Vanuatu is an island nation in the South Pacific. It is one of the smallest countries in the world. But for those who are interested in adventure and sports, there is a lot to do. Vanuatu's islands offer visitors two of the most exciting and dangerous activities in the world: volcano (火山) surfing and land diving.
Volcano surfing |
On Tanna Island, Mount Yasur rises 300 metres into the sky. Yasur is an active volcano, and it erupts (爆发) almost every day, sometimes several times a day. For centuries, people have climbed this mountain to visit the top. Recently, people have also started climbing Yasur to surf the volcano. In some ways, volcano surfing is like surfing in the sea, but in other ways it's very different. Volcano surfers try to escape the erupting volcano—without getting hit by flying rocks! It's fast, fun and dangerous—the perfect extreme sport (极限运动). |
Land diving |
Most people are familiar with bungee jumping, but do you know bungee jumping started on Pentecost Island in Vanuatu and is almost fifteen centuries old? The activity, first called land diving, is part of a religious ceremony (宗教仪式). A man ties tree vines (藤) to his legs. He then jumps head-first from a high tower to touch the earth with the top of his head—without breaking the vine. Every spring, island natives (men only) still take part in this amazing activity. |
Deborah Ahenkorah comes from Ghana, a country in West Africa. She has loved to read since she was a little girl. But all the books she read when she was little were American books and they showed a world that was different from hers. When Ahenkorah grew up, she started Golden Baobab. It is an organization that provides African children with books written by African people.
Golden Baobab does this in several different ways. First, it organizes programmes and workshops (讲习班). These workshops support African writers. In these workshops writers can learn new things and improve their writing. Second, Golden Baobab connects writers to publishers (出版商). Finally, it offers the Golden Baobab Prize. This is the most famous way in which Golden Baobab works. Any writer who is an African citizen (公民) can compete for the prize, and each story must happen in Africa.
"Children need books they can relate to. When they see characters who are like themselves in a story, they know that their experiences are important," said Tiffany Morris, who works for Golden Baobab.
According to Ahenkorah, Golden Baobab has already helped create over 850 stories. She wants to make Africa's book publishing industry a success. "We could have an industry of books, games, toys and characters that come from stories that are made just for African children," she said.
This is a big dream and also a big challenge. But Ahenkorah and Golden Baobab are working to make it come true.
Dai Shifang was an easygoing girl, who seldom argued with her parents. But when she became a ninth-grader, things started to change. "We often have arguments, sometimes because of some little things," she said.
Maybe Dai has got the "ninth-grade syndrome (综合征)". Some experts think ninth-graders usually suffer a lot because of the changes in their body and mind.
A study shows that the lack of support from parents makes things even worse. Dai's classmate Liu Shijia is an example. "The exams in Grade 9 are more difficult. So I'm under great pressure. But my parents push me so hard and they don't support me at all," she said sadly.
As ninth-graders enter the rebellious phase (叛逆期), they want to be free and have their own ideas. The study shows that about 47 per cent of ninth-graders try to make their parents agree with them when they have different ideas. Dai feels this deeply. "I think I am an adult already. I can make decisions for myself," she said. For example, she thinks there is nothing wrong with playing with boys, but her parents don't agree with her. They often argue about that.
To deal with these problems, an expert from Nantong gave useful advice to students. "First, talk with your parents. Sometimes you may not fully understand each other, but keep trying. Second, pay more attention to your studies. Finally, learn about the changes in your body and get to know yourself better. Then try to accept them and control your feelings," she said.
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The homestay (寄宿家庭) provides English language students with the good chance to speak English outside the classroom and the experience of being part of an American home.
What to Expect
The host will provide places to live and meals. Rooms will be cleaned every day. And the host is there to offer help and advice on your physical and mental (精神的) health.
Living Area
Host families are mainly in Zones 2, 3 and 4. Most hosts don't live in Zone 1 because much of central New York is trading centre. Zones 3 and 4 often offer larger houses in uncrowded areas. But it's very convenient to travel to the centre of New York by subway.
Meal Plans
It's important to know that few American families still provide a traditional cooked breakfast. Your breakfast mainly includes fruit juice, bread and coffee. Cheese, fruit and cold meat are not part of the breakfast. Dinners are usually made up of meat or fish with vegetables followed by dessert, fruit and coffee.
Friends
If you want to invite a friend to visit you, you must ask your host for permission first, because some families feel uncomfortable when there are strangers at their home.
There's nothing worse than someone lies to you. When it happens, you often wonder how someone can fool you successfully. Here are some tips on how to find the liar (说谎者).
The big pause (停顿)
Lying is not an easy task for the body and brain to deal with. First, your brain has to hide the truth. And try to invent a new lie and act it out. This often leads to a longer pause than normal before answering. The liar often asks some questions like "Why do you ask that?" to get more time to think about it rather than a direct response.
