Books That Remind Me of Home
Being in another country makes you appreciate all the things you love about your home. Reading and sharing books helps me to connect with my home country, the UK.
Here are some books that, for me, create vivid memories of home.
Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster
This book takes the form of a series of letters, and follows the story of a girl, Judy, as she goes to university and discovers a whole world of new experiences. It reminds me of my home and my mother, because she used to read it to me when I was ill in bed.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson-Burnett
Have you ever read a description of a rural (乡村的) area that made you feel like you were actually there? For me, this book does exactly that. It is about a young girl who discovers a secret garden.
The Railway Children by E. Nesbit
This was one of my favourite books when I was younger, and for this reason it still strongly reminds me of England and my childhood. It follows three children and their adventures living next to a railway.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
This is a science-fiction novel about a man's adventures in space after the destruction of Earth. It is creative and has a very British sense of humour. When I read it, I feel a strong connection to my home.
One spring morning many years ago, I was on southeastern Alaska's Kupreanof Island when I saw a huge wolf caught in a trap. From her appearance, I realized it was a mother wolf and that somewhere hungry pups (小崽) were waiting for her. I guessed she had been trapped only a few days. So her pups were probably still alive, hungry, surely no more than a few miles away. But I thought if I released the wolf, she would tear me to pieces.
So I decided to search for her pups instead. Following some footprints, I finally found four tiny pups. One by one, I placed them in a bag and headed back. When the mother wolf spotted me, she stood up, possibly picking up the smell of her young. I released the pups, and they raced to her.
What next? I wondered. The mother wolf was clearly suffering. Yet each time I moved in her direction, she let out a threatening sound.
I put up a shelter for myself and was soon asleep nearby. At dawn, I was awakened by the four pups sniffing at my face and hands. I glanced toward the anxious mother wolf. If I could only win her confidence, I thought. It was her only hope. Over the next few days, I fed her, talked gently with her and played with the pups. But the big animal never took her eyes off me. When I was beginning to lose hope, at dusk on the fifth day, I saw a wagging (摇摆) of her tail. I moved within the length of her chain. She remained still. My heart in my mouth, I slowly placed my hand on the wolf's injured leg. "OK," I said, "We'll have you out of there." I pressed and the trap sprang open, the wolf pulled free.
Slowly, she headed toward me. She smelled my hands and arms and then began licking (添) my fingers. I was astonished. This went against everything I'd ever heard about wolves. Yet, strangely, it all seemed so natural.
Nzulezo in Jomoro district of western Ghana has coexisted with nature for many centuries. Here, all of life's chores (家常杂务) from the preparation of meals to children going to school take place on water.
The first people in Nzulezo came from Mali in the 15th century. Many centuries after, people in Nzulezo still live in wooden buildings. Every family in modern Nzulezo has its own street, and every street is named after the head of that family. Every family member also owns a boat. It's the only way of travelling there.
People in Nzulezo have kept their traditional way of living for many centuries, but they have introduced certain modern comforts such as clectricity, which means they no longer depend on kerosene (煤油) and lanterns to power up.
They also hope to build a 24-hour healthcare center. The locals have to travel five kilometers by boat to see a doctor.
Being on water also makes it hard to find teachers to teach Nzulezo children. Cudjoe, a teacher in Nzulezo, says that there aren't enough payments to make teachers stay. Though there are glaring challenges, some of Cudjoe's students have left Nzulezo for further education, including university, and they are thriving, he says. "I have a lady, she's now a nurse, and I have a man who is now in university. Plenty of them are now in senior high outside the village. They are doing well."
But while people in Nzulezo are open to satisfying some modern needs, they still feel strongly about keeping their traditional lifestyle. "Our life here is very comfortable for us. We cook here, we enjoy ourselves, we entertain ourselves, the children also. We prefer to stay," says a local elder, John Arthur.
A handheld language translator can cost a lot of money, so it is important to choose the best one.Some features (特征) to consider include its size, battery (电池) life, and ability to translate.
First, most people who use this type of translator are travelling, so having a smaller one is important.
If the machine cannot work for an entire day, then it will not be very good as problems might arise in translation.
Some translators are advanced enough to work with speech recognition, but most work with either typed input or written input. How the resulting translation is shown is also important. A program may be able to play an audio clip (音频) of the translation, or it may only show it on the translator's screen. If one cannot read what the screen says, one will not be able to make much use of the dictionary.
