The ELI Weekly
Out and About: Margarita Island
by Candy Fontana, RW 51
If you someday in your life want to visit Margarita Island, Venezuela, these are my recommendations to you for the best trip of your life. I used to live here since I was a baby, so I know countless places and activities to do. Obviously, as an island, it is surrounded by beaches, palms, sand, and a lot of sun. In my opinion, the most prominent beach here is Playa Parguito (Parguito Beach) because they have surf lessons in case you want to learn how to surf. Additionally, if you love eating, you will find the best empanadas in the world with all the flavors that you can ever imagine, so if you are allergic to something, there is always an alternative for you. When you arrive to the beach you need to get an empanada instantly. It is our ritual every time we go, so now you know how to commence your trip to the beach. But, if you want some food more nutritional to you, you can get fish with salad/ vegetables and rice, or my favorite food on the beach which is ceviche or oysters. Of course, on Margarita Island, there are more activities than going to the beach. You can visit restaurants, go kayaking, ride horses; nonetheless, going to the beach is the activity that represents the island, so do not forget doing a visit to the beach, at least one time in your trip.
CIP Weekday Activities
Weekend Event
Saturday, March 25th – Arts and Craft Social – 1:00-3:30pm
Time to get crafty with your ELI friends! Meet us at the Reitz Arts and Crafts center to paint pottery and do other art that you get to keep! No experience necessary! Bing 15-20 dollars to spend on art supplies and pieces to paint. Reitz Arts and Crafts Center is located in the basement of the Reitz. Meet at the Reitz Union.
Address: 655 Reitz Union Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611
You must sign up to attend this activity, space is limited: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4BA9A823A02-student33
Santa Fe Open House
Are you thinking about going to Santa Fe College? Attend their open house this Saturday, March 25, before our ELI activity to learn more about the Santa Fe College Experience! An LA can help you attend! They will meet you at Norman Garage at 9:30am and finish before 12:30. Sign up here if you are interested to go with an LA to the open house: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4BA9A823A02-santa
If you plan on attending, you must also register for the event with Santa Fe at this link: https://whova.com/portal/registration/openh_202303/
Selling Bus Passes Next Week for Daytona Beach Trip
Starting on Monday the March 27th Tate will be selling bus passes for our beach trip that will be happening on April 8th! Space is limited so buy your bus pass early! Bus passes are 25 dollars exact cash with your Gator 1 ID in the CIP office between 9am and 12:30 pm.
Other CIP Reminders
CIP Passports
Don’t forget to get your CIP Passport hole punched from the activity leaders AT the event (not after). Redeem your completed passport for a small gift and photo for the ELI Instagram! Remember the CIP Pineapple is hidden in a new place every Monday in the CIP office. Stop by and find it for hole punches!
Conversation Partners (CPs)
Want to make a friend and speak English? Sign up for a conversation partner! Wait two weeks to be paired and then meet your new partner for one hour a week to practice conversation and make a friend! If you are a returning student and still want a CP, you should still sign up here, even if you had a partner last semester.
Sign up for a CP here: https://forms.gle/8nDmxEbrzaSP92Cj8
Remember, if you sign up, you must meet your partner at least once a week and respond to their messages. Email conversationpartners@eli.ufl.edu if you have any questions or problems.
Notes from the Office
Scholarship opportunity for International Students from Study in the USA: Are you interested in the possibility of winning a $1,000 scholarship? How about also helping other international students who are dreaming of achieving what you already have — studying in the USA? When you take this short survey, you are not only entered to win $1,000, but you’re also helping prospective international students learn what their U.S. education experience might be like. And the money is yours to use as you need for your U.S. life and education — there are no strings attached! Learn about our previous scholarship winner, plus here are a few things our students have said! Study in the USA will notify the winner by email in December 2023.TAKE THE SURVEY
Student Voices: We love to see our students writing. Every semester, we take your writing and publish it in Student Voices. Past submissions have included paragraphs, essays, creative stories, recipes, letters, obituaries, poetry, creative stories, class projects, and other interesting works on a variety of topics. I encourage you to submit anything of your work that you wish to see published. It can be from any class or something you have written on your own but ask your teachers for help editing! You can email it to Olga (omoody@ufl.edu) or to your teacher. Please include your name and class on your submission. The deadline for submissions is Friday, April 14th .
US Federal Tax Forms for International Students
Taxes are due on April 18th this year. Taxes are filed for the previous calendar year, which in this case is 2022. If you didn’t earn money in the U.S. in 2022, you won’t owe taxes; however, if you were an international student in a U.S. school in 2022, you must file Form 8843 for you and your dependents whether you worked at a campus job in 2022 or not.
As a UF ELI student you can use a free non-immigrant tax filing program called Sprintax to file tax form 8843. Daryl Bish emailed you how to access Sprintax. Contact him at studyenglish@eli.ufl.edu or make an appointment to talk with in 223 Matherly Hall if you did not receive information about Sprintax. You must access Sprintax through a secure portal, and you must use your Gatorlink information to enter the program.
If do not use Sprintax, you can print form 8843, complete and sign it, and mail it to the government. You can access form 8843 here: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8843.pdf. Fill out the information under Part I and Part III. In 9 and 10, you need to include the information about the academic institution that you attended in 2022. You can find the address and phone number for the ELI at www.eli.ufl.edu. The name of the director of the ELI is Megan Forbes.
Mail your completed form to this address:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Austin, TX 73301
If you had on campus employment in 2022, you will receive a form reporting your income and tax withholdings called a W-2. Because you earned taxable and reportable income and must submit a federal tax return to file your W-2. You also must file form 8843. Sprintax can help you do both.
The ELI is not permitted to assist any student with any IRS tax form preparation or give tax advice, but if you have questions about the above information, please contact Daryl Bish.
Photo of the Week
Birthdays!
No birthdays this week!
Manners & Culture
Q: Why are potatoes so popular in the US? People eat many kinds, including mashed potatoes, French fries, and potato chips.
A: Potatoes originated in South America and have been in the US since 1691. It is undoubtedly one of America’s favorite vegetables! And what is not to like? It is filling and nutritious- a medium potato provides 110 calories, 26 grams of carbs, and plenty of vitamin C. It is also versatile- it is delicious baked, boiled, or fried. It can replace bread or rice or be used more as a vegetable. If you don’t like mashed potatoes, French fries, or potato chips, try potato salad, loaded baked potatoes, or tater tot hot dish!
Notes from the Editor
Does anyone have any interesting grammar questions? I haven’t had any for the Weekly lately. Keep those great culture questions and story submissions coming! Email Maya (mshastri@ufl.edu) with submissions.