Wrapping Up January

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Hello, Friends.

Have you noticed longer daylight hours here in the Northern Hemisphere? This is good news for the gardeners. It is time to begin thinking about what you will plant in the spring and start your seeds to put out in the spring on a sunny day.

We experienced a day towards the end of last week where the temperature edged up to 40 degrees. This did not melt all the snow, but the warmer weather was a welcome break. It is fun to see people continue to embrace double digit temperatures even if they are below freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit) by leaving coats and jackets behind. 

Welcome February <3

February Calendar from the Farmer's Almanac

February 2 is Groundhog Day—the day we find out whether winter will last six more weeks or call it quits early. How did this quirky tradition get started? Find out the meaning of Groundhog Day.

February 9 is the Super Bowl in 2025. Superbowl Sunday is an important festival day. Get together with friends and enjoy 

February 12 is Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday. The 16th president of the United States was born in a one-room, 16x18-foot log cabin with a dirt floor.

February 14 is always Valentine’s Day. Heads up, lovebirds! Today, the holiday is celebrated with love, flowers, and chocolate, but how did this holiday get its start? Learn all about Valentine’s Day.

February 15 is Susan B. Anthony’s Birthday. How much do you know about this women’s rights leader?

February 15 is also National Flag of Canada Day!

February 17 brings Presidents’ Day, a federal holiday also known as Washington’s Birthday that is celebrated on the third Monday in February. (George Washington’s actual birthday is February 22!)

February 28 is Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.

Devour Indy munch away your winter blahs at a new or favorite restaurant. Try a special menu or dish or special just for Devour through February 2.

She L.E.A.D.S. Conference

Here is another opportunity to attend a conference and learn more about American culture and meet and practice your networking skills. 

American Culture

When Personal Details are Too Much

We are considering our professional stories as well as our life stories. As a practice in the United States, when you apply for a position do not include your age. race, gender, ethnicity, sex, marital status, social status, economic status, etc. unless any of these is important for the job (for example, if you are applying for a particular role in a commercial, play, etc.). This is to avoid bias and preferential treatment. As a candidate, you should be considered for a position based on your ability and experience. At times in American history, hiring quotas have been instituted. This required organizations to have specific numbers of people working based on particular attributes. Ageism, sexism, racism, etc. lawsuits can cut both ways. 

Belly Up to the Bar

Side conversations included the many names for the establishments for the social drinking of alcohol (and usually other kinds of entertainment):  bar, dive bar, saloon, pub, club, night club, comedy club, biker bar, sports bar, speak easy, brew pub, craft brewery, wine bar, piano bar, karaoke bar, rooftop bar, hotel bar, whiskey bar. Find descriptions and explanations at Cuboh. 

Restaurants may have a bar which could mean a buffet where you serve yourself: salad bar, breakfast bar, dessert bar, candy bar, ice cream bar, mimosa bar.

You could choose to eat your meal at the bar. If this is a bar that serves alcohol, then children are usually not welcome. But if this is a family friendly restaurant, then you can grab a bar stool and order from the menu. Service here is informal and direct.

American English Tricks and Techniques

"Going to" and "will" are very similar. They indicate something that is happening in the future. Use going to when something is planned or certain. Use will when what is happening in the future is unplanned or may not happen.

Get going is used to indicate that it is time to leave. "I better get going before the roads become too icy."

International Friends Meeting Notes

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International Bible Study: Monday, 8-9:00 PM, Zoom

Jacob finally has had enough and wants to take his family and go home. He approaches his father-in-law, Laban who proposes to pay Jacob for his work. Jacob and Laban agree that Jacob can have all the sheep and goats that have markings on them. Eventually, Jacob decides to flee with his family (without telling Laban). What follows is a chase and a confrontation. They come to an agreement. Begin reading Genesis 30: 25. 

January 27: We are continuing Jacob's story with Genesis 32. Jacob returns home and is reunited with his brother Esau. Will there be fireworks and drama?

American English and Culture: Thursday, 9-11:00 AM, Zoom

We talked about or resumes as more than just our professional history. 

January 30: Warm up with some word association. This is always a great way to cement ideas, terms, vocabulary. We will continue by building our resumes. Remember, these documents are convenient for many life events!

