Student Feedback

Feedback from students and internationals is incredibly important to us. 

For those who have encouraging things to say, such comments put
BIG SMILES on our faces and help us to keep going.
For those who have maybe not enjoyed our activities we want
to understand why so that we can constantly improve
on the service we aim to provide.

We look forward to hearing from you!

"Thanks so much. We had fun (at Lesnes Abbey Woods) and time off from our daily worries."

Jacinta (Nigeria)

"TABLEtalk = Love 💗  Thank God I chose to come to TABLEtalk ... it is my stressbuster!!"   Abi (India)

"TABLEtalk is a nice place to socialise. I loved the deep, intellectual conversations. Love the connections I've made (and the variety of snacks is much appreciated)." 

Vaishnavi (India)

"On thing I looked forward to while coming to the UK was to experience different cultures and meet amazing people. That being said, I think TABLEtalk is one of the most beautiful things that happened to me! The energetic activities, the important discussions, the diverse opinions, and the mental and emotional support that TABLEtalk provides has given me colourful memories that I cherish. Thank you Lynne, Jon, Pauline, Barbara, and everyone else."  Emeka (Nigeria)

"Lynne, thank you for being such a lovely person, your kindness just smothers my heart. I enjoyed all of the TABLEtalks.  Actually, I used to wait for Thursdays, and for our TABLEtalk. It was not just a talk for me but a comfortable place and a heart-opening place where I found many new and wonderful friends.  I found changes in me as well, I've improved my skills to 'think outside the box'. Thank you so much for giving me some space in the sweet family of TABLEtalk."   Sushmitha (India)

"TABLEtalk = games, food, debates, talks, festivals, discussions, friends. Lynne is at the heart of our TABLEtalk. She has always been a person who's approachable at all times. If you feel low or down, Lynne and TABLEtalk is the place where one should be.  So, why TABLEtalk? What's so special?  Well, this is the only place where I was able to be myself. I had the opportunity to learn new skills. I had the opportunity to connect with people from different countries and opinions. This place is always filled with love, laughter and endless memories."  Gulakshitha (Sri Lanka)

"I would like to thank you for your tireless

effort to help and support each one of us

as well as the community during our

time on the Medway campus."

Niklas (Germany)

SURVEY COMMENTS - July 2019

TABLEtalk

“The things I like at TABLEtalk are the

interactive activities carried out throughout

each session. It also provides an opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. For a student, TABLEtalk is a place where we can go and relax, and it helps de-stress and take our minds off the studies and academics.”

“I met with students from different continents and we bonded through TABLEtalk.  We play games and have conversations on interesting topics. This wouldn’t have been possible if I hadn’t attended TABLEtalk.”

“There are many international students. It is a perfect opportunity to meet new people, make friends, learn new cultures.  I like the topics for TABLEtalk, they are always different and teach me something new."

“I like the variety of activities, also it really helps me to practise my English and other skills I need as a student. TABLEtalk allows me to meet other students  …  I learned a lot about other cultures and have made friends from around the globe. The most important thing is  I always have fun.

“You get to talk about different topics that help guide your decision making process. TABLEtalk was the first platform I had to interact freely with other students on campus. It’s a platform for making new friends and encouraging each other.  The cakes, chocolates, tea and coffee are also nice  …  lol!!!”

“I like the games and quizzes. TABLEtalk is very organised. It brings a lot of students from different studies and backgrounds together. We can have refreshments and chat with others.”

“At TABLEtalk I like the exchange of ideas between students of different countries in context to a particular topic. Apart from that, I learned about different cultures and traditions.”

 “To be able to socialise in an atmosphere that makes us feel respected and has a listening ear. I have been attending TABLEtalk for several years, and honestly, I would not be able to finish my studies without this and other events that are organised by [the Chaplain]. TABLEtalk has helped me to understand the culture of the local people, which is sometimes odd. Also, to respect other cultures and religions. Some of the activities held at TABLEtalk are very useful to be a better team player."

THE BARGAIN CORNER

“Bargain Corner is the best thing for a student who is new to the country and doesn’t know shopping places here. I bought almost everything for my day-to-day use from the Bargain Corner and all the products were in good condition. Without the Bargain Corner, it would become really difficult for me to survive in the country that possesses almost 90 times stronger currency than my home country.”

“Everything is good about the Bargain Corner as it provides a place for students to buy some essential stuff for a very cheap price. As it is based within university, it is very easy for students to access and buy the stuff they need.”

“It sells some nice warm clothing for cold winters, which helps nternational students, who may not be prepared for the climate.”

“There are a lot of items for the cheapest price at Bargain Corner. For me, as a foreigner, it was very essential because I needed a lot of things and did not know where I could purchase them. I saved a lot of money.”

“It is cheap and sells really useful items. It encourages re-using and recycling.”

There are affordable books, clothes and kitchen stuff which students who have money difficulties can buy without worrying about running out of money.”

“It does not only help students financially because everything is so cheap, it also helps to protect the environment as all the goods are donated.”

WORLD CAFE

“The World Café is just the perfect break from studies. We usually go to spend time with other students, have discussions over coffee and play board games. [Chaplaincy] have created the perfect environment for students to engage

and de-stress.”

“The World Cafe is a lovely space to relax during the academic period. I have met some friends there and the attention of the people who kindly offer us coffee and biscuits is priceless. Thank you so much for this space!”

“I think the World Cafe is a great initiative, which helps new students to meet and network with others in the university.”

“Students can go to World Café to relax and refresh their minds.”

“World Café is another amazing platform that helps students interact well. It helps relieve the academic pressure and I think it helps [students] believe that the school cares.”

I enjoy being able to escape studies and relax for a few hours at the World Cafe. It is also lovely to talk with the helpers as they are very knowledgeable and engaging people. I think it is essential to make an environment where students can meet local British people, and I believe helpers benefit too from spending time with students.”

BRING & SHARE LUNCHES

"They are great, because students get to try various food from [different] countries and get to spend an afternoon talking, playing games and just chilling and relaxing.”

“I wish we could do them more often J  I love trying dishes from different countries, but more importantly – socialising and getting to know each other better.”

“I love trying different types of food. It’s just like a big family.”

“They're the best way to learn about new cultures, I would say, a most delicious way J”

“The variety of food we could try was AMAZING!”

“They are great. I really enjoyed trying food from other countries. These events give you the perfect opportunity to learn about other cultures and actually taste some amazing cuisines.”

“They are the best occasions to understand different cultures through students and their cuisines, and a social get together.”

TRIPS & SOCIALS

“These events provide a great opportunity for students to socialise and do something different at a reasonable price. I have always enjoyed these events and would recommend other students to join as well.”

