When I asked, “Has anyone ever tried Saino?”; having tasted this species of wild pig called Peccary in English and native to many of the jungles of South America, I did regain a little respect for my “adventuresome” eating. But what brought the house down was my tale of breakfasts in America’s south with fried pork brains scrambled with eggs along with fried slices of pig testicles, known as “mountain oysters” in states like South Carolina, Alabama and Georgia. Mouths dropped open and glazed-over eyes seemed to double in size. Then they started talking.

One of the language aspects of most interest to your English language students will be conversation practice. As a native speaker, you represent the best that English has to offer in pronunciation, grammar usage, idioms and expressions, vocabulary, fluency and communicative ability. You are the ultimate example of English in use. But how can you regularly stimulate your English language students to speak spontaneously without timidity or fear of making mistakes?

The use of controversial questions and topics can help. In class ask something like: “What’s the most unusual or strangest thing you’ve ever eaten?” You can then give the answer for yourself first as an example. When I said the strangest thing I’d ever eaten was toasted or fried ants (called Hormigas Culonas here in Colombia) the students weren’t impressed. In areas of Mexico, insects like Agave worms (used in tequila), shiny, iridescent Humiles beetles, and leaf cutter ants and their eggs, are eaten as a matter of course. “I ate flowers once”, I piped up trying to regain some ground. Still no good. Flor de Calabaza, the bright orange flowers of a pumpkin plant, is passé in the areas around Tepoztlan, south of Mexico City. As a matter of fact, they’re delicious sautéed and wrapped in a hot, blue corn tortilla. Did I mention that I frequently dine on the deadly, fear-inspiring, razor-toothed Piranha? But that’s no big deal here.

It was the students’ turn and each had stories to tell. And tell them they did. “My aunt likes iguana”, one student blurted out. “Have you tried iguana eggs? another asked. “Yes, I have”, I smirked. Stories began to flow. Slowly at first, then faster as memories and emotions mounted. Tales of iguana, turtles, caimans (a species of alligator), donkey meat, reptile eggs, armadillo, a Guinea Pig relative called “Cuy” and Dagger fish emerged enthusiastically – bursting with anecdotes, humor and sometimes a bit of disgust. It not only got them speaking fluently, but was quite informative too. “You can always tell a dagger fisherman”, one Mexican student explained, “because of the strange scars they get from the fish.” I wanted to know more and they obliged. They spoke not only of things they’d tried, but of meats and meals they’d heard of others eating. Opinions of what, where and why added richness, depth and flow to the conversation. In the end I had to halt the session which ran well overtime with no indication of ending anytime soon.

Other topic questions might address places visited or dreamed of, an imagined conversation or date with a famous person, or what students imagine it’s like to do or be any number of occupations, people or things. “If Latin pop singer Alejandro Sanz or actor Brad Pitt called you on the phone, what would you say?” I asked. Giggles erupted from girls around the room, then responses began to trickle out. For the boys’ question it was Mexican singer Thalia, American actresses Pamela Anderson or Julia Roberts. Role plays, interviews, chain stories, social issues, drugs, crime, even proverbs and superstitions all have their place in stimulating the students as speaking activities. Ideas for questions and topics abound. Conversation references can be helpful too. One I use, “Conversation Inspirations for ESL” by Nancy Ellen Zellerman (published by Pro Lingua Associates) has been around for years. Try a controversial conversation question or two in your classes, it’s almost guaranteed to get and keep your students talking.

Oh yeah, I still haven’t tried the “Cow’s Eye soup” in Colombia or the steamy, animal-blood-sprinkled “Yaguarlocro” of Ecuador. But the chicken feet often found in “Sancocho”, Colombia’s national dish, don’t get even the smaller rise out of me anymore. And earlier this year, I sampled a hearty stew of Three-toed Sloth. They’re cute. They’re cuddly. They’re delicious. By the way, what’s the strangest, most unique food that YOU have ever eaten?

