Getting ready for Halloween and Tap Water

Hello, Friends.

Halloween is almost upon us. There is so much you can to do to get into the spirit of this favorite holiday with your family:

• Friday, October 26 at 8:00 pm watch It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown on ABC. Read more about this 52 year old Halloween classic.
• Don't forget to enjoy the Headless Horseman at Conner Prairie over the weekends through October 28. This is just a little scary and a great way to enjoy the fall weather. 
• The Children's Museum has a "Grim-nasium" with a lights on option sponsored by IPL (Indianapolis Power and Light: a very funny joke!) with a "dare to be scared" option.

Bottled or Tap?
We had a very interesting conversation about water here in the Midwest. In this area the water is hard. When rain falls on the ground it doesn't contain minerals, but as the water percolates through the ground and into the aquifer here in the Indianapolis area it picks up minerals like lime, calcium and magnesium. These essential minerals are often preferred because they make water taste better and have health benefits. Unfortunately, these same minerals cause shower doors and other surfaces turn white and look dirty. Hard water spots can be reduced by using with water softeners that add salt to the water to "soften" it and adding Jet Wash to your dishwasher. Tap water is very safe to drink and is beneficial to your health.

Municipalities are responsible for maintaining the quality and safety of the water within their city. They often add chemicals to the water for the community's safety and health. These can include fluoride and chlorine. Fluoride is added to public water to prevent and reduce cavities by reducing the rate for tooth enamel to demineralize. How much is added (or removed) depends on how much occurs naturally in the water. The World Health Organization sets recommendations. The amount of fluorine in bottled water isn't known.

Chlorine is often added to public water to kill diseases like cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery, bacteria, viruses etc. that commonly grow in water supply reservoirs and grow in the walls of water mains and storage tanks. While there could be risks from exposure to this addition are much less risk than the potential disease from contamination. Chlorine boils out of water. Additionally, it will evaporate from water exposed to air. It can also be filtered out of water, but filters need to be changed regularly because they can become contaminated and grow the bacterial and diseases they were intended to remove.

One last concern in water is lead. Water from a city is regularly tested for lead. Pipes in older buildings and plumbing systems may contain lead either in the pipes or in the solder that holds the pipes together. This is mainly in older homes. You can reduce your exposure from lead in your home a good number of ways including using cold water or cooking and running the tap before using the water for drinking or bathing.

Ultimately, tap water in the greater Indianapolis area is very safe to drink. You may have difficulty cleaning lime scale off of shower doors and other surfaces that get a lot of water exposure. Vinegar is a great way to dissolve it. Spray surfaces with vinegar water with a drop or two of dish detergent (which helps the vinegary water stick to the surface). After a while, wipe the area clean. you may have to repeat this a few times. Adding vinegar to your washer helps also. Some people have water softeners to combat the effects of hard water and to maintain their household appliances.

International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:00-11:30, room 100.
Thank you to our Friends who taught us to make Takoyaki. I know that I want one of these makers in our home. I think these tasty treats could become a great tailgate snack! Sylvia told us about a Danish style of balls that are created in a similar way. These are called Aebleskiver. Here are three other recipes that are trendy with current cuisine. We were glad to celebrate a birthday with one of our Friends. It is always special and rare to have a meeting coincides with an actual birthday!

October 23: Join us for one of my favorite topics: Swearing Class. Come and learn words not to say. Talk about words in your home language that can be mistaken for salty language to English ears.

October 30: Let's carve pumpkins into Jack o' Lanterns. Bring a large pumpkin to carve, a sharp knife and old newspapers. We will carve our pumpkins and toast pumpkin seeds. You can find pumpkins at reasonable prices at most grocery stores. I was told that Meijer has carving pumpkins two for $5.99!

