, "And the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit." May that be true for us, too!-Jan Heimann

March 21: Join us as we read Chapter 14

International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00, room 100

We made our brackets. That makes us real Hoosiers who love our hoops. I hope that you take the time to join the fun and participate in March Madness by watching some of the games in the tournament.

March 21: Join us as we plan our spring activities.

Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, room 201

We considered page seven and talked about the Civil War in the United States. We talked about the second most popular poem of Robert Frost. In this poem Mr. Frost talks about that green is gold. This is particularly poignant this time of year when we see our first green after the cold of winter.

March 22
We will continue to peruse Easy English News.
We will read and talk about the poem by Alfred Noyes

Daddy Fell into the Pond

Everyone grumbled. The sky was grey.
We had nothing to do and nothing to say.
We were nearing the end of a dismal day,
And then there seemed to be nothing beyond,
Then
Daddy fell into the pond!
And everyone's face grew merry and bright,
And Timothy danced for sheer delight.
"Give me the camera, quick, oh quick!
He's crawling out of the duckweed!" Click!
Then the gardener suddenly slapped his knee,
And doubled up, shaking silently,
And the ducks all quacked as if they were daft,
And it sounded as if the old drake laughed.
Oh, there wasn't a thing that didn't respond
When
Daddy Fell into the pond!

English Classes: Thursdays, 9:30-12:00, upstairs classrooms

Join our classes. We are happy to have you join us for the rest of our year!

feel better: be healthy of feel well after a period of feeling under the weather or out of sorts
not to mention that: briefly naming or listing

peruse: read

hoofing it: to walk

in tow: in the state of being towed or pulled along

modus operandi: (Latin) method of operating or working

in the midst of:  in the middle of 

chaos:  (KA oss) a state of utter confusion or disorder

rift:  an opening made by splitting, cleaving, etc.

Make your bracket picks!

Join the International Friends and fill out your bracket do who will win the Basketball championship

Click on this link

Or copy and paste in your browser:

https://mauth.cbssports.com/login?xurl=http%3A%2F%2Fintlfriends.mayhem.cbssports.com%2Fbrackets&master_product=25183

Have Fun!

Hello Friends,

I think we made it through the doldrums of winter, even though we are supposed to get snow this week. I am predicting that this will be our last snow, since my magnolia is blooming. It always blooms just before the last snow of the year. I have to say that it is a very reliable predictor! If you doubt it is spring, never fear! Sunday we Spring Forward or set our clocks forward one hour (and don't get me started...Indiana didn't follow this ritual for years, but now it does. Yes, you will wake up in the dark, once again!)

There is so much going on this week! The very fine holiday of St. Patrick's Day is Friday. This is the only time you are excused from being a Hoosier and you are required to be Irish! Enjoy corned beef and cabbage (no, they don't eat it, ever, in Ireland) and green beverages. DON'T FORGET TO WEAR GREEN!

St Patrick's Day Parade
Georgia Street St. Pat's Party, March 14, 2–10 p.m., free, Georgia Street, downtownindy.org 
McGinley's Golden Ace  2533 E. Washington St., 317-632-0696,goldenaceinn.com
Nine Irish Brothers,  575 Massachusetts Ave., 317-964-0990, nineirishbrothers.com
Claddagh Irish Pub on 96th Street: don't miss the fun all week beginning with the Guinness glass etching on Monday and ending with the Saturday bands. 

Just in case you thought that St. Pat's was only for the Irish, join the fun at the Rathskeller (yes this German restaurant hosts a big St Pats Bash), 401 E. Michigan St., rathskeller.com

Other Pubs in the Carmel area:
The Brockway on Old Meridian
Danny Boy Brewing in West Clay

The Session at the Bent Rail in Broadripple on Sunday, March 19, 3:00-5:00

Finally, you can look forward to:
First day of Spring: March 20

And when all is said and done, you can recover with
Tai Chi For Health

Slante! (Irish for Cheers!)