“Met new people and thereby expanded my friendship pool.”

“All the activities carried out by the Chaplaincy staff help and encourage new students to be involved more actively in the social life that the university and the town offer to us.”

“Helped me come out of my shell a bit and make friends.”

“Helped take my mind off of university stress. A different social group to embrace and

give one a different perspective on life.”

“Excellent services. Nice choice of places, matched with a student’s budget.”

“ALL THE TRIPS WERE GREAT. Great deal, cheap, convenient, nice places. Just perfect.”

MORE THAN TEA & BISCUITS

“I walked into your office with a heavy heart that had contained pain and hurt for months. It took me a long time to make the decision to come see you; in fact I hesitated and stood in front of your office door for a few minutes before finally deciding to come in. You listened quietly to me, you held my hands and you prayed for me. What more could I have asked for? Thanks for the comfort, encouragement, and most importantly, your prayers.  This is simply to express my gratitude to you and to the Universities that have placed you in this position.”

“The Chaplain helped lift me from a place of depression and anxiety to a place of relief through her prayer, comfort and encouraging words.”

“The Chaplain gave me a sense of belonging when sometimes being homesick can be difficult.”

“I have recently been through a difficult time due to an academic problem. I must say that I would not have survived it without the help and support provided by the Medway Campus Chaplain. They were there for me every step of the way of solving the issue in official proceedings; most importantly taking care of me and my wellbeing as my mental health started to decline during this period. Knowing that there is a person who is willing to listen, provide support and direction has kept me at ease.”

“I enjoy chatting with the Chaplain in the library. I love that they are there with students during stressful times, it really does help.”

“A friendly face who knows the right places for welfare and support.”

“As a PhD student my life is full of stress, frustration and long hours. Currently, I am at the end of my journey as a PhD and looking back at it, I seriously doubt that I would have finished it without the Chaplain’s help. It was an unpredictable journey, with too many changes of supervisors. However, because of the activities the Chaplain organises it helped take my mind off of the problems and I have managed to reach the end. I think the Chaplain also played a significant role in my decision to do PhD at Medway after doing my MSc here as well.”

CHRISTIAN UNION BIBLE STUDY

"I like that we were being taught but also encouraged to participate and question the Chaplain."

"Enjoyed the sessions, good to fellowship with others in Christ and learn from each 
other. Personally it has helped me build a relationship with Christ by reading my 
Bible, attending church and asking more questions."

I found that it was very inspirational. I now feel far more confident in myself and my faith and I'm excited to move forward into future ventures."

"Teaching was practical, each session was interactive and I was carried along. The teaching enlightened me and gave me confidence and trust in God. Sessions where we prayed in small groups were really amazing and helpful."

The trip to the beach was awesome.

I really enjoyed the day even the rain.

It was marvelous!!

Thanks for organizing a trip like this.

Awad (Pakistan)

  

I am a proud participant of the World Cafe. 

In fact, it is a very nice initiative and an ideal place 

to socialize while having lunch. One programme I 

really enjoyed but not in the above list was the 

International Day event which was held in

St Mary’s Island. It was fun and lively. 

I appreciate the hard work of Lynne Martin

and her team and I pray that the Chaplaincy 

team remains now and forever.

Dickson (Ghana)

Please permit me to first thank you for all your wonderful programmes which have been of immense benefit to many. It's my earnest prayer that God's grace continues to abide with you to do more. 

I have benefitted personally from table talk and world cafe in the areas of getting to know other students from different backgrounds, religions and diverse cultures. Please note that majority of my international and new friends I met in UK were from these programmes. This made me feel at home and comfortable. This therefore underscores it's importance and relevance in promoting tolerance and reducing to the barest minimum any negative thought such as racism.

I have also been privileged to learn more games as part of extra curricular activities. 

My take is that all these programmes are of immense benefit and I'm grateful to the organisers especially Lynne who works round the clock to promote love, sharing and faith amongst students especially the international students. 

Frederick (Nigeria)

I myself enjoyed all the activities/gatherings/

events that I witnessed with you. TABLEtalk

is a key target and a weekly countdown for me

as it takes my head off any stresses I have in life

whether PhD related or personal. I learn new

things, have fun, practice my English, gain

more confidence in speaking with people and

getting to know them. It has countless advantages.

Being on a Thursday makes it ideal as it is close

to the end of the week so all the combined

stress/tiredness of the four days preceding

it are absorbed on a lovely Thursday evening.

World Café to me is fancier break than the ones

I have every day  everyone needs a break

during his or her day and that’s the best break one

can ever have.  I haven’t tried “The Sunday

Bring and Share” but I did on other days.

Again, fun, relaxation, socialising and

occasionally trying new food. 

The new Faith Space is really nice,

relaxing and spacious. Having tried it for a

month now, me and a couple of my friends

(Mostafa and Ahmed) have some suggestions

that we can discuss with you 

Thanks Lynne for everything.

Ahmad (Egypt)

When I arrived, I didn't known that there

were international student activities.

After only two weeks, I knew about these

activities thanks to the woman who make the

student card. She told me about the dragon

boat race. I guess that is because I am in

internship just for few months.

- TABLEtalk evenings are really interesting.

I have met other students. They are nice.

We talk together. The games night allows

us to improve relationships. 

- The World Cafe is another activity which

helps to meet people. The first day

when I come with the other French students,

it was a bit difficult to talk with the

other students. We didn't meet anyone.

We speak with the persons who distributed

the juice and the cakes. But we didn't

interact with the other students.

I interacted with the other students after

coming at the TABLEtalk. Thus, it was

easier to communicate with the students

at World Cafe.

I hope my feedback will help you.

Maureen (France)

"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)

Thank you very much for your organizing

of  the welcome meal and I really had

a good time  there. People were kind

and the food was delicious. 

I also make some new friends.

Thank you very much.

Xiang Zhu (China)

"The Welcome Meal was a great event and
I wish I could be part every year.
I had the best night in UK yesterday.
God bless you!!!"
Dickson (Ghana)

"I would like to thank you for all that you've 
done for me and the international students. 
Now that I am here and there's no Lynne in 
Copenhagen, I realise how hard it is for an 
international person to integrate a different 
culture and society. Some students might 
take what you do for granted but I know 
how much you can make a difference. 

You are a genuinely wonderful person 
and I am truly thankful for your support 
and all you have done. I wish I could have 
come and said it in person but due to the 
circumstances I couldn't. I will surely be 
back in the UK for some holidays as it is 
quite cheap to travel from here so I hope 
we have the chance to meet again."

Devashish (Mauritius)

"Thanks a lot for your effort to organise

 a trip to Hever Castle. As always it is great

to hang out with wonderful people like

you who are more like a family now.

