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Many thanks to our teachers and leaders, members of the Bechtel I-Center's international and local community who volunteer their time and skills to make these programs possible.
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updated 4/10/13

Classes & Programs for Spouses & Partners
Spring 2013

Friday Morning Coffee

This informal gathering is an ideal way to meet other spouses and learn about the many options for enriching your stay in the Stanford area. Conversation tables offer an informal way to meet others, practice English and share experiences. Join us every Friday, between 10 a.m. and noon! Also join Chula during the Friday Coffee for Songs for Children, around 11:00 am in the Back Lounge! We each bring a snack or fruit or juice to go with the coffee and tea provided by the I-Center. Volunteers are always needed to help set -up (at 9:45 a.m.) and put away afterward! Everyone (with and without children, new and returning) is equally welcome. First Friday Morning Coffee of the quarter is April 5. Welcome!

Spouse Workshops, Groups & Events

 

  • Art Expeditions: With Britta Janssen and Renia Polychronopoulou. Every four to six weeks. Join us in exploring various exhibitions in San Francisco Bay Area and discussing them during a nice meal after each visit. Dates and more information will be announced in the newsletter. We meet at the Caltrain station in Palo Alto (northbound track) & take the train together. The Caltrain day-ticket costs $14. Admission to the museum depends on location. RSVP required 2 days prior to each tour (brittajanssen@gmail.com)
  • Basic Nutrition in the 21st Century: With Vida Revilla. Friday, April 26 at 10:30-11:00am. This is a workshop for all age groups, possible video showing, send questions before hand, to Vida: eatright546@gmail.com
  • Book Club: With Isabel Jost. Wednesday, monthly, 7:30 to 9:00pm. starts April 10. Everyone is welcome to join the group, help select books and share opinions on the readings. Join us for the book club with wine and cheese!!! Everyone brings his/her own snack. Next meet-up announced in the newsletter. Free
  • Game Night: With Kathrin Brunner. Every other Wednesday at 6:30-9:00pm, starts April 10. Do you have fun playing board games, card games or any games you know? Then let's get together and play! There are several games to choose from such as Dominion, Set, Wizard, Tabu and some more. Everyone is welcome to bring their favorite games so we can all learn about games played in different countries. Free.
  • GetINside-Lecture Series: With Carolin Holzhauser. Weekly, Wednesdays 12:00-1:00pm starts April 17. GetINside a foreign Country's Culture, Traditions and Tourist Hotspots.
    Spouses at Stanford University tell us something about their home country, favorite meals, fashion, traditions, culture, tourism centers or pop-culture. Everybody, including moms with kids, is welcome! This is a very informal get-together to meet new people and share experiences! Free snacks and drinks will be provided.
    • April 17: ARGENTINA by Marianna.
    • April 24: POLAND by Ela and TAIWAN by Emily.
    • May 1: SOUTH KOREAN POPCULTURE by Hoon.
    • May 8: AUSTRIA by Stefanie.
    • May 15: GERMANY by Carolin and BAVARIA by Kathrin.
    • May 22: CHINA by Mark and CHINESE ART HISTORY by Marcella.
    • May 29: DENMARK by Sanne. Free.
  • Guys Night Out: With Ulrich Ritter. Join other male spouses for a beer to meet others and share ideas about possible future activities. Contact Ulrich at ulrich.j.ritter@googlemail.com for more details and the next date.