American English and Culture: Thursday, 7-8:00 PM, CLC, Carmel, room 102

Bring your resume. We are continuing to talk and refine our professional stories. Is there room on your resume for more than education and experience? Do hobbies and volunteer activities add to your story.

Our discussion points are posted on the Notes and Handouts page. Scroll down. We discovered that there are a number of ways to say the same thing.

January 30: Warm up with word association work. We will resume resume and history discussions.

American English for Kids: Thursday, 4:30-5:00 PM, private Zoom

We recapped Valentine's Day school celebrations in Indiana. There is not Valentine's Day in Japan.

January 31: Funny animals are the topic of the week. Bring a YouTube of a funny animal to share. Create your own funny animal and share your story.

Words and Phrase

bias: an opinion that is either for or against an idea, person, etc.

come to [something]: reach a particular point or state

cut both ways: serve both sides of an argument

double digit: numbers with two digits; 10 through 99.

edged up to: move in a certain direction

has had enough: wants something to stop

leave (something) behind: not take something with you

preferential treatment: favoritism in the workplace based on race, gender, etc.

put out: 

start: begin the process of growing a plant

warm up: activities to get people thinking and talking and comfortable

January Freeze and Thaw and So Much More!

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Hello, Friends!

This is a big week in the United States. Donald J. Trump is sworn in on Monday, January 20. This was not a usual election. This will not be a usual inauguration. The weather is dangerously cold with the possibility of ice and snow, so the swearing in will happen indoors. This is to protect the public and the public servants who would be waiting for hours outdoors. The presidential parade will be indoors at 

The American flag has been flying at half-staff to honor of President Jimmy Carter, and they would remain that way for 30 days following his death. The flags over the U.S. Capital as well as most state capital buildings will be raised to full staff for the day of the inauguration and then return to half staff on Tuesday, January 21.

During the inauguration ceremonies, the Biden family will be moved out of the White House and the Trump family will be moved in. 

Here is the order of events according to CBS News

The inaugural ceremonies of the president-elect and vice president-elect are planned by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. Led this year by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, the committee oversees eight events on Inauguration Day:

• the procession to the Capitol; 
• the vice president's swearing-in ceremony; 
• the president's swearing-in ceremony; 
• the inaugural address;
• the honorary departure of the outgoing president and vice president; 
• the signing ceremony, during which the new president signs nominations, memorandums, proclamations or executive orders; 
• the inaugural luncheon; 
• the pass in review, during which the president and vice president review military troops;
• and the presidential parade, which will take place at Capital One arena in downtown Washington due to the cold.

The theme of this year's ceremonies is "Our Enduring Democracy: A Constitutional Promise."

The Inauguration Schedule

Baby It's Cold Outside

We had a January thaw this past week. The temperature in Indiana got up to 40 degrees! This weather is spanning the country. Good news, though! On my dog walk, I saw the leaves from crocuses sticking up where the snow had thawed! 

Staying heathy when being cooped up inside

• Keep moisturized: nasal sprays and humidifiers help to keep your sinuses rinsed and protected
• Wash your hands: use soap and water, dry with paper towels 
• Wipe down surfaces: use the sanitizing wipes at the stores to wipe down carts
• Carry your hand sanitizer: and use it before you or your family touch surfaces in your car
• Keep your hands away from your face
• Warm frostbite fingers under warm water

Staying safe outside when there is snow and ice.

• Be alert for "black ice" when walking or driving
• Shovel public sidewalks that touch your property for children going to school (in most communities 
• Cover your skin; wear gloves, scarves, hats, etc.

Staying safe in your car

• Keep a scraper/brush in your car and clear all windows before driving
• Check and replace your wiper blades to keep your windshield clear
• Lift your windshield blades when parked to keep them from freezing to the windshield and make clearing snow easier
• Slow down so you don't slide; use an even pressure when breaking (most cars have antilock brakes)
• Keep a blanket, water, and snacks in your car in case stranded

Taking care of your home so pipes do not freeze and burst

• Open cabinet doors for water pipes on exterior walls
• Turn on water faucets to drip to keep water moving so it won't freeze
• Keep your heat on and set your thermostat to a minimum of 55 degrees
• Remove hoses from the outside faucets
• Use a hair dryer to thaw frozen pipes

Staying In the Know

Keeping current and up to date with the headlines. CNN 10 provides headlines from CNN. Fox, and local news stations and papers also have sites to view headlines. Google, Yahoo, MSN, and Apple also have news aggregators. These tend to give headlines that are clickable to a variety of sources.  Articles with the top ten app lists are available from Lifewire, Best App, and Mashable

Some people use social apps to get the news: Facebook, X, Truth Social, Snap Chat, Instagram, etc. This week TikTok (a popular social app owned by a Chinese company) went dark in America due to a security ban. Twelve hours later the app was back up and running. 