International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:00-10:00, room 100.
We talked about the court of public opinion which is when the due process is influenced by the news media or social outlets rather than through the judicial system. Even if someone isn't found guilty through due process, their reputation may be damaged even though they win the case.  We talked about these concepts  as a result of Jesus statements in John 3: 16-18. We talked about the English words for people who don't believe in any god or that haven't make a judgement or formed an opinion about their beliefs: atheists are people who believe there are no gods and agnostics are people who haven't made a decision. Both these words begin with "a" which means not

We finished the chapter where John the Baptist testifies about Jesus and John's role in the work that was being done through him and then through Jesus. We talked about succession management which is the formal plan for people to take roles and responsibilities to get a job finished or to maintain a community or business.

October 23: Join us as we read further in this great story.

Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, room 100.
We had a nice conversation on Wednesday including some topics in the Easy English newspaper. We asked our resident Doctor about whether we should get the flu vaccine. He said, "yes, if you are healthy." Getting the vaccine protects you from the disease and protects those around you from catching the flu.

October 24:  Join us as we talk about articles in the Easy English News and other topics.

English Classes: Thursdays, 9:00-11:30, upstairs classrooms
We continue to roll along with our classes. I hope you are enjoying our new text book series. 

We kicked off our Parents with Children. This month we are learning the song Five Little Pumpkins and reading stories and books about Halloween. We worked on pronouncing "clown" and "Clifford".

Sign up for Parents With Children: Please click to reserve your preferred spot in our sessions for these classes so we can be sure to have enough materials for our activities. Also, check our  

get into the spirit: join in the mood and fun

over the weekend: on Saturday and Sunday only

essential: something that is necessary or important

risk from exposure: danger from coming in contact with someting

contamination: poison or make dirty

regularly: often

percolates: filter slowly through a porous surface 

aquifer: rock that can transmit groundwater; as water seeps into limestone it can leave behind impurities and pick up healthy minerals

mainly: more than anything else

tap water: water from faucets and sinks

dissolve: turn something into a liquid form

carving pumpkins: large pumpkins that are used for decoration rather than eating; they are also edible, but the quality of the flesh isn't as good as other pumpkins and squashes.

due process: a system where citizens have rights that can not be taken away or deprived without legal procedures

judicial system: the branch of the government that interprets and applies the laws to situations 

reputation: a general belief or opinion about someone or something, good name, character

roll along: continue

kicked off: started, began

preferred spot: the session you want to attend

Fall Break and Parents with Children Kick Off

Happy Fall Break, Friends!

I hope that you are enjoying this crisp weather. The temperatures this weekend are dipping into the 30s. I wonder if you kicked your furnace on?

We are excited to kick off our Parents with Children classes. This is a new class offering during our regular classes that give your children a break from the nursery while offering you a chance to learn typical American stories, games, and skills for our children. This also let you get to know some of the other parents at International Friends and talk about parenting issues. Don't worry. Your classroom teachers are aware of this opportunity and fully support you in participating and growing with your children.

crisp: cool, refreshing temperatures dipping into: the temperature is lowering into the 30s; imagine dipping your toes into a swimming pool...
kicked your furnace on: turned on your heat; in the spring we kick on the AC (air conditioning)

Parents with Children: Thursdays, 9:00-9:40, 9:50-10:30, 10:40-11:20, classroom at the end of the hall.
We are asking all parents with children to sign up for and participate in one of our parent and child English classes. Sign up in the nursery as you check your children in or come to the room at the end of the hall by our classrooms.

These sessions take place during our class time and are designed to take the pressure off of the CLC Nursery (and let all of our children have the opportunity for free play) while still offering you and avenue to continue your English studies as well as answer many of your questions about how young children are raised in the United States. Practice with your children and learn along with them!

9:05-9:45: Begin your morning with us.
9:55-10:35: this is the perfect break from the hubbub of the nursery for many of our children
10:45-11:25: Wind up the morning with activities and learning together.