International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, room 100

Idioms are so fascinating, and they can be a real challenge when you are learning a new language. You may know the meaning of the word "kick" (to strike with the foot), and you may know what a "bucket" is (a deep cylindrical vessel, usually of metal, plastic, or wood, with a flat bottom, used for collecting, carrying, or holding water, sand, fruit, etc.), but the meaning of the idiom "kick the bucket" is so different from the component parts! It means "to die." Here is another idiom: "Spread the word!" As we read Acts Chapter 13, it becomes clear that the Holy Spirit was giving the believers in the early Christian Church a mission to "spread the word," that is, "to tell many people some kind of information." They chose Paul and Barnabas to preach the Good News of Jesus the Savior to the whole world. The information, in this case, was that God loves us all so much that He sent His son Jesus into the world to take the punishment for our sins, to die on the cross, and to rise again.

We also read about a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus or Elymas. He opposed Saul and Barnabas when they shared the Word of God with the proconsul on the island of Cyprus. Elymas was struck blind for his deceit and trickery and opposition to God.

March 14: This week we continue our discussion of Acts 13. We would love to have you join us!

International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00, room 100

We learned to juice! Juicing is taking the fiber out of fruits and vegetables leaving the nutrients and liquid behind. Jucing has become a dietary trend for cleansing your system. Juice bars are very popular. We learned some recipes and techniques for green juices and smoothies. 

March 14: Join us as we taste the classic corned beef and cabbage, talk about St. Patrick's Day and make our March Madness picks.

Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, room 201

Well, we started off looking at the article about Judge Gorsuch in Easy English News, but got distracted by the current events that may be impinging on the hearings surrounding the Judge's appointment. That being said, we guessed that this news won't change next week since something is always coming up in American politics that takes precedence! We talked about dentistry and our professions. We talked about Venezuela and the different countries that make up South and Central America. No, the people that live there don't want to be called "Americans," they want to be identified with their country. We talked about the fact that although most people speak Spanish, there are many dialects and accents of that language that are spoken. There are regional dialects here in the United States. You can check if you are a Rebel or Yankee. Rebel (from the South) Yankee (from the North) are the two major dialects in the United States. Of course there are many other (Great Lakes, East Coast, mountain: Rocky or Smoky, etc. etc.) but we practice the perfect American Accent here at International Friends!


We did not get to our poetry discussions (and we aren't surprised). 

March 16: Let's make sure we talk about:

• Page 7 in Easy English News

• Road Less Traveled by Robert Frost (see last week's update)

• Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf,
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day
Nothing gold can stay.

English Classes: Thursdays, 9:30-12:00, upstairs classrooms

and don't get me started: a saying for get ready, I am about to complain 
ritual: a habit that is followed

when all is said and done: finished
bash: party
idiom: an expression whose meaning is not predictable from the usual meanings of its constituent elements

read: in this case it is pronounced "reed" and not "red" and we know that because 

proconsul:  an official who acted as governor or military commander of a province
precedence: priority

dialects and accents: dialects include pronunciation and structure while accents generally only refer to pronunciation

March winds and madness

Hello Friends,

March came in like a lion! This is really good news because this guarantees a great trip into April. We got a good taste of March winds on Friday. Whew! And then we got some some more snow. March is characterized as being the classic kite flying month. Be sure to try it.

March kicks off a bunch of great traditions. Being Hoosiers, we are very excited about March Madness which means college basketball tournaments. Be sure to join us for our March Madness picks at International Friends. March often is the month for spring break for college students. There is a great migration of young people on road trips to the beach. They are exchanging with the snow birds who are heading back up north with the great weather.

March is the great beginning of getting out and about. I had a great day (on Saturday) getting out and visiting places I don't usually go and running into old friends. Carmel isn't a big town. It is so absolutely wonderful for reconnecting with people you haven't seen during the winter.

International Church Services: first Thursday of the month, 12:15
It was good to meet and listen and sing with Pastor Borg. Our next service is April 6.