American English

Good and well are often misused. Good is an adjective and describes or modifies nouns and pronouns.

• He is a good driver.
• A good team will win the tournament.
• It looks like the weather will be good for our picnic.

Well is an adverb and is used to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

• He drives well.
• The team played well at the tournament.
• He is over his cold and feels well.

Exceptions: 

• Well also means healthy. I took my baby to the pediatrician for a well visit.
• He knows well and good that you should not talk that way to teachers! As a phrase "well and good" (or good and well) highlights what is acceptable.

And a proper discussion in a good British accent.

American Culture

A resume is a key document for communicating professional or public history. This is an important, personal document to look at where you have been and where you want to go. Keeping your resume up to date can help when presented with an opportunity. It can also help you see your direction and success.

Interviews are how people seal the deal for a . There is so much that has to be in place in order for the transition of This past week the Senate held confirmation hearings to approve Trump's Cabinet picks. The senators had seven minutes to ask their questions of the candidates. Many of these people have big personalities and opinions or have not held typical positions leading to a Cabinet position. You can watch these hearings on 

These panel interviews are interesting to watch. Learn more about American concerns and positions.

International Friends Meeting Notes

Join us! Click here to register.

International Bible Study: Monday, 8-9:00 PM, Zoom

History repeats itself. Jacob goes to Harran to find a wife...relationships are made and broken and repaired. People continue to be impatient to have the predictions of God fulfilled and manipulate situations to that end. We wonder of relationships would be preserved if people let the events play out. If you like drama, this is the read for you! Throughout it all, God loves and supports and comforts.

January 20: We are continuing Isaac's story with Genesis 30:25. Join the discussion. You won't be disappointed!

American English and Culture: Thursday, 9-11:00 AM, Zoom

We talked about our resumes. A resume is a life history that you use to  retrospective. What did you begin in the past and where are you now. Bring your history to put down on paper with a friend. Collaborate on a Zoom Docs to on begin your resume. Why this works: you review your experience and frame the words to best communicate historical successes (and failures) and focus attention on future attainments. 

We talked about I will vs I'll both as a grammar structure and a listening. Arnel has a great 25 minute lesson on future simple and future continuous and how we express predictions and facts in American English. She also uses "going to" and "will". 

We talked about speaking in public vs public speaking. 

We gave Resume Genius a try to begin writing a resume. Use this site for a boiler plate for generic American English phrases and format (there is an option to use their "AI" to select 

This site lets you save a pdf copy of your work. This company will email, print, and post your resume for a fee. Try Resume Genius to fill in the blanks and start the process.

January 23: Write and speak your resume. We will collaborate on a Zoom Doc and share our work with one another.

January 30: Refining your story.

American English and Culture: Thursday, 7-8:00 PM, CLC, Carmel, room 102

We talked through our newest Friend's "I Am From" poem. We learn so much more about a person in these abstract descriptions. We also observed that by doing this exercise, we learn more about ourselves and what brought us to where we are today.

We talked about what brought us to the United States and what our hopes are for while we live here. Generally, everyone is uncertain about their time here in the States. We hope that you make friends and live a good life here.

We gave Resume Genius a try to begin writing a resume. Use this site for a boiler plate for generic American English phrases and format (there is an option to use their "AI" to select descriptions. Edit these statements to be specific to your story.

This site lets you email a pdf copy of your work to yourself. There are fees for add on services. 

