November 2016 calendar

Health Matters

Although our numbers were lower this week at TABLEtalk we had a good time working on our Top Ten Tips for Healthy Living.

 A lot of work went in to producing posters (and at last I've been able to get rid of all those magazines I was saving).

Service of Remembering

Once a year we hold a Service of Remembering to honour those staff and students and loved ones we have lost over the past year.  

Consider the earth!

Our globe's weight has been estimated at six

sextillion tons (a 6 with 21 zeros). Yet it is precisely

tilted at 23 degrees; any more or any less and our

seasons would be lost in a melted polar flood.

Though our globe revolves at a rate of

one-thousand miles per hour or 25 thousand miles

per day or nine million miles per year, none of us

tumbles in to orbit. As you stand  ...

observing God's workshop, let me pose

a few questions. If God is able to place the stars

in their sockets and suspend the sky like a

curtain, do you think it is remotely possible

that God is able to guide your life? If your God

is mighty enough to ignite the sun, could it be

that he is mighty enough to light your path. If he cares

enough about the planet Saturn to give it rings or

Venus to make it sparkle, is there an outside chance

that he cares enough about you to meet your needs?

(Taken from 'The Great House of God' by Max Lucado)

Chinese Church Meal

A BIG THANK YOU to members of the Chinese Methodist Church who yesterday facilitated a Welcome Meal for some of the new Chinese students.

Having lived in Xi'an, China for 18 months I really miss good Chinese food. 

Sunday Lunch Scheme

"I had a wonderful time with my hosts, we ate and played games and the food was so nice. The family was so warm and fun loving. Thank you and God bless you.Patricia (Ghana)

As always, a very BIG THANK YOU to all our host families

... especially Luke & Martha, Rod & Jenny,

Mike & Denise and Sue and friends.

Alien Encounter

Our academic year at TABLEtalk always begins with some fun and getting to know you before we get into talking about surviving life here in the UK. Actually, what we really want to see is people THRIVING not just surviving!

The new students did a survival exercise and made their own 'survival' list; which included, amongst other things: friends, perseverance, money, warm clothing, accommodation and the Drill Hall library.

Whilst our longer-term students put together their own presentation of Top Tips for the new students.

** Don't procrastinate, keep up with assignments and exam prep.  ** Teamwork is good, working in teams will help. ** Don't be afraid to ask for help.

** Manage your money well; there are lots of savings and discounts for students. ** Part-time jobs help financially and can give you great experience. ** Don't spend everything, keep money aside for emergencies.

** Choose your friends wisely. ** Attend TABLEtalk to make friends and improve your English and cross-cultural interaction. ** Keep in touch and appreciate your family.





** Join one of the GKUnion societies. ** Sports activities will keep you healthy.  ** Eat health food. ** Respect people, those of other cultures and religions, etc.


** Register with a GP!!!  ** Try not to walk alone at night. ** Stay healthy, eat a balanced diet - not just fast food!





Next week our topic is ... CULTURE SHOCK!!!

World Mental Health Day

TODAY, 10th October 2016, is World Mental Health Day and I spent several hours in Pilkington building on campus helping to raise awareness of mental health needs amongst students.

DID YOU KNOW:

** Around 20% of the world's children and adolescents have mental disorders or problems.

** Globally, about 800,000 people commit suicide every year. Suicide is the leading cause of death in 15-29 year olds.

** Stigma and discrimination often prevents people from seeking mental health care.

There are some good support structures in place

at the Medway Campus. PLEASE DON'T WAIT until

you are in crisis. Seek help from a Listening Ear

member of staff, or a university counsellor

or the Chaplaincy Team.

We are here for YOU!!!

Adios amigo

It's always sad to say goodbye and this time it was Juan's turn to leave us and return to his home country of Ecuador.

But we had so much fun last night. Firstly, playing the 'Name Game' which will be memorable for sooooooo many different reasons, not least of which is Suvarna's Michael Jackson impression :-)

We also played a round of 'Consequences' before I encouraged everyone to leave just before I turned into a pumpkin as the clock struck midnight. Here are just a few of our stories, which may need a little censorship ...

Queen Victoria met Sponge Bob Squarepants

at the Great Wall of China. She said, 

"Chuck Norris was spending too much 

time with Arshad." He said, "Your bum 

looks big in that." Then they smoked 

weed. (Hmmmmm)

Sofia met Awad in Venice. She said, "Hey baby!"

He said, "I'll follow you to the end of the earth."

They they laughed crazily.

(We're still waiting for Awad to tell us who Sofia is!!!)

Cleopatra met Hitler on the California coast. 

She said, "You never know how much I hate you. 

Run or I'll kill you now." He said, "No, I thank 

you for coming. It means a lot to me." 

Then they hugged each other.

              Suvarna  Christina     Amira    Aiste

                 India          Vietnam       Egypt    Lithuania

Basel  Michel              Daria     Arshad   Awad   Basim  Clement

Jordan    Egypt              Russia   Mauritius Pakistan Pakistan  Malaysia

             Areti       Jill            Pesila      Acsha       Wisnu        Claus 

          Cyprus  Seychelles Mauritius Mauritius    Indonesia     China

                                            Juan        Me

                                          Ecuador      UK

 

Getting to know you

I've really enjoyed TABLEtalk these past two weeks. With numbers in the mid-20s the evenings are very manageable and good discussion has happened  ...  though we'd be very happy to see more new faces coming along.
Last night was our 'Getting to know you' evening and we learned some very interesting things about each other ...

Which one of these people is
afraid of swimming?

Who here is guilty of putting
a kitten in a fridge when
they were little?

Which poor soul got beaten up
as a victim of road rage?

Which person here participated
in theatre throughout their
school years?

Can you guess which of these people
had private belly-dancing lessons
with someone ranked 3rd in the world.

World Cafe

World Cafe is well under way now, with 70-75 students coming along each week