Offering a variety of styles suitable for any set of tastes, Bulova and Concord ladies watch models make excellent Mother’s Day presents. From the classically shaped Concord Mariner watch to the more daring Bulova BVA series, choosing a Concord or Bulova wrist watch is a smart decision that would make any mother proud. That all sounds great, but which watch should you pick? Read on for some great ideas to get you started.

Luxury Watches

Whether you’re shopping for timepieces or jewelry, diamonds are always a safe bet. Luxury watches are known for including diamonds as well as other exemplary materials, including white, yellow, and rose gold. Along with gold, another component to look for is mother-of-pearl, an iridescent material often used for the watch face. Both Concord and Bulova watches are known for their quality components. Quick tip: Choose a watch with a gold case and strap for a clean, refined look, or invest in one of Concord or Bulova’s stylish gold and rubber watches for a truly unique look.

Two-tone Watches

If your mother’s new watch is going to be one of her first quality timepieces, there’s a certain advantage to finding a Bulova or Concord ladies watch that will go with everything. To this end, a two-tone watch is a great buy. Two-tone watches combine white and gray metals like white gold, stainless steel, and sterling silver, and colored elements such as yellow and rose gold.

This composition allows two-tone watches to match a greater number of jewelry pieces. For example, a yellow gold and stainless steel watch will coordinate with both yellow- and silver-tone pieces. Quick tip: For a classic two-tone look, take at look at the Concord Mariner watch models for women. One of the two-tone Mariners even features a diamond-embedded bezel!

Bangle Watches

Appealing to many women, bangle watches make for a dainty look similar to that of jewelry. If you think your mother would prefer a bangle watch, one model to consider is the Bulova bangle bracelet watch. This elegant Bulova wrist watch boasts a bracelet and case made of polished stainless steel with ornamental details. The bezel surrounds an elegant dial in mother-of-pearl, accented by silver-tone hour markers and hands.

Quick Tip: Bangle watches are easy to shop for – for ideas, just take a look at your mother’s jewelry!

Chronograph Watches

Although some women prefer delicate timepieces that command subtle attention, just as many enjoy bolder chronograph timepieces. Chronographs provide a powerful, rugged feel, but often feature the same luxury components discussed above. Some of Concord’s most popular chronographs reside in the La Scala collection. These feature alligator leather straps in a variety of colors and compelling inner dials, as well as diamond-inlayed bezels on some models.

Quick Tip: Bulova excels in chronographs as well. Choice Bulova timepieces feature interesting color combinations, leather and metal bracelets, and diamond-embedded bezels, among other attributes.

~The calm reading under the palm tree! There are so many places to find that makes writing fun, relaxing and new! Try writing under a palm tree, that’s actually a unique and comfortably novel place to write and pretty cool too, if you ask me… The fall season is a great reason to notice the changes in nature, animals and natural outdoor events that take place whether we notice or not. Decide this year to notice what happens outside, in your own backyard, in Autumn.

Whether you read the Psalms under the comfortable palm trees or study your French lesson, finding a relaxing environment is key to attaining perspective or finding a great place of inspiration.Living in a tropical climate has a lot of benefits as well as challenges, though I prefer to focus more on the wonderful elements that tropical living brings! Whether wearing shorts and flip-flops all year long is your habit or looking at the wild rabbits that are eating your garden plants and vegetables, just enjoy the natural environment and the place where you call home.

Living in unison with the birds and the bees is quite humbling. Watching the lizards run about and the garden snakes recoil for cover when they get discovered is such a wonderful way to live. Enjoy watching the baby papaya trees get so busy stretching their branches and growing their leaves to see who will survive and grow up to be the grand fruit-bearing trees that human beings’ await for and relish. The fruit-bearing trees make the other trees so jealous, though for what reason, nobody knows for sure.