The curriculum includes activities that help our children grow with:

• Reading aloud to our children
• Fine motor skills
• Gross motor skills
• Question and Discussion time

...and helps us as parents have exposure to what is expected and valued in American parenting to grow independent and well prepared children. This also helps you to understand what other parents expect from our children.

take the pressure off: reduce the stress of or the volume of
kick off: begin
exposure: contact with something

International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:00-10:00, room 100.
The third chapter of the Gospel of John begins with the story of Nicodemus, a Jewish leader who was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council. He came to see Jesus at night, seeking information about who Jesus was and what he was teaching. Evidently Nicodemus was very aware of the miraculous signs Jesus had already performed. He was sure that Jesus could not have done those miracles unless God was with him.

Jesus’s explanation about being “born again” seems to have confused Nicodemus. So Jesus makes it clear that it is the work of the Holy Spirit in the water of baptism that gives “new life” to the believer.
Jesus goes on to say that "God loved the world so much, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) And, just as important, "For God, did not send his Son into the world ot condemn the world, but to save the world through him" (John 3:17) ~ Jan Heimann

October 16: Join Carolyn as we read and discuss more of the third chapter of John.

Pharisee: a member of a Jewish sect that flourished during the 1st century b.c. and 1st century a.d. and that differed from the Sadducees chiefly in its strict observance of religious ceremonies and practices, adherence to oral laws and traditions, and belief in an afterlife and the coming of a Messiah.
evidently: obviously; apparently
perish: to die

International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:00-11:30, room 100.
We carved apples into heads to become shrunken heads. We dressed our witches and goblins and are watching them age and become wizened. We made somemores over a Sterno "bonfire" as a snack.

October 16: Join us for a Takoyaki Party!

wizened: become wrinkled with age
sterno: can of fuel used for cooking or keep food warm

Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, room 100.
We celebrated Kay's birthday American-style with cake and candles and singing. We tasted the cake from Market District and the Limited Edition, sparkling, caramel apple juice. It was great to welcome an old friend back. At the afterparty we learned more about features on our iPhones and on Facebook.

October 17: Join Carolyn and Kay for light or heavy conversation.

English Classes: Thursdays, 9:00-11:30, room 100
I hope you enjoyed a relaxing and rejuvenating fall break. You may have your break next week if you live in Fishers! 

October 18: Join us back in our classes. Parents with Children: come to our 40 minute session to learn with your children!

Fall Break. New Text Books. Apple Fun! Could it get any better than this?

Hello, Friends.

We had a great week at International Friends! We baked and fried apples. We got new text books (the link for your on-line resources are at below). Next week promises to be even better! 

...And the weather...for those of you new to Indiana, we had another taste of fall today. Don't worry. Summer hasn't left us behind, yet. Get ready for a few more hot and enjoyable summer days. Meanwhile, keep your eyes open: The leaves are turning.

Remember: Fall Break. No classes on Thursday. Enjoy the day off and practice your English!

English Tips and Observations (from our Friends):
Want to improve your listening? Watch children's TV programs (in English) with the Closed Captioning on so you can read along. Children's programs often use "characters" that have a wide and obvious voice style that makes listening interesting and tunes your ear to a variety of speaking styles.

Asian languages often END the sentence with the question marker...English BEGINS with the question marker (who, what, where, when) about the following information. This might make you miss that a question was even asked because you were listening for information! It doesn't help that most English questioning words begin with the same sound, but indicate completely different things. Listen carefully!

International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:00-10:00, room 100.
The Bible story in John 2:12-25 about Jesus clearing the Temple is surprising! Why? Because Jesus gets angry! Its “righteous anger,” but its anger. People struggle that how could God be loving and be angry. 

Jesus went to Jerusalem to observe the Passover, as was required of all Jewish men. As he entered the outer court of the Temple (the only section in which non-Jewish people were allowed to worship), he found animals for sale for sacrifice and salesmen were selling them to pilgrims who were required to bring sacrifices to God as part of their worship. There were also money-changers who were taking currencies from all over the world and exchanging them. All of this “temple business” had previously been done outside the Temple walls. God’s house was turned into a market. Jesus made a whip and drove the merchants and their animals out of the Temple. 