Everytime you come up with an idea,

we are all excited to join in because we

know you are the best and you will

always do the best for us.

I love each and every one of you.

I also appreciate the time and effort

all your friends put in to take us there.

I have so many memories to take

back with me when I go....

Thank you again for everything!!!"

Suvarna (India)

"The words can not describe how much

I love  this event (Sunday Lunch Scheme), 

especially the family. It was more than I 

have expected, the food, games, 

and some funny jokes, at the beginning,

I was some how afraid since I have never

met any families in this county, but now,

I am excited to meet another 

family. The day was simply amazing."

Hazem (Egypt)

"I am sorry I couldn't come for TABLEtalk

yesterday. I planned to come and give you 

a special hug of appreciation for the 

Sunday lunch at Roy & Jane's place last 

Sunday. It was a lifetime experience and 

I learnt a lot from the few hours we spent. 

They were very homely, I wouldn't mind 

paying them a visit sometime again.

Thank you for giving me such an 

opportunity, I remain indebted to you.  

Keep doing your great work like you 

always do, may God bless you abundantly."

Albert (Nigeria)

"I have no words to describe how thankful

I am for you inviting me to spend Christmas

Day at your home. It was really such a

surprise to receive all the lovely presents

and I really enjoyed the dinner. 

I was in tears yesterday night, I felt so

loved and cared for even though I'm

thousands of miles away from home. 

Dear Lynne and Uncle Bill you made me

feel special. Thank you so much. May God 

Almighty bless you both abundantly

and may Jesus Christ bless you 

with good health."

Sonali (Sri Lanka)

"Thankyou for having us. We did not
miss our family ... the lunch was brilliant,
and it was like a family time.
Thankyou for the present too."
Suvarna (India)

"I sincerely appreciate and thank you 

once again for making my Christmas 

very exceptional and special, I really 

had a wonderful time. All glory and 

honour goes to Almighty God who made 

it possible for us to meet. I am honoured.

Yesterday was my greatest chrismas ever.

Indeed this year I have seen the goodness

of the Lord. You have a such big, kind, 

and loving heart."  

John Paul (Uganda)

"The Christmas party was a big hit indeed!!

Truly amazing."    Juhi (India)

"Jane, thanks for the lovely day. I am lucky to
be twice at your home for the lunch. The
non-veg food was awesome. This time I am
also feeling happy to meet Roy,  he is a very
humble and witty person :)  I officially started
my Christmas celebration with your special
Christmas Pudding. The day is fulfilled with
my new Egyptian friends -‎ they are rocking."    Saswath (India)

"We had an amazing time today. Our hosts were 

very welcoming and we had a delicious meal. 

They took us to Rochester as well. Thank you 

so much for organising it."  

Sonali (Sri Lanka)

"Regrettably I will be returning to Nigeria
by mid-December, 16^th to be precise. Let me frankly
admit that I will be missing your kindness, deep
generosity and rich hospitality which has coloured
my study experience in England with valued
international friendships and good sense of community. ‘Living’ in Medway turned to be
a lovely and lively, thanks to ‘TABLEtalk’ and
World Café. I want to thank God for you,
a special gift and bundle of blessings from God
in no small way, and pray that He will continually
bless, refresh and honour you at every remembrance
of your sacrifice and labour of love.

I will see you again. God bless and keep you
radiant and graceful."
Ikechi (Nigeria)

"This is to say a BIG thank you for bringing

such a big group together (at the Welcome Meal).

It was real fun and such a wonderful opportunity

to know and learn from different people. My short

stay in the UK has been cold but every event

you have organized and which I have been part

of this far has always been warm and have always

had to put my warm jacket away which is

super GOOD. May the almighty God bless you

and give you more strength."     

Justus (Kenya)

“TABLEtalk is good to meet new people from
other countries and not only from your class. It
helps me to refresh my mind from all of the
assignments and work. Through TABLEtalk, I can
meet new people from all around the world and
we usually share our opinion in a discussion forum;
which helps me to open my mind.

I attended two trips: one was to Canterbury and
the other one was to Cambridge.  Both of them
were really good. I can go to see UK with cheaper
ticket and everything is planned really well.
Especially if you are an international student or
erasmus student who stays here only for a
couple months. It would be a great idea to
travel around UK, not only stay in Kent.” 
Wisnu  (Indonesia)

TABLEtalk:  "It had been a very boring life for 

me when I first arrived at university and in 

Medway in general. It was hard to find any 

societies or groups around the campus where 

students especially internationals could meet 

and make new friends. TABLEtalk was that 

perfect platform to meet other students, make 

new friends, and learn about a new topic, or a 

new culture, or a new country in every single 

session. It was not just about international 

cultures that I could experience and learn, but 

the lovely organisers in the TABLEtalk sessions 

helped to learn more about English culture at the 

same time. It is the one society that everyone 

needs to be a part of once you join the university 

in Medway"

World Cafe:  "What better way to get away 

from classes, enjoy free tea and cakes, play 

different games, meet new people and make friends? 

World Cafe does exactly that and is the perfect time 

to get all the stress away from the hectic university 

life. The organisers are very friendly, and the 

homemade cakes are pretty delicious. We get to hang around with a lot of other students and play different games, allowing us to re-energize and refresh ourselves 

to carry on until the next Wednesday every week!"

Sunday Lunch Scheme:  "Sunday Lunch Scheme 

was the perfect way to learn more about English 

Culture and tradition. The lunch scheme is free 

of charge and we are offered with a variety of 

meal options in a host family's home. I was lucky 

to go to one of the families, and I learned a lot about 

how the families and kids are brought up in the 

English culture, I found it very interesting how 

polite and well mannered the kids were. The hosts 

were very kind and friendly, and we had a great conversation over the lunch"

Bric-a-Brac sales:  "Bric-a-Brac sales are a great platform to help students who are new to the 

university to get basic household items and clothes 

from previous students at a very low price. I got 

a lot of good quality kitchenware items at an 

incredibly low price which I would have not 

been able to buy elsewhere"

Lubaib  (India)

“From the very first day at the TABLEtalk,
I felt a connection between all the people and
students and how everyone is like a family. I was
very delighted to see the hard work you guys have
put together to create something for us especially
when we are so far away from home.  Things I
really enjoyed about TABLEtalk were the free snacks
and coffee and games we played every week.
It really helped me know about different cultures
and how we all can think in different ways but
still all be correct. I learned about the history,
festivals, social backgrounds, music, etc.

Things I like about World Café were to come and
chill with friends on a busy Wednesday schedule
and sit to talk about study issues or play
some board games. 

Sunday lunch scheme has been a wonderful
experience for me because it really brought me
closer to everyone I attended with and with the hosts. 

