Social Work Practice Class

Speak at Social Work Diversity Class
Thursday, November 5, 2009
C1704 University Center Building C
FSU, Tallahassee, FL 32306

I along with representatives from Japan, Thailand, and Phillipines spoke for 15 minutes each at the Diversity, Social Work, & Practice class of Dr. Keithen V. Mathis today afternoon. There were about 30 kids in the class. The talk is one hour long and one of the classes of the undergraduate class.

I gave a presentation in PowerPoint. Then representative from Japan, Thailand, and Phillipines spoke. After that ACT Chairman spoke about ACT. Then we took quetions from the audience.

Halloween

Halloween at Weems
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Tallahassee, FL

For this Halloween we were all ready. It was a cold day/night, it had rained in the afternoon, there was a home football game (the home team fortunately won the close game). Despite all these things by late evening everything looked good. The air and ground dried out quickly and it was the last day before we fall back to Standard time the light was still out.

I put on a scary costume and stayed with the candy. Since young ones were not happy to see me in the costume, I stayed outside and handed out candy to everyone. It was a fun night.

Tamil Diwali Celebration

Tallahassee Tamil Sangam Diwali Celebration
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Tallahassee, FL 32310

The Tallahassee Tamil Sangam's Diwali celebration was held on Sunday, October 25, 2009 between 4 and 8 PM at Alumni Village Recreation Hall. We had to change the date from Saturday, Oct 17, 2009 to this date due to conflict IATLH's Diwali Concert Dinner.

After everyone had arrived we had some snacks and then ate the dinner rather than do the fireworks due to the fact that sunlight still plentiful even at 7PM (day light saving time and the fact that Tallahassee lies almost the tail-end of the Eastern time zone). Then everyone young at heart lit firworks. This was followed by some sweets and ice cream. By 8:45 we packed-up and left for home. The function's primary organizers are:

* Dr Manoharan and Mrs Mani Priya
* Bhanu and I
* Mr Vasudevan and Mrs Sasikala
* Mr Sridhar and Mrs Viji
* Dr M Swamy and Mrs Karpagam

More details are available at the Socializr's event page: http://www.socializr.com/event/123406457

Greek Food Festival at Holy Mother of God Greek Church

Annual Greek Food Festival

Holy Mother of God Church
1645 Phillips Road

Tallahassee, FL 32308

Saturday, October 24, 2009; 3:00-4:00 PM

We all went to the Annual Greek Food Festival at the Holy Mother of God Church. We have been coming to the Food Festival almost every year now both for the tasty pasteries, patates, and the entertainment. This year both our and neighbors families were there. We bought some pastries and some of us got some food to eat as well.

Then we sat down in front of the entertainment stage. We saw several ethnic dances from Crete, mainland Greece, and Northern parts of Greece. In one of the dances people come on stage and throw money on the dancers. It was a fun event. The pastries like Baklava amd almond cookies were delicious. I also met people from FSU-IC, ACT, and Russian friends.

Flying Circus of Physics

Flying Circus of Physics

Physics Department
FSU, Tallahassee, FL 32306
Sat Oct 17, 2009; 12-3:00 PM

We went today to the Flying Circus of Physics today at the FSU Physics Department. This event is held every other year where the scientists and students from FSU Physics Department do activities that explain the how physics and chemistry works.

This year we attended the Chemical and Medicine Show where Dr. Goldsby showed how gases, solids, and liquid interact with other materials. We saw how hydrogen, oxygen, and their combination react to heat (flame). Then we went to the Laser & Light room, Magnetism room, Mechanics room. We also saw the pulleys in action, airplane throwing contest, Sports mechanics show. We had lots of fun!

Fifth Experience Asia Festival

Fifth Experience Asia Festival

Saturday, October 03, 2009; 10-5 PM

Lewis and Bloxham Parks

Tallahassee, FL, USA

The fifth Experience Asia Festival ended nicely this evening with the closing and second performance of Matsuriza, the Japanese Taiko drummers from Orlando, FL. This year the crowd was about the same or slightly more than last year, but due to the expansion of booths on both the parks at times it felt the crowd was bit less. We will know the official numbers soon.

Our group performed the Harish Chandra play just before the official opening of the program at Noon. Mrs Jane Marks, the first lady of Tallahassee opened the program and Mr John Marks III spoke to the crowd via a speaker phone from Seattle, WA where we was attending a conference. Dr Diao welcomed everyone. Mr Ferdie, the ACT Secretary and Ms Aurora, one of the event coordinators were there everywhere helping people and doing their own cultural performances.

Booth at Ten Thousand Villages

Booth at Ten Thousand Villages
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Tallahassee, FL 32312

We put a booth at Tallahassee Market Square Ten Thousand Village Fair Trade Shop and helped the non-profit. We provided free Indian food (home cooked and volunteer prepared) and free henna hand-painting