Happy

New 

Year

All the best for a fabulous 2021!

Nutcracker Ballet

 Another great opportunity to enjoy the fabulous arts in your own home. Enjoy the Butler Ballet perform the classic Nutcracker.

Butler Ballet Presents the Nurcracker

Recipe and Reminder

 Happy Holidays, Friends!

We are on break this week and next week, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t talking and sharing recipes! How about this dish from Yuri for your holiday dinner table? 

how about is a phrase meaning a suggestion follows

See you on Zoom in January!

グラタン, Japanese Casserole

Ingredients:

1/2 thin sliced onion

1/2lb small piece of chicken

5 sliced mushrooms

1 potato cut into small pieces

Corn as much as you like

a handful of green vegetables like spinach, asparagus, or Broccoli

butter

100g penne

1 box of cream sauce powder

500ml milk

Salt

Shredded mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Cut chicken and vegetables.
2. Boil penne for 7 minutes. Microwave cut potato for 1.5 minutes.
3. Sauté onion with butter. Then, add chicken and mushrooms and sauté until they turn brown.
4. Add the creamy sauce powder and milk, and cook them well. After the sauce starts to boil, add green vegetables, corn and penne. Add a little bit salt.
5. Rub butter in the casserole and pour the batter in it. Put some shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on it.
6. Bake it at 420F for 15 minutes. When the cheese is slightly burnt and crispy, it is ready to eat.

Preparing for Christmas and Wrapping Up the Year

 Merry Christmas and happy new year, Friends!

There is so much hope and joy in the Christmas season. Usually people attend parties, give gifts and share happy greetings. Friends and families travel to get together and celebrate. Here in our community, many of our Friends would take this long break to return to their home countries to spend quality time with family. Individually, we have watched our children grow and move away and have lost family members and that changes how we celebrate from year to year. This year we are all in the same boat. We are all facing some of the same life changes and we all remain apart, physically. Things happen fast, and one of our biggest take aways is to enjoy the moments with family and friends and make loving memories that last. 

The very best wishes for happy holidays and a wonderful 2021!

Wrapping Up 2020 and Looking Forward to 2021

We wrapped our 2020 year of classes. Thanks to you International Friends meetings are still happening through the pandemic and into the new year. We maintained over the summer and grew our offerings in the fall. While we lost students and a few teachers, we gained students and teachers near and beyond the boundaries of the greater Indianapolis area, Indiana and the United States. As International Friends looks to 2021, we look at how we can break the time zone barrier and become a school that offers fun, friendship, food (and maybe even more than virtual field trips) beyond physical borders!

Are you interested in joining our meetings or classes in the new year? 

1. Look at what we offer: Our Meetings and Classes
2. Check the day and time of the class.
3. Sign up and to get our Zoom links: Register for Our Meetings
4. I will send you the Zoom links.**

Do you have questions? Email Carolyn directly: indyintlfriends@gmail.com.

* Our classes are all scheduled at Eastern Standard Time. Be careful of day changes.

**Note: our preschool class link is separate to preserve our little ones' privacy and safety.

Words This Week:

Quarantine This year life really took a turn for the whole world all at the same time. Pandemics and quarantines are not new to the world. The Current tells that the word quarantine comes from the Italian language when ships arriving in Venice, Italy would have to sit for 40 days before docking in port in the 1400s to avoid spreading the bubonic plague.

Isolate Remain apart from others. Examples of isolating during this pandemic included people getting hotel rooms to be separated from infected family members, college students being restricted to bedrooms or dorm rooms, senior living facilities restricted people to their apartments and delivered meals to their doors. 

Candy Canes Candy canes are a traditional holiday treat. Folklore tells us that stick candy was given out to the children to keep them quiet during the long Christmas church services in Germany. The crook or bend on top made the candy more relevant for the season. How many times do practical solutions become traditions that warm our hearts and help us to tell our stories?

Companion, Partner, Couple: These words are often interchanged, but there are some significant differences in their social meaning. Companions keeps you company or hang out with you. Partners imply people who work and conduct business as a team (your spouse is your partner in life). Couples usually mean people in a sweetheart situation.

Searching for Lights and Other Fun

Have you gone for a drive through neighborhoods to see Christmas lights? Have you noticed that Christmas decorations tend to be contagious? Once one house on the block decorates and next thing you know, the neighbor decorates, and next thing you know the whole street is decorated.

• The Original Christmas Light Finder
• Bundle Up for 20 For Fun With These 20 Indiana Traditions

See You Next Year!

And, that reminds me....

If it is Tuesday, December 15:

LAST Saturday means December 12

THIS Saturday means December 19

NEXT Saturday means December 26

COVID-19 News

We can have protection, but it is only as good as the action people take to get vaccinated.

• Walgreens is one of the vaccine distributors. Find out more and be informed from this great site. One key take away is that having a vaccine is not the same as vaccinations. 
• CVS is another distributor. Visit this webpage to understand more about COVID tests and vaccine distribution.

Stories and More: Monday, 10:30-11:30. Next meeting January 4, 2021.

We learned about the meaning behind traditional Christmas decorations with the book My Christmas Story Tree by Dr. Mary Manz Simon. Cornerstone Lutheran Church gave the gift of this book to our children so they could learn the meaning behind decorations in celebration. We decorated trees with the traditional ornament, shapes and talked about our colors.

American Sign Language: Monday, 5:30-6:30. Next meeting January 4, 2021.

We packed in a bunch of holiday vocabulary and tested our skills with a little conversation. Here are two more stories from our class for you to enjoy. 

• Polar Express
• The Snowy Day

International Bible Study: Tuesday, 9:30-10:30. Next meeting January 5, 2021.

Luke 5:1-11 is the ultimate interview. Jesus is preaching to the crowds and then recruits Peter, James and John all fishermen to become his disciples (followers) and then leaders and teachers. Jesus chose patient men who would work tirelessly. 

We read the Christmas story as it is told across all the Gospels:

Mary is told about her son in Luke 1: 26-38 and sings her joy in Luke 1:46-55

Joseph is told about his son in Matthew 1: 18-24

We marveled that these people were called to a job of raising God's Son. The circumstances are very unusual! Mary isn't married to Joseph. Joseph accepts Mary as his wife. Jesus is not going to be the firstborn son that a father would expect

Jesus is born and angels announce his birth to shepherds: Luke 2: 1-20

Angels announce. Shepherds go and see for themselves. The shepherds rushed to tell others.