 I would like to thank you Lynne and everyone who
helped me meet so many new people and make a
lot of friends within a short time. Unfortunately,
I don't have any suggestions on how it would have
been better because I feel this is the best it can be.
Very well organised."   

Yasir  (Pakistan)

“TABLEtalk is a very interactive and

communicative activity, it is very helpful

to make new friends and engage in important

topics. This activity not only brings students

together but also provides an understanding

of different cultures and ideologies of many

students. It engages the student using games, to

stories, to international food and debates and

provides an environment of understanding

and friendship between the students. I would

recommend it all students especially the

international students as it provides an

opportunity to make new friends and provides

a different environment that could help with

the new life style at university.  

I think it is important to make more advertisement

of TABLEtalk as I was not informed of this activity

until a couple months after I started university from Dushan, who introduced me to it, I think it’s a great opportunity for all international students.”

Shahir  (Afghanistan)

“When I first moved to Medway, I was for most of the time depressed; it’s quite a lonesome life for a PhD student, until I met someone who introduced me to TABLEtalk and all the other activities.

TABLEtalk:  I really enjoyed all the activities at TABLEtalk. It provides a platform where students can talk about their different cultures and learn about British culture and the different aspects of life in the UK.

World Café:  Love it! Normally, students tend to group themselves with people doing the same modules/course as them. World Café provides those on Campus with an opportunity to meet other International as well as European students.

Sunday Lunch Scheme:  The Parkin family welcomed me and Eadom into their home and shared a piece of British culture with us. So many International students may have never had the chance to visit a British family. Alan and June took us to Rochester Castle and shared their knowledge of the area with us. I’m not too sure about how can this one be improved since I would rate it 5/5. 

Christmas and Easter parties were great and the trips to Canterbury and Cambridge were amazing; trips are cheap and what’s even better is the fact that you can go there in a large group.”              

Arshad  (Mauritius)

“I have joined TABLEtalk a couple of times and
it was really nice. It's an activity where I find
myself having an opportunity to make a lot of
new friends. Also, to talk and/or discuss our point
of view on each topic which, mostly, is fun and
sometime it is useful and helpful (i.e. help improving
my English).  I went to the World Cafe quite often.
It's a place where I can meet my friends who're not
studying in the same program as mine. It really helps
me to relax and clear up my head in the middle
of the busy week! 

Sunday Lunch is my favourite activity! Actually
I had an opportunity to join this activity only once
(since I normally go to London to see my cousin and
friends during weekend), but I REALLY enjoy it and REALLY would like to attend this activity a lot more
if I could! It was a real great opportunity to spend a
very nice time with very nice people who living here.
I was appreciated the hospitality and also the time
they have spared for me. It was really nice to sit
down and to have a meal together then have a
little small talk afterwards. I was very welcomed
like I was among the family. Really nice time! :DD

Another activity I joined was a trip to Canterbury.
I love this activity as well. It was a very good
experience to spend a day hanging out with friends.
I also wanted to join the Cambridge trip, but I was
busy at the time and the ticket had sold out :'(

Nok  (Thailand)

“About TABLEtalk - I loved it and I saw it as a 

great opportunity to communicate and share 

opinions with no fear of rejection. The World Café 

was also a very successful way of meeting new 

people and having a mini break from college routine.  

The Sunday Lunch Scheme was both amazing and 

adorable to meet new families and have some 

activities with them.” 

Suzan (Egypt)

“I am happy to offer my comments. The fact is,
I have been lucky to attend all the events …

TABLEtalk is an event I have come to rely on
and actually look forward to every Tuesday
evening and trust me, my knowledge and appreciation
of the world have deepened as a result of interacting
and rubbing minds with individuals from diverse
cultures, races and languages. TABLEtalk is perfect
as it is and hopefully the coffee should continue.
If anything, increased student attendance will make
it even more blissful. Also, if it is possible to hold it,
even fortnightly, during the summer, that will be great.

The World Café has also been a good hangout for
me and a valid excuse to step out of my office and
rest my eyes from the computer screen. In addition
to the freebies and the games, I also get to meet friends, colleagues and strangers (especially those stationed
in London). It is more like a social gathering (pub)
for me and I do enjoy every time I get to attend.

The Sunday Lunch Scheme created a very unique opportunity for me to interact and make friends
with the average English family. I have also got to
taste exotic cuisines, some of which I have incorporated
as part of my daily meals. I look forward to the 
unday lunch scheme and hope it extends
through the summer.

Finally, the Bric-a-Brac sales were an opportunity
to volunteer for a noble cause and I gladly did it and
it turned out I really enjoyed the experience. Aside
from meeting people, I also got to acquire some
collectibles for myself and I also got to practise
"teamwork" working alongside other students
and volunteers.”

Joachim  (Nigeria)

“TABLEtalk is one of the activities that I was 

waiting for each week; it gave me a lot of 

entertainment in terms of playing some games 

which were really useful. Moreover, my network 

of friends was made from TABLEtalk which was 

really important for me as a new student. It’s a 

really friendly place, friendly organisers and 

volunteers. As international student I gained better English language in all the activities.  The World 

Café is similar but is held on Campus, which gives opportunity to those unable to attend 

TABLEtalk.  It gives us a relaxing time at midday 

when we need a break from the exhausting morning lectures.

The Sunday Lunch Scheme is really amazing! It’s 

held at the weekend when we don’t have classes. 

We can meet a lot of local people in the Medway 

area; as a new student I was amazed by the friendly 

and lovely British people and delicious lunch they 

gave us.

Bric-a-Brac sales were was really good for the 

new students who wishing to buy new kitchen stuff 

and clothes; I went to all these sales and bought 

a lot of useful stuff very cheaply.

I attended alot of other activities organised by 

Lynne, such as the Welcome Meal at the beginning 

of  the academic year where I met a lot of new 

friends. I also went to a lot of festivals and activities held in Medway, such as Firework Night.

Mohammad  (Jordan)

“I really enjoy going to TABLEtalk and miss it

when I don't go. It's a great way to meet lots

of new people and learn about different cultures

and customs. The topics can be serious but it

is always fun. I also appreciate it being

free/highly subsidised. The volunteers are always

lovely and keen to engage in the activities.

I don't really think there are any improvements

to be made (except perhaps next Shrove Tuesday,

a better recipe for the pancakes! ;p).

I’ve only been to World Café a few times as

often do not have enough time during my

lunch break but it has always been good.

Plenty of cakes and hot drinks!

Again, the volunteers are lovely. The special

events such as the one for Diwali are very

good, with lots of activities.

I’ve attended the Sunday Lunch scheme twice

and both times have been great. Families

have been lovely, food has been fantastic.

