In my living room, there is a plaque (匾) that advises me to “Bloom (开花) where you are planted.” It reminds me of Dorothy. I got to know Dorothy in the early 1980s, when I was teaching Early Childhood Development through a program with Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky. The job responsibilities required occasional visits to the classroom of each teacher in the program. Dorothy stands out in my memory as one who “bloomed” in her remote area.

    Dorothy taught in a school In Harlan County, Kentucky, Appalachian Mountain area. To get to her school from the town of Harlan, I followed a road winding around the mountain. In the eight-mile journey, I crossed the same railroad track five times, giving the possibility of getting caught by the same train five times. Rather than feeling excited by this drive through the mountains, I found it depressing. The poverty level was shocking and the small shabby houses gave me the greatest feeling of hopelessness.

    From the moment of my arrival at the little school, all gloom (忧郁) disappeared. Upon arriving at Dorothy's classroom. I was greeted with smiling faces and treated like a queen. The children had been prepared to show me their latest projects. Dorothy told me with a big smile that they were serving poke greens salad and cornbread for “dinner” (lunch). In case you don't know, poke greens are a weed-type plant that grows wild, especially on poor ground.

    Dorothy never ran out of reports of exciting activities of her students. Her enthusiasm never cooled down. When it came time to sit for the testing and interviewing required to receive her Child Development Associate Certification, Dorothy was ready. She came to the assessment and passed in all areas. Afterward, she invited me to the one-and-only steak house in the area to celebrate her victory, as if she had received her Ph. D. degree. After the meal, she placed a little box containing an old pen in my hand. She said it was a family heirloom (传家宝), but to me it is a treasured symbol of appreciation and pride that cannot be matched with things.  (360 words)

    It might be something that you miss unless it's pointed out to you. Next time you go to a public bathroom, take a look before you sit down on the toilet seat. You won't see a circle shape, but something designed not connected in the front part: a U.

    This is an open-front toilet seat, and thanks to the American Standard National Plumbing (水管装置) Technology, it's the go-to for most public restrooms. This technology was created in 1955 and further developed by the Uniform Plumbing Technology in 1973, according to Mental Floss.

    As to the plumbing rules which fit water seats, the first two requirements are as follows:

    Toilet seats shall be of smooth, non-absorbed material.

    All Toilet seats, except those within apartment units, shall be either of the open front type or have an automatic seat cover.

    This part of the rules also clears up why you won't meet fur toilet seats in truck stop bathrooms. The reason for both of these rules comes down to health. With an open front, there's less surface area that can make incidental touch with your private regions. But what about the toilet seat covers you can use? Unfortunately, those don't offer as much protection against bacteria as you think they do.

    They were also designed with women in mind, according to Lynne Simick, the senior vice president of technology development at IAPMO. The open front of the seat is fairly good for women.

Now that you know why the public toilet seat is shaped the way it is, learn which one is the cleanest you can use.

    It's well-known that meditation (冥想) has many benefits, but do you know how to practice it for a beginner?

    Set a proper scene

    Find a space for meditation. It should be private and quiet. Make sure the temperature is comfortable. Sit on a cushion (垫子) if the floor is uncomfortable. You may play soft music if you like.
                   

    Take a moment to loosen up. Remember that the goal of meditation is to relax. Loosen your clothing, remove your shoes and have a good stretch. Do your best to ease any muscle tension that might keep you from achieving relaxation. Make an effort to relax your facial muscles.

    Focus on your breath

    Sit down in the space you've prepared. Close your eyes and breathe. Each time you breathe in, count “one”. Each time you breathe out, count “one”. The idea is to strengthen being in the moment — the last breath doesn't matter, and the next one doesn't matter; only this one matters.

    Feel your breath inflate (胀大) your lungs and push on your diaphragm (隔膜). Feel how sweet it is to inhale the fresh air. As you do this, your body will gradually begin to relax and all of your attention will be centered within your mind.

    Return to real life

    Once you feel fully centered in your mind, allow yourself to gradually drift back to real life. Move your fingers and toes and slowly wake your body up. Open your eyes and remain there for a few minutes until your senses come back, and then slowly stand up.

