On USA Independence Day morning many Gabfest club members participated in the WOA’s ("Window on America" Dnipropetrovsk / Ukraine) cycling flash mob.
Therefore the club’s session started with the introduction of the cycling flash mob organizers and participants to the new visitors and regular club members. Among the bike rally organizers were WOA Heads from other parts of Ukraine – Ternopil, Lutsk and Poltava. On behalf of their patrons they greeted Gabfest club with the USA Independence day and explained the symbolism of the event. The symbolic Web of Friendship created by WOA Dnipropetrovsk visitors united Central and Western parts of Ukraine!
The educational part of the session introduced the group to the cycling vocabulary – mainly the types of cycling activities. The vocabulary was illustrated by the “USAcycling” web site materials. To learn more about the popularity of cycling in the USA we watched You Tube videos comparing cycling infrastructure of the USA and the Netherlands.
The highlight of the video illustrations was the video of the Independence Day parade in Washington in 2012. A group of children on unicycles impressed the viewers and the following discussion allowed to practice the new cycling vocabulary.
The group was particularly grateful to our American volunteer Mr. Jason Rush. He shared with us the celebration of his country’s Independence Day and spend this beautiful day with the Gabfest club members!
Number of participants – 35 persons.
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This year the Gabfest Club Committee decided to have an indoors Independence Day picnic due extremely hot weather outside.
The picnic participants remembered to dress in American National colors- red, white and blue. The highlight of this year’s menu was a dish called Berliner – a jelly-filled doughnut.
The phenomenon of Berliner in the American culture was presented to the group. In 1963 in West Berlin President John F. Kennedy used a German phrase in his speech while standing before the Berlin Wall. It would be great, his wordsmiths thought, for him to declare himself a symbolic citizen of Berlin. Hence he sad in German: ”Ich bin ein Berliner“. What they did not know, but could easily have
found out, was that such citizens never refer to themselves as 'Berliners.' They reserve that term for a favorite confection often munched at breakfast. So, while they understood and appreciated the sentiments behind the President's impassioned declaration, the residents tittered among themselves when he exclaimed, literally, "I am a jelly-filled doughnut."
While eating doughnuts with “Americano” coffee (and other refreshments) we watched the videos of Presidents’ Kennedy and Obama speeches in Berlin – 50 years apart. The Committee members shared their opinions about the changes that have taken place in the American society within these years. 
We all enjoyed the Independence Day 2013, but we look forward to a real picnic next year!
The ESC Committee continues the tradition to celebrate the USA Independence day with a picnic on the waterfront. This year the location was changed due to extremely hot weather. And a more private spot on the Monastyrskiy Island on the Dnipro river was chosen.
The menu of the picnic included several American-type treats - Buffalo wings and American lager with season vegetables and other summer beverages. Alas, the traditional American 4th of July BBQ was out of the question due to weather conditions. Four generations of the Club members were represented at the event.
The activities included – enjoying food and drink on the fresh air, playing football, planning the club events for the months to come.
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The group was particularly grateful to our American volunteer Mr. Jason Rush. He shared with us the celebration of his country’s Independence Day and spend this beautiful day with the Gabfest club members!
