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Hello Friends.
What do you like to do in the winter? January is notorious for people resolving to make healthy changes in their lives. Some people give up drinking alcohol for the month. Others are determined to exercise more or loose unwanted pounds. Some like to curl up and catch up with reading. The new year gives us hope and ambition to do more.
Festival of Ice This Weekend!
It's going to be a cold weekend in Carmel! Add those extra layers and visit the Carmel Arts & Design District and Carter Green and catch some of the most talented ice carvers in the country, joining us again for the annual Festival of Ice.
The 2026 Festival of Ice weekend begins today in the District, with carvers creating incredible ice masterpieces from 4 – 8 p.m.
On Saturday, Jan. 17 catch the ice carving at Carter Green from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Watch sculpting professionals create unique ice masterpieces and participate in the People’s Choice sculpture voting from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
If you are looking to add some adventure and you are local, Devour Indy Winterfest is on! Venture out and try some new dishes.
Dine in Delaware County? Destination Munchie (a play on the name of Muncie, IN). Delaware County’s first restaurant rally. This two-week event (January 18-31) celebrates the county’s dining scene. Each of the 20 participating restaurants will offer a special, limited-time three-course menu. Explore the full list of participating restaurants using our mobile passport!
Making America Healthy
Make America Healthy Again or MAHA is a slogan that emerged in the last year. The anticipated Dietary Guidelines for Americans was published this week. The headline is "eat real food." Scientific Foundation For The Dietary Guidelines For Americans explains reasons for the changes. As early as 1894 the U.S.D.A made dietary recommendations.
You can browse through historical documents at the USDA Historical Dietary Guidance site and see what was trending.
Adapting to What is Available
Finding food products and produce that are familiar may be difficult. Many markets carry international foods these days. There may be international markets locally or within the area. Many people crave their home-style cooking. But, in the melting pot of America, everyone enjoys each other's dishes. People are less afraid to try food that is culturally unusual. This article from Men In Aprons gives the top 10 cuisines. This is not a new phenomenon in the United States. Beautiful and new fusion dishes and tastes are developed using what is available.
International Friends Meeting Notes
International Bible Study: Monday, 8-9:00 PM, Zoom
We are back on track in Exodus. This past week we covered two chapters (Exodus 28-29). Exodus 28 describes the attire of the priests as and the actions to make the priests holy. Exodus 29 covers the practices to consecrate the priests. Exodus 30 describes the alter and described elements. We enjoyed our discussion about the precision and details in these chapters. Atonement Money gave us food for thought: everyone paid the same amount regardless of their status or wealth to maintain the tent (11-16). The anointing oils and incense aromas that were to be concocted only for sacred use in the temple (22-38). What do these detailed chapters tell us about God?
January 19: We continue to read beginning with Exodus 31. The next short chapters continue
American English Language and Culture: Thursday, 9:00AM- 11:00 AM, Zoom
Welcome back everyone! In our warmup, sharing memories of our pets allowed us to practice
past tense and present perfect tense.
Past tense:
- I got a dog for my sixth birthday.
- She had a turtle when she was younger.
- He won a goldfish at the county fair.
- I have had my two cats for sixteen years.
- She has never had any pets.
- They’ve always had huskies as their pets.
questions to be sure you understand. You may notice a “Lost dog/cat“ sign posted near the road
with information about an animal that is missing. However, lost may also mean that a pet has
“died or passed away.” In some cases, a very sick pet may be “euthanized or put down” to
prevent suffering. In any case, expressing sympathy is appropriate.
A fun show-and-tell game with kitchen utensils taught us new vocabulary and helped us practice
the sentence pattern that names an object and describes how we use it:
- I use these tongs to toss the salad. OR I use these tongs for tossing the salad.
- They use these corn picks to serve corn on the cob at their barbecues.
- My grandmother used this nutcracker to crack walnuts to put in her banana bread.
pronouncing some common ailments (respiratory virus, indigestion, acid reflux). Reading an
article aloud about IU Health facilities allowed us to read and listen critically (here is a page from IU Health that summarizes how to choose where to go for healthcare). When you read,
think about the author's audience and purpose. Is the text intended to define, describe, educate,
entertain, explain, inform, argue, persuade, advertise, offer solutions? Look for words you know
(and don't know) in context. Is there unique or specialized vocabulary? Are there slang or pop
culture terms that are new to you?
Reading aloud in a group helps you be more aware of pronunciation challenges and the rhythm of English. We welcome you to contribute text samples of any kind for future read-alongs.
- ruckus
- rowdy
- simile/metaphor
- dramatic play
Check out some supplemental notes in our Class Notes tab.
American English for Kids: Thursday, 6:00-6:30 PM, private Zoom
We played with Elevator Pitches: an introduction and ask when meeting someone new. We also talked about reading Go Dog Go for next week. This simple book is silly and great for brushing up on grammar and positional prepositions.
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