Hello *|FNAME|*,
Summer is just around the corner, and we have a season full of opportunities to learn, connect, and celebrate together. This month’s newsletter is your early preview so you can mark your calendar and grab your spot before classes fill up.
Looking Ahead Together
Hello, my name is Gabriel Godwin, and I’m the new Executive Director at Upstate International. Over the past month, I’ve had the chance to meet many of you, and I’m grateful for the warm welcome. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and share what I hope to bring to this organization.
Upstate International has much to celebrate – a storied history, dedicated longtime members, a thriving language school with more students and offering more languages than ever before.
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and honor the hard work of past directors and the Women’s Group whose dedication has been the pillars of strength this organization has been built on. As we respect that legacy, we’re also looking ahead to new opportunities.
I’m excited about putting more events back on the calendar because we all need that connection with our friends and neighbors across the table. In honoring our origins, I want to offer more social and cultural events that celebrate both lifelong learning and our ties to the international business community.
To hear your feedback, I’d love to invite you to our open house on Thursday, May 7, from noon to 2 p.m. at the UI House at 9 S. Memminger, or later that evening from 5 to 7 p.m. at The Pharmacy at Augusta located at 15 Conestee Ave, Greenville, SC 29605. I want to offer an opportunity for anyone to come share their input at the time that best works for them.
I’ve already seen that Upstate International is a place where friendships are formed across cultures, where curiosity is celebrated, and our community becomes a little more connected with every event, every class, and every shared meal.
Upstate International’s best days are ahead, and I hope you’ll be part of them.
Gabriel Godwin
Interim Executive Director
☀️ Summer Registration Now Open 📚
Summer is the perfect time to start a new language or build on your skills. Monique and Bill Glass School of International Languages: Summer registration is now open!
With nine languages of all levels offered, and dance lessons to prepare for Salsa at Sunset, we hope this will be our best summer yet! 10-week courses are $250 for nonmembers and $150 for members.
Don’t see the course you want offered?
Check back in soon…new courses will be added!
For more information, please email [email protected]
New for this summer, we are offering Hindi! Members receive $100 off tuition, and spots fill quickly, so be sure to register early.
⭐️ Impact Updates ⭐️
Our New Salsa Sponsor 🔥
We are excited to share that Prisma Health is the new Presenting Partner for Salsa at Sunset this year.
Their support helps us expand this vibrant community event and continue bringing people together through music, dance, and culture.
We are grateful for their commitment to strengthening connections and celebrating the diverse community we share.
Ladies Salsa Series 💃 w/ Lili
Lessons run each Tuesday in May: 5, 12, 19, 26
This is a class for women only, and is designed for singles to learn the foundations. This is not a class for couples.
Please wear ballroom / Capezio shoes if you have them, comfortable shoes if you don’t. We recommend a leotard or yoga attire. Register here!
Come feel the rhythm and learn some Spanish as we dance!
👈 Meet This Guy!
We are excited to introduce our new Executive Director, Gabriel Godwin. Join us in welcoming him to the UI community and learning more about their vision for the future.
Join him Thursday, May 7 from noon to 2 pm at the UI House (9 S. Memminger), or from 5 to 7 pm at The Pharmacy at Augusta.
International Insight: The Speed Round
Join the Upstate SC Alliance, European American Chamber of Commerce – Carolinas, and Upstate International for a networking breakfast with international delegates. Hear from Consuls General, Honorary Consuls, chamber leaders, and trade representatives in roundtable discussions on expanding global business opportunities. Breakfast and coffee will be provided.
🌎 Mind Your Manners
Business Etiquette 🇮🇹
In Italy, business is often built on relationships first—trust and connection usually come before getting down to details.
Table Manners 🇮🇹
🍝 Never Cut Pasta: Long pasta should only be twirled with a fork, never cut with a knife.
🚗 Parking Updates & Reminders
The corner lot (Memminger and Pendleton) previously used for overflow parking has been sold to a construction company. As a result, the previous parking agreement for that space has been discontinued.
We anticipate changes to the parking situation going forward and will share updates as new arrangements are confirmed. In the meantime, please plan ahead and allow extra time for parking.
*Reminder* We consider ourselves lucky to have great neighbors and would like for them to continue to see our organization in the same way.
Please be reminded that the two car driveway to the right of the house belongs to our neighbor. We’re grateful that he has generously allowed parking for a single staff member in their driveway. We ask that no members or visitors use that space.
As always, avoid parking in front of mailboxes and driveways.
Keeping noise reasonable and respecting the space around us helps maintain great relationships with our community.