Jesus is visited by Maji: Matthew 2: 1-12

Kings follow the signs in the sky and travel to see for themselves. This is a very interesting story of worship and politics.  

This Christmas lesson we read that people follow or lead according to their calling. Jesus declares the true meaning of life with God and makes people's lives better. People He was raised by Mary and Joseph, who accepted parenting him and caring for him. Angels announce. Shepherds keep watch but then become messengers. Kings worship. Whatever our calling.

International Friends: Tuesday, 10:30-12:00. Next meeting January 5, 2021.

Virtual cookie day was fun! We were able to create some beautiful cookies and share the experience. It was surprising how fast the morning flew by!

We talked about recipes from past International Friends Cookie Days and reminisced about Friends who baked with us. Check out all our Cookie Recipes from Christmas Past and Present 

Afternoon Conversation: Wednesday, 4:30-6:00. Next meeting January 6, 2021.

We talked about hot drinks that are popular in the winter season in our home countries. 

• In Japan, amazake (made with sake kasu, water, sugar and ginger) and this year Milo is popular.
• In Taiwan a hot alcohol soup warmed over charcoal burners and shared street side and hot chocolate.
• In Mexico, atole made from ground corn (masa) and Abulita hot chocolate is popular. Champurrado is atole made with chocolate, the best of both.

We talked about celebrating this season in our home countries and compared with our American experiences. While Christmas is a religious co, people will celebrate in many countries in a secular way. To be clear...as a Christian, the actual religious time spent on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day is about one hour in church worship (except for the pastors, priests, choirs, musicians, who prepare and practice).

In Japan, people send out new year cards with family pictures and greetings. Each card has personal statement handwritten. Christmas is a secular holiday

English Classes: Thursday, 9:30-12:00. Next meeting January 6, 2021.

It was great to wrap up the year with you. Have a great break!

End of the Week Conversation: Friday, 10:30-12:00. Next meeting January 7, 2021.

We wrapped up the year talking about many things including our names. We observed that our neighbors and acquaintances attempt to say our names as we pronounce them and want to call us what we want to be called. People insist on calling us by our "preferred" name even if they mispronounce it (or pronounce it with an American English accent). And when we want them to call us what we think is a common American name, they still want to use our given name. We wondered why people try so hard when we are perfectly happy to use a name that is more common (we think) and American?

• Americans have nicknames. These can be shorted versions of their longer name (MJ for Mary Jane or AJ for Andrew James or Andrew Junior), Sam for Samuel, Amy for Manami. Or they could be a name they picked up from life that have nothing to do with their original name (Seven, Gaga, Babe-pronounced BAYB).
• Americans love to create new names or spell usual names creatively: Abcde (ab-seh-dee), Karye (Kair-ee), or use names from other countries. Your name may be unusual, but everyone's are.
• People may say your name with a different accent than yours. Expect your name to be pronounced with an American accent, a Spanish accent, a Chinese accent, etc. 
• Most Americans are not originally from this country. It is fun to compare first and last names. They are from all over!

So much to say!

Click here for your best experience with this Update directly from our website!

Merry Christmas, Friends.

Most of us are going to sit tight (as usual of late). Meanwhile, I hope that you are having a great time preparing for the holidays. It is exciting and relaxing waiting for boxes and boxes of deliveries: "Is it food? Is it Amazon? When did I order this? OOPS! That was FROM "Santa" TO me!" Frankly, I may never go into a store again because this is too easy and fun!

We had many great discussions this week about how different this year is from the past. But some traditions and treats must happen: drive through Steak n Shake for an Egg Nog or Peppermint shake (both are great to spike!).  Take time to go for a drive and see Christmas lights. Try some on line grocery ordering and delivery or curbside pickup and give some work to a private shopper (oohhh, so fancy!).

Go Out and Get Wild

Great field trips to see wildlife in Indiana include:

• The Sandhill Cranes at Jasper Pulaski Park. The cranes continue to meet and feed here since the weather has been so night. Plan your road trip for the early morning launch or evening landing which are the best time to see these amazing birds.
• Wolf Park near Lafayette, Indiana provides the opportunity to see and learn about these amazing animals. Tickets run about $12.00. 4044 E 800 N, Battleground, IN 47920
• The Exotic Feline Rescue Center is closed due to the pandemic, but put it on your list for a visit.
• Wolf Creek Habitat and Rescue in Brookville is open Saturday and Sunday 11:00-4:00.
• Wild Winds Buffalo Preserve has high ratings. They are open for tours Saturdays 10:00-4:00

Up in the Skies

While the weather in Indiana continues to be very warm, we have a chance to see the Northern Lights here in the Midwest (a very rare occasion in Indiana...not since 2001!). Peak viewing was on Thursday, but light pollution and cloud cover may hinder viewing. Listen and watch on Fox 59.

A Christmas Star is a symbol of hope and joy. Jupiter and Saturn will be the closest together since 1226. Their proximity The next time will be in 2080. From December 16-25 the planets will be closer together than the moon. On December 21, which is the Winter Solstice, the planets will be the closest together.

What makes this alignment even more special is that it is occurring around Christmas. In the story of the birth of Jesus, a star led the wise men to see Jesus during a time fraught with political strife. Here is a nice article about With Three Reasons the "Christmas Star "of 2020 is Bringing So Much Hope. the story in Matthew 2. And here is Ella Fitzgerald singing this traditional carol. You can sing along!

COVID-19

Woo Hoo! The vaccines are on their way! The COVID headline dashboard has been replaced with COVID-19 Information! Indiana received our first shipment of more that 55,000 vaccines. They will be distributed soon to "at risk" populations. As vaccines continue to come into Indiana on an ongoing basis, they will continue to be given out to people. Read all about it!

• Indiana Vaccination Information and Planning
• Indiana Vaccination Fact Sheet from the Department of Health
• Vaccine Safety
• Contact Tracing Phone Number:  Answer your phone if you get a call from 833-670-0067. This number may be an unknown contact and they won't leave a message.

Meanwhile, our cases keep going up so, keep up your guard and practice all your COVID-19 safety measures. Enjoy this Mikey Bustos reminder spoof video made way back in March!

