PotLucky Day

The potluck (or picnic) was a meeting where most ESL students had the opportunity to meet each other, share different life experience and, mainly, bring food from their native country. For me, it was a wonderful experience, because I could talk with people from Japan, Korean, Chine, Ivory Coast and U.S.A. After that, we had to participated in some funny games, and in one of them that I won, I earned a necklace. So, I hope that before I go back to Brazil another picnic happen.

Picnic

Picnic!

Having a picnic with all my classmates and teachers yesterday was a lot of fun! Everybody brought some food, friends, family and a lot of energy. We had a great time there playing, laughing and interacting with each other. We also got the chance to practice our english skills in a different environment, outside the classroom. But the highlight of the day, in my opinion it was not having Homework! I think we should have more picnics!! ;)

Davi Linhares dos Santos Silva

Lorrayne - A picnic at Vilas Park

A picnic at Vilas Park

Yesterday, there was a picnic at Vilas Park during afternoon where students and teachers of the English as a Second Language classes spent a time together. I went to this picnic, and I had the opportunity of trying different kinds of food from different countries around the world, such as: Japan, Saudi Arabia, China, United States, and many others. We played some games, but, actually, I did not win anyone. I played american football and frisbee for the first time in my life, and I really liked these games. Yesterday was a funny day, so I hope that I can go to another picnic like this soon. 

ESL Picnic day

Yesterday i had a great time at the Henry Vilas Park. All of the students from the English summer course were invited for a pic nic, which was awesome. The best part was the tradicional american games, like: racing with eggs, pass the ring, and the one with a water balloon. Also there were so many different meals, from China, Saudia Arabia, USA, Brazil, etc. I was happy to see that everybody really catched the ideia! Hoping for the next event. Bye.

06/26 Picnic - Jhonatt Lima dos Santos

The art of never losing free food

          Yesterday, we, the brazillians that are in Madison by the Brasillian Student Movement Program (BSMP) went to the intensive summer english program picnic, also called potlock. Every student brought his own food, some of them bringing their own country food like sushi from China/Japan, brazillian food from Brazil,  Arabic food... there were a big variety of foods. So i had the chance to taste some new foods that I've actually never saw before. I liked some of them... but not all. Later we played some games with water ballons, rings and runnings. I even played football! and learned by the bad way that i can't use my head to play. Such a headache.

The Picnic in Madison

We had a great time at the picnic on Wednesday. It was a good chance to know about other cultures and different people. Besides that, we had the opportunity to talk with native Americans and to practice our skills of listening and speaking. Furthermore, almost every student has brought a typical food from your country, so this was a incredible opportunity to know a little bit more of other countries. 

Awesome Picnic - Free Writing

Yesterday was a picnic day. We went to Vilas Park, a place that s near my home.
There was a lot of food from many countries and I tried some sushi, South Arabian food and of course I ate a lot of Brazilian barbecue. I already miss Brazilian food.
There was also many traditional picnic games. They were awesome.
I liked the picnic ! I think that should have more picnics.

Short Trip to Henry Vilas Zoo (ESL Picnic)

Yesterday, June 25th I joined a ESL Picnic. Picnic was hold in the Henry Vilas Zoo, close to Lake Wingra, having a quit beautiful nature and providing us a signficant vista. In a word, the picnic gave me a pleasure time and great relaxation in Madison. At first in the picnic, I enjoyed cuisine from various countries as Brazil, Iran, China and so on, which I could never experience in my home country. Every foods tasted very nice. I heard exotic musics and I felt even more delicious with them. Next, I talked with people from different countries about their cultures and compared them with my own. I found and surprised at the fact that even though they are appearently different, basic ideas of them seem to be same. I am grateful to the ESL program which give me such a wonderful time.

ESL Picnic

Yesterday, June 25th, on a beautiful Wednesday, ESL students and teachers had fun and enjoyed some good food from all over the world in a great and joyful picnic at the Vilas Park. Each one of us had to bring a food that belongs to your home country. I take cookies there, some of my colleagues brought pizza, others brought some common desserts in Brazil, like 'brigadeiro'. There were hotdogs too and even a brazilian barbecue, which, by the way, was great. Beyond good food, there were funny games too. Everyone was laughing and having fun and, one of the most important things, making new friends from other countries. I hope to have more picnics like this, some teachers have said that it was one of the most expected events of the year, and they were right.