✨Conversation Club Updates
GERMAN: GCC will hold its monthly Stammtisch on Saturday, May 2 beginning at 6:00 PM! PLEASE NOTE location change: they will meet at Willy Taco, 217 Laurens Road, Greenville. All levels of German speakers are welcome!
ENGLISH: ECC is offering a new evening section of our popular offering! This group is ideal for those who cannot attend our Wednesday morning club meetings. They are meeting at UI House on the first and third of each month: May 3 and May 17, 6:30 – 7:45 PM. All levels of English learners are warmly invited.
SPANISH: Unfortunately, there will be no SCC meetings during the month of May. Please check back with us in June for more information!
** All other Conversation Clubs are operating as usual in May.
Please see our site for more details. **
🗓️ Upcoming Events
2. UIWG Spring Potluck lunch
📅 Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2026
🕐 Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Location: Upstate International
📍 9 S. Memminger street, Greenville SC 29601
💰 Cost: Free for members of Upstate International, just bring a dish to share
Tue. 5/5/26 – 10.00am – UIWG Spring Potluck Cinco de Mayo! Join us for our always popular Spring Potluck at Upstate International. This year it co…
3. UIWG Spring Potluck Cinco de Mayo
📅 Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2026
🕐 Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Location: Upstate International
📍 9 S. Memminger Street, Greenville, SC 29601
💰 Cost: FREE
Join us for our always popular Spring Potluck at Upstate International. We will have a Cinco de Mayo theme! Bring your favorite dish from your country…
4. Short walk on Swamp Rabbit Trail with UIWG
📅 Date: Thursday, May 7, 2026
🕐 Time: 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM
📍 Location: Greenville Zoo parking lot starting point
📍 150 Cleveland Park Dr. , Greenville SC 29601
💰 Cost: Free for members of Upstate International
Thu. 5/7/26– 09.00am – Short stroll and walk on the Swamp Rabbit trail to downtown with a stop for coffee at the Commons. Meet us at 09.00am in the …
5. Craft morning with the UIWG
📅 Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2026
🕐 Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Location: Upstate International
📍 9 S. Memminger street, Greenville SC 29601
💰 Cost: Free for members of Upstate International
Tue. 5/12/26 – 10.00am – coffee and crafts! Please join us for this fun activity! This is not a workshop but a way for you to finish the craft tha…
6. GJFF May Film
📅 Date: Sunday, May 17, 2026
🕐 Time: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
📍 Location: Camelot Cinemas
📍 48 East Antrim Drive, Greenville
💰 Cost: $14 to $18
ADA- My Mother the Architect will be the next Pop-Up Movie from the Greenville Jewish Film Festival to premiere May — at 4 p.m. at Camelot Cinemas i…
7. UIWG coffee at Panera
📅 Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
🕐 Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Location: Panera Bread
📍 Shops at Greenridge, Woodruff road, Greenville
💰 Cost: Free for members of Upstate International
ue. 5/19/26 – 10.00am – Coffee at Panera Bread on Woodruff road (Shops at Greenridge). Make sure to join the Upstate International Women’s Group…
8. UIWG ladies night out
📅 Date: Thursday, May 21, 2026
🕐 Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
📍 Location: Chef Lin’s Asian Bistro
📍 1272 Woodruff road, Greenville SC 29607
💰 Cost: Free for members of Upstate International, price for dinner to be paid by member at restaurant
Thu. 5/21/26 – 06.30pm – Ladies night out – Chef Lin’s Asian Bistro. Join us for an evening out with the International Women’s Group at Chef Lin…
9. Salsa at Sunset – May
📅 Date: Friday, May 22, 2026
🕐 Time: 6:15 PM – 10:00 PM
📍 Location: Camperdown Plaza
📍 20 E Broad St, Greenville, SC 29601
💰 Cost: FREE
Salsa at Sunset celebrates Latin American culture with live music, great company, and dancing. Stop by to hear a live Hispanic band bringing cultural …
10. Long walk (8 miles) with the UIWG
📅 Date: Tuesday, May 26, 2026
🕐 Time: 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM
📍 Location: Greenville Zoo parking lot starting point
📍 150 Cleveland Park Dr. , Greenville SC 29601
💰 Cost: Free for members of Upstate International
Tue. 5/26/26 – 09.00am – Long walk on the Swamp Rabbit Trail. We will start at the Zoo and will walk to the Swamp Rabbit Café for a snack or…
Where in the Word? Answer: Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany
If you guessed it right, congratulations, you’re one step closer to becoming a world traveler! If not, no worries, we hope you enjoyed learning something new along the way.
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