Super Bowl 2014

Sunday, February 2nd, 2014, MESLS students, like thousands of Americans, will be enjoying America's biggest sports event of the year: the Super Bowl!  Stay tuned for their reactions.

Congratulations!

Today a MESLS student was accepted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison for a graduate degree program starting next fall.

Congratulations from everyone at MESLS!!

International Cooking and Dinner

January 25, 2014, MESLS students joined Christ Presbyterian Church and the Madison community for an afternoon of international cooking.  See photos of the event here!

(Beautiful collage by MESLS' current student Alice)

Hockey Game

Friday, January 24, 2014, MESLS students went to the Kohl Center to see UW Madison take on Ohio State (college hockey game).

You can see some photos on MESLS' Instagram account!  Click here!

Sledding

Monday, January 20th, 2014, MESLS students spent their day off sledding at a local park in Madison! This is an activity they will be talking about for weeks to come. Many students are eager to go sledding again soon!

Free Classes!

Friday, January 17th was the first day of Lauren's free class series this session!  She is offering free classes on Tuesdays and Fridays through the end of February.

Winter in Madison

Madison is beautiful in the winter. Enjoy some images, courtesy of Remi Patriat.

Ice Skating

Sunday, January 12th, international students in Madison went ice skating at the Shell. What a great way to spend a winter afternoon.

Check back for photos!

Essay

What do you wish you had known before coming to MESLS?  That's the question we asked our 301 (advanced) students.  Here's one response:

I Wish I Had Known Someone in the U.S.A

 When I decided to come to the U.S, I felt concerned. I was asking myself, “What will I

face in my new life in the U.S?” Additionally, I had imagined that the U.S is just for someone

who wants to work, and it is hard to live with this community. In fact, I wish that I had known

someone to tell me about the U.S. While I was in my country, I spent a lot of time when thinking

about the U.S. For example, will I find my native food, or what about shopping, and how I can

be one of this community.

Whenever I started to pack my luggage, I was so anxious. First, I did not know if I should

have picked some of my native food or not, just in case I did not want to eat outside, or I missed

my mother’s food. Second, I took many things in my luggage, such as scarves and some long

clothes, because as a Muslim woman, I have to cover my hair and wear long clothes. In other

words, I had no idea if I would find them or not. However, the most things which I had been

thinking are about people. Rather, when I came here, I did not speak English, and I did not

understand it, so how could I explain what I want, and how can I buy my necessary stuff.

On the other hand, after I came to the U.S, my views have changed. As a matter of

fact, I found a lot of Asian and Arabic stories. As a result, I have made my lovely native food.

Likewise, I made some traditional foods, examples of which are dates cheesecake and hummus

with falafel. Moreover, I realized that the clothes here are smaller to clothes in Saudi Arabia, so I did

not order anything from my home country. As soon as I started to learn English, I liked to talk

with people. Actually, I discovered that most of the people here in the U.S are kind, and they

accept me; also, they respect me.

To conclude, if I could go back to before I came here, I would tell myself “Do not

worry!”, “Relax!”, and “Enjoy!.” Now I am learning English, and I almost understand everything

which happens around me. Indeed, this point helps me to be one of this community.

Holiday Party

MESLS' annual holiday party was at the Wisconsin state Capitol on Friday, December 13, 2013.  What a wonderful way to wrap up the session and the academic year!