Volunteering and Self Building

You may not have a work permit, but you can volunteer and build your knowledge and experience while helping in our community. COVID-19 has put a strain on our schools, hospitals, long-term care facilities and so much more. You can help! Sign up for opportunities here.

Check out Saylor Academy for online classes and materials are free of charge (if you want to take the test with a proctor the charge is $25). The coursework credits may be accepted by other Universities and. But regardless, it is documentable work to add to your resume. 

Stories and More: Monday, 10:30-11:30

In addition to reading the excellent story Snow by Uri Shulevitz,

we did some great crafts: cutting out and sorting snowflakes by color then counting them and making a snowflake out of cotton balls. Cotton balls are also fun for a snowball fight! 

We talked about how to get our preschoolers ready for Kindergarten. Reading aloud with your children is a number one activity for readiness or being prepared for school. Older children can read aloud to you and to youngsters.  Best Children's Picture Books About Winter and Snow

Indiana Kindergarten Readiness Assessment: these matrices may look complicated at first glance. Take time to look at what targets are set. These expectations help you to anticipate how your children will adapt.

• English and Language
• Mathematics
• Personal Care
• Physical
• Social Emotional

December 14: We will wrap up the year making traditional ornaments and read a book that tells why these ornaments are decorations for the season.

American Sign Language: Monday, 5:30-6:30

Risking is the toughest part of learning a new language. Risking signs is pretty tough because general understanding is easily lost. Risking with sign language is pretty easy because all you need are a couple key words to communicate your content. In the spirit of Christmas: here is the story of How the Grinch Stole Christmas signed by Shaylee who is five years old. 

December 14: Join us to wrap up this year of signing! Signing and singing on Zoom works very well! Here is a great article about Sign Language Christmas Songs and Carols. These are perfect way to express your self during the pandemic and for the season!

Let's sing Silent Night.

International Bible Study: Tuesday, 9:30-10:30

We wrapped up talking about Luke 4 with verses 38-44. The Bible editors headline this story "Jesus Heals Many". In our discussion, we noticed that a good headline might be "Jesus Rebukes Many". Luke tells three stories:

• Luke 4:38-39: Jesus heals Simon's mother-in-law by rebuking the fever (she gets up and serves him). Who can call out an infection? 
• 40-41: Jesus heals many people of diseases (and diseases are dirty, messy) and demons by laying his hands on them. The demons call him "Messiah" and he rebukes them. Does he need them to shout his credentials? 
• 42-44: Jesus goes to a solitary place and the people follow him to make him stay with them. He rebukes the people and tells them that his job is to proclaim the good news to other people so they can benefit, too.

We talked about how as professionals, the right cure or solution depends on the nature of the problem or disease. Such great discussions!

Luke 5: 1-11 tells the story of how Jesus recruited the 12 disciples. 

International Friends: Tuesday, 10:30-12:00

We talked about "cookie day". This is one of our most popular days when we could meet together. We make coveted cut out Christmas favorites. We mentioned some favorites from the past. Americans LOVE chocolate chip cookies, but every cookie exchange has a prohibition on this cookie! Here is a recipe to get around that unfair rule! 

Our Christmas Cookie recipes are posted on our pages. We talked about other sweets: check out the Lagnappe at the bottom of our list. I am looking forward to trying these suggestions with our Friends' help.

December 15: Prepare your cut out doughs in advance (so you can cut, bake and decorate together). I will also demonstrate Spritz cookies.

Afternoon Conversation: Wednesday, 4:30-6:00

We had a really fun time talking about the things we love. 

And we enjoyed classical music with a modern flair. Fur Elise video.

English Classes: Thursday, 9:30-12:00

Our classes are so interesting! It was nice to visit around a bit. We always seem to have the same things on our minds. Here is Bill's Tip for the week. This word came up in conversation within our school in a number of conversations and contexts. 

End of the Week Conversation: Friday, 10:30-12:00

We all enjoy our meeting together at the end of the week. It is nice to welcome daughters to our meeting! We talked about our pleasures and past times. We talked about trying new hobbies and exploring new interests. We found out that we all enjoy trying new things but always gravitate to the things that we do best.

The Great Countdown!

 Hello Friends,

It is the Most Wonderful Time of the Year! We are adjusting to a New Normal, we are seeing some great new traditions being established. There are fabulous opportunities available for us to enjoy performances via our computers. We can meet and see each other across distances. Hopefully, a COVID vaccination will bring us all together face to face sooner than later. Hopefully, we can continue the new traditions and methods of greeting each other.

December 1, Advent and Calendars and the final countdown

An Advent calendar counts down the days before Christmas. You can purchase calendars that have treats behind numbered doors. These have become more and more popular in recent years. In the United States, Christmas is both a secular and religious holiday. 

By secular, Christmas is a time for all people to celebrate friendship and charity and gift giving. Santa Clause is a focal character for children. It is a time to share love and joy and good will. It is a time to wear gaudy sweaters and eat cookies. 

As a religious holiday, it is a time for people to anticipate and celebrate the birth of Jesus as the Son of God. The four weeks before Christmas (December 25) are marked down and celebrated. Some churches offer midweek services to prepare for Jesus' birthday. Nativity scenes that recreate the idea of the birth story told in Luke

Holiday Performances You Can Enjoy Anywhere

And yes, if you don't live in Indy, you can "attend" virtually!

• Dave Koz live virtual concert from the Center for the Performing Arts, December 12 at 8:00pm Eastern time. The $35.00 "ticket" gives access to the concert to one device and downloads of two albums. Click to reserve your "seats".
• Carmel Symphony Holiday Pops concert December 14, 7:30-9:30 Eastern time). Virtual tickets cost $30.00. Click for more information and get your pass.
• Holiday Lights by the Civic Theater 
• Elf the Musical on demand December 4-December 26 or watch with others at a specific time. 

More Holiday Lights and Events to Enjoy 

• Lights Over Seminary, Noblesville, 5:00-11:00. 200 10th Street, Noblesville. Walk or drive holiday lights sponsored by Duke Energy. The article tells the history of and explains the meaning of “seminary” (not to be confused with cemetery).
• Noblesville Santa Routes: Santa is riding around the neighborhoods in Noblesville! Check the schedule to see when and where he will be ro wave hello! 

More Movies

Southern Living has a list of Christmas holiday centered movies. Not everyone is nice...Die Hard, the Grinch to name two.