**As fall draws near, come more visits from the wild family of reindeer that like to comb common areas and neighbor hoods that they call home. As the weather gets colder the wild deer get bolder and want to spend more time roaming around the rivers, lakes and streams sometimes playing, looking for food, or who knows maybe laughing at human beings who are wearing reindeer sweaters in Florida~ as the holiday season is not far away. With less and less sightings of alligators and more and more sightings of deer you can be sure that Halloween and Thanksgiving draw near.

**The once plush green grasses of neighboring lawns and yards get less replenished; now more the emphases in on the small patches of yellowey- tinted weeds and grass that was once hidden under fertile green landscape, you know fall is falling upon us again! The one common animal, rodent or whatever category is most appropriate is the ever-present squirrel population. Wonderful squirrels run around my roof at night like giggling little girls and can be seen crossing the street, without looking both ways first, during any season or day of the year. Enjoy your fall season! **

I enjoy learning from you and from others offering me knowledge continuously!~

Junkyard Families

The book Ecology of a Cracker Childhood by Janisse Ray shows the life of a young girl as she grows up with her family that owns a junkyard in Appling County Georgia. Many experiences may have been different for her, but she still lives as many children do; with rules, and playing outdoors with her imagination.

The main reason that his book was written was to depict the life of a young girl as she grows up in a situation that most do not encounter. She and her brothers spent many hours outdoors playing in the junkyard; they would play baptism where one kid would pretend to be the pastor and the other would be the one being baptized. Sometimes the pastor would leave the baptized under too long. One trait that her father wanted her to have was to be able to play the piano. She hated it so much and eventually told her father that she would not play it anymore. She would rather play outside with her brothers in the junkyard. They would be very creative in what they did with their spare time. They would tie gasoline tanks together and make a raft. She would play with her dolls in the back of the car, pretending to nurse them. She loved pretending she was a mother.

Her father is very smart. He knows how to take old beat up cars off of other people’s hands, even if the car holds a special place in the owner’s heart. Her father loves animals and cannot stand to see or hear that an animal has been tortured or hurt, big or small. He stands up for all animals, a homing pigeon, a dog, a snake, a tortes, a stork, and a turtle.

One time, a turtle was walking across the road. A boy started playing with the turtle with his foot. It was a snapping turtle and supposedly they do not let go until it lightnings. The turtle grabbed a hold of his foot and would not let go. The boy stomped his foot on the ground and broke the poor turtle’s jaw. Soon after the incident, her brothers told her father what had happened. After their father talked with the boy, he turned to his children. He pulled out his belt and gave them all whippings with it. He thought that the could have prevented the incident. If kids were fighting, all he had to do was touch his belt and they would stop immediately.

Another time, her dad found a dog lying on the side of the road. He gave the dog some prescription pills that he had at the house to ease it’s pain even though he believed that it would not survive the night. In the morning, he went back to check on the dog and it was still alive. He nursed it back to health then set it free. He found many animals and all of them he tried to help. He found a stork that they let live in the house. Soon after finding the stork he built a house for it outdoors.

He even saved his son’s life once. Three of his four children go for a boat ride and do not know how to swim. The two boys sat on a bench in the boat and one of them stands up because he thought he saw an alligator. The other two boys went flying overboard. It was Sunday and they had just come home from church. Their father was still dressed in his suit and dove in after his sons just in time to save them. He would have given anything to keep them safe. He wanted to keep them so safe that he did not want his children to be corrupted by the outside world. He threw out the only TV that they ever had soon after they bought it. Also, to make sure that his kids did not get made fun of for the way they lived, he did not allow his children to bring friends to the house. To avoid awkward situations he did not allow them to go over to other friends’ houses either.

I really liked this book since it had short stories that I could remember even a long time after reading it. Her book was very descriptive and did a great job of showing the way that she grew up. It was very realistic and I hope that many people get to read her book.

After a fire is put out and CSI technicians or fire investigators arrive to look over an arson crime scene, the first thing they want to know is where the fire started. They will look for clues to determine its origin.