January 23: Write and speak your resume. Work together with others to define and refine your professional history

American English for Kids: Thursday, 4:30-5:00 PM, private Zoom

We talked about when we wrote books. Kids write all the time and create books. Sometimes they outgrow what they were thinking about at that time and find their books embarrassing. We talked about how sometimes our writing work is not appropriate for a particular place or time or group of people. Writing ideas and thoughts is just the beginning. Putting your work out there for others to read is a

January 24: Kendama (けん玉) is a fun puzzle/skill game. Our friend will teach us about this game and sport.

Words and Phrases

all the time/all of the time: often

big personalities: people that have strong or noticeable traits 

boiler plate: pattern

Cabinet: the people who advise the president

cooped up: stuck inside a small space

gave something a try: experience something for the first time in order to form an opinion

generic: general, not specific

in the know: informed

key: important

manipulate: control or influence

out there: make something public

outgrow: mature so something doesn't fit or isn't relevant

picks: choices

play out: develop, unfold

positions: 

post: put something up on the internet

spanning: spread across

swearing in: take an oath or promise

went dark: is not available on the internet

Getting Back to Work and Still Having Fun

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BRRRRRR, Friends!

We hope you got a great rest over the break. We are looking forward to seeing you all next week as we resume our meetings.

We are beginning to focus on our public story in communicating to others in our American English and Culture meetings. This includes business communication and writing. Our career path is another aspect of our "public persona". A career path does not necessarily mean jobs for money, it can be recreational and as a volunteer. Much of what we do can be lumped into conducting business and being a professional: banking, doctors, customer service, ordering food at a restaurant, having service done at your home, etc.

Maybe you need a resume to review your history with someone. Maybe you need your health record to review with a doctor (or the record of someone else). These are personal and important documents that help you relate to others to get tasks done.

 Fun and Festivities

Many communities have fun events throughout the year. Check your local community calendars and join the winter fun.

Butler University has an amazing performing arts program. Clowes Hall and other venues have opportunities to view dance and stage performances in person or virtually. Many of these opportunities are free. Click this link to see the schedule.

Connor Prairie is open through the winter. Experience pioneer living in the cold or learn more indoors.

Perfect North ski slopes are a fun way for the whole family to spend the day. Rent equipment. Take a class. Remember, this is Indiana...we have hills, not mountains. But any day skiing is better than not skiing!

Here is a list of the 10 Best Winter Hikes in Indiana from Step Outside (you can find other great hike lists here, too).

Camps for Kids

Summer camps are a great option for kids to make new friends and explore and experience new places and try new things or hone their skills. Even though we just starting winter, now is the time to start shopping the camps.

• Butler University Camps Take a look at summer camps on the campus of Butler University.
• Connor Prairie Adventure Camp packs a summer's worth of fun in one week.
• Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation Summer Camp Guide is out! Leaf through this guide to discover opportunities for fun.
• Indy's Child Magazine offers a Summer Camp Fair February 22 at the Indianapolis Art Center. Shop camps all in one place.
• Indy's Child Magazine offers a list of camps as well as a virtual camp fair to help you decide.

American English

A little more than half of the readers spend less than 15 seconds looking at what you write (especially in this virtual age). Bulleted text is a straightforward way to communicate information that are in a list. Begin with an introductory phrase or sentence or jump into the list. Tips keep your reader's attention:

• Each bullet can complete the initial sentence, or it can be a complete sentence.
• Each bullet should be parallel with the other bullets (all bullets start with the same part of speech).
• Each bullet is a mini headline or contains complete information.
• Each bullet is straightforward.
• Every bullet in the list is related to the other bullets.
• Each bulleted list should have more than two listed items, otherwise it is a couple of sentences.
• Each bullet should be punctuated correctly: 

1. If it is a phrase, no punctuation is needed.
2. If it is a complete sentence, end with period or other parallel punctuation.
3. If it is a phrase, capitalize the first word or not.
4. If it is a complete sentence, capitalize the first letter of the first word.

You can use little dots or numbers or choose other fancy figures as bullet points. Be consistent throughout your document or presentation. Be sure to follow style formats like APA or MLA if it is required.

American Culture

A resume is a key document for communicating professional or public history. This is an important, personal document to look at where you have been and where you want to go. Keeping your resume up to date can help when presented with an opportunity. It can also help you see your direction and success.

