Have you ever planned a trip to Europe? What should you consider before you travel? First of all, it is important to think about money. It can be difficult to (A)estimate how much you will spend. (B)A wallet that is lost or stolen can also cause problems.

    Experienced travelers would learn about the money they will use in a foreign country. Most  European countries now use the euro(欧元). So you should know the different value between the euro and the money you use in your own country. We call it exchange rate(汇率). This rate changes every day. You can find out the exchange rate through a bank or the Internet.

It is not wise to carry a large amount of cash(现金). Many travelers prefer to carry travelers' checks(支票) rather than bring cash. (C)They can be used in many places around the world and they can be exchanged for the local money. (D)It is possible to get them back if they are lost or stolen. Travelers can also use bankcards instead of cash. But they must be careful and make sure not to lose them and to keep their passwords secret.

Memories about Teachers

    Recently we made a survey (调查)and asked a large number of people to tell us about their teachers. Here is what they remembered about their teachers:

    "What teachers do I remember? Well, I remember my first teacher. She was so kind and pretty, and she told us many interesting stories."

    "I remember an English teacher . he always had colored socks: red, green, even orange,"

    "I remember a math teacher. She was always dressed very well. I couldn't stop looking at her. I wanted to be like her."

    "Our chemistry teacher. He was so strict. We were afraid of him. I don't think he liked us."

    "The physics teacher was so boring. He could make us fall asleep very quickly."

    "One year we had a really good Chinese language teacher. He was very patient and told very funny stories. He was popular with all the class. We always worked hard for him. We are his friends,"

    "The P.E. teacher always said I was stupid. I thought teachers should give us encouragement. I am not interested in sports because of him."

    "I had one history teacher who always wore clothes of the same color. In three years I never saw him change."

    "I remember two teachers well. One was my music teacher who was very active, and usually had a loud voice. The other was my computer teacher, who was very serious, but here ally helped me when I had problems at any time."

Information Card

    Do you know anything about the way of shopping in Western countries? In the West, people usually make a list before they go shopping. Most people like to go to supermarkets or big shopping malls.

    In the West, most supermarkets or malls open at 8:00 a.m. and close at 6:00 p.m. But some big supermarkets and big malls are open until 11:00 p.m. at night. When people go into a supermarket, first they should get a basket or a cart(手推车) at the entrance(入口处). Then they begin to choose things and put them into the basket or the cart. After they get everything they want, they pay the money. There are always a lot of people in the supermarket at weekends. They must wait for their turn.

    Most people go to the supermarket or the shopping mall once a week. Some people go shopping twice or three times a week.

Information Card

    If you are visiting England, you will notice that the English have many customs (风俗) and traditions (传统) that are different from those in China. Here's a guide to visiting England. It provides help for anyone who visit England for the first time.

    Standing in the queue

    English people like to form queues. They think it is the fair way to behave. People wait in a queue in shops or at bus stops. People will think you are rude if you don't join the queue.

    Please, Thank you, Excuse me and Sorry

    It is good manners to say "Please" and "Thank you". If someone is in your way, say "Excuse me" and they will move. If you bump into someone or you are in their way, say "Sorry". They will probably say sorry, too, even if it was your mistake. Saying sorry does not always mean you are wrong. Sometimes it is a polite thing to say.

    Meeting a new person

    When people meet for the first time, the usual custom is to shake hands. The next time you meet that person, you can just say hello. English people don't usually hug or kiss if they don't know each other really well.

    Talking to people

    English people find it difficult to start conversations with strangers. If you are on buses or trains, they usually sit as far away from other people as possible. If you want to start a conversation, the topic that English people are always happy to talk about is the weather. So you need to be able to say "Isn't it warm (sunny/windy/wet/foggy) today?" or "Do you think it's going to rain/clear up?" Avoid topics such as politics, religion or how much people earn!

    Just behave politely. Remember: When you are in England, just do as the English people do!

    Those days when you go on vacation, you spend most of your money just getting there. Travel is expensive, but don't stay home only because you are short of money! Here is some advice:

    Travel during off season if possible. Flights and hotels are much cheaper when tourism is low.

    Choose a hotel that's a little farther from popular attractions. If you're staying several days, check out prices on vacation homes-- they can end up being cheaper than a hotel.

    Take public traffic, such as buses or subway, instead of taking a taxi.

    Plan your meals, and cat like locals. Don't waste money at expensive hotel restaurants or fast- food chains. Depending on where you stay, it may be cheaper to make food on your own.

    Check online for special discount (折扣)—if you're a student, the old or the parents traveling with children, you could get discounts! A little research could save you a lot of money.

    Whether you're backpacking alone or going on a family vacation, your trip doesn't have to cost a lot of money. The key is to plan ahead and write down what you spend. Then put the money you save toward your next trip!