Finding a fire’s point of origin requires knowledge of how a fire moves through a structure. In general, fires spread sideways and up from the point of origin, but that pattern can change due to structural and decorative elements of the building. For example, stairwells may force a fire in one direction, and the chemicals in man-made carpet may cause abnormal burn patterns. Usually, the biggest amount of damage happens near the point of origin. CSI’s look for evidence of igniters or accelerants as possible clues that suggest a point of origin.

Other factors than can influence or hinder CSI’s’ efforts in determining a point of origin are open windows, stairwells, or materials used to build or decorate the building.

After determining the point of origin, a CSI sometimes can retrace the fire’s trajectory even when the building has undergone heavy structural damage. On the other hand, backtracking along the fire’s path may yield the point of origin.

Searching for a V pattern in burned material is another way of finding the point of origin. It is the tendency of fire to rise and spread so that it burns a wall or other vertical surface in a V pattern, with the point of the V located at the origin of the fire.

Fuel containers and other flammable liquids also can not only hinder the search for the true point of origin but also with the locating of arson-related accelerants, simply because they are accelerants as well. Furthermore, an arsonist may have set various fires within a building or spilled a path of charcoal fluid or other accelerant throughout or around the structure, thus setting a fire with more than one point of origin.

By assessing the fire’s effect on structural materials, CSI’s can estimate the intensity of the fire at any particular place. Under extremely intense heat, steel beams buckle, and glass melts at around 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit. Crackling and flaking on floors and walls are indicative of places of high heat. Likewise, wooden beams, walls, and floors may scorch leaving an alligator skin-like pattern in the wake. Whenever this occurs, smaller scales tend to be closest to the hottest point of the fire.

If smoke detectors are present throughout a structure, the time at which each alarm was set off can help CSI’s ascertain the path that the fire traversed throughout the building and locate the point of origin.

Liquid and volatile fuels pose special problems for arson investigators because they spread more quickly and take the shape of their containers. If the perpetrator of an arson sloshes paint thinner on a floor, the paint thinner spreads across the room, runs down the stairs, and oozes into the baseboards. Upon igniting the paint thinner, the fire follows the liquid and spreads right away, making the point of origin widely spread out.

Volatile fuels like methane gas diffuse in all directions until they fill their containers. Upon lighting up this fuel source, these containers can explode. Finding an exact point of origin in this scenario is impossible.

Ah yes, the color black. There’s nothing more discreet yet powerful color that evokes that sense of mysteriousness, sensuality, and occasionally, fear. Put said color in an expensive luxury handbag and you got something that screams “Damn b*tch, I have arrived.” Black is a wise decision when choosing a handbag to buy for many reasons. For example, it goes pretty well with any outfit since it is a classic color. Almost all handbags too come in this color but for maximum impact, we suggest the following handbags below because if you’re going to invest in a designer handbag, make sure to buy a sturdy one that can survive all your daily struggles. If you’re going to splurge thousands of hard-earned case, the purchase be better worth it.

Givenchy Antigona

Created in 2010, the Antigona is one of Givenchy’s iconic bags. Though it comes in an array of colors and finishes, buying it in black is a sure-fire way to elevate the impact of this already tasteful bag. The bag is commonly made in a variety of materials namely, Box Calf, Patent Calf, Rubberized Canvas, Sugar Grained Goat, Coated Canvas, Crocodile, Nubuck, Ostrich, Elaphe, Anaconda, and Python but we are suggesting getting one in Smooth Calf. But if you really want to scare people off, we highly recommend getting the Rottweiler Printed Canvas!

Celine Luggage Tote

If you like reading Hollywood glossies, chances are, you’ve seen this before. Probably one of the most recognizable handbags in the world, Celine’s Luggage Tote has been the arm candy of celebrities abound. Also created in 2010, the bag shot to It bag fame when the Olsen twins started toting it around everyone. Soon, everyone picked it up and since then has been flying off the shelves and has a long waiting list. This bag is available in a selection of colors and materials namely, Smooth Calf, Drummed Calf, Bullhide Calf, Calf and Textile, Nubuck Calf, Calf Hair, Grained Calf, Crocodile, and, Python. But we highly suggest getting in it Palmela to Calf and Croc Embossed for a villainy vibe. This bag truly emulates bad-ass while still being classy. Definitely a good everyday bag too!