Many people are drawn to translators that can translate between many languages. This feature is truly impressive. A translator that works with only two languages may not have as many choices, but it is often more detailed and accurate.
One final thing to consider is that many phones now have the features to function as translators. These programs are often much more inexpensive and require no additional technology.
A. Another feature to consider is battery life.
B. One can type the contents to translate by keyboard.
C. 35 languages are supported, covering over 200 countries.
D. There are different input styles for handheld language translators.
E. However, it is somewhat rare that a person will use that many languages.
F. Looking at the programs, one may find a handheld translator unnecessary.
G. In that case, one must make sure that one can use the resulting information.
Near midnight, my wife and I were driving home from the University of Illinois, where our son Randy was studying. I 1 what on earth had made us travel there and back. All for 2 !
For weeks Randy had been telling me how much he loved playing football, so I felt a sudden urge (冲动) to be there. Just several 3 earlier I saw him at the field. I was excited. Randy 4. "The other team gives up. Not enough players."
I tried to 5 my disappointment. No big deal, 6 you'd just driven three hours to get here. On the way back home, I couldn't help thinking the whole 7 had been foolish.
Ahead I saw a bridge over the Fox River when a 8 memory flashed back. As Boy Scouts (童子军) , we made a journey down the 9 one autumn. Dad pulled over, 10 me at the boat and said goodbye. I wish Dad could see me, I thought.
About a mile downriver we came to a bridge. I looked 11 and there he was! Instead of 12 instructions or doing anything embarrassing, he simply 13 until we passed underneath. All the boys were waving back, but no one was 14 to see him than I was. He had gone the extra mile to show me his 15. All these years later it never 16 me.
Now I 17 across the bridge in the darkness, imagining Dad standing there, waving, still 18 me. At last I understood the most 19 thing I could do for my children-just be there, even if it 20 going the extra mile, the way my dad did, cheering me on.
Charlie Chaplin wrote, directed and produced the films he (star) in. His most famous character was the little tramp. He was a poor and homeless man, wore a moustache, large trousers, worn-out shoes and a small round black hat. He walked around stiffly, carrying a walking stick. This character was a social failure but was loved for his optimism and determination to overcome all (difficulty). He was the underdog who was kind even when others were unkind to him. Charlie Chaplin is loved and remembered a great actor.
A singing contest of Chinese songs for overseas Chinese (hold) on June 15th, 2019 in Houston, the fourth largest city in the United States. The contest is part of the "Water Cube Cup" Chinese Songs Singing Competition, which is global activity to introduce Chinese culture and tell Chinese stories to the world. (it) aim is to strengthen the link between China and the world through Chinese culture. In August, the top three will go to Bejing for the final.
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology officially introduced 5G licenses on 6th June, (mark) a key step toward an important period for the 5G business use. The 5G application in (vary) fields encourages the growth of the digital economy, and helps build a next-generation communication network. China welcomes more foreign companies to (active) take part in the construction of the 5G market and share the benefits brought by technological progress.
Many teenagers in high school today try out for sports because they think it will make them popular with their friends. But there are of course many other benefits to be gained from sports in school.
With home computers, video games, and TVs becoming more and more popular, it has become so much easier for teens to be by themselves rather than going out with friends. Teens used to go hanging out at the mall or drive around town, but now they just sit at home. While they may not find a new best friend when going out, they will learn how to interact with fellows, which they will find useful later in life. Therefore, getting teens into a sport gives them an opportunity to go out and socialize.
One of the biggest problems in our society today is obesity (肥胖), and it is not just a problem with adults. More and more teens are becoming overweight due to poor eating habits and a lack of exercise. Joining in a sport will help them go out and take some exercise without feeling pressured to lose weight or get in shape.
Sports also provides parents with a great way to bond with their children by showing up to support them at games and helping them with their practices. These days, it is becoming harder for parents to show love and support to teens. Through sports, they can not only spend time with their kids and talk to them, but also have a chance to chat with their friends and learn about who they are hanging out with.
Parents may think "but my kid isn't good enough to make their school team". Actually, there are plenty of other places besides schools to play sports. Just take a look around the area and it is certainly not hard to find many sporting activities suitable for teens to join in.
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