International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, room 100
We read Acts 12.  Peter was sound asleep in prison the night before his trial. He was bound with two chains. He was guarded by sixteen soldiers. Would you be able to sleep under those conditions? Most people wouldn't have slept a wink. Peter's faith in Jesus gave him such peace of mind that he was not afraid of what the future would hold for him.

An angel released his chains, led him past the sentries, opened locked doors and gates and led Peter to a familiar street near a house that the believers often used for their gatherings. There he knocked on the door until a servant girl named Rhoda came. When she recognized Peter's voice, she got so excited that she ran back to the group of believers who had been praying for Peter's release, leaving Peter standing at the unopened door! When she announced, "Peter is at the door!" they told her she was crazy. Think about it! They had been fervently praying for Peter's release from prison. God had answered their prayers, but at first they couldn't believe it. Eventually they did go to the door and let Peter in. Hilarious!
March 7: Please join us as we read and discuss Acts 13, an account of the beginning of Paul's missionary journeys. 

International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00, room 100
We enjoyed a delicious Cajun/Creole lunch for Mardi Gras at Mudbugs. We tried gumbo, etouffee, jambalaya, red beans and rice, dirty rice and so much more. It was fun to get out and brave the holiday crowds. The line was out the door for the lunch rush, but we heard that things died down for an hour or two late in the afternoon before picking up again for the evening.

March 8: Join us as we learn to make delicious and nutritious smoothies and juices with Lupita.

Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, room 201
We listened to and then discussed the poem by Robert Frost The Road Not Taken. We enjoyed deciphering what particular words meant: were we to take them on face value or was Mr. Frost implying something else? We liked the image of a "yellow wood": did that mean in the early fall (late in life'season) or young trees? We talked about whether our decisions are permanent or if we can go back and try a route another time. How many do overs can you get in life? In this poem, Mr. Frost doesn't think he will ever really come back and take the road not take just because life is like that and it isn't a bad thing. What do you think about how he ends this poem? I will quiz you! Look out!

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

March 9: We will talk about the appointment (or not) of Judge Gorsuch from the Easy English News and current events. Bring a poem to share.

English Classes: Thursdays, 9:30-12:00, upstairs classrooms
I enjoyed meeting with each of the classes. American Accent Training had a fun exercise where they read the following: 

Yes, English can be weird.  It can be understood through tough thorough thought, though.

Go ahead and practice these words on your own. Ask your teacher to help you if you have questions.

March 10: Join us as we meet to talk about interesting thing in English. 


a great trip: no, we aren't traveling...we are talking about moving forward in time
a good taste of: in this case we aren't talking about eating, we are talking about experience
classic: something that is typical or usual
kicks off: a great football idiom meaning "begins"
road trips: traveling in the car with a destination in mind, but not necessarily a schedule
snow birds: senior citizens who travel to warmer climates for the winter; Midwestern retired people are snow birds
out and about: leaving your usual home territory
running into: meeting by chance
sound asleep: deeply sleeping
trial: legal proceeding to determine guilt or innocence as opposed to a difficult period in life
would not have slept a wink: unable to even close your eyes for a short rest; this is always used as a negative (I didn't sleep a wink last night because of the storms/baby/dogs/traffic/worry/coughing)
peace of mind: calm
sentries: soldiers stationed at a place to stand guard
fervently: having or showing great warmth or intensity of feeling, spirit, enthusiasm, etc.
hilarious: extremely funny
so much more: et cetera
brave the holiday crowds: go to something even though there will be many people there
nutritious: full of good vitamins
(lunch or dinner) rush: popular time to attend
picking up again: get busy

take on/at face value: direct meaning 
were/was: were (plural) because of the "we"; "was" (singualr) because of the Mr. Frost

implying: hinting at another idea
image: mind picture

do overs: kids will use this to have a second chance in a game where the game is restarted at a certain point so that new opportunities can happen

quiz: ask you; a little test
go ahead: when someone says this they mean that you have permission; parents will tell their kids that they can go ahead and have more cake!