Once you have a basic resume, you can customize the details to suit different situations or to write a brief biography. In the United States you may have a resume or a curriculum vita which is a brief, biographical history that is usually used for academic communications (or in affiliation with higher education positions).

• Try Resume Genius to fill in the blanks and start the process.
• Indeed has sample resumes for you to take a look at.

International Friends Meeting Notes

Join us! Click here to register.

International Bible Study: Monday, 8-9:00 PM, Zoom

We caught up with each other after the break. Christmas and New Year celebrations are usually full of celebrations with family. Nostalgia plays a major role in how we view our current situation as well as build new memories and practices. Old traditions are hard to let go of.

Our discussion for this week was Genesis 27: how Isaac wanted to convey his blessing on Esau (the oldest son) and to pass along his birthright but ended up giving it to Jacob (the younger twin). This story and all the details led us to our readings before our break: Esau had offhandedly traded it away to his birthright for a bowl of lentil stew (Genesis 25:29-34). The English text tells us that Esau despised his birthright; in the Japanese text the word is more similar to disparage or not find important. We later discover that Esau did value the birthright. We traced the names back to the beginning of the twins' life with their names. Knowing the character of each of the people in this particular story is important in understanding their particular reactions. We speculated how different things may have been if each person was patient and let the circumstances play out rather than trying to engineer a particular, favorable result. 

This is a great read! Begin with Genesis 25:19 to get the full scope of the drama.

January 13: We are continuing Isaac's story with Genesis 28. Join the discussion. You won't be disappointed!

American English and Culture: Thursday, 9-11:00 AM, Zoom

We caught up with each other and talked about our current events. We talked about setting goals and priorities and whether we made resolutions. Surrender was a word that surfaced when we were talking about planning. Sometimes we have to give up a goal or pivot to a new plan because it is not relevant or achievable at this time. Should we add that to our Strive, Thrive, Drive, Survive category list?

My One Word website and concept brings together resolutions and our thinking about our words and vocabulary and their importance in our life. We have talked about where we are. This site encourages you to pick where you want to be.

January 16: A retrospective. What did you begin in the past and where are you now. Bring your history to put down on paper with a friend. Collaborate on a Zoom Docs to on begin your resume. Why this works: you review your experience and frame the words to best communicate historical successes (and failures) and focus attention on future attainments. Try Resume Genius to fill in the blanks and start the process.

January 23: Write and speak your resume.

January 30: Refining your story.

American English and Culture: Thursday, 7-8:00 PM, CLC, Carmel, room 102

We welcomed a new friend and welcomed back a few old friends. We also dealt with getting a car towed! Snowy days can be interesting and full of surprises! 

January 16: This new year we are going to start working on our public and professional stories. This is another way of telling were you are from and where you want to go next (which is why we are all studying American English). Try  Resume Genius to fill in the blanks and start the process.

American English for Kids: Thursday, 4:30-5:00 PM, private Zoom

We talked about many things is in snippets. We compared our latitude, we talked about cram classes, we talked about what we started in school after the break. Our talk drifted to 3D objects in math class. There is a lot of cool software out there for designing. We found a list of top free programs on CNCsourced. Two popular free programs are:

• Blender is a favorite for 3D modeling and game building.
• Inkscape: an open source vector software. Create and contribute.

If you think these programs are just for fun and games, think again. And speaking of shapes...look at the Geometry Nodes Workshop Notes from October of 2024. There is a great place to grow your vocabulary in a new field!

We looked at M.C. Escher: an artist who delighted in breaking 3D rules in 2D space. With our new design tools, we could virtually do the impossible: have an avatar walk this drawing! Monument Valley on Netflix is a fun, walkable puzzle like this drawing. Try it out!

January 17, 2025: Try one of the design tools. What do you think?

Words and Phrases

snippet: small and interesting pieces of news

speaking of: a transition statement to introduce a new or connecting topic

baton is passed: power or responsibility of an office given to a new party

binge: continuously watch episodes of a program without a break

let go of: release, give up, stop focusing on

hone: refine

looked at: view briefly

lumped into: combined, included all together, grouped [lumped together]

nostalgia: feelings of longing for the past

part of speech: nouns, verbs, adjectives, articles, pronouns, etc. classifications of words

pays a major role: is an important aspect or part

put down on paper: record

straightforward: direct, to the point

suit: fit

take a look at: read casually

talk drifted to: conversation 

where you want to go next: what goals, experiences, skills, etc. not just a place

Welcome 2025

Click here to go to our website.