Being Relevant While in the United States

iWi presented a great seminar on getting yourself ready for the workforce after a gap. Sometimes your visa may not allow you to work for money while in the United States. This doesn't mean that you have to take a break from building your knowledge, skills, abilities or experience while living here. You do not have to have a gap that says you lived abroad. 

• Volunteer your services with an organization to stay relevant in your field or to gain experience in a new field.
• Update or write your resume in English using the American style to help you think about your career from a new perspective.
• Participate in classes online in your field through YouTube. Many Universities have taped lectures. TED talks are another way to build your knowledge. Document your self study.
• Take an assessment to help gauge areas for improvement and then look for ways to improve. One favorite for confidence building is Brene Brown. Her webpages have assessments and workbooks to go along with her books 

COVID-19 Update

Quarantine vs isolation and for how long? If you or someone in your household has been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID -19 your household should quarantine (stay at home) for 14 days. The person who tests positive should isolate (limit contact with people in your home) for 14 days or until symptoms disappear. Rad more: When to Quarantine from the CDC.

Zoom Access Problem Resolution

If you or your family have getting into Zoom classes or meetings:

• Try a different device: your phone, tablet or lap top. 
• Log all the way out of Zoom and then log in using the ID that you use for that class or meeting. Sometimes someone else is logged into Zoom and security won't let an unknown person log in.
• Restart your computer or laptop and or clear the cache. Sometimes you computer just needs to start all over again!
• And, direct from Zoom: Sign in before clicking the link (be sure you sign using the identification you use for International Friends) and open a new tab in your browser. Sign in through this link Sign In - Zoom. After signing in click the link from our email.

Stories and More: Monday, 10:30-11:30

We enjoyed a great story. We put together shakers to dance to our fall song. Join us as we start our 

December 7: Join us as we get begin to celebrate Christmas!

American Sign Language: Monday, 5:30-6:30

We have accumulated enough vocabulary to make small talk about our families and the holidays. This is after less than 10 weeks of meeting! Join us in our conversation.

December 7: Join us for a recap to converse using what we have learned. 

International Bible Study: Tuesday, 9:30-10:30

Mark 4 is full of great opportunities for discussion. In this week's story Jesus casts a demon out of a man (in the temple on the Sabbath). We had some amazing insight leading to points to ponder:

• The world is not only physical but it is spiritual: Jesus is the authority in both realms.
• Satan needs our power...we can choose to give it to him. Jesus does not need our power.
• Why was the demon-possessed man at the Synagogue (Jewish temple)? We are reminded that everyone who is in the church is not perfect. Was he there for disruption or for help?
• Who are we to judge? What what distracts us or has our physical, mental and spiritual attention?

December 8: We will wrap up Luke 4 with a story where Jesus heals many.

International Friends: Tuesday, 10:30-12:00

We prepared for our last two meetings of the year. Usually these meetings are full of fellowship, fun and food. We will continue the tradition!

December 8: Let's talk about Christmas and holiday traditions and expectations. We may have taken some events for granted, but not anymore!

December 16: Cookie Day! Let's Zoom for a bake along. Click for the recipes to make your shopping list!

Afternoon Conversation: Wednesday, 4:30-6:00

We talked about home cooked meals and discovered that across most of our cultures we make puffy noodles or dumplings by making a dough of flour, water and oil or flour and an egg. The dough is dropped in boiling water or broth. This is home cooking! We talked about Chamoy and using this condiment on vegetables. We compared COVID testing and our experiences (Wow! We can and do get tested!)

December 9: Join us as we get together to recap our week and talk about what's on our mind.

English Classes: Thursday, 9:30-12:00

Every week is different and brings new challenges. Some questions are common: how to be better understood in the United States and how to improve my abilities to communicate. 

Our classes are anticipating a two week winter break. That doesn't mean that you take a break from your English studies. There are some very enjoyable ways to keep moving forward that have been suggested by our students. One of them is Immersion Reading (where you read and listen at the same time). This can be a great strategy to get more than one sense involved in learning anything. You can also break this strategy into pieces to get more out of it.

1. Just listen (think audiobook) but have the book on hand for support and back up. This is a great way to improve your listening skills and then check what you have heard and/or confirm what you are hearing. Sometimes your mind can wander when just listening. Fix this by speeding up the audio (or slow it down if you struggle to keep up). A downside may be that some of the cadence or song of the language might be slightly distorted.
2. Listen and read along. This method involves or engages at least two senses at the same time (seeing and hearing). You can absorb vocabulary and pronunciation at the same time and build multiple paths in your brain. Physical tracking or following along with your finger can add another sense dimension. This method can be overwhelming when learning something brand new with new vocabulary because there are additional levels of translation with seeing and listening.
3. Read now and listen later. Read a chapter or pages and then listen to the audio while you are driving or doing something else. You are familiar with the content and listening allow you to absorb pronunciation and cadence.

Where to find or make Immersion Reading.

• Whispersync on Kindle through Amazon provides books in multiple formats.
• Children's sections in the library often have books matched with audio tapes.
• Use Hoopla through the library along with a downloadable ebook (a book on line) or check out the actual book.
• Watch a movie with captioning.
• Watch a TED Talk with captioning.

For more take a look at this article: English Immersion Reading: a Powerful and Effective Way to Learn

End of the week Conversation: Friday, 10:30-12:00

We had great discussions that included pronunciation, accent, cadence, dialect and the differences in our home languages and English. We compared what we talked about in our various classes and meetings and tried out our skills on each other.

Are you having trouble pronouncing a phrase? Turn it into a song. Many pronunciation and accent evaporate when you sing. 

Goodbye November; Hello December!

 Happy Holidays, Friends.

I hope that you had a filling and fulfilling Thanksgiving. I hope that your Black Friday shopping was successful. I hope that your Cyber Monday helps you clean up on deals. We are on the festive fast track now! And to begin the season we are treated to our first snowfall!

Lights...Lights...Lights

Don't stay home! Get out and enjoy the Christmas Lights. Drive through holiday light experiences. Travel the neighborhoods and look for displays choreographed to synchronize with a radio station.  Wrap your scarf over your mask and take a walk on the Monon in Carmel or head to the Zoo or Newfields. 