The games/activities have been fun.”

Naomi  (UK)

“I am very grateful to you. Your activities have
brought great progress in my English and also
many, many friends.  It is very good to join in
TABLEtalk;  people from different countries can
have a talk and drink together.  I can learn
more knowledge and improve my English quickly.
And the World Café  is very nice.”

Chris  (China)

“I have taken part in TABLEtalk many times 

from last October. I benefitted from it to train 

my listening and speaking skills. I also made 

friends with many people from different countries. 

I enjoy all the activities at TABLEtalk.  I also took 

part in one Sunday lunch to enjoy English food. 

That was the first time I ate true English food in 

the UK.  Thank you very much for providing some chances for us to communicate with each other.”

Tim  (China)

”I found TABLEtalk to be really interesting
it was a great opportunity to meet new people
from diverse backgrounds, we got to play games,
eat, talk about politics, culture and so much more.
I owe most of the friends I met here in Greenwich
to TABLEtalk.  It really helps the student
community to build a valuable network.
World Café was definitely fun to go to, to relax
each week after a busy day filled with deadlines;
and most importantly the cakes, coffee, tea
etc were free LOL!
I am super thankful for the Sunday lunch scheme,
as I got to socialise and discover life in
British homes enjoying new meals.  I really
felt at home. (Thank YOU Lynne Martin).
I attended the Good Friday passion play and even
though I am a Muslim it was refreshing to see
something new. I also appreciated that everyone
I met was friendly and very welcoming.
Shukurat (Nigeria)

“I was really lucky to share great moments
at TABLEtalk.  I would like to say thank you for
give me a platform to encounter so many friends! 
Thank you to all the volunteers at TABLEtalk for
their kind service every night!  Thank you, Lynne,
for your six months help and care!  All the memories
I have will stay with me forever.”

Joey  (China)

“I thoroughly enjoy TABLEtalk to meet and hang 

out with new people.  I really like the way it is 

organised where every week it’s something different. Almost all of the times I’ve gone I've really liked the activities I wouldn’t know what to improve about TABLEtalk … apart from the piano? Haha.

World Cafe, is a different format to TABLEtalk, 

there are no organised activities and you just go 

there to socialise and play some games for a bit.  

I like playing chess against people and I also like 

the cakes and biscuits although they are always put 

in sets! around 99% of the time there will be something 

I don't like in the set and it just looks awkward when I take just one thing!

Bring & Share Lunches, I will definitely be attending more lunches next year to try and up my cooking. 

It was lovely the first time I went with so many 

different types of food to try. A very nice experience. Maybe one day we could hire one of those professional chefs (the ones that flip food around in an entertaining way while cooking it) in between everyone that is going.” 

Alex (UK/Spain)

TEXT MESSAGE

“I am on my way to the airport, going back home
and I wanted to thank you deeply from my heart
for every moment you spent with us (international
students) to make us feel at home. Life here would
never have been the same without you."

Mohammad (Saudi Arabia)

I did not miss any TABLEtalks on Tuesday evening

for the whole term. I loved to be there, meet all

the nice people and joining all the activities.

The activities were mostly very funny even if

we were covering a serious topic. My favourite

evenings were the games evening, as well as the

Christmas party at the end of the term.

TABLEtalk was a mixture of everything including discussions, quizzes, games and film nights.

I made a lot of friends in TABLEtalk and even if

I am back in Switzerland I will try to stay in

contact with them.

World Café was for me the perfect place

to have a break from studying. I enjoyed drinking

coffee and playing some games with friends. 

It is great that all the food and coffee is free

and the staff were always very friendly.

I could not join Sunday lunch that often because

I was always busy with travelling. However,

I was once in Lynne’s house for Sunday lunch and

it was very nice. I used to speak just with international students, so Sunday lunch would be a great

opportunity to improve English skills and

to learn more about the British culture.

Too bad that I couldn’t join that often.

Flavia (Switzerland)

The TABLEtalk Christmas party was
an amazing experience that really helped us
to feel as a big family. Everything was well
organised, but good, that students still had
time to spend some time with each other.
Food was really delicious and games were fun. Especially I enjoyed creating and performing
the international version of ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’.Exchanging gifts made me feel as
a kid again, when you are excited and curious
what you are going to get:) Thank you for the amazing time we could spend and all the effort
you put to make this evening so special :)

Aiste (Lithuania)

I went last Tuesday to the TABLEtalk session 

and I need to say that was one of the best 

experience I've had after some months away 

from home. Thank you for the warm welcome 

and for dedicating part of your time to make 

us feel good and forget some problems we may 

have in our busy uni life! It was my first time 

there and surely I'll do my best to join the group 

every week. I'll also try to ask my others Brazilians friends to join us.  You are lovely!  God bless you.

Kandice (Brazil)

Thank you all TABLEtalk staff!  Thank you Lynne!
It was the best Christmas party I ever had!

Joey (China)

“I have been only to TABLEtalk twice and I 

really loved the experience I have received. 

I have made very great friends through this. 

As well, I have such great fun!  I attended a 

Bring & Share Lunch once and I had such a 

wonderful time. We played games, tried 

different foods from different countries, and 

hung out. Surely, we want more of this!  

These events have expanded my networks 

and made a lot of friends outside my course.”

Maha (Indonesia)

“TABLEtalk has been the best experience in
all my exchange program. I met different people,
made new friends, and learned much about the
students` culture and mainly about British culture!
We had fun, very much, by playing games,
making pancakes, and all of this contributed to
the best experience of my life, living one year in
a different country!  Bowling night was amazing!
Even that I dont know how to play (like Omar Taha);
I had fun a lot with my friends LOL! I would
certainly go again if I had the opportunity!

The World Café is great! It’s a great opportunity
to meet different people, talk and play games while
eating some cakes and drinking good tea! I enjoyed
it a lot, mainly when there were people interested
in Brazilian culture! I loved telling them about
my country and also asking about theirs!

I went to Leslie’s house to my Sunday Lunch.
I loved it! It was the first time in a traditional
British house, and I ate amazing British food made
by Lesley! Thanks so much for the opportunity!
I would totally recommend for everybody to go
at least once for a Sunday lunch!”

Rafaela (Brazil)

“All of the activities I have attended are 

really awesome; I enjoyed a lot. I came here 

with no support, I don’t have any relatives 

here but you are my support all these days. 

And I got many friends as well. It is all good. 

I attended the World Café and TABLEtalk. 

I think no one can organise the World Café 

better; but in TABLEtalk I sometimes felt 

bored, maybe because of the particular 

day I attended.”

Vino (India)

“I wasn’t good in English when I arrived here

and I’m not confident to talk.  TABLEtalk helped

me to improve my English. Moreover, I came here

alone and this is my first time to stay outside

of my country, now TABLEtalk is like my family.

