The ELI Weekly
Volume 161, Issue 7 – October 11, 2026
Opinion: Changing Gainesville
If you could change something about Gainesville, what would it be and why? This week, RW60 student Raul Perez De Prado Borges shares his answer. What do you think ELI students?
I love Gainesville, but there are some aspects of the city I would change.
First of all, I believe this beautiful city needs a downtown with tall buildings, offices, and more businesses, similar to Downtown Miami. A new and fresh environment would bring more prosperity to Gainesville. A financial center could offer jobs to graduates and internship opportunities to students. That would be positive for both UF and the financial companies.
On the other hand, let’s imagine I could change the landscape. I would bring the beach to Gainesville. I know it is a hypothetical scenario, but that would be great, right? I would go every weekend to walk on the sand, sunbathe, and relax in the water.
Also, I would add some mountains to this beautiful city. I chose the mountains because that way I could go hiking, climb to the top, and appreciate Gainesville from a different perspective.
In that moment, I would realize that this place doesn’t need mountains, beaches, or big skyscrapers to be perfect.
CIP Weekend Activity
Saturday, October 17th – La Chua Trail – 10:30am-1:00pm
This Saturday, join the ELI as we go to La Chua Trail! On this light hike, we might see gators, snakes, flowers, beautiful old trees, and more. Meet at 10:30 am at Norman Garage. Make sure to bring water and snack if you need, and wear good walking shoes! We can’t wait to experience Florida nature with you!
You must sign up if you want to attend this event. Please sign up if you need a ride or if you will drive: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4BA9A823A02-66624981-lachua#/
CIP Weekday Activities
| Monday, October 12th – Coffee Talk at Kava Gator – 6:30-9:00pm | Socialize with LAs and ELI friends and meet the new B-term students at Kava Gator! Play games, speak English, and enjoy this relaxed coffee shop in Bo Didley Plaza. Take bus 1 or 5 to get downtown. The location will change each week. Address: 185 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601 |
| Tuesday, October 13th – Volleyball and Basketball – 6:30-9:00pm | Play volleyball or basketball and hang out at Lexington Crossing Apartments Phase 2 Volleyball Courts with us! No experience necessary! You can also watch, socialize or play other games if you don’t want to play volleyball or basketball. The ELI is usually in the volleyball court in the back of the complex next to the basketball court. Make sure to go to phase 2 of the complex! Take bus 35. Address: 3700 SW 27th St, Gainesville, FL 32608 |
| Thursday, October 15th – Bragging Rights Arcade – 6:30-9:00pm | Enjoy a fun night of arcade games at Bragging Rights Arcade! After 7pm, all UF students play unlimited games for $10 (with valid UF ID). Hang out, play games, and try out some classic arcade and carnival games! Take bus 15. Address: 113 NW 8th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601 |
CIP Photo of the Week: Homecoming Parade
Other CIP Activities
Conversation Partners
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!
Returning students, you will not automatically be paired again if you had a CP last semester. Please make sure to sign up again for the Fall semester if you did not request a Fall partner in your end of term evaluation from last semester.
Please email Aurora at conversationpartners@eli.ufl.edu for any issues, questions or concerns or visit her in the CIP Office during office hours.
CIP Passport
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! The CIP Pineapple will be hidden in the ELI Main Office this semester! It will be in a new place every Tuesday morning. Stop by and find it for hole punches. The first person to find the pineapple each week will be featured on the CIP board!
Notes from the Office
B-Term Students: B-term students will be joining some of your classes this week. Please help us welcome them to the ELI and give them any help you can as they settle in.
Instructor Work Day: There will be no ELI classes on Monday, October 26th for an instructor work day. The office and UF will still be open.
Daryl Out: Daryl will be out of the office on October 22nd, 23rd, and 26th. If you need to talk to him, plan around those dates.
International Candy in the Main Office
Halloween is a popular holiday in the United States. To help get the ELI in the Halloween spirit, we are having some special candy surprises!
Visit the ELI main office each day for a chance to open the candy of the day from our Halloween countdown calendar. The first person each day to come in and ask the person at the desk “Trick or treat?” will get to open the door and find the candy of the day. We will take your picture and post it in the next Weekly.
You can only do this once, so if you’ve already had a turn, remind one of your friends to do it!
Here are some of the Trick-or-Treaters from last week:
Birthdays!
Students
Camila Garcia Martinez – October 12
Faculty/Staff
None this week
Manners & Culture
Q: What is Candy Corn?
A: Candy corn is a staple candy of the fall season and Halloween in North America. It is a sugary candy shaped like a kernel of corn and divided into three sections of different colors, usually white, yellow, and orange. More than 35 million pounds are produced each year. That’s about 9 billion pieces of candy corn annually.
Everyone has an opinion on this controversial candy. Some people absolutely love it and others hate it. Do you want to try some yourself? Come to Christine’s office during your lunch break this week to try it! She will film your reaction and opinion to share on ELI socials.
Grammar
Q: What is the difference between ‘me either’ and ‘me neither’?
A: Both phrases are used to agree to a negative statement and have the same meaning as ‘neither + (verb) + I’ (neither have I, neither do I, neither am I). Both are more informal than ‘neither + (verb) + I’. Here is an example:
| If your friend says: “I haven’t started my homework yet.” | You could say: “Neither have I.” (most formal) “Me neither.” “Me either.” (least formal) |
Note from the Editor: Calling all student authors!
I need all of you, students, LAs, instructors, staff, and administrators, to help me write the Weekly! Write a paragraph about your experiences this semester. You could write about an ELI activity, a Gainesville event, a fabulous local restaurant, or tell us about a place or event in your country that we should visit. Send me grammar questions for me to put in the Weekly. Send me manners and culture questions for me to put in the Weekly. Come by my office if you’d like to chat about topics or get help writing.
Send your paragraphs and/or questions to Christine Voigt (christinevoigt@ufl.edu) Use the subject heading: ELI Weekly.