• Visit Hamilton County has all of the area light spectacular.
• Best Lighting Displays in Indianapolis has a nice list of traditional destination favorites as well as drive suggestions.
• Carmel Holiday Fun: Lights On the Monon, Santa Letter Boxes (see where and how to get your letter to Santa) and the Santa Tracker to see where and when Santa will be coming to a neighborhood near you!
• If you want to go farther afield try some of these Illuminating Destinations.

TV Classics

Pop the popcorn and snuggle in with some hot chocolate to enjoy some classic holiday viewing.

• Charlie Brown Christmas is a classic that includes the true meaning of Christmas. Watch on WFYI December 13 at 7:30 and here is a great article the Behind the Scenes
• Frosty the Snowman watch the entire (25 minute cartoon) here on Bing.
• It's a Wonderful Life is my husband's favorite. Don't miss this favorite with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed.
• Miracle on 34th Street
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas: this one is the best!
• Hallmark (the card and gift company) aired delightful holiday romantic movies. Watch Hallmark Channel for a continual fix or enjoy a seven day free trial if you don't have cable access.

COVID-19

Pfizer's Vaccination is in the air, literally. The vaccination is being flown to distribution points in the U.S. as well as abroad for distribution as soon as it is approved.

COVID-19 Tracker has all the latest statistics and links in one place. Follow vaccination development, find trials to participate

Immigration Update

The USICS issued update on policies for people who did not properly receive lawful immigration status. The onus is on the immigrant to file and maintain proper documents. Applicants are ineligible if permanent residence is obtained in error or fraudulently. Remember that immigration status is a federal issue and not a state or local issue. Be sure to follow official channels. Be informed. The Policy Manual is straightforward.

Answers

• Avoid Scams and Report Fraud keep yourself safe and protect others from harm.
• File Online and Manage Your Case to be informed about your paperwork and your case regardless of whether you are using a lawyer or have another representative (you are ultimately responsible).
• Job portability (changing jobs within classifications) can be allowed; file the proper paperwork.

Our Classes and Meetings

Stories and More: Mondays, 10:30-11:30

Pick up your packets for the rest of our year... 

November 30: We begin our crafts and stories leading to Christmas!

American Sign Language: Mondays, 5:30-6:30

We are starting to use what we have learned to have some conversations. It's important to know niceties in a language to open communications. 

November 30: Join us! We are going to use our newest food vocabulary to talk about our Thanksgiving weekend. Email Carolyn for access to our lists.

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

In Luke 4: 14-30 Jesus is then led to his hometown. Jesus reads the Torah and proclaims the prophesy of Isaiah fulfilled. Interestingly enough, the people who knew him best did not believe him but wanted more from him. Interestingly enough, he was tested and tempted by the people in a similar manner as by the devil in the previous story!

December 1: Join us as we finish our discussions of Luke 4.

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

I prepped my turkey with a bacon basket this year! This looks like it will become the norm in our household.

December 1: Join us as we chart our course for the rest of the year.

We resume our classes this week. See you Zoom! 

Afternoon Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00

English Classes: Thursday, 9:30-12:00

End of the Week Conversation: Friday, 10:30-12:00

Happy Thanksgiving 🦃

On Thanksgiving, many families take time to tell what they are most thankful for. My Dear Friends, I am thankful for you! Thank you for your friendship. Thank you for your willingness to join our Zooming experiment. Thank you for sharing your lives, recipes and friendship with each week. 

Love, 

Carolyn 

An Opportunity! Sign up!

 

Thanksgiving Week! Buckle Up!

Click here for your best experience with this page.

 Hello Friends,

The feasting season is here! My sister posted this reminder in her kitchen. Traditionally, Thanksgiving includes:

• Dinner with turkey and all the fixings.
• Macy's Day Parade on the television: 9:00-12:00 on NBC.  Preview the floats, see the entertainment line up! The webpage is wonderful! Be sure to visit.
• It wouldn't be Thanksgiving without football to sleep off your feasting! Check out the schedule!
• Plot your Black Friday shopping. Get ready to shop the Black Friday deals. While we are warned to stay out of the crowds, I think we can still figure out how to shop for the best deals!
• Plot your Cyber Monday deals. Don't get too shopped out...You can safely shop on-line on Monday.

Now the fun really begins. Maybe we are stuck at home, but maybe this is the very best way to celebrate!

Virtual Free Fun

Tour the new Fishers Fire Station virtually.

COVID 19 Advice and News

The US Government advice for COVID 19 over the holidays remains the same: wash your hands, socially distance, wear your mask when you can't socially distance. Thanksgiving has put a little more strain on our decision making: to gather or not? Here are CDC Guidelines for the week.

A  Light at the End of the Tunnel

Pfizer applied for emergency use of its COVID-19 vaccination. This vaccination has proved to be 95% effective (which is really, really, really good) and safe. The vaccination by Moderna is close also. Timelines could see the vaccinations rolling out to vulnerable populations and healthcare workers before the end of the year! Read about Operation Warp Speed goals, partners and processes.

Stories and More: Monday, 10:30-11:30

We missed our Friends this week. Be sure to make your Indian headdress for Thanksgiving! Keep a lookout for an email to pick up your December and January packets.

November 23: No Class. Happy Thanksgiving week!

American Sign Language: Monday, 5:30-6:30

We reviewed and attempted conversations using our vocabulary. It is intriguing to apply English in a new way. Fingerspelling and reading fingerspelling can be challenging. It is great to learn new ways to communicate as well as enhance our communication skills.

November 23: Let's meet to touch base, review our new vocabulary and chat about week 6.

International Bible Study: Tuesday, 9:30-10:30

Luke writes in the fourth chapter that after Jesus was baptized he was filled with the Holy Spirit. This  marks the transition of John the Baptist's baptism to a baptism in the name of Jesus (for the gift of the Holy Spirit Acts 2: 38). Luke then tells about a supernatural encounter between Jesus and Satan. Jesus goes into the desert for 40 days (where he eats nothing) and is tempted by the devil in three ways:

1. In the first test (Luke 4:3-4), Satan attempts to appeal to Jesus' ego and physical hunger with a taunt. Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 3:8 where God has provided Israel food in the wilderness.
2. In the second test, (Luke 4: 5-8) the devil's lie promises power if Jesus worships him. Jesus' quotes Deuteronomy 6:13 that says to only worship God.
3. In the third test, the devil quotes Psalm 91 to turn faith into a challenge. Jesus has had enough and answers: "It is said: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test." Deuteronomy 6:16. Jesus turns a warning into a threat.

