************************* EV NEWSLETTER 04/08/2005 ************************* EV Events http://events.stanford.edu/byOrganization/372/ 1. Trail Day at Saratoga Gap 2. Manning the phones for PBS! 3. San Francisco Ballet Performance 4. EV trip to Yosemite 5. Relay for Life team Sign-Up: http://events.stanford.edu/events/56/5649/ 6. Bay To Breakers with EV! 7. Renew the San Francisco Zoo 8. A Letter to Spouses from Gwyn Dukes, Bectel International Center http://www.stanford.edu/dept/icenter/families Trail Day at Saratoga Gap April 9, 2005. 8:00 AM. Meet at Escondido Village office. Carpool to site on Skyline-to-Sea trail. Sign up required by midnight, Thursday, April 7! free!. http://events.stanford.edu/events/54/5434/ Manning the phones for PBS! April 15, 2005. 7:00 PM. KTEH, the public TV station, in San Jose free!. http://events.stanford.edu/events/55/5516/ EV trip to Yosemite April 29, 2005. Yosemite National Park $20 for EV residents. The spring trip is open to all EV Singles and Couples w/o Children Residents, and if spots are available, to non-EV residents. There are 48 spots. If there is more interest than spots, winners will be determined by lottery. http://events.stanford.edu/events/57/5777/ Relay for Life team, join the Rotaract and Escondido Village May 14, 2005. 10:00 AM. Stanford Stadium Enrollment cost free. http://events.stanford.edu/events/56/5649/ Come out to walk/run Bay To Breakers with EV! May 15, 2005. 8:00 AM. Start line: downtown San Francisco, at the Embarcadero next to the BAY. Finish line: all the way across town, at the ocean next to the BREAKERS! Total distance: 12k (7.5 miles). $14.50 + transportation. http://events.stanford.edu/events/54/5488/ Renew the San Francisco Zoo Saturday 04/09/2005 Help Renew the San Francisco Zoo & see the new African Savanna exhibit! Join your Rains neighbors for this fun and rewarding activity that helps to beautify the Zoo. Projects may include planting, weeding, digging, raking, painting, picking up trash, pushing heavy wheelbarrows, and getting really, really dirty. Why: You'll get a warm feeling from helping the Zoo, and you'll promote conservation, too. After projects are concluded around 11am, refreshments are provided and we can spend the afternoon at the Zoo. Wear: something warm and comfortable that you don't mind getting dirty. If you have work gloves, bring those, too. Meet at 7am Saturday April 9th at Willis Lounge to carpool to the city; we'll have juice and bagels to get you going that early in the morning and Rains will sponsor a meal afterwards. More information can be found on the San Francisco Zoo website: http://www.sfzoo.org/education/renew.htm Please RSVP to phartke@stanford.edu by Thursday April 7th at noon but last minute additions are welcomed too! See http://www.sfzoo.org/education/renew.htm Bechtel International Center Hello everyone! I hope you're enjoying the sunshine after our long spell of rainy weather! Have you noticed the California poppies blooming along the roadside? (The orange ones are the official state flower.) Now that Stanford's Spring Quarter has started, our various classes at the I-Center are also beginning. Why not take advantage of this special chance to learn a new language or cuisine, take regular walks or develop your talents in art, music, singing, or tennis! Many of your favorite classes will continue, and there are several very interesting NEW classes and programs, including * a walking group (Tuesdays at 9:30, starting April 12), * cooking classes featuring a romantic dinner (April 13), party food (April 20) and vegetarian cooking (April 21), and * programs on the American Political System (April 7 - 28), * the European Constitution (May 12 - 26), and * a class we can all benefit from: Effective Communication Skills (gain insight into how gender, relationships and culture influence your communication style, and how you can use this knowledge in your personal and professional life). Thursdays, 4-5:30, April 14 - May 12.. I hope you've had a chance to pick up a copy of the full schedule or check our web site for the complete listing. http://www.icenter.stanford.edu/families/classes.html --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Important Dates & Deadlines: Friday, April 8 - * Wed. Tour payment ($5) due for April 13 visit to History Park/San Jose * Friday Coffee, 10 - 12 * Idea session for Friday Coffee Team, 12 noon Saturday, May 7, 12 - 5 * International Festival. If you'd like to perform (dance, sing, play music, have a cultural display), contact Gwyn asap.