We observed:

• Jesus came to be the ultimate or final, perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people. Animals wouldn't be needed! Spoiler: because of his suffering and death on the cross, and his resurrection three days later, animals were no longer needed as sacrifices for sin. 
• Righteous anger is a display of love and compassion.
  

Jesus’ anger was focused on making things right. He was angry for a good reason.

October 9: Please join us as begin our study of the third chapter of the Gospel of John with the story about Jesus teaching Nicodemus.

Passover: Jewish holiday

righteous: morally right or justifiable

pilgrims: people traveling for religious purposes

currency: something that is used as a medium of exchange; money

exchanging: trading for something of equal value

defile: to make dirty, foul, or unclean

International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:00-11:30, room 100.
We cooked apple dishes. Maria hosted baking a Roman Apple Cake. Here’s a great site of recipes from many home cooks. This one is very similar to the recipe we used.

We baked apples using Werther’s Pumpkin Spice Carmels and sugar, butter and oatmeal. Heat the oven to 350°. Cut the top quarter of the apple. Scoop out the core with the seeds. Score the inside being careful not to cut through the skin. Put the Carmel in the hollow. Make a crumble by mixing the sugar, butter and oatmeal and top the apples. Bake the apples in a baking pan or muffin tin a for 35-40 minutes until soft. Serve hot from the oven with vanilla ice cream.

We fried apple fritters. Heat oil to 375°. Mix about a cup of flour with about a teaspoon of baking soda and a teaspoon of sugar and a good sprinkle of cinnamon. Stir these dry ingredients into two to three cups of chopped apples (I like the skin on). Stir in 2/3 cup of milk make a batter. Drop spoonfuls of batter in the oil. Fry them until they they float to the top and are golden brown. The trick to good frying is to keep the oil temperature up so that the food doesn’t absorb the oil. Having a good electric frier helps or use a thermometer to assure steady heat.

Other moms stopped by and shared quick, no bake snack recipes.
Emily’s Snacking Balls
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Honey to taste
Mix all together and roll into bite-sized balls.

Beth’s
1 teaspoon butter melted with 1 teaspoon honey
1/2 cup Cheerios cereal
1/4 cup peanut butter
Mix all together and roll into bite sized balls.

October 9: Let’s make Halloween Witches and Some Mores!
Bring a small apple, an empty toilet paper or empty soda or beer bottle or paper towel roll for the body, a small knife, scissors and a glue gun if you have one. Check out this description for making a witch head. There are a good number of other descriptions out there, too. Google apple witch or shrunken apple heads for more ideas.

Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, room 100.
John brought office supplies and we learned the names for many

October 10: Let’s have a birthday party! Let’s celebrate Kay’s birthday and talk about parties.

English Classes: Thursday’s, 9:00-11:30, upstairs classrooms.
Our Leveled classes got new text books this week! This is a new text for our school. This product was chosen because it integrates on-line technologies. 

Access all the audio files, flash cards and other support materials: World Link

October 11: No Class: Fall Break
October 18: Welcome back! We are launching our Parent and Child Classes. Watch for more information this coming week.

Welcome Fall

Hello Friends,

This weekend felt so much like fall. Our neighbors had a bonfire party. The smells of burning wood and toasting marshmallows wafted and whiffed out of the night and into our windows. This is a typical fall scenario. Be sure to take advantage of these wonderful days and the festivals they spawn. Enjoy corn mazes, pumpkin patches, hay rides and bonfires.

Important to note: we have our Fall Break Thursday, October 11. No classes that day.

so much: a lot
wafted: carried by the air
whiffed: smoke or a scent carried by air
scenario: setting or a story
spawn: cause to grow or happen

International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:00-10:00, room 100.
John briefly talks about how several men became Jesus' disciples in John 1:35-51. Jesus says his classic, "come and see" and "follow me." Brothers invite brothers and friends to meet and follow. Interestingly enough, John decides to tell the story of Nathanael meeting Jesus. This is the only mention of Nathanael in the whole Bible, yet this meeting is important enough for John to note.

