Next Meet Up: June 6

Dear Friends.

I’m so sorry. I have been called out of town on family business. Out next official meet up is June 6.

Best wishes for the end of the school year.
I hope you enjoyed May in Indiana and the Greatest Spectacle In Racing.

I hope to see you this summer.

Love,
Carolyn

Have a Great Summer!

Dear Friends,

Thank you for a wonderful end to our International Friends this year!

Practice your English and I look forward to seeing you at our meet-ups this summer.

Love,
Carolyn

Our Last Week.

Hello, Friends.

This year has flown by! We only have one more official week of classes and meetings. Be sure to join us for these last meetings! You won't be disappointed.

Saturday was the Grand Prix race at the Brickyard. How do you pronounce Grand Prix in Indiana? That was the debate on the new Saturday morning. Some people say: Graaahhnd (rhymes with bond) Pree. Others say: Grand (rhymes with sand) Pree. This race is a road race not a race on the oval. Rain doesn't matter: they have tires for that!

Sunday was Mother's Day. Happy day to all you mothers and grandmothers. Mother's

English Tip:

The other day I was at the Goodwill and saw a purse that I wasn't sure if my daughter would like. I asked a beautiful and stylish young lady what she thought of it. She answered me: "I no speak English." As you know, that never stops me! I needed her advice! It all worked out fine. We ended up having a simple conversation (and she let me know that my daughter wouldn't like the purse). Don't be afraid to talk. 

A.J. Hoge's book Effortless English has a surprising chapter called "Why You Should Not Practice Speaking". WHAT?!! You are taking English classes and you meet native English speakers every day. Isn't this the perfect opportunity to practice your English? Hoge advises:
"This is why you must not try to "practice" English with native speakers. Instead of practicing, simply focus on being a true friend. Communicate, without focusing on the English language. Talk about your shared interests. Ask questions and listen to their answers. Show your appreciation and understanding (by listening and participating in the conversation). In other words, treat them just as you would a friend who speaks your own language." He advises:

• Never ask a friend or casual acquaintance to correct your English. (Also, It would have been very rude for me to correct the woman I was talking to and say: "It isn't 'I no speak English'! It is correct for you to say, 'I don't speak English!'")
• Don't apologize for your English; don't ask for any English advice at all. They are not your English teachers. (This is also awkward and interrupts the conversation. If you are stuck you can ask for help, "What would your call this color?" I'm not tall, but if I need help at the store getting something off a high shelf and someone taller walks by I don't say, "I am that I am too short to reach this shelf. Could you correct my height?")
• Listen during your speaking time. Stop worrying about speaking correctly. Stop worrying about remembering vocabulary. Your native speaker friend gives you idioms, slang and you learn the non-verbal clues that go with the conversation. (If you don't know what "lit" means, ask. That is fine...I ask people the same thing. That is just understanding what your friend is trying to tell you.)

If someone engages you in conversation in the store, listen and try to answer their question. You all hear English very well and can answer almost all of my casual questions.

• You can say, "I'm sorry, can you repeat what you just said" or "I'm sorry, I don't understand what you just asked." Often you don't understand because you didn't expect them to talk to you!
• Be patient with yourself. English words don't come readily to me all of the time and I'm a native English speaker!
• Remember pay attention to how you talk to your friends and family in your home language: there is more to talking than just words. Smile. Point. 

A Special Month

A Special Month

This video: How to be a Good Ally to Muslims During Ramadan explains the significance of and how this holiday is observed by the entire Muslim community world wide. In practice, Muslims fast for 30 days from sun up to sundown May 5-June 4. During this time they also refrain from bad behavior such as bad language and reflect thankfully. Mosques offer meals to break the fast at the end of the day. This article from the IndyStar also offers a summary.  Thank you to Syra for describing what it is like to personally observe Ramadan.

So, you’ve got a full day. You’ve got a meeting at 10, then a lunch date at noon. You’ve got yoga at 4 then plan to get ready for your evening. In between all this you try to pray and be thankful for what you have. You have, after all been up since 4 am.