The eye dart (急扫)
Humans have more eye expressions than any other animal and our eyes can give away if we're trying to hide something. When we look up to our left to think, we're often trying to recall our memory. But when our eyes roll up to our right, we can be thinking more creatively.
The lost breath
Bending (歪曲) the truth causes a stress response in most people. The mouth dries, the body sweats more, so they soon get wet. The pulse becomes more quickly and the rhythm of the breaming changes to shorter or shallower (浅的). These can often be both seen and heard.
Overcompensating (表现过激)
A liar will often speak more and do more gestures. The liar often looks straightly at you without blinking his or her eyes. And he or she would do the same gesture again and again.
The poker face
Some people prefer to use the poker face so that they can avoid eye contact when they're considering hiding the truth.
The face hide
When someone tells a lie, he or she often has a strong feeling to hide his or her face. For example, he or she may touch the nose with hands or cover the mouth.
Self-comfort touches
The stress and discomfort of lying often produces gestures that are to comfort the liar, such as rocking，hair-stroking or playing with wedding rings. When we are telling a lie, we may use these self-comfort gestures more often than usual.
Henry was an office worker in a big city. He worked very hard and enjoyed travelling during his holidays.
He usually went to the seaside, but one year he saw an advertisement in a newspaper." Enjoy country life. Spend a few weeks at West Hill Farm. Good food. Fresh air. Walking. Fishing. Cheap and interesting."
"This sounds a good idea," he thought. "I'll spend a month at West Hill Farm. I think I can enjoy walking and fishing. They'll make a change from sitting by the seaside and swimming."
He wrote to the farmer. In the letter he said that he would like to spend the whole July there. Then on the first day of July, he left for West Hill Farm.
But four days later, he returned home.
"What was wrong with West Hill Farm?" his best friend, Ed. asked him. "Didn't you enjoy country life?"
"Country life was very good," Henry said. "But there was another problem."
"Oh. What?"
"Well," he said, "on the first day a sheep died, and we had roast mutton (烤羊肉) for dinner."
"What's wrong with that?" Ed asked. "Fresh meat is the best."
"I know, but on the second day a cow died, and we had roast beef for dinner."
"Lucky you!"
"You don't understand," Henry said. "on the third day a pig died and we had roast pork for dinner."
"A different kind of meat every day," Ed said loudly, "and you are complaining!"
"Let me finish, "Henry said. "on the fourth day the farmer. died, and I didn't dare (敢) stay for dinner!"
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According to the World Happiness Report, people who live in Denmark (丹麦) are the happiest in the world. Why? Because they know the secret to happiness — "hygge". But what is "hygge"?
The Danish (丹麦的) word "hygge" (pronounced "hoo—ga") is often translated in English as "coziness". But coziness paints only part of the picture. It's also about spending peaceful time in a quiet environment with no calendar. It's about spending time alone or spending time with family. Danish people are very good at "hygge". For example, they create a "hygge" environment by burning candles in classrooms, kitchens, bedrooms, etc. According to some reports, Danish people burn more candles every year than people from any other European country.
However, "hygge" isn't just about creating a nice and warm environment. It is best enjoyed with family members and friends. With up to 17 hours of darkness every day in winter, Danish people spend more time indoors as a result, and they often get together for a meal or hot drinks, without the distraction (干扰) of technology or the stress of daily life.
Still can't understand what "hygge" is? If you're reading this in a comfortable chair, with a few candles around you, that sense of coziness you're feeling might just be "hygge".
①play computer games till midnight
②spend more time indoors as a result
③stay up late to work in their own rooms
④often get together for a meal or hot drinks
Han Pingrun made sure he was at home every summer evening to watch the Japanese cartoon series, "Famous Detective Konan(《名侦探柯南》)" on TV. "The story is so interesting. I want to know what happens next," said the junior school student from Beijing.
Many students like Han love cartoons on TV, in films and in comic books. Cartoons are especially hot this year. Cartoon shows were held in Shanghai and Guangzhou. Hundreds of people visited and many were junior students. Many famous cartoon characters, like Crayon Shin-chan (蜡笔小新) and Doraemon(机器猫), are popular among teens.
Some students watch cartoons for fun. Others think they can learn from cartoon characters.
Huang Yiyi, a Junior 2 student from Changzhou, Jiangsu, loves the red-haired basketball player Sakuragi Hanamichi (樱木花道) from "Slum Dunk(《灌篮高手》)". "He is very confident and never gives ups" he said.
Parents and teachers are worried that some cartoons are unsuitable for children. Another problem is that kids also watch them in class.
Yang Xiong, an expert on teenage education in Shanghai, said, "Cartoons may be fun, but teens should not spend too much time on them."