We also read how Jesus changes water into wine as His first miracle in John 2:1-11. He does this at a wedding in Cana. That Jesus chooses to save the party and the reputation of the groom and make the wedding a success is a wonderful gift. We discovered that Jesus' mother encouraged Him to begin His official work. There is a beautiful parallel between this story and the analogy of Jesus as the bridegroom and the church as the bride. The bridegroom of the church transforms water reserved for purifying into wine for celebrating!

October 2: Join us as we discuss the story where Jesus "clears" the temple: John 2:12-25.

briefly: using a few words
interestingly enough: strangely, curiously
note: mention
parallel: follow along side
purifying: cleaning

International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:00-11:30, room 100.
We made it to Tuttle Orchards! The weather cooperated long enough for us to have the opportunity to pick delicious apples. We visited the store and checked out the café area. They have some really delicious options with high quality, Indiana locally sourced ingredients.

locally sourced: obtained from the near area

October 2: Let's cook with apples! Join us as we try some recipes. Bring two apples and to make fritters and baked apples and apple cake. If you have cup cake tins, please bring those, also.

Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, room 100.

John taught us the very many dishes and serving pieces that make up the typical American dinner table. We practiced passing plates and asking classmates to serve each other. It was good practice of practical American eating skills. Etiquette is an important aspect of friendly conversation. The Gentlemans' Gazette Table Etiquette Guide to Informal Dining gives a great summary. Note that this guide has European (two handed) rather than American (one handed) guidelines for handling flatware...either custom is appropriate in the United States. If you want to know more about place settings and templates for them visit the Template.net for some quick diagrams and explanations.

October 3: Our group continues to grow. Join us and learn new vocabulary and American customs.

passing plates:
etiquette: social rules and guides
appropriate: suitable, proper
diagrams: drawings

English Classes: Thursdays, 9:00-11:30, upstairs classrooms.
We are continuing to develop an elegant solution for parents with small children to continue their English practice and learn about American customs as well as have an interesting and meaningful experience for our children.

We have developed a program to begin October 18: Spend 40 minutes with your children and learn skills (in English) that help to cement children's success and development while practicing your English language skills. Then, rotate your children into the nursery while you attend your class.This option helps to take the pressure off of the nursery and gives your children a break and structure from free play.

WOW! Look at all the rain! If we don't pick, we can shop...

It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is snoring...

This old children's rhyme describes this morning. Next Tuesday's forecast is just as iffy.


Tuttle Orchards has a very nice farm store that is stocked with plenty of great apple (and other) products. We may not want to wander the orchard, but we can still experience a farm store and delicious apple cider.


Head from the church at 10:00 or meet us around 10:30 in the farm store.

Good luck!
Caroyn

Let's begin a new season

Hello, Friends.

Did you know that Saturday is the first day of Autumn? Fall festivals are always a lot of fun. This weekend Main Street in Carmel is the place to be for the International Festival. There are a number of Oktoberfests sponsored by cities on Friday. I hope to see you at these events.

We had another very successful week, but not without some hiccups and glitches. I got home tonight and went to upload the latest pictures from our classes only to have my iPad try to activate. It could not activate, so I'm afraid I will need to take a trip to the Apple store. Even if they can get it to work, I would guess that all my pictures are lost. Bring your lipstick next week. I will be taking pictures again.

