Last Four Events of Semester: April 10, 17, 24, & May 1st

Hi Everyone,

Since the last four events have already been planned, I though it efficient to describe them in this week's blog.

April 10th:

This week we will go to Venice beach. We will carpool from Wendy's at 11:00am, have lunch together at Mao's Kitchen (near the boardwalk), then walk the boardwalk until we're ready to go home. The cost is $2.00/person. A sign-up sheet will be available this week.

April 17th:

Cynthia's Downtown Tour. Join us at 9:30am outside the URC and walk with us until we're tired, hungry, or both. We'll have lunch at the Central Market, but feel free to bring a bag lunch (and don't forget to bring plenty of water). We will take the Dash from USC together. This event is free.

April 24th:

Please join us for a very special event: The Great Jordini. This magic show will be performed by one of our advanced students, Jordi Valls. The performance will take place at 11:00am in the fish bowl (URC). After the show, we will have lunch together in room 108 (bag lunch) around 12:15pm.

May 1st:

The last activity of the spring semester (dim sum) will take place at the CBS Seafood Restaurant in China Town. A carpool will be available from Wendy's at 10:30am. Drivers are needed. We will enjoy a nice lunch and reminisce about all the time we've spent together this year. May 1st is also the last day of the spring semester. The address is:

700 N Spring St.
Los Angeles 90012
(at Ord St.)

Phone: 213-617-2323
Fax: 213-617-0065

John

Thursday Activity (April 3rd, 2008): Bowling

Hi Everyone,

This week we will go bowling, led by Jordi. I will be gone this Thursday-Monday. The cost is $2.25 for transportation (bus), and $11.00 for bowling and shoes; this is a discounted price for all students.

Jordi will leave from the URC at 9:30am and take the Rapid (north) on Vermont and Jefferson. Please let Jordi know if you will meet him there. It's about a 20 minute ride to the corner of 4th and Vermont (just ask the driver which stop is best).

I hope you all have fun, and I look forward to seeing you on Tuesday!

John

Thursday Activity: Pot-Luck @11am

Hi Everyone,

This week we will have a pot-luck in the URC (Room 108). Please bring a main dish. This event is for students and teachers/staff only. Please arrive by 11:00am so we can all eat together.

Hope to see you all soon.

John

Spring Break: March 17-21, 2008

Hi Everyone,

There is no activity this week. Enjoy the spring break, get some rest, and I will see you all on Monday March 24th.

John

Thursday Activity: Hollywood Blvd and Ice Cream

Hi Everyone:

You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream! Please join us on Thursday for a stroll down Hollywood Blvd. We will then walk to Mashti Malones, an ice cream parlor known well by locals and celebrities alike. They have some of the most unusual flavors I've ever tasted. Here's there website:

http://www.mashtimalone.com/

The cost is $2.00. Drivers are needed. We will leave from Wendy's at 9:30am, and return around noontime. A sign-up sheet will be available on Monday.

Hope to see you all soon! Study hard!

John

ps: Until I learn to read Chinese, can someone please switch the blog back to English?

Feuchtwanger Memorial Library: Thursday March 6th, 2008

Hi Everyone,

This week we will visit a very special library at USC, the Feuchtwanger Memorial Library (located in the Doheny Library). A former student of ours, Michaela Ullmann, will be giving the tour. We will view old books and video testimonials from the Holocaust. This library is a grand selection of materials collected by the German-Jewish writer Lion Feuchtwanger.

We will leave the URC at 9:40am (sharp), then walk to the Feuchtwanger Memorial Library together (Room 206). Husbands and wives are welcome to attend.

Please don't miss this special event!

John

Hiking: Thursday: February 28, 2008

Hi Everyone,

This week we're going hiking. We'll leave at 9:30am from Wendy's and return around lunchtime. A sign-up sheet will be available on Monday. Drivers are needed. There will be no fee for transportation since the travel time is short. Please bring water and dress accordingly.

Hope to see you all soon!

John

Thursday: February 21st, 2008

Hi Everyone,

This week we will play soccer! Meet us outside the URC @ 9:30am and join us for a morning of fun. If you have a soccer ball, please bring it. Water is a must, so don't forget.

John

Valentine's Day: Thursday, February 14th 2008

Hi Everyone,

Valentine's Day is celebrated around the world, and the English Language Program is no exception. Please join us on Thursday at 10:30am in room 108 and: (a) make cards for your significant others, and (b) enjoy a pot-luck lunch together.

Supplies for making the cards will be generously donated by Cynthia Berne (one of the conversation teachers). If you have scizzors, please bring them. If you are joining us for the pot-luck, please bring a main dish. A reminder to all that this is a student only event. If you have any questions, please e-mail me.

I hope to see you all on Thursday. Until then, study hard and have a great week!

John

Football: Thursday February 7th, 2008

Hi Everyone,

To celebrate the National Football League season, we will play football this week. A minimum of 6 people are required to play. If not, the event will be canceled.

Please join us outside the URC at 9:30am for a morning of fun! I will explain the rules and play with both teams. Please dress accordingly, and bring water. I look forward to everyone's participation.

Hope you all have a great week!

John

Six Flags: Magic Mountain: Saturday February 2nd, 2008

Hi Everyone,

As requested, we are planning a trip to Six Flags: Magic Mountain. But, we will not be going on Thursday. The park is closed during the week this month, but the lines shouldn't be that bad since it's early in the season. The weather should be fine on Saturday, so no worries.

The cost is $27.00. Children under 48'' pay $17.00. Tickets can/should be purchased in the ticket office at USC in STU (near Tommy Trojan). There will be no charge for transportation, so we need drivers. We will meet at Wendy's at 8:30am. We will leave when we are either tired or sick to our stomachs, lol. I would recommend leaving before or after traffic hours.

The park hours are 10am-8pm on Saturday. I will bring a lunch, but don't feel obligated. A sign up sheet will be available this week.

Hope to see you all soon.

John

Address:

26101 Magic Mountain Pkwy.
Valencia, CA 91355
818.367.5965

Directions:

101 North to 170 North to I5 North

Thursday's Activity: January 24th, 2008: Getty Villa

Hi Everyone,

This Thursday we're going to the Getty Villa. We'll leave from Wendy's (on Hoover near the University Village) at 10am, and return sometime after lunch (2ish). Feel free to bring a lunch. We will carpool, so we need drivers! The cost is $5.00 per person. Students must sign up and pay by noon (12:00pm) on Wednesday. No refunds are available.

If you are a driver the address is:

17985 Pacific Coast Highway

Pacific Palisades, California 90272

It is not recommended that you "meet us there", unless you absolutely have to. Carpooling your friends to save them money is not only unfair and inappropriate, but it unintentionally excludes students from joining the carpool and does not reflect the spirit of the Trojan family. I hope I do not have to bring this issue up again.

I look forward to seeing you all soon. Until Thursday, study hard and Fight On!

John

No Class on Martin Luther King Day

Hi Everyone,

There will be no class on Martin Luther King Day. I will see you all again on Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008.

Enjoy the three day weekend, and study hard!

John

Spring Semester Begins: January 14th, 2008 @ 9:30am

Hi Everyone,

Just a reminder that the spring semester begins Monday, January 14th at 9:30am. New students will attend a short information session before class. Let me know if you have any questions.

The first activity (Thursday, January 17th) will be a potluck. Please bring your favorite main dish and join us in a reunion of the ELP at 11:00am in Room # 108.

John