You’re fasting. It’s the month of Ramadan and you, like millions of practicing Muslims around the world, are observing it by abstaining from not only food and drink for a full day but also temptation, bad habits and ill behavior.

It’s not something that everyone is physically able to do, but you feel grateful to be able to do so.  You feel humbled to be able to have the strength to fast, but you also know that you are part of a larger community.

It’s 8:30 pm and you’ve got 16 minutes until you can break your fast. Though, every day this time changes and gets later as it follows a lunar calendar. A crowd has begun to gather at the local mosque, or Muslim place of worship. Plates are filled with fruit and dates (dates being the customary way to break or end a fast at the end of the day). After five minutes, the evening prayer commences followed by dinner. You are tired, but stay up for more prayers late into the night.

It’s 10:20 pm. You are ready to sleep and start it all over again the next day.

You feel connected to your community and to your faith while also welcoming the sharing of ideas and cultures from all people.

Summer Meet Up!

Just because classes and meetings adjourn (and we are all on vacation) doesn't mean that we won't continue to see each other over the summer! Let's plan to meet the first and third Thursday morning of the month beginning at 11:00. Bring a drink and a snack to share (if you wish). Family and friends are welcome to join us. Mark your calendars:

June 6 and 20

July 4 and 18

August 1 and 15

Lawrence W. Inlow Park is 1.5 miles East of CLC at 6310 East Main Street.
This convenient park has a splash pad, a walking trail, Frisbee golf and more.

International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:00-10:00, room 100
Join us for our last meeting of the 2018-19 year.

International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:00-12:00, room 100
It was a very happy day to be at International Friends! We have so many things that make us happy:

• Donuts: White House Donuts in 212 Main Street, Westfield has delicious donuts. This joint is open Tuesday-Saturday 5-11:00 or until they run out of donuts). They only take cash, but you can get a "six bucks box"!
• Healthy family: when your family is healthy life is great!
• Daily events that make you smile...Like bringing home squirrel leftovers and having a cat chasing a chipmunk off your front porch!
  
  Enjoy this little video. What makes this funnier is that our friend was bringing home squirrel leftovers!
• Cats: cats are so much fun! They always do something to make you smile.
• Rainbows, children and happy babies: is it a coincidence that the end of a full arc of the rainbow ends over your home or your son? I don't think so!
• Beautiful pictures of life events: In this case we got to take a break to Bolivia and imagine ourselves joining on a beach.
• Brownie chips and coffee: sitting down to chocolate and a cup of coffee! how much better can it get?
• Son's Graduation from Ball State: Having family come to the States and celebrate a family milestone; especially a milestone that includes a decision to give up life in your home country for your children.
• Hiking: Indiana hiking isn't usually rugged, but there are beautiful and interesting places to hike: Turkey Run was our favorite (today).
• Paddle boat on the canal in Indianapolis: Spending a beautiful spring day on the water in downtown Indy with your family! Wheel Fun Rentals has rentals
• Spring vegetables and cooking: Cooking for friends and enjoying spring foods. The Chinese chives are up and perfect now. Sticky rice stuffed with sweet and savory deliciousness. And pancakes made with chives, noodles and egg. YUM!
• Rosemaling is a Scandinavian craft. Getting in touch with your roots through the arts makes us happy.

• Jesus says "don't worry": Who can argue with God? Knowing God loves you and is always there for you makes our Friends happy and content.
• Singing and playing instruments: We had a great time singing and learning about ukuleles.

May 14: Bring a dish to share as we meet for our closing party! Join us for a pot luck. No special requirements! Let's eat and drink and be merry!

English Classes: Thursdays, 9:30-12:00, upstairs classrooms.
We celebrated the end of our academic year with the traditional, American pizza party complete with cake and soda or pop. I am so glad to get everyone together for one last meeting with this annual tradition. I hope that you are able to meet up over the summer and have a restful holiday! Don't stop talking and reading in English!

