People often ask me for backpacking (徒步旅行) tips in a foreign land. But backpacking, more often than not, is about being independent and exploring.

The first challenge is usually the language. But one doesn't need to be a language master to get around. What you need to do is simply learn some words that are necessary to help you with the use of public transport or ask for information.

Be wise while making decisions about your money. At rip to Southeast Asia or even Europe could cost no more than flights in your own country. If you don't have much money, don't worry. Try staying in hostels or shared houses, which provides good opportunities to meet others and also allows you to know culture and food through the locals.

A common mistake many backpackers (背包旅行者)make today is blindly copying the routes (路线) and schedules(计划)in the so-called" "tour Bibles". However, true backpackers should dig up much more while exploring. Backpacking is all about interests and hobbies.

But the unexpected always happens. You might run into some surprise. You should always be prepared. Over the years, I have grown into an experienced backpacker. But the journey ahead is still full of attractions and delights for me. I hope you will enjoy it as well.

In our daily life, we all have some experiences. Have you ever (want) to know what goes through your mind when you are picking a seat (sit) on in a new classroom or in a waiting room full of (strange) or on a bus? Researchers(研究者)have found out some interesting facts.

Perhaps we needn't be (surprise) at that—we like to sit closer people like ourselves better. Girls sit by girls boys sit by boys. Adults(成年人)sit together and young people choose young person to sit near. But it goes further than this. We even choose to sit near someone who looks us. People glasses are more likely to sit near other people with glasses. People with long hair sit (close) to other people with long hair.

Dear Linda,

It was great to talk to you yesterday1phone. As l told you2, l am in Rome today. Let me tell you something about 3we have been so far.

We started the travel in England and we spent two days 4London. We visited a lot of great museums and buildings. The only5 thing was the weather—it rained all the time. Can you 6it?

When we got to Paris, the weather was 7. We only stayed for one afternoon there in the sun. 8my friends really wanted to visit Euro Disney. It is to the east of Paris. Well, I have to 9 l like the American Disneyland better. 10we met some nice people from Canada and spent two great days 11 them. One of them, Clive, is going to 12 school next year. What a coincidence (巧合)!

After that, we went south into Switzerland (瑞士). We found 13was expensive there and we couldn't stay as 14 as we wanted to. That's why we are in Italy now!

OK, that's enough. I want to post this letter now15 you can get it by the weekend.

See you soon.

Yours,

Mike

My Visit to Beijing

There are many different places to eat in Switzerland. There are fast-food restaurants, self-service restaurants and family restaurants. There are also some nice and expensive restaurants. Choosing where to eat is an "experience".

Food is more expensive in Switzerland than in most of other countries in Europe. It is much more expensive than in the USA. In Switzerland if you go to a fast-food restaurant, you may easily spend up to 10 CHF(瑞士法郎) for a hamburger, a soft drink and a cup of coffee. In a family restaurant, a meal usually costs you between 15CHF and 50 CHF. Self-service restaurants are less expensive. At a nice restaurant, one person can pay as much as 1,000 CHF just for a bottle of wine.

In Switzerland, a usual dinner always has all kinds of noodles, vegetables, meat, fish and seafood. Potatoes are used in many different ways. Vegetarian meals(素食饭菜)are also popular now. This means that salads are very popular. The most important part of a dinner is the dessert. Cheese, cakes and cookies are the most popular desserts.

Dear Linda,

How is everything going? This afternoon, we held a class meeting, talking about our unforgettable experiences. Our monitor Jim entered a competition and (赢得)the first prize. It made his parents (感到骄傲的)of him. And my classmate Ann said she felt (孤独的) at first. She was afraid to (谈话) with others in the past. But our teacher Miss White found that and gave her a card to (鼓励)her to make friends with others. That's the best gift that she has received.

As for me, I feel happy through reading. I have (曾经)read a good book about the universe. It's (有趣的) to know about space. I wonder (是否)human beings will visit Mars some day. I'd like to be a director(导演) to make a TV (节目) about space and astronauts(宇航员)when I grow up.

The class meeting was full of (快乐).

When we talked about some funny experiences, we couldn't help laughing.

Could you share your unforgettable experiences with me? I look forward to your email.

Best wishes,

Betty

Now throwing shoes at somebody is a favourite game on the Internet. Sometimes you should throw your shoes. Here is an example.

After leaving his office at the centre of the city, a young man bought a new car and drove it from the city to his home. He was very happy and the car ran very fast. Suddenly, a shoe hit the car in the door. The man got very angry. He jumped out of car and caught a boy with a shoe in his hand.

"Who are you? Why do you do that?" the angry man shouted at the boy.

"I'm sorry . . . But I don't know what else to do. My sister has been hurt. I cry for help but nobody stops," the boy said.

The man looked around and saw a girl by the road. ________.

"She is my sister. She wanted to cross the road but fell out of her wheelchair(轮椅). She is too heavy for me. I can't get her back into the wheelchair. "The man was moved. He helped the girl who was bleeding(流血)  back into her wheelchair." Thank you! You are so kind, "said the little boy.

Life speaks to our heart. Sometimes we don't have time to listen and he will throw a shoe to us.

One cold winter night in Shanghai, I was walking home at one in the morning after long tiring work. L was having trouble with my job in the bank. As I walked, I thought seriously about giving up living there. City life had become too much for me.

As I walked down empty streets, I felt very small and cold. I began running, both to keep warn and to keep away any possible danger. Very few people were still out except a few sad-looking homeless people under blankets(毛毯).

Suddenly, I heard a sound behind me. l turned quickly, and all I saw was a shining streetlight. Still, the noise had made me nervous, so l started to run faster. When I reached home, I realised what the noise had been. It had been my wallet falling to the sidewalk.

Now I wasn't cold or tired anymore. I ran back to where Td heard the noise. Although I searched carefully for fifteen minutes, I couldn't find my wallet anywhere. Just as l was about to give up the search, I heard the garbage truck(垃圾车)come to me. When a voice called from the in sidle," Alisa Chen?" I thought I was dreaming. How could this man know my name? The door opened, and out jumped a small red-haired man." Is this what you're looking for?" he asked, holding up a small square shape.

It was nearly 3 am by the time I got into bed. But I had got my wallet back. I also had got back some enjoyment of city life. I realised that the city couldn't be a bad place as long as people were willing to help each other.

SAFETY RULES ON THE MTR TRAINS

At the station:

★Be patient. Line up on the platform(站台) and wait for the train.

★Be polite. Let passengers get off first. Do not rush onto the train. It is dangerous.

★When you hear a "beep" sound, do not get on the train. The door is closing. Wait for another train.

On the train:

★Do not eat or drink on the train. It makes the train dirty.

★Do not run on the train.

★Give your seat to old men or women, the disabled or women carrying babies.