Six thousand calories!!!

I know that it's a favourite haunt for some people but yesterday was my first ever visit to Creams :-) I enjoyed a most scrumptiously fattening banoffie waffle and a rather large latte.

"Thank you Sonali, for such a lovely treat!"

Summer Ball

What a lovely evening at the Faculty of Engineering and Science Summer Ball.  Good food (ate far too much) and great company.

 

 

Waiting for the ballroom dancing to start,

this is my impersonation of Darcey Bussell

Valerie and her friend won a runner up prize in the cha-cha competition :-)  WELL DONE!!!

Saying goodbye

We're coming to that time of year when 'goodbyes' are happening. Some are 'see you in a few months' as students like Areti and Kesia return to their families in Cyprus and Holland. Others though have a more permanent feeling to them. These are the ones I really dislike :-(

"Andrew, it's been great getting to know you. I remember we first met through the Language Connect project and then you started to come to TABLEtalk and other events regularly. You have such a gentle, caring heart and have become a great friend to many. I will miss your smile and your laugh and the quiet way in which you've always been willing to serve and help out. I wish you God's abundant blessings for your future in Kenya, or wherever he sends you. Do keep in touch." Lynne

Chaplaincy Care Corners

Exams are a stressful time for all of our students, most especially those for whom English is not their mother tongue. Over the past three weeks I've been able to run a total of nine Chaplaincy Care Corners.

With a key location in the heart of the Drill Hall Library we provided an opportunity for students to take a bit of time out and de-stress. 

Free drinks and lollies were on offer each time; there were games to borrow, colouring to do, exam tips and words of inspiration, affirmation and encouragement to take away. And in the midst of all that there was lots of good conversation with students I know well and those I was meeting for the very first time.

Throughout these few weeks we have given out ...

285 lollies plus 270 boiled sweeties

117 cartons of juice and 60 bottles of water
95 laminated bookmarks with words of inspiration and encouragement

The opportunity to come away from revision, to sit and colour for 20 mins was a bigger hit than I'd anticipated. I had some great conversations with students and hope that in some small way I was able to provide a listening ear and some encouragement.

Students, be aware that any pictures that aren't finished are going to make an appearance at our Wednesday World Cafe!!

Eurovision 2016

A few of us gathered last night to enjoy pizza, garlic bread, cake and Eurovision 2016.  
As usual our own voting results failed to match the real outcome but it would be safe to say there were less politics in my lounge than in the annual event that is Eurovision!!

Our voting saw Cyprus in first place, much to Areti's joy. Closely followed by Australia in second place and Russia coming third.

I would also like to add that Joe & Jake from the UK came in at a very acceptable 7th place!!!

Mental Health Awareness Week

May 16th-22nd is Mental Health Awareness Week.
Please see below for details of all that's happening on each of our University of Greenwich sites.
Specifically at the Medway Campus  ...
On Tuesday there will be stalls in Pilkington, plus Mindfulness sessions alongside our Chaplaincy Care Corner in the Drill Hall Library (3-5pm).
On Thursday, from 12:30-1:30pm in Blake 052, there will be a workshop entitled 'Can we be more Resilient?'

If I Ruled the World

Whilst many of our regular TABLEtalk students are snowed under with exams it has been good to welcome a new group of French students here for several months of internship.
Our topic this week was 'If I Ruled the World' ... that's not me personally - much to everyone's relief!!!
Our discussion began with the question "If you were made leader of your country, what would be the first issues you would address?"  With 11 nationalities represented amongst our 14 students, it was surprising how much the issues of corruption and education featured.
After some further discussion about POWER we did a 'Room 101' exercise. Here are the students' responses ...

FASHION
* the use of real fur or feathers in fashion
* body shaming
* the whole idea of fashion - that others get to decide what is and isn't fashionable
* builders' bum

DRIVING
* road rage
* driving under the influence
* driving with only one hand on the wheel
* exceeding the speed limit

TECHNOLOGY
* contactless cards
* identity theft/bank hacking
* weapons of mass destruction
* the marketing strategy of 'planned obsolescence'