At thirteen, I was diagnosed(诊断) with a kind of attention disorder. It made school difficult for me. When everyone else in the class was focusing on tasks, I could not.

    In my first literature class, Mrs. Smith asked us to read a story and then write on it, all within 45 minutes. I raised my hand right away and said, “Mrs. Smith, you see, the doctor said I have attention problems. I might not be able to do it.” She glanced down at me through her glasses, “You are no different from your classmates, young man.”

    I tried, but I didn't finish the reading when the bell rang. I had to take it home.

    In the quietness of my bedroom, the story suddenly all became clear to me. It was about a blind person, Louis Braille. He lived in a time when the blind couldn't get much education. But Louis didn't give up. Instead, he invented a reading system of raised dots(点), which opened up a whole new world of knowledge to the blind.

    Wasn't I the “blind” in my class, being made to learn like the “sighted” students? My thoughts spilled out and my pen started to dance. I completed the task within 40 minutes. Indeed, I was no different from others; I just needed a quieter place. If Louis could find his way out of his problems, why should I ever give up?

    I didn't expect anything when I handed in my paper to Mrs. Smith, so it was quite a surprise when it came back to me the next day—with an “A” on it. At the bottom of the paper were these words: “See what you can do when you keep trying?”

    On May 14^th, 2016, three foreigners saved a drowning(溺水的)Chinese girl.

    Roman and Krill are Russian first-year college students. That Saturday, they were standing by the river near Shanghai Jianqiao University with their teacher, Bastien, a teacher from France at Jianqiao University. Then they saw someone “swimming”.

    The three said the “swimmer” seemed to be drowning. They rushed to help, though they didn't hear any cries, and found a girl in the water.

    Roman jumped into the water at once. He swam to the girl and quickly caught her arm. Then Krill came to Roman and held his hand. Bastien held on to the bank with one hand, while holding Krill with the other hand.

    “The girl almost pulled us into the water as she tried so hard to get out of the water,” said Bastien.

    A video showed that the rescue took less than five minutes. But it was really dangerous.

    The girl, 17 ,was a student from a nearby school. The three heroes spent some time with her to make sure she was safe and not hurt. Then the girl was sent to the international students' apartment of Shanghai Jianqiao University. Roman, one of the Russian students, later found he was injured in the back during the rescue. His cellphone also broke after being in the water. Students and teachers at Jianqiao University quickly heard the news. They were all proud of them. The three men also received some money as a reward from the girl's parents on Monday.

    Thanks to the three brave men, the girl didn't lose her life. The three heroes have been called foreign “LeiFeng”.

    It is quite natural for all of us to want to preserve and protect the foods we buy. We always think that the best way is by putting them in our refrigerators. However, there are certain foods which should never be placed in the fridge. The foods listed below may surprise you.

    Bananas in the fridge? Because they keep nutrients better outside the fridge, they should never be placed inside the refrigerator. Bananas are better kept on the counter until they ripen. The cold temperatures actually slow down the ripening process of the bananas, while the moisture and darkness of the fridge will only make them go bad.

    Potato should be placed in a cool, dry and dark space. By reason of the cold temperatures of the fridge, it can turn starch（淀粉）into sugar more rapidly. It is also recommended that potatoes be removed from plastic or paper bags they may have been placed in. Also, keep them unwashed, as well as in a well-ventilated cardboard box.

    Placing your onions inside your refrigerator will eventually end up turning them moldy and soft. Unpeeled（未剥皮的）onions should be kept out of plastic bags and fridge. One of the reasons for this is because unpeeled onions require and need air exposure for maximum life. If you have peeled an onion though, then you should keep it in the fridge, in a covered container.

    Believe it or not, placing garlic in your refrigerator will actually cause it to sprout（发芽）. The garlic will also got moldy and even rubbery. Moreover, inside your fridge, the look of the garlic will rarely change. This means you won't be able to tell if it's any good until you finally slice it open.

    Most people looking for ways to quit smoking worry about weight gain, and with good reason. Smokers who quit tend to pack on an average of 5 pounds after they stop smoking cigarettes. A new study, published by the journal Science, explains why this happens.

