Long bus rides are like television shows.They have a beginning，a middle，and an end with commercials(广告) thrown in every three or four minutes.The commercials are unavoidable.They happen whether you want them or not.Every couple of minutes a billboard glides by outside the bus window.“Buy Super Clean Toothpaste.” “Drink Good Wet Root Beer.” “Fill up with Pacific Gas.” Only if you sleep，which is equal to turning the television set off，are you spared the unending cry of “You Need It！Buy It Now！”

    The beginning of the ride is comfortable and somewhat exciting，even if you've traveled that way before.Usually some things have changed—new houses，new buildings，sometimes even a new road.The bus driver has a style of driving and it's fun to try to figure it out the first hour or so.If the driver is particularly reckless (鲁莽的) or daring，the ride can be as thrilling as a suspense story.Will the driver pass the truck in time？Will the driver move into the right or the left hand lane？After a while，of course，the excitement dies down.Sleeping for a while helps pass the middle hours of the ride.Food always makes bus rides more interesting.But you've got to be careful of what kind of food you eat.Too much salty food can make you very thirsty between stops.

    The end of the ride is somewhat like the beginning.You know it will soon be over and there's a kind of expectation and excitement in that.The seat，of course，has become harder as the hours have passed.By now you've sat with your legs crossed，with your hands in your lap，with your hands on the armrest or even with your hands crossed behind your head.The end comes just at the right time.There are just no more ways to sit.

    I study English literature at university and have always been proud of Britain's literary heritage（文学遗产）. Some British authors that you may have heard of are Charles Dickens and Jane Austen. These writers are famous all over the world because their books have been translated into many different languages. In the UK, their novels are celebrated as some of the best that have ever been written. We say that these novels are “classic” because they are still read and enjoyed years after their publication.

    I read classic novels because they are part of my university lessons but also because I enjoy them. They can teach you a lot about how people used to live and what society was like in the past. Novels like Hard Times by Charles Dickens remind us of the poverty in London during the Industrial Revolution while Jane Austen's fiction shows us what family life was like in the 18th century.

    Classic novels usually have memorable stories land interesting characters. One of my favourite books is Charles Dickens Great Expectations. It is about a boy called Pip who suddenly receives a lot of money from a mysterious supporter. As he grows up, his character changes: he becomes quite selfish and mean. Another important character is Miss Havisham. When she was young, her fiancé ran away on their wedding day. She lives in a dark house and still wears her wedding dress. She is a fascinating character, both sad and scary.

    Reading classic novels enriches my knowledge and life experience. And it has become part of life.

                                                                                          Educational Programs for Kids

    Are you interested in helping your child continue his or her education beyond the typical school day? If so, then educational programs for kids may be what you're looking for.

    Where to Find Educational Programs?

    Many kids who are struggling in school may benefit from an after-school tutoring session or homework club. Check with your child's school, your local library or the park district for a list of available programs. You can also check with the local Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, church or youth center. Depending on your child's interests and strengths, consider art, community service, drama, music, creative writing, sports, cooking or environmental programs.

    What Educational Programs Are Provided by Organizations?

    The organizations mentioned above provide educational programs for kids, such as a community your child can be a part of and programs that focus on education, health, leadership, recreation and fitness.

   Another possibility is the Boy Scouts of America or the Girl Scouts. These are two separate organizations that can potentially provide your child with a sense of accomplishment, self-confidence and belonging. Both organizations will provide your child with many learning experiences and activities both indoors and outdoors.

    What Kind of Program Is Best for My Child?

    The type of educational program that's best for your child is subjective and based on many factors, including your child's age. If your child is in primary school, educational programs can help him or her develop as a person and gain leadership skills, a sense of self-worth and the ability to cooperate with others. By the time your child is in high school, his or her involvement with educational programs and other extracurricular activates can be key elements when your child is applying to college.

    When you help your child to pick an educational program, carefully consider what your child needs and what every option offers.

    I'm a student in my fourth year of a biomedical science degree at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, but I also work 38 hours a week at Sainsbury's to make ends meet. I do three night shifts a week, plus overtime if I can get it. Monday is the most occupied day for me — I work from 10 pm until 8 am on Saturday and Sunday nights, earning just over £100 a night, and then I have to be at my first lecture at 9 am on Monday. By the time I finish lectures, at 2 pm, I'm exhausted, but I know I have to be back at work by 10 pm.