(as soon as possible!) EVENTS THIS WEEK AT THE I-CENTER: 1. THURSDAY CLASSES & PROGRAMS beginning on April 7: * American Political System, 10:30 - 11:30, with Marina Bourgain * Discussion Group:Life of Prominent Women, bag lunch at 12 noon * Advanced Spanish, 1:30 - 3 p.m. * Russian for Beginners, 4:30 - 6 p.m. * German for Beginners, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. 2. WEDNESDAY TOURS will take advantage of the spring weather by including several picnics at various historic and picturesque sites outdoors. You'll need to sign up and pay a week or two in advance for most of them, due to the requirements of the guides. (Sorry for the inconvenience. You can reserve your place at the upstairs desk at the I-Center.) DEADLINE FOR APRIL 13 TOUR IS FRIDAY, APRIL 8! Reserve at the upstairs desk! APRIL 13: 11a.m.-3 p.m. Join this outing to HISTORY PARK - SAN JOSE, where we'll tour a cluster of authentic homes and buildings that represent various periods in San Jose's development. Our guide will recount the experiences of various groups of immigrants to the area as we visit a Chinese temple and exhibits that chronicle the Portuguese and Japanese presence. The structures include an early stable with horse carriages and blacksmith shop, a doctor's office, bank, candy shop and more. We need to confirm our total number by FRIDAY, APRIL 8, so please be sure to pay the $5 docent fee at the UPSTAIRS DESK at the I-Center by 4 p.m. this Friday, 4/8. I hope you can join us! Bring a picnic lunch, and meet at the Escondido Village Center at 11 a.m. If time permits, we can stroll through the Japanese Friendship Garden next to the History Park. Plan to join the entire series, alternate Wednesdays: April 27, May 11, May 25 and June 8. It's a nice way to see the area and meet others interesting people! 3. FRIDAY COFFEE, 10 - 12. Newcomers are always welcome at this informal gathering in the I-Center patio. It's a good way to start to make new friends and find out about opportunities to make your stay at Stanford fulfilling. The Friday Coffee is YOUR event, and everyone who attends can play an active role in organizing it and planning special events. I hope you were among the 80+ people there last week who enjoyed the delightful Japanese Hina Matsuri exhibit, with traditional Japanese musical entertainment and lessons in the art of origami! It was an extraordinary and delightful treat! We'd all like to say, "Domo arigato gozaimasu¨ to Tomomi and Minori and all those who created such a lovely morning for us! And this week we'll have another special feature. Hana has suggested that people might enjoy sharing children's songs and dances from their country each Friday. Bring your pre-school children this Friday and Hana will teach them some traditional music and dancing at 11:11 a.m. Perhaps you'd like to share some songs and games another week? Please feel free! Hana has offered to coordinate this for the weeks ahead! Many thanks to those who have helped to set up and put away the supplies, and all who have brought juice, fruit and snacks to accompany the coffee, tea and lemonade provided by the I-Center! You play a crucial role! We couldn't have the Friday Coffee without you! We need volunteers each week, and a Friday Coffee Team is forming to make sure the program runs smoothly. Can you help? If so, please join the Friday Coffee Team for an informal lunch meeting this Friday, April 8, at 12, immediately following the Friday Coffee. (Kindly email gdukes@stanford.edu if you can join us for this planning session!) 4. SPOUSE WORKSHOP: Ideas for Making Your Life at Stanford Satisfying: Do you have too much time these days? Find out about local options that match your interests and create a plan for making the most of your time here. Limited to 8. With Gwyn Dukes, April 19, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sign up in advance at I-Center notice board. Be sure to check the full schedule to learn about the many other opportunities to enrich your time here. Meanwhile, I hope to see you at the Friday Coffee or around the I-Center soon. With warm regards, Gwyn Gwyn Dukes Adviser to International Families Bechtel International Center P.O. Box 20227 Stanford, CA 94309 Tel. (650) 723-1834 (Tues., Wed., Fridays) Fax. (650) 725-0886 Email: gdukes@stanford.edu I-Center Web page http://www.stanford.edu/dept/icenter/families