  • Hiking Group. With Heather & Helena. Mondays, Bi-weekly at 10am Dates: April 1, 15, 29, May 6, 20, June 3. Location: Meet in the parking lot in front of the Cine Arts Theater in Palo Alto Square, 3000 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94306. Join us for our bi-weekly hike to explore the spectacular nature of the bay area. Typical hike length is 2-5 hours (3-8 miles) & ranges from easy to moderate. Please note good physical fitness & sturdy shoes are highly recommended. Also suggested are: snacks/lunch, water, sunscreen & sunglasses, a raincoat, hat, camera, & binoculars if available. For more information and to join the hiking email list please contact Heather & Helena (international.hiking@gmail.com). RSVP required 2 days prior to each hike. Fee: Gas contribution & occasional parking fee contribution required depending on park location. Hike and Transportation is each person’s own responsibility. For more information see the Bulletin Board at the I-Center.
  • HomeVeda: With Shilpy Upadhyay. Wednesday May 15 at 3:00-5:00pm. Based on the ancient Indian science of Ayurveda, a system of holistic medicine, drawing upon knowledge passed down over the millennia, presented in an easy-to-follow format which can be used to make these remedies at home. Bring a notebook and a pen. Max 10 participants. Free.
  • Indian Bollywood/Folk Dance: With Krishna Hariani. Weekly, Fridays 2:00-3:30pm starts April 5. Come dance your way to fitness – and learn some traditional Indian folk dances in the process! Free.
  • Intercultural Workshop for Better Understanding. Cornelia Sahamie. Weekly, Tuesdays 2:00-3:30pm, starts April 2. This quarter, we'll continue with our journey through the different cultures by exchanging our values, attitudes & everyday culture in a discussion group. Last quarter we started talking about the different understanding of gestures, greeting habits & typical conversation topics. As a group we decide each week what kind of topics we want to explore. This workshop aims to gain a deeper understanding of different cultures, to find similarities as well as differences to better know how to communicate with each other in our very international setting at the Bechtel International. Free.
  • Life Changes and Transitions: With Anna Fernandez. Wednesday May 15 at 5:30-7:30pm. A chance to hear how others have successfully made the changes to living at Stanford (career adjustments, cultural differences, new community & more). Those who are moving out from Stanford are more than welcome to join. Come with your questions and your hopes. Free.
  • Lectures on Art History: With Saskia Jogler. Biweekly, Wednesdays, 1:00pm-2:00pm. Starts April 17. Visual art provides an extraordinary and exciting source of information about past cultures and their relation to the world. This lecture series focuses on European art history from the Baroque to the modern period. Each lecture deals with a specific artwork to explain technique, style, meaning and functions. Topics are, for example, Velázquez´s court portraits or Goya´s aquatint cycle ‘Los Caprichos’. In some cases, there are related artworks on campus (for example, a collection of etchings by Goya in the Cantor Arts Center), which we can examine afterwards together. Free.
  • Lectures on Hinduism: With Krishna Hariani. Mondays April 8 and 15, at 4:00-5:00pm. An introduction to the Hindu religion, some of the major Hindu Gods and Goddesses, and some interesting Hindu legends and mythological stories. Free.
  • Night at the Movies: With Julia Görnandt . Every four to six weeks we are going to the movies! Join us to see the latest movies or documentaries at one of the movie theaters around Stanford. For more information and to join the Night at the Movies email list please contact Julia bechtelmoviesnight@gmail.com
  • Summer and Fall Quarter Planning Meeting: With Karin Baage. Wednesday, May 22 at 1:00-2:30pm. Would you like to teach a class at the I-Center in the summer or in the fall? Maybe you would like to teach a language? Or a cooking class? Maybe you have a hobby you would like to share? If so, please come to our Planning Meeting. We will brainstorm your ideas and together plan the coming quarters of 2013. Cookies and coffe/tea will be served. Free

  • Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga with Babies: With Yuko Ikeda. Weekly, Thursdays, ongoing at 12:00-1:00pm. This is a prenatal and postnatal Yoga class for moms with babies! Please wear comfortable clothing that is suitable for stretching and ease of movement. Also bring some baby toys and an organic blanket. Please don’t eat anything heavy 3 hours before the class. A light snack is ok. Bring your yoga mat! Free.

    Yoga for All-Vinyasa Flow Yoga: With Yuko Ikeda , Weekly Thursdays, ongoing, 10:15 – 11:45 a.m. This Yoga class is from level 1 to level 2. Vinyasa flow moves steadily from pose to pose in sequences of movements synchronized with ujjyayi pranayama, often pausing to hold poses for various lengths of time while maintaining the rhythmic flow of the breath. Please wear comfortable clothing that is suitable for stretching and ease of movement. Please don’t eat anything heavy 3 hours before the class. A light snack is ok. Bring your yoga mat and a bottle of water! Free.

  • Yoga for Calming Your Mind: With Thi Van Anh Thach. Weekly, Tuesdays 5:00-6:30pm, starts April 2. This class is designed to increase mental clarity, concentration & to help you to feel revitalized, relaxed & calm so you can fully enjoy your everyday work & life. You will practice yoga postures that work directly on both the outer level (muscles, joints, breath, organs, bodily systems, etc.) and the inner level (energy, mind, emotions, etc). You will be also learning different breathing techniques, positive affirmations, & the Energization Exercises created by the Indian yogi and guru Paramahansa Yogananda. Class will end with a short, guided meditation to bring you to a greater overall well-being on all levels: physical, mental, & spiritual. All yoga levels are welcome. Please bring your yoga mat with you and wear comfortable clothing. Free.

  • Woman’s Night Out. With Sally & Suzanne. Every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at 8 pm starts on April 2. The Woman´s Night Out is an informal get-together for women and a wonderful way to exchange experiences with other international spouses at Stanford. For more information, especially about the changing locations, & to join the Woman´s Night Out email list please contact Sally and Suzanne at spousesprogram@gmail.com.

  • ZUMBA: With Katie Detwiler. Weekly, Thursdays, 5:30 to 6:30pm, starts April 11. Are you ready to party yourself into shape? That’s exactly what the Zumba program is all about. It’s an exhilarating, effective, easy-to-follow, Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness-party™ that’s moving millions of people toward joy and health. Free.

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Classes & Activities -

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Language Classes

Informal English Classes

Chinese for Beginners: With Mengya Jiang. Weekly, Thursdays, 10:30am-12:00pm, starts April 4. Want to say hello and goodbye to your Chinese friends? Want to visit China someday, but don’t know where to go? How to order food in a Chinese restaurant? How to make a bargain and get great offers in a Chinese store or market? Learn some basic Chinese phrases and ask whatever you want to know about the language and the country in the class. Fee: a small material fee may be collected.

Basic German III . With Ray Deutsch.Weekly, Mondays, 3:00pm - 4:00pm starts April 8. Fee $3.00 This is a continuation of German II that was held in the Winter quarter.

German Conversational Class. With Cornelia Sahamie. Weekly, Thursdays 3:00–4:30pm, starts April 4. This class is for students on an intermediate or advanced level. The aim of this class is to improve your conversational skills by expressing yourself clearly. The class focuses on spoken German, but short texts from newspapers, scenes from German movies or TV-shows may be used as a basis for the conversation. Free.

Conversational Hindi: With Krishna Hariani. Weekly, Mondays 1:00-2:30pm, starts April 1. Learn simple, conversational Hindi, which you can use on travels to India, or just to surprise your friends! Maximum 10 participants. Free.

Beginning Japanese: With Yumi Kobayashi. Every Monday from 1:30-2:30pm & Thursday from 1:00 to 2:00pm, starts April 4. This class is open for beginners. You will learn oral practice of basic structures, vocabulary and grammar essential to basic communicative situations. No prerequisite. Fee: $5. To ask questions or know the syllabus, contact the instructor in advance: icanteachjapanese-beginning@yahoo.co.jp

Beginner Spanish for Your Holidays: With Ane Arruabarrena. Weekly, Wednesdays 5:00-6:00pm. Starts April 3. Are you planning to visit Spain? Is it a dream for you to discover our wonderful country? But you don’t speak any Spanish? I will give you all the tips that you need to make the best of your trip. By the end of the course, you will have the skills to communicate properly in hotels, restaurants, bars, public transport and in many other situations. We will also watch Spanish movies, and listen to traditional and modern songs from Spain. Fee $3.00

Spanish Language & Culture II: With Anna Nadal Burgues. Weekly, Tuesdays, 12:30-1:30pm, starts April 2. This class is for those who speak a little bit of Spanish. Each class will focus on some vocabulary/verbs. We will also listen to some easy songs or poems to work on vocabulary. Free.

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Cooking Classes:

Please note: For most cooking classes there is a fee. To register and pay for a cooking class, please email the teacher for that cooking class. Ask them about refunds, recipes and other issues concerning your attendance.

