International Students Inc.
Santa Cruz

Take Me To
Home

International Curious Friends Bible study

updated 9/3/04

7/17, Driscoll's Strawberry industry tour, world's largest distributo of fresh strawberries, pick 'em, pack 'em, cool 'em & ship 'em out as fast as possible -- a cool experience! Followed by lunch at the Johnson home, overlooking the beautiful and agriculturally rich Pajaro Valley 

6/11 . Graduation/farewell Beach Bonfire party  Campfire singing, roast hot dogs & traditional S'mores (marshmallow/chocolate/graham cracker sandwich) personal story sharing, around the roaring flames at 7th Ave. Beach

5/21-25 Yosemite retreat w/ISI San Francisco Bay Area  region

4/24 Hike Wilder ranch 

4/22 Univ. Religious Council's Earth Day @ College 9/10 

4/21 lecture: "Biochemical Challenge to Darwinism" Prof. Michael  Behe, Merrill Cultural Center 7:30 p.m., Behe is Professor at Lehigh University a father of Intelligent Design movement, and author of  book “Darwin’s Black Box”

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UCSC's International Circle monthly friendship and cultural sharing , 3d Thursday each month, UCSC Women's Center, noon - 2 p.m.Contact Peggy Pollard or Astrid Randall soqili@aol.com

May Firelight Foundation guest speaker "Organizations helping African children affected by AIDS"

April, Japanese flower arranging, by Mayumi Johnson

March, Hindu Odissi dance demonstration by Shalini

Feb. Coins from around the world

Oct. Sushi making by Mia Kang, Jiaodz making by Rui Li

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4/10 Easter Egg decorating and hunt, Pollard home

3/19-21  ISI regional SNOW TRIP Sonora / Dodge Ridge / Yosemite, due to melting snow contiditions only one brave student skied, everyone else took in the wonders of Yosemit for a few hours, while on a photo treasure hunt. Gracious host families housed & fed some 60 international students from SC, Bay Area and Monterey.

 3/6 Monterey Bay Aquarium. a dancing octopus greeted us, and many other colorful sea creatures, playful otters, shark feeding demo, big & little fish all in a world innovative giant tank. 

12/5 Christmas Finals-Survival Party, speed-chopstick contest, singing, Christmas story and lots of great food!

10/15 Welcome Picnic, Manson Property. Lots of food, friendshp,  badminton,trampoline, etc.

August ISI Regional Waterski/Yosemite weekend

July  Rockridge Quarry picnic

June Beach Bonfire party roast hotdogs etc.

May Mt. Hermon progressive lunch, walking between 3 homes  in the redwood trees..

  International Curious Friends - Bible discussion   Past Topics:  

50 reasons why Christ died (May-June)

The Passion of the Christ movie (April)

"The Hope" DVD overview of the Bible Jan-March 2004

11/16/02  "Why I am a Christian" in Mandarin / English.  Three guest speakers from Mainland China/ Fifth Home of Christ Church, Cupertino;    10 /25 "Is Evolution against Creation?"    9/27 "Introduction to the Bible;"   9/13 "Why I am a Christian" by Lichun Bao PhD Computer Science UCSC.

  Jan 10-12, Snow Trip to Dodge Ridge with Bay Area ISI groups. Students hosted in homes by Twain Harte church families. Ski / snowboard the frozen mountain. Special presentation by former NASA nuclear engineer, Elzie Gerrels, and visit Twain Harte church program.

Dec. 6, End-of-Finals / Christmas Party, lots of delicious food, sing carols, performances by guests 

  Oct. 12, Welcome Picnic, 12 noon to 4 p.m., 656  High Street, Manson property  Food, volleyball, croquet under the trees. 

Oct. 6,  American flag Football lesson  America's favorite Fall sport!  Awesome plays,  Winning touchdowns caught by Xiaoying and Luke Pollard.  A joint activity with UCSC's Family Student Housing.

  July 17, Oakland A's Baseball . Lesson in American idioms and culture! "Huddle on the mound. Can't get to first base.  Three strikes you're out.."

May 11, Potluck Dinner & Country Square Dancing
   We  tucked in some delicious dinner calories, but we burned them off while Terry and Sally Warner led us in a yee-haw, swing-yur-pardner, do-se-do  lesson of traditional Country Square dancing  at the Gym at First Presbyterian Church. Three perfect squares of 8 people and only a few went the wrong way on the Right and Left Grand around the ring! Yipee-iy-ay!

May 4, San Francisco Day,   , driving and walking tour of Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's wharf, Cable cars, etc.

 April 13, Big Basin Hike A  3.4 mile hike through redwood forest to see the  Sempervirens waterfall in California's oldest official State Park. 

 March 30, Easter Egg Hunt  lots of eggs, dyed lots of colors, children hunting in the grass for eggs and candy. An Easter tradition.

 March 25, Surfing Lesson  taught by world famous surfer, Richard Schmidt, 4 ISI surfers went for it, all stood up for 1 second or longer, in the chilly waves at Cowell's Cove!

 Feb. 11 ISI visits the first ever UCSC Chinese New Year Party !   UCSC's Chinese Student Association graciously invited our ISI group to join their cultural celebration on UC campus. A historical event with games, music, dancing, and some (mis-) pronunciation of many Mandarin New Year's greetings.

  Jan 19, Pogonip Hike A 4-mile hike through beautiful redwood forest next to UCSC campus.

  December 7, Christmas Party grabbing hats, lots of food, singing Christmas music, 40 internationals, 40 Americans, what could be more fun?

Oct. 7, Fireworks at the Beach  the City of Santa Cruz treated us to a dazzling Fireworks display, (it was the city's Birthday) with plenty of room on the sand by the wharf for our viewing pleasure.
Oct. 13, Welcome PicnicGet to know each other with lots of food, volleyball, croquet, on the beautiful Manson property overlooking the Monterey Bay.

Ó ISI Santa Cruz