TCC grads going on to do great things

It is so much fun to see the great careers that people have after graduating from TCC. I have been out and about yesterday and today taking pictures to present in the upcoming Best of TCC event on May 31. It is one of my favorite things that I get to do! Meeting the people who have graduated, learning about their particular companies and professions and simply seeing the successes that people have because of their hard work in pursuing their degrees--it's inspiring.

This year, Best of TCC honorees include a police chief, case manager, architect, firefighter, minister, nurse, professor, biomedical engineer, web designer and more. In fact, today I met one of the architects who worked on the TCC Center for Creativity on the TCC Metro Campus. Very cool! After the Best of TCC event, I'll post their names, companies and photos. I hope that these successful graduates inspire and encourage you in the same way they have inspired me.

Minding your manners around the world

Guest blogger Steve Aston, of the TCC International Language Center, tells us the dos and don'ts of table manners overseas by sharing information he found on various travel websites.

Traveling to another country is exciting, adventuresome, and sometimes rude - if you are not familiar with the culture, that is. These are some etiquette tips to help travelers prepare for overseas trips. Below are some lesser-known formalities in various countries.

In Thailand, don’t put your food in your mouth with a fork!

In Japan, never stick your chopsticks upright in your rice!

In the Middle East, India and parts of Africa, don’t eat with your left hand.

At a traditional feast in Georgia, it’s rude to sip your wine during a toast.

In Mexico, never eat your tacos with a fork and knife.

In Italy, drink cappuccino only before noon!

In Britain, always pass the port to the left!

In France, don’t eat your bread as an appetizer before the meal!

In China, don’t flip your cooked whole fish!

In Italy, don’t ask for Parmesan for your pizza-or any time it’s not explicitly offered!

In Chile, don’t eat anything, even fries, with your fingers at a meal!

In Korea, if an older person offers you a drink, lift your glass to receive it with both hands!

In Russia, never mix, or add ice or turn down vodka!

When drinking coffee with Bedouins in the Middle East, shake the cup at the end.

In Brazil, lay your table token down wisely, green side—get more meat, red side—no more!

In Afghanistan, guests who accidentally drop their bread should pick it up, kiss it, and raise it to their foreheads before setting back down.

In Korea, it’s OK to spit your fish bones on the table or ground during dinner.

In rural Zambia, when eating dried mouse, start with the head, but do not eat the tail, that would be bad manners!

In Mongolia, manners dictate that the woman of the family gives the first bite, to the head of the family.

In Switzerland, Luxembourg & France gum-chewing in public is considered very vulgar.

Children, teachers build blue ribbon tree to raise awareness

A student in the Fireflies class at the TCC Child Development Center ties a blue ribbon onto a tree, a symbolic representation of child abuse prevention awareness.

Children who attend school at the TCC Child Development Center on the TCC West Campus tied blue ribbons onto a tree with help from their teachers and families on Friday as a reminder to help keep children safe by preventing child abuse. Children also paraded across the campus. Last week marked the conclusion to the national Week of the Young Child.

Tragically, child abuse is not absent from our society. The Tulsa World published an article yesterday on child abuse from a child welfare worker's perspective who works in Tulsa County.

Every year TCC's Child Development Center conducts activities throughout the Week of the Young Child to raise awareness of the importance of early childhood and promote child abuse prevention.

Ever wanted to be in a focus group? Here's your chance!

Would you like to experience what it's like to be in a focus group? TCC's Marketing Communications department wants to hear from TCC students of all ages to get input on an upcoming marketing project. We want to know what you like, what you don't like, what you love and what you hate concerning marketing efforts. And, we will give you free pizza for participating!

TCC Focus Group: 12 p.m. - 1 p.m., Friday, April 27 at Center for Creativity on TCC's Metro Campus.

To register, let me know at mcommunications@tulsacc.edu. Please register before coming so that I can make sure there is enough pizza. Deadline to register is Wednesday.

Student film festival 'Short Shorts' set for April 27

  Have you ever dreamed of going to the Sundance Film Festival? I have. While I will probably never get to go, I've found a film festival right here at TCC that I can go to for FREE. And what's really cool is that the films are made by students, and students star in the films. "Short Shorts" is the TCC Student Film Festival. It is presented by the TCC Southeast Campus Film Department, and it is 7 p.m. April 27 in the VanTrease PACE Studio Theater on the TCC Southeast Campus.

In addition to films, the festival also features Yeast Lords musical mash-up and homage to Gentleman Broncos performed by DKO.

Here is a "Short Shorts" teaser: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=149579325073409&set=vb.100000640271566&type=2&theater

Remember Titanic (and maybe buy a new dress)

I couldn't resist buying a new dress at lunch today for the Titanic dinner tonight. Don't know what I'm talking about? Well, the Signature Symphony at TCC is having a fund-raising dinner tonight commemorating the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. They are going to have an 11-course meal, and I will be there to take photos of all the glamour. I suppose I didn't need a new dress, especially two, but I bought them anyway. :)

Although the dinner tonight is sold out, you can enjoy/commemorate/remember the Titanic with music and buy a fancy dress (or two!) for a special concert tomorrow night. The Signature Symphony at TCC is having a "Titanic Concert" at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 14 at the VanTrease PACE. The symphony will play music from the era as well as music from James Cameron's "Titanic" film. To read more about the concert, read this related article from Tulsa World in the Scene section.

And one of the best parts? Tickets are affordable, starting at $20.

Tickets: 918-595-7777.
www.signaturesymphonyattcc.org

Attention guys graduating May 4: I need to hear from you

OK, I have heard from nearly 20 females who would like to thank their family and friends for their support on graduation night, but I've heard from only ONE guy! Come on, guys! It only takes a minute. Please send a sentence or two that I can include in the TCC graduation slide show. Here is what I'm talking about: http://tulsacc-blog.blogspot.com/2012/03/graduating-in-may-get-seen-and-heard-on.html.