Do you always agree to do things that you are unwilling to do? Are you the type of person who always says "yes"? I've come to learn that it is very important to learn to say NO! It's okay. People are still going to like you. They may even respect you more because they know you are honest.

    I'm not saying to say "no" to someone who really needs your help. I'm talking about refusing that meeting that you really do not want to attend or that birthday party that you don't want to be a guest at.

    Think for a moment how you feel when you say YES to something that you really don't want to do. If you're like I once was, you can't sleep at night and you think about it too much. It weighs on your mind. You try to find ways out. Whatever you're saying to yourself, if you really wanted to go, you wouldn't have all of these thoughts.

    So, why not just say NO from the beginning? Maybe you feel like if you don't show up at the meeting (by the way, it is not the one you must attend) your boss isn't going to like you or your co-workers won't respect you. Maybe you feel as if your mom, dad or sisters won't love you as much if you don't do everything for them that they ask every occasion.

    If these people are your true friends, family members, or a good boss, they will like or love you the same no matter what. People treat you the way you teach them to, and if you're someone who always says "yes", then that's what they're expecting.

    You need to do what is right for you. Of course we do have real obligations in life to fulfill, but we do not have to do everything others want us to do.

    According to a British study presented to an international conference on smoking, within a few short years, more girls in Europe will be smokers than boys, for reasons experts still fail to understand.

    Anti-smoking activists (积极分子) at the second "Tobacco or Health" conference on the Canary Islands pointed out that while adults were giving up smoking in ever growing numbers, more and more young people were taking up the habit, especially girls.

    One 15-year-old in four is a regular smoker, according to a study made in 27 countries in Europe, the United States, Canada and Israel by Edinburgh University together with the World Health Organization.

    In Western Europe, girls were more likely than boys to smoke. In Germany and England, one third of the girls were smokers compared to one in four boys. In Eastern Europe, the girls "still fall behind" those in the Western Europe but were "catching up" quickly, said the study.

    The study dealt with the behaviour of 15-year-olds in seven European countries over a four-year period.

    The percentages of young women smoking went from 17 percent to 36 percent in Austria, from 17 percent to 28 percent in Norway, and from 21 percent to 28 percent in Hungary.

    Of the seven countries and regions studied (Austria, Finland, Hungary, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Wales), more girls than boys smoked in 1998, with the exception of Hungary.

    While many countries love their tea, UK citizens are particularly proud of being “tea people”. The average UK citizen consumes nearly 2 kilograms of tea each year.

    Tea only made its way to England in large quantities in the first years of the 17^th century. Tea from China and a few other Asian countries was being sold more widely in England at that time. Then tea was getting more and more popular among different social classes.

    There are many varieties of tea. Black tea mixtures are still the most common type drunk in the UK. Black tea is dark in colour, because the leaves have been allowed to oxidize (氧化) before drying. This is why we usually serve it with milk, although it is not uncommon to drink it black or with lemon. You may still find tea made with loose tea leaves, served up in a pot, and poured into the best china cups with saucers (茶托) for visitors.

    Tea is still a large part of daily life in the UK today, but it seems to be on the decrease. The amount of tea sold in the UK fell by more than 10% in the five years leading up to 2002, and has been dropping ever since. Tea sales fell by 6% in 2014 alone, and most restaurants report selling more than twice as many cups of coffee as they do tea. More than ￡1 billion was spent on coffee in high street stores in 2013, more than twice what was spent on tea bags.

    Still, what goes around comes around; it's sure to become fashionable again.

    College students may find a greener campus when they return to classes this fall. Some schools arc repairing older buildings and constructing new ones that arc better for the environment. Other steps include adding wind and solar energy systems and planting vegetable gardens.

    George Washington University（GW）is a private school with 200.000 students. The university has two gardens where students volunteer their time.

    Over the last ten years GW has developed projects in three main areas-climate, water and eco-systems. They have begun to create projects on the ground to address climate change, They are planning on becoming carbon-neutral（平衡的）and, in fact, reducing the footprint by forty percent by 2025, from creating solar hot-water systems on our rooftops to making our buildings much more energy efficient. The school also offers 140 different classes in sustainability （可持续性发展）and the environment.

    Mark Orlouski said. "We see numbers like less than 20% of school having a green building policy five years ago, and now upwards of 80% of schools having a policy, which states that their new buildings will be built in a green fashion.

    GW is located in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood of Washington. Some neighbors say that while GW is laying to be Friendlier to the environment, it could also be a better friend to the neighborhood. The school has expanded quickly and there have been tensions between students and local residents

    Amsterdam is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, famous for its beautiful canals, top art museum and cycling culture. It is the capital and most populous (人口稠密) city in the Netherlands and often referred to as the "Venice of the North" due to its convenient system of bridges and canals. Here are some of the key points to remember as you plan your trip to Amsterdam.

    Must-See Attractions

    Most visitors begin their Amsterdam adventure in the Old Centre, which is full of traditional architecture, shopping centers and coffee shops. Don't miss the Dam Square and the areas around Spui and Nieuwmarkt. You'll also want to check out Amsterdam's Museum Quarter in the South District, which is great for shopping at the Albert Cuyp Market and having a picnic in the Vondelpark.

    Transportation

    Travelers should be aware that Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is one of the busiest airports in the world. You can catch a train from Schiphol to Amsterdam Central Station, which has many connecting routes. Cycling is very popular here, and it's easy to find cheap bike rentals around town.

    Recommended Restaurants

    Amsterdam is a top destination for foodies, so it is difficult to narrow down your dining choices. Here are a couple of our favorites.

    Money Saving Tips

    • Unless you really want to see the tulips (郁金香) blooming, avoid booking between mid-March and mid-May. This is when hotel and flight prices rise sharply.

    • Look for accommodations in Amsterdam's South District, where rates are generally cheaper than in the city center.

    • Buy train tickets at the machine instead of the counter to save a bit of money.

    • Check out our homepage to view price comparisons for flights, hotels, and rental cars before you book.