My first Arabic lesson

This is me having my first Arabic lesson at the World Cafe - thanks to Omar.  Not sure how useful it will prove to be but I can now count to ten.

I was tested several days later and achieved 80%  ...  that's a distinction!!







1              واحد          wahid

2              إثنان          ithnan

3              ثلاثة          talatha

4              اربعة         arba’a

5              خَمْسَة         khamsa

6              سِتَّة           sitta

7              سبعة          sab’a

8              ثمانية         thamaniya

9              تسمة          tusmah

10               عشرة        ‘ashra

Sunday Lunch Scheme

Sweety, from Nigeria, sent me several photos of her Sunday lunch experience with Luke & Martha Prankard and their children.  The weather was lovely and following lunch they all went for a walk.

Sweety's impression of the opening scene from
'The Sound of Music'.

Shoe Box Appeal

This year we are keen to get students involved with the annual Shoe Box Appeal.

Aiste from Lithuania, in pink, remembers being a recipient of one of these wonderful filled boxes.

Today, at the World Cafe, students helped to wrap boxes ready for filling.

Our finished products :-)
We kindly let Shaimaa, far right, into the photo even though she only wrapped one lid!!!

Can we encourage you to help out with this year's appeal.

This list shows the many simple things that you can buy to

bless someone else  ...
toothpaste, a toothbrush, soap, a comb, a small toy, pencils, small notebooks, a hat or scarf, etc...

If you have any small donations, please bring them along to

the World Cafe any Wednesday, between 12-2pm.

This is what our filled boxes might look like.

Pancake Party

Shrove Tuesday (more commonly known in the UK as Pancake Day) is the day preceding Ash Wednesday.  Ash Wednesday is the first day of the period of Lent, in the Christian calendar; and Lent is the 40 days leading up to Easter.

The word shrove is a form of the old English verb to shrive which means to obtain absolution for one's sins through confession and penance. Eating pancakes allowed families to use up such foods as eggs, milk, oil and sugar and then during the period of Lent they would eat plainer foods.

Our Pancake Party at TABLEtalk involved eating a LOT of pancakes  ...  we had blueberry pancakes with maple syrup; plus plain pancakes with the traditionally English lemon juice & sugar or the student favourite - Nutella!

A BIG THANK YOU!!! goes to those who came along early to help set up for the evening, make a gzillion pancakes and also clean up so wonderfully. 

The rest of our evening was spent playing games - some more sedate and challenging than others.

  

  

For those of you who might be wondering - yes, several students tried their hand at tossing some pancakes. See videos below ...

Nasir Mosque

Last night, 1st March 2014, Richard England and I represented St Mark's at the inauguration of the new Nasir Mosque in Gillingham. After a number of speeches by a variety of dignataries, we were treated to some fabulous food, good conversations and a tour of the new mosque.

This motto of 'Love for all. Hatred for none.' is painted on one of the external walls of the mosque.  May this truly be something we can all adhere to!!

With Distinction!!!

"Congratulations Liz, not only on passing all your exams but also graduating with distinction."

Sunday Lunch Scheme

Our Sunday Lunch Scheme exists to provide hospitality for those who are away from their families. On a regular basis, throughout the academic year, local Christian families invite students and internationals to their home for a meal and an afternoon with their family.  This is a great way for participants to learn more about British culture, to practise their English and hopefully to make some lifelong friendships.

Michael (UK), Andy (UK), Saka (Nigeria), Atouriya (France) and Amy (China)

How long will it take Andy to guess that he is a 'rhino'?

Hedbanz is a fun game ... I was going to say it's easy but in reality it can be quite hard.