Yves Saint Laurent Sac de Jour

Now, this bag means business. If you want a bag that demands everyone in the room to shut up, then go get this bag. Created in 2013, YSL’s Sac du Jour is perfect for the corporate dominatrix set out to rule the world. Structured while giving you enough room for your stuff and comes in 4 sizes: Nano, Baby, Medium, and Large. Commonly made from Textured Leather, Smooth Leather, Suede, Alligator, Embossed Crocodile, Calfskin, and Shiny Studs, we strongly suggest getting the embossed Python if you want to channel Miranda Priestly from the fashion film The Devil Wears Prada. You might want to try getting the Matte Studs version if you have that rockstar streak in you but might want to keep it refined. It is very reminiscent of a Hermes Birkin but this is definitely a league of its own.

Pewter figurines are very beautiful and elegant. Some people may think that they are expensive, and that’s true if you are comparing them to plastic or wood figurines. But in reality they are pretty affordable. Being made of metal, they have the lustrous, shiny look especially when new. And the great thing is, they look better with age! You see, as pewter ages it will develop a grayish patina on its surface due to oxidation. This patina is highly desirable and is treasured by collectors. So, don’t polish it off.

You can find various types of pewter figurines to collect. Fantasy figurines are definitely a very popular theme. And that means you’ll collect dragons, fairies, witches, elves and all other mythical creatures. Dragons especially, are the favorites of many and in fact they can be a theme in their own right. You can collect European dragons and Chinese dragons. European dragons resemble large lizards with bat-like wings, usually depicted as fearsome creatures that spit flames from their mouths. Chinese dragons, on the other hand, are snake-like with long and scaly bodies.

You can also find pewter figurines of famous characters from fantasy novels. Who can resist the figurines of Frodo the Hobbit, Gandalf, or Aragorn? The Lord of The Rings trilogy have been so popular that these figurines have become the favorite items of many collectors. They can be a tad expensive as licensing fees are involved, but are still much sought after for their great collectible value.

If fantasy figurines are not for you, then there are pewter animal figurines too. What kind of animals are there? Let’s see… horses, cows, eagles, pigs, and even alligators and otters!

Many people like to collect things in sets. And with pewter animals you can collect a set of the twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac system. This system is made up of a twelve-year cycle with each year being represented by an animal. They are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig (in that order). In case you didn’t know, 2009 is the Year of the Ox.

There are pewterers who design and sell these animals in sets. Getting a whole set in one go may burn a hole in your pocket but it’s probably worth the price. There are also pewterers who produce and sell only one animal each year. That’s easier on your finances but you’ll need twelve years to complete the set.

Too long? Well, as the saying goes, patience is a virtue. Besides, good things come to those who wait and it’s definitely worth the wait. The value of your collection would have increased significantly by then.

Apart from fantasy and animal figurines, you can also find figurines of deities or gods. These are more common among oriental societies. Two of the most recognizable deities are the Laughing Buddha and the God of Longevity. The Laughing Buddha symbolizes happiness and prosperity while the God of Longevity, as its name suggests, represents a long and healthy life. Both are great for display in your living room and are also appreciated as gifts.

Are these all? Of course not.

There are many other pewter figurines to suit everyone’s taste. You can check out science fiction figurines from Star Trek and Star Wars. There are figurines of cartoon characters, horror and legendary characters, and even figurines of vehicles like cars, planes, boats and spaceships. The choice is endless.

You can start off with anything that you like without worrying about the theme. As your interest grows, you will know better which one is for you and from there you can be more specific in what you want for your collection.