    Even if you can't make it fully into your mind, you still get some benefits from it. If you want to feel better, you just need to practice. Set about 10 minutes around the same time every day and repeat this exercise.

    In recent years more and more Chinese schoolchildren are required to wear uniforms at school. Do American children wear school uniforms? In fact, American schoolchildren often wear uniforms if they attend religious or other private schools. Most public schools do not require uniforms. But over the last ten years or so, more of them have moved in that direction, including high schools. Another option is that students may just have to dress alike—for example, white shirts and dark colored pants or skirts. Even schools that do not require uniforms generally have a dress rule about what they consider acceptable. Schools commonly forbid clothing that shows images or words causing displeasure, or simply too much skin. Hats may be forbidden because, for example, different colors may be connected with bad guys.

    Some parents like the idea of uniforms. Some say it means they do not have to spend much on clothing for their kids. Others, though, argue that uniforms represent an unnecessary cost.

    There are also debates about whether uniforms or other dress rules go against civil rights. Students and parents have taken legal action against school dress requirements. Several years ago, a middle school was asked to stop its dress rule unless families had a way out of it. The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California brought the case for the families of several students who had been punished by the school. Most attention centered on a girl who wore socks with the Tigger character from Winnie the Pooh. The school said its clothing policy, including no pictures of any kind, was needed to control a growing problem with gangs. The families argued that the policy went against free speech rights as protected by the United States and California constitutions.

    The United States Supreme Court says student expression is protected as long as it does not harm the work and the rule of a school. But some educators believe dressing alike helps improve student learning. They believe that uniforms help create a sense of unity and reduce the risk of fights. They also say uniforms make it easier for security reasons to tell if someone belongs to the school or not.

    The impression you make at the beginning of an interview is very important. Employers often decide to hire someone in the first three minutes of the interview. They judge you by your appearance, attitude and manners.

    A friendly smile when you walk into the room is important. A smile shows a confident and positive attitude. When you introduce yourself, make eye contact with the interviewer. Some interviewers offer a handshake. Others don't.

    Try to be as natural as possible. But pay attention to your body language. The way you sit, walk, gesture, use your voice and show feelings on your face is all part of your body language. It makes the interviewer know how you feel about yourself and the situation you are in. Are you feeling positively about yourself？Your abilities? Your interest in the job？

    Speak clearly and loudly enough. Show interest and enthusiasm in your voice. When you speak, look at the interviewer. Also, don't say negative things about yourself, or former employer.

    Listen to questions carefully. If you don't understand a question, ask the interviewer to repeat or explain:

    "I'm sorry, but I didn't catch that."

    "Almost everyone is nervous in a job interview. Interviewers know that. They don't expect you to be totally calm and relaxed. But they expect you to try to control your nervousness. They expect you to show confidence in your ability to do the job.

    At the end of the interview, thank the interviewer for her or his time. It's a good idea to send a short thank-you letter right after the interview, or deliver it by hand.

    Phone the company if you have not heard anything after one week. Ask if they have made a decision about the job.

Good luck!

    We lived in a quiet neighborhood. One evening I heard a loud crash. Earlier my wife had asked me to the store for soft drinks. My teenage daughter Holly practiced her driving, so I sent her to the store in my truck.

    At dinner my son talked about how much he liked my truck. I enjoyed having it, but I said: "My heart is not set on that truck. I like it but it is just metal and won't last forever. Never set your heart on anything that won't last. "

    After hearing the loud noise, the whole family ran outside. My son shouted: "Holly crashed your truck."

    The accident took place in my own driveway. Holly had crashed my truck into our other vehicle(交通工具), the family van. In her inexperience, she had confused the brake(刹车) and the gas pedal(油门). Holly was unhurt physically, but she was crying, "Dad, I'm sorry. I know how much you love this truck." I held her in my arms as she cried.

    I still remembered how sad Holly was the night she crashed our truck, and how I comforted her. When Holly thinks back on her life, I want her to know that I love her a thousand times more than any piece of property(财产).

    I repaired the van, but the dent(凹痕) in my truck is still there today. Every day it reminds me of what really matters in my life.