International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:00-10:00, Room 100.
What a wonderful session we had on Tuesday discussing John 1:19-34! John the Baptist (Jesus’s cousin) was creating quite a “hubbub” preaching in the desert on the far side of the Jordan River. People came all the way from Jerusalem and other cities to hear John explain their urgent need for repentance. He told them that the Messiah was coming! When the church leaders asked him if he was Elijah or another prophet, John said “no”! When they asked him if he was the Messiah, he emphatically denied that idea. He constantly turned their focus off of himself and toward the coming Messiah. He testified that this Messiah would be the Lamb of God, who would take away the sins of the world. And then one day Jesus was there at the gathering. He asked John to baptize him, not because of any sinful condition in him, but to fulfill the traditions of the Jewish faith and to show that he was a righteous man. God the Father spoke aloud as Jesus was baptized, declaring him to be God’s beloved Son. The Spirit also descended on Jesus in a visible form like a dove. John the Baptist saw confirmation of the messages he had been given from God about his mission to prepare the people for Jesus’s arrival!

We talked about the differences between the traditional baptism John performed with water to show repentance and the baptism Jesus’s disciples performed later (and even today) that give believers the gifts of forgiveness of sins and faith fueled by the Holy Spirit.

September 25: Please join us. Read John 1:35-51about how people were called by Jesus. We will talk about this. We will also read about Jesus' first miracle!

International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:00-12:00, Room 100.
We met in the parking lot to celebrate that wonderful sports party tradition of tail gaiting. Thanks to everyone who had tables to bring! 

September 25: Let's go to the apple orchard! Join us to depart church by 10:00 sharp if you are carpooling and caravanning. Otherwise, meet us at the farm:

Tuttle Orchards
5717 N 300 W, Greenfield, IN 46140

Tuttle provides you with the bags, and you can pick your own apples. Bring your appetite! They have a great restaurant on site.

Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:40-6:00, Room 100
We practiced greeting each other. John shared that he went to the Biltmore Mansion and saw a Chihuly exhibit. You can take an informative tour via this video. We talked about volunteering and philanthropy. There are many ways to help others. We heard about collecting bottle caps to get donations. People collect pop tabs and donate them to different organizations like the Ronald McDonald House (a hotel that is available for little or no cost for families to stay in while they have critically ill  children in the hospital) to help off set costs. 

September 26: Join us as we continue our conversation. We are expanding our vocabulary phrase by phrase. 

English Classes: Thursdays, 9:00-11:30, upstairs classrooms.
We are so happy to have so many mothers and children this year! We tested the nursery today with so many children. The nursery can only accommodate 15 children at one time. This means that some children may be turned away when the space is full. As children are picked up, space once again becomes available. We have a room up by our classrooms for you to spend time with your children or for them to play under the watchful eye of some of our volunteers. Children are always welcome in our classrooms, also. Sometimes they just need to sit on Mom's lap and study English, too!

Meet up and Beer Club: Oktoberfest at Cornerstone Lutheran Church
Friday, September 28 4:00-10:00

Join us as we celebrate Oktoberfest at the church. Old and new friends and all the family are welcome.

hiccups: when small inconveniences happen

glitches: when something doesn't go as planned

upload: move from a computer to the internet or another place

activate: I don't know what this means! My iPad won't work and I just keep getting this message! I looked on line, and there is no help there either. 

hubbub: a loud, confused noise; uproar
Messiah: the promised and expected deliverer of the Jewish people
repentance: deep sorrow for a past wrong-doing
tradition: the handing down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs, information, etc., from generation to generation
righteous: morally correct or justifiable
confirmation: something that supplies evidence or corroboration of a statement or belief
orchard: fruit tree farm
sharp: on time
via: by way of
tested: challenge
accommodate: hold
watchful eye: supervision
orchard: fruit tree farm
pop tabs: the little metal tab on the top of a beer or soda can
critically ill: very sick

Catching errors...

Hello, Friends.

Did you catch my errors? Thank you to those of you that did and let me know. I tried to rush things (or delay them) and put October instead of September on the update. I also had an earlier date for the the Oktoberfest. My apologies for any confusion.

Here is the link to the corrected page: Week One: So Much Done!

Thank you for your feedback and patience.

Carolyn