May 16: Parties are on. I think most of you are off campus enjoying your last day together as a class.

stylish: well dressed

worked out fine: was ok

debate: a discussion with opposing views presented publicly a formal setting
engages you in conversation: starts to talk to you casually when you are out

casual acquaintance: someone you just met or know informally

ally: a friendly association with someone; usually used in a situation where one group of people supports another

significance: importance and meaning

observed: customs and behaviors practiced during a 

fast: do not eat or drink as a religions practice or

refrain: to avoid doing something

Mosque: Muslim place of worship (Christians: church, Jews: temple)

personally: subjective, from a personal standpoint

funnier: more funny

What makes you happy?

Hello, Friends.

A quick note about ukuleles For those of you that would like to join in learning to play, the meetings are on Fridays at CLC in room 102 at 10:00.

My ukuleles are Mahalo Rainbow. You can find them on Amazon for under $40. These ukuleles are respectable and are strung with good strings, which makes a difference in how they perform. Of course you can buy a more expensive instrument that may have a better sound. No matter what you choose, be sure to read reviews so you aren’t disappointed.

I use the n-Track turner app that is free on my from the App Store..

There are plenty of sites that have information for learning how to play. You can watch You Tube videos, too.

Here is the link to You Are My Sunshine for you to enjoy.

There are plenty of websites to help you learn more. You can learn along with You Tube.
Live Ukulele: find music and basic information with a Hawaiian vibe.
Ukutabs: find the top searched songs and music along with the tabs (music written for the instrument).

I hope you can try this new adventure in music and learnings and Don’t Worry, Be Happy!

The Greatest!

Dear Friends,

Saturday, May 4 is Star Wars Day: May the Fourth be with you!
Saturday, May 4 was the running of the Kentucky Derby
Sunday, May 5 is Cinco de Mayo: celebrate with tacos and a Corona beer! This Mexican holiday is celebrated in the states, but not so much in Mexico.

May in Indy is a wonderful time of the year. Saturday kicked off racing month with the Mini Marathon that started in Indianapolis, runs past the zoo out to the Brickyard and back to Military Park. Runners get to run on the race track. While Saturday was gloomy and wet (which seems to be the weather pattern this spring for our long races), it was a great day for racers. There was some talk about whether the runners would kiss the bricks since they would be wet. This tradition went unbroken.

Check out the schedule at the Brickyard: Indianapolis 500

• Click on the events tab to see all the racing including practice events, Grand Prix, concert and so much more.
• There are many community events in which to to participate. One favorite is to rock your race gear on Fridays for a discounts at various restaurants.

There are more than 50 Programs and Events planned as a part of the 500 Festival throughout the month of May. May 25 is the 500 Parade which is televised internationally (the only other American parade is the Rose Bowl Parade). Watch to see the new pace cars around town. People may break out models from the past in true Indy500 spirit.

International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:00-10:00, room 100.
Our Bible Study class wrapped up the twentieth chapter of John, which describes the resurrection of Jesus from the dead and his first appearances to his followers. Their responses mirror our own as we consider today what Jesus’s resurrection means. Some people believed immediately. They remembered what Jesus had predicted during his ministry, put the facts together, and accepted his resurrection as genuine. Other people believed after being presented with indirect evidence. Their initial doubt was removed when they received further information such as the empty tomb and the way the grave clothes were neatly left behind. Finally, some people, like Thomas, only believed when they were provided with direct evidence. They saw Jesus with their own eyes or even placed their finger into the nail holes in his hands. In her book, The Women of Easter, Liz Curtis Higgs writes, “The Lord’s resurrection is the most glorious, victorious moment in history.” We have enjoyed reading and discussing this Gospel of John, which is an eyewitness account of Jesus’s life, death and resurrection.

We finished our study of John with the last chapter on April 30. Jesus revisits the disciples while they are fishing. Jesus brings peace, reconciliation and closure to the group over a meal of fish.

May 7: No Meeting.

