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