In the mid-1990s, Tom Bissell taught English as a volunteer in Uzbekistan. He left after seven months, physically broken and having lost his mind. A few years later, still attracted to the country, he returned to Uzbekistan to write an article about the disappearance of the Aral Sea.
His visit, however, ended up involving a lot more than that. Hence this book, Chasing the Sea: Lost Among the Ghosts of Empire in Central Asia, which talks about a road trip from Tashkent to Karakalpakstan, where millions of lives have been destroyed by the slow drying up of the sea. It is the story of an American travelling to a strange land, and of the people he meets on his way: Rustam, his translator, a lovely 24-year-old who picked up his colorful English in California, Oleg and Natasha, his hosts in Tashkent, and a string of foreign aid workers.
This is a quick look at life in Uzbekistan, made of friendliness and warmth, but also its darker side of society. In Samarkand, Mr Bissell admires the architectural wonders, while on his way to Bukhara he gets a taste of police methods when suspected of drug dealing. In Ferghana, he attends a mountain funeral(葬礼)followed by a strange drinking party. And in Karakalpakstan, he is saddened by the dust storms, diseases and fishing boats stuck miles from the sea.
Mr Bissell skillfully organizes historical insights and cultural references, making his tale a well-rounded picture of Uzbekistan, seen from Western eyes. His judgment and references are decidedly American, as well as his delicate stomach. As the author explains, this is neither a travel nor a history book, or even a piece of reportage. Whatever it is, the result is a fine and vivid description of the purest of Central Asian traditions.
Four simple ways to stay positive
Trying to stay positive is a great way to improve your quality of life. Try these four methods on a daily basis.
Don't think a lot about negativity.
Of course, staying positive 24 hours a day, seven days a week is a bit difficult. Having things that annoy you is normal, and in fact, it's just healthy to cry or express upset once in a while. It's when those negative moments control your life that your emotional balance is at risk. However, don't give that sadness another second in your day.
What you put into your body directly affects how you feel on the outside. Fill yourself with good, healthy foods like fruit and vegetables and limit snacking. Exercise is equally of great importance. Take a few days out of your week for at least half an hour of exercise, and try to stick to a routine.
Be kind to others.
Making someone's day a bit brighter not only puts a smile on his or her face, but also yours. Remember to smile and treat each person with respect. Good deeds can spread, and your positive attitude may spread among others.
Take it one day at a time.
Being positive isn't an easy thing. It's a steady effort that we follow every hour of every day. Instead, focus on living in the moment and doing what you can to make each moment better.
A. Eat healthily and stay fit.
B. Take your lunch breaks outside.
C. Don't worry about what the future may bring.
D. Gratefulness helps you appreciate life in bad times.
E. Take a few minutes to feel sad and accept what happened.
F. Good feelings come from acts of kindness and selflessness.
G. Even going outside for a walk and enjoying the sunshine can improve your mood
Last month, I was traveling on the 28X bus from the University of Pittsburgh to catch a flight to an academic conference in New Orleans. As usual, I was trying to 1 many tasks, and was participating in a research interview on my2while on the bus. Before I knew it, we were at the 3, so I got off the bus while trying to continue the 4. I finished my conversation in 5 claim and then looked down to 6 my things, so I could get to security (安检), and realized my work bag was 7 My work bag with my laptop and iPad!
A police officer noticed my 8 look and led me to the information desk where they instructed me on how to call Port Authority. I9 didn't know how anything could be done, but the 10 was able to call the bus driver on my bus. While I was waiting anxiously on hold, they found and identified my bag. 11, they said I would need to go to the East Liberty station to retrieve (收回) it, but asked me to hold again. I was about to 12 and cancel the whole thing when the operator came back on the phone and said my bus driver had 13 it to another bus driver who was on his way. He came back to the airport with no one else on the bus to give me my bag, all 14 untouched!
A big thank you to Port Authority! What teamwork to 15 me out!
The year of 2014 was pretty tough for Stevens. Unfortunate (event) happened to him one after another. He lost all his wealth and couldn't pay for his insurance, but there was even (bad) news to come. He had skin cancer, made him ready to give up.
(lucky), he managed to find a job later and moved into a new home. It was then that Stevens seemed to turn a corner and realized his life was still worth (fight) for. He wrote in his blog, "My wife had told me many times she wished she could visit New York one day. She also wished we had a place (exercise) outside and watched our daughters playing." He decided to put his plan into (act)—building a garden. To make a surprise for his wife, Stevens sent her off for a trip to New York City.
Then, he went crazy building the garden. After ten days, all the work (pay) off. It made a big difference to Stevens's life. He wrote，"The kids love (they) new space. And I feel strangely (satisfy) to build this, which inspires me to keep going."
When Lisa was a little girl, she learned an important lesson from her father. Her father told her that when she faced a problem, she should never give up, and instead she should try another solution. In the following years, Lisa always remembers her father's words.
When Lisa was little, she dreamed of becoming a fashion designer after growing up. It was always her dream. But it was not an easy road.
After graduating from college, Lisa went to Paris with her designs in order to make her dream come true. In Paris, she tried to talk to famous designers and show them some of her designs, but none of them showed any interest.
Though Lisa was discouraged, she didn't give up. One day, at a friend's party, she was introduced to a young lady who was dressed in a beautiful knitted (针织的) sweater. It wasn't a fancy color, but it did have very special stitches (编织法). Lisa asked that lady if she knitted it herself after talking with her for a while. The lady said it was a work of a lady in Paris.
Lisa really loved the special stitches and wanted to include them in her designs. And then Lisa had an even braver idea. "Why not own a fashion store of my own? That way, I could design, make and sell my own clothes," she thought. So she decided to begin with that kind of sweater.
Later Lisa's friend introduced her to Madam Dean who knitted that sweater. The lady was from Armenia and she learned to knit that kind of sweater from people in her country.
Lisa drew a picture of a sweater and asked Madam Dean to knit the sweater for her. Madam Dean agreed. One week later, Lisa got the sweater. The following day after Lisa received it, she wore it to a party in the fashion industry.
Lisa was very nervous but she was lucky. Not long after the party began, her sweater drew the attention of a store owner from New York. She wanted to order forty such sweaters in two weeks. Lisa was really happy and accepted the order.
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The next day, Lisa told the good news to Madam Dean.
……
Lisa then remembered her father's words.