International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:00-11:30, room 100.
We had a great Food Challenge! I am so planning to do that again! I made squirrel in the crock pot (just Chicago steak seasoning so everyone could taste the meat). We feasted on 1000 year egg, duck stomach and pig knuckles with wide noodles, a Chinese "bread" dish, cow tongue, red velvet cake, spicy cheezy popcorn, Chinese snacks, pork lettuce wraps Hong Kong style, 100 percent dark chocolate, sweet rice crackers (they go great with beer). Everything was so delicious.

May 7: We are "down to the wire" for our meetings. This time of the year can make me begin to feel sad and nostalgic because our year is coming to an end. To combat the blues, bring something that brings a smile to your heart and the story that goes with it.

English Classes: Thursdays, 9:00-11:30 or 12:00, Upstairs Classrooms
We only have two more meetings. Don't miss your chance to see your friends and practice, practice, practice.

May 9: We will have our annual end of year pizza party!

Parents with Children: Thursdays during our English Classes
This week we learned the nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty. Saying Humpty Dumpty is fun. The rhythm of the rhyme is so pleasant and it is a usual meter: 8, 8, 10 10 or an AABB pattern. Is there significance to this rhyme? The oldest documentation says that Humpty Dumpty is "egg" Dutch "or some such language". The meaning? If an egg falls and breaks no one can put it back together (not even a king's army). Some people like to try and ascribe a political riddle, but its just for fun. In terms of language learning, the pronunciation and rhythm help practice the cadence and stress on syllables that make up the sound of English.

May 9: No official Parents With Children lessons, but we will have crafts and games at the pizza party.

Free concert.

whether: if; a question of if conditions are met

tradition...unbroken: a practice that continues to occur 

rock your race gear: wear clothing and accessories in a certain theme; racing gear can include caps, shirts, fan gear, black and white checkered anything.

break out models: display, show, bring out from storage

wrapped up: completed; finished
mirror: reflect
predicted: foretold
genuine: real; actual

indirect evidence: not seen first hand, hearsay

direct evidence: by a witness

revisits: meet again to discuss or finish business

reconciliation: restore friendly relations

closure: the feeling that an emotional or traumatic event has been resolved

over a meal: a meeting during a meal

nostalgic: wishing for the past
combat the blues: fight sad feelings
brings a smile to your heart: makes you happy; give you contentment

ascribe: attach a meaning

cadence: beat

Final Countdown

Hello, Friends.

Can you believe that we are in the final countdown to the end of our academic year? Be sure to join us as we wrap up our final meetings. I am sure that you will get a lot out of our classes as well as enjoy new friendships. Be sure to exchange contact information to keep in touch over the summer. Be sure to book dates with your friends for face to face fun.

In the News: 
Measles was eradicated in the United States in 2000 which implied that there were no cases of measles but in reality meant that the disease had not been seen here continuously throughout the year. Travelers to and from countries or other areas where the virus is active can start an outbreak in unprotected populations. Friday, two universities in Los Angeles were put under a quarantine. There were 695 cases in the U.S. primarily in Washington and New York states. People who were born between 1963 and 1987 are being advised to be revaccinated to be protected and to protect others. Parents who were concerned about the effects of vaccinations and made a decision not to vaccinate their children are being urged to keep their children home and/or take precautions to keep their children from being exposed. Closer to home, there were 17 mumps cases on the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington. Students are required to have two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine in most public universities to protect the overall population as well as individual health.

International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:00-10:00, room 100.
We caught up on the Easter story and are ready to move on to John 21. Come and read with us as we discuss this final chapter of John. 

International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:00-11:30, room 100
We had an interesting time planting our lettuce bowls. Since these are microgardens, some of our friends were surprised that we mixed the seeds together and sprinkled them into the soil. It will be fun to see which plants emerge first and how fast they grow!

April 30: Join us for a food challenge. Bring a food you would like to try or a food that is unique that you would like to share with everyone else. By special request I am bringing a squirrel dish.

English Classes: Thursdays, 9:00-11:30+, upstairs classrooms
I enjoyed visiting classes to touch base about our upcoming schedule. American Accent class was talking about different styles of heels and which are most comfortable and appropriate for a wedding. In Level Three they were listening to words in isolation and everyone took turns saying what they heard. It is fun to hear (and see, since Kris wrote the words on the board) what people think they are saying and what people think they are hearing. It is also a great lesson in the importance of understanding the situation and context for your vocabulary. 

