Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Hello, all,

I just wanted to let you know that this is the last week of ESL classes at the Friendship House for this semester and 2012.   We have special activities going on and would love to see you there.   If you have not stopped by the Friendship House to pick up a schedule of the activities then please stop by on Monday.   We have special plans for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.    I hope you can join us if you are available and in Starkville.  If not, then I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year.   Free ESL classes will begin Monday, January 14, 2013!   We definitely want to see you then.  Be sure to bring a new friend!

Schedule needs to be picked up at FH

Calling all Friendship House ESL students! There are many fun activities and events going on associated with the Friendship House over the next few weeks, as our semester is winding down. You will want to be there! A schedule of these activities can be picked up at the Crossroads International Friendship House 9-11 am, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. It will NOT be posted on the blog or on facebook. If you want to know what is going on, you need to come, see us, and pick up a schedule. I look forward to seeing you this week!

Announcements for the week of November 5th

Hello, all!   I hope you are enjoying the mild weather.   I just wanted to send out a couple of announcements and reminders.   The first thing is that before you go to bed Saturday, November 3rd, be sure to turn your clocks back an hour, because we observe Daylight Savings Time.  (So, if your clock says 10:00 pm, you need to turn it back to 9:00 pm.  In the Fall, we "fall back" an hour).    Also, there has been a little change in schedule.   The International Friends Group will host a Thanksgiving Tasting of traditional Thanksgiving food on Thursday, November 8, 2012.  If you plan to go on this field trip with us, you need to sign-up or at least send me a message that you will be going with us.   They need to know how much food to prepare.   You also must be at the Friendship House on Thursday, no later than 9:00 am.   If you are late, you may be left behind.   We only have a few weeks of free ESL classes left for this semester.  Do NOT be lazy.  Come on, even if you have not been in a while. You are always welcome! 

This weeks announcements: October 22

Announcements for the week of October 22:
Mrs. Phyllis will be with us on Wednesday. You will definitely want to be there. Anyone want to have potluck on Thursday, October 25? Let me know. I hope all of you have a great week! I look forward to seeing you!

October 8 - 11, 2012

This week (October 8-11) at the Crossroads International Friendship House:
We will be visited by the ladies of the International Friends Group on Tuesday, October 9, and we will go on a field trip on this day. Children will stay at the Friendship House with the baby-sitter. Thursday, October 11, we will not have class due to Starkville School District being closed for Parent-teacher conferences and Fall Break. Have a great week!

Annoucements for the week of October 1 - 4

This week should be a regular week at the Friendship House, the only exception is Thursday. Thursday, October 4, we will not have a babysitter for the children. However, if it is not raining we will take a field trip to Mrs. Donna's farm. Please, make sure you are there by 9:00 am. We look forward to seeing all of you then!

This week's annoncements...

There are a few changes to this week's(September 24-September 27) schedule. Reminder, on Monday we will have Bible Study from 11:00 am - 12:00 noon.  Wednesday, Mrs Phyllis and Anna will be paying us a visit from MSU Counseling Services.  Thursday, September 27, we will have Potluck 9-11 am.  We hope to see you this week.  Please, join us!

We will begin ESL classes and Bible Study, again

Hello, all,

Well Garage Give-Away is behind us again.  Free English as a Second Language classes begin again Monday, September 17 at 9:00 am.  We will also begin our study of the Holy Bible at 11:00 am.  Typically, Bible Study will be from 11:00 am - 12:00-noon on Mondays.  Please, join us!  I look forward to seeing you!

2012 Garage Give-Away

Another reminder:   There will be no ESL classes or other meetings  at the Crossroads International Friendship House next week.   We have closed to collect donations for our annual Garage Give-Away.   Like a Garage Sale, we will have some gently used items, maybe some brand new.  However, we will be giving these household items away for free.  Yes, FREE!  Friday, September 14, from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm we will be giving international students who have been in Starkville (or USA) less than a year the chance to make request of items they may need.  On Saturday, all international students are welcome to come from 9:00 am - 11 am.  First come, first serve on Saturday.  You must sign up  when you get there, you will be given a number.  Things will be explained to you on that day.   Items to be given away are dependent upon donations that we receive.  In the past, we have had items such as furniture, sheets, blankets dishes, cookware, small appliances, electronics, children's toys and home decorations.  

Reminder about Labor Day

There will be no ESL classes on Monday, September 3,2012 due to the Labor Day Holiday.  We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, September 4, 2012.    Have a safe and wonderful weekend!

Today, (Monday, August 27, 2012) is the first day of the free English as a Second Language classes for the Fall, 2012 semester.  There have been some changes.   We will no longer offer to pick up our students to take them to class unless they are at MSU Barnes & Noble bookstore at 8:40 am each morning.  We are sorry for the inconvenience, but due to the rise in gas prices, we still want to do everything at NO cost to you.  However, we will offer to take any student home after class that needs a ride.  Be aware that after class also means after Bible Study class on Mondays, beginning Monday, September 17, 2012, from 11 am - 12:00 noon.  

The Last Week of Summer Program

Hello, all,

I just want to remind you that this is the last week of our CIFH summer program at the apartments.  Tuesday, July 24, we will be at the Grove on Lynn Lane.  Wednesday, July 25, we will be at Parkside on North Jackson Street.  Thursday, July 26 we will be at College Station and Polos off of Locksley Way.  I hope to see you there!   We will have our Welcome to the USA party on Thursday, August 23, at 5:30 pm at the BSU Building on the MSU campus.   Monday, August 27, we will begin our free English as a Second Language classes at the Crossroads International Friendship House at 9:00 am.   We hope to see you there!   It is going to be a wonderful year! 

