The ELI Weekly
Out and About: The Nile Festival in Khartoum
by Limia Eltayeb, RW40
The Nile Festival is a traditional festival which takes place on the bank of the Nile River in my city, Khartoum, Sudan. Since old ages Sudanese people have celebrated this tradition in a cheerful way and because the Nile is a source of life. This festival is a wonderful celebration of culture, music, and nature where people from all ages gather to enjoy activities and a lively atmosphere. Sudan is a big country, and every region has different tribes, which have their own cultures, traditions, and languages.
The most interesting part of this festival is the boat races. The men build wooden boats and decorate them with bright colors and flags, and they row in a light-hearted way and sometimes flip the boats. The sound of joy and laugh fill the air. The Sudanese folk songs and traditional dances like the swords dance create an exciting atmosphere.
Food also represents an important part of this festival where traditional food is served like Garasa with Weyka and Asseda, and drinks such as Karkadi and Tumer hendi. I love the atmosphere of this celebration because all my family and friends sit together enjoying food and music while watching the sunset reflection in the water and lighting boats.
If my ELI friends come to Sudan one day, I will invite them to the Nile Festival; it is a good chance for them to see the beauty of the Nile and to know something new about our cultures and the warmth of the Sudanese people. This festival is not just an event; it is a celebration of culture and identity in a cozy way.
CIP Weekday Activities
Weekend Event
Saturday, April 5th – Rainbow Springs – 8:30am to 1:30pm
Swim in the crystal blue waters of Rainbow Springs! This cool and clear water is a Florida nature experience you won’t want to miss. Also explore the beautiful trails, small waterfalls, and other open areas this space has to offer. Entrance is 2 dollars but bring extra money if you want to buy food from the café or kayak. Bring a towel, bathing suit, snack or lunch, and sunscreen. Please arrive on time for this trip because when the park is full and at capacity, they close to more visitors. We want to be some of the first people there. We will leave promptly at 8:30am. Meet at Norman Parking Garage.
You must sign up to attend this trip: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4BA9A823A02-55912949-rainbow
Other CIP Reminders
Weekend Event Reminder
Please only sign up for Saturday events if you plan on attending. It takes slots away from other students who could have attended if you sign up but do not show up for a Saturday event. Thank you!
Conversation Partners (CPs)
Want to meet with a fluent English speaker and make a new friend? Sign up for a CP! If you choose to sign up, you must meet with your partner for one hour a week. It can take up to two weeks to get a partner from when you sign up. Please sign up here!
Please email Joey at conversationpartners@eli.ufl.edu for any issues, questions or concerns or visit her in the CIP Office during office hours.
CIP Passports
Don’t forget to get your CIP Passport hole punched from the activity leaders at the event (not after). We don’t hole punch passports after the event. Redeem your completed passport for a small gift, a photo for the ELI Instagram, and your name published in the ELI weekly!
Need a new CIP Passport? Stop by the CIP Office
Find the Pineapple
Remember the CIP Pineapple is hidden in a new place every Monday in the CIP office. Stop by and find it for hole punches!
Notes from the Office
Class photo: We will take a class photo on Thursday, April 3rd at 1:45pm (between Listening/Speaking hours) on the front steps of Tigert Hall.
People out: Christine will be out of the office from April 7 to April 10. Please plan around these dates if you need to talk to Christine.
Charges Due: Every ELI student should log in to ONE.uf.edu and look at the “Campus Finances (Bursar)” tile to see if you owe any fees to the university. For example, you may need to pay for services you received at the Student Health Care Center or printing in a library. If you have a scholarship, it will not pay these charges.
Check your I-20s: If you are traveling during the break (for example, leaving the US and coming back), make sure your I-20 is signed. Also check the expiration date. You can make an appointment with Daryl to sign your I-20 or to renew your I-20 before it expires.
Financial Guarantees for Summer: Dear scholarship students, we hope to see you again in the Summer! This is an early reminder to request your new financial guarantee letter for the Summer semester, if you plan to return. If you need an enrollment letter or if you have any questions, please email Tara Mace at fiscal@eli.ufl.edu.
Apartment Leases: As the semester draws to a close, keep in mind that your lease might be ending soon. It is important to know the exact date that your apartment lease ends so you can make plans. If you’re not sure when it ends, ask your apartment office. If you need help finding a hotel to stay in short-term (you should ask your friends first!), someone to take over your lease, or a new apartment, talk to Christine in Matherly 223.
US Federal Tax Forms for International Students
International students that were present in the U.S. in 2024 have a responsibility to file tax forms with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Tax forms are due on April 15th this year. They are filed for the previous calendar year, which in this case is 2024.
You must provide required tax forms even if you did not earn any money in the U.S. in 2024. All F and J visa students (including dependents) must submit IRS form 8843. You can get the form 8843 from the ELI main office. Instructions for completing the form are also in the main office.
You cannot submit this document electronically. You must physically mail it to this address by April 15th:
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service Center
Austin, TX 73301-0215
Come talk to us if you have questions about how to mail the form. You can get an envelope from the ELI main office.
If you had on-campus employment in 2024 as an international student, you will receive a form from your employer reporting your income and tax withholdings called a W-2. Because you earned reportable income, you must submit a federal tax return to file your W-2. Talk to Daryl if you had on-campus employment last year and have questions about filling your taxes.
Photo of the Week: Depot Park
Birthdays!
Manners & Culture
Q: What does “April Fools” mean?
A: April Fools’ Day is on April 1st and is a day of pranks. A prank is a trick or joke that surprises or discomforts someone. After playing a joke on someone, you yell, “April Fool!” so that the person knows they have been pranked. Your instructors or LAs might play a joke on their classes on April Fools’ Day. Some instructors might announce a test on this day, but then they don’t really have a test. One teacher I know announced to the class that she had “brownies” as a special treat. The class was super-excited to have a snack, but then the teacher pulled out a container of “brown Es,” and, of course, yelled, “April Fools!” There is a show called the Office that has a classic prank. One of the characters finds his stapler in a jello dessert. Some of the other office staff thinks it is really funny, and some do not. Want to see this prank? Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glFrp-CmNVA.
Grammar
Q: Why do Americans say, “Which sentence is more clear?” instead of “Which sentence is clearer?”
A: According to the grammar rules we teach you, one syllable words should use -er. We say more clear because it’s easier to say. “Clearer” is difficult because of the two ‘-r’ sounds. Words like “easier” and “bigger” are easy to say. Here are more examples of words that give the double “-r” in comparative form:
- rare – more rare
- sure – more sure
Joke of the Week
Q: What month of the year has 28 days?
A: All of them!
Notes from the Editor
Thank you to everyone who sent stories, grammar questions, culture questions, photos, and jokes to the Weekly. Your submissions have added so much color, fun, and humor to the Weekly this semester!