Lunar New Year Party

 

Around 40 students and host family members attended our LunarNew Year party at Jim and Mary Powers.  Here some of the guestsmake a toast with non-alcoholic Champaign.

 

 

Urich, a German student in last year's program was back for a visit with his host family and they joined us at the party.  Here he is with Jim and Mary.  We think he's even taller than he was last year.

Grants Mid-Year Meeting

Exchange students who are on government scholarships are required to attend a number of enhancement activities during the program year including a mid-year meeting with other scholarship students in the area.  This year we have two students who are on Congress-Bundestag scholarships, a program funded jointly by the U.S. and German governments and Jim took these students, Shara and Luisa, to Nashville to attend there mid-year meeting on February 8.  In addition to a discussion about their experiences so far, they toured the State Capitol and Legislative Plaza and visited the State Museum and the Military Branch Museum.  Students from Nashville, Chattanooga and Knoxville attended the meeting

 

Students discuss their experiences so far in a legislative committee room 

Scholarship student from Ghana operates state seal press 



Gatlinburg Weekend

In January, we traveled to Gatlinburg to join the Chattanoogacluster in a fun filled weekend in the mountians.  We skied,skated, and visted the Aquarium of the Smokies and the Ripley'sMuseum.  There was also time to enjoy the indoor/outdoor heated

pool at our hotel.

 

Min Joeng (left), Karine (4th from left) and Hyesun (2nd from right) join students form other areas

Government Activity

From left to right: Mark Russell, Huntsville City Council President, Hyesun from South Korea, Luisa from Germany, Min Jeong from South Korea, Karine from Norway, Shara from Germany and Tommy Battle, Mayor of  the City of Huntsville in rthe Huntsville City Council chambers.

 

On January 10, 5 CIEE students, two host moms, one host brother and Jim and Mary Powers participated in an activity to learn about federal and municipal government in the United States.  First we had a round table discussion with members of United States Congressman Mo Brooks staff in his Huntsville office.  Next we met with Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle in his office.  And finally, we atended a Huntsville City Council meeting in which each of the students was recognized and received an official City of Huntsville certificate from the City Council office.