The devil leaves Jesus until an opportune time... 

November 24: Join us as we talk about how Jesus is treated when he returns to his hometown.

International Friends: Tuesday, 10:30-12:00

We talked about making new traditions. The significance of this holiday is that it celebrates freedom of religion by being thankful for the gifts of food, family and home and the country. How we celebrate is by getting together with friends and family and sharing a feasting meal! This year we are being encouraged to not gather together but to gather apart. We talked about how many of us are separated from family and make a new family and traditions while here in Indiana.

November 24: Join us for a cook-along. We will prep turkeys, stuffing and cranberry sauce...We will talk about our pitch-in recipes and maybe prepare them, too.

Here are our recipes: make your shopping list and let's cook!

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

We are all working hard on developing our knowledge and skills in English as well as living in the United States and the world during COVID-19. Advantages of learning in our homes: 

• Learning in the place where we are continually reminded (and distracted) helps us to apply what we are learning to our everyday life.
• We are saving time in travel: it is easier to sit down in front of our computers and spend a few hours together.
• We can study close and far away. We are only limited by time zones (but do we really need to sleep?).
• We don't have to miss a class or meeting when the weather is bad.

November 26: No Classes. Happy Thanksgiving!

Conversations

Afternoon Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00

End of the Week Conversation: Fridays, 10:30-12:00

Keep the conversations going! Talking to your Gen Z friends and family. The Gen Z Dictionary compiled at IU (Indiana University) can help you keep in touch. Here is a great news clip from WTHR to listen and learn.

And speaking of books...Tsundoku is the Japanese word for buying books and not ever reading them. This great article talks about this obsession or affliction! There is even a support group on Goodreads (which is pretty funny since that is a website that encourages this behavior!)

November 25 and November 26: No Meetings. Happy Thanksgiving!

Getting Ready for the Holidays

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 Hello Friends,

As we go into this holiday season there are warnings for gatherings. Non-essential meetings are moving to Zoom or other platforms. We are being encouraged not to travel or gather together over the holidays. Things change. Individually and as a community we here at International Friends are always experiencing and building new traditions. We have hosted wonderful gathering for Thanksgiving over the many years of International Friends. Usually we meet and learn to cook dishes and prepare a turkey. Then we pitch-in and feast on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday before Thanksgiving. This year we are cooking solo (and prepping on Zoom on Tuesday).

Since coming to the United States, many of you experience Halloween American Style. Even this year with its restrictions, we had a great time. I am sure Thanksgiving and Christmas will be no different. As human beings, we can find joy and still touch base with each other. We can adapt! 

Welcome November

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Hello, Friends.

November launches a season of holidays and traditions.  Meanwhile, keep you eyes open for fun activities and events to celebrate. When you find something fun, be sure to let me know so I can pass the word along. We are enjoying some beautiful weather. Get out and have fun!

Arts and Entertainment:

Antigone: Butler University students present this Sophocles timeless play in a modern setting and modern English language. High school students and older are the recommended age. Live performance tickets cost $5.00; otherwise you can watch a virtual performance. You can watch the livestream performance at 7:00.

Sandhill Crane Update: The sandhill cranes make a major migratory stop in Jasper Pulaski Park every year. Sign up for updates for the numbers as they pass through. Meanwhile, you can listen for the distinctive call of these birds. They fly very high, so seeing them may not be possible.

Voting and Elections

We talked about the election and the election process. In the United States, we rarely do not know who is the president days and days after the election. This is a really close race and every vote counts. No one can predict what will happen. No one can claim victory. States have announced recounts. Questions have been raised about accuracy. There are a good number of stages to go through. The first Monday after the second Wednesday in December (December 14, 2020) is when the Electoral College electors meet in Washington D.C. to cast their votes. 

Stories and More: Monday, 10:30-11:30

We read Bob and Rob and Corn on the Cob. There is a nice surprise at the end that you can't help but enjoy. This great song helps to learn shapes.

 November 9: We will do more fun projects and read a great book. Go for a walk and find shapes and collect flowers, leaves, acorns, pinecones for your fall wreath.

American Sign Language: Mondays, 5:30-6:30

We had a strong review of fingerspelling and numbers. We reviewed question words: who, what, when where, why. 

November 9: Growing our vocabulary with colors, family, emotions, common phrases and more. Adding to our vocabulary is helping us to expand our ability to converse freely.

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

We read about John the Baptist at work in the wilderness preparing the way for the Lord in Luke 3: 1-20. John preaches about repentance or turning from harmful practices. He draws people from all walks of life and proclaims the good news. John advises Herod and is thrown in jail! 

November 10: Join us as we read the rest of Luke 3 and the baptism of Jesus and Luke provides Jesus genealogy. What

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

We cooked delicious chilaquiles. Cooking from scratch to taste is such

November 10: Let's cook Japanese food Miso Soup and Rice Balls:

Rice balls:

• Japanese style rice
• salt
• canned tuna with oil
• mayonnaise
• toasted seaweed
• plastic food wrap

Miso soup ingredients:

• Miso (from the refrigerated section of the store)
• Fish broth (dehydrated type is recommended like the brand Hon Dashi)
• Tofu (soft is recommended)
• Green onions
• Deep fried tofu
• Other vegetables to your taste

Preparations:

• Please cook the rice in advance
• Keep the rice hot!
• Prepare the fish broth according to package directions

November 17: Let's talk about getting ready for Thanksgiving. What is this holiday and why is it so important to Americans? What are our favorite feasting foods?

November 24: Let's prep our turkey and sides.  

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

Building vocabulary is an important part of language acquisition. Here is s portion of another list of 1000 words to look over. 

English Study Here has plenty of lists and cheat sheets to help you advance your knowledge.

Conversations

Middle of the Week: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00

End of the Week: Fridays, 10:30-12:00

Conversations are always great. There is no way to prepare for all the twists and turns. We enjoyed talk about family, politics, and family politics. We demonstrated an example of an argument going South with some lively back and forth. We talked about the historic events in this presidential election and that we are in for the long haul until this election is over.