I have friends and we help each other. 

The World Café …  coffee time.  Nice for me when

I have class and didn’t have time for breakfast.

Even when I don’t have class, I still come to

talk with friends, to practise my English and

also to play games and relax from the class.

The Sunday Lunch Scheme is really nice because

I never knew about British culture and people. 

unday Lunch helped get close to them. I tried

many foods, difference from my own

country (good experience).

The Bric-a-Brac sales helped to save me money.

Everything is really cheap. Actually I want you

to sell things earlier than last time. If possible

the first day to sell is the day when students

arrive or soon after because some new student

they don’t know the place to go, some are

tired from moving. 

I love all of the activities;

I’m happy every time I join them!”

Joy (Thailand)

“SUNDAY LUNCH SCHEME: I enjoyed the
wonderful company of the British families that
were hosts. Their kind hospitality was so exceptional
and I felt very welcomed and at home. The meal
was 'great', to me it was usually a blessed evening
of cross cultural fellowship - an opportunity to learn
the British culture which helped fit into my new environment. It will be nice if we can move
the pickup time further down a bit.

WORLD CAFE: I love it ... Games!!! Free cakes
and drinks!!! This was my time to catch some
fun with friends and free up academic tension
and stress... PLEASE add a 'monopoly game'.

TABLE TALK: I love the weekly idioms, a lot
of them I’d never heard before. The evenings were 
great -  a mix of drama, movie night, and the 
small group dynamics with lots of fun prepared me 
for some aspects of my academic engagement which 
had group work. Really a wonderful time...will miss 
the new friends I made from many parts of the world.

BRIC-A-BRAC SALES: This helped me save a lot 
and reduced my cost of settling in. Good used 
'almost new' items at very low price.” 

Ikechi (Nigeria)

“I can't express how delighted I am these days. 

I am a regular attendee of TABLEtalk and the 

World Café and I am always interested to know 

about different cultures and societies. TABLEtalk 

and the World Café have really helped me for that. 

Those events helped me to make new friends from different counties and learn new games. I really 

want to thank you for organising these events 

because I have suffered from loneliness in my 

starting days but these events helped me to come 

out from that and concentrate better on my studies. Finally I have to special thanks for Lynne, who 

makes us always smile.”

Anu (Sri Lanka)

“I haven’t attended many of the activities you
organise; but the ones I have had the opportunity
to go to are very nice. I enjoyed them.  For example,
I like the idea of going out to the local events such
as the English Festival and share the local culture
with other students. I think this is a very good way
to learn what’s going on in town and also know the customs and the English way of life.

This year I did volunteering in an annual fundraising event organised by Lynne; a nice experience to
spend my time helping :-)

My favourite above all was the Christmas service
in Greenwich last year. I went there with my friend Maureen and we were amazed for the choir and
how beautiful the event was. There were also
very nice reflections about Christmas.

One day I was talking to a friend (another PhD
student) about you and the international activities
and she said, “yes I have read the emails but everything
is church related, so I don’t go”. Because of that
comment, I suppose many people might think the
World Café or the events you organise are for
Christians only, which is wrong as everybody
is welcome. Then I told her she was wrong.

As we have spoken before, I think PhD student
 feel we are not included in the “student community”,
but we are not staff either. This is because of the
structure of our academic programmes. I think it
would be good to have a group of representative
students (for example one or two from each school)
that work together with you in organising and motivating students to go out from the lab and offices.
It doesn’t have to do something special, simple
things like going out together to the Dickens festival,
or having a picnic in the park behind the uni,
things like these might help us to meet with other
students from other schools and be more social.   

My final comment is in general about the work you
do Lynne, I think it’s very valuable to have something
to support us and always willing to help whatever the circumstances. Thank you very much for the effort
and the commitment you have with the international students. Seriously, people like you make us feel
at home when we are thousands of miles away.

Azucena (Mexico)

“I am very grateful to Lynne for all the things 

she does for students. The activities she organises (TABLEtalk, the World Café and Sunday Lunch 

Scheme) gave me a chance to meet plenty of people 

from around the world, to meet British people and 

better know their culture, it helped me to find 

amazing friends and my English improved. 

Volunteering in events that Lynne organises 

gave me a chance to experience life with plenty 

of different people in different cultures and 

different environments.

I very much appreciate the help I received from 

Lynne throughout the year; and it was from the 

first day that I arrived at university. After a long 

trip all the procedures I had to do at university 

were very confusing and tiring, but Lynne created 

a welcoming environment and I could feel that there 

are people actually waiting for new students and 

wanting to know them. She was always happy to 

help me at any time I needed some help.  I wish that 

her dedication for students, the time she spends for 

all of us would be more appreciated by the university, because without Lynne life here would be more 

difficult, boring, there would be no activities to do 

and I would probably spend all my time communicating with people speaking the same language as me.

As the halls of residence has just the basic things you 

need for your living, I found the Bric-a-Brac sales 

very helpful. I got the needed things for the kitchen 

and my room for the price I perhaps could get just 

one bowl in a shopping centre.

I hope that Lynne will be at this university a long 

time and other students will have a chance to meet 

her and get involved in the things she organises for us.”

Basel (Jordan)

“TABLEtalk has been a very wonderful
experience for me. Got to make some amazing
new friends and learn new things about other
cultures that I'd probably have never learnt
otherwise. Also, I got to meet your warm,
wonderful, kind self. You've been
absolutely amazing. 

World Café has also been great for lazy
Wednesday afternoons when I needed some
company, games and conversation.

Sunday lunch has helped me meet kind,
wonderful families that have been nothing but
nice to open up their homes and share new
meals with me.

I really do hope none of these events are
cancelled as they gave me a lot to look forward to;
and I hope it does the same for some other
students, international or otherwise.”

Sweety (Nigeria)

“TABLEtalk is a wonderful concept and 

one of a kind, thanks to you for contributing to 

60% of my friends in Kent. The avenue you 

create for us during TABLEtalk has been so 

exciting and breath-taking, there have never 

been any boring moments because of the 

organisation of the activities. I use TABLEtalk 

as a medium to relax, have fun and express 

myself. Any international student that haven't 

experience the awesomeness of TABLEtalk has 

missed the best part of studying @ Medway.

The World Café is a great gathering, hilarious 

games, delicious free cakes and coffee.  It's a nice 

place to be when it’s happening because there is 

never a dull moment throughout the time spent 

at World Cafe. 