May 2: Class as usual
May 9: Pizza Party begins at 10:45 (more like 11:00!)
May 16: Last class of the year: each class will have 

Parents with Children: Thursdays during our classes
This week we read and talked about my favorite Fairy Tale: Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Fairy tales teach so many things in a fanciful manner that allows them to learn acceptable and unacceptable social behavior or prepare for an emergency in a nonthreatening way. Goldilocks and the Three Bears is the story of a girl that helps herself to another family's food and home. Little does she know that the family that lives there are bears and no one wants to cross a bear! This tale teaches hot and cold (and just right); big and little (and just right); hard and soft (and just right).

Here is Goldilocks and the Three Bears read by Dad. This is the traditional American version that I grew up reading.

final countdown: look forward to the end (or beginning) of something
academic year: the calendar dates when classes are in session
be sure to: do something
get a lot out of:
exchange: give something for something else
contact information: telephone number, email, address, etc.; how to contact someone
keep in touch: communicate with someone over a period of time
book dates: schedule or plan a meeting with someone or reserve time or space (book dates at a hotel)
face to face: talk with someone in person

eradicated: made extinct or erased either globally or in a defined area

outbreak: break out or sudden surge or growth
put under: placed in a limited state

quarantine: isolation for a time to protect others from a disease (historically 40 days!)

primarily: mostly

effects: results from a behavior or act

urged: encouraged

precautions: actions to protect 

exposed: come in contact with something

closer to home: idiom locally 

doses: recommended amount of medicine served or administered

final chapter: meaning the last section of a book; also used as a reference to a length of time anticipating the end of a life or life event (for example: Our youngest child is graduating, we are in the final chapter of kids at home.)
microgarden: a variety of plants in a small area or container
emerge: come out
heels: shoes with heels (I'm wearing heels with my cocktail dress)

fanciful: imaginary

isolation: cause to be alone

acceptable: agreed upon or pleasant
unacceptable: not pleasant or allowed

cross a bear: cross can mean encounter or it can mean to make someone angry; in this case both meanings work making this a good pun :)

just right: perfect or to someone's taste

So much to talk about...

Happy Easter, Friends.

I hope you enjoyed a beautiful weekend and are taking advantage of all that Indiana has to offer. Our neighborhood egg hunt has been rescheduled for after school on Monday because of the soggy weather today. You can't complain too much about the weather, though because you can see that April showers bring May flowers! And, as we wrap up April and look forward to May, get ready!  May is a big month here in Indy. Aside from the graduations and the end of the school year, our entire community will be involved in the 500 Festival.

Starting Sunday, you can officially wear white shoes, white pants, white skirts, etc.! Enjoy your warm weather wardrobe!

International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:00-10:00, room 100.
The twentieth chapter of the Gospel of John records the resurrection of Jesus and several of his appearances to his followers on that first Easter Sunday and again on the following Sunday. These stories are pivotal to Christian faith, since as St. Paul explains, “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” (1 Corinthians 15: 17)

One of our participants asked the question, “Are you ready to die?” This question sparked some wonderful discussion!  It is only human to fear death, but Jesus’s resurrection changes all that for believers. We discussed how much comfort can be drawn from this chapter, how it makes all the difference for us as we live out our life on this earth, and especially as we think about our death. When Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and his other followers on Easter, it confirmed their faith in the living Christ. It transformed them from frightened, cowardly people who were hiding from the authorities into bold witnesses who were willing to risk their own lives to spread the message of God’s love for all people.