Free Writing - 06/24/2014 - Lucas Fonseca Guimaraes

What a beautiful day in Madison this Tuesday morning.  The weather was so good. It has been a bit hot since midday. I am so excited about living in the United States, it is a new life experience, although I am not seeing the FIFA World Cup in my home country. Madison is a great city, so beautiful. The UW-Madison is huge and surely represents a great place of study. There are still many places and sites here in Madison that I need to visit and know about. I need to study more English, I still have some difficulties on vocabulary and need to know how to speak better this language. I got myself confused in how to explain my ideas and what I am thinking. I haven't said what I want clearly so far. I need to improve my skills in this language so I can give more explanations about what I am trying to say when I am speaking to someone else in English.. So many things to do in this country, I hope I have plenty time to do many things I want such as trips, meet interesting people, have good studies and, above all, be happy.

Márcia Meireles - free writing

Picnic Day

Yesterday, it was the picnic day and fortunalety the day was beautiful. All my classmates, other students and the teachers from our English course had to prepare some food from their countrie's cuisine. So, in order to complete the task proposed I prepared 'Beijinho' that is a kind of dessert very popular in children's parties in Brazil. This sweet it is made of sweetened condensed milk, coconut and butter and I cooked it with the help of my friend Ana. Thus, we went to Vilas Park Shelter, where the picnic took place and we tried lots of diffenrent foods that there were there. After eating, we played a lot, took photos and had a lot of fun. This, definately, was a memorable day.

Great picnic in the beautiful lake

Yesterday was one of the most funny days since I came to Madison. I joined a picnic called "potluck?" with my wife, Kiku.

I enjoyed many different cuisines from all over the world, Brazil, Saudi, China, Germany and so on. This was the first experience for me. For example, I enjoyed Mate (or Chimarrão?) and Brazilian BBQ. I've drunk mate many times in Japan, but I've never tried it by using traditional calabash gourd and metal straw until yesterday ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mate_(beverage) ). It was very interesting and tasted good! 


I was also very happy to see that my Sushi rolls were sold out. There are many delicious Japanese food other than Sushi, so I hope my classmates will like it in the future. Now I am motivated to know different culture in other countries. So, I would like to talk with my classmates more and to exchange information about each country.

Picnic

I enjoyed seeing everyone at the picnic. The weather was wonderful and everyone was enjoying the fun games.

Disappointing World cup match - Ryo

Today, I went to Memorial union to watch Japan's world cup match against Columbia. I enjoyed the match drinking Madison's local beer. The result of the first half was 1-1. Then, I had still hope that Japan would go to the next tournament. In fact, there was a possibility of that. But, Columbia scored 3 goals in the second half and finally Columbia crashed Japan by 4-1. It was so terrible that I want to forget it quickly. So, now I am doing some homework.

Anyway, new life in Madison is very good. I have learned a lot of things from ESL teachers, many nice classmates every day!

Living a Dream


Being in Madison has been a very fun experience. I have met people from all over the world and made a lot of friends, too. Madison is a really beautiful place, and offers me a really nice environment to study and live. Many people ask me  if I miss being in Brazil since there is taking place the World Cup. Guess what..  The answer is very short: NO! I'm gaining so much here that I couldn't be happier (despite lots of home work!).
So far everything is just awesome!!

Davi Linhares dos Santos Silva

Life in Madison - Lorrayne Cardoso Guimaraes

Life in Madison

Living in Madison is an extraordinary experience. You are able to see modern buildings and trees at same scenery, and I think that it is really amazing. If you want to relax, just go to Terrace, enjoy the sunset, and eat a delicious ice cream that you can find there. Enjoy also eating in the restaurants at State Street. Make sure not to miss these things!

Free Writing - Jhonatt Lima dos Santos

Today in our Museum class we went to the Capitol, a huge building that saves some of the Madison history. Later me and some of my friends become lost in the central of the city until Ana Reale asked  for information to a strange that was in the street. When i reached at home, I started to do the homeworks and didn't finished it until now.

First Week in Madison - Márcia Meireles

First Week in Madison

I could never have imagined such a better first week in Madison, with lot of adventures that resulted in very good stories. First, the tornado alert which scared me a lot in my first night in this city, specially because I have never been through this situation before. Fortunalety, the tornado did not reach us. After, in my first day of class and second day in Madison, a strong rain caught us in the way to school. I arrived completely wet and I had to dry my clothes in the restroom. Athough being a very embarrassing situation, it became funny afterwards. The following days were easier. No tornados, no storms. I knew I would live a different life in US, a new experience, but I did not imagine that kind of experience in the first week here.