No Conversation today due to rain.

No conversation at Apartments the week of July 4

Hello, everyone.  I just wanted to send a reminder that we will not be meeting at the apartments this week due to the 4th of July / United States Independence Day holiday on Wednesday.  However, we hope to see you next week.  As usual we will be at the Grove on Lynn Lane outside, across from the office at 8:00 am on Tuesday, July 10.  We will be at Parkside in Apartment 2-E, on Wednesday, July 11 at 8:00 am.  We will be at the Polos / College Station (outside the Polos apartment 155) on Thursday, July 12 at 8:00 am.   We hop to see you there!   The good news is that I have purchased a tail-gating tent or gazebo tent so we will have shelter from the sun in the outside areas.  

Summer activities

Hello, everyone,
If you have been to the Crossroads International Friendship House lately, you will know that we are closed for the summer.  However, we are still having activities.  This week we began going to 3 different locations around Starkville to practice English conversation and have a fun program for the children.  We are meeting at The Grove Apartments on Lynn Lane on Tuesdays, from 8-10 am.   All friends who drive are welcome to join us there, at the picnic table across from the office.  (You will see the van).   On Wednesdays, we are meeting at Parkside Apartments on North Jackson Street., from 8-10 am.   ONLY those who live at Parkside are able to join us here due to having to meet inside.  We will meet in Apartment 2-E.  On Thursdays, we will meet at The Polos / College Station Apartments, from 8-10 am.  We will meet in the grassy area in the parking lot  across from the 150's apartments at The Polos.  Please, bring the children for our fun program.   If you drive, you are very welcome to meet with us on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  If you are unable to drive, contact Tracey.  It is possible for her to pick you up and take you with us. 

In other news, we will have the Welcome Party for all international people at the BSU building on Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 5:30.  Free ESL classes will resume Monday, August 27, 2012 at 9 am. 

I hope to see you this summer, but if not, have a safe and happy summer vacation.   We look forward to seeing you in August!

Summer, 2012

This week is our last week for Spring Semester at the Friendship House. On Thursday, May 3, we will meet at 9:00am at the Friendship House and then go to Mrs. Judy's house for a potluck. Please, join us! This summer, 2012 the Friendship House is coming to an apartment near you to practice conversation. We will begin at 8:00 am Tuesdays at The Grove (Across from the office, at the picnic table under the tree) June 5, June 19, June 26, July 10, July 17, July 24 Wednesdays at Parkside (Inside Monika's Apartment) June 6, June 20, June 27, July 11, July 18, July 25 Thursdays at The Polos/College Station (On the Volleyball Court at The Polos) June 7, June 21, June 28, July 12, July19, July 26 We will not have ESL classes at the actual Crossroads International Friendship House building this summer.

The semester is coming to an end.

Do you realize we only have two weeks left for ESL class at the Friendship House for this semester? I have heard some have been asking about summer. Plans are in the works, but it is something we have not done before. Summer activities will not begin until June. This Wednesday will be our last visit from Mrs. Phyllis and Anna. Please, be there. Thursday, May 3, will be our last day of the semester. We have plans for a potluck on that day. We may be going on a picnic to someone's house. I will verify all details closer to time. You will not want to miss that day!

April 9 & 10, 2012

Hello, all,

I just wanted to remind you the semester is going to end soon at the Friendship House. You need to come if you can while you can. However, Monday, April 9, we will not have class. Tuesday, April 9, you must be here at the Friendship House by 9:00 am. We will be going to Mrs. Connie's house with the International Friends Group from First Baptist Church. Children will stay at the Friendship House with the baby sitter. This is a potluck day, so please, bring a dish!

Activities at the Friendship House

Hello, everyone,

The biggest news is that 22nd International Fiesta will be at MSU on Saturday, March 31. You will NOT want to miss that. I hope you are doing well. We have some exciting things happening soon. On a sad note, there is just about a month, a little less or more left to the semester. We have a lot of fun things happening though. If Starkville School District is closed on April 9 for the Easter Holiday, we will be closed, too. On April 10, we will all go to Mrs. Connie's house on a field trip and potluck with the International Friends Group from First Baptist Church. April 19, the ladies from Mantee Baptist will come for a cooking demonstration and conversation. April 25, our friend Phyllis Benjamen will come to speak with us for one last time this semester.

I hope to see you soon!

Spring Break is over.

Monday, March 19, 2912, we will be back in the swing of things. Spring break will be over. I look forward to seeing you at 9:00 am. If you need a ride to the Friendship House, please, email, call or text me before 8:00 am Monday morning. I hope you have had a safe spring break. See you soon!

Great News!!!!

The Friendship House van has been fixed! Unless someone delivers it to me, I should have it this Friday, March 2, 2012. Let me know if you need a ride to the Friendship House on the following Monday. Send me email, text, or facebook message.

No ESL class on Monday, January 16, 2012

There will not be class on Monday, January 16, 2012 because of the Dr.Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. We hope to see everyone on Tuesday.

Happy New Year!

I hope all of you had a wonderful break and a Merry Christmas! I hope to see all of you in 2012. English as a Second Language classes will begin January 9, 2012. I hope to see you there! Again, Happy New Year!