I am off on a trip on my own. Yes ! Alone! I can't wait to get going to Europe to see some cities I really want to visit. It is great because I can choose what I want to do in each city. I am going to travel by train on the Eurorail.

     The train trip was fast and the views of the countryside were amazing. Now I am in Salzburg, Austria. The quiet hills of Austria are a great place to relax. The movie The Sound of Music was filmed around this area. Mozart, the famous musician, was from here. I listened to some of his classical music.

     The train ride to Amsterdam was a long one. It gave me time to write some postcards to send back home. Amsterdam is a fun city, full of friendly locals and many tourists. I spent the whole day visiting the art museums here. The museum about the famous Dutch artist Van Gogh is filled with history and beautiful art. I took a boat ride and saw local people in traditional dress. I even got to taste some delicious Dutch cheese.

     Copenhagen, Denmark, is one of the safest places in the world. I spent a busy and nice day at the Tivoli Amusement Park. It is a huge park which even has concerts and dance shows. Hans Christian Anderson, a famous writer of children's books, was born in this city. I found a lovely bookshop and bought two of his fairy tale books, The Little Mermaid and The Ugly Duckling. My travels alone are done! What an adventure this trip has been! I love it.

    The story is about a young student. She worked very hard at her lessons. She worked so hard that she became ill. She couldn't go to sleep at night. When she got up the next morning, she felt very tired.

    So she went to see a doctor. Hearing the student's words, the doctor said, "You are too stressed out. You must eat more food like vegetables and tofu. Besides you can try to count(数) numbers when you are lying in bed. By the time you reach one thousand, you will be asleep. I'm sure of it."

    The next day, the student came to see the doctor again. "Well," said the doctor, "how are you feeling today?"

    The student still looked tired. "Yes," she said, "I tried to count one, two, three, four... up to one thousand. But when I reached five hundred and sixty, I feel sleepy. I had to get up and drink some coffee so that I could go on counting up to one thousand. But then I still couldn't be asleep."

    Once there were two mice. They were friends. One mouse lived in the country; the other mouse lived in the city. After many years the Country mouse saw the City mouse; he said, "Do come and see me at my house in the country." So the City mouse went. The City mouse said, "This food is not good, and your house is not good. Why do you live in a hole in the field? You should come and live in the city. You would live in a nice house made of stone. You would have nice food to eat. You must come and see me at my house in the city."

    The Country mouse went to the house of the City mouse. It was a very good house. Nice food was set ready for them to eat. But just as they began to eat they heard a great noise. The City mouse cried, " Run! Run! The cat is coming!" They ran away quickly and hid.

    After some time they came out. When they came out, the Country mouse said, "I do not like living in the city. I like living in my hole in the field. For it is nicer to be poor and happy, than to be rich and afraid."

    Little Mary is a good girl. She's in Grade 2 now. Her home is not far from school, but she is often late for class because she likes watching TV, listening to music in the evening and she goes to bed very late. So she can't get up on time in the morning.

    This term Mr.  White, Mary's uncle, works in her school. He teaches Grade 2 history. He often tells Mary to follow the school rules and come to school on time.

    Today Mary get up late again. When she comes to school, it is 8:15. Her uncle is waiting for her at the school gate. "You are ten minutes late for the first class. " Mr. White says angrily (生气地). "Why are you often late for class?" "Every time when I get to the street corner（街角）, I always see a sign(标志). It says 'SCHOOL-GO SLOW!(慢行)'" says Mary.

    Gordon stands in the hallway(走廊). No one is there. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} It's 8: 10 a. m. He is late for class. He has to go to the music room, but he doesn't know where it is.

    He knows the music room isn't on the first floor. His classroom is on the first floor. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} He knows he has to walk quickly. The teacher will be worried(担心的).

    Gordon goes to the second floor and he turns(转弯) to the right. He goes down the hallway. On the left, he sees a door. "It may be the music room," he thinks. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} A young teacher is in it. Gordon asks the teacher, "Sorry, I'm new here. Do you know where the music room is?"

    "Sure," the teacher says. "It's on the third floor. Go upstairs and turn left. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} That is the music room. "

    Gordon thanks her and goes upstairs. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} "There you are!" Mr. Lewis says. "Your music teacher Mrs. Green asks me to find you." Gordon says, "I find you first!"

    Being street smart is an important skill tohave and a good way to take care of yourself.

    Always carry your phone with you, but do notlook at1 whileyou are walking. Being able to communicate or call for help is important, so keepa list of useful numbers. But put your phone away while you are walking so thatyou can keep your2 upand see what's going on around. If you do need to check your phone,3 andlook at it quickly.

    Don't wear earphones4 you are out. If you have to5 something when you're out, use only oneearphone or play it at a very low volume(音量).

    Travel with6 or family members when possible and never go anywherewith a stranger. It's7 tobe careful with strangers. Remember not to get into a stranger's car if they callyou over.

  8 darkand out-of-the-way places. Do not take short cuts through dark areas, even if itwill make your trip much faster. If you have to go to unsafe places, go9 someone you know or speak to someone over the phonewhile you are there.

    Run and shout if you feel unsafe. Run away asfast as you can towards a police station, hospital, or nearby business for10.Shout as loudly as you can to get the attention of people nearby.