    The new research explains that nicotine appears to combine with appetite-regulating neurons (调节食欲的神经元) in the brain, besides the receptors (感受器) that bring about addiction. These neurons help regulate how much food gets consumed, but under the influence of nicotine, they lose their self-control. This is why when smokers quit, they tend to eat more and gain weight.

    The researchers believe that their discovery will lead to the development of drugs that aim at nicotine receptors on brain cells that control appetite. In the future, weight gain may no longer be a reason for smokers to delay the decision to kick the habit, but that's no reason to wait. Nicotine-replacement treatment, while not for everyone, can help. Here are a few more ways to quit smoking and stay slim.

    Drink water. To improve metabolic (新陈代谢的) rates, make half of those glasses ice water. Juice can be too high in calories, something you'll want to keep an eye on your journey toward being a slimmer non-smoker. Plan your snacks. Healthy snacks help keep your metabolism working, so you continue to burn calories while stopping wild hunger pain, or fake hunger.

    Keep moving. Exercise kills two birds with one stone. It helps you burn calories and prevents you from eating when you're not truly hungry. It's also a feel-good stress reliever (缓解物). Focus on your fitness and how being healthy makes you feel. Make exercise a goal and think of quitting as your reward for being physically fit.

    You are given many opportunities in life to choose to be a victim or creator. When you choose to be a victim, the world is a cold and difficult place. "They" did things to you which caused all of your pain and suffering. "They" are wrong and bad, and life is terrible as long as "they" are around. Or you may blame yourself for all your problems, thus internalizing(内化)your victimization. The truth is, your life is likely to stay that way as long as you feel a need to blame yourself or others.

    Those who choose to be creators look at life quite differently. They know there are individuals who might like to control their lives, but they don't let this get in the way. They know they have their weaknesses, yet they don't blame themselves when they fail. Whatever happens, they have choice in the matter. They believe their dance with each sacred(神圣的)moment of life is a gift and that storms are a natural part of life which can bring the rain needed for emotional and spiritual growth.

Victims and creators live in the same physical world and deal with many of the same physical realities, yet their experience of life is worlds apart. Victims relish(沉溺)in anger, guilt, and other emotions that cause others—and even themselves—to feel like victims, too. Creators consciously choose love, inspiration, and other qualities which inspire not only themselves, but all around them. Both victims and creators always have choice to determine the direction of their lives.

    In reality, all of us play the victim or the creator at various points in our lives. One person, on losing a job or a special relationship, may feel as if it is the end of the world and sink into terrible suffering for months, years, or even a lifetime. Another with the same experience may choose to first experience the grief, then accept the loss and soon move on to be a powerful creative force in his life.

    In every moment and every circumstance, you can choose to have fuller, richer life by setting a clear intention to transform the victim within, and by inviting into your life the powerful creator that you are.

Where to eat in Malaysia

    Malaysia offers a wide range of food choices, ranging from fine dining to street food. Elsewhere, restaurants and food stalls are readily available. 

Old China Café

    Eating here is a little like dining in a museum as the walls are lined with photos and memorabilia of the local Chinese laundryman's association. Chinese and Asian dishes keep regulars and travellers coming back for more. The menu changes monthly. 

San Pedro

    This restaurant serves Portuguese cuisine. Try the baked fish (seabass or red snapper) , curry chicken (can be quite spicy) , fried brinjauls and the black pepper crabs. Call ahead to reserve a table (and your fish) , because once their fish runs out, they will close for the day. 

The Bungalow

    Facing the hotel pool and the beach, this restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating. At night, the atmosphere is very romantic. The Chinese menu concentrates on traditional Hainanese dishes, but includes dishes such as fish curry, chicken rice and file t mignon. 

No. 7 Sup Corner

    Even if you miss this buffet-style restaurant at the road bend, you will not miss the number of cars parked at the road shoulder or the locals heading to it during lunchtime. It serves Malay dishes. First get your plate of rice, and then take whatever you would like to eat. Present your food plate to the lady at the counter and pay for it. Closed on Fridays and during Ramadan. Come early as there's always a crowd outside.