Global Connections

Wendy Jenkins and Joan Edwards teach ongoing quilt classes to interested Internationals and Americans.  Whether you are a beginner or an accomplished sewer you can have fun improving your fabric working skills.  Both Wendy and Joan are members of the Black Swamp Quilters Association.  They frequently attend retreats to improve their skills as well as participate in shows like the Wood County Fair.  Contact Wendy for more information at wjquilts@gmail.com.

Last Friday  six Internationals and five Americans enjoyed a Victorian style Tea Party at the home of Nancy Peters.  There were tasty treats and fancy foods in four courses along with tea (of course!) and sparkling cider to drink.  Guests came dressed up and got to choose from an array of hats to compliment their outfits.  In between courses the history of tea was shared, then a wonderful fairy tale, and finally everyone did a napkin ring-making craft that they took home with them.

We invite you to come and enjoy an old fashioned tea party with us!  We’ll enjoy several courses of tea foods, hear a story, learn a little about the history of tea parties and end the afternoon making some pretty napkin rings to take home.  Normally our Friendship Fridays involve bringing food, but this time, just bring some tea (if you’d like) and put on your dress-up clothes!

Please email Beth if you plan to join us.  There is a fee of $5.  Also bring some scissors as we’ll be cutting out our craft with them.

Come join the fun at the 2011 International Fall Potluck!  The date is Saturday, October 22, 2011.  Time is 6:00-8:30PM.  It promises to be an evening of delicious food from around the world, fun entertainment, and great connections with Internationals!  Also available will be beautiful Global Connections t-shirts!  These great quality shirts are a steal at only $12 per shirt!  Make sure to get yours!  This event is being sponsored by St. Mark’s Lutheran Church located at 315 S. College Drive.

Those planning on coming should make a dish to share (enough to serve 5-6 people).  For a ride to this event, meet in front of the Center for International Programs at the south end of University Hall in Parking Lot A.  Rides will be available from 5:45-6:30PM.    Contact Julie for more information.  Hope to see you there!

Hope everyone enjoyed the recent fall break at BGSU.  There are many ways to enjoy the fall time in this part of Ohio including a few BG community and BGSU community activities.  The Slippery Elm Trail is a bike/skate trail that starts at the BG Montessori School and ends in North Baltimore Ohio (13.5 miles).  BGSU offers Planetarium Shows on Fridays at 8:00PM and Sundays at 7:30PM (and sometimes days during the week).  There is a $1.00 donation suggested.  The shows vary seasonally and if the weather permits they also include stargazing from the rooftop of the observatory.  Cheapskate is another local activity at BGSU’s Ice Arena.  Offered Monday-Friday from 12:15-1:15, the cost is $3.00 plus $3.00 skate rental.  Check out these great family ideas! (Pictures shown are representative only.)

This Thursday from 1:30-3:00PM at the Wood County Public Library, a number of guest speakers from local and county agencies and non-profits will provide information to all Internationals about the resources that are available to them and their children.  Please note the time change.  Representatives from Job and Family Services, the Bowling Green Pregnancy Center, BG Montesorri School, Head Start/Daycare at the Jordan Center, the Children’s Resource Center, the Wood County Public Library, and more will be available to answer your questions and distribute information.  Contact Julie if you need a ride or to reserve a spot at this helpful seminar.

This coming Friday, September 30th, the Peters’ Barn will host our first Friendship Friday of the school year!  Country Line Dancing will be the featured event with instructor, Terri Nowicki showing us how to do those dance moves!  Come join us and enjoy the 40′s diner style dance room decorated with vintage Coke memorabilia.  We will have a potluck lunch so bring your favorite dish to share!  Time is from 11:30AM-2:00PM.  This is a child-friendly event.  Rides can be arranged.  If interested please email or call Beth.

Wednesday, September 21, marks the first Community English Class of the school year.  This FREE class is open to all adult non-native English speakers who desire to improve their English.  It meets at BG Alliance Church located at 1161 Napoleon Rd. Wednesdays from 9:30-11:30AM.

Activities will focus on all four language skills- reading, writing, speaking and listening, and especially on conversation skills.  Opening class activities include interaction within a combination of student proficiency levels, those being  identified as Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced.  We will also divide  into smaller classes based on these levels using a language textbook for our base.  There is a fee for the textbook which is required.  Childcare is offered without cost.

Please call or email Julie if you are interested in joining us.

Global Connections is happy to offer shopping trips to Internationals thoughout the fall semester.  Each month, we offer one shopping trip to International markets in Toledo (including Asian with some African & Caribbean foods, Middle Eastern, and Indian) from 9:30AM-1:30PM.  Our first trip for the fall semester will be on 9/17.  For every Saturday that we do not go up to Toledo or that does not fall on a scheduled University Break, we will offer local shopping trips to BG stores from 10:30AM-12:00PM.  You must inform Julie before 12:00PM the Friday before the shopping day to reserve your spot.

Global Connections hosted its annual Barn Dance on one of the hottest days of the summer.  The dance, normally located on a local farm was moved to an indoor facility due to the forecast of rain.    A little over 100 participants enjoyed pizza, salad, dessert and lots of water and lemonade.  The indoor hall was not air-conditioned, so dancing meant sweating.  However, if you endured the heat, there were games and prizes as well as line and square dancing led by Doug.  Everyone seemed to have fun in spite of the heat.  But next year, we’ll make sure to have the air-conditioned option!