    • Advanced Cuisine: With Lise Miege. Fridays, 12:15-2:45pm, starts May 10. Do you want to experience bold associations & challenging recipes? This class is for you! Bring a box to take home any leftovers! Fee: $10.00 per class. Max. 6 students per class. To attend, sign up and pay fee in advance please contact AFTER May 1, Lise: lisemiege@gmail.com
    • Advanced Persian Cooking: With Cornelia Sahamie. Wednesday, April 24 from 2:00–6:30pm. This one-time workshop aims to give you an insight into authentic Persian food. We're going to cook khoresh-e kadu halva-o alu (stew with butternut squash and prune). As sides, we're going to make borani (yoghurt) variations and rice. Fee: $10.00. Max. 4 students per class. To attend, sign up and pay fee please contact teacher: cornelia.sahamie@gmail.com
    • Simple Persian cooking: With Cornelia Sahamie. Wednesday, April 17 from 3:00-6:30pm. This one-time workshop aims to give you an insight into simple authentic Persian food. We're going to cook two vegetarian kuku variations, one with green beans and the other one with yoghurt. As sides, we're going to make borani (yoghurt) variations and rice. Fee: $10.00. Max. 4 students per class. To attend, sign up and pay fee please contact teacher: cornelia.sahamie@gmail.com
    • American Barbecue. With Robert Paugh. Thursday May 16, Monday May 20, Thursday May 30 and Thursday June 6 from 11:00am-2:00pm We will cook American BBQ recipes & will prepare BBQ Chicken, BBQ Steak, BBQ vegetables (onions, zucchini, mushrooms), BBQ side dishes (Hawaiian Luau Beans with Pineapple, and Salads) & Desserts for BBQ dinners. Bring storage containers to use when taking food home from class. Fee: $10.00 per class or $36.00 for all four classes. Max. 6 students per class. To attend, sign up and pay fee, contact Robert AFTER April 8. PLEASE NOTE: THIS CLASS TAKES PLACE AT ROBERT’S HOUSE. For directions please contact Robert: rlpaugh@gmail.com
    • Bavarian Baking: With Kathrin Brunner. Thursday, April 25 and May 2 from 1:00-3:00pm. Join Kathrin and learn how to bake Apple Strudel with vanilla sauce and Prinzregententorte (a cake). Fee: $5. Max. 6 students per class. To attend, sign up and pay fee in advance the teacher: kathrin@mosthigh.de
    • California Cuisine: With Shelagh Auld. Wednesday, April 17 from 12:00-2:30pm. Join Shelagh and learn how to make a Californian menu with cobb salad, roasted garlic, red grape and gorgonzola flatbread and smoothies. Fee: $10. Max. 6 students per class. To attend, sign up and pay fee in advance email teacher: shelaghauld@gmail.com.
    • Healthy veggie cooking class: With Gabrielle. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, April 10, 16, 24 & 30 from 11:30am-1:30pm. I am offering a package of 2 healthy cooking class twice this semester. First package: April 10 and 16. Second package April 24 and 30. It can sometimes be challenging to monitor what you are eating, making sure to buy good ingredients, not having too many calories, fats, carbs or having enough iron, calcium, vitamin etc. This can often create stress and result in the opposite desired effect. My classes are tailored to help you add new, healthy and simple choices to your lifestyle. The first class will focus on the benefit of eating healthy. In this class I will present different super foods to integrate into your daily diet with simple recipes. The second class will be 4 easy healthy recipes to integrate into your daily life. When you register for my cooking class, you register for both classes. If there is a lot of demand, I may add some additional vegetarian healthy cooking classes to complement my 2 first classes. Fee: 20$ for the package of 2 classes. Max. 6 students per class. To attend, sign up and pay fee, contact teacher: healthy.cooking.gaby@gmail.com.
    • Ice-Cream Making Demonstration: With Vida Revilla. Friday, April 19 from 11:00-11:45am. Come and see cold refreshing desserts, like ice-cream and frozen fruit yogurt be made in just 30 minutes. Fee: Free.
    • Indian Cooking Class: With Lily Verma. Mondays, April 8, 15, 22 and 29 from 10:30am–12:30pm. Please come and learn to cook authentic Indian Cuisine! In each class learn to cook a starter (veg & non-veg), a main course and a side dish. Please bring your own apron and box. Fee: One class $8 and $30 for all four classes. Max. 6 students per class. To attend, sign up and pay fee in advance please email the teacher: lily.sinha@yahoo.co.in
    • Indian Cuisine Workshop: With Shilpy Upadhyay. Thursday May 30 from 11:00am-1:00pm. In just one day, you can learn how to cook: Aloo Tikki chat, Mango Lassi, Chole (spicy garbanzo beans) and Pullao (Aromatic rice). This class will include demonstration & sampling. Bring apron and leftover containers. Maximum 6 participants per class. Fee: $10 per person per class. To attend sign up and pay fee in advance (at least 10 days before class date) email teacher: shilpy.upadhyay@gmail.com
    • Japanese Cooking Class: With Mai Katagiri. Monday, April 22 from 3:30-5:30pm. Are you a big fan of Japanese food? I will introduce you to the world of Japanese cuisine. Please bring food containers to bring home leftovers. Max. 6 students per class. Fee: $10. To attend, sign up and pay fee please contact teacher: hasemai1211@gmail.com
    • Taiwanese Cuisine: With Emily Chen. Thursdays, April 11 and 18, from 2:00-6:00pm. In this class, some famous Taiwanese night-market food and traditional Taiwanese cuisine will be introduced. We will make boba tea, rice with marinated ground pork, four-spirits soup, and more. Bring a food container. Fee: $10:00. Max. 6 students per class. To attend sign up and pay fee contact teacher: itchenc@gmail.com
    • Solar Cooking Demonstration: With Vida Revilla. Friday, May 24 from 11:00–12:00. Sunshine with its many roles can transform edibles into a delicious meal. With the use of a solar oven, we will demonstrate simple sun-cooked dishes like soup and snacks. Fee: Free.

