International Sunday Lunch

When one of our hosts had to cancel at the last minute

a very impromptu Sunday Lunch was held

back at Lynne's flat ...

Lynne, Ania & Lisa

Ania, Lynne & Karen Sos

TABLEtalk - Valentine's Night

During our Valentine's evening we wrote some

'Love is ...' poems together and also had

lots of laughs playing 'The Dating Game'.

Many thanks for being so willing to take part.

- o 0 o -

Here are a few extracts from some of our poems:

LOVE is sweet and bitter at the same time.

LOVE is something without which no-one can live.

LOVE is eternal.

LOVE is to serve others.

LOVE is like being in a very safe place.

LOVE is a flower - you need to take care of it carefully.

LOVE is to spend your time making others happy.

LOVE is an easy word with a billion definitions.

LOVE is an enormous force changing life for the better

- the only true way.

LOVE is when you still think he's charming, even after

he's played football and stinks like a pig!

LOVE is believing that your husband's

fat tummy is attractive.

TABLEtalk: Pancake Party

Our Spring 2008 semester got off to a great start

with 17 students from eight different

nationalities coming along to our

PANCAKE PARTY ...

Thank you soooooo much to Fu Yu, Ania and Lena

for all their help in the kitchen

Peace and her pancake!

(thanks Peace for taking these great pics)

Florent offers some expert advice ...

whilst the rest of us enjoy the opportunity of

sampling the pancakes, playing games and

generally catching up with each other.

Student Comments

Every participants benefits from TABLEtalk as it provides a precious opportunity for international students to improve their English and know the local culture. All the staff and volunteers are very friendly and helpful, which makes TABLEtalk feel like a big family."

Jenny (China)

"TABLEtalk is a weekly event that draws together students from different parts of the world to get to know each other and to socialise. It is an event filled with fun, laughter and instills some serious thoughts on current issues. It also provides an opportunity for the newly arrived students to the UK to meet and talk to their seniors as well as volunteers. This not only smoothes the settling-in process for many, but also forms a closely knit social group in the long run.

International Sunday Lunches and summer events have given me the chance to visit local homes. Some of these families have now become close friends who take a great interest in my welfare. I have also had the chance to taste plenty of scrumptious home cooked meals."

Sugu (Malaysia)

Happy New Year

A New Year's greeting from Hafsa (Pakistan):

"May the Light of God surround you.

The love of God enfold you.

The power of God protect you and

the presence of God watch over you all year through

- and all your dreams come true.

Have a safe and blessed 2008!"

Hogmanay Extravaganza 2007

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Welcoming in the New Year in taditional Scottish style.

Our Hogmanay Extravaganza consisted of dancing,

games, food and a hour of cabaret!!

(top row left to right)

Sophia, Will, Bora, Jessica, Raymond,

Jack, Misha & Lena

(bottom row left to right)

Gospel, Jenny He, Ellen, Tina, Jenny Wang,

Oliwia, Fu Yu, Lynne, David & Eric

Playing musical statues and the fish race ...

A scrumptious buffet ...

STUDENT COMMENTS:

"I just write to thank you. I really enjoyed the Hogmanay party. It was so wonderful. Last year was such a special year for me. Sometimes, I still can not believe that I am abroad now. I am so lucky that you are my friend.You are so special to me.You organised TABLEtalk and through it I have made so many friends. TABLEtalk is so helpful for me, although my English is still not so good. Thank you again for all you have done for me.Wishing you a good year." Bora (China)

Christmas Day 2007

What a fabulous Christmas Day we had!!

Our day began by all attending a short Christmas Day
family service at Hopehall church.
When we got back to my flat we had drinks and snacks
whilst dinner finished cooking. Everyone wanted to help,
but I wouldn't let them all in the kitchen at the same time.
Dinner was a great success (even if I say so myself).

Bora, Heather, Lisa and Sugu

Fu Yu, Lynne and Jessica

Opening presents was great fun ...

The rest of the day was spent playing games, watching TV,
and generally enjoying the day together.

Aberfoyle Walk

Munish and Kate joined us for our annual Hopehall walk

from Gartmore to Aberfoyle with a very welcome lunch and
coffee at the Wool Centre. It was a cold, icy day but the
sun shone and everyone enjoyed themselves.

TABLEtalk - Christmas Party

A great time was had by everyone who came to our

2007 Christmas Party.
Twenty-six students came and were joined by more than
a dozen volunteers and hosts.

A HUGE THANK YOU goes to Ernie Lindsay who did a
fabulous job in the kitchen - it was a great meal!!
Other than eating, drinking and chatting we spent time
singing some Christmas carols and learning
'The 12 Days of Christmas'


Eric Garner performed an excellent monologue entitled
'The Innkeeper'

Jenny He (China), Graeme & Christine Clark,
Elaine (UK) and Munish (India)

Bora (China), Lynne, Tom (China), David Kennedy,
Tereza (Czech Rep) and Jessica (China)

Nan Magee, Raymond (China), Oliwia (Poland), Jack Peakman,
John Stickley, Arthur (China), Sebrina (China), and Billy Magee

Joyce (China), Ania (Poland), Anne-Martine (France),
Florent (France), Audrey & Scott McPhail

Fu Yu (China), Sugu (Malaysia), Cheryl & Roy Adair,
and Lena (Russia)

Aileen & David Clark, Pavas (India), Raj (India),
and Chang (China)

Jenny Wang (China), Tina (China), Mary & Eric Garner,
Hafsa (Pakistan), Peace (UK) and Kate (China)

Commemorative Ceremony

On Friday December 7th I was thrilled to be invited to the
Commemorative Ceremony for the official name change from
Paisley University to the
UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND.
This change of name better represents the university,
which has campuses not just in Paisley but also in Ayr, Dumfries
and, most recently, Hamilton


Among the four people who received honorary doctorates at
this event was ALAN JOHNSON, the BBC correspondent
who was kidnapped earlier this year in Gaza
and held for four months.
His speech was very inspiring.

TABLEtalk: St Andrew's Night

I think it would be safe to say that a great time was

had by all those who came along to our

St Andrew's Night @ TABLEtalk

Many, many thanks to Gordon Whyte & Derek Peakman who provided our music for both song and dance!!!

A BIG thank you also goes to Alison Peakman who prepared a traditional feast of haggis, tatties & neeps!!!

For many of the students the ceilidh dancing was a new experience and they needed to listen intently to the instructions given ...

International Bible Study

We have been meeting together since mid-October and have been enjoying studying various Bible characters together and thinking about the challenges the lives of these people can have on our own lives.

Tereza - Lynne - Bora - Jean - Arthur

A Chinese Meal

A big thank you goes to Chang for coming and cooking us a fabulous Chinese meal. Thanks too to Bora and Sugu for their help.

This is us all waiting eagerly for our feast:

Alison, Derek, Lynne, Sugu, Chang & Bora