Regarding the Sunday Lunch Scheme, I'm going 

to give so much credit to Lynne here for incorporating 

this idea because coming from a far away country 

and wanting to understand and appreciate the 

British culture, don't ever miss signing up for 

Sunday lunch.  I enjoyed it because it gave me 

opportunities to meet wonderful British families 

and enjoy their delicious dishes. One aspect of the 

Sunday lunch I admire is the way you’re welcomed 

to people’s homes and cared for, makes you feel at 

home away from home.

Finally, I must say I am most grateful to you, Lynne, 

for all the support you render out to a novice like 

me and others, not only making us feel at home but 

your tremendous care towards us (international 

students), you’re such a blessing to anyone that 

encounters you. Gratitude seizes my lips!!!”

Saka (Nigeria)

“TABLEtalk is one of the best things that we

have found, we learned a lot of things about the
British Culture and at the same time having fun
and getting more friends, talking with different
people and different nationalities.  It’s one of
the best activities that I have been to.

World Café is a very good opportunity during
the week to take a break and have a cup of coffee
and a cake and have a chat with friends you just
meet from week to week.  It’s a good place for
meeting people and having some fun during
the week, and a FREE coffee :-)

I have been to a Sunday lunch once but I felt
like I’m home with my family. It’s a good opportunity
to be with a family and have the family feeling which
we all miss in here.  It’s a really good idea and I
liked it so much I wish I can join it every time

The Bric-a-Brac Sales are a very good idea.
I was so happy the day when I found the sale,
I was just new to the place and I didn’t know anything.
I needed to get some things and I didn’t know where; then when I found the sales with the cheap
prices I was so happy.

I have attended lots of other activities,
like bowling, movie nights, bring and share lunches,
etc, and I really enjoyed them; gathering together
and letting us make new friends every time”

Mohamed (Egypt)

“I have attended TABLEtalk almost every week.

It was the first place that helped me to know

friends from different courses. Lynne and other

members at TABLEtalk taught us a lot about

English culture and helped me get along better in

this country. Moreover, every week there were

different subjects which made us exchange our

opinions and practice English in a natural way. 

World Café is a wonderful place to catch up

with friends every week. Also they prepared

free cakes and drinks for all students which

was very sweet and I appreciated it!! 

I joined Sunday lunch several times and every

time it was amazing. We stayed with an English

family and had real English food, which helped

me a lot to understand English culture.

The Bring & Share Lunches are a good chance

for international students to share their own

food and culture different to English people :))

All my kitchen stuff was bought from the

Bric-a-Brac sales. They were all bargains and

very useful!! I'd like to have those sales more :))

I joined both trips to Cambridge and Brighton.

They were very helpful and convenient for

international students to visit another city

in the UK. I did enjoy those trips a lot

and I expect to join more.”

Chiao  (China)

“TABLEtalk is a good opportunity to meet 

other people from different cultures and to 

get to know how people from different countries 

think and live their lives. The atmosphere is very relaxed. I enjoy chilling out with a tea and cake 

after a busy day. The hosts are very friendly 

and come up with lots of different activities: 

games and quizzes, group talks, movie watching, bowling and  creative things such as demonstration 

of a typical English church wedding with students 

as actors.  I am really glad that TABLEtalk is not 

just for young students, but also for mature 

students or all international people. It is also a 

good place to make friends and have a nice and 

fun time at the end of a Tuesday.

I have been to Sunday Lunch only once. It was 

a great opportunity to meet, eat and talk with 

an English couple and their friend and to be

invited to an English home. I really enjoyed it.

Thank you for all the activities you organize.”

Eniko  (Hungary)

“Thank you for this opportunity to air my opinion.
I want to say you and Angela have been great with helping out the international students settle and
feel more or less at home. When I first came into
the country I felt out of place. But when I moved
to the Medway campus, I was like yay!!!  I loved
the way I was attended to by Angela during my registration. Later that day I had the opportunity
to attend the World Café, it was exciting for me
and I felt so calm like I have finally arrived.
Little did I know that it was for Wednesdays only.
I came back the next day and waited just to experience it again... LOL! Then I asked someone about it and was told it’s held every Wednesday. 

Also, I enjoyed our trip to Cambridge, I was so
busy that I couldn't go for the Brighton trip. But
I saw photos and knew how much of the fun
I missed. 

I want to say thank you to you and Angela for creating a world for us international students

to be comfortable in and have fun!!!!  Thank you

also to all those wonderful and beautiful hearted families at the World Café!!!  I love you all for

taking time to do what you do and showing

so much love to the international students.”

Ruth (Nigeria)

"I am very grateful for all the team taking care of international students. It was the place where I found my second family that supports me, we’re always together, family that I will never forget in my life. Thank you again that you made my first year at university incredible and much better than I had expected!

TABLEtalk and the World Café activities helped me to find plenty of new friends, improve my English language skills and become more confident and of course know new cultures better.  I felt that I was always travelling around the world while being here :)

The Sunday Lunch Scheme is an incredible project allowing  us to `touch`, `explore` and experience British life, to see their traditions, share experiences and spend a wonderful time together.

The Bric –a–Brac sales are an amazing chance for all new students to help them settle in by buying household things for the cheapest price (I mean almost for free :D ) and for those who have never seen winter to prepare for it while buying needed clothes. I can’t imagine how hard it is to think about the season and prepare for it well if you have never experienced it before.

Volunteering in different events organised by Lynne or just helping her is really fun and I am happy I had (and hope will have in a future) a chance to contribute to everything that was offered :)

The only problem I faced is that I started attending all these events just from December 2013, because I did not know about them before. But as I like to say: it is better later that never!!! :)"                                                               

Aiste (Lithuania)

“I am quite a regular attendee of TABLEtalk, 

and many of these weekly sessions were just indescribably packed with fun. There were always interesting new games to play every week, people 

to meet, and many things to learn, especially about 

other countries and cultures. The events are a plus 

for introverts; TABLEtalk will most likely pull you 

out of your shell for at least 2 hours every week.

Perhaps a downside of TABLEtalk is that it is held 

outside campus, this is probably a limitation for 

many students who live on and around campus. 

But I guess it adds a unique ‘non-school feel’ to 

the events. Any steps to motivate students who 

reside on campus to attend should be encouraged.

I also attended two of the three coach trips. One 

was to Cambridge and the other to Brighton. 

Both were interesting, but I’d say the Cambridge 

trip was fantastic – not to be missed by anyone 

who hasn’t ever been to Cambridge!

The Welcome Meal was also great. I must say there 

was no better way to have welcomed us into Medway. The meals, the residents who were willing to help, 

and to chat all made me feel a sense of belonging. 

Thanks to all those wonderful people who put 

this event together. I encourage that the event 

should not be discontinued.”

