I once had a hard time making a living in France. Three years ago, I moved to a new neighborhood and felt an intense(强烈的) need to meet people so I went to the cinema. Outside the cinema was a woman with long gray hair who had a strong smell and was asking for money. I reached for my wallet to give her a Euro and then something made me stop and enter into conversation with her. I said, “Look, all the women going to the cinema here on a Tuesday night are seeing a film that can change your life. I'd rather buy you a ticket than give you money.”

    She hesitated（犹豫） for a moment and then came in with me. She hid behind me because, she said, the people running the theater didn't like her. I got her a ticket and she sat next to me. There were about 80 women there; I noticed some of them were turning around and looking at me with expressions of surprise and curiosity(好奇心).

    I encouraged the woman I had bought the ticket for to come the following night to an event where there would be many representatives(代表) of various social services. I thought they could be of some help to her. She did come and I was able to direct her to an agency that helped women in her situation. At the same time, a woman came toward me and said, “Are you the person who bought a ticket for the woman outside the theater asking for handouts?” When I said yes she said, “I want you to come to the community center where I work. I want the other employees there to meet you.”

    This was the beginning of a deep friendship and colleague relationship. I now have a great job and have more work than I've ever had in my 20 years in France. And the woman I took to the cinema that night? I learned that she was not homeless and that she was a secretary.

    Some British and American people like to invite friends for a meal at home. You should not be upset if your English friends don't invite you home. It doesn't mean they don't like you.

    Dinner parties usually start between 7 and 8 p.m. and end at about 11 p.m. Ask you hosts(主办人) what time you should arrive. It's polite to bring flowers, chocolates or a bottle of wine(酒) as a gift.

    Usually the evening starts with drinks and snacks. If you want to be very polite, say how much you like the room, or the pictures on the wall. But remember—It's not polite to ask how much things cost.

    In many families, the husband sits at one end of the table and the wife sits at the other end. They eat with their guests(客人).

    You'll probably start the meal with soup or something small, then you'll have meat or fish with vegetables, and then dessert followed by coffee. It's polite to finish everything on your plate and to take more if you want it.

    Did you enjoy the evening? Call your hosts the next day, or write them a short “thank you” letter. British and American people like to say “thank you, thank you, thank you” all the time!

    One Monday morning, I was waiting at the bus stop in Harvard Square. It was very cold, about -8℃. I just missed the bus, so I had to stand there on such a cold day, waiting for the next bus to go to the hospital. My mind was full of anxiety. "Why didn't I leave two minutes earlier?" "What would go wrong with my husband's operation (手术)?" "Will I get to him before it starts?"

    Among the others at the bus stop was a woman who was about 50 years old. She wore an old hat, an old pair of boots and a dark coat, but she had no gloves (手套). Another woman who looked younger came to the older woman and said, "Your hands must be very cold. You will get frostbite (生冻疮) in this weather if you don't wear gloves." With these words, she dropped her heavy bag to the ground. After a while, she took out a pair of purple gloves from her bag, took the older woman's hands and gently placed a glove on each hand. "Thank you. You're so kind." The old woman said again and again.

    I was deeply moved (感动) by this act of kindness. A moment ago, I was feeling sorry for myself, but now I felt hopeful and optimistic (乐观). I thought in this world there were still many people in trouble who were in great need of our help.

    A few days later, I went to buy 5 pairs of bright purple gloves in a shop and put them in my bag, just in case (以防) I might run into someone in need on a cold day.

    Corky was a brave young man and he dreamed of becoming the best fighter in the world.

    To become stronger and get better fighting skills, he went to many schools. One day, he went to the best school in the world. Before entering the gate, he was made to hand in all his weapons (武器).

    "You won't need those any more. Here you'll get better ones," said the guard. Corky handed his weapons to him. A serious old teacher took Corky to his room. Before he left, he said to Corky, "In a hundred days the training will start." A hundred days! At first Corky thought that was a joke, but he soon realized the old teacher had been serious. Corky felt nervous during the first days and he tried many ways to try to get the teacher to start the training. However, it didn't work. At last Corky waited patiently and enjoyed each day in the school.

    "You've already learned how to use your main weapon—patience," said the old teacher. Corky could hardly believe it, but he really understood that the teacher was right. Finally, the lesson began. "Now it's time to learn how to win every fight," said the old teacher. That sounded good to Corky until he found himself tied hand and foot. Many villagers tried to hit him because they were told that Corky was a dangerous man. The same thing was repeated for days, and Corky knew he had to do something. He realized that the only way would be to deal with the villagers' anger (怒气). In the following days, Corky kept talking to them until he managed to make them believe that he was not an enemy. In the end, the villagers made friends with Corky.

    Finally, Corky knew what the most powerful weapon was. He said thanks to the teacher and left.