February 2014 Newsletter

AIA-FVG / American Corner Trieste
FEBRUARY 2014 NEWS

Happy Valentine's Day!  February lasts only 28 days, but we'll keep you busy! Book Club is our new activity to keep you out of the Winter Blues.  Don't forget our other programs:  Made for Each Other, Friday American Experience, Saturday Storytime, TGIF, WHS and more! See you at the Association in February!

INTENSIVE COURSES - If you're interested in Intensive English for Adults in the afternoons we are organizing another session. 5 days, 2 hours a day.  "Una spinta intensiva" to get your English in shape for the "prova costume"!

ITALIAN CLASSES
We will have a more intensive 5 week Italian Class in the mornings in addition to the Monday evening 10 week class.  Feel free to join in! When we have 4 participants, we'll start.  Ti aspettiamo! A presto! (We're waiting for you! See you soon!)

AMERICAN FILM SERIES 2013/14
Our 33rd Annual English Language American Film Series will be shown at the Cinema dei Fabbri, Via dei Fabbri 2/A in Trieste.  Showings will be on Thursdays at 2, 4, 6:30 and 9 pm.    Here is the complete list of films for the 2013/14 season.  Members only. Come to the office during our office hours to get registered.
We will no longer distribute the Final Membership Cards at the Cinema.  Please come to our office during our Office Hours if you still need to pick up your final card.
Feb 13th - The Perks of Being a Wall Flower (102 min). Comedy, Romance with Logan Lorman, Paul Rudd.

MADE FOR EACH OTHER-in our Multimedia Room, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Mondays at 8:15 pm
Made for Each Other is back!  This year at our Piazza Sant'Antonio Multimedia Room.  Open to All, no membership required.  Comparative American TV and Cinema in original version.  One week a TV show and the next a film, regarding the same theme.  A lesson in Pop Culture 101 and English commentary to put everything in perspective by Prof. Leonardo Buonomo.  Here is the complete list.
The theme of the third "Couple" is Drugs and Teachers.
Feb. 3rd - Breaking Bad (TV 2008-2013)
Feb 10th - Half Nelson (film 2006)

TUESDAY BOOK CLUB - Feb. 11th and 25th - 10-12 am
Finally, our book club!  We'll read one book a month and meet the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month to discuss it.  The first meeting - group discussion, the second encounter - a meeting with the author and announcement of the next book.  We have lots of local authors who write in English and our first book will be Dear Mr. Coupland by our  very own teacher and volunteer Karry Close.  Send us an e-mail if you would like to participate aia.fvg@gmail.com.  Go ahead and get started reading!  Purchase your book directly at Amazon.it in Kindle or paperback format.

THURSDAY COFFEE BREAK in our library 10 - 12 - OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
February 13th - Come and enjoy a cup of coffee and some great conversation in English! 

FRIDAY AMERICAN EXPERIENCE in our Multi-Media Room at 6 p.m. - OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Feb. 7th - The March on Washington (60 min.)- the 50th Anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr's I have a Dream Speech.  The renowned and historic 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Original film clips and interviews with the people who were there.
African American Lives Series- Prominent African Americans trace their family sagas down through US history and even back to Africa.  With Whoopie Goldberg, Quincy Jones, Oprah Winfrey and others.
Feb. 14thAfrican American Lives (PBS 60 min) Listening to our Past
Feb. 21stAfrican American Lives (PBS 60 min)  The Promise of Freedom
Feb. 28thAfrican American Lives (PBS 60 min)  Beyond the Middle Passage

TGIF (Thank God It's Friday) and Welcome Home Stranger- Friday, February 21st, 7 - 9  pm
We're combining TGIF and Welcome Home Stranger again this month.  We'll have specialties from Senegal prepared by Curry Mix and chefs from Senegal and served at AIA FVG.   For this member’s event (and their families) event, we ask you to make a reservation and pre-pay your €7 contribution per person in our office by February 19th.   TGIF is open to all ages so feel free to bring your children.  Remember that this is a BYOB evening.  Bring a bottle of wine, beer or whatever you wish to drink.  Cheers!

SATURDAY STORYTIME  - Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. - OPEN TO THE PUBLIC with a Reservation
What a lot of fun and great turnout at Saturday Storytime.  Lots of fun and no stress.  Please make a reservation at aia.fvg@gmail.com for your children so we know how many little ones to expect!  Remember, if the city closes schools because of bad weather, we will NOT hold Storytime that day.  Thanks to Michael, Keaton and all our volunteer readers and assistants! Want to help out? Contact us!
Feb. 1st -  Chicken Soup with Rice - Maurice Sendak
Feb. 8th   - The Gruffalo's Child - Julie Donaldson
Feb. 15th -  Alligators All Around - Maurice Sendak
Feb. 22 - A Squash and a Squeeze - Julie Donaldson

WELCOME HOME, STRANGER -Thursday, Feb. 20th 10- 11:30 am and Friday, Feb. 21st  7:00 pm at TGIF.  Join us.  Bring a Friend.  Make a Friend.  Be a Friend.  A great group of newcomers from age 6 months to 80!  Helping newcomers live happily in Trieste.  Meet some new people, speak English.  Send an e-mail to Sheila at the  Google Hangout:  welcomehomestranger@gmail.com  and join the Welcome Home Stranger Facebook.   Two events this month:
Feb. 20th - 10-11:30 am "Sss…" - Share, Soothe, Selebrate with Melissa Wayne .
Feb. 21st - TGIF with specialities from Senegal. See details above.

ENGLISH CHAT EVENING in Staranzano - Friday 28th at 6 pm.  (Date to be confirmed). Open to the Public.   At Compagnia delle Creme - Via Firenze 17, Staranzano (GO).  Some English conversation for our Monfalcone followers.  Contact   chatinenglish2013@gmail for more info.

MEMBERSHIP!
Membership is valid until October 2014!  In addition to our American Cinema Series, we have a fantastic library with over 5000 books, up-to-date magazines and 1300 DVD's, as well as the Children's Corner Library and DVD collection.  Everything is available for check-out.  Your membership is also valid for Members-Only activities.   €25 for students, teachers and over age 65 and €35 for regular membership.  There is a form to be filled out.  Click here to download the membership form or pick it up directly in the office.  Memberships can be made in the Association or directly at the Cinema on American movie day before the show.  More questions? Check out our FAQ. Many thanks to our Membership Team:  Manuela and Francesca for updating our lists with 570 members so far!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Our Programs are all Volunteer Run.  We are looking for people to work at the Front Desk, Help at Storytime, TGIF, Manage library checkouts and a variety of roles.  Contact us!  We'll keep you busy!

See you in February at the Association!