Welcome back, Friends!

We hope you got a great rest over the break. We are looking forward to seeing you all next week as we resume our meetings.

We are beginning to focus on or public story and communicating to others in our American English and Culture meetings. This will include business communication and writing as a part of the process. Much of what we do can be lumped into conducting business and being a professional: banking, doctors, customer service, ordering food at a restaurant, having service done at your home, etc. 

What Do You Notice?

Watching Netflix is so fun. I like to watch and listen in the original language and add English subtitles. Here are a few observations from my latest binge.

• These are from Love Next Door on Netflix. Season 1, Episode 3: Stop Line
• Lavenders: colors and flowers 
• This was actually come together very quickly, so I didn’t prepare anything.
• You all did something that cute? 
• Cuss: swear words were included. What’s the difference? Dictionary.com explains the difference for these kinds words. They are used to express and emphasize or provoke a reaction.
• Sigh, grunt, exhale, chuckle, scoff, yelp, grown, grunt, scream
• Stop line: the title of this episode is a bit of a confusion. We call this a finish line here in the United States.

January Dates from The Old Farmer's Almanac

We are back to the grind. Winter is here in the Northern Hemisphere. Dark days are gradually waning. The Old Farmer's Almanac is a fun and informative way to learn about the world. Click above and read the folklore that follows the long January nights. There will be a quiz later.

January 1 is New Year’s Day. While you’re still recuperating from the prior night’s parties, read about some other New Year’s traditions you might not know about and celebrate with some Hoppin’ John for good luck.

January 5 brings Twelfth Night, an English folk custom that marked the end of Christmas merrymaking and, in ancient Celtic tradition, the end of the 12-day winter solstice celebration. On Twelfth Night, it was customary for the assembled company to toast each other from the wassail bowl.

January 6 is Epiphany. According to the New Testament’s Gospels, on this date, the Magi—the three wise men or kings—venerated and brought gifts to the infant Jesus. Bake a beautiful Epiphany Tart or a King Cake with a lucky bean inside!

January 17 is Benjamin Franklin’s birthday. He was not only a world-renowned statesman, inventor, and scientist but was also fascinated by agriculture. Here at The Old Farmer’s Almanac, we consider him the father of almanacs!

January 20 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day (observed). This holiday is held on the third Monday in January and honors the principles of this civil rights leader and Nobel Prize Winner dedicated to nonviolence. This year, January 20 is also Inauguration Day.

January 29 is the Chinese Lunar New Year. Celebrated widely throughout East Asia, this holiday begins with the first new Moon after the Winter Solstice and is associated with the Chinese Zodiac.

American Culture

Inauguration Day: January 20

President Trump will be inaugurated on January 20. Learn the details of this ceremony Yahoo article. The baton is passed on this day. 

In order to get work done, the Speaker of the House was elected. Now the work of approving the staffing and legislation can be underway as we start this new era. 

International Friends Meeting Notes

Join us! Click here to register.

International Bible Study: Monday, 8-9:00 PM, Zoom

January 6: Let's return to Genesis 27 and pick up the story. You may want to go back a bit as a refresher.

American English and Culture: Thursday, 9-11:00 AM, Zoom

January 9: Start the new year talking about resolutions and turning over a new leaf. In January we turn the page and start our new chapter: Let's tell our public story.

January 16: A retrospective. What did you begin in the past and where are you now.

January 23: Write and speak your resume.

January 30: Refining your story.

American English and Culture: Thursday, 7-8:00 PM, CLC, Carmel, room 102

January 9: Come to class. We will talk about what we did over break and work on our individual listening and speaking skills perhaps the wonderful technology that is available to us. We too are working on our public stories.

American English for Kids: Thursday, 4:30-5:00 PM, private Zoom

January 10, 2025: Let's talk about your break and try to play Monopoly again. This time we will assign roles and responsibilities. Brush up on the rules.

Words and Phrases

baton is passed: power or responsibility of an office given to a new party

binge: continuously watch episodes of a program without a break

lumped into: combined, included all together, grouped [lumped together]