TABLEtalk - Scottish Night

At the end of November each year we organise a Scottish evening at TABLEtalk in recognition of St Andrew's Day.

Students were tested on their knowledge of Scotland and Scottish people - congratulations go to Munish & Sandra who won 1st prize and Misha & Lena only one point behind.

(please note: 'Greyfriars Bobby' was not a rabbit or a reindeer, he was a dog - next time ignore any 'helpful' actions from Eric!!)

As always it was great to invite Gordon Whyte along to help us learn some Scottish songs ...

Sugu, Fu Yu and Emma

Faith, Anna G, Volker

and Sandra

Students were also introduced to the delights
of haggis, tatties & neeps
- thanks Joey for helping to serve.

Razvan from Romania

Katrina & Ada

Our evening was completed with several ceilidh dances

- the students proved fast learners.

International Student Service

On November 23rd we held our first ever

International Student Service

& Lunch at Hopehall Church.

Nineteen students joined us for the event which included a presentation by our KIDS church folk, songs from Misha (in Russian & English) and Sugu & Lena also shared a little about what Friends International activities have meant to them.

Thank you sooooooooooooo much to everyone who helped with preparation & transport, who took part in the service itself and to Alison, Sugu, Lena & Xiuli for all that they prepared towards our scrumptious 'international' lunch.

Clemy from Rwanda, Kiwi & Rain from China

Abiola from Nigeria, Volker from Germany, Ada & Susan from China and Ania from Poland.

May with Dare & Titi from Nigeria

Vivean from China and Gloria from Ghana with Alistair

Eric with Faith (from Nigeria)

Student Graduations

When you've shared the lives of students for a year or more - including all the highs and lows of their studies - it is always a privilege to be invited to attend their graduation ceremony.

Here are a few folks who've become much more than students - they've become close friends!!

Sugu & Lena who both graduated with distinction!

Hafsa with Fu Yu

Me and Xiuli
Me and Tom
... even Mishka junior tried to get in on the act!!!

TABLEtalk Quiz Night

Every semester we have a QUIZ NIGHT within our

TABLEtalk programme ...

here Derek, Anna S and Fu Yu are taking it all very seriously!

Student Comments

"We enjoyed the night a lot! The fireworks were very good and then, in the church, it was nice. All the people were very friendly."

Ramon (Spain)

"Last night was really good! Aileen & David were very kind! Thank you for the organisation!

Coralie (France)

"It was fun to stay outside, take pictures and look for those wandering off. It was extra special fun to curl into a comfy armchair with hot chocolate and watch those bursting with laughter while playing table football and pool. It was great to be with friends ... AS USUAL! THANK YOU & BLESSINGS!"

Misha & Lena Korytovy (Russia)

Fireworks & Hot Chocolate Night

Our Fireworks & Hot Chocolate Night has become an annual event now and it seems that each year gets bigger & better. It was great to have 40 students (from 12 different nationalities) along to the event. A BIG THANK YOU goes to all of those who helped with transport and to the Christian Growth Centre for their fab hospitality afterwards.

It was especially great to catch up with some students we'd not seen for a while and to also meet a bunch of new folk.

Clemy, Titi & Clara

Misha, Lena, Titi & Dare
Back at CGC much fun was had eating, drinking, chatting, playing pool, meeting new friends or catching up with old ones ...

A Farewell ...

In the three months that Lukasz Kordas was back in Paisley it was great to have him as part of our young people's Bible study group. What a blessing to see the difference that knowing Jesus has made in his life. If you want to hear his story let me know and I'll put you in touch with him.

(from left to right, top to bottom)
Barry, Asha, Lukasz, Lynne, Dorothy, Ged
Hollie, Lena, Emma, Jo and Misha

Dinner & Lynne's

On Nov 11th Sugu & Fu Yu wanted to hold a Malaysian/Chinese evening for several of our hosts and TABLEtalk helpers.

It was a great evening and everyone enjoyed the food.

speaking of which ...

who can identify this strange vegetable??

A challenging game of TABOO added to the evening

and it was all topped off with a giant cake

for Misha's 25th birthday!

Prize Giving

Misha, Lena & myself

On October 2nd I had the privilege of being invited to a prize giving ceremony at the Business School of the the University of the West of Scotland (Paisley) to see Lena Korytova receive a medal for 'best academic achievement in post-graduate management programme.

Hopehall Church Weekend - Sept 26-28th

From September 26th to 28th Hopehall Church enjoyed a fabulous weekend away in the beautiful surroundings of Blaithwaite House. Several international students also came along for the weekend and enjoyed all the teaching and times of fun that were part of our weekend programme.

It was also great to have Jan Zwart travel up from Derby to spend the weekend with us!!

Above - Cindy (from Taiwan) enjoys a contemplative moment in the courtyard of the Blaithwaite property

Below - on Saturday morning a great time was had by all who participated in the family games session

Although we had a full programme for the weekend there was still time just to sit and chat over a cuppa ...

During the Saturday evening fun time Anna was thrilled to be swept off her feet by a handsome man from Malaysia during a game of 'Knight, Horseman & Cavaliers' - only to be put out of the game !!!

Is there no justice ...

Weddings

There have been a number of weddings this summer ...

On August 11th 2008 Alison & Derek Peakman, Jan Zwart, myself and Scott & Audrey McPhail had the privilege of being invited to the wedding of Csaba Salamon and Sandra Eineg at Comlongon Castle, here in Scotland.

Back in July 08 Hafsa Mahmood became Mrs Hafsa Shafiq in Pakistan