Global Connections

If you plan to take the TOEFL in the near future please consider joining us for a free five-week class to prepare for this internet-based test.  This class is taught by ESOL instructor Julie George as well as Global Connections Intern/TOEFL tutor Adam Murphy.  The class will focus on strategies for mastering the reading, listening, speaking and writing sections of the TOEFL.  Class dates and times are Wednesdays, 6/6-7/18 from 12:45-3:00 PM.  This class is not for the beginner or low intermediate speaker of English.  Please contact Julie by Friday 5/25 if you are interested in attending.

Now that the summer break is here, why not sign up to go on a field trip with Global Connections!  The first is to Cedar Point next Friday, May 18th.  Better hurry on that one as the deadline for sign-up is this Thursday, the 10th.  Cost is $30.00.  Please email Julie for more information.

Other trips include Put-in-Bay June 8th, Toledo Museum of Art/Crosby Art Festival June 23rd, and Hayes Presidential Center July 21st.  For more information on these field trips check the calendar to the right.

Congratulations to all who are graduating in May!  We have really enjoyed getting to know you, and we wish you the best in all your future academic or professional endeavors.  We’d love to hear how you’re doing, so please keep in touch whenever you can by emailing Julie at jgeorge@globalconnectionsbg.  Also look for us on Facebook and Twitter.  GOOD LUCK!

Global Connections hosted our last Friendship Friday last Friday.  We had approximately fifteen people with a mix of Internationals and Americans who shared their favorite recipes.  It was a wonderful feast, even with so many cooks in the kitchen!  Surprisingly, we almost had no leftovers!  But maybe that was because by the time we got done cooking, it was quite late to have lunch (we were all so hungry!). Thanks to all who came and shared their wonderful cuisine!

Come join us this Friday and help make “Our Favorite Foods!”  This Friday’s activity will involve everyone to bring a recipe from their home country that they can prepare as well as share how to make with the other guests.  It should be fun both to learn and then eat our recipe creations at the end of the time.

When: Friday, April 27th

Where: Beth’s House (13946 Huffman Rd., BG)

Time: 11:30-2:00 PM

Bring: your recipe (copied if possible to share), your ingredients, and your appetite!

Email Beth to sign up and for more details.  This is a child friendly event.  Rides are available.

Need to go shopping around Bowling Green?  Don’t have a car or license?  No problem!  Global Connections takes interested Internationals to shopping stores in the BG area every Saturday (except on Saturdays that we go to the International Stores in Toledo).  Volunteers from our partnering churches and campus groups will take you where you need to go.   The time is from 10:30-12:00 PM.

We only have as much room to take you as there are cars and drivers, so let us know right away if you’d like to go.  Please email or call Julie for more information.

Food for Thought, a community service project opportunity originally scheduled for March has been rescheduled for this weekend, April 13 and 14th.  This nonprofit project/organization distributes food, clothing, and toiletries to those in need in the Toledo area.  Here are the details for this weekend:

• Glove Collection used to help make up packages on Friday, 4/13, from 7:00-8:00 PM- to distribute to the “unhoused” or homeless in Toledo   Glove donations will be accepted through 4/12.
• Distribution of packages on Saturday 4/14 from 9:30-11:30 AM- in downtown Toledo (The Toledo Public Library)   This will also be a time to connect and converse with these (unhoused) people.

Contact Julie to participate in one or both of these service opportunities.

Today marks the beginning of Holy Week for many Christians.  It is the last week of Lent (a forty day period of penance and fasting) done in anticipation of the culminating event, which is Jesus’ suffering and dying on the cross.  This will be commemorated on Friday (called Good Friday).  Good Friday is a sobering day to remember, but in contrast to the sorrow of Friday, will be the festivities on Sunday  associated with Easter which celebrates His rising from the dead.

So for all those Christians both here in BG and abroad, we wish you a very Happy Easter!  If any International would like to attend a service at one of our partnering churches, please check out our Partners page for contact information.

This Friday, Volunteers from Global Connections as well as other service groups will participate in a weekly event called Martha’s Kitchen.  Martha’s Kitchen serves a hot homemade meal to the poor families of the Bowling Green and Wood County every Friday from a local church.  The name Martha’s Kitchen comes from the name of Jesus’ friend, Martha, who was  busy with the practical service duties of the family, especially having to do with making food, while her sister, Mary would sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to His teaching.  Jesus admonished Martha for being overly concerned with such things instead of listening to His words as well.  Though she was rightly admonished for not serving her own needs at the time (by taking the time to listen to Jesus), yet we do need “Marthas” who love to be doing and serving, and she is the model for this outreach service to the community.

Date: Friday, March 30, 2012

Time: 4:15-6:30 PM

Place: First United Methodist Church, BG

Please call or email Julie for more details.

Enjoy a Quilt Trunk show featuring the crafts and quilts of Wendy Jenkins.  Crafter Wendy will show her wares as well as tell us a little about them.  We will also be learning how to make fabric pins to accessorize our clothing, handbags, or something else!  It should be interesting and fun!

Date: March 23rd

Place: 1012 Partridge Rd., BG

Time: 11:30-2:00 PM

FEE: $1.00 (for materials)

Bring: a dish to share

This is not a child friendly event.  Rides can be provided.  Sign up at the CEC (Community English Class) Table or email Beth to sign up.