With pristine beaches and the breathtaking Florida Everglades, plus thrilling theme parks and pulsing nightlife, Florida is an unforgettable vacation destination for families and grownups alike. And whether you’re looking for Florida hotels in the heart of Orlando or Miami – or a more secluded spot for quiet relaxation – you’ll find everything you’re looking for in the perfect getaway.

Not sure where to go for the type of experience you’re after? No problem! Just browse the vacation ideas below and start planning your stay.

Outdoor Fun

o Beaches. From the white sands of Fort Walton Beach to the wave less waters of Smathers Beach in Key West, surfing at Sebastian Inlet to shelling on Sanibel Island near Fort Myers, basking in the sun is a Florida tradition.

o Wildlife. Whether you’re visiting John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in the Florida Keys, looking for black bears in Wekiwa Springs State Park near Orlando or catching a glimpse of manatees at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, with conveniently located Florida hotels, you can plan an unforgettable wildlife adventure.

o Everglades National Park. Stretching across almost one-and-one-half million acres of South Florida wilderness, Everglades National Park is the largest subtropical wilderness area in the U.S. and features hiking and canoe trails, along which you can spot alligators, turtles, rare species of birds, stunning plant life and more.

Theme Parks & Family-friendly Fun

o Theme Parks. SeaWorld, Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando & Busch Gardens are all located in the Orlando area and offer everything from death-defying rides to educational experiences. And whether you’re traveling with children or just want to play like a kid again, these are great places to relax and let go.

o Lowry Park Zoo. Named “the #1 zoo in America” by both Parents magazine and Child magazine, this kid-friendly attraction features more than 2,000 animals on 56 acres of natural habitats, including Asian Gardens, the Manatee and Aquatic Center, the Native Florida Wildlife Center, and more. Plus, with rides, two water play areas and family-friendly events, it’s a great place for kids of all ages.

o Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Home to NASA’s launch headquarters, this one-of-a-kind attraction lets you embark on your own Shuttle Launch Experience, relive historic missions and even offers the chance to watch a live shuttle launch. (If you can’t get passes for the shuttle launch, many Florida hotels in the area offer outside lounge areas where you can get a peek at history in the making.

Nightlife

o South Beach, Miami. For pulsing night clubs, chic restaurants and cocktails that never end, hit Ocean Drive or Collins Avenue and discover how the other half lives.

o Key West. When the sun goes down, visitors and locals alike flock to The Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square, where the evening’s merriment begins. Afterward, head to Duval Street and explore the Keys’ bar and restaurant district – which features a host of entertainment options, all within walking distance of each other.

o West Palm Beach. With a mid-century trolleybus that circles between CityPlace and Clematis Street, it’s easy to explore the dozens of restaurants, bars and clubs in the area. And with weekly events, like Clematis By Night, which offers live music and entertainment, it’s the best place in the city to kick up your heels.

Amtrak’s big shiny trains travel to all the major US cities and cross some of the country’s most spectacular landscapes. Their rugged charm sets them apart from more mundane means of transport and although this may not be the quickest way to get around the pace is perfect for sightseeing. You can choose your companions, read a book, let your thoughts unfurl, sleep horizontally and generally enjoy most of the comforts of home. It’s much more fun than being isolated above the clouds or driving past endless highway billboards.

Amtrak operates nearly all America’s passenger trains and the following are among the most enjoyable scenic routes:

The California Zephyr is one of the world’s great trains, going from Chicago to San Francisco by way of America’s heartland and the high plains of Colorado, then climbing into the Rocky Mountains via the Oregon Trail. Pioneers came this way, as did gold prospectors, the pony express and the first continental telegraph. After Salt Lake City, you cross Bonneville Salt Flats and the beautiful but dangerous Sierra Nevada.

The Sunset Limited’s epic journey takes you coast to coast from New Orleans to Los Angeles. The train makes a dizzy crossing of the Mississippi River on the Huey P Long Bridge in the Crescent City before travelling among bayous, white egrets, alligators, mansions and fields of sugar cane. After San Antonio it joins the Rio Grande, taking a day to cross the sagebrush and mesquite prairies of Texas.

