International Conversation Cafe

Last fall when I was in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, I overheard some museum guards in the café. The book title, The History of the World in 100 Objects came up. Someone in that group recommended the book to the others. I knew then and there I should look that book up.

It turns out that the objects in the book came from the British Museum and arranged in time periods beginning with 2,000,000 BC until AD 2010. As I read it, I was stuck by how much I was unfamiliar with. The objects came from all over the world.

Why am I writing about this on a website that promotes conversation with people unlike Americans? Precisely, because wherever your friend is from, there is likely to be an object in this book that they may know something about. It is the beginning of a great conversation.

Some of the objects I found were maps, drums, instruments, furniture, tea sets, coins, paper money, writings on stone. I wonder what are some objects that have changed your life? How about your parents’ lives or even your grandparents? What stories do the objects tell? 

By the way, the author of this book is Neil MacGregor. Your library most likely can get a copy  for you.  

Happy reading, happy conversations, and happy learning.

Jane

We are now a month and a half into the new year. What have you been reading lately?

Every year I keep track of the books I read on a spreadsheet complete with the title, author, and a brief comment. At the end of the year, it gives me such satisfaction to look over the list. So far, I have read five books in 2024.

What will you read this year? How will you decide what book to invest time in? I pay attention to books recommended by others. Once, a student from Nigeria told me that The Idiot by Dostoevsky was one of the most influential books he ever read. That’s a compelling recommendation I thought, so I read it which led me to other profound books by the same author.

Why read? Besides the sheer pleasure of stories or gaining information and insight about whatever you happen to be interested in, the breadth of knowledge you gain helps you become more empathetic and connect with others. When we connect with others with what they are interested in, then our lives become richer and deeper.

I wish you a happy new year as you explore new worlds and people through books.

Jane

It is December already. The shadows are coming earlier. The nighttime temperatures have dropped. We have had a little snow. Browns, dull yellows, and gold dominate the landscape. Christmas lights are up bringing cheer on especially drab days.

Now is the time we look back at the conversations we have enjoyed at the Conversation Café fall 2023 semester.  One of my favorite topics had to do with our international friends’ perception of we Americans. Here are three of their observations.

1. Americans do not tell you when they don’t know an answer to a question. They say, “That’s a good question.”
2. Americans don’t give internationals time to process and answer. They have moved on before an international has had time to compose their answer and ask it.
3. Americans do not follow up in friendship. They may start with friendliness but then the attachment stops.

Ouch! And yet, their feedback is so helpful.  Perhaps we can use the coming start to a new year to transition to more insightful and kind behavior as we welcome internationals among us. 

Everyone learning another language needs practice to perfect their skills.  What better way to help your international friends than offering a English conversation discussion?  But what to discuss and how to prepare is a problem.

The discussion guides offer a quick solution.  Pick a topic you or your friend would like to discuss.  Each topic will print up on one paper, double sided.  You will find basic vocabulary and concepts to discuss that will further their skills in reading, listening, and speaking.  You will also find that you will learn about your friends’ countries, families, and values.

Begin a journey with your friends.

May God be your guide,

Jane Fox

Everything is ready to go. You have sitting around you people from a variety of cultural backgrounds. The topic and questions lie before you. Take a deep breath.

How will you give everyone equal opportunity to speak?
How will you keep the very talkative opinionated person from taking over?
How will you encourage the quiet person to contribute?
How will you give people the freedom to not contribute comfortably?
How will you manage your own impulses to speak when the group may need a moment of silence?

Enter Mutual Invitation

Mutual Invitation is a way of facilitating discussions that takes care of each of the previous questions. Here is how it works. The facilitator asks one of the group to read an opening paragraph from the discussion guide. After that person reads, they will invite someone else to continue the reading or answer the first question. The invited person will answer or say pass. When they are done, they will invite someone else in the group to take the next question or read the next paragraph.

The facilitator may need to remind the person speaking to invite the next person. They also need to be aware of someone in the group that has not been called on.

It is that simple. But it is genius. For the woman, the less dominant culture, for the new person in the group, every one is welcome and given a voice.

The credit for this method goes to Rev. Dr. Eric Law who wrote about the method in his book, The Wolf Shall Dwell With the Lamb, 113. Here at Bridges International, at Kansas State University, student leaders have easily picked up this system. It is easy to teach and easy to use. I have fewer worries about including everyone and keeping someone from taking over the conversation. I highly recommend this method. It works very well with the discussion guides on this website.

Have a rejuvenating summer,

Jane Fox

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Have you ever sung, The Twelve Days of Christmas? Most of us have no clue what the twelve days refer to. Do people celebrate Christmas for twelve days?

It turns out that the Christian church assumed that it took the wise men of the east twelve days to locate the baby Jesus after first speaking to King Herod in Jerusalem. According to the gospel of Matthew, chapter 2, the wise men were following a star that led them to the location where Jesus was, along with Mary and Joseph. There, in Bethlehem they presented their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Therefore some Christian traditions give gifts on the 6^th instead of December 25.

The name for this day is epiphany, a day when Jesus Christ was revealed to the non-Jewish people of the world (as represented by the eastern magi. Some Christian traditions also include the baptism of Jesus and his first miracle on this day).

Today, we might use the word epiphany in a loose sense, like a realization or understanding. Surely we need both at the start of a new year. We need a realization of who Jesus Christ is as a Savior and King. We also need help in understanding things that mystify us and the faith to accept the things we cannot understand.

As we enter a new year, I hope that God’s light through Jesus Christ will guide me through the difficulties I will encounter and give me hope in what I do not understand.  I wish the same for  you.

Happy New Year,

Jane

P.S. There is a lot of artwork from around the world that represents the eastern kings coming to Jesus. I hope you enjoy my two selections. Though depicted in different styles at different times, the intensity of the kings and the light coming from Jesus reflect the wonder of this day

Continue reading “Happy New Year, 2023” →

Who would expect to find crocuses blooming after two hard frosts in October in Kansas? Not I, but there they were as a rode my bike down the hill and into my driveway. Their beauty took my breath away.

But if we look we find a lot of unexpected pleasure all around us. I meet international students who push through difficulties of mental health, demanding academics, family problems, and home country upheavals, in order to achieve the goals they set for themselves. Their courage takes my breath away. I am honored to be a small part of their story. And I thank God for them.

How about you? Where do you come face to face with unexpected pleasure?

Happy Autumn,

Jane