Arts, Crafts & Photography:

Check board for details about materials you’ll need to bring to class.

Drawing Studio: With Lea-Ann Sakmann. Weekly, Wednesdays from 4:00–5:00pm, starts April 17. Each week we will do different exercises to improve your drawing skills for your individual creative projects. We’ll also experiment with different drawing media and surfaces. All levels are welcome, beginners to advanced. For the first lesson, please bring paper (or a sketchpad), drawing pencils, and an eraser. Free.

Fundamentals of Photography: With Shilpy Upadhyay. Tuesday, May 28 at 3:00-5:00pm. Decipher the buttons, dials and icons on your camera. Learn the rule of thirds, depth of field, exposure compensation and contrast range. 30 min. practice at Stanford campus. Max 6 participants. Free.

 

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Especially for Moms

  • English Discussion Group for Moms With Babies: With Henry Lum. Weekly, Fridays, 9.30 to 11.00am, April 5 - May 17 Practice conversational English in an interactive environment by reading and discussing articles of interest, cartoons and idioms. Free.
  • Effective Presentation Skills for Moms with Babies: With Henry Lum. Weekly, Mondays 9:30-11:30 April 1 – May 13 Acquire and/or enhance presentation skills by participating in the organization and leadership of team presentations; making presentations on unannounced subjects; and, providing feedback to other members of the group that will enhance their presentation skills. Some presentations may be video taped for discussion. Max 7 participants. Free.

 

Especially for Children

  • Fun for Kids (and Parents). With María Soledad Gómez Manchón. Fun for Kids is an outing-series for parents with kids. We will have the outings one Tuesday each month at 10:00 am. Each family provides its own transportation, or you can arrange to carpool or get a ride with others. Please see the bulletin board or the spouse program newsletter for more details or contact bechtel4kids@gmail.com for more information.
  • Baby and Toddler Group. With Cris and Hanne. Meets Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. to noon in the I-Center patio or Assembly room if it rains. Contact Hanne (bechtel4kids@gmail.com) with questions. All are welcome at this informal playgroup!

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Career, Education & Information

  • rainbow head The Resource Center for International Families provides information about getting settled in the Stanford area and building your life here. Spouse volunteers are available to speak with you in many languages about continuing your education, volunteering, employment, recreation, & travel. Hours are posted in the lobby and on the website.
  • Professional Liaison for International Spouses. Meet a local person with similar career interests. This program is for spouses who are not eligible for employment. Application forms are in the I-Center lobby.
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Contact information

For more information and updates, contact Karin Baage, kbaage@stanford.edu

For advice, send email to stanfordfamilies@gmail.com

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