The Southwest Chief travels between Chicago and the Pacific, following part of the Santa Fe Trail first used by Native Americans, Spanish conquistadors, wagon trains and stage coaches. You cross the Mojave Desert and pass Dodge City’s famous Boot Hill burial ground. From Williams in Arizona you can travel to the Grand Canyon by train.

The Crescent goes from New York to New Orleans through the Blue Ridge Mountains and idyllic Shenandoah National Park with its dogwoods and cedars. Beyond Atlanta lie sleepy southern towns with quaint general stores and sun-bleached houses. The train also makes a dramatic crossing of Lake Pontchartrain, skimming a few feet above the water on a six-mile causeway.

The Coast Starlight operates between Seattle and Los Angeles by way of Washington, Oregon and California. It passes some of America’s highest mountains, such as volcanic Mt Hood, as well as the emerald forests and waterfalls of Twin Peaks country. Beyond San Luis Obispo it runs on tracks set high on cliffs, with splendid views of the Pacific surf and beaches.

Ice breaker games for adults are perfect for parties, if you’re hosting a business-related event or office retreat, or if you are just looking for some fun team-building activities. Icebreaker games will help make everyone feel more relaxed, comfortable, and at ease in a group-setting. If you are not sure which games would be most suitable to break the ice, here are some ideas to consider for your next party or event.

TRUTH OR LIE – Truth or Lie is nothing more than a grown-up version of Truth or Dare, which is typically played by teenagers. All you need to have on hand for this fun game, are a few pens and some paper.

Have everyone write down some true and false statements about themselves. Be sure to instruct people to make the false statements sound realistic, so not to give away the falsehood of the statement. For example, “When I was 18, I went to Hawaii and did the hula with the mayor.” In this example, the person might have gone to Hawaii, at age 18 and did the hula while visiting, but in reality did not do the hula with the mayor.

When everyone has finished writing their statements, ask each person to read them aloud, one by one, and allow others to guess whether that particular statement is true or false. Since this is just one of the ice breaker games you are playing, there is no need to keep score or get too competitive at this time. Let everyone get warmed up and friendly with one another rather than trying to have winners with this game. The ultimate object with this game will be to get everyone talking and laughing.

MAGIC WORD – Magic Word is a game that can be played in different ways. If you want to start infusing and encouraging a little friendly competition, you can award a small prize to the winner at the end of the party.

As guests arrive, give them each a colorful beaded necklace and tell them the “Magic Word” for the night that must not be uttered. Make sure the “Magic Word” is something that could easily be said by your guests and not something far-fetched. For example, to make the “Magic Word” be “alligator” would probably not be a good choice unless your guests all happen to participate in safaris and you’re hosting a party related to this theme. If you’re hosting a business-related event or office retreat, you would want to select a word related to your product line or business. Bottom Line: Make that “Magic Word” real to your group.

The object of the game is for guests to collect as many necklaces as possible by getting the other guests to say the “Magic Word”. All tricks allowed and if one guest overhears someone saying the “Magic Word” and says so before another guest can jump in and say so, that person gets the necklace.

CUP STACKING – Another fun game is Cup Stacking, which can also be enjoyed by adults and not just children. You will need lots of plastic cups in various sizes that are strong and sturdy. Place the cups on a flat surface and have each guest take one cup and stack it on top of another cup. As the mountain of cups grows, it will be hard not to knock any down.

This is a game that could be played in various ways. For example, you could split everyone off into teams and have them compete against one another, or you could make a competition of several people against each other all at one time. In either case, you would need to give each team or person the same number and size of cups.

The above games are all fun, enjoyable, and suitable as ice breaker games for adults at parties, business-related events, or office retreats. Just remember to make sure you take photos to capture the moments, especially when the tall mountain (s) of cups are about to crash down!