Emmanuel (Nigeria)

“I've joined the TABLEtalk four times now.
I really like it and will always take part in this
activity as long as I am here. The people here are
friendly. We share ideas, play games and watch
film, etc.  When I go back to China, I will definitely
recall all the things. Thank you for your
arrangement, patient guidance and kind help!”

Cai (China)  Visiting Scholar

“As an international student, I found most of 

your programs interesting and very educating. 

I enjoyed TABLEtalk, it’s the most helpful and 

will suggest that the event should be given more 

attention by the university. I have learned a lot 

from it and interacted with people of different 

nationalities and background. I must admit that, 

the program help improve my confidence towards communication and played a vital role in passing 

one of my courses which is more of communication. 

I also benefitted from weekly idioms which 

added to my knowledge base.  You have really 

impacted positively to my success in Greenwich 

and will forever be remembered. God bless you.”  

Abdulrahman  (Nigeria)

"Lynne, through TABLEtalk, World Cafe and
Sunday Lunches you made my stay at University
a memorable one.  TABLEtalk and World Cafe
are the places to be at uni.  Saying goodbye is
sad but look at the great times we've shared.
Good times, great memories!  I'm forever
indebted to you.  God bless you big!"

Liz (Uganda)

"Thanks for the opportunity you gave me to

know a wonderful host family like Rod & Jenny.  

I really had fun."

Saka (Nigeria)

"Thank you for organising the lunches.
The host family were great and made me feel
very welcome; it was nice to meet other students
and chat over lunch.  Please pass on my thanks
to them for their warm hospitality.

Simone (Brazil)

"Lynne, I want to seize this opportunity to say

thank you for all you are doing for us international students, especially me.  You've made me feel

welcomed, loved, etc.  You've given me a place

to express myself and bring out my youthfulness.

You give your time, resources, energy, everything

to make us really happy.  So I say thank you

and do really appreciate you.  You are God sent.

I am motivated to help others more because of you.

I can't thank you enough."

Elizabeth (Nigeria)

"Hi, I can't express how grateful I am today.
TABLEtalk has helped me meet people from
around the world and to learn about different
cultures and societies. It has improved my writing
skills and made me more creative; and have more confidence in myself.  I love the brain-storming games;
and I love the Sunday lunches.  The World Cafe is
also very interesting.  I love games, meeting good
people and, of course, the food!!  The World Cafe
sales provided me with items I needed when I
arrived in the UK.  Thanks a lot and keep it up ..."

Festus (Nigeria)

"Hi Lynne, I just can't wait to express how delighted 
I am today. You have been putting smiles on our 
faces ever since we arrived, you have indeed made 
the UK, especially Medway, a home for all.  Thank 
you for your time and hospitality, remain blessed. 
Extend my appreciation to your team members."          

Ali (Nigeria)

"I had a great time with my host family in
their lovely home, getting to know more about
English culture, it was a very splendid and awesome experience that can't be forgotten. More blessings
for such a wonderful gesture to we, the
international students."

Ikechi (Nigeria)

"Sunday lunch is a really awesome programme.

I want to seize this opportunity to thank you for

the opportunity to meet the host family and learn

more about European culture.  It has really given

me a better and more realistic view about

the welcoming spirit of this society."

Josephine (Nigeria)

"A wonderful event; keep it up!  All through term 1,
the World Cafe provided me breakfast (at 12:30pm)
as I was unable to cook and eat properly in the mornings due to academically-demanding Wednesday."       

Milton (Nigeria)

"We enjoyed our time at the Sunday Lunch

yesterday! Our hosts were such a nice and

very friendly couple, and the food was so delicious! 

Thank you so much for arranging this."     

Mona (Egypt)

"Thanks and thanks and 1,000 times thanks
for the wonderful Sunday lunch, it has been
something that will remain with me from
this English experience."     

Luca (Italy)

"TABLEtalk and the World Cafe: they are really

a marvellous chance to meet people from all over 

the world and get in touch with so many interesting 

games related to the British culture and it is really 

a good chance to get our language improved.  

The Sunday Lunch Scheme and the Bring & Share 

Lunches: they are a great idea to know something 

about British life-style and food, it is a great 

opportunity to meet lovely people like Lynne, 

Joyce and Sue, I am really happy to know all of 

you. You add great value to my experience here 

in the UK and you fill the empty space I have due 

to missing my family and my home country.

Lynne, I really don't know how to thank you for 

running these activities; I asl God to thank you in 

his way (by giving you what you want)."             

Samer (Syria)

"I wish to express my many thanks for the effort

you have put into making TABLEtalk a success.
TABLEtalk has provided me with the opportunity
to learn more about the local community and has
helped me to interact even better in a relaxed
but educating atmosphere.  Thank you."   

James (Nigeria)

"Just wanted to thank you again, in writing, 

for a really lovely day at the seaside. It was 

fantastic!  Thank you for your support and 

genuine interest in students' lives and welfare. 

I am one of many who really appreciate it."

Andy (UK)

"I like the World Cafe because there is an 
opportunity to spend the lunch break with a lot 
of other people.  It's a good possibility to meet new 
people at the campus and also to talk to the volunteers 
is interesting every time.  TABLEtalk is every Tuesday 
a new experience.  I like the change of topics.
It ranges from serious discussion to very funny quiz
and games nights, this mixture is perfect. 
I met so many people there from so many different countries.  It's a good possibility to socialise and
learn something about the different countries and
their culture.  The Sunday lunches are always
a great time.  I like the feeling to be part of a
family for an afternoon.  Everytime the
families cared very well for us."

Franziska (Germany)

"The World Cafe is a great moment in the

campus to meet other students and take a

brief break from our commitments.

The best thing is that you can stay a few

minutes or as long as you want,

in a very friendly environment,

and you feel welcome because they

take care of you!!  All your activities

have enriched my time in the UK,

making it great!"

Elena (Italy)

"The Sunday lunch was really nice.
We enjoyed homemade food and after that
we drank English tea and coffee near the fireplace;
until an antique mechanical cuckoo clock struck
5 o'clock.  We were talking about our home countries, history, languages and culture, and were telling
anecdotes as well.  I enjoyed the dinner and
conversation, and I would like to thank all the
members of the family I met for their hospitality."

Alec (Russia)

"I tried to construct a good sentence to express 

how I benefitted from the World Cafe, TABLEtalk 

and the Sunday Lunches  ...  it helped me particularly 

to feel that I am not alone despite being in a far land.  

I established good relationships with people from the 

local community who will ever remain friends.  As a 

result of all this, I have the peace of mind to concentrate 

on my studies. Having a feeling that you are among 

people who care for you."

Nicolaus (Nigeria)

"At the Sunday lunches it is really amazing to meet
some British friends for some time and have some
sharing and a meal together."

Daniel (Pakistan)