Growing up in the US, I always wanted to know about another culture. The chance came when I was 15. After a few months of planning and preparing, I was ready to spend the second term of my first year of high school as an exchange student in Australia.

    The city I stayed in was Perth, Australia, and it is the fourth largest city of Australia. When I arrived at the airport, the family I would live with were already waiting for me there, and the new school term would start in only five days. The school I attended was very different from my school in the US. In the school we had to wear the uniform, and we were not allowed to wear bracelets (手链) or necklaces(项链). I was quite uncomfortable at first, because I had never been to a new school— even in the US. Everything went smoothly, though. The teachers were welcoming and the students were friendly.

    The most memorable time of my term abroad was with other international exchange students. We traveled around Australia during the breaks. The few weeks we spent together were filled with amazing activities. At the end of our stay in Australia, we had three weeks to share our stories and help each other. Our last day together was filled with tears. We packed our things, exchanged e-mail addresses, and got together to say goodbye.

    I really have learned a lot from my exchange experience.

Billy's favorite color isorange. But he can't see what orange looks like.

A month after he was born, his mother noticedthat his eyes weren't quite as1asa normal baby's. "Billy would never be able to see, he is2."the doctor said. Even so, with the hope to help Billy learn all about the worldaround him, his mother kept talking to him and describing3shesaw.

Billy does not only depend on his mother's descriptionsto learn about the world around him. He sees4hisears and his hands, too. He has perfect hearing. When people make phone calls,he can5the numbers they dial (拨).

"He is very confident and his disabilitydoesn't stop him from being an important part of the class," his teachersaid, "The students love him, and he is just one of them."

Billy loves computer science. He began teaching6computerprogramming when he was just seven years old. As a young boy, he7goingto study in Stanford University. And for years of efforts (努力), he got the best grades in his classes, he finally8hisdream. Many people wanted to find out the9ofhis success. Billy explained, "Move forward! Don't let any difficultiesget in the way of your dreams."

You cannot choose what you are given10youcan choose how you make use of it.

I am a book lover. So my house is forever full of1. I have new ones, old ones, hard covers, paperbacks,2and non-stories. I have three boxes of books in my closet, two boxes of books on the floor of my bedroom, and a box of children's books3 for my future grandchildren. I have even more books4the two I wrote on my desk. I try to keep the books5 building up by donating as many as I can to the local6, but as soon as I donate a few, I find myself buying a few more.

   Books Iread keep my mind young, and my heart7,and soul bright. They bring me knowledge, laughter, and joy. They connect me withthe wisdom of the past and the new ideas of the8.They keep me moving on the right path as a journey through life.

    I havelearned that people are a lot like books as well. Some have bright and shiny covers9  don't have very much to say inside of them. Otherslook old and plain but so full of10and light that reading them can11yourwhole life. One difference between books and people, though, is that while a bookhas an ending, the writing inside of us12forever.

Take care when writing the book of your own life. Fill it with love for yourself, others and this world. Fill it with all the wisdom you have learned, goodness you have done,13you have shared, and joy you have14. Keep writing it every day, too. Make it everything you are and everything you want to be, and then15it to everyone. I know it will be a wonderful and fantastic book.

I have a pen pal. We1 chat (聊天) on WeChat. Now let me tell you2 about him. 

My pen pal's name is Li Kang. He3 in Beijing. He is a 4 of Grade Seven. There are 5 people in his family — his dad, his mum, his sister and him. 

Li Kang loves6 books a lot. He often reads 7 in his free time, 8 he knows a lot. Li Kang likes 9 very much. When he meets some 10 in studying English, he often asks me for help. He studies it every day. I'm 11 he will study English well. 

My Chinese is not12 . Li Kang often helps me 13 my Chinese. He teaches me to speak Chinese on WeChat. Now I can speak some Chinese. Li Kang and I often help each 14 . I'm glad to have a pen pal like Li Kang. 

I want to go to Beijing to15 Li Kang one day. I will be very happy to see him. 

Kate is an English girl, but she is in China with her parents. She is a middle school student in Shanghai now. Let's ask her some questions and see how she answers them.

◆What do you eat for breakfast?

I have milk and eggs. They are my favorite food for breakfast. I think they are healthy. I don't like bread.

◆Do you eat lunch at school?

Yes. I eat chicken and rice at school. Sometimes I eat salad for lunch. I don't like eating hamburgers. They are not good for my health.

◆What fruit do you like?

I like bananas, apples and strawberries very much. I eat fruit every day. Fruit is important to our health.

◆Do you play sports every day?

Sure, I do. I play basketball with my friends every day. I think it's interesting and relaxing. Sometimes I play volleyball, but it's difficult for me.