Saturday, November 14, 2020

Getting Ready for the Holidays

 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

Class and Meeting Schedule

We will not be meeting: November 18, 23, 24 through 27

Join us via Zoom to talk about and learn to prepare traditional American Thanksgiving dishes, Tuesday, November 24, 10:30-12:00

English Fun

Aphorisms and idioms can be trouble when learning a new language or culture. I took a really fun class through the Arts Center in Carmel and learned how to and collaborated on writing a song. We decided to use common sayings and cultural trends (velvet pants are hot right now with the youngsters).

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

We continue to cover vocabulary. We learned about the context of this language. Since it it physical and visual there are common physical "zones" that inform what is being communicated. Facial expressions , gestures  and attitude are important in communicating in all languages, but in ASL attitude and expressions are  the "words". 

August 16: Meet us as we explore this fascinating language and culture.

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

We discussed Jesus’ baptism. This major event in Jesus’ life is told in all the Gospels in varying levels of detail. 

Key topics of Jesus' baptism:

  • Revelation: All three members of the Triune God are present in the same time and place. 
  • Righteousness: Jesus has no sins to repent. In Matthew Jesus asks John to be baptized (against John's objections) because it is morally right and justifiable. Jesus is blameless. God the Father and the Holy Spirit confirm.
Luke lists Jesus' genealogy tracing the lineage through Joseph to Adam and ultimate God: Adam's creator or Father! Jesus' ancestors are prophets and this list shows how Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophecies and that the predictions are complete. We talked about our heritage (Luke succinctly summarizes Jesus humanity and deity through genealogy) and how we as humans from many origins and ethnicities have a place in the story, community and family. The Discovery of Genesis is an interesting resource for delving into history, language and culture and the human origins.

November 17: We will continue with Luke 4. Jesus goes into the desert and is tempted by the devil.

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

We learned to make a delicious Japanese lunch of Miso Soup and rice balls. There were some new ingredients for us to find at our grocery stores. 

November 17: Let's meet to talk about Thanksgiving plans, dishes and preparation.

English Classes: Thursdays, 9:30-12:00
It is interesting that all of us seem to be learning about the same concepts (we have separate classrooms). We Basic, Middle and Conversation met as a school and had a great conversation about word parings (called collocations). When learning English, notice that certain words almost always need other words in order for them to make sense. We talked about the word "make" and "do". There are many more that you have probably heard. 


Conversations: 
Afternoon Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00
End of the Week Conversation: Fridays, 10:30-12:00

We ended the week talking about idioms and culturally important dates celebrations and festivals and (of course) food...

aphorisms: wise sayings
adapt: adjust, transform
hot: popular
collaborated: worked together
youngsters: younger generation
cover: talk about; learn about (about is a collocation!)
facial expressions: smile, frown for example
gestures: motions that help convey meaning
attitude: body position that shows mental or emotion state
revelation: a divine disclosure to people 
righteousness: doing what is right
genealogy: line identifying family relations from parents to children
humanity: people as a whole
deity: divine or of god status
lineage: pedigree, tracing from ancestors 
delving into: examining
make sense: be understood

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