    I constantly have to force myself to stay awake, and to be alert, whatever it takes. A packet of Skittles and a Red Bull usually helps. The work I do at Sainsbury's is very physical like stacking shelves. I'm lucky because I'm an active person and the amount I lift at work is nothing compared with the weights I lift in the gym. I know I have the strength to bear it.

    I'm originally from Nigeria. I came here when I was seven, growing up in Croydon, south London. Money was tight. My parents gave me everything I needed, but there was no money to spend on luxuries. I worked hard at school though and, with the help of GT Scholars, I got some of the best A-level grades in my class.

    Unfortunately, though I had applied for “settled” British residential status when very young, the Home Office waited until I was in sixth form to approve my application. That meant I wasn't eligible for a student loan. The only way I could afford to go to university was that if I got a job that would pay for all my living costs and my parents, who work in market research, paid for my tuition fees. In Scotland, that's about £7,000 a year.

    I don't have much time to socialize because of my job. Ideally, I would also like to have more time to study so I can excel at my course. Yes, I have a lot on my plate, but working hard isn't new to me. Growing up, my parents and my mentors in the church and at GT Scholars cultivated in me the importance of working hard for what I want in life.

    My dream is to do an MA in physiotherapy next year and then get a job working for the NHS. But right now, I'm just focused on trying to get the best grades I can. Whenever I find life hard, I tell myself this is about my future. I don't need much, but I would like to worry less about money and have more free time. That is what I look forward to the most.

    Dogs certainly need to bark (犬吠) every now and then, but if your neighbor's dog is getting in the way of your daily life, you need to do something.

    "Before you take action, you should record the dates and times that the barking happens to find out any patterns," says Schweitzer, who is a dog owner. You might notice the barking only happens when the owners are at work, or during thunderstorms.

    After two to three weeks of observing (观察), go to your neighbors with the facts. Wait for a time when the barking is over. "Since you're trying to keep a good relationship, you can't go when you're angry and upset," says Schweitzer. Besides, your neighbors might not even realize the barks are a problem, especially if the worst barking happens when they're not at home.

    Politely explain the times when the barking gets bad, and then suggest a way of solving the problem. Ask if the dog can stay inside during storms, or offer a dog training class.

    Making friends with the dog could help you gain some peace and quiet. If your neighbors introduce you to their dog, you should give the dog a treat. "If they become more comfortable seeing you, they're less likely to bark when they see you or when they're in the backyard，" says Schweitzer.

    Whatever you do, don't talk with your other neighbors about the problem or start a petition (诉状) to get the dog to quiet down. "Those make people feel angry," says Schweitzer. "That's when things escalate."

    If weeks go by and you still aren't seeing a difference, follow up with a note. Tie a dog treat on the note to build trust with your neighbors, and make a copy before dropping it off. That way, you'll have evidence (证据) that you've discussed it before and followed up politely if you need to bring in a third party, says Schweitzer.

    It is hard to say the first day of school in the United States because when the first day of school is and what happens on the first day of school usually are different by districts(地区).

    The first day of school for many school districts in different states is on the day after the first Monday in September. In some other school districts, school begins in mid-to-late August. For example, the Denver, Colorado schools go back in mid-August and schools in Cleveland, Ohio start back usually one week before the first Monday in September. The Boston, Chicago, New York City and San Diego schools start back on the Tuesday or Wednesday after the first Monday in September.

    Schools in Cleveland, Ohio used to start the school year on the day after the first Monday in September, but in the 1976-1977 and 1977-1978 academic years, the school year was affected by several bad snowstorms, extreme cold. In the 1978-1979 school year, the Ohio Department of Education moved the start of the year to late August, one week before the first Monday in September. This went into effect in the 1980-1981 school year.

    In most school districts in Utah, the school year starts between August 25 and August 30, and goes until the last week of May or the first week in June next year.

    In American high schools, the freshmen class usually goes back one or two days before the rest of the school body for an orientation(迎新)period. An orientation period helps the freshmen get familiar with their new school, its rules, and surroundings.

    In some schools, the freshmen classes have their photographs taken for identification purposes. Some high schools have tried to make the first week of school fun for incoming freshmen.