We talked about the things we like to collect including all those great boxes that come in our door.  We ended our week with this lighthearted look at boxes with this book: Not a Box

Halloween, Fall Back, November and U.S. Elections...

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Hello, Friends.

This is a busy week in the United States and Indiana! Can we pack  more in one weekend or even one week? 

• I hope that you are ready for Halloween! Do you have plans to celebrate? Be safe! Stay warm.
• Set your clocks back one hour (from 10:00 to 9:00, for example) when you go to bed on Saturday. Gain the one hour of sleep we lost in the spring. This time change coincides with Halloween and a Blue Moon! This article about Daylight Savings Explained tells you more than you may want to know about the time change, but it is very interesting. Indiana used to be one of the states that did not spring forward or fall back for many years. 
• Tuesday, November 3 is election for president as well as governor and various seats in national, state and local government. Buckle Up!

Music and Arts

Check out the schedule at the Palladium for the weekend and beyond. There are virtual and in person performances available. All poets and musicians should check out the Songwriting 101 class. I will see you there and we can learn how to write country music!

U.S. News

Amy Coney Barrett was elected and sworn on to the Supreme court Monday. Supreme Court Justices may serve in that position for life. While there is so much speculation about this new judge. One fun fact: she is a Hoosier! 

COVID-19 Ongoing

There is an ongoing uptick in COVID-19 cases worldwide. This was expected and predicted by medical experts. Pandemic fatigue is new term that has emerged that means that people are emotionally tired of staying in and worrying about potential hazards from COVID-19. How do we protect ourselves, families, community and still celebrate life? We talked about all the creative adaptations and solutions that have come from the restrictions. Meanwhile: wash your hands frequently and use your hand sanitizer, stay home when you are sick, maintain social distance (six feet minimum, 15 minutes of total exposure time in 24 hours), keep up your personal health with exercise, diet, sleep, wear a face covering to protect others. 

Stories and More: Monday, 10:30-11:30.

We got ready for Halloween with a Clifford the Big Red Dog story. Baby Shark for Halloween is so fun: instead of "doot do do do", sing "boo, boo boo boo".

November 2: Join us as we talk about all things November! Be sure to pick up your packet for all our fun crafts before Monday so you don't miss out!

International Bible Study: Tuesday, 9:30-10:30

We talked about Jesus' coming of age story in Luke 2: 41-52. None of the other Gospels give us insight into Jesus as a child growing up. Jesus does the unexpected. He isn't with the family and friends traveling home after a festival when he is 12 years old. His parents don't discover this until after they had traveled for one day. They find Jesus in the temple. This led to many interesting discussions about the relationship between parents and their children and the expectations we have for them. We talked about where we would expect to find our children if they went missing. After this event, Jesus continues to be an obedient son to Mary and Joseph (which is a feat in teen years through young adulthood as children tend to rebel against their parents). 

November 3: Luke 3: 1-20 tells the story of John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus as He begins his ministry or work as an adult.

International Friends: Tuesday, 10:30-12:00

We carved pumpkins into Jack o Lanterns. We are ready with our decorations now. You can't beat the classic Jack. Our Zoom captures our work!

To toast your pumpkin seeds, set your oven for 400 degrees and season as you like with salt, cinnamon sugar, or any other seasoning. Be sure to stir them occasionally. Alternatively, you can fry them in a frying pan on the stove. 

November 3: Join us and learn to make Chilaquiles from scratch. Here's your shopping list: epazote (either leaves or powder), cheese of your choice, sour cream, five or six tomatoes, one of each pepper: habanero, jalapeno serrano, onion, garlic, cilantro, prepared tostadas, protein of your choice: ham, eggs, chicken, beef cut into strips and marinated with onions, garlic and cilantro. 

English Classes: Thursdays, 9:30-12:00
There were a number of parallels in our classes this week. Several classes worked with questioning. Below are highlighted ideas from our classes. As you think about your English study, consider how these tips from our classes can help you move along.

Organizing your ideas can be a challenge in any language. This Sunshine graphic organizer helps write detailed paragraphs. Try to answer "who, what, when, where, why, and how" when you tell a story or share information. Try to think and speak freely in English instead of translating from your native language. 

Drilling is a common strategy for memorizing something. Drilling can be boring, but if you have friends to drill along with you it becomes a 

Our Middle class reviewed -er/more (two things) and -est/most (three or more things) for making comparisons: "My Halloween costume was scarier than Kathy's, but Carolyn's costume was the scariest of all. My candy was more delicious. Hers was the most delicious." Be careful with adjective endings. Usually, -ed  describes how you feel: bored, excited, interested, tired. The -ing ending describes the cause of your feelings: a boring speaker, an exciting movie, an interesting conversation, a tiring job. Many words in English are easily confused: recipe/receipt, utter/udder, incident/accident. Some phrases we learned this week include: show off, in a panic, fashionably late, needless to say. Try to have fun with the complexities of English. Perfectionism can cause stress and interfere with learning.

Conversations:

Afternoon: Wednesday, 4:30-6:00

End of the Week: Friday: 10:30-12:00

Many factors influence our usage in any language: personality, audience, levels of formality, subject matter, intention, context. We agreed that civil discourse allows us to resolve conflict, explore cultural differences, discuss controversial topics, and ask questions about political correctness. We may think someone is "bossy, nosy, or messy." We may want to say: "Mind your own business;" "Stay out of it;" "Don't be a busybody;" or "Butt out!" Still, we can "take a deep breath," "get a grip" and "work it out". Try not to "assume," "presume," or "play the victim," but be respectful and resilient, resist "teasing, bullying, or shaming."

Food is always a great topic and our informal learning always leans toward food. Some fun facts:

Butter can be stored at room temperature for 30 days.

Flan from a package is easy to prepare and delicious. It is a favorite for all our students

Andrew Zimmern has some really interesting travelogue with delicious (and maybe unusual) foods.

Smorgasbord is another name for buffet. Neither are pronounced how they are spelled!

Good bye Leaves. Good bye October.

Hello, Friends.