In the final verse of chapter 20 John clearly states that what is written in this Gospel is written “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”

Join us April 23 at 9:00 a.m. as we continue our discussion of the Resurrection of Jesus!
Happy Easter to all of you! ~ Jan Heimann

International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00, room 100.
We had a really fun time dying Easter eggs and learning how to make tea eggs. I hope you had a chance to enjoy this traditional activity with your family in your homes. If your family is anything like my family, the kids all want to color at least a dozen eggs each! When I was growing up, our friends would come over for the egg dying party! Then comes the question: what do you do with all of those hard boiled eggs? In the Midwest we use them to make egg salad and deviled eggs. Add them to potato salad, slaw or green salads. Pickle them in beet juice. Lately, I learned to grate them into pasta dishes and add them to soups! And, don't forget Scotch eggs where you wrap them in pork sausage, roll them in crumbs and bake them in the oven or deep fry them in oil.

April 23: Let's replant our "salad bowls". Bring your bowl back (with dirt). If this is your first time planting a salad bowl, bring a bowl for planting our seeds (you can pick one up at Goodwill). I have the seeds and will bring soil.

English Classes: Thursdays, 9:00-11:30 (or 12:00...)
I had a great time visiting most of the classes. In Kris' Class we talked about hospitality and then we had an impromptu visit by Pastor Luther (the senior spiritual leader at CLC). He talked to us about the goal to be hospitable to one another. Hospitality includes welcoming actions and speech and making people feel at home. It is the goal of CLC to welcome all people because all people are welcomed and loved by God.

I heard that there were discussions in another class about inhospitality. Unfortunately, some people can be inhospitable. Basically, there are three words that can describe these behaviors: rude, mean and bullying (there is also harassment, but that is a more serious behavior that requires legal intervention and hopefully you do not have to experience this).

• rude: inadvertently saying or doing something that hurts someone else; not following cultural norms can also be rude and not knowing what the people around you expect can make you appear rude or vice versa
• mean: purposely saying or doing something to hurt someone once (or twice) and the mean person may be acting this way because they themselves are feeling angry, hurt or frustrated
• bullying: aggressive speech or actions that are specific and targeted with no apparent reason for the action or remorse and when told to stop they continue and includes threats (like I won't be your friend, I will hurt you or someone else if you don't do what I want).

We do not want to be seen as rude or mean or be a bully nor do we want our children to act this way. It's important to know how to classify rude, mean and bullying behavior from the standpoint of any culture. Read more: Rude Vs. Mean Behavior Vs. Bullying. 

Just as important, when we encounter people who act unpleasantly, how do we respond? Sophie Lizard in Life Hacks gives Ten Smart Ways to Deal with Rude People. You might have heard these things before (from your mom), but it is always a good refresher. One point Sophie makes is that everyone is mean or rude as some point. 

Parents with Children: Thursdays during our classes

The children learned about Easter and took home four books to read! They enjoyed Jello Jiggler Eggs and played games and made crafts. 

April 25: Join us as we return to nursery rhymes. Remember to read aloud with you children every day. Reading with your children is a fabulous way to relax, give you common history. Make reading aloud a game. Take turns if your children can already read. As little as 20 minutes of reading aloud every can exponentially improve your children's reading, listening, and speaking skills and improve social abilities. Pick a book you and they both enjoy. One great series for kids that helps you improve your vocabulary at the same time is the Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snickett. Netflix has a great version that brings the stories to life. Don't forget that you can load books onto your phone or tablet and take a whole library with you no matter where you go. Your public library card give you access 24/7 everywhere!

wardrobe: collection of clothing
resurrection: the act of rising from the dead
pivotal: a time or point that is important for the development or success of something
futile: incapable of producing any result; ineffective; useless
confirm: to establish the truth, accuracy, validity or genuineness of; corroborate; verify
transform: to change in condition, nature or character
fun time: enjoyable event or occasion
replant: plant again
dirt=soil: earth; material that plants grow in
pick one up: buy from a store
impromptu: unplanned
feel at home: feel comfortable
inhospitable: not welcoming or friendly
vice versa: the other way around; the order changed or reversed
respond: act or speak as a result of some other action
refresher: activity that updates skills or knowledge
fabulous: wonderful
relax: to seek rest or recreation
as little as: at least; minimum
series: books or programs in a collection that follow one another
access: freedom or ability to use something
24/7: twenty four hours a day and seven days a week: any time night or day
exponentially: greatly