This is the last weekend before Halloween. Have you decorated? Do you plan to decorate? Many people have had a lot of time on their hands and have gone all out to decorate this year! We have a family in our neighborhood who have changed the activities of their skeleton display. So far the skeletons have had yoga class and gotten engaged. This week they were on fall break! The City of Carmel will have Trick-or-Treating from 5:00-8:00. Check here for Central Indiana Trick or Treat Times. The Current in Carmel posted the following:

• Trick-or-treaters and chaperoning adults are encouraged to wear a face mask when physical distancing can’t be maintained and when approaching a door.
• Homeowners are asked to turn on a porch light if they are comfortable handing out treats and to wear a face mask when answering the door. Those who do not wish to participate should keep their porch light off and refrain from answering the door.
• All treats should be pre-packaged. It is not advised to distribute homemade treats this year.
• View Centers for Disease Control Halloween guidance. 

The Carmel Police Department issued additional safety tips:

• Adults should always accompany their children and carry a flashlight at night, staying within their own neighborhood and known homes
• Watch for traffic before crossing any street
• Avoid costumes that are long, which could cause tripping, or costumes that have hard plastic or wood props that could be a hazard
• Inspect candy before allowing children to have it and dispose of unwrapped candy

Want Quick References to International Friends Resources?

Reference websites are under each of Our Meetings and Classes for quick reference. Check it out and see what is there! 

Talking about Fun and Field Trips

• Boo at the Zoo at the Columbian Park Zoo, 1915 Scott Street, Lafayette, IN. Tickets cost $5.00.
• Natural Valley Ranch in Brownsburg has horseback riding! What a fun way to enjoy the fall foliage.
• Hogan Farms in Brownsburg has a corn maze and pumpkin patch. Check the webpages for pricing.
• Beasley's Orchards has fall festival activities. 

Culture Talk

In social or work settings “use discretion“ in asking or commenting about certain topics (money, religion, politics, age, weight, controversial issues). Know your audience and the surrounding culture. Try to find a trusted “cultural ambassador” (like International Friends) whom you can approach to learn about the “norms” in a new environment. We found that different boundaries exist in job interviews, especially for women. Have you ever been asked:

• How old are you?
• Are you married?
• What does your spouse do for a living?
• Do you have children? Do you plan to have more children? Who will help you with childcare or other family commitments?

Are these questions appropriate or too personal, “permissible“ or “prohibited” in your culture?

COVID-19

What is news in COVID-19? Cases are rising in the Midwest and in Indiana. Staying at least six feet apart, wearing your mask when you can't social distance and frequent handwashing are still the main defense against this disease. Carmel clay schools reported four teachers and one student having COVID in the entire district (from the Current in Carmel). 

This week Indiana announced the plan for the rollout for vaccinations. You can read the entire plan here.  Generally: Level One provides vaccination protection to healthcare workers, Level Two provides protection to the most vulnerable people and long term care facilities, Level Three rolls the vaccination out to the general public.

The CDC has rolled out new guidance: Eight Things to Know About Vaccine Planning. While development of the vaccines has been rapid, we can be assured that all efforts have been taken to thoroughly test them. 

Stories and More: Mondays, 10:30.

We enjoyed talking about pumpkins this week, looking out our windows to see what colors the leaves are on our trees. We read Biscuit Vists the Pumpkin Patch. We learned the classic poem about Five Little Pumpkins Sitting on a Gate. This fun song can be sung with hand motions. We made a suncatcher using contact paper. Contact paper is great for so many quick crafts. Create reusable coloring pages and activity placemats.

October 27: Get ready for Halloween! Join us as we get ready for Halloween!

American Sign Language: Monday, 5:30-6:30

We expanded our vocabulary to include question words and names of family members. We talked about time and how to ask questions and how indicate the past. We reviewed colors, letters and numbers. We signed vote and learned some of the presidents' nicknames. As we reflect on language learning, having the opportunity to "act" a word helps us to cement it in our minds. 

Signing Savvy is a great reference for finding words.

October 27: We will add feeling words to our vocabulary. Join us! It's fun.

International Bible Study: Tuesday, 9:30-10:30

We had a very moving discussion surrounding the Christmas story. We tend to reserve this story for December, but the Christmas story is relevant year round. We talked about how we love decorating, preparing and traditions that surround Christmas. When Jesus came, the shepherds as well as Simeon and Anna (people who worked in the temple) recognized him. God put the welfare of His Son, Jesus in the hands of Mary and Joseph. This vulnerable baby depended on the love, help and care of His human parents. This is moving and humbling.

In A Charlie Brown Christmas the TV movie from 1965. The cartoon tells how Charlie Brown and his friends are preparing for Christmas with a pageant.  Linus tells the story from Luke beginning at 20:22 in the story. 

October 28: We will talk about Jesus being presented at the temple in Luke 2: 22-40

International Friends: Tuesday, 10:30-12:00

We enjoyed another great cook along. This time we made a spectacular pepper sauce for pasta. This sauce rivals other sauces and is simple with fresh ingredients (and bacon which makes everything better).

October 28: Get your pumpkin to carve into a Jack O Lantern. You will need a serrated knife, a spoon to scoop and a baking sheet to toast your seeds. Newspaper, a bowl and gloves help with collecting the mess. Bleach based cleaner will help your pumpkin survive to the weekend.

Here is a link to some templates from Reader's Digest.

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

There are some perks to Zooming. When you study and learn in your home environment, you tend to relate what you learned to your daily activities. Relating your lessons to your daily life and practicing what you learn helps cement what you know. We have opportunities many times during the week to practice. Don't be shy!

Afternoon Conversation: Wednesday, 4:30-6:00
End of the Week Conversation: Friday, 10:30-12:00

How many hairstyles have you had over the years? When you look at old photos of yourself, do you cringe over a bad perm, a crooked cut, or a “Brazilian blowout”? How have you managed your (thin, thick, fine, curly, wavy, “frizzy”, healthy, damaged) hair during COVID—with a “DIY” cut or a secret trip to the salon? Hairstyles reflect our personality and shape our identity. Just as unique are our stories of dating, romance, marriage, mothers-in-law, and extended family.

a lot of time on their hands: 
gone all out: pulled out the stops, put in a lot of effort, extravagant
check it out: look at
quick reference: short guide to information; easy access
patch: garden area for specific plants: strawberry patch, pumpkin patch, tomato patch 
foliage: leaves and plants
reusable: something that is able to be used more than once.
placemats: 

tend: are apt, usually
templates: patterns
moving: emotional

vulnerable: susceptible to physical or emotional harm
pageant: a historical story or play

rivals: competes with

tend: are apt to, will try

cringe: